2010 news from the Magic

[Skallywag]

Both of my daughters work for banks here in the UK so fingers crossed that all will work out.

It is difficult to recommend any airlines at present until we know where the Magic is to make land over this side.

Time enough to worry about flights as you cannot book until about 11 months out.

Charter airlines are having problems at present so difficult to go down that route until nearer the time

 

[pillow]

We did the 6/16/07 med and we booked a cat 6 for two adults, a 15 year old and a 10 year old child. We paid 12368. After looking for airfare and planning the post trip of 5 days in Ireland I was having serious doubts and sticker shock. Then they released the cat 12 cabins at a substantial savings and we decided we could live with what ever cabin they gave us. We downgraded saving ourselves about 8000 and were upgraded to a cat 10 secret porthole. We were thrilled!

We did the exact same thing! I seem to remember the fare being closer to $13K - probably because we purchased the insurance. We switched to the cat 12 as well and were lucky enough to get upgraded to a cat 9 on the second floor! What a bargain!

Jodie

 

[pillow]

We had heard of a lot of people who lost the luggage on the Med cruises before we did the 6/26 cruise. We flew from Richmond to Lisbon to Barcelona. We knew our suitcases made it to Lisbon, because when we were getting on the plane to Barcelona my brother saw my pink suitcase sitting next to our plane waiting to be loaded. Despite that, I've never been so happy to see my huge pink suitcase come through the shoot in baggage claim in my life!

Do you live in Richmond? We live just west in Goochland county.

Jodie

 

[GuardMusic]

I was thinking the same thing. I hope DCL prices them competively from the outset. While I'm excited and I think that there are a lot of people on these boards who will book regardless of the latest financial news, I truly think there far more people who will hesitate before booking such an expensive vacation right now.

We "were" planning to do the Adventures by Disney in Fall 2009 to London/Paris. Then they released the dates & rates last night and we came to a screeching halt. The rates increased $900 (nearly 33%) in one year! In less than an hour, we tossed our ABD plans.

Then we decided to do London/Paris/Disneyland Paris on our own. We're back to the waiting game for hotel rates and SkyMiles to be released sometime between Oct. & Dec. This trip is sounding like more work than we're really interested in at this point. AND the change in SkyMiles may mean we can't fly for "free", which was a deal-breaker.

So I "cruised" back to this board. We also have a "fate" cruise booked for Oct. 2009. BFF wants to eventually get to Italy, so now we're thinking a Med cruise. I really don't have a big interest in this trip, but my motto is "I'll go anywhere Disney wants to take me."

I've looked at the 2007 Med rates. If 2010 is much higher (which I expect because of gas prices and inflation), then this may not be a possibility either.

I have no credit card debt and refuse to go back to that; I'm setting aside two years of tax refunds to do this trip. I can't believe these prices and this still may not be nearly enough. It's ridiculous what it costs to take one decent trip!

Praying for good news next week!
Gayle

 

[Gr00vyChc]

We flew in a few days early to Barcelona. They have a great hop-on/off bus. We used that all day long to sightsee on our own. Its a very easy city to tour on your own. Lots of people speak English. I would ask someone a question in Spanish (usually the location of the bathroom), and they would smile and answer me in English!!

As far as other ports, there was such a large variety of excursions and things to do, I'm sure you'll get tons of different reports. We did some excursions, some things on our own, and one private tour. The private tour was FABULOUS (we shared a van with another family we met on the boards)!! We weren't crazy about the excursions - felt a little trapped and herded like cattle. On future cruises, we'll do more on our own and maybe take a private tour or 2. Check cruisecritic.com for more ideas and things to do in ports.

Jodie

Thanks!! We have vacationed in Europe and we LOVE Spain.. however, my question was when getting in the ports, are you close to the city that you can do the hop on hop off tour buses in these cities???

 

[pillow]

Thanks!! We have vacationed in Europe and we LOVE Spain.. however, my question was when getting in the ports, are you close to the city that you can do the hop on hop off tour buses in these cities???

It depends on the port. You are very close to some but quite a drive to others. We didn't do the hop on/off bus anywhere else except Barcelona. I seem to remember that Palermo, Sicily had one - not sure about the other cities. In many cases, the good places to see aren't close. Check cruisecritic.com. I found that website very helpful when planning for the ports. Sorry not more help!

Jodie

 

[Skallywag]

Just being selfish and as Spain is my least favourite place hope for a change of itinerary if it is to be the Med. again.

Love Italy though and would go back there any time.

 

[NancyIL]

Thanks!! We have vacationed in Europe and we LOVE Spain.. however, my question was when getting in the ports, are you close to the city that you can do the hop on hop off tour buses in these cities???

On our Baltic cruise, most ports were pretty close to the center of town. We docked right by Akershus Castle in Oslo (yes, just like the restaurant at Epcot!), and in Copenhagen we docked close to the Little Mermaid statue, and took the HoHo bus there. We walked and took the subway to downtown Stockholm, but could've taken the ship's shuttle to town. Helsinki and Talinn were also very walkable from the ship. The dock in St.. Petersburg was the farthest from anywhere you'd want to go. But because of visa requirements - most people would travel with either a private tour or a ship's excursion.

 

[JsMom2]

In Europe, you don't necessarily dock close to the city you are there to visit. For instance Civitavecchia is an hour ride from Rome, Warnemunde is 3 hours from Berlin, La Spezia is 90 minutes from Florence etc.

And some of the Baltic ports have more than one dock, so you may or may not be on the HoHo route, depending upon where your ship docks.

I agree cruisecriticdotcom is the best place to get reviews on the ports. But until we know where the ship is going, there's not much to plan for.

However, if you pickup the book: Fodor's guide to Europe Cruise Ports, you can get info for all areas of Europe in one shot.

And for the Baltics, John Lawrence - a former CD on Princess is an expert. He sells a great CD on his website. It was really helpful!

 

[Gr00vyChc]

Thank you for all the advice and info. It's always fun and exciting to plan a vacation especially a disney vacation. I think that after reading the itinerary for the Med in '07 we're now leaning towards the Baltics itinerary if the rumors are correct.....

 

[suzcruz]

how do you find out the prices for the past Med and TA trips? TIA!

 

[Pluto 2]

With all of the turmoil around the financial world wonder if this will affect prices and bookings?

it should mostly all the usa is hurting. i use to be able to double my pay from my base rate but not this year. last month we went down to 40 hours a week they just told us yesterday that they have to take 11 days out of the schedule. three for christmas week 2 days are a holiday. than 8 weeks with 32 hours a week probaly starting next week. but with disney they will probaly still start the prices pretty high, than have some good deals if they dont get the bookings they like. i was seriously thinking about booking the 19 night cruise with the 7 night repo and the 12 night baltic now it will probaly just be the 12 night baltic. times are tough

 

[MJGirl]

I can let you know that I paid $5,652.02 for a cat 10 Secret Porthole Cabin on the July 7 cruise for 1 adult and 1 16 year old. (Hi Denise and Hawaiin Mickey and Our Dog Cisco! ) This was no airfare and no insurance. I paid $2,539.78 for my airfare, direct flights, Toronto to London then Paris to Toronto, I also paid $308.02 for Paris to Barcelona return. I toured in London/Paris first prior to the cruise, then went to DLP after the cruise. The insurance cost me $669.60 through a Canadian private insurer. I only bought cancellation, as I had medical through work. I couldn't book through Disney, due to the changed itinerary. Total cost .... $9169.42 and that is only for the cruise and air.

Was it worth it!! You bet it was!!

We did all Disney Excursions, as I was a bit afraid to go out on my own. If I go on a Baltic, I might consider some private excursion, if I can find a fellow DISer to join me!

 

[Gr00vyChc]

it should mostly all the usa is hurting. i use to be able to double my pay from my base rate but not this year. last month we went down to 40 hours a week they just told us yesterday that they have to take 11 days out of the schedule. three for christmas week 2 days are a holiday. than 8 weeks with 32 hours a week probaly starting next week. but with disney they will probaly still start the prices pretty high, than have some good deals if they dont get the bookings they like. i was seriously thinking about booking the 19 night cruise with the 7 night repo and the 12 night baltic now it will probaly just be the 12 night baltic. times are tough

IF disney goes down in price, and we booked it for a higher price, will they give us the lower price as a courtesy or do we have to cancel, and rebook for the lower price do you think??

 

[CarrianneB]

IF disney goes down in price, and we booked it for a higher price, will they give us the lower price as a courtesy or do we have to cancel, and rebook for the lower price do you think??

Traditionally you have to cancel & rebook to get the lower price.

 

[MississippiMom]

it should mostly all the usa is hurting. i use to be able to double my pay from my base rate but not this year. last month we went down to 40 hours a week they just told us yesterday that they have to take 11 days out of the schedule. three for christmas week 2 days are a holiday. than 8 weeks with 32 hours a week probaly starting next week. but with disney they will probaly still start the prices pretty high, than have some good deals if they dont get the bookings they like. i was seriously thinking about booking the 19 night cruise with the 7 night repo and the 12 night baltic now it will probaly just be the 12 night baltic. times are tough

This reduction in hours and/or pay was a hot topic of conversation at a Brownie meeting last week. One of the mothers was talking about the office that she works at and the fact that the boss reduced everyone's pay by $400 a month. It was either that or let a couple of employees go. That left the employees with the decision of whether they want the job bad enough at that lower pay or do they attempt to find another job.

And have you talked to anyone whose job is affected by the Wachovia buyout? My DH knows three people that are STRESSING, and they don't even work there, but they sell to Wachovia, and now they won't be making any sales commissions off of that account.

I have to admit that I am hoping that all of us that would like to cruise on one of the 2010 sailings (Wonder or Magic), are still able to do so, because things sure are looking "iffy."

 

[NancyIL]

Traditionally you have to cancel & rebook to get the lower price.

No - you call DCL or your travel agent and ask for the lower price. You shouldn't have to cancel and rebook unless the lower price is for "new bookings only" - and you haven't made the final payment yet.

 

[Justthe8ofus]

it should mostly all the usa is hurting. i use to be able to double my pay from my base rate but not this year. last month we went down to 40 hours a week they just told us yesterday that they have to take 11 days out of the schedule. three for christmas week 2 days are a holiday. than 8 weeks with 32 hours a week probaly starting next week. but with disney they will probaly still start the prices pretty high, than have some good deals if they dont get the bookings they like. i was seriously thinking about booking the 19 night cruise with the 7 night repo and the 12 night baltic now it will probaly just be the 12 night baltic. times are tough

It is a global slowdown not just the U.S.. I talked about this weeks ago and that I thought it was a mistake for Disney to go back to Europe. I was flamed for it. I also predicted that these cruises will not sell well and will have to be reduced. Time will tell if I am right.

 

[gydell]

IF disney goes down in price, and we booked it for a higher price, will they give us the lower price as a courtesy or do we have to cancel, and rebook for the lower price do you think??

On the TA all we had to do was call them and they reduced the fare.

 

[Subi WRX]

It is a global slowdown not just the U.S.. I talked about this weeks ago and that I thought it was a mistake for Disney to go back to Europe. I was flamed for it. I also predicted that these cruises will not sell well and will have to be reduced. Time will tell if I am right.

Part of me wants to wait a bit and not book on the first day as soon as the phones open for this reason. Who am I kidding. I have my wife do it. She called to book a quick 4-day for us, and the DCL agent actually thought she was a TA.