4/10/2010 eb ta "bound for barcelona"

[FarnMor]

When shipping packages to our stateroom, how far in advance are we allowed to do that? Or, can they be sent anytime between now and our cruise date?

 

[Brooklyn]

DH and I (who are child-free) always take pics with the characters.

We never really thought much about it until our DCL cruise back in May. We were standing in line waiting to have our picture taken with Peter Pan and Wendy. There was a family with a little girl standing behind us. I heard her say, "Mommy, where are their kids?" (pointing to us). The mom said, "I don't know. Maybe they don't have any." The little girl then said, "Well, then they shoudln't be in this line. They are too big!"

That is hysterical!

 

[FarnMor]

Oh yeah, every chance I get. With or without my son. I had actually elbowed him out of the way to get to Donald first once

BTW, I cry at Wishes and IllumiNations. Every time.

I cry at the Lion King presentation

 

[bekaah]

Hey Dee 47 I also cry at Illuminations and Wishes and anything else that just fills a person with "Magic"

 

[bekaah]

Nice to know we won't feel bad standing in line to have our pic taken without kids...

 

[annekevdbroek]

We were in Gibralter this August. We did not take an organized tour. Wew were in Spain and parked on the Spain side and walked over the boarder. Once there, instead of a tour we caught a bus to the central part of town (Main street - lots of restaurants and shopping) and then walked to the cable car. It was a pretty good walk, but doable for two adults and a 6 year-old (I carried the 2 year-old). There are some interesting sites along the way. If you are used to walking you won't have any trouble with it.

I am not sure about bus service from the port (I"d guess there is) but imagine you could just catch a taxi. The cable car ride up involved a pretty long wait on line (like 45 mintues). The ride up was fun - good views. Children under 4 or so are free. All all-day pass on the bus was something like .90 euro. I think the cable car for the 4 of us (youngest was free though) was 20 Euro (round trip), and that was one way and did not include some of the other sites.

The kids LOVED the monkeys at the top cable car station. It was the thing they remember the most of our 3 week vacation. Be warned - they do snatch things (don't take any plastic 'Walmart' type shopping bags or food up with you). THere is a little snack bar at the top. You can climb around some of the old battlements and mail a post card. The views are pretty incredible. From the top, if you choose, you can walk down to the other sites that a tour would take you to (St. Michael's Cave, etc.)

Here is a link with tickets and times for the cable cars.

(I can't post the link I don't have enough posts yet...

If you google gibralter cable car you can find a link)

The advantage of the taxi tours is that if you don't like cable cars - you get to skip that fear inducing event. And, you avoid the lines. And instead of walking you will drive to each site.

We needed down time from the day and there were lots of restaurants around the mainstreet area. The town is very pretty and nicely walkable. Outside of the downtown area - closer to the port - there is a McDonalds with a large indoor playscape. I know it is a total cliche of the American tourist - but our kids are little and they were so happy to be at McDonalds and have a chance to run around and get some wiggles out.

Gibralter was really expensive! The offical currency is the Pound, but pretty much every place will talke Euro as well.

 

[Brooklyn]

We went to that McDonalds and also the one in Cadiz.

The girls enjoyed the playground in Gibraltar

 

[mommyto3princesses]

Boy did we pick the right time for this trip! Flower Festival in Madeira, April Fevestival in Seville and St Jordi's day in Barcelona! Nice of them to arrange their schedules around us!

Eleasa

No kidding! I am so excited about these special days!

So, I want to hear a bit more about those taking the train to Seville. I may book the Seville on your own thru DCL to be safe since we have 3 little ones. We usually like to book our own because we have more control and can tell the taxi driver to turn back around and get us to the port, etc. But traveling to Seville is more than touring around town.

Can someone give me a bit more info on the apes at Gibraltar? Can we drive up to the rock and stay in the car if my children are not feeling the monkey love? Or do we have to get out and walk up to really see things?

QOTD: The girls take pics with the characters. I had to get in the pics with any character that didn't have a real face...Chip and Dale, Capt Hook, etc. My littlest one would freak if they didn't look like a real person.

 

[Brooklyn]

You can stay in the taxi the whole time and still see things. After the ape stole the chips Brooklyn did not get out of the taxi again.

 

[Brooklyn]

Here is a link to a set of fun planning pages that can be printed out and used to plan your vacation.

http://www.4shared.com/dir/18429492/dbaf722d/DCL.html

 

[Michelle2]

We went to that McDonalds and also the one in Cadiz.

The girls enjoyed the playground in Gibraltar

I didn't know there was a McDonald's there! Maybe I saw it, and didn't realize it at the time. Our son would love to go on the playground. Where is it at? Is it on the walk to or from the ship?

Here is a link to a set of fun planning pages that can be printed out and used to plan your vacation.

http://www.4shared.com/dir/18429492/dbaf722d/DCL.html

I love those!!!! Thanks for posting them!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Just signed to the boards.. DW is Bekaah or Vicky, however you know her.. looking forward to the Barcelona Trip.. Getting more info all the time.. trying to keep it all straight. Thought I better get on the boards and start keeping updated also.. Hello to All... Jim

Welcome!

 

[grlzmom]

You can stay in the taxi the whole time and still see things. After the ape stole the chips Brooklyn did not get out of the taxi again.

I will not be telling my dd about the ape stealing Brooklyns chips or she will want to stay on the ship in the Lab away from the apes

 

[Brooklyn]

I didn't know there was a McDonald's there! Maybe I saw it, and didn't realize it at the time. Our son would love to go on the playground. Where is it at? Is it on the walk to or from the ship?



I love those!!!! Thanks for posting them!

Yes it was on the walk back to the ship for us. We got dropped off in town. THen on the walk back we found it. It was HUGE. The playground was a great way to blow off some steam and we were the only ones there when we went.

 

[Brooklyn]

I will not be telling my dd about the ape stealing Brooklyns chips or she will want to stay on the ship in the Lab away from the apes

she can stay with Brooklyn...that is where she said she is staying if we want to get off there!

The funny thing is that we were sitting with the girls but the minute we got up from the table to look at the gift shop items is when the bugger came in. Smart little thing! Brooklyn is scared for life, Madison thinks it is funny!

 

[grlzmom]

she can stay with Brooklyn...that is where she said she is staying if we want to get off there!

The funny thing is that we were sitting with the girls but the minute we got up from the table to look at the gift shop items is when the bugger came in. Smart little thing! Brooklyn is scared for life, Madison thinks it is funny!

Amazing how kids are so different when raised in the exact same environment. Mine are the same way, what one thinks is funny may not be funny to the other.

All my girls (and boy) love the kids programming so I'm sure they will see your dd in the Lab, possibly on Gibraltar day Sometimes however, bribery works for me and with the knowledge that a McDonalds exists after days at sea, I might get lucky.

Dh is a germaphobe so not even telling him about the apes, it's gonna be a surprise.

 

[annekevdbroek]

On Gibraltar:

The McDonalds is on Europort Ave, as near as I can figure. I looked at a map and what little information I could find online. The map with satellite photo shows the building for sure -.... I am guessing we might end up there again for lunch. Nothing like a Happy Meal to soothe the kids.

As for the monkeys. We weren't bothered by them at all. It was really hot when we were there so maybe there were just taking it easy. There was a baby and it was very cute and not at all afraid of the people.

If you have a Thomas The Train fanatic in your family then some of the clothing stores on the main shopping area (Main Street) have cute Thomas clothes for boys.

 

[annekevdbroek]

Sorry for the multiple posts... (trying to get up to 10).

It looks like we will be spending the night after the cruise in Barcelona. Anyone have any recommedations for nicely located budget hotels? Our flight out to Seville will be early the next day.

For anyone still making travel plans - Ryanair has some crazy crazy low fairs from Barcelona to other locations in Europe (like 14 euro to England, 20 euro to Seville, etc.).

Is anyone else thinking of taking in the Aquarium in Barcelona?

 

[Brooklyn]

Sorry for the multiple posts... (trying to get up to 10).

It looks like we will be spending the night after the cruise in Barcelona. Anyone have any recommedations for nicely located budget hotels? Our flight out to Seville will be early the next day.

For anyone still making travel plans - Ryanair has some crazy crazy low fairs from Barcelona to other locations in Europe (like 14 euro to England, 20 euro to Seville, etc.).

Is anyone else thinking of taking in the Aquarium in Barcelona?

We are staying at the Best Western at the airport after the Med cruise. Got a rate of 80 Euros. Seemed good to us compared to other hotels. They have an indoor pool and free shuttle to the airport.

 

[emma'smom]

What is the best way to get from the port to the airport?

Also, our flight doesn't leave until evening--so we'll have some touring time in Barcelona that day, but we'll have our luggage with us. Any ideas about where we might store it? Any lockers at the port? Otherwise, any museums that might take the better part of the day where we might be able to check them? I'm think about doing the all day Monserrat Bus Tour (not by DCL since we'll be off the ship) with the hopes that we can could take the luggage on the bus with us and just leave it while we toured (not making assumptions, I'll have to email the company to find out if that would be possible).

Any ideas?