4/24/2010 Med cruise: Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your Ears

[mrsgeorgemichael]

Well i've just booked my ferry from Dover to Calais , just in case there are still no flights, i was sure it would be all ok by now, but am determined to get there by any means now

Hope you all manage to make it for saturday

sandra

 

[dolphingirl47]

Well i've just booked my ferry from Dover to Calais , just in case there are still no flights, i was sure it would be all ok by now, but am determined to get there by any means now

Hope you all manage to make it for saturday

sandra

I think you made a very wise decision there. I wish I could book ours, but I have to see first if I can get the extra days off and I am not due into work for another hour.

Still, I am about 80% packed now. Tonight or tomorrow morning I will print out all the documents and finish packing. Then I am ready to go by whatever means necessary and however soon I can get away with it.

Corinna

 

[Becx N Gav]

If it really is safe then I agree with this. However, there are dozens of documented cases that it is not safe to fly through volcanic ash. Indeed, a light aircraft crash in the UK over the last few days is said to have been caused by the ash. As much as a pain as this is, I rather have them play this safe than having aircrafts fall out of the sky with engine failure.

The risk at the moment is that people will bow to economical and political pressure and forget about the safety aspect. I don't think that this is likely to happen in the UK, but might well happen elsewhere in Europe.

Well, I am getting in the spirit of things again at the moment. I have started to pack my suitcase and I am just doing the online check in for the cruise.

Corinna

I agree there could be a risk - but then why not get out there and determine it? There is no measured maximum limit to particulates of this type in the air, surely if it was such a great threat to expensive machines they would know what safe levels are? I heard the guy from the Met office was saying some of the test flights didn't even have the right instruments to record the right data
I think we may find a lot of this has been a knee jerk reaction due to not having comprehensive information as to what to do. I know before planes have at least been able to fly around the ash - they seem to have never predicted it could cover such a wide area all at once.

Good for you and others to keep on going, best to keep on trying until the last possible moment.

Good news about them finally starting to bring some Brits home I know I'm complaining but at least I'm safe at home (or rather work right now ) and only have a holiday to lose at worst.

I think tomorrow night we'll be purchasing train tickets for our 24 hour journey But rather get there than not at all.

 

[Mineu]

In case anyone gets stuck in Madrid-my shuttle service confirmed that they will bring you from Madrid to Barcelona-they are Barcelona Shuttle Service. We used them for our RCL cruise and they were great-hopefully, we'll all make it directly to BCN!

 

[skoi]

Congratulations to Belinda! However, the first thing I thought when I read that, Sydney, to Argentia, to Spain with three kids under ten!

Here's hoping we all make it. Glad to hear some people's plans are working out.

Julie

 

[caderi]

Hi, could let me know what shuttle you are talking about.
thanks
Caderi

 

[Mineu]

http://www.barcelona-shuttle-service.com

 

[Californiacruisers]

We are feeling defeated in California. There is no way to re-route and UK doesn't look very hopeful that they are going to lift the ban by wednesday night. Now the discussion is should we book for the May cruise or just scrap the vacation all together? Does anyone know if Disney will honor the same class and same price for May?

 

[yogibigdog]

Thanks for the clarification on the flight.

Still wonder why they canceled, as US Air flew tonight Philadelphia to BCN? Maybe the routing takes the JFK flight through the cloud?

Julie

It looks like the Sunday flight on AA from JFK to BCN was canceled since the flight never left BCN that moring to get to JFK. It appears the flight goes back and forth so since the flight never left BCN the plane was still in Spain. The plane did leave BCN enroute today to JFK(Monday) So let's hope!

 

[cam71099]

It looks like the Sunday flight on AA from JFK to BCN was canceled since the flight never left BCN that moring to get to JFK. It appears the flight goes back and forth so since the flight never left BCN the plane was still in Spain. The plane did leave BCN enroute today to JFK(Monday) So let's hope!

Yes, lets hope! This is the flight we are on Friday... I am feeling hopeful that everything will be fine. Now to tend to laundry and packing list. Good luck to all and hope to see everyone on Sat.!!

 

[Lhagerty]

We are also in limbo at this point. We are scheduled to fly on Aer Lingus Tuesday so we are still keeping our fingers crossed since they haven't canceled it yet. At this point it is all or nothing for us since I have already exhausted all other flights going anywhere close to Barcelona. The earliest I can get to Europe is April 28 which doesn't work.

I'm so glad that many of you will still be able to fly out of Philly or JFK.

Here's hoping that I will get a chance to meet all the wonderful people from this board.

Good luck everyone with all the crazy travel mishaps that have and will occur due to the current situation.

LuAnne

 

[granmaz]

News here is reporting that they are opening some airspace tomorrow. Scotland and Northern England at 7am, and then further south hopefully later. They will review that. I think they hope many flights will resume Wednesday. So, don't give up just yet if your overnight flight is tomorrow night.

As always, things could change of course.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8630455.stm

 

[Disneyfalcon]

It looks like the Sunday flight on AA from JFK to BCN was canceled since the flight never left BCN that moring to get to JFK. It appears the flight goes back and forth so since the flight never left BCN the plane was still in Spain. The plane did leave BCN enroute today to JFK(Monday) So let's hope!

Yay! I'm hoping!

I'm hoping for all of us!

 

[sayhello]

Wish us luck as well trying to get from Madrid to Barcelona with 3 young children. I am not sure whether its a sign of commitment or craziness. See you all soon!

What airline are you flying into Madrid? Because Iberia has said they will provide transportation for people who are supposed to be going from Madrid to Barcelona (assuming Barcelona is still closed). So maybe you could arrange something with them?

We are feeling defeated in California. There is no way to re-route and UK doesn't look very hopeful that they are going to lift the ban by wednesday night. Now the discussion is should we book for the May cruise or just scrap the vacation all together? Does anyone know if Disney will honor the same class and same price for May?

I'm pretty sure all the May Med cruises are pretty underbooked. I think it would be worth it to call DCL and see what they will do for you.

I hopehopehope that EVERYONE makes it to Barcelona in time for Apr 24th! Fingers, toes, eyes, etc crossed for you, and a few prayers sent your way, too!

Sayhello

 

[skoi]

OK, thanks for that piece of info on the AA flight. Makes sense.

Opening of air space over UK and Northern Europe by Thursday, hopefully, will get everyone to BCN on time.

Belinda- you should be able to take an intercity train from Madrid to Barcelona. Only problem will be baggage if you have a lot. It was a pain hauling the one real suitcase we had on and off trains in Morocco. Buses were better, because they load them underneath for you.

Here's hoping we all see each other on Saturday. This is a great group, and we're so looking forward to meeting everyone.

I'm trying to keep a good dose of pessimism in our case, though everyone says it looks good, because I don't want to be disappointed. I'm an Eeyore by nature.

Julie

 

[Mineu]

The Barcelona airport has a great website that tracks arrivals and departures-helpful if you need to figure out where your plane is!

 

[Cruiser25]

I am on the may 5 cruise. Getting very nervous myself and feel for you guys. Now it appears that a second volcano, Hekla, is erupting, according to Reuters. This is what I feared.

BREAKING NEWS: Large plume indicates second Icelandic volcano, Hekla, has begun erupting

they are now saying FALSE ALARM! THANK GOD!!!!

 

[cam71099]

EU moves to ease Europe flight curbs

Changes appear to be in the air, no pun intended.

 

[Becx N Gav]

EU moves to ease Europe flight curbs

Changes appear to be in the air, no pun intended.

Fingers crossed it stays that way. They are really pushing to get the flights going again, tests are showing no damage to the planes.

 

[NC_Tink]

I don't whether to get my hopes up or not. Latest on British Airlines is that they hope to have all long haul flights, departing after 4pm, operational tomorrow. Our flight is due to depart at 20:30 (EST) so hopefully this means we'll be good to go! I hope that all goes well tomorrow - that there are no issues with flights departing earlier in the day and that all airspace is clear. Brian read somewhere that a chief Volcanologist has stated that the ash has greatlly decreased and that the air should start to clear significantly - I really really hope this is true!!!!

I'll keep ya all posted - hopefully I'll get on here tomorrow with good news to share!

BTW - congratulations to all of you who have found alternate ways to get to the ship!! We truly hope to see everyone on Saturday - we are so looking forward to meeting all of you - this is such a great group!

Oh and to anyone reading this post - you can see I have a theme going on - it's "optimistically hopeful!" Maybe that's cautiously hopeful?