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

[shushh]

No news about DCL arranged flights yet then.

In Barcelona, we're staying at the Art 1 apartment run by habitat apartment. It isn't the cheapest around but is still cheaper than hotels! It faces Placa Reial and is 1 or 2 blocks from Las Rambla itself. Here's the website if you're interested. http://www.habitatapartments.com/en/barcelona/apartment/view/art.htm

DH was also very keen to see the blue grotto in Malta. He did a lot of research and we ended booking a private Tour with Touring Malta. Here's our itinerary. DH did some bargaining and managed to get some extras included. (I couldn't believe he did that, and was even more surprised when the company came to the party!)
0900hrs pickup direct from cruise ship
0915hra - 1115hrs Valletta (visit Barraka Gardens, Triq Repbulikka and St. John's Co. Cathedral)
1145hrs - 1230hrs Blue Grotto (with time to the optional boat trip)
1259hrs - 1400hrs Marsaxlokk Fishing Village and Lunch Break
1430hrs - 1545hrs Mdina Medieval City
1630hrs/1645hrs return to ship

From memory, it costs about the same for all of us (EUR395.00 ) as the DCL tour (Highlights of Malta) but we have our own minivan, our own guide and get to see the Blue Grotto as well.

 

[grlzmom]

No news about DCL arranged flights yet then.

In Barcelona, we're staying at the Art 1 apartment run by habitat apartment. It isn't the cheapest around but is still cheaper than hotels! It faces Placa Reial and is 1 or 2 blocks from Las Rambla itself. Here's the website if you're interested. http://www.habitatapartments.com/en/barcelona/apartment/view/art.htm

DH was also very keen to see the blue grotto in Malta. He did a lot of research and we ended booking a private Tour with Touring Malta. Here's our itinerary. DH did some bargaining and managed to get some extras included. (I couldn't believe he did that, and was even more surprised when the company came to the party!)
0900hrs pickup direct from cruise ship
0915hra - 1115hrs Valletta (visit Barraka Gardens, Triq Repbulikka and St. John's Co. Cathedral)
1145hrs - 1230hrs Blue Grotto (with time to the optional boat trip)
1259hrs - 1400hrs Marsaxlokk Fishing Village and Lunch Break
1430hrs - 1545hrs Mdina Medieval City
1630hrs/1645hrs return to ship

From memory, it costs about the same for all of us (EUR395.00 ) as the DCL tour (Highlights of Malta) but we have our own minivan, our own guide and get to see the Blue Grotto as well.

Wow, the Malta trip sounds great and that is a really good price.

I'm gonna check out the apartments, thanks!

No news about DCL flights, but am waiting to hear something back.

 

[skoi]

I'm glad I didn't miss the lanyard discussion. I just assumed I was losing my mind, but that wouldn't be a surprise.

Are we planning a pre-cruise meet up in Barcelona for people coming in early? We're arriving early afternoon on the 21st. We're staying at some Holiday Inn Express. Don't ask how that happened. We're also planning to go to Montserrat one day in Barcelona. Not sure.

Julie

 

[alltheparks]

Skoi-

Which Barcelona Holiday Inn Express still have to book and was looking at holiday inn or hilton properties.

 

[shushh]

Julie, we're arriving in Barcelona on the 21st as well, in the morning. Shall we make some tentative arrangments anyway? Would be nice I think to meet up before the port craziness of the cruise! Also planning to go the Montserrat.

 

[auntlynne]

Will you be at the port on the morning of April 23, waving us in?

 

[shushh]

I shall wave at you from the balcony of my apartment while you zoom around Barcelona on your Segway!

 

[DISNEY_DEPRIVED]

I submitted the Brunch Bunch request with the following names:

John
Charlotte
Lynne
Jeanne
Julie
Brian
Lubi
Belinda
Malcolm
Lara
Chris
Sandy
Tony

Got phone call from the Palo reservationist verifying she received the request. It is a first-come first-served system. She cannot say if we can have the room or which day (I requested it after Castaway Cay so it won't conflict with the Gold/Platinum CC / Crew Mixer. They will notify me 30 days before the cruise and will automatically drop any personal pre-board brunch reservations you have made.

I did not submit Sherry's name as I have not heard back from her. There is still room for her or one other person.

Also, if 12-14 more people want to have a group lunch in the private dining room, we can submit those names as a separate day's brunch.

Lynne

Hello Lynne,

I still would like to join the Palo's brunch... i know i haven't been on in awhile, i usually read the post even if i don't post anything... i haven't read in the last week but i want to be added to any gathering... as i stated before, travelling alone with two kids... adult coversation would be great....

Also, this is my first cruise, so im not sure where i look to get my stateroom info if that's what you need!... but if there's still room... please add me to the list!

I also will be arriving in Barcelona on the 21st, so it would be a real treat to meet everyone, prior to cruising... maybe at a local resturant in one of the hotels close to the port, just a thought....

Thanks,

Sherry.

 

[skoi]

Skoi-

Which Barcelona Holiday Inn Express still have to book and was looking at holiday inn or hilton properties.

Okay, don't know if this will help but on the website it's listed as HI Express Barcelona City-22.

Hopefully it'll be okay. Honestly, we chose it because it was relatively cheap, though we should have learned in our travels that cheap doesn't necessarily mean good, or even okay in some places.

Julie

 

[skoi]

Julie, we're arriving in Barcelona on the 21st as well, in the morning. Shall we make some tentative arrangments anyway? Would be nice I think to meet up before the port craziness of the cruise! Also planning to go the Montserrat.

Anyone want to plan a trip out there?

I speak zero Spanish beyond Dora the Explorer and Diego vocabulary, and not even too much of that. We'll need a lot of language aid in Barcelona. I know they also speak a completely different dialect there, but I'm sort of tapped out on trying to learn any new languages.

 

[skoi]

Will you be at the port on the morning of April 23, waving us in?

What time do y'all get in? We might be there, eagerly waiting, with our many bags.

Though Brit Air says only one free checked bag each! Any idea what it costs for extra bags?

 

[grlzmom]

What time do y'all get in? We might be there, eagerly waiting, with our many bags.

Though Brit Air says only one free checked bag each! Any idea what it costs for extra bags?

I think it is about 40 euro for the first extra checked bag but a little cheaper than that if you arrange it ahead of time online. Additional bags may cost even more

Military rates are out for this cruise in case anyone qualifies. We rebooked the Transatlantic portion and went from two cat12 GTY rooms to two connecting balconies and are getting a couple hundred dollars back. On this, the MED, we are keeping the cat12 GTY because of the cheap kids sail free rate combined with that additional 400 per room onboard credit (in addition to the onboard credit we already had). The military rate just doesn't beat that promo!

Happy thoughts to everyone, wishing you a great Wednesday!

 

[shushh]

Good morning everyone!

Well, we've got Julie, Sherry and myself at least for some sort of a pre-cruise meet. That's a start. Will definitely plan something. Sherry, where areyou staying? I shall look up the holiday inn express as well to find a convenient spot.

Wow. Jeanne, those rates are great! Good to hear.

 

[alltheparks]

Okay, don't know if this will help but on the website it's listed as HI Express Barcelona City-22.

Hopefully it'll be okay. Honestly, we chose it because it was relatively cheap, though we should have learned in our travels that cheap doesn't necessarily mean good, or even okay in some places.

Julie

That's the one that I was leaning towards, tripadivsor, was okay. Check it out, because I think one of the reviews made a comment about walking around after dark, I've look at so many hotels recently that I can't be sure.

 

[TheCruisers]

Just booked this cruise this morning. We were already on the transatlantic and saw what a great deal this one was and thought, well, we ARE already in the neighbourhood so WHY NOT!!!!

We are: Eleasa, my DH Jim and my DS Raine who will be 8 yrs old when we sail.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

 

[grlzmom]

Good morning everyone!

Well, we've got Julie, Sherry and myself at least for some sort of a pre-cruise meet. That's a start. Will definitely plan something. Sherry, where areyou staying? I shall look up the holiday inn express as well to find a convenient spot.

Wow. Jeanne, those rates are great! Good to hear.

We were happy to get a better price

Wah Wah Wah we will be on the ship so will miss the pre cruise meet but hope we can meet up soon after boarding because we are looking forward to it!

If anyone is out and about on Friday in Barcelona, we have a Segway tour in the a.m. and in the evening some of us from the Transatlantic cruise are going to go together to see the Magic Fountains if anyone is planning on being there.

 

[grlzmom]

Just booked this cruise this morning. We were already on the transatlantic and saw what a great deal this one was and thought, well, we ARE already in the neighbourhood so WHY NOT!!!!

We are: Eleasa, my DH Jim and my DS Raine who will be 8 yrs old when we sail.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

We are back to back too and my younger ones will be glad to have someone else their age doing both cruises!

 

[NC_Tink]

Just booked this cruise this morning. We were already on the transatlantic and saw what a great deal this one was and thought, well, we ARE already in the neighbourhood so WHY NOT!!!!

We are: Eleasa, my DH Jim and my DS Raine who will be 8 yrs old when we sail.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Aboard!!!

Alas, we'll miss the pre-cruise meet as well We actually won't arrive in Barcelona until about noon on the 24th (I know, we're cutting it close - but we've got faith that all will be well - okay - I'm keeping my fingers crossed! We've got a direct flight out of Heathrow at 9:20 am - as long as it leaves on time we should be good - I hope) Definitely looking forward to meeting all of you on the ship!

 

[skoi]

Welcome Eleasa and family!


Wow, this is great. I was alone on this thread for so long. I was thinking we'd have the entire ship to ourselves.

If only we could do the TA, but we can't.

Julie

 

[skoi]

That's the one that I was leaning towards, tripadivsor, was okay. Check it out, because I think one of the reviews made a comment about walking around after dark, I've look at so many hotels recently that I can't be sure.

We live in a big city already, and I'm always walking around in neighborhoods tourists wouldn't, so I'm not too worried. I heard similar things about Las Ramblas and some of the other neighborhood I looked at. I'll definitely check it out, though, thanks for the head's up. I don't remember if I looked on tripadvisor or not. I usually do.