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

[Brooklyn]

The uniform is so nice for formal and pictures.

I know! The girls also love having him dressed up like that bc there are really no other times to see him in it.

If he pins on LtCol on April 1st it is def taking the trip. Since we have 2 cruises he can wear it for it might be worth it.

 

[grlzmom]

I know! The girls also love having him dressed up like that bc there are really no other times to see him in it.

If he pins on LtCol on April 1st it is def taking the trip. Since we have 2 cruises he can wear it for it might be worth it.

Plus don't you get a bigger baggage allowance with your airline? If he pins on he needs to wear it because thats a big thing to celebrate.

What I miss about military life is my kids being really little and clomping around in daddy's big boots and hats. I don't miss recall and bag drag though.

 

[Brooklyn]

Plus don't you get a bigger baggage allowance with your airline? If he pins on he needs to wear it because thats a big thing to celebrate.

What I miss about military life is my kids being really little and clomping around in daddy's big boots and hats. I don't miss recall and bag drag though.

Yes we get 2 bags for free per person...but remember I brought 14 suitcases on the last TA! I will not be repeating that this time though!!!

 

[carpenta]

Just found this sight. We (myself,52 yr old male, my wife and my 9 yr old daughter ) will be on this cruise also. We were on the ignaugral Disney trip to the Med in 2007 and it was great.Barcelona is a wonderful city to explore and very easy to navigate. I can elaborate on the excursions we took in the ports that we will be visiting that are the same this trip. Rome.Florence Naples .Thanks.

 

[Brooklyn]

Just found this sight. We (myself,52 yr old male, my wife and my 9 yr old daughter ) will be on this cruise also. We were on the ignaugral Disney trip to the Med in 2007 and it was great.Barcelona is a wonderful city to explore and very easy to navigate. I can elaborate on the excursions we took in the ports that we will be visiting that are the same this trip. Rome.Florence Naples .Thanks.

 

[NC_Tink]

Just found this sight. We (myself,52 yr old male, my wife and my 9 yr old daughter ) will be on this cruise also. We were on the ignaugral Disney trip to the Med in 2007 and it was great.Barcelona is a wonderful city to explore and very easy to navigate. I can elaborate on the excursions we took in the ports that we will be visiting that are the same this trip. Rome.Florence Naples .Thanks.

Carpenta and Family!!![/INDENT]

 

[shushh]

Welcome onboard!

We celebrated Australia Day yesterday and so had a nice day together as family. Our cousins from Holland were also here so it made lunch even nicer!

Busy preparing for the start of school tomorrow...Can't believe how quickly the school holidays has gone by.

 

[skoi]

Welcome Carpenta and family!

We're really filling up.

I'll update the first post when I hear about the time for the fountains.

Bad news: Our flight to Morocco was canceled! I called to book a ticket for Sadie, and they said, "oh there's a problem with your flight to Casablanca. Royal Air Morocco canceled it." So now we're in a wait and see pattern.

And for saluting: I know the Navy has the rule of no saluting when you're uncovered, but I didn't know the Marines did. Makes sense. If you had to salute everytime you see an officer on a ship, uncovered, it would be constant. They'd all have "salute elbow" or something.

Julie

 

[shushh]

Julie, that's bad news. They didn't tell you that they cancelled the flight?!?!?! Yikes.

Please excuse the ignorant question from a non-military person. When you say covered, I take it you mean wearing some sort of hat?

 

[Brooklyn]

Julie, that's bad news. They didn't tell you that they cancelled the flight?!?!?! Yikes.

Please excuse the ignorant question from a non-military person. When you say covered, I take it you mean wearing some sort of hat?

Yes in the military they call a hat a cover. My favorite though is calling tennis shoes "go-fasters"

 

[shushh]

May I ask my American friends your thoughts on flying vs taking the train from New York to Washington DC in Jan for a group of 4 adults and 6 children (aged 2-8)?

 

[NC_Tink]

A flight from NYC to DC takes about 1 hour vs. train would take about 5 hours. I would fly over the train. Especially since the costs are about the same between train tickets and discount airlines. JetBlue flies direct New York (JFK) to DC (Dulles) . Southwest Airlines will take you from New York Laguardi (LGA) to Baltimore (BWI) and from there you have options to take a train (about 30 - 45 min trip) or rent a car (about a 40 min drive during non peak hours).

 

[shushh]

Thanks Lubi for the info. As we're going from city centre to city centre, we thought we'd consider it.

I am rather upset at DCL at the moment. The TA called on my behalf with regard to any priorities/special arrangements for those with early flights. She was told that unfortunately, they can not make any special accommodations. We will be able to disembark at 7:00 AM. They recommended that I disembark as
early as possible. When the TA mentioned DCL having booked a passenger on the sailing a 10am flight, they went into denial mode and they said that is very strange since they haven't released the air scheduled for these sailings and won't until 45 days prior.

Why can't they behave like other cruiselines? The ones we've been on arrange their passengers disembarking based on flight schedules. They don't make them skip breakfast and carry their own luggage down. When I cruised celebrity, the luggage of those with the earliest flights were especially tagged and set aside in one area. I feel so frustrated.

 

[shushh]

For those with early flights, I thought I'd post this. This is from someone on cruisecritic...

"Just off ship on Sunday. We were on CO flight to EWR at 10:30. anyone providing info to you on a trip prior to 12/24 doesn't have the correct info so just beware of the new flight rules for US bound flts. Basically, So long as the ship arrival in BCN is on time, you will be able to make a 10:30 flight. We were off the ship by 6a.m and at the airport by 6:45. we didn't take our own luggage off and we took the NCL bus to the airport. the airline check in counters only open 3 hours prior to flight. Beware of this NOW in BCN. There are 3 checkpoints to consider. First, normal security, 2nd, border checkpoint, 3rd and WORST, checkpoint for flts departing to US. complete hand search of EVERY carry on article and body search. I do mean EVERY.
Our flt. was delayed due to airport screw up but nonetheless expect 2 hours for all of the above. Don't dilly dally in the shops. go to the gate as soon as you can. Really."

 

[grlzmom]

Thanks Lubi for the info. As we're going from city centre to city centre, we thought we'd consider it.

I am rather upset at DCL at the moment. The TA called on my behalf with regard to any priorities/special arrangements for those with early flights. She was told that unfortunately, they can not make any special accommodations. We will be able to disembark at 7:00 AM. They recommended that I disembark as
early as possible. When the TA mentioned DCL having booked a passenger on the sailing a 10am flight, they went into denial mode and they said that is very strange since they haven't released the air scheduled for these sailings and won't until 45 days prior.

Why can't they behave like other cruiselines? The ones we've been on arrange their passengers disembarking based on flight schedules. They don't make them skip breakfast and carry their own luggage down. When I cruised celebrity, the luggage of those with the earliest flights were especially tagged and set aside in one area. I feel so frustrated.

It is going to be a pain dragging all the bags and lining up to wait to get off, but you won't be alone There will be a bunch of us on early flights. Is going to be stressful though.

Time wise you think they would HAVE to do something for the guests that they booked onto 10:00 a.m. flights heading to the US because that is really tight. But if DCL can get them on a 10:00 flight I can surely get my tribe on a 10:50 one.

 

[grlzmom]

Just found this sight. We (myself,52 yr old male, my wife and my 9 yr old daughter ) will be on this cruise also. We were on the ignaugral Disney trip to the Med in 2007 and it was great.Barcelona is a wonderful city to explore and very easy to navigate. I can elaborate on the excursions we took in the ports that we will be visiting that are the same this trip. Rome.Florence Naples .Thanks.

Would love to hear about your previous excursions to Rome, Florence and Naples!

 

[grlzmom]

Yes we get 2 bags for free per person...but remember I brought 14 suitcases on the last TA! I will not be repeating that this time though!!!

I can't comprehend 14 bags Where did you put them all in your staterooms?

The problem for me is always bringing back way more than I take (especially with girls who love to shop). Too bad there isn't an economical shipping stuff back home option for after the cruise.......

 

[shushh]

It is going to be a pain dragging all the bags and lining up to wait to get off, but you won't be alone There will be a bunch of us on early flights. Is going to be stressful though.

Good morning Jeanne! I was just about to head into bed when I read your message.

The only thing keeping me laughing about the whole thing is the thought of the group of us in line waiting to get off with all our luggage munching on breakfast while we're waiting!

 

[uwo93]

I believe that the cabin stewards have places to store luggage outside of the cabins, plus there is space under the bed.

we had the little round table removed in the past, but can you really have the couch taken out. or was someone joking? DS2 may be most comfortable in the playard and don't know where it is going to go. he co-slept with us last time.

has everyone seen the "what to bring" list? it is back up on the board.

 

[grlzmom]

I believe that the cabin stewards have places to store luggage outside of the cabins, plus there is space under the bed.

we had the little round table removed in the past, but can you really have the couch taken out. or was someone joking? DS2 may be most comfortable in the playard and don't know where it is going to go. he co-slept with us last time.

has everyone seen the "what to bring" list? it is back up on the board.

When ours were little we had the room steward bring bed rails to use for the bottom bunk (couch). It worked really well.