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

[shushh]

Irish9697 Another warm welcolm here! The more the merrier!

 

[skoi]

Getting ready to pay off the cruise.

Watch out credit card.

 

[shushh]

Julie, just read your blog. What wonderful stories! It is admirable what you and your son are about to do in Morocco. Is Zhi Jie hte little cutie in blue on the right in your new photo?

And as for credit card, ours is about to feel the same pain...

 

[skoi]

Glad you liked it. I'm still moving the adoption blog over from the old server. I got distracted when I got my part time job.

Yes, Zhi Jie now Alex (thank goodness we didn't name him Vlad, I must have been nuts thinking that) is the one in blue. He's come a long way.

Julie

 

[mrosen]

Welcome Sherry and family.

I also noticed about a month ago that hotels weren't available online for at least that Friday. We're ended up booked into a Holiday Inn Express in Barcelona, a bit off the main drag, but near the Picasso Museum, etc. I think it's more of a business hotel. But there are three of us, and it was one of the cheapest options we could find.

Also, I read April 23rd is some sort of huge festival/feast day/holiday they celebrate there, St. Jordi's Day, which is the Feast of Saint George in the Arabic church, but there has sort of morphed into a Valentine's Day like thing, so maybe that's why everything's filled up?

We don't have many activities planned but am open to suggestions. We'll definitely have a meet up and we have a lot of veteran cruisers among the group, so any questions, ask away!

I'll also have our 11 year old ds on board. It's nice to see some more kids.



Julie

We didn't book our hotel yet and will be staying a few nights before the cruise (family of 4) Is this a mistake that we haven't booked the hotel yet before the April 24th cruise? This posting implies that we'll struggle to find a hotel. We were going to book later this month but sounds like we need to move faster.

On airfare, was also waiting til Dec just before we have to pay for the rest of the cruise to book that hoping we may find some better fares. Any comments on that would be welcome too.

thanks.

 

[mrosen]

Lubi, it seems like the excursion details come out about 150 days before sailing so the platinum/concierge cruisers can review before booking. So we have about 48 days!

Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. Celebrating our baby's first birthday! Hope you all have a great weekend.

I know I keep checking Disney site for details on shore excursions. We aren't a platinum or concierge cruiser - this will be our first disney cruise. Anyone know if the shore excursions details will be available for everyone to see before final payment is due on Dec 25th? I was hoping within a month the details would be available on what Disney is offering on options.

 

[skoi]

mrosen, let me say welcome if I haven't already. I've been very busy and I'm losing track of things.



We booked because we have a budget, and seized that Holiday Inn Express opportunity. I've been looking since the summer, never at the Disney partner hotels because I'd knew they'd be expensive. When I looked, though, all the hotels were expensive, and the cheaper ones tended to be only for two people maximum. The Disney partner hotels listed on their website didn't have availability when I looked for that Friday night. I don't know what the story is now.

With four, it might be better to look into an apartment, because hotels for four in Europe can be difficult to get at a decent price, from my understanding. It can't hurt to start looking now.

We don't have airfare. Honestly, I can't think about the cruise now that we have another trip in between. Big mistake to plan it that way, but when opportunity knocks, you answer.

Also, I have no idea about excursions. We've never done Disney excursions, and prefer to go on our own. But that was the Caribbean and the excursions were all set long before we started cruising. I have to imagine they'll be released in time for the opening of the castaway booking window.

Any other questions: ask away.

Julie

 

[NC_Tink]

We didn't book our hotel yet and will be staying a few nights before the cruise (family of 4) Is this a mistake that we haven't booked the hotel yet before the April 24th cruise? This posting implies that we'll struggle to find a hotel. We were going to book later this month but sounds like we need to move faster.

On airfare, was also waiting til Dec just before we have to pay for the rest of the cruise to book that hoping we may find some better fares. Any comments on that would be welcome too.

thanks.

We booked our hotel/apartment for a few days prior to the cruise already. I went through venere.com and found an apartment style hotel that sleeps 4 comfortably and had decent reviews on tripadvisor. Out on the main DCL forum there's a thread going about hotels in Barcelona (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1988958) Someone posted this website (http://www.travelforkids.com/Family-hotels/Spain/barcelona-family-hotels.htm#ramblas) as a source of information to find hotels for families. It looks like a nice resource in that it specifically states how many can sleep in a room. I decided to book a couple of months ago because I, too, had heard that it might be difficult to find accommodations for a family of 4 in one room. We found a place in the Sagrada Familia district, I think it's a little farther from all the action (like Las Ramblas), but that's okay - it's not far from a Metro Stop which I figure we can use to get wherever we need to. And, the best is that it isn't going to cost me a small fortune (okay - maybe it is - but by Barcelona standards, I think we did pretty well for 3 nights). Also, I made sure to book somewhere that allows me to cancel right up until the day or two before arrivial -- this way I keep checking other places, that might be a little closer to the action, that haven't released dates for 2010 yet.

As for air, we haven't booked yet either. I keep checking but it's a little much right now -- about $900 from RDU (Raliegh/Durham) and about $750 from JFK or Newark. I'm willing to drive there because my Brother lives in central NJ and we can leave our car with him -- at a savings of $150 - $200 per ticket -- that's a pretty big chunk of change and I get to visit with my Brother and his family for a couple of days. And, since many of the flights out of Raleigh require a layover in some other stateside airport, I can catch a direct flight out of the NY area. But, I digress. I have been told by a few sources, although these sources are not in the travel industry, they're just speaking from experience, that it's best to wait for airfare until about 4 months out. So, I plan to really start looking in late December/early January. I've been looking from time to time now and I've watched airfares climb about $100 per ticket on some airlines since the summer -- but I'm hoping that they come back down. I would love to be able to find tickets for under $600 and based on other people's information -- there were some very low airfares this past spring. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

 

[Happy Goofy]

Has any final decision been made on the Fish Externders and the Secret Mickeys on the April 24 Med cruise? What about the brunch at Palo or any other get together?
My husband and I would like to take part in any activities.

 

[guynwdm]

I think my Dad and I are going to either fly or take the train to Paris after the cruise and see Disneyland Paris. Is anyone else doing that? It's hard to believe that the final payment is about a month away. It's getting much closer!! I am also wanting to see what they offer for shore excurisions. At the D23 expo they talked about how adventures by Disney is pairing up with the cruiseline to create more port adventure level tours. Just hoping some of those would come available soon. I downloaded the podcasts the cruiseline put out for the last Med cruise so I could get an idea of the ports and the things to do at them

I have started looking for hotels for the stay and am trying to figure out what size rooms things really are there. I know the hotel rooms are much smaller than what we are used to in the US.

 

[skoi]

Hey Rob good to see you back around. We're all looking forward to hearing about these excursions. Someone on the big board linked an article about them, and they sound good enough to tempt me from my go-it-alone Tunisia plan.

We just need to pay off and get airfare, and we're ready.

No decision on Fish Extenders as far as I know.

Julie

 

[shushh]

HappyGoofy, we haven't decided on anything yet. Will definitely keep everyone in the loop if something were to be organised. I think we've all been too busy!

Good luck to everyone trying to find hotels and flights. I sure am glad I've booked mine. Now I can concentrate on christmas which I suddenly realise is not too far away. YIKES!

Does anyone know how the 2007 excursions were announced? Was there a big announcement? or did they just appear on the website? and we have to go looking ourselves...

 

[skoi]

Good luck to everyone trying to find hotels and flights. I sure am glad I've booked mine. Now I can concentrate on christmas which I suddenly realise is not too far away. YIKES!

Christmas! You're an evil, evil woman to bring that up. I can't imagine what it'll be like this year with all the craziness going on in my house. Of course Christmas decorations have been up in the store since before Halloween here. There's so much to do in the next few months.

Jule

 

[guynwdm]

I have not really had much time to think about the trip. I have Dis-a-paloosa and a possible trip the week after Christmas back to the world. I will have a week there in February as well so I have at least 2 maybe 3 trips to the world before the cruise. Then there's the holidays in there as well. I am going to need some vacations from the vacations

I am thinking with the weight limits the FE idea might be tricky. I am willing to keep a running list of who the disers are on the ship with the cabin numbers. We should plan a meet as well just to get to know each other.

Since I think this is the first time a Disney ship is stopping in Africa, that might be a good theme to use for our trip. Maybe something Lion King-ish for it.

 

[skoi]

Wow, all those trips. I thought I was busy with travel.

Lion King could work, but it's one of my least favorite. The kids and I are looking at different themes depending on the upcoming port. So for Tunis, we were thinking Aladdin, since that story is so well-known in the Arabic speaking world.

Italy, well, we have Pinocchio, so maybe we'll skip a Disney theme in those ports.

France has lots of choices.

Spain- who knows. I'm still thinking on that.

Julie

 

[guynwdm]

Aladdin is perfect, I had not thought of that. Genie... Magic.... seems like a fit to me.

If people want to send me their info I will get a list going.

Board Name, Names of adults and kids in the cabin and their relationship, cabin number and any special occasions that someone might be celebrating. I will work on getting it set up. I must be feeling a bit of energy tonight. It was a long day teaching today but I am still up for more things to do. Not sure where I got this spurt of energy tonight.

guynwdm Rob, Richard (father), cabin 5022, Rob's Birthday is 5/9 so celebrating early

 

[NC_Tink]

Thanks Rob! I'll PM you our information tonight. Right now I'm off to do some Christmas shopping...

 

[skoi]

Thanks Rob. I'll also Pm you shortly. Also- look on page one. We have some info in the roll call.

Julie

 

[shushh]

Hi all! Here's your good morning message from me again! Christmas decorations seem to be going up earlier and earlier everyyear. Funny how hotcross buns are now available all year round and not just at Easter time.

Just saw that the transatlantic excursions are up. HappyGoofy, did any of them take your fancy? I haven't had a chance to take a good look.

Rob, it would be bliss to be in your position. I wouldn't mind needing another vacation for all the vacations that you're having!! Bless you for helping Julie out, I think she's just a tad swamped at present...Will PM you some more info.

I think the Aladdin/genie/magic theme is a great idea. But I am not so creative in making up a catchy board name. Any ideas? How about "Our MAGICal carpet ride through the Mediterranean" Sorry if that is abit lame. Will brainstorm some more.

A meet as a minimum is a good idea. Shall we wait until after christmas to decide about the FE? If the group remains small, it may be doable. But I do share Rob's and Lubi's concern about weight/luggage restrictions.

Dreading the weekend as Mal will be oncall until Tuesday... so will be flying solo until then.

 

[shushh]

Forgot to ask....What is a "Dis-a-paloosa"?