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

[skoi]

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!

Wow, you're so brave! I'm sure you'll make it.

How about an onboard meet up around 3:00 at the Promenade Lounge on deck 3?

Sorry for all the posts. I tried the multi-quote, but it never works for me. Technology is NOT my friend.

Julie

 

[TheCruisers]

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

My DS will be happy too!

 

[shushh]

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.

Jeanne, that's a good suggestion. I was chatting to Julie and she thinks its a good idea too. Shall we organise a meet at the Magic Fountains? That way both the TA and med cruisers who are in Barcelona early can go. Which show were the TA cruisers planning to go to?

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!

Keeping our fingers for you as well Lubi. I'm sure it will be ok!

How about an onboard meet up around 3:00 at the Promenade Lounge on deck 3?
Julie

Shall we make this official unless someone has any real objections to it?

 

[shushh]

Welcome Eleasa! I meant to say this in my previous post but forgot to add it in! We've got a 7 year old as well.

 

[shushh]

I can obvious do the multi-quote thing by my brain is too scattered to put everything I want to say in one go so bear with me and excuse the mutiple posts!

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.

Stick with me Julie, I'm armed with a spanish phrasebook. You'll be safe. We'll probably head to Montserrat really early on the 22nd. The kids will probably be up at some ungodly hour anyway because of teh time difference so might as well take advantage of it. Will message you to discuss more.

 

[skoi]

Jeanne: did you mention military rates? Are you a military family? We can't get them, since husband is in the reserves and not currently deployed (thankfully, a year of him in Afghanistan was enough). I'd rather have him home than get the discount.

I so wish we could do the TA, but I can't leave the little ones with dh that long. They'd kill each other.

Julie

 

[Brooklyn]

Hi everyone! I seem to forget about this thread sometimes! I seem to always be posting on the TA.

I just talked to DCL and here is the breakdown they gave me:
Night 2 Formal
Night 7 Semi Formal
Night 8 Pirate
Night 10 Semi Formal

It is really close to the Med cruises last time. The only difference is pirate night.

We are thrilled that military rates came out on this cruise and the TA. We upgraded both our CAT 12's on the TA to CAT 5's for only $550. We upgraded one of our CAT 12's on the Med for $175. We are keeping the other CAT 12 bc we got the $2200 for 4 of us and the upgrade was much more. DH and I will move to an inside room for the Med and grandma and the girls will have the same verandah for 25 nights!

I hope all is well with everyone! Some exciting news for us to share is that DD jus auditioned for a musical theatre production of Sleeping Beauty and she was cast as Sleeping Beauty at age 10. This is one of the biggest roles that she has ever gotten and has been on cloud 9 since the list came out!

 

[grlzmom]

Jeanne: did you mention military rates? Are you a military family? We can't get them, since husband is in the reserves and not currently deployed (thankfully, a year of him in Afghanistan was enough). I'd rather have him home than get the discount.

I so wish we could do the TA, but I can't leave the little ones with dh that long. They'd kill each other.

Julie

If your dh is active reserves and has id and paperwork that indicates active reserve you may qualify (inactive reserve does NOT qualify). Best thing to do you can fax his ID to Disney Cruise line and they will tell you if you aren't sure. Dh was inactive reserve and got activated again so we qualify. He got out of active duty but always seems to get recalled for some thing or another Thankfully it's been stateside deployment since he became reserves.

Disboard meet at 3:00 after embarking sounds great to me!

Not sure what the time plan is for the Magic Fountain, Lynne I think is taking charge of that one but would be great to all get together.

This is going to be a great cruise and we are so looking forward to meeting all of you!

 

[grlzmom]

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!

You will make it in with plenty of time to spare! Direct flights are great

 

[grlzmom]

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!

Just noticed your DS name is Raine. My DD8 is Chloe Raine

 

[NC_Tink]

Hi everyone! I seem to forget about this thread sometimes! I seem to always be posting on the TA.

I just talked to DCL and here is the breakdown they gave me:
Night 2 Formal
Night 7 Semi Formal
Night 8 Pirate
Night 10 Semi Formal

It is really close to the Med cruises last time. The only difference is pirate night.

We are thrilled that military rates came out on this cruise and the TA. We upgraded both our CAT 12's on the TA to CAT 5's for only $550. We upgraded one of our CAT 12's on the Med for $175. We are keeping the other CAT 12 bc we got the $2200 for 4 of us and the upgrade was much more. DH and I will move to an inside room for the Med and grandma and the girls will have the same verandah for 25 nights!

I hope all is well with everyone! Some exciting news for us to share is that DD jus auditioned for a musical theatre production of Sleeping Beauty and she was cast as Sleeping Beauty at age 10. This is one of the biggest roles that she has ever gotten and has been on cloud 9 since the list came out!

Thanks for posting the theme night stuff!

So, here's a question -- I know that in 2007 it seems that the "expectations" for formal and semi-formal nights in terms of the way people dressed for those nights was much more relaxed. I think, this may, in part, been due to all of the luggage problems that occurred that year. Do you think it will still be more relaxed this time? I'm just thinking about packing and if I don't have to pack suits for DH and the boys -- it would be a BIG space saver (plus a $$ saver since I don't think the suits I purchased the boys in August (for last Sept. cruise) will even fit anymore! Why do they have to grow so darn fast??? Do you think DH & boys can get away with nice shirts and slacks? Or, will most men be wearing suit jackets and then they'll feel out of place?

Congratulations to Sleeping Beauty!!!

 

[Brooklyn]

I LOVE the graphics in your post! I can't wait to show DD. She is going to be so excited! Thanks!

I honestly don't remember about formal. I for one do not dress up all that much. A simple black dress, that's it. DD's however dress up and DH wears his uniform. I remember seeing women in formal gowns and women just like me, simple. As for the men I can't really remember. What I do remember is that DH wore his mess dress uniform (which we will not be bringing) and everyone thought he worked on the ship! They would ask him directions and he would not have a clue. It was only our 3rd night on the Disney ship ever!

 

[TheCruisers]

Just noticed your DS name is Raine. My DD8 is Chloe Raine

I told my son this, and he says "Cool! I wouldn't mind makin' friends with her."

Eleasa

 

[skoi]

We love to dress up, so we'll be dressed up. The kids are already planning for pirate night.

A lot of people won't be dressed in suits and gowns. I don't think it matters much. It's not like we'll be on the Queen Mary or the Titanic.

Julie

 

[grlzmom]

We dress for formal and semi formal. We are pretty casual on cruise casual and thinking it will definately be that was for us on the MED.

After 14 nights on the transatlantic, and long port days we will be tired of and too tired to dress up much.

My girls of course usually dress up, my son, not so much. He'd rather eat and run to the lab and could care less about most of the shows or entertainment.

With luggage constraints we are thinking to leave the pirate costumes home this time too.

Need room for souvenirs!

 

[auntlynne]

I'm on vacation. Can't remember if I told you guys.

Don't know which of the Magical Montjuic Fountain times we'll choose - they are on the half hour: 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30.

I like the 3:00 Promenade Lounge Meet & Greet.

If we can decide what to do about a theme & lanyard, we can distribute them at the Meet & Greet.

I know we are skipping the FE, but I'd like to have lanyards.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen...Lend me your EARS or Magic in the Mediterranean? Anyone, Anyone? a prefernce?

Lynne

 

[skoi]

We have no preference for time of the Barcelona meet up. People with younger kids might want to let us know which one is best for them in terms of kids' sleeping habits. Of course, those of us unluckies who didn't do the TA are going to be sort of messed up due to time change (especially Belinda and her family).

I think both of the logos are great. I'm too easy, I guess, but if I had to choose, I'd go with the friends, Romans... with the mouse ears because I love Rome and Julius Caesar is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays and I love Antony's soliloquoy. But I'm a history geek.

What would be the cost of lanyards and how do we order them? We've had those little bracelet things on the other cruises, but again, don't know where they came from. I just usually do Palo, none of the other things.

Julie

 

[shushh]

Good morning!

With regard the magic fountain show, I would prefer the earliest show but would be happy to try fit to the schedule of others as well. Also wondering if the time of sunset would make a difference? Does it have to be dark for the show?

I am also quite easy. I vote for Lend me your EARS.

The semi-formal and formal nights seem to be on the sea days. Is this right?

 

[grlzmom]

We aren't too picky about the logo stuff, I like the EARS but really not a big deal either way.

Whatever time for the fountains is great with me, no preference.

Lynne, hope you are having fun on that vacation!

Still no airfare purchased for me. Scared to book the 10:45 flight but it's the one I really want.

Lanyards, not a biggie to me either. We have always just worn the ones DCL gives us, so no idea how that whole process works.

Hope you are all having a great day and getting excited for this trip. I am really excited about the ports as I have never been to any of them!

 

[NC_Tink]

I think that based on the info that Brooklyn posted -- it looks like formal is on night 2 which is a sea day, but the two semi-formals are on nights 7 and 10 which are the La Spezia and Villefranche days. Pirate night is scheduled for a sea day - night 8. I think they probably didn't schedule the last semi-formal night on the last sea day because of packing -- all luggage (that you're not carrying off yourself) has to be outside of your stateroom between 9 and 11pm. For late diners, like us -- that usually means we get dinner and then head back to our rooms to get all our stuff out the door just in time for pickup.