6/29/15 Magic to Norway & Iceland

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Welcome to all--so fun to see such a big group.

Just checked a few mins ago. As was said before, the suites are all gone. Several categories are all gone. My category 4E is gone, which is not saying much since I think there are only about 8-10 cabins in 4E.

Suites were gone right away yesterday morning, before my TA even got through. Secret port hole rooms, too, and 7As within a few hours. My TA said yesterday was the craziest she's seen in it since she started working (10 years).

By transferring the OBB, we LOST over $1000.
I'm honestly a bit devastated at the moment and no longer nearly as excited about this trip.

Hugs! I'm so sorry to hear this. That really sucks. I talked with my TA in advance about this kind of thing. The problem is that if you double book a room (have the TA do one and you do the other), prices can rise from that. It's so hard to know what to do.

 

[luvavacation]

Hello! I booked this cruise yesterday, in utter shock that my husband actually said we should do this, since he was just saying a couple of weeks ago that summer 2015 he wanted to stay home and go nowhere! Unlike me, he likes being a homebody, whereas I really love to travel. So I am shocked, especially after seeing the prices, but very happy!

This cruise will be me, my husband, and probably our (at the time) 20 year old daughter. She is at University, so it is hard to know what will be planned for summer 2015 in her studies, but I am hoping she can make it!

Other than connections on airplanes in Copenhagen and London when I was young, I have never been to any of the ports. I look forward to learning about it all from those that have been!

One question to begin with, those beautiful Norwegian sweaters that I see at the Norway pavilion at Epcot, do they cost less in Norway? Because I have been wanting one for years, but the price always gives me pause when I see it at WDW. Plus I am usually sweating, as we go in the summer, so that also influences my lack of purchase! But I am sitting here with snow outside, and now I want one of those sweaters! Yes, I am already planning out my souvenir shopping.

I look forward to getting to know you all over the next year, and learning all about our destination!

 

[smores]

We booked yesterday (after 2 1/2 hr on phone) we got two cat 4A (on wait list for a suite). We are 2 adults (rusty and Karen) and 2 "kids" hannah will be 17 at cruise and Ethan will be 11.

 

[booger73]

I'm so glad we were able to book yesterday -
I checked prices today compared with yesterday
5A's (booked yesterday) was about 12k, this am, like 14k already...

Checking on flights.. roundtrip London + one way LON->CPH, seems near/close to a 'multi-city' x->CPH and LON->x. For us, seems to be about ~1600/pp.. but something to keep an eye on and consider.

If anyone has any tips, feel free to post - I've started a tips thread on the main board and we already have one person on that thread who lives in CPH also..

I'm personally going to be curious to ask how easy it is to get from Dover->London, and maybe throw in a round of Golf (dreamy, to play at the Old Course)

 

[fundulidae]

Hugs! I'm so sorry to hear this. That really sucks. I talked with my TA in advance about this kind of thing. The problem is that if you double book a room (have the TA do one and you do the other), prices can rise from that. It's so hard to know what to do.

Didn't even think about double booking a room - had know idea that the prices would skyrocket like that. Honestly, I would have done just that if I'd had an idea that this could happen.

But now I know for next time. I guess I just get to chalk this up to a learning experience. Too bad it was such an expensive lesson - $1000 would have gone pretty far on excursions and pre/post cruise stuff, or towards a 5th cruise so that next time I'll be Gold and have the early booking rights.

This is still going to be an amazing sailing, and I'm excited about that.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We booked yesterday (after 2 1/2 hr on phone) we got two cat 4A (on wait list for a suite). We are 2 adults (rusty and Karen) and 2 "kids" hannah will be 17 at cruise and Ethan will be 11.

Apparently one of the Royal suites was just released back into inventory for this cruise (they were all sold out first thing yesterday morning). For two people it's $47.5k (just saw it online as I was comparing prices).

You probably already know this, but I'd check tonight to see if any holds were released. The wait list doesn't always work. I'm actually releasing a hold I have on the 12 night Baltic (I'm doing two 9As instead for the B2B) that should go back in inventory sometime late tonight. I think the TAs have three days for holds, but individuals who booked yesterday only have until tonight to pay the deposit. The 1brd suite for 4 on the 12-night was $36k.

 

[McPackers]

I booked yesterday and will be traveling with DS10 (at time of travel). Looks like it will be a good groups with such an active thread already. Will probably add a pre or post London or Paris trip. Still have a few months to plan

 

[Medic193]

Hello everyone. Just booked this morning. Luckily I saw they opened up booking early, so it made it easier. It will be me, my wife and DD 15 DD 11.

We are planning to spend a few days in London afterwards, then travel up to Ireland for a few more days before flying back out of Dublin.

Looking forward to talking to everyone.

 

[tfc3rid]

Great to returning to the Magic in Europe, as we sailed the 2010 Baltic and last summer's Greek Islands!!

Oh but paying that deposit to my TA today hurt my wallet... LOL

 

[NAG]

I'm personally going to be curious to ask how easy it is to get from Dover->London, and maybe throw in a round of Golf (dreamy, to play at the Old Course)

In 2010 on the Baltic we used Silver Line Travel. Van for 5 people...

Cost at that time was 140 pounds from Pimlico to Dover. We paid 225 pounds on the return trip, but kept the car for an additional 3 hours for touring. We did also tip.

They were fine, as I can't remember any problems.

I beleive the train was cheaper, but we chose the convenience.

 

[Yensidfan]

Hi all. We booked this cruise yesterday. We are also cruising the Norway Fjords cruise before this one. That makes a great B@B 20 days of cruising.

Great to see many of our cruising friends on this cruise.

Pete & Faith

 

[calypso726]

I have to say I really enjoyed your Scotland ABD trip report! It will fun to meet you after reading about your adventure! And now knowing that others from your trip are on board is a bonus!

Debbie

Hi Debbie! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed my trip report I am looking forward to meeting everyone. It is pretty neat to see so many people we have either cruised with or done ABD Scotland with us!

Dh and I are all booked! Very happy that the US prices correspond exactly as I thought they would to the British pound. We picked the cheapest option in order to save for port excursions but might consider upgrading (if it doesn't sell out) depending on money over the next year. Very very excited. I have been dying to go to Iceland for years! And to hop off the cruise and be home in 10min will be great.

If anyone needs help/ideas/recommendations for the Dover/Kent area, please just let me know! We've done all the sites, know hotels and restaurants.

Do FE's happen on European cruises? We loved ours on the Dream last month, but I imagine weight restrictions abroad might put people off?

aboard! Thanks for offering to answer the multitude of questions I am sure many of us will have!

I'll definitely be looking for advice on Dover. Best airport to fly out from, things to do between getting off the ship and flying home, possibly a hotel for a night...

Me too!

Great to see this group so active. We booked yesterday DH Paul and I. We are sailing with my DS and BIL ME& Dusty and friends Bill and Pam we have 3 5c cabins next to each other. Looks like we have sailed with some you folks over the past years. Looking forward to the trip.

We are looking at doing round trip air into Heathrow and geting a one way flight from Heathrow to Denmark. At first review this looks a lot less than two one way tickets but we have about 4 months before we can even really reseach airfare.
Sue

aboard! I am also very happy to see that this is an active thread. I think it will make the cruise even more fun and exciting!

We booked yesterday! Me, my wife Laura and our 3 lucky kids (22-24). Seems like a nice group here.

aboard. I agree!

We booked yesterday morning after 2 hours on hold! I am so excited.... I never thought we would go to Iceland!

It will be me, my husband Geoff, and our 9 year old and 5 year old.

aboard! I never thought we'd be going so soon, it was always maybe some day?

Hey, I'm Julia and My dad and I booked this cruise yesterday. We don't know for sure we are doing it, will know for sure most likely December 2014-Paid In Full Date. We were going to book a med cruise, but then my Mom and her mother or my nannie, decided they finally wanted to go to Japan, so giving up the Med this year and doing Japan in November. We do have a 3 night on Magic booked April 11th this year though. This cruise worked good with time and Dad wants to get back to Copenhagen, so didn't need to talk him into this

aboard Julia! I hope you end up sticking with us.

All booked here talk about sticker shock especially because its just me going the 200% fare sucks. Looking forward to seeing/meeting all of you. Can't wait to see the blue lagoon and hopefully Northern Lights

aboard! Yeah those prices were a bit of a heart stopper! Oh seeing the Northern lights will be breath taking!

Booked online this morning! I booked a 9C and they were going fast. I would click on an available stateroom and it would be gone. Click on another and it would be gone. I ended up booking a 9C GTY. Prices have gone up $1000 for category 9's in the past 2 hours.

Glad to hear you are with us! The price hikes remind me of when the new Scotland ABD opened up for booking last year. They sky rocketed in no time.

Just checked a few mins ago. As was said before, the suites are all gone. Several categories are all gone. My category 4E is gone, which is not saying much since I think there are only about 8-10 cabins in 4E.

This cruise is the most expensive that we've ever taken. I just about fell on the floor when I booked it yesterday.

Is this a inaugural cruise? If so, is there anything special that we might expect for it?

We'll Norway is an inaugural itinerary so I hope so!

We are booked also. Yeah! Love Iceland, the Faroese Islands, and Norway!

aboard!

I'm considerably less excited now...

If I had just booked online this morning when I got up, I would have paid $5,785.24 for a 9B, including insurance.

Because we were trying to transfer an OBB, the prices sky-rocketed and we are now on the hook for $6,213.98, and that doesn't include nearly $500 for insurance.

By transferring the OBB, we LOST over $1000.


I'm honestly a bit devastated at the moment and no longer nearly as excited about this trip.

Don't let it get you down. The same thing happened to me last year when we booked the Scotland ABD. It took me a few days to figure out if we'd be able to do it and that cost us over $1000. If I had just booked and then tried to figure it out we'd have saved all that money. I didn't let it get me down, frustrating as it was. It was still the best trip we have ever taken!

Hello! I booked this cruise yesterday, in utter shock that my husband actually said we should do this, since he was just saying a couple of weeks ago that summer 2015 he wanted to stay home and go nowhere! Unlike me, he likes being a homebody, whereas I really love to travel. So I am shocked, especially after seeing the prices, but very happy!

This cruise will be me, my husband, and probably our (at the time) 20 year old daughter. She is at University, so it is hard to know what will be planned for summer 2015 in her studies, but I am hoping she can make it!

Other than connections on airplanes in Copenhagen and London when I was young, I have never been to any of the ports. I look forward to learning about it all from those that have been!

One question to begin with, those beautiful Norwegian sweaters that I see at the Norway pavilion at Epcot, do they cost less in Norway? Because I have been wanting one for years, but the price always gives me pause when I see it at WDW. Plus I am usually sweating, as we go in the summer, so that also influences my lack of purchase! But I am sitting here with snow outside, and now I want one of those sweaters! Yes, I am already planning out my souvenir shopping.

I look forward to getting to know you all over the next year, and learning all about our destination!

aboard! Oh goodness souvenir shopping hadn't even hit my radar ... until now Don't know the answer to your question but I certainly hope so. I'd like one too. Even though I will only get to wear it once a year since we live in Florida.

 

[tfc3rid]

If you haven't been to these ports, please keep in mind that Northern Europe is a lot safer in terms of petty crime that the Med ports so that is good...

However, souvenir shopping is VERY expensive, as Denmark, Norway and Iceland are NOT on the Euro...

 

[McPackers]

One question to begin with, those beautiful Norwegian sweaters that I see at the Norway pavilion at Epcot, do they cost less in Norway? Because I have been wanting one for years, but the price always gives me pause when I see it at WDW. Plus I am usually sweating, as we go in the summer, so that also influences my lack of purchase! But I am sitting here with snow outside, and now I want one of those sweaters! Yes, I am already planning out my souvenir shopping.

I look forward to getting to know you all over the next year, and learning all about our destination!

Great question!! I will be on the look out for those sweaters as well and hopefully at a much more reasonable price than at Epcot.

 

[happypooh]

Booked this morning online! Yayayayayay!
This will be our most expensive cruise ever but I hope worth it!
We are not as of yet booked on the B2B so for those that are...what compelling reasons do you have for wanting to see more of Norway? I need some good answers to convince my DH!
My kids have been wanting to sail on the Magic for years and I can't wait to tell them...Christmas call from Mickey maybe??

 

[tfc3rid]

Great question!! I will be on the look out for those sweaters as well and hopefully at a much more reasonable price than at Epcot.

I ended up getting one in Oslo in 2010 for about $100 US. That was near the low end of the prices I saw.

 

[tfc3rid]

I'm excited for our proximity to the Arctic Circle when we are in Iceland. Back in 2010, we had a night with 20 minutes of complete darkness... I'm figuring we will have someone around a 2 or 3 minute night when we up in Icleand!

 

[McPackers]

I ended up getting one in Oslo in 2010 for about $100 US. That was near the low end of the prices I saw.

That is cheaper than Epcot, which was in the mid $200. I have to start saving my pennies now.

 

[tfc3rid]

That is cheaper than Epcot, which was in the mid $200. I have to start saving my pennies now.

Top of the line wool sweaters in Oslo were from about mid $200 to about $400 US.

Thankfully, you can just get your VAT refund at the cruise ship port so you can recoup a nice amount of that right away.

 

[lolainkent]

I'm so glad we were able to book yesterday -
I checked prices today compared with yesterday
5A's (booked yesterday) was about 12k, this am, like 14k already...

Checking on flights.. roundtrip London + one way LON->CPH, seems near/close to a 'multi-city' x->CPH and LON->x. For us, seems to be about ~1600/pp.. but something to keep an eye on and consider.

If anyone has any tips, feel free to post - I've started a tips thread on the main board and we already have one person on that thread who lives in CPH also..

I'm personally going to be curious to ask how easy it is to get from Dover->London, and maybe throw in a round of Golf (dreamy, to play at the Old Course)

Very easy! There's now a high speed train link that connects Dover to London St Pancras, with stops in Folkestone Central (my stop!), Folkestone West, Ashford, Ebsfleet, Stratford (where the Olympic park is) and St Pancras. From Dover it takes about an hour (uses the Eurostar line). It's not cheap (off-peak one-way is about £40, I think; on-peak, 10am and earlier is considerably more), but the "slow train" adds about an hour to your journey. The cruise terminal to Dover Priory station is pretty close. A taxi would cost about £5-10, I would think.