7/13/13 ~~ Eastern Mediterranean Mouseketeers!

[Maximho]

... got any words of wisdom for all of us Eastern Mediterranean Mouseketeers?! ...

Take the stairs, always - you'll be boss. Get a Disney credit card from Visa: the points are Disney$ (oh yeah). Try at least one thing you would never eat on dry land. Don't stop to think how little sleep you are actually getting. Learn your support team's names: servers, stateroom host... and use them. Book your next cruise on the boat, first thing first day - unless you need another queue in your life. Bring your own 'go cup' for the soda and coffee fountain. And, if you are a light sleeper, bring ear plugs: the ship creaks like the Black Pearl.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Take the stairs, always - you'll be boss. Get a Disney credit card from Visa: the points are Disney$ (oh yeah). Try at least one thing you would never eat on dry land. Don't stop to think how little sleep you are actually getting. Learn your support team's names: servers, stateroom host... and use them. Book your next cruise on the boat, first thing first day - unless you need another queue in your life. Bring your own 'go cup' for the soda and coffee fountain. And, if you are a light sleeper, bring ear plugs: the ship creaks like the Black Pearl.

Love it, love it! These are great words of wisdom so a profuse thank you for these helpful nuggets of wisdom! Does anyone else have any great advice for all of us Eastern Med Mouseketeers? Please post them here and we'll add this information somewhere on our first page.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Just for kicks I plugged in my family of four (kids will be nine next year) on our cruise date and only insides and ocean views are showing -- no verandahs or concierge at all! So the cruise must really be selling. I've heard similar things about the popularity of the June sailing. Rooms will open up, no doubt, when the paid in full date hits.

 

[MrsG]

Advice:

Make sure you go with the thought that you are only going to see a small sampling of a port. If you do that, you won't be disappointed with what you didn't see. Plus, if you really love a place, it is a great excuse to go back!!!



Sorry I've been off the grid for awhile. DS is getting married next week so it's been a little busy around here.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Advice:

Make sure you go with the thought that you are only going to see a small sampling of a port. If you do that, you won't be disappointed with what you didn't see. Plus, if you really love a place, it is a great excuse to go back!!!



Sorry I've been off the grid for awhile. DS is getting married next week so it's been a little busy around here.

Congratulations on your son's pending wedding. Savor every moment of it!!

 

[FloridaMom3461]

Here are the hotels that DCL will be using in Barcelona:

Pullman Barcelona Skipper -- http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-7341-pullman-barcelona-skipper/index.shtml
Hilton Diagonal Mar-- https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/hi/reservation/book.htm?execution=e1s1
Renaissance Barcelona (used to be the AC Diplomat) -- http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bcndm-diplomatic-hotel-barcelona-ac-hotel-diplomatic/
Le Meridien -- http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1931

Those are the resorts that DCL used for the last Mediterranean Cruises. I just spoke with Toni at DCL and according to her there are only 2 resorts they are using at this time:

Hilton Diagonal Mar-- https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/hi/...execution=e1s1
Renaissance Barcelona (used to be the AC Diplomat) -- http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...el-diplomatic/

For one pre night the pricing is $235 for your stay at the Hilton. For the Renaissance I am being quoted $300 per night.

Ground transfer pricing is as follows

Barcelona Ground Transfers
Direct motor coach transfers from Barcelona International Airport to the Port of Barcelona are available to purchase for Guests who arranged independent flights. The recommended flight arrival time is before 1:15 p.m.

For Guests departing from Barcelona International Airport following their cruise, the recommended flight departure time is on or after 12:30 p.m..
Transfers from the airport to one of the select Barcelona hotels are only available to Guests who purchase post-nights through Disney Cruise Line.
Motor coach transfer cost, per person 3 years and older:
Cruise Only
A-P, P-A
$60 (A=Airport; P=Port;
R=Resort)
With Post-Nights
A-P, P-R, R-A
$79

(note: Hotel costs were for 2 adults and 1 child)

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Those are the resorts that DCL used for the last Mediterranean Cruises. I just spoke with Toni at DCL and according to her there are only 2 resorts they are using at this time:

Hilton Diagonal Mar-- https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/hi/...execution=e1s1
Renaissance Barcelona (used to be the AC Diplomat) -- http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...el-diplomatic/

For one pre night the pricing is $235 for your stay at the Hilton. For the Renaissance I am being quoted $300 per night.

Ground transfer pricing is as follows

Barcelona Ground Transfers
Direct motor coach transfers from Barcelona International Airport to the Port of Barcelona are available to purchase for Guests who arranged independent flights. The recommended flight arrival time is before 1:15 p.m.

For Guests departing from Barcelona International Airport following their cruise, the recommended flight departure time is on or after 12:30 p.m..
Transfers from the airport to one of the select Barcelona hotels are only available to Guests who purchase post-nights through Disney Cruise Line.
Motor coach transfer cost, per person 3 years and older:
Cruise Only
A-P, P-A
$60 (A=Airport; P=Port;
R=Resort)
With Post-Nights
A-P, P-R, R-A
$79

(note: Hotel costs were for 2 adults and 1 child)

Interesting ... I'm wondering why the other two were dropped?!

 

[Eleblanc]

Can someone please clarify for me how the transfers work? If we book one of the hotels that DCL is using on our own, can we then use the check in service for the cruise at the hotel and the transfers to the port if we request and pay for it? Does anyone know how much it would cost?

We plan buying our plane tickets or driving to Barcelona and booking the hotel ourselves. Have never used a DCL hotel pre-cruise before or the check in service but it seems like it would be easier than lugging everything to the port ourselves.

 

[MrsG]

Congratulations on your son's pending wedding. Savor every moment of it!!

Thanks so much! Once it is over and we're back from Aulani (figure we'll need a little R&R) it will be serious preparation for this Magical cruise!!!

 

[Stimpy]

Wow can you believe it's almost a year to our cruise??

Haven't had time yet to relax this summer! The kids have been keeping us crazy. My son is in 2 plays & daughter is in lacrosse & day camp....plus the constant shuttling to friends houses

I'm so torn about whether or not to get a night in the hotel in Barcelona or not before the cruise. Last time for the Baltic we didn't. It wasn't too bad....except when we stop in England for a short break. DD-7 at the time fell asleep on me in an outdoor, unshaded super busy bus station for an hour in the heat wave while everyone else went sightseeing. (My mom stayed with me too) Soooo me & DH remember that first day MUCH differently! Guess which one of us wants the hotel room???

Another tip...if you are a frequent visitor of the Cove Cafe...make sure to get that card stamped every time! those drinks add up fast & a free one is a nice bonus!

 

[fabulousoldshoes]

Another tip...if you are a frequent visitor of the Cove Cafe...make sure to get that card stamped every time! those drinks add up fast & a free one is a nice bonus!

On that note, if you have a punch card that isn't entirely filled from a previous cruise you can bring it and they will punch it still. So you'll get a free drink quicker and you won't have to waste those old punches.

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

And speaking about libations of one sort or another, my husband bought one of those DCL refillable beer mugs on the 2-day NY Magic cruise and the bartender said that we could bring it back on future cruises and get the same special deal. The mug is heavy and not the greatest thing to have to pack, so since he likes the frosty mug so much that we probably will just buy another one on our next cruise so he can start his own little collection!

 

[Stimpy]

And speaking about libations of one sort or another, my husband bought one of those DCL refillable beer mugs on the 2-day NY Magic cruise and the bartender said that we could bring it back on future cruises and get the same special deal. The mug is heavy and not the greatest thing to have to pack, so since he likes the frosty mug so much that we probably will just buy another one on our next cruise so he can start his own little collection!

YES! I was just going to to mention this in connection with Fabulousoldshoes post about Cove Cafe punchcards...my DH held onto the refillable beer mug card! He was told he could use that to bring back on the next cruise instead of dragging back the mug itself. Usually we bring the mug home each trip with the intention of bringing it back again. Of course we always forget to pack it or there isn't room. So this year we are going to try the card. I have it with all our documents & passports, ready to go! With my luck they will change the whole program though!

Did anyone see the DVC deal on the Canada cruises?? OMG, I am sooo tempted. The kids just go back to school though. I'm already looking at one cruise though thinking if we take them out early, they would only miss 2 full days & the day we get back we can drop them off the day we get back for half a day! Why must DCL torture me so!!??

 

[kehonuamemano]

Did anyone see the DVC deal on the Canada cruises?? OMG, I am sooo tempted. The kids just go back to school though. I'm already looking at one cruise though thinking if we take them out early, they would only miss 2 full days & the day we get back we can drop them off the day we get back for half a day! Why must DCL torture me so!!??

yes we did and we booked the 7th-12th using your exact line of logic. Join us

 

[DizC1288]

One year from today we will be boarding the Magic!

It will be myself ~ Cyndi
and my BFF ~ Sharon

I have been lurking the boards and can't wait to go on this cruise!!!

3 of us ladies went on the Alaska cruise last August and loved it!

This will be my 6th cruise with Disney and wouldn't do it any other way!!!
Looking forward to meeting up with other disney fans
Cyndi

 

[FloridaMom3461]

Can someone please clarify for me how the transfers work? If we book one of the hotels that DCL is using on our own, can we then use the check in service for the cruise at the hotel and the transfers to the port if we request and pay for it? Does anyone know how much it would cost?

We plan buying our plane tickets or driving to Barcelona and booking the hotel ourselves. Have never used a DCL hotel pre-cruise before or the check in service but it seems like it would be easier than lugging everything to the port ourselves.

Last year, we booked our hotel on our own at one of the DCL hotel choices and did use their transfers. It worked just the same as those who booked through DCL. I previously posted the costs from my TA for the 3 of us....

Randi

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

One year from today we will be boarding the Magic!

It will be myself ~ Cyndi
and my BFF ~ Sharon

I have been lurking the boards and can't wait to go on this cruise!!!

3 of us ladies went on the Alaska cruise last August and loved it!

This will be my 6th cruise with Disney and wouldn't do it any other way!!!
Looking forward to meeting up with other disney fans
Cyndi

HI Cyndi, Welcome Aboard! I have added you to the Roll Call. If you have anything else you'd like to add to your roll call entry, just let me know! Also, make sure you check out Post 4 for volunteering opportunities, FE, Secret Mickeys, and other good stuff!

Beth

 

[Stimpy]

yes we did and we booked the 7th-12th using your exact line of logic. Join us

I'm trying so hard to talk my DH into it!! Hopefully they don't sell out before I can convince him

 

[CBJHockeyNut]

We booked last month while on the Magic NYC--Bahamas cruise. Excited to be going to the Med. We are a family of four

Nicholas
Lori
Matthew (18)
Megan (15)

This will be our 12th Disney cruise--all on the Magic--but our first time in the Med. LOVED the Baltic in 2010!! We are first seating for dinner and room 1039. (First time below deck 3--a little apprehensive but we know that it will be ok.)

'Nut

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Good morning all! I just wanted to say I am so excited to be spending my 27th birthday on this day next year, enjoying delicious food & wine in the Cinque Terre coastal villages in Italy. It feels so great to say that our cruise is less than 1 year away now!!