7/14/2014 - 12-Night Mediterranean Cruise (with Greece) Venice to Barcelona

[denise]

We are going to book a Baltic. When we did the MED in 2010 we kicked ourselves for not staying for the Baltic run and have been waiting ever since. We were going to book Viking because DCL was taking so long to release and they were offering 2 for 1 plus $ 800 airfare but with all the uncertainty with Russia relations we let the time lapse. Probably going to do the 12 night with Copenhagen overnight or Norway / Iceland if we can tie it to a Northern capitals.

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Looking forward to tomorrows announcement too! The rumors sound great but Hawaii in September sounds good too....told my DH there are three cruises I would love to do!!! His comment was he has been to Iceland he would want to do Hawaii...DD and I said we have been to Hawaii tons of times....Iceland and Hawaii sound great!!!....

 

[slg]

Iceland all the way! So excited.

 

[denise]

two cruises we are thinking about:

1. transatlantic 15 night...
2. Norway and Iceland 11 night...

so wish they were back to back....

also waiting for Hawaii in September....

OK, I'm going to need a really big ship to come in to afford all of this!!!

 

[SailingSeas]

LOL Denise.... or get a job on the Magic!

 

[denise]

booked the 11 night Norway/Iceland cruise....

here is the thread for that cruise...already know lots of people who are on it...fun group...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=51051502&posted=1#post51051502

 

[MPS516]

Well we booked the July 10th Baltic, the phone lines were nuts, TA waited 2 hrs on hold I also tried to call in to try and narrow the options for her and was finally dropped when cell service was dead area, after calling repeatedly for almost 20 minutes just to get into the system Guess I always thought a the TA line would have more attention since they are usually booking multiple reservations each on opening day

Now I can stay focused on Venice and book the rest of our port excursions

 

[corbett744]

We are booked for Norway and Iceland also.. Can't wait. ALways wanted to go there. I wonder if you can see Northern Lights in June.

 

[LovesToRun]

booked the 11 night Norway/Iceland cruise....

here is the thread for that cruise...already know lots of people who are on it...fun group...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=51051502&posted=1#post51051502

We are booked for Norway and Iceland also.. Can't wait. ALways wanted to go there. I wonder if you can see Northern Lights in June.

We also booked the 11-day Norway/Iceland cruise yesterday (June 29)! We hadn't planned on going back to Europe next year, but this is one area of the world we have had on our "wish list" for quite some time, so we booked it and will figure out how to make it work!

No, you will not be able to see the Northern Lights in June... it'll be too light out. It'll be really light the whole trip... lots of sunlight the farther north you get. I grew up and lived in Alaska for 20 yrs, and Alaska is about the same latitude as Iceland, and there is about 20 - 22 hrs of daylight in the summer!!! You can only see the Northern Lights in the winter, when there is about 20- 22 hrs of darkness!

 

[danfromca]

We also booked the 11-day Norway/Iceland cruise yesterday (June 29)! We hadn't planned on going back to Europe next year, but this is one area of the world we have had on our "wish list" for quite some time, so we booked it and will figure out how to make it work!

No, you will not be able to see the Northern Lights in June... it'll be too light out. It'll be really light the whole trip... lots of sunlight the farther north you get. I grew up and lived in Alaska for 20 yrs, and Alaska is about the same latitude as Iceland, and there is about 20 - 22 hrs of daylight in the summer!!! You can only see the Northern Lights in the winter, when there is about 20- 22 hrs of darkness!

As appealing as the Baltic itineraries are, I discovered something else for next summer that is (to me) not only more appealing, but exciting enough to even skip a DCL cruise. It turns out there will be a world expo going on in Milan that summer. I haven't been to a World's faire since Brisbane in 1988.

That, and the fact that I don't have an OBB to transfer at the moment, means DCL will just have to do without my money for that year

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

After the disappointment of having to cancel off this cruise last year we are headed back. We are doing back to backs Dover/Barcelona repositioning and a five night Med cruise. Lisbon is on my bucket list and my wife's great grandfather served in Gibraltar in World War 1 so it appealed to us.

Guess you guys are in full fledged planning mode.

 

[SailingSeas]

JimmyJack, we are on the Dover to Barc itinerary as well, with a pre stay at DLP. it looks wonderfully relaxing compared to some, and my daughter will be checking out both a college in England and one in Barcelona. I am so happy to hear that your heavy decision last year, worked out for the better!

And some are in full-fledged planning mode. Work is kicking my ***, and I'll be lucky to drag myself onto the ship. I think I'm just going to cab to the nearest beach and fry in the sun at this point. I can see my ancestors glaring at me with disapproval, and crossing themselves. (I'm Greek.)

 

[KathyInCitrus]

Ha! Just snagged the last ocean view cabin (deck 2, cat 9B I think) on the Iceland cruise! Thank you DIS'ers for alerting me to the 2015 itineraries announcement.
Now I just have to wait for Monday to finish planning this 2014 cruise.

 

[LovesToRun]

Ha! Just snagged the last ocean view cabin (deck 2, cat 9B I think) on the Iceland cruise! Thank you DIS'ers for alerting me to the 2015 itineraries announcement.
Now I just have to wait for Monday to finish planning this 2014 cruise.

Congrats on getting the last Ocean View cabin!

I can't believe the June 29, 2015 Norwegian Fjords and Iceland cruise is sold out!! (well, as of right now, there is a 1-bedroom suite available for $$$$$$$$), but all the inside, ocean view and veranda rooms are sold out!! I think it has been several years since Disney released an itinerary that sold out this fast. I'm glad we got a cabin on the Iceland cruise!!

I'm sure people will cancel, though, as time gets closer... so I'm certain cabins will open up, and people who want to book, but can't now, can have the opportunity to book later when rooms open up. But, I bet when anyone cancel,s those cabins will get snatched up quickly.

 

[denise]

today is the deposit day for me and so many more...bet some cabins will free up after today and tomorrow...

as for me...I paid my deposit...sounds like an exciting 11 day cruise!!!

 

[SailingSeas]

There are still some spots in lower categories for that 6/29 cruise depending on your family grouping, and several are releasing rooms just after midnight tonight, so that should be good.

I was talking with my daughter who was wondering why the Norwegian Fjords was so popular, and I said 'Oh, that's the ship Anna and Elsa are on!" and she looked at me for a second and started rolling her eyes. "MoooOOOooommmm - they are on EVERY ship."

 

[smilis]

Well I'm gearing myself for a late night tonight as the booking window for Gold opens up at midnight. Finalizing all our preferences. Sure hope the site works properly as I've heard a few of you mention it wasn't cooperating at the Platinum booking window.

 

[smilis]

Can anybody tell me if there is a way of finding out what times throughout the day an excursion is offered? Especially if it is a 3.5-4 hr excursion. I'd prefer not to have to do the early morning time if an afternoon slot is offered. I checked with DCL and they said you had to wait until you went into book the excursion and then choose a time, which is fine, but I'd like an idea in advance. Any suggestions?

 

[LovesToRun]

Can anybody tell me if there is a way of finding out what times throughout the day an excursion is offered? Especially if it is a 3.5-4 hr excursion. I'd prefer not to have to do the early morning time if an afternoon slot is offered. I checked with DCL and they said you had to wait until you went into book the excursion and then choose a time, which is fine, but I'd like an idea in advance. Any suggestions?

The only way you can find out before you book is if there is a Platinum level person here who would be willing to look for you since the only people as of this moment who can get on the shore excursions site to sign up for things are the Platinum level people. We are gold, otherwise i'd look for you.

Are you gold? If so, you will have to wait until midnight Eastern Standard Time tonight to book and then you can see what all the times are. If you are silver or a new cruiser and have to wait longer to book, let me know what excursions you are interested in and once I can get on the site tonight, I can tell you what times the excursions you are interested in are available.

If you are gold, then you will find out the times tonight. But, maybe you could post what excursions you are interested here right now, and see if any Platinum people are reading this between now and midnight EST and would be able to look up the times for you and post them. That is my only suggestion.

But, yes... I also wish they'd give the "leaving times" for all the excursions, too, in the descriptions, because it really does help you plan better knowing if you have to get up super early at a port, or you can sleep in a little.

 

[SailingSeas]

Smilis, post the tour and I may be able to peak for you. Denise is Platinum but is only active at nights EST and you may see online first. We only have 7 hours to wait now...


on the flip side, i have NOT BEEn doing my homework and am really sad about Athens - I think private or semi private tours are going to be the best way to go for us. What is everyone doing for Athens? I am looking for guidance.

 

[LyndaC]

what tours are you interested in? I'm Platinum and already booked. So I can check
Here's a list of what I've booked so far, I prefer early departures rather than late.

7/17 7:30 am Walking tour of Athens
7/18 8:45am Adult Departure, Best of Ephesus
7/19 8:15 am Walking tour of Medieval Town of Rhodes
7/20 8:15 Knossos Arcaelogical site adults
7/21 7:45 am Delos Adult
7/22 6:45am Village of Oia and Winery adult
7/24 8:15am Highlights of Malta Adults