7/30/2011 Mickeys FIRST 7 Night Med cruise

[IrishCowboy]

I have added a link to your thread on the main index page. Have a great cruise!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have added a link to your thread on the main index page. Have a great cruise!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thank you Andrew!!! I am going on the June 8, 2011. 10 Day Med cruise. I will be reading your thread constantly! This is our first ever Med cruise, first ever to these cities/countries. Your info and experience are invaluable. We disboarders are lucky to have you!!! Thanks again for posting all of your insights and advice

Thank you, enjoy the trip.

 

[Anal Annie]

So I am going on the Aug 10, 2011 10 night Med...but there's no meet thread yet & I don't feel like starting one & being alone for so long...so I might just hang out over here for awhile. I am jealous that you get that extra sea day but we just couldn't rationalize paying the extra $1,120 for one more day on the ship in our measley Cat 10. I KNOW the extra day would've been nice...too bad they wanted soooo much for it.

I am very excited about it but it's SOOO far away. I will likely research each and every one of your links Andrew. I have plenty of time to do it!! Thanks for sharing all of your past knowledge & experience....

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

So I am going on the Aug 10, 2011 10 night Med...but there's no meet thread yet & I don't feel like starting one & being alone for so long...so I might just hang out over here for awhile. I am jealous that you get that extra sea day but we just couldn't rationalize paying the extra $1,120 for one more day on the ship in our measley Cat 10. I KNOW the extra day would've been nice...too bad they wanted soooo much for it.

I am very excited about it but it's SOOO far away. I will likely research each and every one of your links Andrew. I have plenty of time to do it!! Thanks for sharing all of your past knowledge & experience....

Well understand that, welcome welcome, not problem in asking anything, in fact I was just viewing my Med DVD from 2007. Half of the ports, and the home port are the same. I have also been looking at my options pre and post cruise, hotels etc.

Currently I think I will come in on the Friday, one night in a hotel in the city center, to avoid any airline issue, then post cruise Wed>Sunday a hotel or apartment. There are very limited opportunities in the city for rooms for a family of four.

I am looking forward to the 'new ports' but at the same time planning alternatives to the ports I have been before, two will be private tours Rome and Naples, with new routes.

Welcome, we can keep company, remember whilst these cruises might be slow burn they will pick up, my 07 Med one took a year to get to a 1,000 posts, but then in its last bit went over 18,000 posts and the ship was full.

These cruises are on sale in the UK by a different TA, and therefore they will not know about the Disboards, we make assumptions lots of people post here, they do not, and often people only book a year in advance, and in the UK its common to book a holiday in January for that summer.

 

[Anal Annie]

Yeah, I forget that new DCL customers don't know to book WAY out & I did forget that it will likely be a largely European ship. I booked on day # 1 in order to be sure to snag one of the SPH rooms. Our cruise departs on a Wed. so I'd like to go over on either Sat. or Sun. I have a feeling that it won't make a big difference on the airfare unless we wait for Monday. The day we come over to Barcelona will depend on a combination of the airfare deal we find & the price per night of adding on a hotel for 3 people. If a hotel is going to run us $350-400 USD per night then that is something we'll have to consider as well before we book a flight. Likewise, if flying on Sat. is $300 more per person than flying on a Monday then we'll have to evaluate that too. It's too far away to think that today's prices are an accurate reflection of what we may be looking at in another year from now. But I would love to have 2-3 nights in Barcelona before the cruise if we can swing it.

It's good to know that you enjoyed your 2007 Med cruise enough to book another one. I am anxious to hear what people think of these new ports too. I don't see a whole lot of info. on them. I have been reading in some books & it sounds like a lot of places pretty much shut down on Sundays & Mondays so I want to be sure to plan a guided or private tour for those days if that's the case. I will be following the 2010 Med cruisers closely!!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Some good Barcelona hotels

http://h10hotels.com/eng/barcelona-hotels/h10-universitat.php
http://www.eurostarshotels.com/EN/hotels-in-spain-barcelona-eurostars-cristal-palace.html
https://www.eurostarshotels.com/index.php?action=muestra_elemento&idioma=EN&id_elemento=48
http://www.hotel-majestic-barcelona.com/
http://www.hotelgaudibarcelona.com/
http://www.grandhotelcentral.com/en/situacion/situacion.htm
http://www.hotel1898.com/
http://www.montecarlobcn.com/accommodation-en.html
Various search hotels
http://www.easytobook.com/en/spain/barcelona/barcelona-hotels/

Apartments

http://www.enjoybcn.com/en/catalogo/listado_4.html
Airport
http://www.barcelona-airport.com/

Transfers
http://www.barcelona-airport-transfers.com/

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yeah, I forget that new DCL customers don't know to book WAY out & I did forget that it will likely be a largely European ship. I booked on day # 1 in order to be sure to snag one of the SPH rooms. Our cruise departs on a Wed. so I'd like to go over on either Sat. or Sun. I have a feeling that it won't make a big difference on the airfare unless we wait for Monday. The day we come over to Barcelona will depend on a combination of the airfare deal we find & the price per night of adding on a hotel for 3 people. If a hotel is going to run us $350-400 USD per night then that is something we'll have to consider as well before we book a flight. Likewise, if flying on Sat. is $300 more per person than flying on a Monday then we'll have to evaluate that too. It's too far away to think that today's prices are an accurate reflection of what we may be looking at in another year from now. But I would love to have 2-3 nights in Barcelona before the cruise if we can swing it.

It's good to know that you enjoyed your 2007 Med cruise enough to book another one. I am anxious to hear what people think of these new ports too. I don't see a whole lot of info. on them. I have been reading in some books & it sounds like a lot of places pretty much shut down on Sundays & Mondays so I want to be sure to plan a guided or private tour for those days if that's the case. I will be following the 2010 Med cruisers closely!!!!

The Med 11 night in 2007 was fantastic, I would put it on par with my top cruise the 15 night Panama crossing. However it is completely different to other cruises.

On other cruises the ship is 50% of the destination with the ports, and often people do not even get off, in the Med the ports of call are the destination its fat more intensive, and the ship is back to a floating hotel, a base.

Barcelona is a fantastic city, is very busy, it has rush hours, so prepare for that. You will be OK disembarking on a weekend that will be quicker for the traffic, but the airport will be more busy as Europeans tend to holiday Saturday to Saturday.

Arrival on a Wednesday will have the airport less busy, but traffic in rush hour gridlocked.

So coming earlier will help. Also with jet lag it takes a few days to adjust, its always worst coming to Europe, than flying from Europe,

Going West you gain hours putting clocks back, coming East you loose hours, and that with a night flight can effect you.

The best thing is as soon as you get to the USA airport put your clocks to Europe time and act and eat and sleep to that.

If you arrive early in the day have a quick sleep. But then midday get up in the sun wear yourself out and do not go to bed before 9pm.

If you arrive early afternoon do not sleep try to avoid the temptation, and stay up till night.

If you sleep during the day you stay on USA time.

Try to have water but not eat on the flight, eat at the airport before you leave.

Barcelona has so much to do, you start with the three bus touristic, do thoose to orientate yourself and see the things you want to go back to, often you can buy a ticket for two days.

Beaches are poor in Barcelona you have to go out East to find good ones, so if you like a swim book a hotel with a pool.

Montserrat for a day if you can is high priority, I have posted about this before.


In 2007 about 50% of people on the ship were from Europe, so we will have a slow start, but it will pick up.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Hi Andrew, I am Anal Annies friend that's also going on the 10 night Med cruise, but my cruise is June 8 one. Can I crash in on your thread too? No one started one for my cruise either! Soooo, my cruise sails
on a Wednesday. Would checking in a hotel on that Tuesday before be enough time to acclimate myself?

The Med 11 night in 2007 was fantastic, I would put it on par with my top cruise the 15 night Panama crossing. However it is completely different to other cruises.

On other cruises the ship is 50% of the destination with the ports, and often people do not even get off, in the Med the ports of call are the destination its fat more intensive, and the ship is back to a floating hotel, a base.

Barcelona is a fantastic city, is very busy, it has rush hours, so prepare for that. You will be OK disembarking on a weekend that will be quicker for the traffic, but the airport will be more busy as Europeans tend to holiday Saturday to Saturday.

Arrival on a Wednesday will have the airport less busy, but traffic in rush hour gridlocked.

So coming earlier will help. Also with jet lag it takes a few days to adjust, its always worst coming to Europe, than flying from Europe,

Going West you gain hours putting clocks back, coming East you loose hours, and that with a night flight can effect you.

The best thing is as soon as you get to the USA airport put your clocks to Europe time and act and eat and sleep to that.

If you arrive early in the day have a quick sleep. But then midday get up in the sun wear yourself out and do not go to bed before 9pm.

If you arrive early afternoon do not sleep try to avoid the temptation, and stay up till night.

If you sleep during the day you stay on USA time.

Try to have water but not eat on the flight, eat at the airport before you leave.

Barcelona has so much to do, you start with the three bus touristic, do thoose to orientate yourself and see the things you want to go back to, often you can buy a ticket for two days.

Beaches are poor in Barcelona you have to go out East to find good ones, so if you like a swim book a hotel with a pool.

Montserrat for a day if you can is high priority, I have posted about this before.


In 2007 about 50% of people on the ship were from Europe, so we will have a slow start, but it will pick up.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi Andrew, I am Anal Annies friend that's also going on the 10 night Med cruise, but my cruise is June 8 one. Can I crash in on your thread too? No one started one for my cruise either! Soooo, my cruise sails
on a Wednesday. Would checking in a hotel on that Tuesday before be enough time to acclimate myself?

Hi, firstly you have booked a great cruise, the heat will be less intense at that time, when I was in Rome last time July/Aug it was 40c, very very hot.

Now, jet lag effects people in different ways, if you can 'stay up' and not sleep in the afternoon or evening on arrival day, then you should get over to our time. Its 6 hours different from East coast USA, add 3 more for West coast.

But......

I wouldn't book a cruise, and fly transatlantic in just 24 hours before. There are more risks, on transatlantic, unless you fly with a carrier with a big fleet of planes and can call on a replacement at short notice.

Flying long distance over the Atlantic the plane has to be in tip top condition, but weather, and security issues, can delay flights and have a knock on effect, its far worst for carriers with flew planes as they cannot catch up as well and have to cancel.

To give an example, in August I flew to Orlando on a Wednesday for the Saturday magic cruise, that was my buffer, if the flight was delayed, I had three days to get out there, we had only a 90 mins delay.

We stayed after the cruise a further 10 days.

Now we didn't have any jet lag on that, going West to USA is best, but we stayed up on USA time to 10pm, then went to bed and was on USA time, we did get up at 6am for the MK early entry however!"!

Going East is worse, as you loose thoose hours and often fly overnight, so I would allow say 48 hours just in case. And get out in that Sun!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Ok, most flights leave from here in the evening and fly over night. So I should look for a Sunday night flight arriving that Monday some time? Then stay in Barcelona that Monday and Tuesday before the cruise on the Wenesday?

Hi, firstly you have booked a great cruise, the heat will be less intense at that time, when I was in Rome last time July/Aug it was 40c, very very hot.

Now, jet lag effects people in different ways, if you can 'stay up' and not sleep in the afternoon or evening on arrival day, then you should get over to our time. Its 6 hours different from East coast USA, add 3 more for West coast.

But......

I wouldn't book a cruise, and fly transatlantic in just 24 hours before. There are more risks, on transatlantic, unless you fly with a carrier with a big fleet of planes and can call on a replacement at short notice.

Flying long distance over the Atlantic the plane has to be in tip top condition, but weather, and security issues, can delay flights and have a knock on effect, its far worst for carriers with flew planes as they cannot catch up as well and have to cancel.

To give an example, in August I flew to Orlando on a Wednesday for the Saturday magic cruise, that was my buffer, if the flight was delayed, I had three days to get out there, we had only a 90 mins delay.

We stayed after the cruise a further 10 days.

Now we didn't have any jet lag on that, going West to USA is best, but we stayed up on USA time to 10pm, then went to bed and was on USA time, we did get up at 6am for the MK early entry however!"!

Going East is worse, as you loose thoose hours and often fly overnight, so I would allow say 48 hours just in case. And get out in that Sun!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Ok, most flights leave from here in the evening and fly over night. So I should look for a Sunday night flight arriving that Monday some time? Then stay in Barcelona that Monday and Tuesday before the cruise on the Wednesday?

That sounds like a good plan, you can get over jet lag and there is so much to do in Barcelona, I had 7 nights pre cruise there, and still didn't do it all.

 

[Anal Annie]

Hey guys! Just making myself at home here on your thread and giving us a bump back up to page 1!!

Thanks for the links for the hotels Andrew...I'll check them out. I wish I could predict what the conversion rate between USD & the Euro will be that far ahead!!

I am familiar with jet lag from going to Hawaii a few times. I honestly don't know which direction is worse. I know they SAY going east is worse but we sure are dead tired when we get there!! Last time we went DS fell asleep at dinner WITH FOOD IN HIS MOUTH the first night!! It was so funny...here's a chuckle at his expense!

 

[Keever]

What a great pic and story!

We too are going on the Aug 10, 2011, 10 night Med. Our family includes myself, DH and sons who will be 13 and 15 at the time of sailing. We are in a Cat 10 room as well, but we lucked out and will be in a cabin with a secret porthole.

Looking forward to sailing with you, Annie.

Thanks to all the keeners on this thread - I've been getting so much info! I hadn't even thought of jet lag!

Does anyone know where a list of excursions might be posted?

Thanks!

 

[Anal Annie]

What a great pic and story!

We too are going on the Aug 10, 2011, 10 night Med. Our family includes myself, DH and sons who will be 13 and 15 at the time of sailing. We are in a Cat 10 room as well, but we lucked out and will be in a cabin with a secret porthole.

Looking forward to sailing with you, Annie.

Thanks to all the keeners on this thread - I've been getting so much info! I hadn't even thought of jet lag!

Does anyone know where a list of excursions might be posted?

Thanks!

YAY!! Only about 2,300 or so more peeps and we'll have a full boat!! WHAT a coincidence! We are in SPH # 5020!! We'll be neighbors!! My DS will be 14 when we sail!! Which SPH cabin did you snag?! Did you get the other non-adjoining room on the other side of the ship? We were in 5520 on the Wonder last summer in back-to-backs - it's a great bargain for the price!! Since this Med cruise is SOOO port intensive (especially on the 10 nighter) it's one reason we figured we'd be just fine without a balcony again. We'll hardly be in the room! I plan to watch the 2010 Med cruises when they get their excursion lists to see what all they're offering thru DCL. WE have a LOOONG time to wait for ours considering 2010 isn't even out yet!! I have heard not only from Andrew but from other people I know that Naples and Rome in particular are both great places to hire a private tour so you can cover as much ground as possible. Very worthwhile I've been told. BUT I have no idea on cost for such a thing. Another Mom from my sons swim team has done 2 Med cruises (one western & one eastern) and she recommended a place called Zelit Limousine. (She wrote down a whole bunch of stuff for me.) She said in Naples it would be possible to walk to the train station from the port (about 1/2 mile) and take a train to see Pompei on our own!! She said the entrance to Pompei is practically right across the street from the train station. That idea makes me a little nervous tho! (I'm as worried about language problems as anything so I'm also going to be watching for others who may do this on their own.)

I plan to check out her info. as well as Andrews and anybody elses that I run across... We have the benefit of being able to read what everyone else says from the 2010 cruises before we go!! The anticipation is definitely exciting tho!

I suppose one of these days we'll have to start our own Aug 10 thread...but as Andrew pointed out, there's likely not going to be a lot of people booking until much, much later on and when they DO they likely will be European and not know about the DISboards...

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hey guys! Just making myself at home here on your thread and giving us a bump back up to page 1!!

Thanks for the links for the hotels Andrew...I'll check them out. I wish I could predict what the conversion rate between USD & the Euro will be that far ahead!!

I am familiar with jet lag from going to Hawaii a few times. I honestly don't know which direction is worse. I know they SAY going east is worse but we sure are dead tired when we get there!! Last time we went DS fell asleep at dinner WITH FOOD IN HIS MOUTH the first night!! It was so funny...here's a chuckle at his expense!

What a great pic and story!

We too are going on the Aug 10, 2011, 10 night Med. Our family includes myself, DH and sons who will be 13 and 15 at the time of sailing. We are in a Cat 10 room as well, but we lucked out and will be in a cabin with a secret porthole.

Looking forward to sailing with you, Annie.

Thanks to all the keeners on this thread - I've been getting so much info! I hadn't even thought of jet lag!

Does anyone know where a list of excursions might be posted?

Thanks!

YAY!! Only about 2,300 or so more peeps and we'll have a full boat!! WHAT a coincidence! We are in SPH # 5020!! We'll be neighbors!! My DS will be 14 when we sail!! Which SPH cabin did you snag?! Did you get the other non-adjoining room on the other side of the ship? We were in 5520 on the Wonder last summer in back-to-backs - it's a great bargain for the price!! Since this Med cruise is SOOO port intensive (especially on the 10 nighter) it's one reason we figured we'd be just fine without a balcony again. We'll hardly be in the room! I plan to watch the 2010 Med cruises when they get their excursion lists to see what all they're offering thru DCL. WE have a LOOONG time to wait for ours considering 2010 isn't even out yet!! I have heard not only from Andrew but from other people I know that Naples and Rome in particular are both great places to hire a private tour so you can cover as much ground as possible. Very worthwhile I've been told. BUT I have no idea on cost for such a thing. Another Mom from my sons swim team has done 2 Med cruises (one western & one eastern) and she recommended a place called Zelit Limousine. (She wrote down a whole bunch of stuff for me.) She said in Naples it would be possible to walk to the train station from the port (about 1/2 mile) and take a train to see Pompei on our own!! She said the entrance to Pompei is practically right across the street from the train station. That idea makes me a little nervous tho! (I'm as worried about language problems as anything so I'm also going to be watching for others who may do this on their own.)

I plan to check out her info. as well as Andrews and anybody elses that I run across... We have the benefit of being able to read what everyone else says from the 2010 cruises before we go!! The anticipation is definitely exciting tho!

I suppose one of these days we'll have to start our own Aug 10 thread...but as Andrew pointed out, there's likely not going to be a lot of people booking until much, much later on and when they DO they likely will be European and not know about the DISboards...

Just catching up, nice posts, just for an example on UK TA's selling DCL, here is a link, hope it works outside UK, Three TA's here.

http://www.disneycruise.co.uk/

Anyone booking through these would be unaware of these boards, many use Cruisecritic, and other boards that I maynot be able to post.

 

[Anal Annie]

So of course my silly pea brain is always thinking of SOMETHING else to complicate things!

Andrew! HOW far is DL Paris from Barcelona and how many days does one need to see it?? Have you been? Do you know?? Is one or two days enough time to get thru it? Did DCL offer pre / post cruise packages there last time? It just occured to me that if the flights from the D.C. area are going to be a ridiculous amt. of $ to Barcelona & we have to xfer somewhere maybe we should think about going to Paris for a day or two first & then go to Barcelona from Paris? We could use our DVC points to stay at a Disney property in Paris... Two nights in Paris & 2 nights in Barcelona?! Crazy? Not enough time in either place?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

So of course my silly pea brain is always thinking of SOMETHING else to complicate things!

Andrew! HOW far is DL Paris from Barcelona and how many days does one need to see it??

Its quite a way but doable, you can fly from Charles De Gaulle airport to Barcelona, CDG, has train service regularly from The Disneyland Station called Marne La Vallee- Chesey. Also a bus service. Flight will be about 90 mins. You can get a night train or day train, from Marne La vallee or Paris to Barcelona.
Have you been? Do you know??

I have been twice so far, stayed 4 nights, 5 days each time, at the Disney Hotel New york both times. The parks there are two are very good. Big thunder mountain and Space mountain are far better than other parks.


Is one or two days enough time to get thru it?

Minimum two days one for each park, and there is also shows, and a Disney village.

Did DCL offer pre / post cruise packages there last time?

Yes.

It just occurred to me that if the flights from the D.C. area are going to be a ridiculous amt. of $ to Barcelona & we have to xfer somewhere maybe we should think about going to Paris for a day or two first & then go to Barcelona from Paris? We could use our DVC points to stay at a Disney property in Paris... Two nights in Paris & 2 nights in Barcelona?! Crazy? Not enough time in either place?

Its up to you, another option is go via London, BA and Iberia the Spanish airline have a tie up, plus you can go by train from London direct to DLP.

 

[Anal Annie]

I KNEW you would know!!! I just KNEW it!! THANKS!! We can stay a couple of nights at any of those DLP hotels on points which would certainly help out with money!! I'm embarrased to say that I didn't realize there were 2 parks there!! Maybe we should think about doing DLP pre-cruise for a couple of nights then go to Barcelona on Mon or Tues and then add a day at the END of the cruise for Barcelona. SOO much to plan!!

So are you booking on the Dream for 2011 too?? I think at this point we will be waiting for the Fantasy...perhaps we can rebook on the Magic for the Fantasy?! We'll see.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

Hi guys, I'm gatecrashing too. I'm looking at the August 20 11night but there is nothing posted for that yet either and I'm desperate to talk cruising. We did a 7 night Western Caribbean in Sept. We haven't booked this one yet and I wish we had done it onboard but it never occurred to me that I'd be cruising again in the near future.