9 Magic nights in Norway 6/20/2015

[GarakDS9]

All 4 person ocean views on deck 2 are sold out. All 5 person cabins (verandahs) are also sold out. Both of these options sold out in the last week. Concierge is also sold out but that is not unusual. I assume that a 4-day hold by a travel agent or the 119 day no-penalty cancellation free some of these up eventually.

Funny, DW just pointed out that the non-refundable final payment is responsible for our first cruise and subsequent DCL addiction. We booked the Med. last minute in 2009 and took advantage of someone's cancellation.

 

[baddog576]

We just got off the Wonder Alaskan cruise about 14 hours ago. It was amazing and we can't wait for this cruise. We booked this opening day and was able to transfer an OBB we had made 2 days before. I knew the itinerary was coming out so we booked something just in case.

DH's extended family is from Norway and we have visited pre-kids a couple of times. What better way to take the kids there than on DCL?!? This will be our 9th DCL cruise. We did our first one a couple of years ago and are hooked!

On the Wonder we had our favorite adult cruise host, David. I asked him to try to get on the Norway cruise. He is one of the best! He has been on 4 of our cruises.

We would love to do the FE but am worried about space since we are a party of 4 coming from FL and will be spending a few weeks pre/post cruise in the area.

 

[GarakDS9]

Welcome, it is great to have yet another family with lots of DCL experience to add to the conversation.

 

[baddog576]

We are getting there but not as many as a few people on here! I would like to do a B2B one day. We love our sea days so it will be interesting having so many port days for us. We have gone to Nassau 3 or 4 times and stayed on the ship all but one time. We won't be doing that in Norway I don't think.

I can't wait to start planning and budgeting for the excursions. That ended up being almost half of our Alaska cruise fare.

 

[GarakDS9]

Although I am anxious to plan my excursions, I am not anxious to add them up. Hope to save some money on private tours. On down already but many more to go.

 

[lucky1]

Not sure where to put this question- as a reply or separate entry, (or even which forum to post it into). So, if it's in the wrong place, please let me know! Ok, does anyone know of a airline booking site that allows you to ask about non-stop overseas flights? what i'm running into are 1-2 stop flights. If I could drive up to 4 hrs from home (near Cincinnati) I would be willing to do so for a non-stop or even cheaper flight. I may do a pre-cruise ABD so wouldn't necessarily be flying into Copenhagen. TIA!

Which ABD might you do before the cruise? We are looking at the Copenhagen one, so we would need to arrive 5 days ahead of the cruise. At least being there ahead of time guarantees we will not miss the boat, due to flight issues.

Kayak and skyscanner both allow you to click a box to restrict your search for non-stop. We had none out of Boston. We would have had to travel to either JFK for Norwegian or Newark for SAS. DW prefers non-stop too but not enough to drive to NYC to fly.

Another vote for Kayak... . I will have to try Skyscanner. I have a feeling we will be doing multiple stops before getting there. But I am with you, I driving to NYC for a non stop might not be worth it.

 

[pixie3]

We just booked this cruise on the Magic!!!

We are:
Kimberly
Mark (DH)
Shane (DS) 11
Riley (DS) 9

We would be interested in FE, if there is enough for a family/other group. (Although, my kids are getting to that place where they are over "kid gifts").

Thank you to the FE person. I've done that a few times and it is no small feat.

We considered B2B, but the Iceland trip is sold out. We may decide to join in March, because there will inevitably be people dropping out March 1. Not sure yet. We may just decide to do some other things while we are over there.

I am excited about this cruise. Our last two cruises (12N Greece w/Santorini and 12N Med with Venice) were GREAT, but our kids favorite cruise was still Alaska and Baltic Sea. I don't think they can take anymore ruins, churches or museums. I think they will love Norway and will be somewhat similar to Alaska.

I'm glad this cruise is going in and out of Copenhagen. We loved Copenhagen on our Baltic Sea cruise.

I'm going to try to keep up with this thread, but I must say that I start off with the best intentions then slack off!

 

[Chewbette]

Hello everybody!

We also booked last May (one of the 3 of us was on the Wonder for an Alaskan cruise ^^) and I also forgot till now to look for a DIS thread and FB page (I asked to join )...because I was and am more focused on the WBTA that we're doing my BF & I in just a few weeks!

We're gonna be 3, my BF, a friend and me on this wonderful Norwegian fjörds cruise ^^.
We did all together (with 3 more people) our first DCL on the Fantasy for an Eastern Caribbean cruise last October...and we are oh so hooked now.
Our friend did an Alaskan cruise in May and we're doing the WBTA...So the Norwegian will be our 3rd cruise for everyone...

looking forward to see the excursions and everything...!

YEAH!

 

[BelleLvsBooks]

Just booked our flights! Worked hard to find award flights .... The journey will be half of the adventure: Dallas - Chicago - Berlin - Copenhagen. We get into Copenhagen a few days early and will have 1 night in Berlin on the way home. Any thoughts on best locations for hotels to enjoy these cities?

 

[GarakDS9]

Just booked our flights! Worked hard to find award flights .... The journey will be half of the adventure: Dallas - Chicago - Berlin - Copenhagen. We get into Copenhagen a few days early and will have 1 night in Berlin on the way home. Any thoughts on best locations for hotels to enjoy these cities?

We liked the Crown Plaza in Copenhagen. It's a little outside the main city but offers complimentary transportation from the airport and we like IHG points. Other families seem to be focused on staying very near Tivoli.

 

[mtmama2]

Just did the 12 night Mediterranean from Barcelona to Venice. It was AMAZING!!! We just got a wild hair this week, got lucky there was availability and booked this cruise. It was sold out when I looked in June. It will be our 4th Disney cruise. We are mom, dad, and son (5). Is there a FB group set up yet or a fish extender group to join?

Thanks, and looking forward to seeing you all in 303 days!

 

[Avery's mom]

Getting antsy about booking flights - and we are considering booking Turkish Airlines for this cruise. Crazy, I know The flights route through Istanbul, a place my DH and I would love to see. So, we'd like to go SFO-IST then spend 2 days in IST to see the main sights. Fly IST-CPH and spend 2 nights there before boarding the Magic on the 20th.

The Turkish flights are so much less than SAS/BA, etc....thus allowing us to get a seat for our 18 month old son and pay the same price as having him as a lap baby on SAS.

My question is - I have read a ton online about the various airlines (and I was even a FA in my twenties - a long time ago!) but I don't have any experience with Turkish Airlines and don't know anyone personally who does either. Does anyone here think this would be a mistake?

Thanks!

 

[KarenRLongBeach]

Hello all, this is Karen from Long Beach California. We are taking our two boys and heading to Norway where my husband's family is from. This seemed like and amazing way to see the country with a 7 and 8 yr old. We will visit with friends in Copenhagen post cruise. This will be our 5th cruise.
We will be going on the Magic this October out of San Juan.

Excited to be going

 

[USUKMama]

Hi all,

I booked this cruise on opening day and only just thought to look for a meet thread. It's me (Sophia), DH, DS1 (will be 14), DS2 (will be 11) and DD (will be 8). We've always wanted to see the fjords so this is perfect!

Sophia

 

[Plannergirl]

We signed up for the June 20 Norway cruise while on our first cruise on the Dream a week and a half ago. Gads it seems like so long ago, I miss the sea!

Anyway we are
Danie (me) 42 at time of sail
Steve the long suffering husband 50 at time of sail

We just signed up for the pre cruise ABD Copenhagen 3 night tour so we will be tired before we get to the boat. Sea days are for relaxing right?

Staying one extra night in Copenhagen as the flight home does not work to go home that day. That's OK more time to check things out.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in...289 days

 

[Madmacdad]

Coming back to this forum after some time away. If you are looking for flight options to Denmark, keep in mind Iceland Air. They have 1-stop flights out of MSP to Copenhagen with a short stop in Reykjavik. We're leaving the evening of 6/18, and arrive in Copenhagen 1:30 on 6/19. Only other real option for us was Delta but price is a lot higher plus a very short connection on the return. Now I need to start looking for a hotel.

We recently sailed on the Fantasy's Eastern Caribbean itinerary - had a awesome time, especially zip lining on St. Thomas Now to focus on this Norway cruise, with a Bahamas cruise thrown in the middle.

 

[nanaguide]

Greetings from Florida! I just flew in last night from Amsterdam. I just finished a 28 day cruise - 2 weeks in Norway and 2 weeks in the Baltic. I absolutely love Norway - would go back in a minute. Start saving your money - it is a very, very expensive country. I collected maps, city guides, and hop on - hop off schedules so if someone messages me with their address I'd be glad to send what I have to you - free of charge!! I was in Copenhagen on Friday. These are my favorite places you are going to visit. I did not go to Molde or Olden but visited all the others. You are in for a treat. Those were all my favorite cities. I also went to Honnisvag, Tromso, and Tronheim.

I will start with my most favorite - Bergen. I know why Disney picked it. It is absolutely beautiful beyond description. It was our first port of call. We docked very close to the downtown - it is an easy walk to the Center of town. You do not need to take the "Hop" bus for this city($32).We were docked from 7:30 to 4:30 and stayed busy all day. As we walked into town on the main street there is a "minibank" - it is on a wall. For every dollar I got 6 NOKs. My brother immediately went to buy a can of coke - $6. Last can of coke he bought on land. I strongly advise you go immediately to the funicular. I was on it by 8:30 - already getting crowded - by afternoon the wait was an hour. I suggest you get a 1 way ticket - their modern funicular makes our monorail look so old. Enjoy the top then leisurely walk back down the mountain - there are several paths down - you will end up in the Center of town. Yes, it is true there is a flower in oh most every window. You will enjoy walking their cobbled streets. I then headed to the Fish Market - oh my - so crowded but fun. A big shrimp salad cost 600 NOK which would be $50 in dollars. We asked a student from Lativa who was working there for the Summer why they charged so much? He told us it was because tourists would pay those prices - oh my! Needless to say I never ate off the ship the entire 28 days except in Geiranger I bought a brownie at the chocolate factory. I stocked up at breakfast with boxes of cereal, donuts, etc. At lunch we just went back to eat on the ship. Food is very, very expensive in all the places you are visiting - so be prepared. After the market I walked the pier, up the mountain to St. Johns Church, then down the hill to the beautiful park. I then bought a ticket for the bus ride out to take the Mount Ulriken cable car. I believe the bus ticket/cable car was $24 for an adult. They sell tickets right downtown. Afterwards I spent a couple of hours going thru the old warehouses (now shops) called Bryggen - so interesting. I'm off to bed will continue after I catch up on my sleep. I had no jet lag going over (8 hours from NYC) but coming back yesterday - really tough today. You are all in for a wonderful treat. They've seen Frozen but it is not BIG over there as it is here but by next Summer that might change. I can't wait!!

 

[GarakDS9]

Great first day review nanaguide. Can't wait to read more. I'll PM you my contact info. Your post was timely as I just started my excursion research which is a bit of a struggle not knowing DCL options for quite awhile yet.

 

[nanaguide]

Just sent my packet of maps, etc. to Lynda - enjoy! I want you to know all the Hop Buses have really good "free" wifi - so after I did the route I would go around again to catch up on my e-mails. Always save your receipts as they give you 10% off on the next Hop bus you use. I didn't use them in Bergen but I did use them in Copenhagen, Alesund, and they are in Geiranger too. Geiranger is very small but absolutely beautiful. We were the 1st boat in town. We had to tender - only 1 boat can dock so maybe the Magic will dock. I did not do the ship tours. I used Geirangerfjord Services. I booked on-line for the rib boat, the bus tour to Mt. Dalsnabba (forgot the spelling), and the Panorama Hop Bus. They charged half of what the ship was charging. Excellent tours but the roads are really scary if you are afraid of heights - excellent bus drivers! You can't miss them They are in the center of the little village. They also have very good Wi-Fi and all the ship's crew sit out there to do their e-mails. Be sure to do the waterfall staircase. It just opened this Summer - really pretty - very nice museum at the top. Chocolate factory is very good - only food I bought off the ship. The Rib boat tour took us out to 7 Sisters Waterfall and told a lot of history of the area. Your mouths will be dropping when you see all be beautiful sights. Hoping I get to do it again next Summer. Oh, I was in Norway August 11 - 23. Be sure to take sweat shirt hoodie, light jacket, Mickey Rain coat, umbrella. I live in Florida so I was always layering to stay warm.
Stavanger - supposedly the most expensive city in Norway but I think it is Oslo. We docked right downtown - next to all the shops. Beautiful city - I didn't see a lot as #1 on my Bucket List was to hike to Pulpit Rock. I had been told I couldn't do it as it takes a minimum of 8 hours from Stavanger. The cruise specialist on my ship said it would take 10 hours. Wellllllllllllll, you don't tell a 70 year old woman she can't do something because she'll just do it. We had 7 1/2 hours. I was determined!!! I was so lucky - our captain docked 20 minutes early (9:40) and off I ran to catch the ferry to Tau then the bus. The hike was amazing. I made it back with 30 minutes to spare. If anyone on this cruise wants to hike Pulpit Rock I will be glad to give them all the information I have. Next post will be about Alesund and Copenhagen. Enjoy your planning!

 

[clarabella]

Hubby and I will be joining you on the 9 nighter it will be my 3rd cruise we booked onboard the magic in the med the week before last. I'm really excited about the trip in general but really want to see the port excursions ASAP!!!