August 13, 2011 Med - Mickey's Marauding Mates

[Anal Annie]

Trolling for peeps!!

 

[Anal Annie]

 

[Anal Annie]

Nevermind me...just having my own little party out here, all by my lonesome.
5 posts in a row - I am definitely out here talking to myself!

 

[MRAven]

Hello Annie, how are you ? Long time no Chat

Got really busy today, come on over and check it out. We all send regards.

Saw your Web the other day and it look's really nice, speally how easy it was to surf on it. Lot of info too.

I saw the link on your WP of a bed and breakfast hotel in Barcelona which I liked a lot, until a red that it has a shared bathroom. Now I ask, is it a shared bathroom within a same room or is it a shared bathroom with other rooms

 

[Anal Annie]

Hello Annie, how are you ? Long time no Chat

Got really busy today, come on over and check it out. We all send regards.

Saw your Web the other day and it look's really nice, speally how easy it was to surf on it. Lot of info too.

I saw the link on your WP of a bed and breakfast hotel in Barcelona which I liked a lot, until a red that it has a shared bathroom. Now I ask, is it a shared bathroom within a same room or is it a shared bathroom with other rooms

Hey, hey Mr. A.!! I've been watching your thread - I see how you're picking up some peeps! Good show!! The August 13 cruise is apparently the only one that nobody else is interested in! I AM expecting a fancy upgrade if there's only 3 of us on the darned boat!!

If you are referring to the first hotel link on the top of my hotel page those are hostels which have communal bathrooms. I am assuming that means ONE or TWO bathrooms down a hallway somewhere that is used by everybody staying there. I think all of the other hotels I have on there (so far) say "private bath" which is personally what I will be looking for.

Life got busy again for us this week. School AND swim practice started back up. This evening DS didn't want to eat b4 practice so I gave him a PB&J for a "snack" around 5:00. We got home around 9:00 & THEN I proceeded to make dinner. I've already decided that THIS is NOT going to happen again on the nights he has later practices. It takes us 20-30 min. to / from the pool and the practices are 1.5 hrs. long for right now (later this month some will be longer). We JUST finished eating dinner at 10:00!!! It's almost 11:00 & he's still not in bed....I gotta get him up at 6:20....I am pooped already!! AND I've had a migrane since last Thursday....

Must run for now........

 

[Anal Annie]

11 months & 10 days to find more peeps!!

 

[Anal Annie]

Hola!! Bonjour!! Hello!! Hallo!! Powitania!! Hej!! Здравейте!! Γεια σου!! Ciao!! Dobrý den!! Labas!! Olá!! Merhaba!! Helló!! Moi!! Bună!!

Just saying hello in a few languages just in case we have any lurking peeps from any other countries!! Yeah. Right. Wishful thinking.


Pot să vă spun navei goale?!

 

[Anal Annie]

It's Labor Day here in the US (a Federal holiday - traditional end of summer). So here I sit...BORED and LONELY!!! WHERE are my peeps!?

 

[tiqr]

We have been contemplating booking this cruise for the past 6 months. The flight prices are intimidating and is what has held me back. Any suggestions - outside of signing up for fare alerts?

What might I expect to pay for this Aug 13 trip - I know it is the height of European vacation time. oh no. We will be flying out of Baltimore or DC.

Is it likely to think that the flights might drop to the $700 range sometime in the next 11 months?

Will have the ability to add a day or two forward and after, to take advantage of flight prices.

Thoughts, tips, suggestions???

 

[Anal Annie]

We have been contemplating booking this cruise for the past 6 months. The flight prices are intimidating and is what has held me back. Any suggestions - outside of signing up for fare alerts?

What might I expect to pay for this Aug 13 trip - I know it is the height of European vacation time. oh no. We will be flying out of Baltimore or DC.

Is it likely to think that the flights might drop to the $700 range sometime in the next 11 months?

Will have the ability to add a day or two forward and after, to take advantage of flight prices.

Thoughts, tips, suggestions???

A "possible" new peep! Oh please come, please come!! The more peeps the merrier!! We are neighbors of sorts I guess...I live in Montgomery County, MD... Do you actually live in DC or are you another suburbanite?! I believe I posted on an airfare thread you started not toooo long ago. Here's what I can tell you about it.

We orgi. booked almost a year ago so I have been watching summer international airfares on kayak.com since last October. They have been UP (over $1,000) pretty much all year and recently they've spiked even higher. I don't expect them to STAY at this level - I think it's still very, very early - tooooo early to know. But IF I saw a dip in prices over the past year it was usually only for like a DAY. Just a quick sale - so you'd have to be watching daily & be ready to book whenever you saw a good deal.

I know somebody who did a Med cruise the summer before last on another line & she said she eventually got RT fares for around $750ish out of Dulles but I NEVER saw anything THAT low for RT. I DID see some RT for around $850-900 here & there though (just for Barcelona & back) & I saw some one-ways for around $450. But you know, we also USED to find RT air to FL on AirTran for like $120-130 & I haven't seen THAT lately either. I do not like it, but I am resigning myself to the fact that air is probably going to be more than what my friend paid.

My situation is a little different from yours in that we're planning to go to Paris first for a few nights pre-cruise then on to Barcelona the day b4 the cruise. So we're doing more of an open jaw type trip where we're flying into a diff. city then hopping to Barcelona so we have an additional flight in there. For us, with the additional stop in Paris first I am hoping to book for around $1,000-1,100 or just under if I'm lucky. If we weren't intentionally going to Paris first I would be expecting to pay around $900-950ish pp as my targeted budget. I am not trying to talk you out of going with us - I HOPE YOU DO go with us but I am just being honest about what I think you should expect to pay so you can budget for it. Then IF you find a deal for under $900 you know it really IS a deal!!!!

The cruise itself is now actually priced quite right. I recently compared it to some of the other 7 night ones out there on Norwegian, HAL, RCCL etc. & it's very comptetively priced now. Last I looked there were still some "SPH" cabins open too.

BTW airline schedules are usually released around 330 days in advance...so we're JUST starting to get close to that point. Some airlines won't release until later so you really can't get a GOOD comparison just yet. I think once they're all out they get more competitive with their pricing.

 

[Anal Annie]

Since I'm just out here talking to myself I am just making silly faces to occupy my time...

Almost down to 11 months....will be time to get serious about airfare soon!!

 

[mkmommy]

You are not the only one with a slow thread, I am doing the Aug 27 cruise and no one is posting on that meet thread either, so I thought I would see if you have any great tips you have discovered.

I am sure there will be lots of people on the cruise but mostly Europeans who do not know about the DIS.

I have been reading lots about Rome, as I think that is going to be the hardest port to get all done that I want to see. I am back and forth about doing it on my own or doing a DCL excursion, what are you doing to help plan?

 

[Anal Annie]

You are not the only one with a slow thread, I am doing the Aug 27 cruise and no one is posting on that meet thread either, so I thought I would see if you have any great tips you have discovered.

I am sure there will be lots of people on the cruise but mostly Europeans who do not know about the DIS.

I have been reading lots about Rome, as I think that is going to be the hardest port to get all done that I want to see. I am back and forth about doing it on my own or doing a DCL excursion, what are you doing to help plan?

Oh Joy!! Someone to talk to!!! Come hang out here ANY time you want!! We have to stick together out here!!

Since this will be our first trip to Europe (and who knows when we'll make it back) I am currently planning to do private tours for both Naples & Rome...likely thru like limoinrome.com or something like that. I WAS hoping we could find another family to split the cost with but AT THIS POINT I swear we're on the boat alone!!

Anyway, come chat any time!!

 

[mkmommy]

For a first trip to Europe I think a cruise is a great way to go, we did the Dover to Barcelona cruise last month and it was such an amazing trip, and a good introduction to Europe for my girls.

I did not get enough time in Barcelona so that is the main reason I am heading back next summer, going to do a day pre and post cruise, would like more but that is all the time I can get off work.

Private tours would be a good way to go, a lot less worries that is for sure, than doing it on your own. We did a couple of DCL excursions and I did not feel like we were hearded around like people sometimes say, but there was a lot of wasted time that on a private excursion you should not have.

Airfare is the next big challenge hoping to book flights with points but we did direct flights this year, and that was nice. I have a feeling if I use points I will have to connect in the US somewhere and probably in Europe so it may not be worth the headache.

 

[luke]

Well howdy!
Just booked onto this cruise, our second DCL (and second cruise of any line!) and first Med cruise even tho the Mediterranean is only a two hour flight away!
now the planninf begins

 

[Anal Annie]

Well howdy!
Just booked onto this cruise, our second DCL (and second cruise of any line!) and first Med cruise even tho the Mediterranean is only a two hour flight away!
now the planninf begins

OH!! My heart!! I think I'm having a heart attack!! A new peep! An official new peep on MY boat! (You should know that I have adopted the Magic as MINE now since I was about to declare it completely empty except for me & Kelly & Justine...and actually I think they've abandoned me too). Anyway, I am so glad you've found us, Luke!!!! Welcome to Mickey's Maurading Mates! I may ramble on sometimes but I mean well. Do come back & tell us about you & the rest of your traveling party so I can add you to the first post & the website!! The other girls are also from your part of the world so I'm sure you will all have lots in common to talk about.

 

[Anal Annie]

For a first trip to Europe I think a cruise is a great way to go, we did the Dover to Barcelona cruise last month and it was such an amazing trip, and a good introduction to Europe for my girls.

I did not get enough time in Barcelona so that is the main reason I am heading back next summer, going to do a day pre and post cruise, would like more but that is all the time I can get off work.

Private tours would be a good way to go, a lot less worries that is for sure, than doing it on your own. We did a couple of DCL excursions and I did not feel like we were hearded around like people sometimes say, but there was a lot of wasted time that on a private excursion you should not have.

Airfare is the next big challenge hoping to book flights with points but we did direct flights this year, and that was nice. I have a feeling if I use points I will have to connect in the US somewhere and probably in Europe so it may not be worth the headache.

Yes, I DO like the idea of getting a taste of Europe without having to pack up & move on every couple of days. We have island hopped around Hawaii a few times & it gets old to repack & move on.

I have heard that the private tours can be tailored to our individual wants & we can make them as light or as intense as we'd like. I really have a LOT on my "wanna see" list for those ports so I figured that would be the best way to get it all in. We'll likely use DCL excursions for Majorca & maybe Villefranche....not sure yet about Pisa / Lucca... I'd like Majorca to be sorta low key. I think we'll be pretty wiped out by then and ready to just chill.

Airfares from this side of the Atlantic have been bordering on extortion lately...I hope they settle down a bit once we move on past the initial 331 day release date that a lot of the US airlines go by. We're hoping to use miles for some of us too. I want to hop to Barcelona from Paris the day b4 the cruise & maybe have time that afternoon / evening to see a bit. Then I want to stay over in Barcelona at least 2 nights, maybe 3 after the cruise. I have to find out more about my DS's new school schedule b4 we decide anything for sure. He will be starting his freshman year of HS the week after we get back & I just found out last week that they always hold a 1/2 day orientation sometime the week before school starts!! I heard that if they MISS this 1/2 day they're lost - the school is enormous. The bus will come at 6:40 am so I don't want it to be the day we get back & here he is all jet lagged & out of it. Therefore we may only spend 2 nights in Barcelona after the cruise so we can be back in time. Three nights in Barcelona would probably be better BUT....I need to think about what we're coming home to. By then, if we have spent 4 nights in Paris b4 the cruise we'll have been gone a full 2 weeks...So I suppose it will be TIME to come home by Monday.

Do you know how the hotels in Barcelona handle it if you arrive really early? I mean usually here, like at WDW for example, if you arrive at 10 or 11:00 AM & check-in isn't until 3 or 4:00 they will just hold your luggage somewhere with Bell Services until the room is ready. I was wondering since we'll be off the ship EARLY if the hotels in Barcelona will do the same? That way we could leave our luggage & go off sightseeing?!

 

[mkmommy]

we stayed at the Novotel after the cruise and got there about 9:45 and it was a zoo,but we were able to store our luggage. we came back about 3
Nice hotel and the pool on the roof was a hit,but not in a touristy area

 

[Anal Annie]

we stayed at the Novotel after the cruise and got there about 9:45 and it was a zoo,but we were able to store our luggage. we came back about 3
Nice hotel and the pool on the roof was a hit,but not in a touristy area

The Novotel is on my "short list" for places to stay mainly bcuz of the price & the fact we can sleep 3 in 1 room AND it has the breakfast included. Glad to hear they would store our luggage if we checked in early. It LOOKS nice enough from the pics on their website. I just wish it was a little more centrally located...but I'm sure that's not really a biggie - the price is almost too good to pass up. Did you like it enough that you would you stay there again next year or will you search for something better for sightseeing? We need a place pre-cruise & a place after so I have been debating if we should experiment with 2 diff. places or use the same place for both. I have been considering the Marriott at the airport for the 1 night pre-cruise bcuz they also have a shuttle to the port which would be convenient. But I hear it's a pretty good schlep into the city if we wanted to go exploring. I will probably wait to see what TIME our flight actually arrives from Paris after we book our flights. If we don't get there until later in the day the idea of exploring that evening might be a mute point so we may as well be convenient to the airport so we can just plop. They appear to have a nice pool...after 3 full days on the go in Paris & at DLP we might be ready to just chill for the evening. If we arrive early in the day then I will want to stay more in the city. If we end up not getting to Barcelona in time to explore then I will want more time AFTER the cruise.... OH SO MANY DECISIONS to make and "only" 11 months to make them in!!

 

[MRAven]

The Novotel is on my "short list" for places to stay mainly bcuz of the price & the fact we can sleep 3 in 1 room AND it has the breakfast included. Glad to hear they would store our luggage if we checked in early. It LOOKS nice enough from the pics on their website. I just wish it was a little more centrally located...but I'm sure that's not really a biggie - the price is almost too good to pass up. Did you like it enough that you would you stay there again next year or will you search for something better for sightseeing? We need a place pre-cruise & a place after so I have been debating if we should experiment with 2 diff. places or use the same place for both. I have been considering the Marriott at the airport for the 1 night pre-cruise bcuz they also have a shuttle to the port which would be convenient. But I hear it's a pretty good schlep into the city if we wanted to go exploring. I will probably wait to see what TIME our flight actually arrives from Paris after we book our flights. If we don't get there until later in the day the idea of exploring that evening might be a mute point so we may as well be convenient to the airport so we can just plop. They appear to have a nice pool...after 3 full days on the go in Paris & at DLP we might be ready to just chill for the evening. If we arrive early in the day then I will want to stay more in the city. If we end up not getting to Barcelona in time to explore then I will want more time AFTER the cruise.... OH SO MANY DECISIONS to make and "only" 11 months to make them in!!

I like The Novatel too; but it comes back to location, location, location. Who knows when I'll be back to Barcelona ? I'm really pushing for a place just like Novatell but in the Ramblas Avenue. I know, it will be more expensive (hopefully not too much) but if there's a place to be in Barcelona is around the Ramblas Avenue any time of the day or night (mostly night). I will dedicate 4 days to Barcelona with a day trip to Monserrat: The Monastery.

So, I'm still looking for that perfect place in The Ramblas Ave. and specially somewhere I don't have to share the bathroom with other families (that's not the kind of meet I'm expecting)