August 13, 2011 Med - Mickey's Marauding Mates

[CastawayJP]

Hey everyone! It looks like we will be booking this cruise in the next couple of weeks. This will be our 7th DCL, and we will be bringing my parents for their 1st! not a bad way to start...

Seems like a pretty active group. I like the website! Hope to be a part of the group soon!

 

[Anal Annie]

Hey everyone! It looks like we will be booking this cruise in the next couple of weeks. This will be our 7th DCL, and we will be bringing my parents for their 1st! not a bad way to start...

Seems like a pretty active group. I like the website! Hope to be a part of the group soon!

YAY!! A new peep! A new peep!! You are joining a FINE group if I do say so myself!! 7th DCL 'eh? Looks like you & Jeff hold the records for our group! He's done like 10 or something like that including one of last years Med cruises! Now I am feeling the pressure to get off my behind & really work on updating the website! Will you be bringing any kiddos or is it just you & your parents?! Once you book I can add all the scoop on your group to the first post!!

I see under your avatar that you're from the "Nation's Capital" - do you live IN DC or are you another suburbanite like me?! (I live in Montgomery County so it looks like we're almost neighbors!)

OH, BTW I was snooping around on the DCL website yesterday, trying to figure out how full our boat is getting. I was curious since they're saying that the last cruise in August is basically sold out now with a lot of the people displaced from the canceled Sept. 3 cruise... Anyway, I have been monitoring the Cat 5C's as I know there's a couple of us booked in that category... I counted a total of 56 5C cabins between decks 5 and 6. There are 7 still available on deck 5 (all sleeping 3) and 7 on deck 6 that sleep 4 plus 1 more on deck 6 that sleeps 3 for a total of 15 5C's left.

 

[CastawayJP]

Didn't mean to put the pressure on you to update! We live in Falls Church, for about 17 more days, then we move to Bucharest, Romania! We will also have our three kids with us DD (12), DD (4), DS (3). We thought that a cruise would be a great way to show the kids and Grandparents Europe! We were going to do one of the 10 night Med cruises last summer with my wifes parents, but they drug their feet too long and we got priced out. I am not going to let that happen again!

 

[Anal Annie]

Didn't mean to put the pressure on you to update! We live in Falls Church, for about 17 more days, then we move to Bucharest, Romania! We will also have our three kids with us DD (12), DD (4), DS (3). We thought that a cruise would be a great way to show the kids and Grandparents Europe! We were going to do one of the 10 night Med cruises last summer with my wifes parents, but they drug their feet too long and we got priced out. I am not going to let that happen again!

Oh somebody NEEDS to put a fire under my butt to work on this website some more!! Feel free to guilt me into it!!

Falls Church huh? NICE!! Romania?! I'm gonna go out on a limb here & ask if that's a work thing? You didn't just say I wanna move to Europe & throw a dart at the map did you?! I'm guessing there will not be time in the next 17 days for a DIS meet!!

Don't wait toooo much longer to book - it sounds like things are picking up in the booking department! They had 1 major price increase in mid-late summer - you never know when the next one will hit!!!

 

[west&east]

Welcome Jeremy! Our DD will be 12 in May and we have friends who are joining us who also have a 12 year old daughter. Our friends are coming in from Istanbul where they have lived for about 2 1/2 years.

My DS finally went back to school on Friday. He got these Tessalon Perles pills which seemed to help him kick the cough through the weekend, but last night it started again. I sent him to school this morning hopeful that he'd get busy and distracted but the school nurse called after he had been school for an hour and I had to go pick him up! He's just got that dry cough again and can't kick it.
Ugh.

 

[Anal Annie]

Oh Karen - sorry to hear that your DS is having such a hard time with this cough. If it's the same one my DS had it lasted a full 2 weeks before it was gone.

Kelly / Luke - I was on the Disneyland Paris website this morning, about to book our package at the Cheyenne then decided to toodle around a little more on the DIS, looking for more info. but so far nobody has answered my post on the DLP board. I noticed a link to "change room type". Should I just stick with the default which says something to the effect of being near resort ammenities. I am assuming that means closer to the lobby, bus stop & restaurant?! There was another choice to overlook the Rio Grande - which I took to mean a better view but more walking?! There is a 3rd choice which doesn't say anything about the location but it's $12 less. I was also wondering if these bunk beds there are a full size length? DS is only going to be 14 but he's growing taller all the time...he WILL fit in the bunks right?! I mean, they're not just for little kids, right? It appears if I book online that we have to pay in full now. I don't know how much it would cost for me to CALL and book but I don't think I want to find out either!! I saw on the DIS that they only take 10% now & charge the rest later...but oh well. I am really feeling the need for a money tree!!

I received a form via email this morning from that rstransport company to verify & confirm the transfers I was looking for. They want our credit card etc. I wonder if they're going to go ahead & charge me now too?? Guess I'd better ask huh?! I wasn't expecting for so many advanced charges to go thru NOW. I've decided to not book THE cheapest rate at that hotel in Paris but will book their next best available rate. If I do that it's 20 Euro more per night but they only charge us for ONE night now & will do the other 2 in August when we arrive.

 

[Kels Sem]

Hey Annie, Your DS will be fine in the bunk beds. My DH had to sleep in one the last time we were there as DS wouldn't sleep in them and had to sleep beside me. Not sure of the location of the rooms though.

I'm also looking at the possibility of private transfer/shuttle from the airport to the hotel. I asked on the DIBB about taxi's and the response I got was while there are plenty of them the queues can be very long depending on how many flights are in. 1 hour plus waits in some cases. MY DH would kill me if he had to wait an hour with the kids. Jeff/ Luke have you any experience of taxi queues at Barcelona airport?



Hey Karen - that cough sounds nasty. When my DS had it over xmas it took a good 2 weeks to get over it and DH took about 4 weeks which I'm sure is the last thing you want to hear. I hope he improves soon.

 

[Kels Sem]

Hey everyone! It looks like we will be booking this cruise in the next couple of weeks. This will be our 7th DCL, and we will be bringing my parents for their 1st! not a bad way to start...

Seems like a pretty active group. I like the website! Hope to be a part of the group soon!

Welcome to our little group. I also have a DD who is 4

 

[luke]

From memory I can't remember any room being particularly better at the Cheyenne, and the difference in times getting around will be minimum so I'd go for the cheapest.

Kels, any time I've been to Barcelona via the airport I just use a public bus or train into the city, fairly cheap and takes about 40 minutes. It's what I plan to use this time but then we have no kids in tow so it's not too bad. I imagine it wouldn't be as easy WITH kids

 

[west&east]

Searching for a hotel room in BCN is maddening! Of course I want the perfect combination of location, price, amenities and room for 2 adults and 2 kids. That seems to be the trickiest. I don't think I'm comfortable having the kids in their own room. I may end up at the Hilton Diagonal Mar because we probably can get some free nights and I think the rooms can accomodate 4, but it seems a bit far out from the action.

 

[CastawayJP]

Yeah we are with the State Department and this is our first overseas assignment. We are really looking forward to it, but these last few days are crazy! We are going to slip down for a quick trip to WDW before we leave though!

We have a hold on a reservation until Wednesday, while I express the urgency to my parents. We'll see!

 

[Kels Sem]

From memory I can't remember any room being particularly better at the Cheyenne, and the difference in times getting around will be minimum so I'd go for the cheapest.

Kels, any time I've been to Barcelona via the airport I just use a public bus or train into the city, fairly cheap and takes about 40 minutes. It's what I plan to use this time but then we have no kids in tow so it's not too bad. I imagine it wouldn't be as easy WITH kids

Someone else suggested this to me as well and if were just myself & DH then I would do this but with the age of my kids my DH wouldn't even consider it. I think because DH travels so much with work on planes, trains etc he just wants the easiest/ quickest option when we're on holiday even though it's not the cheapest.

 

[Kels Sem]

Searching for a hotel room in BCN is maddening! Of course I want the perfect combination of location, price, amenities and room for 2 adults and 2 kids. That seems to be the trickiest. I don't think I'm comfortable having the kids in their own room. I may end up at the Hilton Diagonal Mar because we probably can get some free nights and I think the rooms can accomodate 4, but it seems a bit far out from the action.

Hi Karen, i totally agree with you. Even though I have booked the Novotel I still look at other options but so far I haven't come up with anything in my price range. If only money were no object

 

[Anal Annie]

Searching for a hotel room in BCN is maddening! Of course I want the perfect combination of location, price, amenities and room for 2 adults and 2 kids. That seems to be the trickiest. I don't think I'm comfortable having the kids in their own room. I may end up at the Hilton Diagonal Mar because we probably can get some free nights and I think the rooms can accomodate 4, but it seems a bit far out from the action.

I can't get a 2-bed room option to come up at the Hilton (even directly thru their website). I have a friend staying there sometime this month (just her & her husband) so I can see what she thinks of the property but I think you would end up having to book 2 rooms. Did you look at the Novotel that Kelly & I have booked for our pre-cruise night? I really think it is reasonable and it sleeps 4 per room. Has a pool, restaurant & is supposed to be across the street the Agbar Tower and the Glòries Shopping Center.
It is also supposed to be near a bus stop & a few minutes from the metro and just a 15 min. walk to Sagrada Familia.... It's a new property that just opened last spring & it keeps climbing in the Trip Advisor reviews. Awhile ago (months ago) it was at like #125 then it went to the mid-70's and today it's at #63. Their non-refundable restricted rate currently starts at around $137 / night without breakfast...$150 a night for a changeable rate. Their cheapest rate with breakfast is now up to $160 / night... http://www.novotel.com/gb/booking/rates.shtml?packId=55447559065. We are springing for a higher end place for 2 nights post-cruise...

How is DS's cough??

 

[jd99]

Hi Peeps. Sorry I have been absent. Busy busy and now we are all sick sick. Why is it that every winter, SOMETHING catches up with the whole family to knock us all on our butts?

Welcome Jeremy! Our DD will be 12 in May and we have friends who are joining us who also have a 12 year old daughter. Our friends are coming in from Istanbul where they have lived for about 2 1/2 years.

.

We also come fully equipped with a 12 year old girl. Looks like "Edge" will be hopping. We also have a seven year old girl as well!

Jeff/ Luke have you any experience of taxi queues at Barcelona airport?

We did not do a taxi from the airport - we had arranged private transport (a van) so that there wouldn't be any issues regarding all the luggage we had. So then of course our luggage was lost and we had this big ol' expensive van all to ourselves!

What I will tell everyone is don't. don't. DON'T take a taxi from the port to anywhere. Arrange other transport. If you haven't read my trip report - I'll give you the very basics here. We waited 90 plus minutes in the heat for a taxi. Needed a van. Had to wait longer. Disorganized and rude folks were everywhere. Really put a bad taste in our mouth at the end of an amazing trip.

THat's all I can manage today. Hopefully tomorrow ill be a healthier day. TTFN.

 

[CastawayJP]

Hi Peeps. Sorry I have been absent. Busy busy and now we are all sick sick. Why is it that every winter, SOMETHING catches up with the whole family to knock us all on our butts?





We also come fully equipped with a 12 year old girl. Looks like "Edge" will be hopping. We also have a seven year old girl as well!



We did not do a taxi from the airport - we had arranged private transport (a van) so that there wouldn't be any issues regarding all the luggage we had. So then of course our luggage was lost and we had this big ol' expensive van all to ourselves!

What I will tell everyone is don't. don't. DON'T take a taxi from the port to anywhere. Arrange other transport. If you haven't read my trip report - I'll give you the very basics here. We waited 90 plus minutes in the heat for a taxi. Needed a van. Had to wait longer. Disorganized and rude folks were everywhere. Really put a bad taste in our mouth at the end of an amazing trip.

THat's all I can manage today. Hopefully tomorrow ill be a healthier day. TTFN.

I think we have sailed with you before... Were you one of the Nana Heads on the Western in November 08?

 

[west&east]

Novotel is definitely on the short list. Where is the "splurge" spot for post-cruise? Pre-cruise, I have to take my friends into consideration although they are staying one night and we will be there for two. I don't think they are staying anywhere post-cruise so we can do what we want, within our budget!

Home again today with TWO sick kids and one sort of sick mommy. Daddy left town for business this morning. DS still coughing away this morning despite all kinds of meds so we went back to the doctor for visit #3 and got a new cough medication with hydrocodone. Definitely worked for about 4 or 5 hours. The 2nd dose didn't seem to help as quickly. I am going to dose him up as soon as he wakes up in the morning and hope to get him to school. When he isn't coughing, he feels really good.

DD has achy, low grade fever crud, same as me. She was fairly miserable today but low maintenence. Hope everyone stays healthy out there.

 

[mkmommy]

Novotel is definitely on the short list. Where is the "splurge" spot for post-cruise? Pre-cruise, I have to take my friends into consideration although they are staying one night and we will be there for two. I don't think they are staying anywhere post-cruise so we can do what we want, within our budget!

.

Don't mean to intrude on your cruise but I pop in once in awhile as for the longest time there was no one on the Aug 27 cruise. I found a great deal on a hotel in Barcelona.

Fira Palace, supposed to have some of the largest rooms in Barcelona with 2 queen beds, kids under 7 are free and over are 20euros. Location in really close to the Magic Fountains. It is a convention hotel but I guess they are slow on weekends so there are some great rates for weekends. I got $74 Euros for Aug 26.


http://www.fira-palace.com/

it is currently 34 for Barcelona.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ira_Palace_Barcelona-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

We stayed at the Novotel last year and it was nice but the sofa couch is not the size of a full double bed.

 

[Anal Annie]

Novotel is definitely on the short list. Where is the "splurge" spot for post-cruise? Pre-cruise, I have to take my friends into consideration although they are staying one night and we will be there for two. I don't think they are staying anywhere post-cruise so we can do what we want, within our budget!

Home again today with TWO sick kids and one sort of sick mommy. Daddy left town for business this morning. DS still coughing away this morning despite all kinds of meds so we went back to the doctor for visit #3 and got a new cough medication with hydrocodone. Definitely worked for about 4 or 5 hours. The 2nd dose didn't seem to help as quickly. I am going to dose him up as soon as he wakes up in the morning and hope to get him to school. When he isn't coughing, he feels really good.

DD has achy, low grade fever crud, same as me. She was fairly miserable today but low maintenence. Hope everyone stays healthy out there.

Oh man! I am sorry you & your kiddos are all sick! That really bites! I hope the new cough med does the trick!

Our "splurge" hotel is the Hotel Jazz - they don't have rooms that sleep 4 but they DO have a "triple" which is all we really have to have (@ $211 USD / night).

 

[Anal Annie]

Don't mean to intrude on your cruise but I pop in once in awhile as for the longest time there was no one on the Aug 27 cruise. I found a great deal on a hotel in Barcelona.

Fira Palace, supposed to have some of the largest rooms in Barcelona with 2 queen beds, kids under 7 are free and over are 20euros. Location in really close to the Magic Fountains. It is a convention hotel but I guess they are slow on weekends so there are some great rates for weekends. I got $74 Euros for Aug 26.


http://www.fira-palace.com/

it is currently 34 for Barcelona.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ira_Palace_Barcelona-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

We stayed at the Novotel last year and it was nice but the sofa couch is not the size of a full double bed.

Oh that IS cheap! Feel free to pop in any time!! We're all friends here! I know Hope is now on your cruise (BWV Dreamin). She was booked on this one too (briefly). I "know" her from the DVC boards...