August 13, 2011 Med - Mickey's Marauding Mates

[Anal Annie]

Kelly - I AM glad you found the packing cubes helpful. They've really helped me a LOT. I guess you're more used to packing for an overseas trip than I am - that should help you for the cruise. How much time are you planning to add (if any) in Barcelona before & after the cruise??

I was thinking of renting the tux or a suit for DH just to avoid packing ANY sport coats or anything like that for him... Trying desperately to avoid bringing a garment bag which would put us into another luggage category.

So luke - how much driving did you do this weekend? Did you use up a tank of gas?!

Kelly - go tell Justine to come chat again!! She's really been AWOL!!! I want to hear about her trips this summer!

 

[Kels Sem]

Kelly - I AM glad you found the packing cubes helpful. They've really helped me a LOT. I guess you're more used to packing for an overseas trip than I am - that should help you for the cruise. How much time are you planning to add (if any) in Barcelona before & after the cruise??

We will fly in the day before the cruise and I will spend either 1 or 2 nights post cruise in Barcelona. It really depends on the flights times. There are 2 airlines which fly from Belfast to Barcelona. One has their flights out already but I'm not keen on the return flight time. So need to wait on the other airline releasing their dates. I wish they would hurry up so I can get booked

I'll try and get hold of Justine.

 

[luke]

So luke - how much driving did you do this weekend? Did you use up a tank of gas?!

It was honestly like back to the days when I first passed my test, driving for driving's sake!! Did about 150 miles over the weekend and used over a quarter tank of gas!!!
I do love the looks we get driving round tho, as the car is literally brand new so most people are probably wondering what the hell it is

Oh and I was right about the football depressing me....

 

[Anal Annie]

It was honestly like back to the days when I first passed my test, driving for driving's sake!! Did about 150 miles over the weekend and used over a quarter tank of gas!!!
I do love the looks we get driving round tho, as the car is literally brand new so most people are probably wondering what the hell it is

Oh and I was right about the football depressing me....

Sounds as if it must get pretty good gas mileage if you drove 150miles on 1/4 tank of gas!! (I suppose you all really go by kilometers & petrol?!)

Sorry about your football not going well. I know your football is different from ours but if it's any consolation my DH has season tickets here for the Washington Redskins and is a BEEEEEG fan & they have lost both of their last 2 games. Week before this was REALLY bad as they led by like 17 points for most of the game then BLEW IT in the last few minutes!! That is their trademark - they choke when it counts the most!!

 

[Anal Annie]

OK peeps! We were doing good keeping up the chatter here for a few days...where did everybody go?!

I'm just here to talk to myself again. Been trying to decide what to do about DS's swim practice this week. Would rather go on Thurs. than Wed. 'cuz first, DH has a class & isn't home on Thurs, 2nd the Wed. practice is very late (8-9:15) and 3rd we TIVO a lot of tv shows on Wed so it's easier to find time to watch them ON Wed. than to save them. Problem is that we're expecting the remnants of tropical storm Nicole over the next 2 days with a months worth of rain AND 40 mph wind gusts tomorrow. Not a biggie really EXCEPT that the pool where we go most of the time is actually an OUTDOOR pool that they cover in the winter with a large inflatable bubble. But so when it's storming with thunder & lightening or when it's really windy they close it!!! The weather guy I watch just said there could even be tornado watches tomorrow. So if we wait for tomorrows practice the odds are high it will be cancelled due to wind closure. Me thinks I need to suck it up & go start dinner soon!! Thinking quesadillas....yummmm....homemade guacamole!!!

 

[Anal Annie]

Having a VERY dreary day today....it is sooo dark out the street lights are still on. Forecast is for 7 inches of rain today & there's a tornado watch until 1:00. Our sump pump in the basement is running every 5 minutes...it's gonna drive me nuts to listen to it all day. I just hope it can keep up with the rain so we don't get a wet basement.

I'd rather be shopping!

 

[luke]

Finally back on topic here
Booked my flights to Barcelona, didn't think they'd be 'out' yet but saw it was when searching for something else. So probably didn't get them as cheap as maybe I could have, but wasn't too bad I guess, at £140 return for the two of us (about $210).

Flying out on Friday 12th August, back home on the Sunday after the cruise.

Just the hotels for those two nights in Barcelona left to book now

 

[Kels Sem]

Finally back on topic here
Booked my flights to Barcelona, didn't think they'd be 'out' yet but saw it was when searching for something else. So probably didn't get them as cheap as maybe I could have, but wasn't too bad I guess, at £140 return for the two of us (about $210).

Flying out on Friday 12th August, back home on the Sunday after the cruise.

Just the hotels for those two nights in Barcelona left to book now

That's great. Who are you flying with? I have priced flights with Aer Lingus and they are coming out at £160pp That's why I'm waiting on the Easyjet flights coming out! I hope they don't decide to pull the flight. That would not be good

 

[Kels Sem]

Well I'm absolutely gutted with the Easyjet flight price from Belfast. I just went and looked after reading Luke's post and it coming out at £657.00 for the 4 of us If we were flying from Liverpool it would be £257 for the 4 of us. What a difference. I was really hoping to pay no more than about £500 and even at that I thought I would get them at alot less booking this far out. Think I might leave it a day or to to see if that makes any difference although I very much doubt it.

I'm away to drown my sorrows with an extra large glass of wine.

 

[luke]

Wow that's a big difference between Belfast and Liverpool flights!!
We've only added one bag to our reservation but I guess we can change our mind nearer the time and add another.

Looking round in earnest for hotels now, just all the ones I think 'oooh that looks nice', come up as ridiculously expensive

 

[Anal Annie]

luke - are you saying that I ramble on about nothing when I'm out here talking to myself?! Well, then don't leave me out here by myself guys!!

How exciting to be booking flights already!! Ours are still waaaay too high yet. I have a target price & I'm going to try to hold out for it. Even just a few months ago they were about $150 lower. Afraid if I pull the trigger toooo soon they'll drop right after I book so I'm holding out. So are you saying that with Easyjet you have to tell them how much luggage you'll have when you buy the ticket and you pay per piece?! No way I could do that!! I won't know how much luggage we'll have until I go to check in for the flights!! I can have a GOAL but sticking to it may just be a dream I have!!!

Kelly - nothing wrong with a little wine therapy! Go for it girl!!

 

[Anal Annie]

OK, shall I start talking to myself again?!

What's everybody doing this weekend?! It is going to be very fall-like here tomorrow (60's).

DS has a swim meet tomorrow. It's an "All Free" meet & his particular group of kids that he's practicing with right now are only swimming the 500. It's a small meet so at least it doesn't shoot the whole weekend & it's not one that starts super uber early like most of them. (WHEW!!) We don't have to leave home until 9:00 & will hopefully be home by 2:00ish. This is his first time swimming anything further than a 100 in a meet. I am very curious to see how he does with a distance event. He's not a sprinter so I have my fingers crossed that he finds his niche.

luke - you out driving again?! Probably washing the new baby & sweeping it out & giving it some TLC.

Kelly - whatcha up to?

Jeff - you still around?!

 

[Anal Annie]

Well, hope everyone's first half of their weekend went well. DS did a really good job I think on his 500 Free today. Poor kiddo...he lost his goggles down around his neck on his 3rd lap and had to finish swimming the other 17 laps with them hanging around his neck!! It slowed him down I'm sure - made his flip turns difficult as he couldn't see the wall good so he didn't get good streamlines off. I was HOPING for his first attempt that he would break the 7 minute time & he finished at like 7:04.20 or something so we were really happy with that time considering the whole goggle debacle!!

I was talking to another swim Mom today who said she's been to Barcelona several times (for business) & she's stayed at the Majestic which was nice. I haven't researched that one yet so now I have to go look into yet another hotel!!! I will report back & let ya'll know if it sleeps more than 2 per room!

 

[MRAven]

Hi Annie, The Majestic is a very nice hotel; that's where we are booking while in Barcelona. It's also very good in location.

 

[jd99]

OK, shall I start talking to myself again?!

What's everybody doing this weekend?! It is going to be very fall-like here tomorrow (60's).

DS has a swim meet tomorrow. It's an "All Free" meet & his particular group of kids that he's practicing with right now are only swimming the 500. It's a small meet so at least it doesn't shoot the whole weekend & it's not one that starts super uber early like most of them. (WHEW!!) We don't have to leave home until 9:00 & will hopefully be home by 2:00ish. This is his first time swimming anything further than a 100 in a meet. I am very curious to see how he does with a distance event. He's not a sprinter so I have my fingers crossed that he finds his niche.

luke - you out driving again?! Probably washing the new baby & sweeping it out & giving it some TLC.

Kelly - whatcha up to?

Jeff - you still around?!

I'm still here! Just a busy fall. My oldest is also a swimmer so I spend at least four days a week at her practices. She also did a one-on-one training session with her coach early this morning (it sounded like a good idea when we scheduled it; not so much waking up early on a Sunday listening to the rain on the windows and wanting to stay in bed). She hasn't done anything more than a 200 in a meet - but really liked the 200 breast so we think she is finding her niche as more of a distance swimmer. She's also not a sprinter. Gets stressed when she doesn't drop time in the 50s and I tell her that it's so hard to do every time out in the shorter races.

We are starting to get excited for our DCL Western coming up in November. Plan is to book this sailing while on board to get the discount. Wish we had booked while on the Med sailing this summer as they were offering some interesting deals (discounted deposit and extra OBC) but maybe we'll get lucky when we are onboard in Nov.

School is busy, my business is booming (yippee) and we are counting down to the next vacation (and the one after that...and the one after that...and the one after that).

Happy Sunday everybody!

 

[Kels Sem]

Hi all, I haven't had any internet access all weekend until now. Don't know what happened but we are finally sorted It really is a bugger when you want to do something on line (like book flights) and can't! I had another look at the prices and they already have gone up by £20. Still can't decide whether to bit the bullet and book or hold out for a sale. My DH says no matter what I decide it will be wrong! So true...

I have had a nice weekend. Mum and I went shopping on Saturday morning and I got new boots, coat, and some outfits so a good morning and then me DH & kids went out for dinner and today we went to the in-laws for Sunday lunch so a weekend of no cooking

The kids are bathed and I'm just about to put them to bed ready for another week.

 

[Kels Sem]

Wow that's a big difference between Belfast and Liverpool flights!!
We've only added one bag to our reservation but I guess we can change our mind nearer the time and add another.

Looking round in earnest for hotels now, just all the ones I think 'oooh that looks nice', come up as ridiculously expensive

I know! I can actually fly from Belfast-Liverpool - barcelona cheaper than flying Belfast - Barcelona direct. Can you believe it

I can't be bothered with 2 flights though for the amount I would save.

I really think I will just book the Novotel since I know it will sleep the 4 of us. Any others which sleep 4 are quite expensive in comparsion.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm still here! Just a busy fall. My oldest is also a swimmer so I spend at least four days a week at her practices. She also did a one-on-one training session with her coach early this morning (it sounded like a good idea when we scheduled it; not so much waking up early on a Sunday listening to the rain on the windows and wanting to stay in bed). She hasn't done anything more than a 200 in a meet - but really liked the 200 breast so we think she is finding her niche as more of a distance swimmer. She's also not a sprinter. Gets stressed when she doesn't drop time in the 50s and I tell her that it's so hard to do every time out in the shorter races.

We are starting to get excited for our DCL Western coming up in November. Plan is to book this sailing while on board to get the discount. Wish we had booked while on the Med sailing this summer as they were offering some interesting deals (discounted deposit and extra OBC) but maybe we'll get lucky when we are onboard in Nov.

School is busy, my business is booming (yippee) and we are counting down to the next vacation (and the one after that...and the one after that...and the one after that).

Happy Sunday everybody!

"We" also swim 4x a week right now! The pool where he goes most of the time is about 9 miles from home so I usually just stay as I feel it's a waste of gas to run back & forth (since we go so often). Some of his practices are 1.5 hrs & some are 2 hrs. I just bring a book to read... I am trying like heck to avoid having to go to those early, early before school practices!! He is doing some 200's at a meet in a couple of weeks...but only Free & Back...to be quite honest he's only an average swimmer & his Breast is very slow & his Butterfly is UUUUGLY!! So we stick to the 50's for those for now!! I enjoy watching him do an IM though...not signed up for one of those yet. I think he will try the 500 again at whatever meet they go to in November. I kinda skimmed back thru the last couple pages of our thread but didn't see if you said how old your kiddos are?! (Or did I miss it?!) Should I go ahead & add ya'll to the first post of the thread with all the names & ages of your family (as in you're SURE you're gonna join us?!

We still have 10 months to go so I keep telling myself not to panic YET over the airfare & hotels. There is plenty of time to book. When did you book all that stuff for your last Med cruise? Did you plan it all out really early or are we just being anxious 'cuz most of us have been booked for SOO long already?!

I emailed that Majestic hotel to see if they could accommodate families but they never answered me. I DID get a "read receipt" though so I know somebody READ it. I could not tell from their website if they have rooms that sleep more than 2. If they don't answer me they're off my list as I feel that is unprofessional. I emailed a few others with questions that DID take the time to respond. They'll get my business first before a place that cannot be bothered by my questions. KWIM?!

Kelly - glad your internet is back up & running! I HATE that feeling!! Don't you just feel cut off to the whole world when it's out?! Shows ya how much we rely on it.

OK, off to put dinner on the table (Stuffed Shells tonight...waiting on the bread to come out of the oven....)

 

[jd99]

"We" also swim 4x a week right now! The pool where he goes most of the time is about 9 miles from home so I usually just stay as I feel it's a waste of gas to run back & forth (since we go so often). Some of his practices are 1.5 hrs & some are 2 hrs. I just bring a book to read... I am trying like heck to avoid having to go to those early, early before school practices!! He is doing some 200's at a meet in a couple of weeks...but only Free & Back...to be quite honest he's only an average swimmer & his Breast is very slow & his Butterfly is UUUUGLY!! So we stick to the 50's for those for now!! I enjoy watching him do an IM though...not signed up for one of those yet. I think he will try the 500 again at whatever meet they go to in November. I kinda skimmed back thru the last couple pages of our thread but didn't see if you said how old your kiddos are?! (Or did I miss it?!) Should I go ahead & add ya'll to the first post of the thread with all the names & ages of your family (as in you're SURE you're gonna join us?!

We still have 10 months to go so I keep telling myself not to panic YET over the airfare & hotels. There is plenty of time to book. When did you book all that stuff for your last Med cruise? Did you plan it all out really early or are we just being anxious 'cuz most of us have been booked for SOO long already?!

I emailed that Majestic hotel to see if they could accommodate families but they never answered me. I DID get a "read receipt" though so I know somebody READ it. I could not tell from their website if they have rooms that sleep more than 2. If they don't answer me they're off my list as I feel that is unprofessional. I emailed a few others with questions that DID take the time to respond. They'll get my business first before a place that cannot be bothered by my questions. KWIM?!

Kelly - glad your internet is back up & running! I HATE that feeling!! Don't you just feel cut off to the whole world when it's out?! Shows ya how much we rely on it.

OK, off to put dinner on the table (Stuffed Shells tonight...waiting on the bread to come out of the oven....)

Sure, add us to the list. I can't imagine we aren't going to book this sailing. We are me (Jeff) DW (Mina) DD12 (Elizabeth) and DD7 (Emily).

We didn't book air or hotel until well after the first of the year. Kept monitoring prices and they never went down - and never went up. One day the air for the flights we wanted went down slightly (100/person) so I just snatched it up.

For hotel we stayed at the Hotel Arts but we had to have 2 rooms because we had four in the room. I know that others booked that hotel with 3 in a room and it was fine. And the hotel was beautiful, right on the water and next to the beach. This time, we are going to shoot for the Novotel because we have heard that they will let you have 4 in a room.

Happy Monday everyone. Meeting this morning followed by finishing up my billing (i have a sole proprietorship PR biz) and some writing projects. Then off to swim practice!

 

[Anal Annie]

OK, I have added Jeff and family to the first post...are those ages you gave us for your kiddos how old they are NOW or how old they'll be at sailing? I've been putting ages AT SAILING on the first post so if you can let me know about that + I need your age & Mina's age (if you want to share of course). I tried to count up how many cruises you have under your belt from your siggie - I thought I counted that your Nov. cruise will be your 8th DCL so I put that THIS one will be your 9th - did I get that right???

THEN I realized that I still need to know more about Luke & Paula (ages & whether or not they've done any DCL's before etc.)!!! Once I get all this info. squared away for the first post I'll find some time to go mess with the website. I think I've forgotten how to do it!

OK, so I got a reply from the Majestic hotel this morning about my inquiry for 3-4 to a room and when they will have pricing available for next summer. I'll copy it in below. I think they're OUT for us as they 1) charge extra for additional people 2) only put families in SUITES ($$$) and 3) bottom line is they will just quite frankly be out of our budget. I'm glad they were honest about 3 people not being comfortable, even in a suite!!! We definitely don't want to pay for TWO rooms either!!! Here's their reply:


Dear Madam ,

First we would like to thank you for having chosen Majestic hotel as a possible hotel for your next stay in Barcelona

We inform you that the rooms available for 3 persons could be a junior suite or a suite.

Please take good note that the extra charge for the third and fourth person over 12 years old is 75 € per person per night.

We also want to stress the importance that this type of room are normally for two people, maximum 3 and the guest will not be so comfortable as we wish.

Please check our website during next week or contact us again in order to quote you the dates requested.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance

Best regards

Johann JARNO
Agente de Reservas - Reservations Agent
Majestic Hotel Group - Barcelona & Paris
Telf.: +34 93 492 22 44 · Fax: +34 93 487 97 90
jjarno@majestichotelgroup.com · www.majestichotelgroup.com


I guess if several of us book the Novotel for a pre-cruise stay we could do that for one night as well since I'm planning for us to spend 1 night in Barcelona before the cruise. Then maybe we could all hook up or something. I think we'll select a different property for our nights AFTER the cruise though (The Hotel Jazz or Hotel EuroPark or something).

NOW do we have to worry about this new "travel warning for Americans traveling to Europe" and this latest terror threat?!