August 13, 2011 Med - Mickey's Marauding Mates

[kerrykerr]

Barcelona: We only have one day there before the cruise, but we plan to have lunch at Cafe Vienna which supposedly has the best sandwich in the world, get over to see Sagrida Familia, and walk the Ramblas before getting a good night's sleep.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Hello, I am Lee Ann's friend sailing on the Aug. 27 cruise. I pop in and out, love your thread! Anyhoo I thought I would post what we are doing on the first day pre-cruise. It's called the Fat Tire Bike Tour.

http://fattirebiketours.com/barcelona

 

[Anal Annie]

Looks like eldest DD has chickenpox. She will be clear before the 13th but now worried that youngest DD or I will get it. Not feeling very hopeful at the moment.

Oh Cheryl!! I am so sorry! Do they not give the Chicken Pox vaccination over there when they're little? I think here in the US they do the vaccination at like maybe a year or two old. It is not a 100% preventative but I think I've heard if they DO get a case of it when they're older it's much less severe and it is very rare that someone will still get them if they've been vaccinated. I will keep my fingers crossed for you and your family. I know it's usually pretty hard NOT to get it once exposed. Do you have trip insurance just in case (I hope)!?

Hey Annie,

DH Martin, me (Chris), DD Aisling (13) and DD Ciara (8) from NYC on our 4th DCL! Has anyone come across Personal Navigators for our 7-night Mediterranean?

Thanks!

Hey Chris! Welcome back. Glad to get a little more scoop on your family. The 7 night cruises don't start until July 30th (they're all 10 / 11 night ones up until then) so I haven't been prowling around much for Navigators. There may be some posted somewhere from the longer cruises tho. Glad to finally see another TEENAGER on the ship!! Are you planning to swing by our little DIS meet on the first afternoon?? Just a quickie one in the Promenade Lounge around 2:30-3:00. Muster drill is at 4:00 I believe so it won't last too long. Thought it would be nice to say hi & let the kiddos meet.

Hello, I am Lee Ann's friend sailing on the Aug. 27 cruise. I pop in and out, love your thread! Anyhoo I thought I would post what we are doing on the first day pre-cruise. It's called the Fat Tire Bike Tour.

http://fattirebiketours.com/barcelona

Hi Hope! Thanks for sharing your BCN tour info. with everyone. Did you see I posted yesterday that I finally ordered our euros and the rate had gone up to 1.55?! This trip is killin' me!!


OH, and I called Verizon yesterday to order my global cell phone. The loaner is free for 30 days from the day ordered and the plan will last up to 21 days once I activate it. There is only a charge of $20 for the shipping & handling (which includes the return shipping for the phone). I should have it by Friday and then I will have to return it the day after we get back. It comes FED EX so I have to be home to receive it. That's a pain. Will have to get out & run my errands super early on Friday. Anyway, I think I told her to give me the value voice package which costs $4.99 and lowers the per minute rate to 99 cents / minute if I use it in Europe. I will just activate it right before we go so my own number will be on it. Texts will cost 50 cents to send but only 5 cents to receive or 25 cents if a picture is attached. She noted the name of the ship & said they have their own tower & calls on the ship will run $2.49 / minute. And she said if we use it on land in the port to wait until we're out of the immediate port area or else we might still pick up the ships tower & end up paying the higher rate. It's just a plain old flip phone (no keyboard) so I don't anticipate doing much texting either as I hate the keypad stuff. It's just a backup phone to have with us. She also said if it's lost or stolen it will cost $199! So DH said we will leave it locked up in the room. HE is getting a global smart phone with a data plan thru his work so it won't cost him anything out of pocket.

I also ordered 4 sets (of 2) TSA combination locks last night from Overstock.com. I decided I don't want to mess with keyed locks if I can avoid it. Keys for this many bags get to be a hassle to keep them all organized. I priced them at a couple of stores & most came packaged in singles & cost as much as the 2-pack online. I will bring a couple of our old keyed TSA locks as spares if we need to add a bag for the trip home or in case one is lost or damaged.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Hi Lee Ann, yes we bought the two pack TSA combo locks too! We got them on Ebay for $6.99 a set! So 4 locks for $13 bucks, thought that was pretty good.

Bummer on the euros! If my math is right, it cost you about $20 dollars with the new rate? Yeah, I keep buying stuff too! Bought another money waist thing where you wear it under your clothes. Bought another blow up neck pillow for the plane. Little stuff I keep rememberin about! Then, Disney Store had this adorable photo album (says Disney Cruise Line 2011) that I HAD to buy (used my rewards dollars though). So at least I didn't pay the VAT tax and the shipping was free! (Funny how I can justify these things! ) So now I have TWO photo albums for this trip..

My birthday is Sunday and I told my family ALL I WANT ARE DISNEY GIFT CARDS.....

When you can, PM me your cell phone so I can call you! Hope

 

[Anal Annie]

Anal Annie- not sure if you saw this trip report, they did both Pisa and Cinque Terre in a day.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=41996601&posted=1#post41996601

If possible when you return can you PM me the highlights of Disney Land Paris, I am doing a similar trip leaving Aug 25 and I have done zero planning for Disney Land Paris beside book the TGV to and from CGD.

Hi - thanks for posting this here!! I popped over there to ask her a few questions...sounds kinda like it was a real push to do Pisa & 1 Cinque Terre town. I probably would be much too stressed to try both!! Esp. if the trains can be tricky.

I will try to PM you when we get back about DLP. We don't get home until Aug. 22nd so I'll try to remember to do it before you go!! We land at CDG at 6:00 am and plan to go drop our luggage at the Hotel Cheyenne & get our park tix & spend the day at one of the parks. I am still undecided WHICH park first tho. I know we're gonna be pooooped by evening so I was thinking of going to the one that closes at 7:00. But then we'd miss the parade & fireworks in the other one. But not sure if we can stay up that late or not. I'm betting we'll be too tired. Everybody says to stay up as late as possible to sleep cycle - don't nap. I kinda wanted to take advantage of the EMH's tho the next morning. I don't know. I am tempted to try to nap for just a couple of hours in the afternoon once our room is ready. I'm sooo confused right now!! We made no ADR's. I decided that the portions at the DLP TS restaurants looked small and with the poor exchange rate quite pricey so I think we're only doing CS meals while at DLP. I think we will plan to get picked up at the Hotel Cheyenne to move to our Paris hotel around 6:00. That should get us to our next hotel around 7:00 I think. Then we can look for a cafe nearby for dinner. I think the food choices in the city will be better.

Are you staying onsite or in the city & how long are you going for??

 

[luke]

Great move on the no ADRs.
The food on the whole at DLP pales in comparison to WDW and the table service is ridiculously expensive especially with the exchange rate as it is

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I have a friend on my cruise who still hasn't booked any transfers from the airport to hotel. Can anyone recommend who they are using in Barcelona?

 

[Kels Sem]

Looks like eldest DD has chickenpox. She will be clear before the 13th but now worried that youngest DD or I will get it. Not feeling very hopeful at the moment.

Oh no, I really hope your youngest doesn't get it This was always one of my fears. Luckily my two have now had it. I really feel for you.

 

[west&east]

Looks like eldest DD has chickenpox. She will be clear before the 13th but now worried that youngest DD or I will get it. Not feeling very hopeful at the moment.

Keep your spirits up, Cheryl! Wishing you and your family good health and some pixie dust so that everyone is able to travel!

 

[west&east]

I apologize if we've discussed this before...
I just completed online checkin and the earliest avail boarding time was 12-12:30. 11 and 11:30 were blocked out.
It seems from what I was reading that this does not have anything to do with boarding numbers. Can anybody clarify the procedures in Barcelona?
Thanks,

 

[Cumbley]

Oh Cheryl!! I am so sorry! Do they not give the Chicken Pox vaccination over there when they're little? I think here in the US they do the vaccination at like maybe a year or two old. It is not a 100% preventative but I think I've heard if they DO get a case of it when they're older it's much less severe and it is very rare that someone will still get them if they've been vaccinated. I will keep my fingers crossed for you and your family. I know it's usually pretty hard NOT to get it once exposed. Do you have trip insurance just in case (I hope)!?


Hi Annie, they dont vaccinate over here for chickenpox, you can pay privately and I did look into that last week but as they'd already been exposed it was too late. If Lauren comes out with it in the next couple of days she will be OK for the cruise, it's just that I havent had it before. Ive got visions of me developing it whilst on the cruise and being confined to my room! We do have trip insurance and will have to cancel worse case scenario. We've looked and all the other med cruises are sold out so we wouldnt be able to rebook. I'll keep you all updated on "spot watch"!

 

[luke]

Interested in knowing that myself.
We went for the 11am check in and may check in, leave our bags then come back before whatever time boarding starts

 

[Anal Annie]

Oh Cheryl!! I am so sorry! Do they not give the Chicken Pox vaccination over there when they're little? I think here in the US they do the vaccination at like maybe a year or two old. It is not a 100% preventative but I think I've heard if they DO get a case of it when they're older it's much less severe and it is very rare that someone will still get them if they've been vaccinated. I will keep my fingers crossed for you and your family. I know it's usually pretty hard NOT to get it once exposed. Do you have trip insurance just in case (I hope)!?


Hi Annie, they dont vaccinate over here for chickenpox, you can pay privately and I did look into that last week but as they'd already been exposed it was too late. If Lauren comes out with it in the next couple of days she will be OK for the cruise, it's just that I havent had it before. Ive got visions of me developing it whilst on the cruise and being confined to my room! We do have trip insurance and will have to cancel worse case scenario. We've looked and all the other med cruises are sold out so we wouldnt be able to rebook. I'll keep you all updated on "spot watch"!

Hope everything works out! I know it's going to be touch & go for you!! What's the incubation period on it?? Sending some pixie dust your way too!!

 

[criscoloo]

Hi Annie,

We're going to try to make the DIS meet in the Promenade. We're traveling with my girlfriend who's onboard for her annual family reunion, so I'll be busy showing the 15 of them the lay of the land since this is their first DCL cruise. I'm even more overwhelmed than ever having to plan for Paris and Barcelona. Now that you discussed it, I'm going to look into Verizon's global cellphone too.

What are the TSA combo locks for? Luggage? Are we allowed to lock our luggage abroad even though we can't here in the U.S.?

 

[luke]

What are the TSA combo locks for? Luggage? Are we allowed to lock our luggage abroad even though we can't here in the U.S.?

TSA locks have a special key slot which the TSA cam open but noone else but you can open meaning you can lock your case when travelling to or from the US

 

[SailingSeas]

I apologize if we've discussed this before...
I just completed online checkin and the earliest avail boarding time was 12-12:30. 11 and 11:30 were blocked out.
It seems from what I was reading that this does not have anything to do with boarding numbers. Can anybody clarify the procedures in Barcelona?
Thanks,

West; the check-in time is not related to your boarding time. The check-in slot you can request when you process your online documents is the time to check-in at port. It is not related to the time you are allowed to board the ship. You will receive a card when you get to port that will have a boarding group number on it and when your number is called (after the boat is 'show ready') then you can board the ship.

I usually end up with an early check-in time, and despite being a Gold CC, tend to pull the higher boarding card number. If security isn't too bad and depending on the number we get, we may go stroll around for an hour or two before embarking the ship. I don't have a feel for how close things are to port so if anyone has been to barcelona and can advise, that would be wonderful.

 

[Anal Annie]

Hi Annie,

We're going to try to make the DIS meet in the Promenade. We're traveling with my girlfriend who's onboard for her annual family reunion, so I'll be busy showing the 15 of them the lay of the land since this is their first DCL cruise. I'm even more overwhelmed than ever having to plan for Paris and Barcelona. Now that you discussed it, I'm going to look into Verizon's global cellphone too.

What are the TSA combo locks for? Luggage? Are we allowed to lock our luggage abroad even though we can't here in the U.S.?

I hope you can swing through the meet for a few minutes. I know, the Paris thing is complicating my trip planning as well. I still haven't figured out a time to buy our tickets for the Eiffel Tower either. I have been too busy with the swim team DVD to concentrate on anything else - FINALLY had the banquet last night so I hope to be able to work on it today. I have to take the cats to the vet today for their annual visit & I usually end up having to sit & wait awhile so I was thinking I'll take my my notes from Rick Steve's Paris book & see if I can map out a route for one day so I can figure out a time to buy them for. As much as I would like to go at twilight to see it and the city all lit up I think sometime in the afternoon might be a safer plan. If we ever get to return I'll try to go in the evening next time. It will not be dark until 9:00ish & I also want to do a boat ride on the Seine one evening. Just too hard to plan for both with only a couple of evenings to do it in. We have an early flight to BCN on Friday (have to leave our hotel around 6:00 am) so I don't want to plan for anything late that last night. I think just a stroll around St. Germain des Pres and dinner at a cafe. When do you leave for Paris??

Here's the phone # to call for the Verizon global phone: 800-711-8300. Call today 'cuz it takes a couple of days - they send the phones via Fed Ex and you have to be there to receive / sign for it. I called Tues. evening & it's supposed to come on Friday.

TSA locks have a special key slot which the TSA cam open but noone else but you can open meaning you can lock your case when travelling to or from the US

You can lock your luggage here too - you just have to be sure to use TSA approved locks that they can open should they decide to search your bags. We are going to have to store our luggage with bell services (or the equivalent) in both Paris and Barcelona so I wanted to be able to lock ALL of our bags (including our boarding bags). I actually probably should've ordered 1 more set of them. Oh well. I may have to hit Target or Wal-Mart again. I have bright green luggage tags & luggage straps to put around our checked bags so I ordered bright lime green locks too (must color coordinate doncha know!) These are the ones I ordered on Overstock.com (only $2.95 shipping with them) but Hope said she got some on Ebay for a little less I think. http://www.overstock.com/Luggage-Bags/TSA-Green-Password-Combination-Luggage-Locks-Set-of-2/6071138/product.html You should be able to find similar ones in stores but not always in a 2-pack (so they may cost more).


OH, BTW, rstransport got back to me again with a couple more 2 word emails. Not sure what their aversion is to whole sentences but I guess we're all set to be picked up from the Hotel Cheyenne to go into the Hotel Odeon at 6:00 pm on our 2nd day. Wish they were a little more communicative but OH WELL. As long as they show up, right??

 

[Anal Annie]

West; the check-in time is not related to your boarding time. The check-in slot you can request when you process your online documents is the time to check-in at port. It is not related to the time you are allowed to board the ship. You will receive a card when you get to port that will have a boarding group number on it and when your number is called (after the boat is 'show ready') then you can board the ship.

I usually end up with an early check-in time, and despite being a Gold CC, tend to pull the higher boarding card number. If security isn't too bad and depending on the number we get, we may go stroll around for an hour or two before embarking the ship. I don't have a feel for how close things are to port so if anyone has been to barcelona and can advise, that would be wonderful.

This check-in time thing is new since they got the Dream. I guess 'cuz it is so big it helps with crowd control. I think I've heard that the Magic is a pretty far walk from stuff. I think I've seen pictures posted before - you have to cross a pretty big bridge to get anywhere. Doable? I suppose but it's probably a 30 min. walk in each direction to go anywhere. I'd just as soon wait in the terminal for Noon I think.


Today, I start ironing my packing piles that I've been making. (I am SLOW at it.) I think I've decided to bring 5 pairs of casual capris rahter than 2 or 3 and 5 or 6 3/4 length sleeve tops (I think Paris is looking quite on the cool side). All of this is subject to change tho as accuweather.com changes.

Moving on...NEXT question!! How much sunscreen do ya'll think we'll need?? 3 ppl x 15 days...4 cans/tubes?? 5??? 6???? I know I would need more for a beach vaca...but we're going to be on the go, covered up for the most part...just need to hit arms & legs. I have been stocking up but now wonder if I've over bought.

 

[luke]

There is a bus from the bottom of the ramblas to the ship which we are going to take from our hotel. I don't see why you couldn't take it back to Colon once you've checked in

For suncream, take more than you think as we took none to Malaga thinking we would get some there and it was very expensive!!

 

[SailingSeas]

There is a bus from the bottom of the ramblas to the ship which we are going to take from our hotel. I don't see why you couldn't take it back to Colon once you've checked in

Thanks Luke. I hadn't thought to look into the buses. I like your idea of letting them handle the luggage, then meandering around a bit before boarding.

Yes, Disney changed the procedures since late last year right before the Dream launched. I think it has more to do with the new photo ID system as you board than it does with the ship capacity. You now stop to take a family shot to use with the new photo system on the way to the gang plank. Be aware that just because the ship may be available to board around 1PM (earliest posted boarding time according to DCL; haven't read any reports back), you may still be waiting a while according to your boarding group.

There is an internal shuttle system to take us to ourterminal, but I would not mind a 30 min walk myself. The Magic is berthed in Terminal C at Adossat. It is a lot smaller than Port Canaveral with a tiny waiting area, limited air conditioning, and limited seating space. I truly do understand the stress of leaving the terminal to explore too.