August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

[Cliffside]

Wow it's been a while since I posted. Hope everyone is well. It seems like it has been a world wind since our trip to DL at the end of August, school starting and now preparing for our Oct 31st sailing on the Magic. It seems like people are hard at work trying to book flights and organize hotels. I wish I was in that mode. My husband is concerned about booking flights due to some members of our family whose health is failing and is not sure how the insurance will cover flights if we did not book it at the same time as the cruise. He had also wanted to use miles to upgrade to business but does not want to lose the miles if we had to cancel. As I look at the flights, I would like to take the direct flight out of Newark on Continental on Mon the 16th and return home on Sunday on the 10:45 flight. I hope to book it soon because it looks like rates have gone up a little.

Happy Planning.

 

[mindelmouse]

Wow it's been a while since I posted. Hope everyone is well. It seems like it has been a world wind since our trip to DL at the end of August, school starting and now preparing for our Oct 31st sailing on the Magic. It seems like people are hard at work trying to book flights and organize hotels. I wish I was in that mode. My husband is concerned about booking flights due to some members of our family whose health is failing and is not sure how the insurance will cover flights if we did not book it at the same time as the cruise. He had also wanted to use miles to upgrade to business but does not want to lose the miles if we had to cancel. As I look at the flights, I would like to take the direct flight out of Newark on Continental on Mon the 16th and return home on Sunday on the 10:45 flight. I hope to book it soon because it looks like rates have gone up a little.

Happy Planning.

The fares are going up from when I first saw them come out....You're going on the same cruise I was on last year....I did the Western Caribbean and left last Nov 1st - that's where I booked this one.

I look everyday for flights out of Newark and Philly and those flights that I booked were the the best times and prices and it'sdirect....it's a small plane though 3 seats, aisle, 3 seats and only like 32 rows....I wouldn't wait too long since it may book up quick

 

[graysm]

Let me know what information you may find out about hotels before and after....my TA said Trip advisor or Cruise Critic might have the best advice.

Booked flights this weekend. Departing August 16, Arrive August 17, Newark to Barcelona, returning on August 29 back into Newark - the Continental flights. I booked through Orbitz so am hoping if the rates go down, I'll get a refund. I also made hotel reservations (before and after the cruise) at Royal Ramblas. I got a pretty good rate through Hotels dot com. It's a 4-star hotel, but reviews (although good) indicate it should probably be a 3-star hotel. My son wants to go to the beach in Barcelona, and that's only 2 kilometers away from the hotel. How are your plans going?

 

[mindelmouse]

Booked flights this weekend. Departing August 16, Arrive August 17, Newark to Barcelona, returning on August 29 back into Newark - the Continental flights. I booked through Orbitz so am hoping if the rates go down, I'll get a refund. I also made hotel reservations (before and after the cruise) at Royal Ramblas. I got a pretty good rate through Hotels dot com. It's a 4-star hotel, but reviews (although good) indicate it should probably be a 3-star hotel. My son wants to go to the beach in Barcelona, and that's only 2 kilometers away from the hotel. How are your plans going?

We're on those same flights...didn't know about the refund thing with Orbitz...I booked directly with continental. It's a small plane though, so I wouldn't be surprised if it sells out quickly. I haven't had a chance to spend much time on hotels yet....We were very busy this weekend. I need to find a place that all 4 of us can stay together and from what I hear that's not easy to do. My TA is not much help because she can only work on the Disney parts of our trip since that's all she's allowed to do.

 

[mindelmouse]

I was reading the other areas of the boards and saw that many that have been before are recommending private tours over the disney excursions if you have 4 or more people. I need to do more research when Disney comes out with theirs, but if anyone wants to hookup to have a more "economical" private tour, let me know...there's probably an economy of scale for having one tour guide for say 8 vs just 4.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I was reading the other areas of the boards and saw that many that have been before are recommending private tours over the disney excursions if you have 4 or more people. I need to do more research when Disney comes out with theirs, but if anyone wants to hookup to have a more "economical" private tour, let me know...there's probably an economy of scale for having one tour guide for say 8 vs just 4.

Especially in Rome....I'm nervous about being so far away from the ship, but I agree that the cost may be astronomical! AndrewUK has some great tips, but I'm sure you've already seen them...

 

[graysm]

I was reading the other areas of the boards and saw that many that have been before are recommending private tours over the disney excursions if you have 4 or more people. I need to do more research when Disney comes out with theirs, but if anyone wants to hookup to have a more "economical" private tour, let me know...there's probably an economy of scale for having one tour guide for say 8 vs just 4.

We may be interested in joining you. We have some ideas about excursions already, so we can put our heads together and check something out.

 

[Cliffside]

The fares are going up from when I first saw them come out....You're going on the same cruise I was on last year....I did the Western Caribbean and left last Nov 1st - that's where I booked this one.

I look everyday for flights out of Newark and Philly and those flights that I booked were the the best times and prices and it'sdirect....it's a small plane though 3 seats, aisle, 3 seats and only like 32 rows....I wouldn't wait too long since it may book up quick

I know I really have to convince my DH to let me book flights. It is a small plane I was disappointed when I saw that. I figured for a 8 hour transatlantic flight there would be a bigger one.

I saw you were discussing excursions: There was a lot of good reviews on cruise critic for a bunch of companies. It will be interesting to see the prices of the Disney excursions compared to private once they come out.

 

[mindelmouse]

I know I really have to convince my DH to let me book flights. It is a small plane I was disappointed when I saw that. I figured for a 8 hour transatlantic flight there would be a bigger one.

I saw you were discussing excursions: There was a lot of good reviews on cruise critic for a bunch of companies. It will be interesting to see the prices of the Disney excursions compared to private once they come out.

the Disney excursions to be expensive. That's what I've heard on the boards. I was disappointed in the size of the plane too....we were actually going to try to go business class, but apparently Continental doesn't have that on this flight (just first class) and that's cost prohibitive based on how much else we're spending. When checking out other airlines, there were no other direct flights from Newark and Philly was more expensive on US Air. My husband doesn't want to go to LaGuardia or Kennedy, especially with the thought of flying back 9 hours and having to do a 2 hour drive home...

Tell your husband that the price on the continental flight went up $40 a person between the time I originally saw it and when I booked it. I just checked now and the price seems to still be the same. Just a note, our kids seem to be in the same age range..I have B/G both will be 9 on the cruise. It seems you may have been on our last cruise, last November, did we ever meet?

Good Luck.

 

[MinnieDiva]

You're saying the plane is small. What kind?? I was seeing 757's and those, while not wide bodied, are not small.

 

[mindelmouse]

You're saying the plane is small. What kind?? I was seeing 757's and those, while not wide bodied, are not small.

The plane sat 3 and 3 with about 32 rows. These are the planes I usually am on to go to Florida which is a 2 1/2 hour flight, not what one would think an international flight would be. The last time I flew international it was 3, 5 and 3, so this is small.

 

[ejw]

we booked airfare over the weekend. using frequent flyer miles. leaving out of jfk on delta nonstop aug 17 getting in morning of the 18th. flying home on sunday, aug 29th on the nonstop into jfk. booked le meridien hotel for saturday night at 199 euros but will see if there are any better hotel deals. would like to stay on or around las ramblas.

ellen

 

[clarasunnyside]

we booked airfare over the weekend. using frequent flyer miles. leaving out of jfk on delta nonstop aug 17 getting in morning of the 18th. flying home on sunday, aug 29th on the nonstop into jfk. booked le meridien hotel for saturday night at 199 euros but will see if there are any better hotel deals. would like to stay on or around las ramblas.

ellen

Same flight as us

 

[mindelmouse]

I was just wondering, anyone know what happened to AmyM? She started the thread and hasn't been heard from in a while. Wonder if she's still going?

 

[MinnieDiva]

Last time she posted she said she was just really busy. She hasn't posted anything since, I don't think.

Aaaammmmmyyyyyy......where are yyyyyoooouuuuu????
kim

 

[MinnieDiva]

Any one use a DSLR camera? If so, what kind?

 

[mindelmouse]

Any one use a DSLR camera? If so, what kind?

but my husband is in the process of researching and buying one...I'll find out which one.

 

[MinnieDiva]

Morning y'all,

Look here:

http://www.limoinrome.com

I'm going to email this company later today to see if ressies can be made this far in advance, and if a deposit of any sort needs to be made. I'm looking at the shore excursion from Rome. It covers a lot and still gets us back in plenty of time. Their vehicles accommodate 4,6,or 8, rates increasing nominally for each increase in van size. We're a family of 3. Anyone interested in filling out a vehicle?

This is one of the companies that has been well-recommended on the boards.

Kim

 

[jel0511]

Morning y'all,

Look here:

http://www.limoinrome.com

I'm going to email this company later today to see if ressies can be made this far in advance, and if a deposit of any sort needs to be made. I'm looking at the shore excursion from Rome. It covers a lot and still gets us back in plenty of time. Their vehicles accommodate 4,6,or 8, rates increasing nominally for each increase in van size. We're a family of 3. Anyone interested in filling out a vehicle?

This is one of the companies that has been well-recommended on the boards.

Kim

Let me know what you find out. We're a family of 4 and were going to contact them as well.

 

[graysm]

Morning y'all,

Look here:

http://www.limoinrome.com

I'm going to email this company later today to see if ressies can be made this far in advance, and if a deposit of any sort needs to be made. I'm looking at the shore excursion from Rome. It covers a lot and still gets us back in plenty of time. Their vehicles accommodate 4,6,or 8, rates increasing nominally for each increase in van size. We're a family of 3. Anyone interested in filling out a vehicle?

This is one of the companies that has been well-recommended on the boards.

Kim

Hi Kim,

We're a family of 2...I'm checking with the boss now (my son). But it looks like we might want to join you. Let me know how your e-mails go with the company. Thanks!