August 7th, 2010 Mediterranean Cruise

[jd99]

Hi there
I'm Jeff and I'll be traveling with DW Mina, DD Elizabeth (11 on the cruise) and DD Emily (6 on the cruise).
We are from Pittsburgh and this will be our 7th or 8th Disney Cruise.
We are staying Cat. 6 - Port and Aft.

This is a trip of a lifetime for us as we will start our holiday in Greece visiting relatives for a week before heading over to Barcelona to board "our ship."

Looking forward to getting to know all of you over the next 22 months!

 

[lcsmom]

Hi y'all,
I'm Susannah and I'll be traveling with DH Lee, daughter Lauren - then 16 and, hopefully, my oldest neice, Julia, then 19. Julia starts university Fall, 2009 and expects August, 2010 will be free. However, we won't know until early 2010.
We are all Texans, born and bred. Lee, Lauren and I live in a planned community about 40 miles north of Houston. Julia resides with her parents (my older sister and her DH) in Austin. Julia and Lauren are "onlies" and act like sisters who like each other. Our household is completed by 3 cats and 2 horses.
This will be our first trip to Europe, not including a quick trip to London in 2002 for our 20th wedding anniversary. We're DVC and have done a 3 and a 4 day Wonder cruise. We had been discussing a Baltic cruise on and off for the last year and were very excited when the 2010 itineraries were released. I lost the vote, so we're doing the Med. And I'm not upset at all.

 

[bellelinus]

Good Morning All!!

My name is Henrietta, I'll be traveling with my DH Terrance and our 3 DDs, Hannah (14 in 2010), Hailey (9 in 2010) and Hillary (7 in 2010)
We live in IL, NW of Chicago.
DH and I did a Med cruise (NCL) in 2006 and Hannah and I did the Magic"s WB TA Repo in 2007. It will be cool to go back with the whole family.
We are on deck 7 - a Cat. 7 and Cat. 11
This will be my 5th Disney Cruise.

I look forward to getting to know all of you.

Hi there
I'm Jeff and I'll be traveling with DW Mina, DD Elizabeth (11 on the cruise) and DD Emily (6 on the cruise).
We are from Pittsburgh and this will be our 7th or 8th Disney Cruise.
We are staying Cat. 6 - Port and Aft.

This is a trip of a lifetime for us as we will start our holiday in Greece visiting relatives for a week before heading over to Barcelona to board "our ship."

Looking forward to getting to know all of you over the next 22 months!

Hi y'all,
I'm Susannah and I'll be traveling with DH Lee, daughter Lauren - then 16 and, hopefully, my oldest neice, Julia, then 19. Julia starts university Fall, 2009 and expects August, 2010 will be free. However, we won't know until early 2010.
We are all Texans, born and bred. Lee, Lauren and I live in a planned community about 40 miles north of Houston. Julia resides with her parents (my older sister and her DH) in Austin. Julia and Lauren are "onlies" and act like sisters who like each other. Our household is completed by 3 cats and 2 horses.
This will be our first trip to Europe, not including a quick trip to London in 2002 for our 20th wedding anniversary. We're DVC and have done a 3 and a 4 day Wonder cruise. We had been discussing a Baltic cruise on and off for the last year and were very excited when the 2010 itineraries were released. I lost the vote, so we're doing the Med. And I'm not upset at all.

Welcome, everyone! Henrietta, I was on that WB transAtlantic with you last year . . .

 

[kaseyC]

Welcome, everyone! Henrietta, I was on that WB transAtlantic with you last year . . .

Hi Julie, I think I remember meeting you. I believe we had Palo brunch together in the private room. IIRC, both of our screen names are our pets' names.

I see you are booked on the Dover to Barcelona cruise before this one. I'm thinking about that one as well. I know I will not get my Dh to take the time off for both, so I'm thinking of possibly booking it just for me and my DDs. It would be great if we see some of those Cat. 12 discounts we saw in 2007.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Ginny, Kathleen, Henrietta, Jeff, Susannah and Julie plus any one I've missed.

My last two cruises I have been very lucky and had some wonderful experiences with our cruise thread buddies.

It is a pleasure meeting you all.

Kathleen thanks for explaining the Intials Mn - Minnesota you will have to forgive me as I have heard of a lot of places but I couldn't find them on a map of the states. Thanks to the dis my geography is improving slowly

Henrietta - we own DvC @ Boardwalk too, we've been members since 1999 and also added on @ SSR . I'm looking forward to returning 'home' next summer 2009

Jeff - wow that will be some vacation -I have been to a couple of the Greek islands a few years ago on holiday but I've never visited mainland. Its on my list to do. Have you been before?

I teach Yr1 (5-6yrs) here in the UK, and at the weekend I compete with my dogs in a dog sport called Flyball. Its a fast relay team over jumps to retreive a ball.

We have booked a cat 11 deck 7 aft

 

[bellelinus]

Hi Julie, I think I remember meeting you. I believe we had Palo brunch together in the private room. IIRC, both of our screen names are our pets' names.

I see you are booked on the Dover to Barcelona cruise before this one. I'm thinking about that one as well. I know I will not get my Dh to take the time off for both, so I'm thinking of possibly booking it just for me and my DDs. It would be great if we see some of those Cat. 12 discounts we saw in 2007.

Yes, we did do the Palo private brunch! Chris (Grandmax3) arranged it -- we should think about trying to get it for one of the sea days again. You definitely remember me -- my dogs are Belle (the beagle) and Linus (the mixed breed, mostly retriever).

Go ahead and book anything you might end up cruising just in case the prices go up -- if they do go down like the ones we saw in 2007 (I still can't believe how inexpensively we sailed on that repo last year) we can just rebook at that rate . . . I really hit the jackpot with those cat 12 rates -- I ended up with a cat 8 anyway (found out at the port!). I think you would enjoy doing the 8 night with just your daughters, so do think about it.

 

[jd99]

:
Jeff - wow that will be some vacation -I have been to a couple of the Greek islands a few years ago on holiday but I've never visited mainland. Its on my list to do. Have you been before?

I

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I have not been to Greece yet but my wife has (it is her relatives we are visiting). They all have homes in Athens, but the island of Andros is their real home.

We also own DVC - our two home resorts are BCV and AKV (we just added on this summer during our Mexican Riviera cruise).

 

[kaseyC]

Henrietta - we own DvC @ Boardwalk too, we've been members since 1999 and also added on @ SSR . I'm looking forward to returning 'home' next summer 2009

We have booked a cat 11 deck 7 aft

We absolutely love the BW, it's nice to be walking distance to two parks. I just did a girls trip in Sept. with my sister and a couple of friends. We did a long weekend and enjoyed the first weekend of the food and wine festival. It was a good thing we could walk back to our villa because we were in no condition to drive!

We are also on Deck 7 aft, starboard side I think.

Yes, we did do the Palo private brunch! Chris (Grandmax3) arranged it -- we should think about trying to get it for one of the sea days again. You definitely remember me -- my dogs are Belle (the beagle) and Linus (the mixed breed, mostly retriever).

Go ahead and book anything you might end up cruising just in case the prices go up -- if they do go down like the ones we saw in 2007 (I still can't believe how inexpensively we sailed on that repo last year) we can just rebook at that rate . . . I really hit the jackpot with those cat 12 rates -- I ended up with a cat 8 anyway (found out at the port!). I think you would enjoy doing the 8 night with just your daughters, so do think about it.

Chris, did arrange the the brunch. Did she organize the Ladies' Tea as well?
The TA crossing was my most relaxing cruise ever, those 6 straight sea days were pure heaven. I ran out of books and had to buy one at the airport for the flight home. LOL We booked the Cat. 12 GTY and ended up with a Cat. 9.

I think I will go ahead book the 8 night while the deposit is still 50%. I can always cancel if it doesn't work out.

 

[bellelinus]

We absolutely love the BW, it's nice to be walking distance to two parks. I just did a girls trip in Sept. with my sister and a couple of friends. We did a long weekend and enjoyed the first weekend of the food and wine festival. It was a good thing we could walk back to our villa because we were in no condition to drive!

We are also on Deck 7 aft, starboard side I think.




Chris, did arrange the the brunch. Did she organize the Ladies' Tea as well?
The TA crossing was my most relaxing cruise ever, those 6 straight sea days were pure heaven. I ran out of books and had to buy one at the airport for the flight home. LOL We booked the Cat. 12 GTY and ended up with a Cat. 9.

I think I will go ahead book the 8 night while the deposit is still 50%. I can always cancel if it doesn't work out.

Yes, she did the tea as well - and then she and I sailed together on the PC repo in August . . . she is great but I don't think she is booking any of the 2010 cruises.

I agree about the transAtlantic -- that was my oldest daughter's favorite cruise ever, just for all those sea days in a row.

Exactly! Book now and you can always cancel later if you can't come up with the time or money.

 

[Displaced CA Girl]

Hi! Our group includes me (Lisa), my DH (Ken), DD17 (Katie) who will be newly graduated from high school, and DD15 (Amy). We are from the Seattle area. This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise.

 

[mndisfam]

Julie - we must have been on the PC Canal cruise together...was that wonderful or what?

We are starting our pre-cruise planning. We are thinking of using DVC points to stay in London for a few days, then DVC points to stay at DL Paris a few days. We saw that you can take the Euro train from London right to the gates of DLP!! Apparentely, they even have CMs on board, and you can do yr check ins on the train. I asked on the DIS, and they said you can book day trips to Paris from DLP.

Our only hitch will be getting from Paris to Barcelona, but we found we can take the train from Paris to Barcelona. And then, finding a place to stay in Barcelona.

We are not fantastically interested in DLP, but the points are cheap!! About 40 points a night. Like everyone, we are watching our cash. And, of course, it will be interesting to see DLP. Not to mention, a little down time for my kids btwn London and the cruise.

Do you know, they spent almost the whole day at Panama in the kids Clubs? So, I have given up, and decided not to force them into seeing things I think are critical to their travel development. Of course, I will force Rome, Pompeii, etc...But my DD esp., gets really burned out and throws a massive "I am overwhelmed fit."

I am wondering if Disney will provide transport from DLP to the boat?

Any other pre-travel ideas? We are open...I can't believe it will be two years, but the PC cruise was booked almost that long away.

I promise not to be so long winded in the future!!!

 

[m&m's mom]

I'm booked, too, but am pretty surprised at the high cost (I booked a cat 8) . . . Coral, it will be nice to sail with you again, but I'm not going to count on doing this cruise until closer to time. I loved the Med cruise I went on last summer, and it seemed to me that they kept my favorite ports and added much more interesting ones to replace the ones I didn't like as well! I agree that Malta, Tunis, and Corsica look fascinating . . .

Hey Julie!! Great to see ya over here! Would love to travel again with you and the girls.

It will be me, DH and our 3 DDs (14, 9 & 7 at time of the cruise). We are excited, but I'm keeping an open mind and will be considering other cruiselines 2010 European offerings as well.

I am on the fence too. We priced a RCCL cruise and started talking about the other places we could go with the price difference.

Hello everyone
We're booked myself and Husband Keith.
I sailed the Med with Helen and Julie last year . Like Helen a British teacher who would have loved the Baltic!!!
Julie you have to tell us all about it.
Helen your new puppy is adorable!!

Hey Lynn! another EB Repo'er. Sorry we never met but if I end up on this one I guess we will.

I am Coral and it would be my DH Bill, our DD's Megan 14, and Miranda 9.
We are in a North Dallas suburb.

 

[bellelinus]

Julie - we must have been on the PC Canal cruise together...was that wonderful or what?

Our only hitch will be getting from Paris to Barcelona, but we found we can take the train from Paris to Barcelona. And then, finding a place to stay in Barcelona.

I am wondering if Disney will provide transport from DLP to the boat?

Any other pre-travel ideas? We are open...I can't believe it will be two years, but the PC cruise was booked almost that long away.

I promise not to be so long winded in the future!!!

Yes, that cruise was amazing! You might also look at flying from Paris to Barcelona -- I did this last year on EasyJet and it was cheaper than the train and much faster. I doubt DCL will provide transport from DLP to Barcelona -- they didn't last year, I don't believe. Closer to time, I have a lot of info on hotels in Barcelona from when I went last year.

Hey Julie!! Great to see ya over here! Would love to travel again with you and the girls.



I am on the fence too. We priced a RCCL cruise and started talking about the other places we could go with the price difference.

Hi again, Coral! I suspect with the cruise being this far off, there will be some of us who cancel and others who add on, but for now, let's just enjoy the dream! As I said on the PC thread, you can ask me lots of questions about last year's cruise. I didn't do a single DCL excursion, did every port on my own with three kids, and had a blast.

 

[mndisfam]

Julie - we did look into flying, and I think it was almost $300 a person, while the train ride was $456 for all 4.

Whatever the cost, the most important thing is NOT TO MISS THE BOAT!!!

I will def. be interested in Barcelona hotels. We will all have to do a cruise meet.

 

[bellelinus]

Julie - we did look into flying, and I think it was almost $300 a person, while the train ride was $456 for all 4.

Whatever the cost, the most important thing is NOT TO MISS THE BOAT!!!

I will def. be interested in Barcelona hotels. We will all have to do a cruise meet.

Easyjet only sells 6 months or so ahead, so the best I could check was for next March, but you could fly Paris to Barcelona pretty much any day for 34.49 pounds each -- so about $300 for all four of you, and it is only a 2 hour flight. If you want to take the train, do it, but do look into flights on intra-European carriers, too. Vueling is another that sells inexpensive one way flights between Paris and Barcelona, but I seem to remember it had fewer flights to choose from than Easyjet, at least last year.

Yes, be sure to plan to get there the day before to be safe (although I will confess that we flew from Paris to Barcelona the morning of our transAtlantic cruise last year, and luckily had no problem).

 

[kaseyC]

Good Morning Everyone!! It's friday, which means tomorrow is saturday and we have our whirlwind of soccer games. At least tomorrow, the games are spaced far enough apart that we can attend each girl's game.

We are not fantastically interested in DLP, but the points are cheap!! About 40 points a night. Like everyone, we are watching our cash. And, of course, it will be interesting to see DLP. Not to mention, a little down time for my kids btwn London and the cruise.

DLP sounds like a fun pre-cruise trip. I never thought of using my points. What DLP hotels are only 40 pts a night?

I am on the fence too. We priced a RCCL cruise and started talking about the other places we could go with the price difference.

For the amount of money this cruise will cost, we will have to at least consider other options. To be honest, we have cruised most of the mainstream cruiselines and have never had a bad cruise. Yes, there have been differences and somethings that one does better than the other. But, I have never gotten off a ship and said " I will never cruise that line again!"

 

[MrsJobba1]

Easyjet only sells 6 months or so ahead, so the best I could check was for next March, but you could fly Paris to Barcelona pretty much any day for 34.49 pounds each -- so about $300 for all four of you, and it is only a 2 hour flight. If you want to take the train, do it, but do look into flights on intra-European carriers, too. Vueling is another that sells inexpensive one way flights between Paris and Barcelona, but I seem to remember it had fewer flights to choose from than Easyjet, at least last year.

Yes, be sure to plan to get there the day before to be safe (although I will confess that we flew from Paris to Barcelona the morning of our transAtlantic cruise last year, and luckily had no problem).

Julie I could never have done that - It was great only having a 2hr flight to Barcelona but even I arrived in barcelona 4 days before the magic sailed

I do tend to worry to much.

I loved barcelona - it is now one of my favourite cities.

 

[MrsJobba1]

I will def. be interested in Barcelona hotels. We will all have to do a cruise meet.

Julie and I were very lucky - with our last med the cruise we had a great set of disser's and we organised quite a few different meets and events
I organised a meet in barcelona with a meal and trip to the magic fountain, we also had gift bag exchange, palo brunch, a large group picture with over 50 of us on there

 

[bellelinus]

Julie I could never have done that - It was great only having a 2hr flight to Barcelona but even I arrived in barcelona 4 days before the magic sailed

I do tend to worry to much.

I loved barcelona - it is now one of my favourite cities.

I loved Barcelona, too! I know, I am usually more more cautious than that, but I wanted 5 days in Paris and 5 at DLP . . . we woke up that morning at DLP, took a bus to Orly, flew to Barcelona, taxi to the port, and were on the ship by 1 or 2 (I think) . . . The thing that made it safe was that the next day was a day at Barcelona (this was the repo) and they weren't actually sailing out of Barcelona until the next day at 4 . . .

 

[bellelinus]

Julie and I were very lucky - with our last med the cruise we had a great set of disser's and we organised quite a few different meets and events
I organised a meet in barcelona with a meal and trip to the magic fountain, we also had gift bag exchange, palo brunch, a large group picture with over 50 of us on there

We were lucky, Helen -- and you know that most of them are on the July 18 Baltic and keep missing you!