Is anyone cruising with me on the August 27th 2011 Meditteranean Cruise? Hellooooo?

[mkmommy]

I paid off the cruise this week, the $CAD is above $US this week so it was a good time.

I also finally booked Disneyland Paris, decided on the Santa Fe, everytime I have checked before it was coming up only $20 less then NewPort Bay but today it was much less expensive so I booked it.

Now it is just excursions.

 

[davejh]

Hi guys we have also just booked for the 7 day cruise. Myself, wife and 19yr old son will be spending a few days in Barcelona before our very first cruise. These pages are proving invaluable to get some inside tips on the things that we will need to do to make the most of our trip. Keep them coming.

 

[sissy_ib]

I paid off the cruise this week, the $CAD is above $US this week so it was a good time.

I also finally booked Disneyland Paris, decided on the Santa Fe, everytime I have checked before it was coming up only $20 less then NewPort Bay but today it was much less expensive so I booked it.

Now it is just excursions.

I haven't booked DLP yet but we are going to stay at Hotel l'Elysee Val d'Eurpoe. It is a DLP partner hotel, so I'll still have the EMH benefit and it is only about a 5 min train ride to the DLP stop. I haven't decided where we are going to stay in Paris or Barcelona yet.

 

[goiu]

Yeah! We just booked our trip! So, it will be me and DH only! That means no one vomitting on me this cruise. Kids are staying with gma and gpa. So, starting to look at flights and excursions. Anyone recommend the "can't live without seeing" things for this cruise? Anyone interested in doing private excursions? Also, how much has everyone from the US been paying for flights? Sorry, so many questions. We are just so excited!! One last one, though. It says we can depart from the ship at 7a. If we do the DCL bus do you think we can make a 10:45a flight? It's the last one, so if not we'll have to spend the night. Since we flew into Barcelona but didn't fly out last year not sure how long it will take.

Thanks guys!
Lisa

 

[JoyB-UK]

Yeah! We just booked our trip! So, it will be me and DH only! That means no one vomitting on me this cruise. Kids are staying with gma and gpa. So, starting to look at flights and excursions. Anyone recommend the "can't live without seeing" things for this cruise? Anyone interested in doing private excursions? Also, how much has everyone from the US been paying for flights? Sorry, so many questions. We are just so excited!! One last one, though. It says we can depart from the ship at 7a. If we do the DCL bus do you think we can make a 10:45a flight? It's the last one, so if not we'll have to spend the night. Since we flew into Barcelona but didn't fly out last year not sure how long it will take.

Thanks guys!
Lisa

Hi, welcome to our cruise. Sorry I can't help you with flights prices from the US but I wanted to say that the flight time of 10.45 is definitely too early. There is no guarantee that people will be allowed to leave the ship at 7am, the ship could be late getting in or there could be customs delays. The transfer to the airport could take upto 1 hour by the time they have everyone and bags organised and with trans atlantic flights they recommend being at the airport 3 hours before. If 10.45 is the latest time available then stay a night in Barcelona, it will give you peace of mind and you can enjoy a leisurely last morning breakfast.
Joy

 

[mkmommy]

Yeah! We just booked our trip! So, it will be me and DH only! That means no one vomitting on me this cruise. Kids are staying with gma and gpa. So, starting to look at flights and excursions. Anyone recommend the "can't live without seeing" things for this cruise? Anyone interested in doing private excursions? Also, how much has everyone from the US been paying for flights? Sorry, so many questions. We are just so excited!! One last one, though. It says we can depart from the ship at 7a. If we do the DCL bus do you think we can make a 10:45a flight? It's the last one, so if not we'll have to spend the night. Since we flew into Barcelona but didn't fly out last year not sure how long it will take.

Thanks guys!
Lisa

Welcome aboard, I'm a Lisa too, but I am leaving my kids and husband home

If you do a search and read trip reports from last summer's med cruises you will find lots of people did early flights and I think even flights booked through DCL had 10:00 AM departures, as there are not many flights to North America that leave after 10:00.

The line for taxis can be long, we lucked out last summer as we only waited about 10 minutes but people who left about 10 mintues after us waited over an hour. I would suggest DCL transfers back to the aiport or prebooking a taxi/shuttle, and getting off the shp as soon as possible.

 

[auntlynne]

We had very early flights scheduled (but didn't happen thanks to the ash cloud). Topsiders was open early for us for breakfast (around 5am), we gathered in Rockin' D Bar at 5:30 and were quickly processed off the ship.

We used a shuttle service to the airport and were there in less than 30 minutes. If you go in with other people to fill up a van (there are assorted sizes), the price pp is probably less than DCL transfers (and you are not waiting to fill up a big bus). I think we paid $10-12 pp for our transfer.

 

[auntlynne]

That is very good to know. About how long did you spend in Pisa? I want to see the tower, but I also want to see Cinque Terre. I'm a little torn on what to do...

The longest part of the day was spent on transportation. Walk to train station 30-45 min. Pisa is an hour train ride. Bus ride from train station to Tower 10 min. So, about 2 hours each way.

I think that choosing Pisa OR Cinque Terra would be the way to go. Now, we had also cruised the 14-night TA and had done most of an 11-night Med by the time we reached Pisa, so we weren't looking for a busy day. (Rome definitely is a full-day event).

 

[auntlynne]

Pisa: Public Transportation

It was very easy to get from the Pisa Train Station to the Tower.

In the lobby of the station, there is a glassed-in candy/tobacco counter. They have a sign IN ENGLISH about buying bus tickets and return train tickets. It is 1 euro pp each way to the Tower. They even tell you which bus and where to get on (just across the street). Pick-up/drop off is just outside the walled Field of Miracles.

We did not go into the church, Baptistry or Tower (I think they require timed entrances).

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am waiting for my TA to get back to me. I'm thinking of cancelling my Fantasy cruise and take a Cat 10C GTY for this cruise. I just want to say hello!!! Lots of reading here to catch up on.

 

[myolite]

I am waiting for my TA to get back to me. I'm thinking of cancelling my Fantasy cruise and take a Cat 10C GTY for this cruise. I just want to say hello!!! Lots of reading here to catch up on.

I'm waiting for my TA to get back to me for the 10C too. We would be leaving the kids at home.

 

[sissy_ib]

The longest part of the day was spent on transportation. Walk to train station 30-45 min. Pisa is an hour train ride. Bus ride from train station to Tower 10 min. So, about 2 hours each way.

I think that choosing Pisa OR Cinque Terra would be the way to go. Now, we had also cruised the 14-night TA and had done most of an 11-night Med by the time we reached Pisa, so we weren't looking for a busy day. (Rome definitely is a full-day event).

Now if I could just decide which I want to see more. Of course I want to see the tower...I guess life's not too bad when my biggest problem is I cant decide where to spend a day in Italy!

 

[myolite]

Aargh, airfare is horrible. I think if it's this expensive I'd wait for a longer trip.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I'm waiting for my TA to get back to me for the 10C too. We would be leaving the kids at home.

I'm booked!! Got this great rate!! Now I have a ton of catching up to do!!! Hope to meet up with some of you!!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Aargh, airfare is horrible. I think if it's this expensive I'd wait for a longer trip.

Sent you a PM!

 

[sissy_ib]

Aargh, airfare is horrible. I think if it's this expensive I'd wait for a longer trip.

We haven't booked our airfare yet. I cant believe how much it is going to cost.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Barcelona hotels, I have been checking the price of the Fira Palace as I wanted something close to the Magic Fountains, it has always been over 300 euros but today it was 74 euros for Aug 26 and 84 euros for Sep 3. I found this on the www.Fira-palace.com

Is there transportation thru the resort to/from the airport, and to/from the port? Thanks, I need to book a night pre and post cruise.

 

[mkmommy]

Is there transportation thru the resort to/from the airport, and to/from the port? Thanks, I need to book a night pre and post cruise.

Not that I am aware of. I plan on taking the Aerobus to and from the airport as the hotel is close to where that drops off and not sure about the port hotel option, will see how heavy my luggage is .

Www.Barcelona-tourist-guide.com has some detailed info on getting from the airport under transportation, and also info on the cruise port.

 

[Tere]

Transport in Barcelona:

http://www.tmb.cat/en_US/home.jsp

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Just booked my airfare today.... Think I got a pretty good price. I've been watching the fares, today they seemed to have dropped. So I booked. From BWI to BCN (stopping over in Philedelphia) costs $1095/pp, with all taxes and fees included. $1008 before taxes and fees. The cheaper flights had 2 stops, where this is only one, then direct into BCN. Getting a redeye Thursday night, arriving into BCN on Friday morning. Sure hoping we can check in early at the hotel....