July 18, 2007 07-18-07 Med Cruise

[seaulater]

We got our flight info this morning - I was on the phone at 9:03 a.m. and like Kathleen, they emailed the flight info to us. And thanks for all the pixie dust - we have the non-stop ATL to BCN going on the 16th and coming home on the 28th - so Lissa, I think we have the same flights as you....

Delta 114 going
Delta 115 coming home


Kathleen - what flight do you have from ATL to BCN? I bet you're on the same flight.

You know this means we have a pre-flight DIS-Meet!

How early do we have to arrive for international flights? Anyone know the recommendation? I want to be sure to be there in plenty of time but not so much ahead of time that we're exhausted before we start. We'll be going up to ATL a few days ahead as my brother lives in the area.

Since you are flying Delta, this is the requirement for international flights:

Travel Outside the United States
You must be checked in and at the gate at least 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

If you are checking bags, your baggage must be checked in at least 60 minutes before your scheduled departure time

In addition:

Security Wait Times
To be at the gate in time for your flight, you'll need to add additional time to your recommended check-in time in order to clear security.

Atlanta can be a pain, or can be a breeze. We are flying through Atlanta on our way through. Delta gave us a 1 hr. 1 min. layover. Since I fly through Atlanta so much, I knew that I could either barely make the connection or miss it, so I have opted for us to get to Atlanta on an earlier flight, so we will have a 3 1/2 hour layover. I would rather be safe than sorry and miss our connection.

If you are leaving from Atlanta, it may not be as bad. But when you fly in domestically and switch to international it can be a 45 minute trek just to get to your new gate (and that's not stopping to go to the bathroom or get something to eat!)

 

[nzdisneymom]

Linda - thanks for the info. I was thinking about arriving at ATL airport 2-hours ahead, so maybe I'll make it 2 1/2 hrs ahead. So the flight leaves at 8 p.m., so if we're there between 5 and 5:30, we can check in, check our bags, and get to the gate in plenty of time to be at the gate by 7:15.

I checked our seat assignments and we are two on the left side (facing fwd) and then the next two in the middle. Going out, the 3rd seat in the middle is still empty. Coming home, we have the same seats (only up a few rows) and the entire row is full. The nice thing is we get two aisle seats, one window and just one "middle" seat. If the one seat remains empty for our flight over, that will be great as it will give us a little more space.

Can you tell I'm starting to obsess about the little stuff?! Hee hee.

 

[seaulater]

Linda - thanks for the info. I was thinking about arriving at ATL airport 2-hours ahead, so maybe I'll make it 2 1/2 hrs ahead. So the flight leaves at 8 p.m., so if we're there between 5 and 5:30, we can check in, check our bags, and get to the gate in plenty of time to be at the gate by 7:15.

I checked our seat assignments and we are two on the left side (facing fwd) and then the next two in the middle. Going out, the 3rd seat in the middle is still empty. Coming home, we have the same seats (only up a few rows) and the entire row is full. The nice thing is we get two aisle seats, one window and just one "middle" seat. If the one seat remains empty for our flight over, that will be great as it will give us a little more space.

Can you tell I'm starting to obsess about the little stuff?! Hee hee.

I do the same things too! Always checking out my seats and stuff.

BTW-if anyone is flying in the morning of the 18th of July, if the flights are on the same landing pattern they were when we were in Barcelona the 26th of May, if you have the window seat (f) or maybe a (g) depending on the size airplane, you will be able to see the Disney Magic in the port when you are getting ready to land. Just look out the window to your right and you should be able to see.

Same thing goes for the outbound on the 28th. If the planes take the same route when departing, if you are in a seat A, you would be able to see the Magic as you leave Barcelona.

Don't know if the change their arrival and departure routes in and out of the airport, but for anyone flying in on the 18th you might be able to get a sneak peak of the Magic before landing if the skies are clear!

 

[nzdisneymom]

How cool! We have a Seat A for departure, so we'll have to remember to look out for it. I know when we sailed in Dec. 2005, we were all looking out the back window of the shuttle as we left Port Canaveral.

This is going to be such an amazing trip. And I"m going to say that about 1,000 more times before we go!

BTW, I've decided to start a blog for our pre-trip and will post my trip report there when we return - mostly for friends and family who don't read the DIS. I don't think we'll take our laptop or do internet while on-board.

 

[colleenlg]

Is anybody else obsessing about which shore excursions (if any) to take? I've already signed up for my excursions, but I keep changing my mind & switching them around. I've got so many books on Europe & keep reading them & thinking, "No! I'd rather see that!"

Or am I the only one?

 

[nzdisneymom]

Colleen - you're definitely not the only one. I've been reading the trip reports particularly looking for info on the excursions we have booked. There is a thread in the Trip Reports section that is specifically for reports on DCL's Med. excursions, and reading them, I may end up making a change or two. or not.

 

[shortkathleen]

We got our flight info this morning - I was on the phone at 9:03 a.m. and like Kathleen, they emailed the flight info to us. And thanks for all the pixie dust - we have the non-stop ATL to BCN going on the 16th and coming home on the 28th - so Lissa, I think we have the same flights as you....

Delta 114 going
Delta 115 coming home


Kathleen - what flight do you have from ATL to BCN? I bet you're on the same flight.

You know this means we have a pre-flight DIS-Meet!

How early do we have to arrive for international flights? Anyone know the recommendation? I want to be sure to be there in plenty of time but not so much ahead of time that we're exhausted before we start. We'll be going up to ATL a few days ahead as my brother lives in the area.

We are on Delta 114 on Tuesday so it sounds like we will miss you by a day.
Kathleen

 

[seaulater]

I finally got our airline reservations yesterday. Took me three days to figure out how I would get the three of us back and forth across the ocean since Barcelona was not cooperating via Delta! All the flights were booked for the weekend of July 28th and 29th.

We were going to go July 14th straight to BCN, but DH said if we were going all the way back, he would like to stop and spend a couple of days in Dublin Ireland.

So here our the flights we have scheduled:

On Sat. July 14 we will leave Salt Lake on Delta and arrive the next morning at 9:20 a.m. in Dublin Ireland. We will spend Sunday and Monday in Ireland and then we will fly out Tuesday morning July 17 on a direct flight on Aer Lingus from Dublin to Barcelona arriving in Barcelona at 11 a.m. (Then we have a segway tour with Edgar at 5 p.m. Tuesday evening).

Now, I have to make hotel reservations.

Then coming home, we will get off the ship and then we are renting a car and driving 300 miles through the countryside to Madrid! We will spend Sat afternoon and evening exploring Madrid and then we fly out Sunday the 29th at 11:30 a.m. going through JFK. We arrive at JFK at 1:45 p.m. and then connect to SLC leaving at 3:15 p.m. getting home Sunday night at 6:35 p.m.

We fly Delta the whole way except for the Dublin-BCN segment which I had to buy the tickets for.

We are excited to spend a couple of days in Ireland since we have never been there before and that's where our ancestors are from.

I am also excited to spend about 18 hours in Madrid. Now I just have to go to our local AAA and pick up an international driving permit. Hertz told me if I get stopped and don't have one it cost $300 Euros. YIKES! Who would have known.

Okay, work to do.

 

[scottishwee35]

I finally got our airline reservations yesterday. Took me three days to figure out how I would get the three of us back and forth across the ocean since Barcelona was not cooperating via Delta! All the flights were booked for the weekend of July 28th and 29th.

We were going to go July 14th straight to BCN, but DH said if we were going all the way back, he would like to stop and spend a couple of days in Dublin Ireland.

So here our the flights we have scheduled:

On Sat. July 14 we will leave Salt Lake on Delta and arrive the next morning at 9:20 a.m. in Dublin Ireland. We will spend Sunday and Monday in Ireland and then we will fly out Tuesday morning July 17 on a direct flight on Aer Lingus from Dublin to Barcelona arriving in Barcelona at 11 a.m. (Then we have a segway tour with Edgar at 5 p.m. Tuesday evening).

Now, I have to make hotel reservations.

Then coming home, we will get off the ship and then we are renting a car and driving 300 miles through the countryside to Madrid! We will spend Sat afternoon and evening exploring Madrid and then we fly out Sunday the 29th at 11:30 a.m. going through JFK. We arrive at JFK at 1:45 p.m. and then connect to SLC leaving at 3:15 p.m. getting home Sunday night at 6:35 p.m.

We fly Delta the whole way except for the Dublin-BCN segment which I had to buy the tickets for.

We are excited to spend a couple of days in Ireland since we have never been there before and that's where our ancestors are from.

I am also excited to spend about 18 hours in Madrid. Now I just have to go to our local AAA and pick up an international driving permit. Hertz told me if I get stopped and don't have one it cost $300 Euros. YIKES! Who would have known.

Okay, work to do.

Hi

Sound great, and great organised!!

About Ireland - Dublin - My husband and I had been there several times and we love it but it was a bit pricey there, |Perhaps, you visit the brewery of Guniness!! We had a Guniness as it was lovely!! We think Irish is best Guniness

Have a great times in Irish

I have not been in Madrid and as it is lovely city.

Scottishwee35

 

[nzdisneymom]

I was just wondering which dining everyone has - early or late?

We have early.

 

[todds34]

I was just wondering which dining everyone has - early or late?

We have early.

Hi Cindy

We have late dining but have asked to be wait listed for early dining as I think this will be better as my DD is not a good eater.

Andrea

 

[shortkathleen]

Late, but we may try to change to early!
~Kathleen

 

[scottishwee35]

I was just wondering which dining everyone has - early or late?

We have early.

Hi

We have early.

41 DAYS

Scottishwee35

 

[seaulater]

I was just wondering which dining everyone has - early or late?

We have early.

Late-thinking we won't make it back in time for early

 

[nzdisneymom]

41 DAYS

And I just counted - only 26 more WORK days til we start our journey!

 

[DisTeach]

I was just wondering which dining everyone has - early or late?

We have early.

Late dining here. That is what we've always chosen because it just fits our schedules. I'm all about the earlier show, later meal, and the after parties!

School's last day was Monday so I feel like I can start really counting down the days!

 

[smilis]

Cindy,
We have early dining. I guess if we're late getting back from an excursion we'll have to go to the buffet up top. Like to get my eating done early

Hey, I did my online registration today. Some of you mentioned 3 different forms that needed to be printed off???? I only came up with the DCL contract signature form. Didn't need the medical or minors form. Did I miss something else?

Sandy

 

[nzdisneymom]

When you've read and agreed to the contract, it gives you the opportunity to print out documents, and as part of it, for me, it automatically printed out the contract as well as the Payment Authorization form and the Guest Information form. We have to bring both of those along with the signed contract or else we have to fill them out at the Port.


We figure we'll have a few days of eatng at Topsiders because we have three days with all-day excursions, but that's ok because DH doesn't like having to 'dress' for dinner and would rather just come back from the excursion, wash up quickly and go eat.

Does anyone know if shorts are ok in the dining rooms at breakfast / lunch? I mean like at Lumiere's or Parrot Cay? I'm working on my packing list and figuring out what I think I'll wear each day.

 

[colleenlg]

We've got late dining but are wait-listed for early since we're traveling with a 2 year old & there is no way we can hold her off until 8:30 to eat - especially when her bedtime is 8 PM! I am really hoping we'll get switched!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Ok, I don't mean to be hoggin' up all the space here, but I think I got my outfits figured out and thought I'd share my "outfit list." (no, not what I'm wearing, but how I planned) in case it's helpful to anyone else. I borrowed the idea from another DISer about making your packing list along with your outfits. You'll see I don't have "dinner" listed for the nights I know we have long excursions as I figured I won't change for dinner as we'll be hitting the buffet or room service.

• Monday travel
• Tuesday
• Wednesday boarding
• Wed. dinner
• Thursday - sea day
• Formal Night
• Palermo
• Fri. Dinner
• Naples
• Sat. Dinner
• Olbia
• Sun. Dinner
• Monday - Rome
• Tues - Flor/Pisa
• Marseille
• Wed. dinner
• Villefranche
• Thurs. dinner
• Friday
• Fri. Dinner
• Saturday Travel

I set it up where I have the "event" in one column, followed by three more columns: top, bottom, and shoes. I have 17 items of clothing (between tops and bottoms) and each piece will be worn more than once. When we sailed in Dec. 2005, I didn't wear half of what I took with us, but we drove to Port Canaveral, so I didn't have to worry about airline restrictions. This time I want to pack as efficiently as possible.