Hi
Welcome Mommy Grrl. Where in Wales are you? We have friends in Pemrokeshire and are often over there.
Regarding the booking, I have previously booked direct with
DCL, we used to have a travel agents, so got in the habit of booking direct, and getting discounts, but we have closed that side of the business now, although still sometimes get offers through! On our last cruise we booked on board and transferred to
Dreams Unlimited. I must admit I was a bit wary, having always had control, but wanted the on board credit they give.
Well I am pleased to say that they have been really good and it saves me ringing the states to add or change anything. I can still see the booking on the DCL site, my only problem is impatiently waiting for a reply when I have asked for something, but it is well worth the little bit of credit back!
Try Iglu, and ROL, both preferred agents, a local TA will not be able to give the reductions that the big booking companies do. I did play Virgin and Iglu off against each other on a previous cruise, both matching the other, but then an offer came through on DCL, so I went direct again - also Iglu customers seem to get good free upgrades, but that may be just coincidence.
As Jdybnsn says, no one seems to know if the $/£ price is a set price or a changable to exchange rate price on the website, however, forecasts for the $ look to be good, so may be worth booking in $. It has been going steadily up recently.
It sounds as if everyone is jetting off in the near future, we were thinking of going away in October half term, but looks like our friends are coming up from Wales, so we may go to Blackpool with the kids for a day!!!!
(only the locals will know how funny that is!!!).
We have booked skiing for April, just a week's break, maybe get another short break in before Christmas we have a lot of airmiles to use up, but they don't make it easy to use them!
Jdybnsn we love Lisbon, have been there loads of times on cruises and always find something else to do/see.
Still not booked the flights - not sure what I am waiting for!!! Definately going the day before, Novotel have a room for £83, which I thought was good for the one night for all of us, including breakfast.
Re. Ladies lunch, sounds good, we had the private room on our last but one cruise for our meet thread. Someone booked it for us all, they needed our reservation numbers to enable them to book it, they just spoke to DCL direct and gave them the numbers, I am not sure if there was a minimum number or not. However, it isn't a large room, it was pleasant, but not easy to chat to everyone, as it was a long table, round ones are always a bit easier - maybe we should move around every course (a la the Mad Hatter), then you get to chat to different people!
Kate
Anyone know how to book it ??
!
then home for 2 weeks before we go away for Xmas, we will be crusing in the western caribbean on the Thomson Dream - I know it's no Disney ship 
