July 28, 2007 - "Rome-ancing the Mouse Cruisers" -11 days! Part 3

[danfromca]

Good morning crusining buddies!!! I have not posted much (we recently booked, so waay behind all of you regarding planning etc)!!
Noticed some of you just got your cabin assignments..so I checked ours...
We were assigned 2541. Very happy because of the split bath.

Hi Lisa & co. Looks like we're neighbors (2540/2542)

Cell phones - I recently called t-mobile to see what they would charge for int'l minutes since my son went to the Bahamas a few weeks ago and was told $2.99 a minute. It seems a bit high to me and I am afraid if my oldest one wants me to add it since he might want to have contact w/his girfriend.

What rate is everyone getting w/their provider?

This is what I have too.
Just be careful that some plan require that you request this way in advance mostly for new customers. AT&T told me that since I was a long time customer that they could turn it on right away. They have my preset to start just before my vacation but was told to make sure I make a call to someone before I leave to actually activate it. I'm just wondering if I should do both our cell phones.

Does anyone know if I will be able to charge up my phones at the Barcelona hotels? Or do I need to buy the converter thingy? I know, once I'm on the ship, I will be OK but since I'm spending 4 days in London and 2 in Barcelona, wondering if I will need to do some charging. Of course, I heard and read that its best to keep your phone off, I guess to avoid some charges

If you currently subscribe to AT&T or T-Mobile, one thing you can/should do is call them and ask to have your phone unlocked before the trip. That way you can purchase other SIM cards including local ones. http://www.telestial.com/ is a good site for learning about and buying SIM cards. They also have unlocked phones for sale if you'd rather not rent.

We picked up some of their PassportLite cards for general use. They include free incoming calls and text messages (the AT&T and T-Mobile plans charge both sending/receiving). They also include a toll-free service where you can have folks in the U.S. call you toll free, and it only costs you 49 cents/minute to receive. They have other cards that have differnet options.

As for charging, look at your charger and check the voltage range. The vast majority will say something like 100-240V 50/60Hz AC. As long as the voltage range goes over 220V, and it shows 50 as well as 60Hz, you have an international travel charger. All you need is a plug/socket adapter and you can plug it right into the European outlets without concern.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Good night all, will not be around in the morning, see you Thursday night-uk time.

 

[LynnTarrant]

Hi everyone
I didn't get lost in the new forest, but we then had a weekend away , then a very tough day at school and now today when I was finally gonna catch up with you all, I got the phone call from Ofsted I'll leave the British teachers to fill you in on the scary prospect of Ofsted.....I'll just say goodbye again until next wednesday. Be good and tell me all the news when I return!
Love Lynn

 

[Pixie Dust II]

Hi Lisa & co. Looks like we're neighbors (2540/2542)





If you currently subscribe to AT&T or T-Mobile, one thing you can/should do is call them and ask to have your phone unlocked before the trip. That way you can purchase other SIM cards including local ones. http://www.telestial.com/ is a good site for learning about and buying SIM cards. They also have unlocked phones for sale if you'd rather not rent.

We picked up some of their PassportLite cards for general use. They include free incoming calls and text messages (the AT&T and T-Mobile plans charge both sending/receiving). They also include a toll-free service where you can have folks in the U.S. call you toll free, and it only costs you 49 cents/minute to receive. They have other cards that have differnet options.

As for charging, look at your charger and check the voltage range. The vast majority will say something like 100-240V 50/60Hz AC. As long as the voltage range goes over 220V, and it shows 50 as well as 60Hz, you have an international travel charger. All you need is a plug/socket adapter and you can plug it right into the European outlets without concern.

Our cell phone carrier is AT&T they quoted us .99 a minute. We have to put International calling on our phone two weeks before we leave home and they say we will be covered. The kids can call us at no charge to them and we pay the .99 per minute to receive. We don't text message, so that is not an issue.

 

[formerCPer]

Good morning crusining buddies!!! I have not posted much (we recently booked, so waay behind all of you regarding planning etc)!!
Noticed some of you just got your cabin assignments..so I checked ours...
We were assigned 2541. Very happy because of the split bath.

Hi Lisa & co. Looks like we're neighbors (2540/2542)

Howdy neighbors. Just discovered we've finally been assigned a room ... 2545.

Brian

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

 

[Pixie Dust II]

Sandra,
My thoughts exactly!!!!! I am stressing about the calling plans and DH just expects me to research it and figure it out! (And he's right, I will because it bothers me and doesn't bother him).
OH well, at least I'm not the only one stressing. Misery loves company!

Maryann

I think we must all be thinking about the same thing. When I ask DH the other night what he thought we should do and when as far as the phones were concerned his reply was, "you will do what you want to do anyway, so just take care of it!" Now there's a surprise!!! Who do you think is always the one to look into everything?? I stress, he relaxes and you know what, it always works out okay! Don't worry---be happy!

 

[MrsJobba1]

Andrew, Helen or any other International friend. Did I read right in that only the Plus system works over there? Please tell me that the Star system is also accepted?

Laura I am really sorry but I have no idea what your talking about? I've never heard of the plus or star system? sorry

 

[MrsJobba1]

39

Does anyone know if the boat rocks quite a bit being in a forward cabin?
I've always been aft. Seems like forward cabins would be quiet unless you are right over the Walt Disney theatre

Hey Jeanne,

Last year for my Western cruise, Dave and I were in 7001 - you couldn't get anymore further forward if you try. I get motion sickness but I had not problem in this room whatso ever - infact I really liked it - it was very quiet

 

[danfromca]

Hi Lisa & co. Looks like we're neighbors (2540/2542)

Howdy neighbors. Just discovered we've finally been assigned a room ... 2545.

Brian

We could set up a gate between our cabins and charge toll to pass....

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi everyone
I didn't get lost in the new forest, but we then had a weekend away , then a very tough day at school and now today when I was finally gonna catch up with you all, I got the phone call from Ofsted I'll leave the British teachers to fill you in on the scary prospect of Ofsted.....I'll just say goodbye again until next wednesday. Be good and tell me all the news when I return!
Love Lynn

Hey Lynn I've Pm'd you but good luck.

For those state side who are wondering what Ofsted is. It is basically government inspectors. You get a phonecall giving you 2 days notice. If Lynn got it today, her inspection will take place next Monday & Tuesday (i think). The inspectors then go in to assess your school. It is an amazingly stressful time. The inspectors have quite a bit of power behind them aswell. Please think of poor Lynn - She will definatly need the cruise after this

 

[Pixie Dust II]

We'll call him Captain FLUFFY

89 rolls..........:

Thanks for singing along with meeeeeeee!

Congratlations, Maryann! That is Major Fluffy!!! Good Job!

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi Guys I asked this question on Cruisecritic about the metro system and got a fab reply

Hi,

We are staying near to Placa Catalunya. These are some of the sites we want to see - can anyone help and tell me what coloured metro line to use and where to get off. Thanks

Sagrada familia
Parc Guell
The Nou camp football stadium
The magic fountain
Cathedral in the barri gotic

Thankyou for your help

Hello from Barcelona,
this is the oficial site for Barcelona transportation in English, you will find information about fees and itinerary too.
http://www.tmb.net/en_US/home.jsp

For your asked destinations:

Sagrada Familia: line 2 (purple) from Passeig de Gracia station to Sagrada familia.

Camp Nou and Magic Fountain: line 3 (green) Les Corts for the stadium and Plaça Espanya for the fountains.

Cathedral and Barri gotic walking 5 min from pça Catalunya, mostly pedestrian roads.

Park Güell: a 30 min bus ride line 24 from Passeig de Gràcia/Casp st. You can use the same transport card than metro.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Change in my excursion-

Hi I have been think about what to do in MArseille - the plan was to get the little train (ourselves) then go round and do a bit of shopping. However after further investigation because we are there on a Sunday, on all accounts the place is dead. I have therefore been trying to look for an excursion.
I dont want a long one - 4-5 hrs and Im kind of limited as I cant sit on a coach for very long periods - well to cut a long story short the only one that seems to fit is
Calanques of Cassis (Are these cliffs?)

So Dave and I are now booked on the PM excursion

 

[MrsJobba1]

It is pretty dead around here - I've looked in the quick links and it says there is at least 3 of you online

 

[MrsJobba1]

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[Pixie Dust II]

This will be cruise #9 for us and we have always been on Deck 6 or 7 with a veranda. On our last cruise we had to have had the noisiest cabin on the ship and I don't know what was under us, but you would have thought it was the ships motors. If you have #6582, be prepared for noise. Just a warning--in case!!

 

[Pixie Dust II]

This will be cruise #9 for us and we have always been on Deck 6 or 7 with a veranda. On our last cruise we had to have had the noisiest cabin on the ship and I don't know what was under us, but you would have thought it was the ships motors. If you have #6582, be prepared for noise. Just a warning--in case!!

 

[MrsJobba1]

This will be cruise #9 for us and we have always been on Deck 6 or 7 with a veranda. On our last cruise we had to have had the noisiest cabin on the ship and I don't know what was under us, but you would have thought it was the ships motors. If you have #6582, be prepared for noise. Just a warning--in case!!

Deck 7 is my fave too - We have been very lucky in the past with our room allocations - although its probably the fact that I have been so exhausted on a night time that I have just passed out

 

[MrsJobba1]

ok im getting really tired -I've had a hard day.

Take care all and Disney Dreams