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

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just logging in to say hello again, have been on holiday in the USA for three weeks one at universal one on the Disney magic and one at WDW, it was really good and enjoyed it.

Now I can look forward to this holiday in 2007, I have booked the cruise and also the flights with British airways to and from Barcelona and I will arrive about a week before the cruise and I still have to book the hotel.

As far as I can see the Spanish are always late in opening up hotel bookings so the best hotel prices and availability will be either late this year or early 2007. I am holding on as last years prices were good when I reviewed them in April for summer 2006 and the availability strong, I believe the limited availability now is as only a few hotels have opened up summer 2007 bookings.

I have booked about three to four private tours off the ship at the various main ports with my family and against the cost of normal shore excursions it looks a better bet with a guarantee of the tour I want and comparative in price to the expected cost of DCL trips.

 

[jlawall]

We've booked air!!!We have decided to go from Philadelphia direct to Barcelona, it was our best air prices...................now it's time to start looking at excursions..............

 

[AnnaS]

Welcome Back Andrew!

May we ask what price you got Jlawall? We are getting a price of $1263 RT, direct from Newark to BCN.

Thanks -

 

[disneylover5]

We've booked air!!!We have decided to go from Philadelphia direct to Barcelona, it was our best air prices...................now it's time to start looking at excursions..............

We were thinking of flying out of Phila...we live in VA. Can you give me the details of what you booked and how much?

 

[makelab]

We were thinking of flying out of Phila...we live in VA. Can you give me the details of what you booked and how much?

i am looking at going out of philly, too. i checked today, and it is $983 per person (includes all taxes) on usairways. disney had quoted us over $1400 pp, and out of dc. whenever we can put the $$ together, we will be buying those nonstop tickets. extra drive is much better than a layover in london or madrid (not that those aren't great cities)
i only found the fare on the airlines website. it wasn't showing on orbitz. it leaves phl at 5:40pm (7/27/2007), arrives BCN at 7:45am (next day)
depart BCN 8/8/2007, 12:25pm, arrive PHL 3:20pm.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Welcome Back Andrew!


Thanks -

Repating another thread but recent posts for your information say boarding on the first day is at 1pm, booking office open from about 10.30am to 16.30pm, but after booking in and going on board you can go back off to Barcelona and walk around until just before this ship goes.

Quireies about the life boat drill? and sailway party?

 

[jlawall]

<<i only found the fare on the airlines website. it wasn't showing on orbitz. it leaves phl at 5:40pm (7/27/2007), arrives BCN at 7:45am (next day)
depart BCN 8/8/2007, 12:25pm, arrive PHL 3:20pm>>


Hey all, makelab has my flight info, just under $1000 pp, USAirways. Nonstop flights and really good departure and return times. I had been checking JFK but for these dates PHL was better. Please let me know if you join us!!

I used expedia, BTW

 

[LynnTarrant]

Now all our friends from across the pond should avoid looking at this post but for you Brits Keith and I just booked our flights Heathrow -Barcelona BA Dep 27th July 4:30pm Arr 7:30pm Dep Barcelona 11th August 4:30pm arr Heathrow 6pm 7oo airmiles plus £40 taxeach...


Yes I knew my US friends couldn't help reading you did read right $160 for 2 of us plus 1400 airmiles....I'm pretty pleased with my deal
Anyone else staying Barcelona before or after the cruise?
I haven't booked a hotel yet
Thinking hard about excursions I've provisionally booked private guides in a couple of places, i think as it's high summer and I've been to Italy before and could easily do a city break again at a cooler time of year we are going to stay by the coast at most ports. La Spezia is a good jumping off point for Cinque terre, 5 small coastel towns set on the cliffs linked by a footpath and a little bost service, I think this will be our option instead of Florence. The shore Trips web site lists an excursion for Marseilles that I'm interested in, A chef takes you to a fish maket and then back to his restaurant where the group are instructed as they make Bouilabaisse (sp) a special fish stew from Marseilles then you all get to eat it for lunch , There is a minimum of 5 people Anyone interested??? It's a half day thing so there would still be time for other stuff in the afternoon.
Anyone else found anything good??

 

[jlawall]

Ok, Lynn, sign me up for everything you're doing!!!

Seriously, I have no idea where to begin! That's my next quest....where is everyone looking for ideas?

 

[LynnTarrant]

Jo Ann, the private drivers are booked at the moment just for us two but they are happy to take on more people the Mareilles one needs paying so we could wait until the Disney shore exs come out and see what we want to do
sites I've used are www.shore trips.com, all the other lines doing the Med , Private guides and web pages on the ports. We can have a long chat in 5 weeks time about this if you want to join us, Debi can tell us what she's up to to as the Italian experet.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have booked four private tours for my familiy at the Top ports of call In my opinion of Rome Naples Florence and VilliaFrance.

Considering the cost of shore trips per person it doesnt work out that much more expensive and considering for Rome and Florence DCL isnt using the closest main port but one a bit further, the trip into the main bits will be long.

My kids can ply up occassionally so in a private car we will be able to control and amend the trip, if they are bored no waiting around and we can go somewhere else.

I am saving the few other ports to see what DCL come out with, although some of my 'bookings' have confirmed they are looking after other cruisers from this cruise

 

[jlawall]

I'll check that website Lynn! You guys are so ahead of me! I've overwhelmed! I need a tour guide expert!

 

[tomspixie]

Hello all!

Well, our summer 2006 cruises are over... They were great! Truly! Now though, I get to look towards our trip!!
We should be getting some great info from CM's that we are friends with onboard regarding where we should head when we are in the med.

We are looking into our flights. We get one freebie and they are keeping an eye on the flights for all five of us...so should be soon!

Talk with you all soon!
tif

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Booked another private trip for France now I have most bar the two Italian islands covered, anyone want contact points let me know.

 

[AnnaS]

Welcome back Tomspixie (a bit late - sorry) - let us know if you hear anything good from your CM friends


Great, Anddrew - you seem to be almost all set. Wishing we were. We do have deposits though down on our flights. We booked via group sales with Continental.


We also need to get my oldest son to move his "b...t" He needs to reapply for his passport before January. Don't know how/what happened. We all just received passports last year and we took them with us on the West Coast Cruise. We lost/can't find his. They re-issued a temp. one for one year (exp. Jan).

DVC/DCL told me they need the passport info. 90 days before sailing. His is the only one we need to give them.

 

[jlawall]

Boy that's a good wake-up call, we still need passports, I've never obtained one....................so now's the time to do this in light of the 90 rule........thx for the reminder!!

No excursions, here.............it's time to start researching!!

 

[jlawall]

Just 4 days from..............9months+ to our dream vacation!!!!!!!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Keep counting down!

 

[Ruth B]

Hello Everyone........
My son(who will be 12 by next summer) and i are joining you on the 28th of July.

I have just booked it and requested the same cabin that i stayed in on the 3 night wonder and was told through TA that "unfortunatly they told me that you can request a room but it is not guaranteed on this*specific type*of cruise".* ??
is this right as i see a lot of you already know your room number?

anyway, except for that, i can't wait .

 

[AnnaS]

Hi Ruth and welcome.

Not sure about that. Are you booked on a gty category? Perhaps because most of us here booked months ago? Somone else might be able to help here. They might be booked up better than we thought without much advertising too.

Again, a big welcome to you and your son.