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

[Pixie Dust II]

To all of you who have loved the shows on the Disney ships, did you know that you can now purchase them on DVD? I just found out and bought myself Disney Dreams for my very own Christmas present! I can never get enough of that show and even tried video taping it one time just to get the part where Tinkerbell pixie dusts the ship to show our pre-school class! I get tears every time I see the show. Now I can watch it when ever I need a Disney fix! I am so excited!

Helen, congrats on the wedding! You will be so organized by the time of the cruise you will surprise yourself. It is when you have a pressing time frame that things fall into place and work perfect! Too much time makes us drag our feet!

Happy weekend, all!

 

[abusymommy]

Okay, at this point I don't even remember if we posted on here before. We are booked, have been for a while, and starting now to figure on air trip. I have a lot of points that I can use on AMX, but, it seems that almost every airline leaves Barcelona around 9:30 am to catch a US flight around 12 or 1. We really don't want to stay over another day. What's peoples' experience so far?
Also, with out looking at all the posts, are there excursions listed here?
I did see the thing about hotels. I'm just thinking about having the cruise travel agent do that part.
Ok, last question, for now. What have peopel done for transportation between airport/hotel/ship/airport?
See you later.

profdsny...We are a group of 5 flying out of Chicago to Barcelona. We leave Chicago 7/26 with a great connection through Atlanta and return on 8/9 with the connection in Atlanta. It is through Delta. We were between this Delta flight and the Continental flight connecting through Newark (someone else discussed). We opted to go for this one because the transatlantic flight is on a bigger plane (with 2 aisles) which is much easier when travelling with little ones that always need to use the lavatory while they are serving!! Also, the Atlanta airport is pretty customer friendly, having used it for business. Most importantly the flights out of Barcelona are at approx. 1pm (vs. the 11:10am Continental departure). It gives extra travel time in the morning. Either the Delta connection through Atlanta or the Continental connection through Newark are good choices...it was just our preference to go with Delta. Hope that helps!

 

[MV_Photon]

We, too, have elected to fly over on Delta Airlines via Atlanta:

• #114 on Wednesday - 7/25/07, 8:05 PM ---> 11:05 AM
• #115 on Wednesday - 8/8/07, 1:05 PM ---> 5:15 PM

By reserving so early, it wasn't too outrageous to book all four of us into Busine$$ Cla$$. Not insignifigantly, that premium also confers more liberal luggage weight restrictions!

Pre-cruise, we'll tour Barcelona for a couple of days from our base at well-reviewed Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel. http://www.grandmarinahotel.com/eng/index.html

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I and a number of cruisers have received an e.mail from DCL, with excursion timeline. Excursions should be on website in December. More, Planning can begin then.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi all,

I've had a really terrible week and I've felt really down, however this morning I got a letter from DCL and it really perked me up.

I guess it was like the emails some have recieved,

it stated;
1) that in Dec more detailed excursion info will be on the website
2) 5 months before you sail you'll recieve a complete set of brochures that will help you plan, pack and prepare for the vacation of a lifetime. Along with a calendar of when you can book excursions, Palo etc
3) 3 months before you cruise, watch for more mediterranean magic to sail your way.
4) 1 month before you travel you'll recieve all of your travel documents.

I've pinned it up on my wall to inspire me the next few months.

Its funny, I kinda forgot I was going on the cruise I have been so busy thinking about barcelona.

oh well hope next week is better
Take care
Helen x

 

[LynnTarrant]

I got a letter today too, certainly sounds like they've thought more carefully this time about how to unroll the magic a little at a time and not keep us guessing until the last minute

 

[jasnal]

hello fellow disboarders!!! my fiancee and I are taking the med cruise on july 28th from barcelona for our HONEYMOON!!!! see ya'll there

 

[AnnaS]

Hi Josnal,

Welcome to the disboards and welcome aboard

Congratulations to you too. Did you just book? Did you just find the boards?

Any more advertisement in the UK? How about Barcelona since it is leaving from there? Still not too much here. Once in a while we see a small article in the paper or we get an update via email from AAA with their advertisements.

 

[disneylover5]

We we are back from our Western

The weather was awesome!! The cruise was awesome!! No new rumors or information. The 2008 dates will be out (for the rest of the year) end of Dec or early Jan. We booked for the last cruise in April and will switch when the rest of 2008 comes out. We want an Eastern cruise near the end of 2008. Joyclyn helped us rebook. Anyone ever meet her? She has been very helpful over the last few years. She said she will be on our Med cruise. She left the ship for vacation on Sat. A new Cast Member replaced her. Her name was Leslie and very nice!! Every cast member I talked to said they will be on the Med. They are all very excited about it.

If you have ever eaten in Palo, you most likely know Alex, the server. He said he signed one more contract just do he could go to the Med....then he will be done and will move to Austrailia (sp??)

Hope everyone is well. I have 12 loads of laundry and then only one weekend till Thanksgiving...HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

 

[AnnaS]

Welcome back! Thanks for the update. I only remember Danielle from our last cruises. I am debating wether we should re-book onboard also - just in case we want to cruise again. I think I will ask if we can re-book for a four day cruise and switch if we decide to a 7 day (less deposit $ to dish out) hoping we can still qualify for the discount and on-board credit.

 

[disneylover5]

I think I will ask if we can re-book for a four day cruise and switch if we decide to a 7 day (less deposit $ to dish out) hoping we can still qualify for the discount and on-board credit.

They said they have changed the rules to make this possible....at least that is what I understood from Leslie.....so I would not take that to the bank.

They always add...."the rules can change at anytime, so you should book what you want and put all the people on the ressie". I was thinking of only booking my husband, so the deposit would only be $250.......but ended up being talked into 4 of us......my oldest DS will will a sophmore in college then...I can not believe that......

 

[jlawall]

Hey all, still no passports here........I guess the w/e of Thxgiving will be my deadline...........also, no letter.........hopefully it will come next week.........apparently we are getting more recruits on this thread regularly, I'm no longer in charge of the list................do we need updates??????????

Thx to all for the regular check-ins.........we're getting closer and the time is flying by quickly for us..........how's everyone else feel?????

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Hi everyone!

I see I have a LOT of catching up to do. I can't believe that we'll be sailing the Med in LESS than a year!

I haven't booked flights yet. My dd & I will be flying from Los Angeles, and my son from San Diego, CA. Right now we're thinking about visiting Paris first, then Barcelona for a couple of days. I would really like to go to Monserrat. After the cruise we'll most likely go to Asturias, Spain to visit relatives.

I'm trying to figure if I should do a roundtrip flight and take the train or rent a car, or if I should do a multi-city flight, where we go to Paris first, then fly to Barcelona, visit the cousins, and then take the train back to Barcelona (or rent a car) and fly home.

Then excursions, too. We want to take advantage of the tours, but I have to study & see what's out there for us.

I read where a lot of you are talking about getting passports now. I was going to wait for my daughter because she turns 18 on March 8th. Do any of you see a problem with waiting until March, or is this something we should really do right now? If we wait until March, then her passport is good for 10 years, rather than 5 years.

questions questions....

 

[disneylover5]

Hi everyone!

I read where a lot of you are talking about getting passports now. I was going to wait for my daughter because she turns 18 on March 8th. Do any of you see a problem with waiting until March, or is this something we should really do right now? If we wait until March, then her passport is good for 10 years, rather than 5 years.

questions questions....

Hi Mary Jo!! We have two children travelling with us who will turn 18 on the cruise!! We chose this trip so we can get back to the states and have about a week to get them off to college!! Sammy (a girl) and Daniel (my DS)....Daniel's birthday is Aug 3rd and Sammy's is Aug 4th......Daniel wants to go to VA Tech and Sammy is like " I HAVE NO IDEA!!". Maybe we can exchange IM's or MySpaces for the kids!!

We just got back from the Western this weekend and Daniel came and woke me up after I went to sleep in Sat night. He said "Mommy, maybe I will wait for a year to go to college and work on the Disney cruise." .... a boy after his mommy's heart!!

We tried to reduce the post-cruise depression this morning....When I made my 12 year olds lunch.....instead of her name on the bag I put "256 Days till Disney Cruise"

So there you go everyone.....today is 256 days till the Disney Cruise!!!

 

[AnnaS]

MaryJo

I would wait til March for the passport (extra five years). It only takes 4-6 weeks (and sometimes sooner) to receive it. Have everything ready and go as soon as you can.

256 more days? That is about 36 more weeks - I estimated what I can save up til then

 

[disneylover5]

MaryJo

I would wait til March for the passport (extra five years). It only takes 4-6 weeks (and sometimes sooner) to receive it. Have everything ready and go as soon as you can.

256 more days? That is about 36 more weeks - I estimated what I can save up til then

At Disney Cruise Line®, we ask that you provide your passport number at least 75 days prior to the start of your vacation in your Guest Information Form in My Online Check-In. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to acquire proper citizenship documentation (passport and/or green card). Those without proper documentation at time of departure will be denied boarding.

If you daughters birthday is March 8th, then 8 weeks would be May 3rd. We sail on July 28th then that is 12 more weeks. 12 weeks times 7 days is 84 days...you can do do this with 11 days to spare...I also noticed on the Disney Site it ASKES that you provide you passport 75 days...not a requirement.

 

[AnnaS]

Regarding passports - my oldest son finally went to the post office again yesterday - another $112. It's costing me over $300 already - another problem and I told him to go to Manhattan and get it squared off over there

Long story - I think I mentioned it here somewhere. We gave all our passport info to dcl already - except for this last one.

 

[jlawall]

Hey all!! Still no passports........I'm glad I've checked in.........everytime I read this thread I realize I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS NOW!!!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thanks for the info on the passports. I'll wait, then until March 8th, for my dd's b-day & then we'll take care of her passport. My ds, on the other hand, is already 18 so we'd better get going on that.


disneylover5, I asked my dd, Kelly, about meeting other teens and she said she'd like that, so let me get her myspace name. She's not on it that much, so I'll find out what she does get on to chat. My ds, Nick, will be 19, and he's in San Diego now, living w/his dad & going to college down there. My passport is still good, so I'm okay - it's just my kids I need to worry about.

AnnaS, I can't believe you're son is having so many problems. What a bummer. I hope you guys get it taken care of soon.

 

[benspock]

This is our second cruise on the Magic. Looking forward to some really good fun and exciting excursions. We are getting in on the 26th and staying at the Rennaissance Hotel at the airport. Looking forward to meeting people on this thread.