July 30, 2010 Mickey's Adventures England to Espana Cruise

[zencrew]

I am trying to plan some things post-cruise in Barcelona. Does anyone know what time is the latest we will disembark? I am looking at a city tour that will pick us up at the port and I don't want to plan it too early nor too late. Any suggestions on timing for the tour time?

 

[Dylcal]

Glad to hear I am not the only one travelling alone with their kids, people think I am crazy when I say that I am taking the girls alone, but we always have so much fun. My husband was talking about coming last week, but he said something about ruining or traditions so I don't think he is coming.(he better not come now as airfair is more than twice what I paid)

Kids do say the funniest things and mine think I am too old too. I always have to play the grandmother when we play dolls, as they both want to be the mom.


Glad also that I am not the only one looking forward to the trip reports from the first Med trips.

Lisa

Yes I do enjoy traveling with my son. He is a great traveler (even as he has reached his teen years). My Ex never enjoyed it. I figure I just have a few more years left when we can travel together as he will be in college!

 

[mkmommy]

Yes I do enjoy traveling with my son. He is a great traveler (even as he has reached his teen years). My Ex never enjoyed it. I figure I just have a few more years left when we can travel together as he will be in college!

Before I booked this trip I was thinking once I turned 13, I always had summer jobs and we no longer took family vacations, so that made me think with my oldest 9 already there are not that many more trips.: and to take advantage of time now.

Lisa

 

[mkmommy]

Anyone planning on doing a beach day on this cruise? I think it would be a good break.

Sounds like Cadiz would be easy to make into a beach day, but has anyone looked into beaches around Lisbon? I think DCL has a beach excursion but I wonder if it would be easy to do on your own.

Lisa

 

[Melcatfish]

I am possibly planning a beach day in Vigo and a mini beach trip in Cadiz. From Vigo it seems that Samil Sands is a nice beach area. I found some inof on Cruise Critic and by googling it. La Caletta (or something like that) near Cadiz is where they filmed Halle Berry doing her best Ursula Andress impression in the Bond film she was in (possibly Die Another Day?) as it was the film location for all the Cuban scenes.

Not sure about Lisbon, we are taking the girls to the Aquarium in the morning I think and then taking them back to the ships before touring Belem Quarter in the afternoon just us I think.

Mel
x

 

[Piggy and Bear]

I am trying to plan some things post-cruise in Barcelona. Does anyone know what time is the latest we will disembark? I am looking at a city tour that will pick us up at the port and I don't want to plan it too early nor too late. Any suggestions on timing for the tour time?

I seem to remember the disembarkation times on the Med 2007 were similar to Port Canaveral. We got off JUST before 9am and they were beginning to encourage people to disembark from about 8.30. Hope this helps.
Viccie

 

[Piggy and Bear]

Yes I do enjoy traveling with my son. He is a great traveler (even as he has reached his teen years). My Ex never enjoyed it. I figure I just have a few more years left when we can travel together as he will be in college!

Before I booked this trip I was thinking once I turned 13, I always had summer jobs and we no longer took family vacations, so that made me think with my oldest 9 already there are not that many more trips.: and to take advantage of time now.

Lisa

DD already wants a job at 12! She's full of suggestions about one too. Working in the local cattery, for our hairdresser, at the garden centre or the local supermarket. Just hope she'll still want to do it when she older and they will employ her!!! LOL

Hopefully she'll want to travel with us too for a few years. She wants to go back to Florida next year to see the Harry Potter stuff. DH is fancing California but I'd like to wait a yea and see if there are any nice little cruises to or around Hawaii! I don't like flying and would like to kill two birds with one stone so to speak.

Viccie

Viccie

 

[mkmommy]

I want this person's job.

They will be doing a live blog from the April 24 Med cruise.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1180846

 

[RJAYL]

Anyone planning on doing a beach day on this cruise? I think it would be a good break.

Sounds like Cadiz would be easy to make into a beach day, but has anyone looked into beaches around Lisbon? I think DCL has a beach excursion but I wonder if it would be easy to do on your own.

Lisa

If I do an excursion in Cadiz it is to Seville! other wise the Beach sounds nice!

I am possibly planning a beach day in Vigo and a mini beach trip in Cadiz. From Vigo it seems that Samil Sands is a nice beach area. I found some inof on Cruise Critic and by googling it. La Caletta (or something like that) near Cadiz is where they filmed Halle Berry doing her best Ursula Andress impression in the Bond film she was in (possibly Die Another Day?) as it was the film location for all the Cuban scenes.

Not sure about Lisbon, we are taking the girls to the Aquarium in the morning I think and then taking them back to the ships before touring Belem Quarter in the afternoon just us I think.

Mel
x

Keep us advised about Beach Break planning
If you are looking for company in Vigo maybe we would tag along!

Lisbon we are touring (I have ordered Rick Steves new city guide for Lisbon due out in May)

Cadiz I am debating going to Seville alot to see in Seville! Long bus ride (shorter than trip to Berlin & I would rather go to Seville!)

I want this person's job.

They will be doing a live blog from the April 24 Med cruise.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1180846

It's tough to be one of the Hierarchy of DU!

 

[Maza]

.



Scottishwee thanks for the train links. Does it matter who you buy the tickets from as I have seen a few different website that sell train tickets?

Lisa

we travel by train fairly often. we generaly book with virgintrain, the prices are the same as trainline but you dont pay a booking fee. Pity you have no kids with you, it would probably have been cost effective to get a friends and family railcard ( cost £24 but save you upto 50% of fares somethimes )
book your train asap, its cheaper, and look at the times carefully. after 9.30 am the prices drop quite dramatically.

 

[Maza]

When you say hire a private car do you mean with driver or do you mean a rental car? Here in the UK car rental is not as common as in the USAand although there are rental desks at Heathrow and various rental locations it is not as straight forward and common place as in the USA so you would need to do some research first. If you mean book a car with driver to transfer you to Dover then I would google and also check if any of the Baltic DCL cruisers have any recommendations. It isn't risky as such as it would be reasonable run down from London to Dover the only problem is if the French implement strike action then there is a traffic management system called operation stack which effectively turns part of the motorway into a car park for lorries who are waiting to go through the tunnel or on the ferry to France but are unable to during a strike. It won't make Dover inaccessible by car, just a little more complicated. A taxi with driver will know the diversion and get you there no problem but I probably wouldn't want to be driving a rental car, possibly for the first time in the UK and trying to follow an alternative route!

Regarding sightseeing in London a travelcard on the Tube is relatively inexpensive and very convenient. I am sorry, I forget if you are travelling alon with your two kids in which case it will depend how confident you (and they) are at scooting on and off trains making sure your kids are both in tow, always harder with one adult two kids I find!

There are bus routes that offer HOHO tickets if you prefer to travel overground. I am not 100% but I think the HOHO bus tickets are separate from the regular travel cards (and more expensive) my friend has a list of bus routes on the normal buses that take in the same sights, I will ask her for it and post it here!

Mel
x

The underground is fun for about 30 mins, then it becomes a nightymare. me and my girls where in London lasr week...it was choc a block with tourists taking advantage of the rubbish pound......but unless you are prepared to route map your way across London, and it is a big city, then your best bet for sightseeing is a open tour bus, just like every major city. it cost about £15 per person at the mo, but its all overland ( obv), and London has stuff to see on virtually every street corner. you can hop on and off at your leisure. We used it a couple of times when the kids where younger and we wanted to see everything in one or two days
Try googling Greyline london or something...there are atleast 2 companies offering this at the mo.

 

[Maza]

sorry, here i go again...i really should read everything before i start posting.

The Tube is the best way to get into London from the Airport, but its argueable that is the best way to sight see round London. An adult two zone travel card costs £7 or so, and a childs one is £2 if bought after 9.30 am.
I'd still do the hoho bus though, you will get to see most of the well known landmarks...plus, if you have time, book a 'trip' on the London Eye. needs to be booked in advance to avoid really long queues....but you can get combined London Eye/river cruise tickets.
There are also some brilliant shows on too, if the mood takes you. We saw Wicked last week, and it was
Take advantage of the weak pound, and enjoy yourself

 

[RJAYL]

sorry, here i go again...i really should read everything before i start posting.

The Tube is the best way to get into London from the Airport, but its argueable that is the best way to sight see round London. An adult two zone travel card costs £7 or so, and a childs one is £2 if bought after 9.30 am.
I'd still do the hoho bus though, you will get to see most of the well known landmarks...plus, if you have time, book a 'trip' on the London Eye. needs to be booked in advance to avoid really long queues....but you can get combined London Eye/river cruise tickets.
There are also some brilliant shows on too, if the mood takes you. We saw Wicked last week, and it was
Take advantage of the weak pound, and enjoy yourself

Is there a website for the HoHo bus?

 

[caven553]

Yes, that's exactly where they are ....but do be very wary of pick pockets, bag theives etc in this area .....its just as well known for that too !!

Yes - be VERY wary of pick pockets. When we were there for the med cruise our very first night on the subway we had a group of about 6 guys surround us and just start sticking their hands in our pockets and opening camera cases. As soon as we started yelling and drawing people's attention to them they backed off. They weren't violent but they also made no attempt to hide what they were trying to do. They were just counting on us being too timid and letting it happen.

 

[jdybnsn]

My DS is 13 today !!

..he starts a paper round tomorrow !

 

[mkmommy]

My DS is 13 today !!

..he starts a paper round tomorrow !

Happy Birthday,

 

[mkmommy]

If I do an excursion in Cadiz it is to Seville! other wise the Beach sounds nice!

Keep us advised about Beach Break planning
If you are looking for company in Vigo maybe we would tag along!

Us too, my oldest wants to do a DCL beach excusion as she figures there will be other kids to play with, but I am not a big fan of beach excursions, as it is nice to be on your own schedule.

Lisa

 

[scottishwee35]

Have you heard the news about volcano in iceland - erupt ash?

All Scottish flights had been cancelled ::

Look like the hen's party which held at Benidorm, Spain - it might be cancelled as flights might cancelled up to 3 days...

:: :: ::

When I heard about it as I don't know I laugh or cry!!!

Now My friend Shirley who will be bride texted me and very upset as everything went wrong now... her daughter is ill and in hospital and waiting for an operation today... oh dear

Scottishwee35

 

[scottishwee35]

My DS is 13 today !!

..he starts a paper round tomorrow !

Happy Birthday...

Scottishwee35

 

[Piggy and Bear]

My DS is 13 today !!

..he starts a paper round tomorrow !

Happy birthday to DS.
Does he need an assistant? DD wants to know.