JUN 06 2007 Magic - 10 day Mediterranean ( READ INFO POST # 1 )

[Kissimmee]

I typed a lengthy post back last night, but just checked in today and it didn't post! The general idea was we booked non-stop delta, Atlanta to London for $4100 total (this includes the two children's fares for $940 each) and our round trip British Air London to Barcelona for $920 total. We could have gotten cheaper fares for both if we'd been willing to have connections in the first leg to London and if we'd flown Easy Jet in Europe. EasyJet would have been almost half cheaper ($550 total), but I was afraid to use them with the kids after reading mixed reviews as well as their open seating policy. If we didn't get seats together, it would never work. I know these fares are probably lousy, but I was getting worried waiting too long. Did you book and what rates did you get?

Anyone checking into trip insurance? I've gotten quotes from both CSA and Travelex. I called DCL yesterday to find out the policy on cancellation of excursions. FYI, you have until 3 days before boarding to cancel or you are charged the full excursion fees. Don't know if this applies if you have to cancel the cruise last minute or not. Probably does. I guess I need to figure out how much we may spend on tours before I buy an insurance policy so I can insure that amount, too. Any info on insurance would be appreciated!

Those prices are in line with what I have seen. We have not booked yet.

A small little voice is saying "if I had known about the canal crossings sooner maybe ...just maybe.. 15 days and a more relaxed schedule... Ah well

Hey Maybe I can do both?

Part of me is worried that the Med Cruise will be a rush to try and do everything. We live near Disney World with annual passes and I see everyday the poor souls that have to fit every experience into their one day at each park and rush around from opening to closing.

I'm not sure why I opted for the 10 day and not the 11. At least the 11 had two off days...

 

[marlaymike]

We already bought them at www.aa.com traveling with iberia, but they were cheaper in AA than iberia.com.

San Juan, Puerto Rico - Barcelona = $890.30

 

[Cruisernut]

Sounds like you got a good price!

Richard, I am by nature a HUGE second guesser. Everything for me seems to be, "Ok, I'll do this. No, I've changed my mind; I'll do that. No, I'm back to my original thought." I have, too, done it again with this trip. I agree that it is going to be a jam-packed vacation, no doubt about it. BUT, bottom line is, if I'm going to go overseas, I want to see as much as I possibly can in the time we have. Though, I, too, would have loved more sea days, and second guessed why I didn't go with the 11 day (can't tell you how many times my poor husband has heard me say that!), the truth is, for us, we're putting that extra day to use pre and post cruise in Barcelona and London. Up until booking air the other day, I was still pricing out doing a Europe land trip instead so that I could see more of each destination than just one day ( for a lot less money, I might add!). After talking to a friend who is from Europe and visits frequently, she convinced me that an extra day or two in each place STILL isn't going to give me the feeling of exploring it completely anyway. True, I don't think this is going to be our typically relaxing cruise, probably the exact opposite, but there's always the local and MUCH cheaper Carribean itineraries for that! When we go on our Royal Caribbean in April, we will be doing the veg out form of crising then!

 

[Kissimmee]

Sounds like you got a good price!

Richard, I am by nature a HUGE second guesser.

The western crossing is too early to take the kids out of school and the return is after school starts and my oldest is moving to a new school so that is out of the question. Guess I'll stay here.

 

[marlaymike]

I'm really hoping this will be a good trip!

 

[misseulalie]

One of the reasons I choose the 10 day was that I wanted to go as early in June as possible. The weather just gets hotter and hotter, plus since there are kids still in school, less tourists for us! So hopefully things won't be as crowded.

I didn't take the first 11 day sailing because I wanted DCL to "work out the kinks" of sailing the Med. I figure any mistakes that were made in the first sailing will be fixed by the second sailing..

Don't second guess your self. Look at me, I switched from DCL to RCCL back to DCL. The grass is always greener on the other side, until you get there. Then you want to go back!

 

[marlaymike]

Is it going to be crowded? Someone knows. . .

 

[funnybunny921]

yeah we wanted early june and we were looking at ABD and ricksteves and RCCL and DCL i also looked into doing just spain for 12 days. I have always wanted to cruise on DCL so i really pushed for that but in reality this gave us a chance to see many places we probably would choose in the top ten. it is giving us the chance at southern france that no italy tour would and a chance at a bit of spain which was one of my original thoughts for this summer. My husband and I know we will try to get back to italy (might be in 20 years) but this will give us a taste of a lot. also, we were just in st. maartens for a week so dcl 7 day just didn't seem like a good option.

anyway i am glad someone looked into the cancelation policies for excursions. I thought that it was 48 hours but it sounds like disney is being more stringent with this.

 

[misseulalie]

OK, I'm about to contradict my last post....

Have you guys seen my latest thread?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1344322

After the math again, it looks like there will be a $700 difference in doing the transatlantic AND 11 day cruise vs. just the 10 day June 6th. We would have to give up a bathroom because we would be moving down to a cat. 12, but my TA said since there are no cat 12's that fit 4 people, we would automatically be moved up to at least a cat. 11.

(I'm figuring if we fly into Barcelona on the 2nd, like we have planned; we will be spending almost $1,500 in hotel and food. So it's a wash.

Can you believe $3100 for 4 people on a 14 night transatlantic???

It will all determine if I can get the flights on the right date and that DH can take off an extra 5 days...

Jennifer

 

[funnybunny921]

I would love to do something like that, but as it is my husband is having a hard time earning all the vacation hours needed.

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[Kissimmee]

I would love to do something like that, but as it is my husband is having a hard time earning all the vacation hours needed.

Let us know what you decide to do.

Looks like misseulalie jumped ship again.

I tried the same plan on my family and they all said 25 days in a Category 11 cabin? Are you nuts?

 

[misseulalie]

Looks like misseulalie jumped ship again.

I tried the same plan on my family and they all said 25 days in a Category 11 cabin? Are you nuts?

HEY! Don't talk about me like I'm not here!!!

Yes, I think we are switching, I had absolutely no plans to do this, I thought THOSE people were crazy, and filthy rich if able to do that. But we sat down and looked at the numbers and it was a wash. We were getting into Barcelona 4 days before and staying 2 days after, so the money we would be spending on hotel, food and other expenses is equal to the $3,100 for the cruise. Plus, I don't have to suffer through two flights with DD 3. She does ok with shorter flights, but 15 hours flying? (including a 6 hour layover in Newwark). I was not looking forward to that!!!

Also, remember the room sizes from a cat. 12-8 are the same size, we just don't get a window.
We also have 2 little ones, so the room won't be as crowded.

We'll see what happens... I may be back........(final payment in due this week...)

I'll still be there at the BBQ. So let me know if you need help, I'm only about 20 minutes from you...

Jennifer

 

[marlaymike]

misseulaie: think first abot the ports of call not just about the money, is a trip of a lifetime with Mickey!

 

[misseulalie]

misseulaie: think first abot the ports of call not just about the money, is a trip of a lifetime with Mickey!

I know, plus having the chance to say "I've sailed across the Atlantic Ocean".

 

[marlaymike]

i know, this is a difficult decision. I already bought my tickets and I'm going to Disneyland Paris. . .Hoping to visit all the parks one day!!

 

[misseulalie]

i know, this is a difficult decision. I already bought my tickets and I'm going to Disneyland Paris. . .Hoping to visit all the parks one day!!

Wow, good luck with that!!!

How many parks do they have? I don't know much about Disneyland Paris.

 

[Cruisernut]

You know, I've lately had some crazy ideas, too. I recently have started second guessing (haha) the itinerary. We had dropped our Carnival Freedom Mediterranean reservation when we finally decided on doing Disney. I was talking to my Dad last night and he asked if Disney was going to Venice. That has always been the place I wanted to see the most. Long story short, i've rebooked the 12 night Carnival, that includes Croatia and Venice (overnight) plus an extra sea day, but does not go to Marseilles or Sardinia. It's out of Rome so we'd get to stay there and have an extra night in a place I was dying not having more than just a part day. We LOVE the Disney ships and the kids have been on them twice in the last year. The reason we chose to do Disney to begin with and pay the higher prices was to allow the kids to stay on ship and be more entertained than on Carnival if we wanted to do some of the excursions ourselves. We knew if they came with us to sightsee, they would not be really utilizing the kid's programs. Now i'm thinking that i want them to come and see what we're there for. Who knows when we'll be able to go back to Europe but we go to Disney all the time! The big clencher is I called British Airways and i'd totally lose the ticket from London to Rome, close to $1000. We'd need to buy new tickets from London to Rome and we could get these for around a $1000. Even with all of that, it would still be over $1500 cheaper since we also wouldn't need two of our 5 nights of hotel. If we'd never sailed the Disney Magic, I don't think i'd even be considering this switch since I'd want the kids to go on this ship, but we have, just last April. I don't have to make a final decision until early March to get out of either deposit. I'm probably mentioning this to the wrong group of people, but I'm trying to do what is right for our family as well as watch the money which could obviously go towards excursions and sightseeing. Help!

 

[misseulalie]

You know, I've lately had some crazy ideas, too. I recently have started second guessing (haha) the itinerary. We had dropped our Carnival Freedom Mediterranean reservation when we finally decided on doing Disney. I was talking to my Dad last night and he asked if Disney was going to Venice. That has always been the place I wanted to see the most. Long story short, i've rebooked the 12 night Carnival, that includes Croatia and Venice (overnight) plus an extra sea day, but does not go to Marseilles or Sardinia. It's out of Rome so we'd get to stay there and have an extra night in a place I was dying not having more than just a part day. We LOVE the Disney ships and the kids have been on them twice in the last year. The reason we chose to do Disney to begin with and pay the higher prices was to allow the kids to stay on ship and be more entertained than on Carnival if we wanted to do some of the excursions ourselves. We knew if they came with us to sightsee, they would not be really utilizing the kid's programs. Now i'm thinking that i want them to come and see what we're there for. Who knows when we'll be able to go back to Europe but we go to Disney all the time! The big clencher is I called British Airways and i'd totally lose the ticket from London to Rome, close to $1000. We'd need to buy new tickets from London to Rome and we could get these for around a $1000. Even with all of that, it would still be over $1500 cheaper since we also wouldn't need two of our 5 nights of hotel. If we'd never sailed the Disney Magic, I don't think i'd even be considering this switch since I'd want the kids to go on this ship, but we have, just last April. I don't have to make a final decision until early March to get out of either deposit. I'm probably mentioning this to the wrong group of people, but I'm trying to do what is right for our family as well as watch the money which could obviously go towards excursions and sightseeing. Help!

First question is have you ever sailed Carnival? It's a big difference. (though my only sailing with Carnival was the Sensation which was like a toilet. We hated every minute.
We looked at RCCL and even switched for a time. (That's why Kissimmee mentioned in a post that "I jumped ship again..) but I came back to DCL. We grew up and even worked at WDW and we feel that Carnival or RCCL can't compare with Disney's service and customer care. Plus we don't gamble and we like the family atmosphere that sailing without a casino brings. Our Carnival sailing was like a frat party. But I'm sure The Freedom is a nicer ship.
Tough call. Maybe post your question on the main board. There are a lot of people who have sailed Carnival's bigger ships, they could tell you more...

 

[misseulalie]

Looks like misseulalie jumped ship again.

I tried the same plan on my family and they all said 25 days in a Category 11 cabin? Are you nuts?

Kissimmee..... are you getting ideas about jumping with me?????

I think soooooooooooooooooooooo

Come on, it's only $3,100 for 4 people, plus it's an atuomatic upgrade for a cat. 12. Since the ship isn't sold out, a really good chance it will be higher!!!

Come on and join us! 25 days on the Magic, how can you beat that????

Plus you get the chance to say you've sailed across the Atlantic Ocean!!!


hehehe..... I'm bad, huh????

 

[Kissimmee]

Kissimmee..... are you getting ideas about jumping with me?????

I think soooooooooooooooooooooo

Come on, it's only $3,100 for 4 people, plus it's an atuomatic upgrade for a cat. 12. Since the ship isn't sold out, a really good chance it will be higher!!!

Come on and join us! 25 days on the Magic, how can you beat that????

Plus you get the chance to say you've sailed across the Atlantic Ocean!!!


hehehe..... I'm bad, huh????

I was willing but the wife and others balked at 25 days on-board. I made a res for the 11 day but it is a "GTY" and they said our rooms would not be near each other.

My mom is in a handicapped room on the 10 day but no such rooms are available on either the crossing or the 11 day and 25 days in a bad room would not be so pleasant. So the route you took has some risk. Or at least it would for us.

The leap from the 10 day to the 11 was also about $2,000 more than the price we have on the 10 day. It looks like prices have gone up a bit since lat fall.

The day before our final payment is due I am going to look again. I have a feeling there will be a large culling before then.

I know you will enjoy it. I would have enjoyed the relaxed cruise leading to the intense med part, but the same logic is lost on the others.

But you deserted us so leave our thread... Just teasing. Hope we get the BBQ together.