June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[jmcdonnell04]

PrincessJasmine, I am sorry that I do not know the answer to your question about the room key/credit card. I am leaning toward one credit card per room. Everyone keep checking your airline itineraries on the computer, Delta has been changing our flights or times so much that we were not even getting home on the last leg of our trip. I thought it was a good opportunity to change our flights to non-stop flights that were blacked out at the time of booking but after 2 hours on the phone I was not successful. At least, we are now confirmed on flights that will get us home. Columbus to JFK to Paris to Barcelona and then reverse it for the way home.

 

[CarolAnnC]

You can each have your own credit card placed on your room key for purchases while on board ship. You will do this prior to embarkation.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

You can each have your own credit card placed on your room key for purchases while on board ship. You will do this prior to embarkation.

That's great! That will be so much easier than at WDW where you can only have one credit card per room. It's always a hassle to try to sort it all out at the end. I have been checking my Delta flights, but they haven't changed yet. I will keep looking though!

 

[jmcdonnell04]

That's good to know about separate credit cards for the cruise. I was leaning no because of only one credit card per room key at WDW. 16 days until our trip to WDW -- kids and DW are getting excited.

 

[taysmom]

Here's some info for anyone interested in Private tours...I contacted www.sorrentolimo.com for info on private tours in naples. Their price was $350.00 euros for the first 2 people and $30.00 euros for each additional up to 8 people. It was a trip down the amalfi coast that included pompeii. I did some researching on cruise critic for excursion prices and found that to be competitive with the cruise line offering. Especially if you have 4 people in your group or more. In rome, most of the "best of" tours were about $350.00 dollars per person (including children) of course this included lunch and all entry fees but geez...thats pricey!. I am quite discouraged that disney has not put their tours online yet. It is making it quite difficult to plan after the cruise, when I don't know how much I will have to spend during!
I am very jealous that my aunt and her family were able to go to disneyland this week..where they said it was 80 degrees and no lines! I had to work! It's been very overcast, border of rain up in northern california! Hope you all have a nice thanksgiving.
Stephanie

 

[LisaTex]

Just checking in. Found us on page 3!! AM I the only one that has not booked flights yet? Just returned last week from WDW. I know some don't like the Christmas decorations out so early, but I thought it was great. Princess Jasmine - I may have seen your sister in the store where she works?? They were very busy that day it seemed, so i didn't go ask.
I guess you guys have seen that they do have a little more info on the cruise line web site about our ports. No excursion info though. One of you guys were going to do the ABD London/Paris trip before the cruise -are you still out there? Just wondering what kind of flight arrangements you made. Clear and 80 degrees here in Texas - hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Jim, that's awesome that your trip is getting so close, that must be super exciting!!

Taysmom, I think the excursions are going to end up being our biggest expense! Especially since we used points for some of our cruise. I really, really wish Disney would post excursions soon too. I am ready to plan!

Lisa, when were you in WDW? My sister generally works the 5-midnight shift. She said it has been packed recently and she can only imagine what the holidays will bring! I booked our flights this summer, I would do it as soon as you can. We just paid off the credit card we put them on!

We went to our vacation home in the panhandle of Florida for Thanksgiving and my sister was able to fly up from Orlando to visit us for a few days, so it was a very nice trip. Hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday as well!!

 

[silver7]

Hi All!

We are back from a one week trip to WDW, and BOY WAS IT CROWDED! We were told they almost closed Magic Kingdom one day-OY! It was VERY cold there the first of the week also--it snowed! (ok, so it was only a flake or two but the idea of it snowing there !)


BTW LOVED the new "dancing" lights in MGM for the Osborne Family Lights--I was surprised they were not selling Transiberian Orchestra CD's.

Is anyone coming in a couple of days early to Barcelona? We were thinking of doing a private tour on the 15th.

 

[taysmom]

HI all...sounds like everyone had a good thanksgiving as we did here in calif. My daughter and I will be in barcelona on the 14th. I have booked our hotel for that leg. I have not booked our airfare from london to barcelona. Still holding out for a better deal. We also have time to spend after the cruise as I could not use my FF miles until 7/1/07. I am thinking paris but possibly london as we have to fly out of heathrow anyways.
More research on private tours, sorrento limo also has one in rome (420 euros first 2). It's seems very expensive but the more people you have in your group the more it evens out. I believe they can do up to 8 people per car. It's just 2 (me and my daughter 9) so it's expensive to me. If anyone is interested in splitting if disney doesn't offer something similiar. Please let me know. We can organize it to our interests.

Stephanie

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Hi, we arrive in Barcelona around 10am on the 14th. We are staying the 14th and the 15th at the Hispanos 7 Suiza. We have 5 in our family and would be interested in splitting tours. Let me know what you're thinking of doing.

 

[taysmom]

Well....I have called DCL again, just keeping on top of things...they say that all cruise excursions will be posted DECEMBER 1st !!!! http://www.disboards.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=15726838#
cool1 We'll see! I also found out that you must be checked in by 4pm on saturday and all passengers must disembark by 9am on wednesday! That kinda cuts into and sightseeing plans on saturday in barcelona.

I have never been to any of these places. So I have no itinerary for italy. I just know that I can get frustrated with the loading and unloading of busses and the time limits. Sometimes I finish alot earlier and others I would love to spend more time. I guess the private tours can accomodate that need. Plus they can get you to each place faster..they know the short cuts with cars! If your family is interested we can email offline any preferred places. Just let me know and I'll pm you with my email.

Stephanie

 

[Skallywag]

Hi everyone,

Well only a couple of days to wait for the promised excursion information.
Same day as our National Lottery draw here and this month they are giving 5 x 1 million as first prize. Surely one must have my name on it, all I seem to ever get is £50 or occasionally £100.

Stephanie, just worried that you have not arranged your flights as yet as know from experience prices go up not down from the day they are first sold which is about 11 months ahead. Have you thought about flying Virgin from California. Know it depends on where you live but they do fly from Vegas direct to Gatwick and LA and San Fransisco into Heathrow. Just a thought as they are excellent if you have children. Not the cheapest airline but always give excellent service from my experience.

Know what you mean about planned excursions as I like you sometimes want to spend more or less time at a destination and it is difficult.

Brenda

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Excursions on December 1st!!!!!! Thanks for posting that!!

Brenda, I'm sure one of those lottery tickets has your name on it.

 

[taysmom]

brenda-
I do have my tickets for sfo to london (heathrow). I just haven't purchased the tickets from heathrow to barcelona. Still working out the after cruise details.
Last night at the bookstore, I met a guy who grew up in barcelona. He told me that it was very similiar to the city I live in here in california. Except, he said that they do not speak spanish only catalan? and that I should learn some phrases as it's a cross between french, spanish, italian and latin. He's only been in the US for 4 years. He also said that their metro system is really clean and safe but always take the same precautions. Shouldn't carry alot of cash, keep purses closed etc. Same as I would if I went to downtown San Francisco. It was nice to talk to someone who lived there for 20 years. He also gave me some great ideas of activities with my daughter.
I got another price quote from sorrento, 400 euros for the first 2 in rome and then 30 per person up to 8 people total. That is ship to rome and back. Not so bad. For 8 people it would be 72.50 euros...that is much less than the other cruise line driven. We'll see with disney.
BTW...if disney doesn't post on 12/1/06 as they have said we should all call and harass them. Apparently they have the excursions set and have had them set, just want to put them all up together. Whats with the wait!
Cya
Stephanie

 

[silver7]

I am on the phone with the cruise line right now, and they said we were supposed to get a letter in the mail --did anyone get this? I was told it was supposed to be sent directly to you (if you booked with a ta it would still go to your home address).

They are saying more info on the excursions should be out in December

 

[taysmom]

what was the letter about? I got one that said we'll have more info later, but that was pretty much it.
s

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

I have gotten no letters. As I said, we booked 2 people with points and 3 through a travel agent. We have not received a letter from DVC or the TA. Maybe I will email the TA and see if she has any info. If excursions aren't released on time, taysmom, I'll be on the phone harassing DCL right along with you!! Once the excursions are released, depending on what they are like we can start talking about maybe setting up some group tours for those who are interested.

 

[taysmom]

sounds good jasmine! The only letter I got was one at the end of october that just confirmed dates to sign up for stuff and said that excursions would be avail. in jan. Which sucked. But DCL said that they would release december 1st.
We'll see.
S

 

[silver7]

That is the one! I was told the first set starting going out in late October but they were still sending them out. . . . I want a letter!

 

[taysmom]

It wasn't anything exciting. Just more waiting for DCL to suprise us! Just get on with it and post the excursions already. JEEZ!