June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[Surroundedbyboys]

Konslerg- what about formal wear? I'm hoping that we'll be able to order tuxes to be waiting for my husband & sons when we get there....I assume they may have 2 formal nights on an 11 day cruise. I couldn't believe how many pairs of shoes we packed for the 7 day caribbean. Walking shoes, sandals, beach shoes, dress shoes, heels.... (In some cases X4) Scarily enough, we used them all so there isn't something that I could leave out.
PURTYPAT1- Hope you get to book the trip!! With the new amenities on most airplanes: in-seat movies, video games, etc. the flights won't be that bad. Good luck!

 

[konslerg]

Konslerg- what about formal wear? I'm hoping that we'll be able to order tuxes to be waiting for my husband & sons when we get there....I assume they may have 2 formal nights on an 11 day cruise. I couldn't believe how many pairs of shoes we packed for the 7 day caribbean. Walking shoes, sandals, beach shoes, dress shoes, heels.... (In some cases X4) Scarily enough, we used them all so there isn't something that I could leave out.

LOL Formal night is going to be black slacks and a sparkly top (same both nights if there are 2). Hubby will pack his tux. Shoes will be 1 Sketchers (for sandals and beach shoes), 1 dressy sandal for formal night or any other time when the Sketchers aren't appropriate and one pair of athletic shoes (which I will be wearing to save packing space) for touring/walking. Shouldn't need anything else.

Fashionista I am not ;-)

Would you believe I'm even considering the disposable underwear from TravelSmith!

Like I said, I'm traveling light, but bringing plenty of $$$ LOL

 

[konslerg]

Oh, one more thing I'm packing ...lots of little packs of Kleenex tissues. I understand toilet tissue is in very short supply in most European cities.

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

I love the disposable underwear! Too funny. I agree that the same outfit will be worn if there are 2 formal nights! We never had trouble finding toilet paper in any of the European cities we've been although we had to pay for it in most places. I got some mini Charmin rolls from Walmart and tucked them into my purse. Worked great.

 

[Skallywag]

Hi Partricia and everyone.

Welcome to the board and please do not be nervous if you have concerns air them and I am sure they will diminish.

Booked our flights from Gatwick to Barcelona yesterday. Warning to everyone it would appear these flights are filling up fast from England so am still wondering if there is anything strange going on in Barcelona when we will be there to cause this. It is usual to be only able to book 11 months out from the date of return but ba say they are booking July now.

Would advise everyone to check up and see if other airlines are doing the same.

It has and is certainly very hot over here and they recorded the highest temperature for july for over 100 years so they say.

British airways also offered us hotels in Barcelona that are quite reasonable so if anyone is going down that route and has not got a hotel it may be worth checking them out. They have the Arts and Silken Diagonal all quite reasonably priced.

Well it is 7.15 and I am just going to shoot to the other end of our Island to do the shopping - my little car does not have benefit of a.c. so want to get back before it gets too hot. Think it over 80 already so dont want to spend too much time driving although it is only about 12 miles.

Patricia if your husband is concerned about flying my recommendations are and they work even though my husband did not think they would. When you board the plane from your end remember it may be 8.p.m. but where you are going it is probably 2 a.m. and when they offer you the meal think whether you would eat normally at that time of day and just have a light snack. Also we use Melatonin and find they are invaluable not only for the journey but in reducing jet lag when you land.

Good luck with planning everyone and also getting those flights sorted out.

 

[Skallywag]

Hi Everyone,

For anyone having problems with trying to find hotels have just been playing about on line and found some good deals for Barcelona.

Think there is the motorcycle grand prix on there that weekend and possibly that is why the prices are high.

Have just searched on Sky travel (www.skytravel.co.uk) and go to Hotels, click on Barcelona and availability comes up.

Have just done a booking with them for the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos which is 5 star and looks lovely although away from the beach area and the cost was about £140 per night less than the Hilton which is a lot of money. Breakfast is not included in this but you can get a lot of food for £140 we are thinking. They also do a limo service collecting from the airport which I am going to look into. Just tested to see what the difference was and did a trial booking on the hotel site. It was more expensive and I have just printed off my receipt. They also have cheaper hotels on that site also.

Just thought it may help anyone that is having problems. Hotel has excellent write up also. Thats a good start Hotel and flights sorted already - cannot wait to get packing.

Still very hot and sultry here. They promised us heavy rain last night coming from france but did not reach our area.
Brenda

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

I found a hotel near the airport: Renaissance Barcelona Airport Hotel that fits 4 people (one king bed with 2 singles) for 115 euro. It's a brand new hotel- opens August 2006; with free shuttle from the airport. Air conditioned rooms, restaurant, outdoor pool, concierge, car rental desk, etc. I'm not sure how far it is from the port, but concierge will be able to hook us up with taxis to the ship. I'm trying to remember what Disney transfers cost.

 

[Skallywag]

Think the airport is something like 20 minutes from the port and centre of Barcelona. Depends on what you want to do when there to where you need to stay.

Toilet rolls in short supply in Europe - Toilets definitely are and I speak from experience. When we were in Venice last year luckily our hotel was teamed up with others and so we just nipped in there when we needed to but usually unless you go into a cafe they are virtually non-existant.

Also many of the streets in europe are cobbled,steep and very narrow so take good comfortable walking shoes definitely not the place for high fashion need good solid soles.

Italy I think has the worst drivers anywhere but the people are wonderful and so is their ice-cream.

 

[matty204]

Hi all - how do these cruise meets work? Should I just try to chime in - it seems like you all know each other all ready!

We have cruised with 2 other couples for 3 years that we met here in disboards. We did a cruise meet a couple of months before the first cruise. It was a great way to get to know each other and do some planning. Since there are at least 3 couples from Minnesota and Iowa maybe we should plan an upper Midwest or Midwest meet sometime?! Evcryone is welcome.. I know that some east coast cruisers have come to this type of cruise meet as an excuse to go to Mall of America!!

 

[DVC4US]

We have cruised with 2 other couples for 3 years that we met here in disboards. We did a cruise meet a couple of months before the first cruise. It was a great way to get to know each other and do some planning. Since there are at least 3 couples from Minnesota and Iowa maybe we should plan an upper Midwest or Midwest meet sometime?! Evcryone is welcome.. I know that some east coast cruisers have come to this type of cruise meet as an excuse to go to Mall of America!!

Matt - that sounds great to us, and we always enjoy an excuse to visit Mall of America. We will leave this Sunday for our big 3 week vacation to Florida and our cruise and then I am gone Labor Day weekend, but then we should be available for a while. Once we see how many people are interested then we can start looking at availability. We would love to meet other DISers before the cruise.

 

[DVC4US]

Okay, got back from the college visits last Monday and picked up Alyssa on Thursday so now we are ready to think about and pack for our next trip. We sure haven't been home much this summer.

Brittany leaves on her Caravan trip(church youth group) on Friday and then Alyssa, her friend Madeline, and I will leave on Sunday to go to my parents house in Florida for the week. We will then fly down to Orlando and pick up Britt in Daytona for our week at WDW, and then it's our 7 day cruise. It's also Brittany's birthday on Thursday so this week is really going to be crazy.

I have been trying to look at airline tickets for next summer and that's making me crazy too. It's still to early too book but I am trying to look at all our options. We are tinking about flying into London and doing a couple of days there first before going to Barcelona and then tacking Paris on at the end. It seems to be a little cheaper and better flights to fly into London than to fly to Barcelona. Also this way, I can have our flights booked before we go on our cruise. If we do everything at the end of the cruise then our day to book airline tickets will fall when we are on our cruisein August. I know I can always just wait, but I want to get these do with and have a plan for next year.

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I found a hotel near the airport: Renaissance Barcelona Airport Hotel that fits 4 people (one king bed with 2 singles) for 115 euro. It's a brand new hotel- opens August 2006; with free shuttle from the airport. Air conditioned rooms, restaurant, outdoor pool, concierge, car rental desk, etc. I'm not sure how far it is from the port, but concierge will be able to hook us up with taxis to the ship. I'm trying to remember what Disney transfers cost.

Hi Surroundedbyboys,

Do you have the hotel link? I would like to look into this hotel.

I called Disney Cruise line & told them, I would like to book June 16.2007 She advised me to wait till I am on the Wonder this Thanksgiving and to book it, then so I can get my discount. I am going to book on our Thanksgiving cruise, & then switch it over to AAA. As long as there is room on the boat, we are going!!!

The only thing I don't like about this, is, I can't book my airline tickets till I come back at the end of Nov. My DD & I were bumped with AA in Feb & we "each" received 800.00 each in air money. I am hoping that this will pay for our tickets. DMIL & DSIL will have to take separate flights.

As long as there is ability, count me in & my DD who will just be turning 13 at the time of leaving. My DMI & my DSIL will be going also.

For those of you, who are flying in & staying the night before the cruise, are most of you leaving on June 14th?

Skallwag, my DH works in NYC and after 9-11 he won't fly. I don't want to get into it, but there is no way he will fly for 9 + hours. He is going to fly for the first time this Nov. I will try the Melatonin for myself. Thanks for sharing.

I am planning this trip, any advice would be welcomed!!!

I am so excited. Thanks everyone

Patricia

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

I just got this email from DCL: Unfortunately, at this time, all the following Barcelona hotels are closed for 06/15/07:

Hotel Atenea Mar
AC Barcelona
Grand Marina Hotel
Hesperia Presidente
Hilton Diagonal Mar

Beginning this Wednesday (7/26), we will be able to offer you a new resort, Husa L'illa in Barcelona. You may visit the resort website at www.hotelhusalilla.com.

Pat:
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/BCNBR
Here's the link for the Renaissance Barcelona Airport Hotel.

 

[silver7]

That hotel looks nice! And what was that I saw?? TWO BEDS??!! looks like a hotel we could all use LOL!

Hey Patricia

Are you on the Turkey day cruise?


Yea! it looks like our cruise is filling up! Saw the Samantha Brown special on Monte Carlo--the casino looks nice but is there anything else besides the aquarium there?

We are leaving the 13th so when we land it will be the 14th. My dh is getting our tickets this weekend

 

[Skallywag]

Hi all,
Patricia I am so sorry about your husband not being able to fly. Do hope all goes well in November and then perhaps he will feel more confident I certainly hope so. I have a friend here and even before September 11th she would not fly and it is a shame.

Well, we are all booked up, flights, changed hotel in Barcelona. Although the Rey Juan Carlos is not near the beach it is so much cheaper than the Hilton and we can do a lot with the £130 we are saving. It really looks a lovely hotel and it says they do a limo service for collection from airport which I am trying to find out about.

Now have found a good deal on the airport hotel at Gatwick with parking which we like to do so we are all set. BA told me they are filling flights to Barcelona quite quickly and none we available with frequent flyer miles apart from Club for the 15th.

Still very hot here but they promise rain tomorrow, however, they did that last week and we only got about 3 spots here they got it up north and we really need it here. The garden resembles a desert and I worry about the grass not growing in the fields for the animals.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

That hotel looks nice! And what was that I saw?? TWO BEDS??!! looks like a hotel we could all use LOL!

Hey Patricia

Are you on the Turkey day cruise?

Hi Silver7

Yes, I will be on the Wonder for Turkey Day this year. I am traveling with 18 family members.

I think I am going to book tomorrow with AAA, & then rebook in Nov while on I am on the cruise to get the extra 10% (if there are rooms left in Nov)

Yeah!!!!!!!!!

 

[silver7]

We were on the Turkey Day 04--Good times, great group.

We tentatively booked our airfare today, turns out to be a tad more than Disney's, but we control what times we fly, etc.

Wow, this trip just might work out!

 

[carolmb]

Hi Brenda,
This question is for you. I think we are planning to fly from Houston to London, take the train from London to Paris and then the train again from Paris to Barcelona. My DH is Hilton loyal. I found 3 Hiltons in London that will accomendate more than 3 people in one room. The Hilton London Euston, the Hilton London Metropole and the Hilton London Islington. I was wondering if you knew what areas these hotels were in and which one might be in the best location. Now I need to figure out what sights to see with the kids in London. We are now repeating our engagement to London and Paris, my DH proposed on the Eiffel Tower, and adding the Disney Cruise for our 10yr anniversary. Thanks for your help.
Carol

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I'm off to book Yeah!!!!!!

Count me in.

Patricia

 

[silver7]

Yeah!! Welcome Patricia!