June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi All,

My family got back from Fire Island in NY. Weather was magnificent. The ferry ride was even better.

We taking our family vacation next in Long Beach Island (The Norman Rockwell of the Jeresey Shore) No computer for a week

The kids do not start school here until after labor day.

Just got a letter today from AAA with my trip insurance. We are all booked except for the London hotel & tours. Will look into that when we get back from.

Brenda, glad you finally got rain. Did your daughter return home as of yet?

Hope all is well.

Patricia

 

[Skallywag]

I think it is the best way to learn any language speaking directly to others. I have a friend who is Russian and her husband is English, both of her children she has spoken to in Russian from babies and they are bi-lingual. To see very small children able to converse in both languages I think is great. Their mother speaks fluent English without hardly a trace of accent but said they will learn her mother tongue and do not blame her.

I also have french relatives as my mothers brother married a french lady he met during the war so I have french cousins and one of those married an English girl and did the same.

How is everyone getting on with the planning? still awaiting finalising the booking for the transer from airport to hotel and then terminal but everything else is fine.

We have had more rain here and my water buts are completely full so o.k. with the garden for a while.
Brenda

 

[bmr12]

Hi all,

After much soul-searching and agonizing about the cost, it looks like my wife, daughter (will be 8), and I will also be on the cruise. We tentatively booked a cabin when bookings first opened up and then waffled around due to the very high cost of the cruise, but finally decided to go for it.

We live in Denver and I was fortunate enough to be able to book very good flight times on Lufthansa for us through Frankfurt using a combination of miles and even more $$$. That made the decision to go a little bit easier knowing we wouldn't have to connect three times making our way to Barcelona.

This will be my daughter's first trip outside North America/Hawaii, our first Disney cruise, and the first time any of us have been to Spain or Italy, so all of that is new and exciting.

In cases like this, we like to arrive a couple of days early to acclimate to the time change and provide a cushion for any delays/problems that might occur. So I am still looking for a good hotel alternative (for three occupants) for the two nights prior to the cruise. It looks like there's lots of stuff already booked up, but I'm holding out hope to finding a reasonably priced alternative somewhere!

 

[silver7]

Welcome BMR 12!

Did you try to add on to your reservations with the cruise line? They may have added hotels by now.

Teresa

 

[Skallywag]

Welcome aboard - have you tried the airline you are booked to fly to Barcelona with? Know many do have reasonable priced hotels they recommend. Know that BA and Delta do,
Brenda

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Hi. I have only been on this thread twice and I posted a thread with this question on the DCL board, but I am just wondering if everyone has booked airfare yet? Is now the time to do this, or should we wait a little longer? I am finding flights for $1000 and I don't know if this is normal or not as I have never been out of the country. We are flying from Cincinnati, Ohio. Thanks for any help!

 

[silver7]

Hi Princess Jasmine

Our flights were higher because we booked by schedule, so we did not book the least expensive flight.


It is REALLY hot here now, about 95 each day (which is normal for us in August, but we were getting spoiled with our cooler summer!). I just hope the hurricanes keep quiet.

 

[carolmb]

Hi. I have only been on this thread twice and I posted a thread with this question on the DCL board, but I am just wondering if everyone has booked airfare yet? Is now the time to do this, or should we wait a little longer? I am finding flights for $1000 and I don't know if this is normal or not as I have never been out of the country. We are flying from Cincinnati, Ohio. Thanks for any help!

We just booked our flights today. We are flying round-trip from london and our airfare was $900pp and hoping to upgrade with miles. Keep your fingers crossed for us. We are planning on spending a few days in london, then taking the train to Paris for a couple of days and then taking the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona. We will then take a oneway flight from Barcelona back to London. I know adding the trains will be more expensive but it is something I think my kids will enjoy. My only concern is the strict luggage restrictions flying within Europe. You are only allowed ONE checked bag per person with a lower weight allowance. Oh well there is still time to figure that one out. Have a great weekend.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

We just booked our flights today. We are flying round-trip from london and our airfare was $900pp and hoping to upgrade with miles. Keep your fingers crossed for us. We are planning on spending a few days in london, then taking the train to Paris for a couple of days and then taking the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona. We will then take a oneway flight from Barcelona back to London. I know adding the trains will be more expensive but it is something I think my kids will enjoy. My only concern is the strict luggage restrictions flying within Europe. You are only allowed ONE checked bag per person with a lower weight allowance. Oh well there is still time to figure that one out. Have a great weekend.

Do you have any idea how much the train costs?

About the luggage restrictions...if I booked a flight that went from Cincinnati to New York to Barcelona (which is probably what I will do) will I be subject to these luggage restrictions? Or is this just if I flew into Paris and then to Barcelona?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

I also just wanted to re-introduce myself. I think I introduced myself very early on in this thread, but I haven't been around for a couple of months!

My name is Lauren and I am a 20 year old college student. I will be traveling with my sisters (Alison, 16 and Amanda, 23) and my parents. We are in connecting category 9's (2138 and 2140.) Our whole family has never been out of the country before so this is a big deal for us! My parents were very leary of booking this cruise and the only way they agreed to let us go was if I did all the planning! They hate to plan, so I'm in charge. They did give me a budget of course!

My parents are DVC members, so we have been on many Disney vacations, but this will only be our second Disney cruise. Our first was a 4 night cruise in April 2000.

Does anyone else on this thread have a 16 year old (or so) girl? My younger sister is really having her doubts about going on a Disney cruise. She think's it's going to be all little kids. If there was anyone she could get to know to go to the clubs with that would be absolutely wonderful!

So now I am trying to get flights and possibly a hotel together. We want to stay in Barcelona 2 days pre-cruise. Does anyone know of good hotels in Barcelona? Also, if we do the Disney transfers will they only pick us up at the airport on the 16th and take us to the ship? Or would they pick us up a few days early and take us to a hotel?

I am so totally clueless about all of this, I need all the help I can get!

 

[ljhayes]

While I haven't made it through all the posts here yet (or anywhere close even ), I wanted to add that my fiance and I will be onboard for our honeymoon! We'll be flying from Boston to Paris round trip (using miles to book), and then Paris to Barcelona round trip. We're going to spend 3 nights in Paris after the cruise as well (hence the weird flights!). We took a 7 night western caribbean cruise in aug/sep '04 that turned into a 10 night because of a hurricane, and it was the best trip we've ever taken. So, we're incredibly excited to be able to do this for our honeymoon! We can't wait!

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Well Congrat to you & Andy, have you booked your flight as of yet?

 

[ljhayes]

Thanks! I've got my ticket on hold with American. The problem is that we want to use our miles, and American's making that as hard as possible. Basically they're offering one seat on each flight (and offering ridiculous flights, but I won't get into that, because it could become a very long rant ). So, I've got my ticket, but Andy had to get them to put in a special request to let him on the same flights, and we haven't heard yet if they will. Hopefully this week we'll have it sorted out, though!

 

[DVC4US]

Well, we are finally back from our 3 week vacation which included a week at WDW and a "Magic"al 7 day cruise. We really had a great time and now I can really start to plan our cruise for next summer.

I was able to finally book our flights while I was on vacation so we are flying out to London on June 9th and then we will fly to Barcelona on the 14th. We will fly from Barcelona on the 27th to Paris and then home from Paris on the 30th of June. I have the flights from Minneapolis to London, and Paris to Minneapolis booked so now I have to book the ones to and from Barcelona. The hotel in Barcelona is booked and I will be booking the Marriott County Hall for London so now all I need to find is a hotel for Paris.

It's finally time to do a little research on these additional items and on possible excursions.

 

[DVC4US]

Welcome - BMR 12, Laura & Andy!

 

[DVC4US]

Carol - we purchased our tickets through Continental also and I was able to use miles for two of the tickets. We wanted to fly first class and I found that Continental had some of the best prices. I think Delta was pretty close, but I flew Continental to Scotland and it was a great flight so we went with them. I just looked at the prices again and boy, am I glad I purchased tickets when I did. I got our round trip tickets - MSP to LGW, CDG to MSP for $2400 and now they are selling for $4800. I almost waited until I got back from vacation, but now I am glad I took the time to make the reservation. I did find out that it was better to call them, then to try and book online. The computer would not let me book a reward ticket with multi-city destinations but I could do it over the phone and they can also extend the reservation date a little longer than what the computer was letting me reserve. I would keep trying for the upgrade to first class. You never know what the airlines are going to do.

 

[carolmb]

Do you have any idea how much the train costs?

About the luggage restrictions...if I booked a flight that went from Cincinnati to New York to Barcelona (which is probably what I will do) will I be subject to these luggage restrictions? Or is this just if I flew into Paris and then to Barcelona?

Thanks!

The Eurostar train from London to Paris 1st class for 2 adults and 2 kids is ~ 400 Euros (~500 USD) and the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona 1st class will be ~800 Euros (~1000 USD). I listed their websites below. I think the luggage restrictions are only on flights booked between two cities in Europe that orginate in Europe not the States. Good luck with all of your travel plans.

http://www.elipsos.com/htm/default.htm?lang=3
http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/_Sv...SvBoExpressBookingTerm&_LANG=UK&_AGENCY=ESTAR

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Well, now I'm thinking about just booking our flights through DCL directly. They are not all that much more expensive than what I am finding online. Somehow having the flight, transfers, insurance, and cruise all booked with DCL gives me peace of mind. I am so jealous of all of you who have frequent flyer miles! We have none, and the airfare is going to kill us. We had budgeted $5000 for air for the 5 of us, but now I'm starting to wonder if we're going to be able to keep to that number...

Also, I am booked through a TA and she told me DCL hasn't yet announced pre-cruise packages at hotels in Barcelona. Is this right? I thought you could book a hotel in Barcelona the day you could reserve the cruise.

 

[Skallywag]

Disney have announced their hotels but appear that they are fully booked and were before most of us were aware of them.

Many of us have been searching for alternatives and it all depends on how long you anticipate staying in Barcelona prior to your cruise.

Post on this site and we will all try and help you.
Brenda

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Princess Jasmine,

Before I booked, I studied these boards, & the other Med threads, & wrote down my questions, then I booked thru AAA. I actually went to her office, & sat with her while she called Disney on the phone & booked. It was like a 3 way conversation. I was there over an hour.

I was worried about a hotel in Barcelona also. Disney told AAA that they were full, my AAA agent told them to put me on the waiting list. I got a call a week later that there was openings. I am now booked. It's a bit expensive, & they only put 2 people in one room "The Hilton Barcelona" my thoughts are,
after a long trip (we are leaving on the 14th arriving in London on the 15th & immediately off to Barcelona) 11 hours in total, I feel secure with Disney's transporation & arragements to the hotel. The next day Disney transportation will pick us up at the hotel and bring us to the port.

A few years ago, we flew to Japan which was about 12 hours. When landed we were exhausted. We plan to pay the extra hotel cost, for peace of mine.

Let us know how you make out.

Did you try travelocity for your flights?

DVC4US what airline & what time are you flying into Paris on the 27th?
I was told not to book any flight till after 12:30. Did you pick your hotel in Paris as of yet?

Patricia