June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[LisaTex]

I'm sure you can eat at topsiders if you want. We have late , but will still get in late a few times I'm sure.

 

[Skallywag]

Hi everyone - have you all recovered from Christmas and new year?

Am awaiting on the timings of the excursions before making final decision but at present am interested in Zingaro Park from Palermo, Thermal bath trip from Naples and the Cinque terre villages. Husband interested in Ferrari trip but at that price need to win some serious lottery money.

Brenda

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Brenda,

Happy New Year to you.

We are still looking for a hotel in London. I am thinking about priceline.

I just found out that my DMIL is afraid of traveling on the subway in London.This is not good for the travel plans that I was going to make

Brenda, do you know of any good tour company, that we can take, while in London? Any info would be great.

Have a good weekend.

Patricia

 

[smillingjack]

I called about this as well. I was told that the specific availability of the Barcelona on-shore will not be posted until your cruise is fully paid. Also, if you are a Castaway member you may be able to book 90 days prior tp departure. This is when you are required to be paid in full.

Each time I call DCL you get a different story to some degree.

Jack

 

[Skallywag]

Hi everyone.

Have paid our cruise in full a couple of months ago (being kind of mean and half scottish) the exchange rate is too good to not do so for us at present.
Have no different details on the web site even though I have paid up so do not know what DCL are referring to. Will have another look but am sure when I last looked it was the same.

Patricia

Sorry to hear about problems using the underground here and do understand it is so confusing and more than a little chaotic.

Depending on what you actually want to see and do in London you can always use the buses and also the thames boats which offer services and it is a very good way of seeing London from the water.

Will have a look at some information I picked up surprisingly in Jersey airport when visiting daughters and also see what else I can find out.

Give me a few ideas and I will definitely see what I can do.

Brenda

 

[Skallywag]

Things we do on a dark damp day in England.

Patricia,

Have found my little red book and it refers to website www.visitlondon.com
and I have looked at this and it is very comprehensive.

Hope this is of help but please ask if I can find out anything for you it is a pleasure.

Must apologise to disney.
Barcelona - Have just looked on my reservation and find they are showing excursion times for embarkation days against a couple of the ones I looked at.
Please if anyone is having problems let me know what you are interested in and I will look it up for you and let you have the information.

Am just going to look at some of the other ports of call and see if there is any more detail on those.
Brenda

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Thanks Brenda, great site. I have been looking & searching. Should I find a hotel in the middle of London. Do you suggest to book in the neighborhood of Buckingham Palace?

 

[LisaTex]

Glad you found us smiling jack

Brenda - do they offer BCN excursions for the day we get back? Thanks for the visit london website. we have some free afternoons there on ou ABD trip and this will hepl us figure out some things to do!

Patricia - we are staying at the Renaissance Chancery Court London before the trip on our Adventures by Disney trip. It is centrally located and is good about 4 ina room if that's an issue for you like it has been for some of us. It is centrally located.

Very weird that we can't see what's available for BCN until we pay!

 

[taysmom]

I don't understand where do you see the times for the excursions? I have paid for my cruise in full and I don't see any excursion times listed. Please advise!
S

 

[taysmom]

ok..nevermind..i just need to use my eyes to see the times for the barcelona trips...
Steph

 

[smillingjack]

I would call DCL but I expect they are not going to tell you a thing until the 90 mark.

 

[Skallywag]

They have excursions on embarkation days so assume you could book one of those for the day you leave the ship if you are staying on in Barcelona.
If you cannot access the information let me know and I will have a go at doing a bit of cutting and pasting.

Wonder when they will give the times for the other excursions - this is what i really am interested in.

Hotels near centre are the most expensive but if you want to go just to the outskirts you can find better value. Think it would depend on where you are flying from to Barcelona. Gatwick Express goes directly from Victoria to South Terminal which is easily connected by monorail to North terminal. We usually drive to a hotel close to the airport and stay the night there to save on the hassle in the morning. It is strange that you can often book a good hotel with car parking for less than the cost of just parking at the airport. Do you find this in your country also? If your flight is a.m. then I would personally travel to a hotel near the airport the night before to save the rush in the morning.
Brenda

 

[taysmom]

just got off the phone with dcl...exciting news! Our packets are getting ready to be mailed by the end of this month/beg. of feb. These will have all cruise info., shore excursions and also information on leaving kids in kids club while in port! The girl told me that they have alot of exciting events planned and it will be a "magical" experience. She also said that they are adding excursions still, so to keep looking at that page as new ones come out. She didn't know about times for port excursions and said she didn't know if it would come out with our preboard packets or after we book. She recommended to call to book excursions and ask about times then.
She also said disney is offering one way transfers however if you did not book through disney you would need to go thru your TA or DVC member services to check if they are available for those people. I booked through dvc so I will call tomorrow and check with them. Of course I will update all tomorrow once I find out...
Stephanie

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Patricia - we are staying at the Renaissance Chancery Court London before the trip on our Adventures by Disney trip. It is centrally located and is good about 4 ina room if that's an issue for you like it has been for some of us. It is centrally located.

LisaTex, if you don't mind me asking, how much are you paying for the Renaissance Chancery Court. As of now, it's now available. It looks quite nice. The hotels are coming up in the ball park of $200.00 a night.

I have been trying Brenda's website, I keep finding great Hotels, until I am ready to book, and it comes up not available.

I am thinking of maybe trying my luck on Priceline.

Did anyone see the Barecelona special last eve?

 

[LisaTex]

I don't really know the specific cost as it is part of the ABD trip we will be on. I think I looked it up on the Marriott web site a few weeks ago and there was still availability - but don't remember the price. I was going to use CC points so didn't really look at the price - just availability and #/room.

I watched the TC show - Made it seem a little more "real". I think someone on our thread is staying at the Casa Camper that they showed at the end.

 

[taysmom]

Well, I broke down today and contacted a TA to help me with my pre and post cruise plans. Just so many websites and airlines to work out, I couldn't handle the overload! I told her that I wanted to have finalized plans for this trip by Jan. 31st. BTW, I talked to DVC member services who are my TA for this cruise and you can book one way transfers but you need your airline info. Good to know. It's $25.00/pp. They also are offering a post cruise trip to DLP. It seemed pricey to me ($700 per adult and $150 per child) and did not include air. I can't remember which hotel but it was not disneyland hotel in paris. If you aren't booked through dvc but are interested in this post cruise extension you can contact DCL to book also.
Have a great night.
Steph

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Thanks for all the info, Steph. When you mentioned one way transfers do you just mean they would take you from the airport to a hotel or the port? What if it isn't one of the hotels Disney is using? I am very excited to get the packet!!

 

[taysmom]

The transfers are either precruise BCN to port or BCN to disney hotel or post cruise port to BCN. I did not ask about other airports or hotels afterwards. BUT I did ask about other hotels precruise as we are staying at a non "disney" hotel. They said no! oh well...I have heard great things about the metro system there, so not worried. My current hotel is on a metro stop. Although, I am having the TA look into alternate hotels just to see if she can get me a better deal.
You know whats crazy! I have been looking at all the boards and discovered that the magic is probably coming to California in 2008. So now I am all consumned with making ressie for that summer. Med is now down and behind me! How crazy are we dissers!
Steph

 

[carolmb]

Hi Brenda - I was wondering if you knew anything about this hotel, it is in Kensington area. We are DVC members and I need to use my banked points and travel by August 31, 2007. I was looking at the Concierge collection and there are 2 hotels in London, The Dorchester and The Royal Garden Hotel. I have enough points for 2 rooms for 3 nights at The Royal Garden. The Dorchester is more points and we could only stay 2 nights there. I need 2 rooms for 4 people. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Skallywag]

Hi Carol,

Both of these hotels are very good and Dorchester is well known as being one of the top hotels in London. The Royal Garden being situated in Kensington is well situated close to all of the top shops of London and the attractions are easily reached from there. Shops such as Harrods are there within walking distance.

Dorchester is on Hyde Park again very close to amenities and nice position.
Just depends on what you want to spend on a hotel. Have just looked at the Royal Garden Hotel on the web site and they have lots of information on it also.

Bren