June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[LisaTex]

Thanks for all the info. We are coming in the morning of the 16th (just from Paris so won't be so bad). I have info overload looking at all the possible excursions, private cars etc. Something low key like the aquarium or that bus tour does look good. How far is the aquarium from the port? Are you planning on just grabbing a cab? Lunch looks good too. We will be getting to the port by 11:00. Anyone have their final excurson choices? I bought so many tour books I could have paid for all of my excursions for all I spent

Any guesses on what they will do "differently"- pirate party, new shows etc.? Can't wait for that packet!

 

[silver7]

Hey Yall

I was told yesterday that the packets are not coming until about a month before your final is due--dont know if that is the real answer or not, but it does make sense, as I was also told that they are getting calls to switch some reservations from the Med to the CA cruise, that would save them some money on postage if they waited!

Since we are traveling with an older person (don't ANY of you tell her I called her older--she will have my hide ) I dont know how much touring we are going to do in Barcelona. We are coming in on the 14th so she can recover from the plane flight. We may do a run around Barcelona on the 15th. Lunch on the ship sounds GREAT! We are taking the Disney shuttles and I don't know when they are picking up from the hotel.

Not only parties, wonder what the CC gifts will be

Teresa

 

[taysmom]

You know I just hope that these DCL "customer service" and I use that loosely...know what they are doing. I am discouraged to hear that they aren't sending them until 1 month before as I have called 2 times in the last 2 months and both times told me they were preparring them and would be sending out at least 4 months in advance. I am wondering if the additional info they have provided me is correct...that my 11:30am flight is ok, that we can start checking in at noon for a 1pm board...etc. I am making plans based on the "information" that they are providing. I guess I am frustrated because I have never travelled overseas with my DD and I want really feel comfortable so I don't stress out over there!
Anyways...I believe the aquarium is just down the way..don't know how far that is, if a cab is necessary then yes, but otherwise I planned to walk. I hear it's the best one in europe. I think you can even get in it and feed the sharks..that's all others though, not me....just call me chicken! Looks like the lunch thing might work out then for some of us. Plus in europe they take those 2 hours naps (if only we did too!) in the middle of the day. So by the time we finish with lunch all of the shops will be open again!
On another note...who would want to switch from the med to the canal. I'm going to do both!
steph

 

[Skallywag]

We are planning on doing the eastbound repo subject to price and availability.

Med all booked and paid for just need to start saving for the next trip.

100 mph winds last week here and now sleet,snow and ice not good.
Hope everyone is ok

Do hope we dont have to wait too long for the packages that is if we get them at all over here. Get a bit fed up with looking at them on the web site.
Bren

 

[PURTYPAT1]

You know I just hope that these DCL "customer service" and I use that loosely...know what they are doing. I am discouraged to hear that they aren't sending them until 1 month before as I have called 2 times in the last 2 months and both times told me they were preparring them and would be sending out at least 4 months in advance. I am wondering if the additional info they have provided me is correct...that my 11:30am flight is ok, that we can start checking in at noon for a 1pm board...etc. I am making plans based on the "information" that they are providing. I guess I am frustrated because I have never travelled overseas with my DD and I want really feel comfortable so I don't stress out over there!
Anyways...I believe the aquarium is just down the way..don't know how far that is, if a cab is necessary then yes, but otherwise I planned to walk. I hear it's the best one in europe. I think you can even get in it and feed the sharks..that's all others though, not me....just call me chicken! Looks like the lunch thing might work out then for some of us. Plus in europe they take those 2 hours naps (if only we did too!) in the middle of the day. So by the time we finish with lunch all of the shops will be open again!
On another note...who would want to switch from the med to the canal. I'm going to do both!
steph

Steph,

Is your DD going on all the tours with you? My DD12 told me she only wants to tour Rome & Pompeii, Florence & France.

I just assumed my DD wanted to go on all of the tours. Is anyone leaving there children on the boat while touring?

 

[taysmom]

I want her to go with me...cause I am overprotective and don't want to leave her..but I think she might stay on the ship when we are in monte carlo..which works out for me because I want to go to the casino. They haven't said definitivly whether kids can stay on the boat. I know she is going to naples, rome and florence for sure. As for the others...i guess we'll see. I haven't picked excursions yet for sardinia and sicily. I was going to see if I could get away with it on my own.
On that note...does anyone know if there is a way to see corsica? i didn't see an excursion for that, but it looks right next to our stop. I've heard it's beautiful.
Steph

 

[taysmom]

Ok...have all the plans done now. I feel much better knowing that my pre and post cruise is completed. Just waiting for the tickets to arrive! Now I can start planning my panama canal repo..hahaha. Anyways...does or has anyone ever been able to upgrade on the ship when you use points? I am going to call dvc tomorrow and ask, but it doesn't look as our sailing is full. I checked the website today and they had all cats available. Just wondering if I change my mind and upgrade, can I pay cash for that?
Any suggestions or thoughts?
Steph

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Ok...have all the plans done now. I feel much better knowing that my pre and post cruise is completed. Just waiting for the tickets to arrive! Now I can start planning my panama canal repo..hahaha. Anyways...does or has anyone ever been able to upgrade on the ship when you use points? I am going to call dvc tomorrow and ask, but it doesn't look as our sailing is full. I checked the website today and they had all cats available. Just wondering if I change my mind and upgrade, can I pay cash for that?
Any suggestions or thoughts?
Steph

What cat room are you staying in?

 

[taysmom]

Lowest level!...All we could afford..points wise...cat 11! No beautiful med. views, but at least we'll be there! Thats how I am looking at it!
Steph

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I really think you are going to be more out of your room then in. At night after a full day of touring, we all are going to sleeping soundly. Why not wait till you get to the port, it would be much cheaper to upgrade there.

Just my thoughts.

Patricia

 

[taysmom]

I did talk to dvc and you need points to upgrade, not cash. So I guess I am SOL! The nice person told me that it doesn't hurt to ask once on the ship...they have the right to do whatever they want once you are there. So, we'll see how I feel.
I am definately feeling ready to tackle the excursions now. I have all my stuff done, even booked the port to airport shuttle post cruise today! $50.00 through disney not bad..at least guaranteed to get there! I just have to narrow down my excursion checklist to book those on April 3rd...right around the corner.
I also found out that for my daughters allergies, I have to have her doctor fill out the medical release, not me! So now I have to make an appt. to fill out a form! Thats how her allergy doc rolls.
Has anyone had any problems with food allergies before on a disney cruise. My DD doesn't have normal food allergies anyways, she's allergic to random foods and nuts. Oh well..we'll figure it out!
steph

 

[LisaTex]

I was sneaking around on some of the other threads and I read that the May 26 cruise has received their "packet". They were not too impressed. No list of excursions, something about a Pirates of the Carib. party. Not much info, but sounds like we should be getting ours in a couple of weeks -maybe. Anyone skipping Florence? It is such a long drive. Picked out my Naples excursion - that's it so far.

I would take my chances and ask for an upgrade when you get there. It is not going to be sold out (my guess).

 

[Skallywag]

Hi Everyone,

Just trying to fllow up on the link that Lisa mentioned that the 26th May cruise have their packets already. Have looked through their wite and cannot find it, what am I doing wrong here I wonder.

We are not thinking of doing Florence will do the cinque terre villages instead.

Wish they would hurry up with the information and do hope they do give us written details of the excursions much easier than looking on line all the time and really want to know the timing of them before I decide.

Bren

 

[LisaTex]

Sorry Brenda - I looked again - it was the May repo thread(page 135ish). Anyone have any suggestions about airfare within Europe? Everywhere I check has max of 44lbs/person (not per bag). will they let you buy an extra seat? that is cheaper than paying the fee for going over the limit. Does anyone know if you can do that? Per the other thread - the Magic leaves for the MED 100 days from today

 

[taysmom]

I didn't look at the weight restrictions, but I just booked my flight on Iberia...heathrow to barcelona to Paris (orly) The price was very reasonable. The may 26 thread has some great excursion pointers too. I haven't made my way all the way through...but I might do some cutting and pasting here.
For whoever asked..it looks like the aquarium is at the port, some others on other threads say you can walk to it. So I believe that after check in/lunch on the ship we'll cruise over and check it out. Anyone else interested can come along!
S

 

[jmcdonnell04]

Hi Fellow Medheads -- been awhile since I posted. I think I went into shock over the cost of the excursions and just snapped out of it. I finally purchased the airline ticket for my wife to travel with us. I kept teasing her that she was going with us in theory We had (4) frequent flyer tickets for our party of five. I was finally able to book Air France tickets to match our itinerary and saved $ 500.00. That savings should be able buy two excursions to Rome

We are arriving in Paris on the 13th and then flying from Paris to Barcelona
arriving at noon on Saturday June 16th. We will be staying at Disneyland Paris while we get acclimated to the time change.

Maybe we will be on the same flight with Lisa also coming in from Paris. Can someone confirm that the Disney Transfer is also available from BCN airport right to the port or is the Transfer only available from a Barcelonal Disney Hotel to the port?

 

[taysmom]

When I called to book my transfer, they asked whether I wanted airport to port also (i just asked for ship to bcn). I said no, But the option was there. You do have to book thru your TA in not dcl. Hope that helps. I wouldn't call DCL today to book though, they are booking the summer 08 starting today and I have read on these boards people have been on hold up to an hour.
S

 

[carolmb]

Hi Brenda - I was wondering if you could recommend a car service for transfer from Gatwick to our hotel. We were able to use our DVC points to have 2 rooms for 3 nights at the Royal Garden Hotel. The hotel offers a saloon car transfer from Gatwick for 115 GBP. Is that a good deal? Also, how big is a saloon car? Is it big enough for 4 people and luggage? Thanks again for all of your help for our London stay.

 

[jmcdonnell04]

We've finally had winter like temperatures for 2 weeks in a row. The groundhog did not see his shadow so that means we will have an early Spring. I am rooting for the nearby city of Indianapolis for the SuperBowl tomorrow which ends my 7 months of fantasy football. I will have to revert back to being an attentive father and husband starting Feb 5th.

Will try to research the excursions this weekend. We have trip planned to Disneyworld the week after Easter with a total of (11) McDonnells from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Los Angeles. We are staying in a Grand Villa at Old Key West. Coincidentally, my nephew's high school band will be playing at DisneyWorld at the same time so we will be able to see him perform.

I hope everyone stays safe and warm this weekend.

John

 

[LisaTex]

Good Morning everyone! It's cold here too John - esp. for Austin! 26 this morning! We will be on the air france flight with you guys! Yes, there are transfers from airport directly to port.

Just FYI - from another site - Formal night - first sea day; Semi-formal - 2nd sea day; Second Semi-formal - Villrfranche. That last one is wierd - we're not due back on board until 11:30 PM??

ANyway, just looking for any new info.

Taysmom - did you get you "08 cruise?

Have a nice weekend.