June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[pillow]

Taysmom, which Frommers book do you have? I've been looking for a book with info on our ports, but most of them only have a couple of pages - hate to buy the entire book for just a few pages. I have their Alaska book, and I'm reading it like most people read a novel. I love it!

I just reserved an 8 seater minivan in Marseilles for a private tour. Since there are only 4 of us, I'm wondering if another family of 4 wants to share? My daughter is 7 and my son is 9 (almost 10 and likes to hang out with girls ). I don't really have an itinerary worked out, but I'm thinking that we'll probably stay away from the cathedrals (the kids will probably be churched out by then) and head to some of the small, non-touristy, quaint towns. To make the kids happy (and me too), we'll probably go hang out on a beach for a couple of hours. We have the driver for 8 hours, and the total price is 498 Euros, so if we split the price it would be around $340 US dollars per family. Let me know if anyone is interested.

-Jodie

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Pillow, we might be interested. I've not yet planned anything for Marseille yet. There are three of us. Who have you booked with?

On another note, I should hear back today about downgrading from a cat 10 to a cat 12. If Disney would tell us we'd be guaranteed an upgrade to a balcony room I'd keep what we have but it doesn't make sense to us to pay 2x the price for a cat 10 versus the cat 12.

 

[pillow]

Jeff, here is the website for the company we booked with:

http://www.rendez-vous-provence.com/en/presentation.html

Several people on the cruise critic boards recommended Olivier, the owner, as a guide. He won't guarantee that he'll be our guide - said it might be one of his staff, but I'd be willing to chance it. I went ahead and booked it knowing that I could cancel if I found something better. I've got a few other e-mails out there getting some info. How old are your kids?

I know nothing about Disney's upgrade procedures, but wouldn't it be highly unlikely to get upgraded from a 10 to a 6? Wouldn't they upgrade all the 7, 8, and 9's first? I would say that you probably WOULD get upgraded from cat 12 (there doesn't seem to be many of these rooms) to something - I'm thinking probably still an interior room though. What do you think? We're still on the fence about it, but I'm leaning towards taking the savings and booking the cat 12. -Jodie

 

[wonder]

Has anyone booked anything on their own in Barcelona....we were looking at some private tours.....if anyone has any recommendations please let me know. Thanks

 

[Disney Fans]

So sad My DH was told today that June could be a key time for this project that they are working on. So looks like it is for sure a no go at this point

I am now hoping for maybe July but not even going to look into it until we know more
At least we still have a Hawaii trip planned for late July and Free Dine for late Aug!! So I guess I shouldn't be a sad but still am

I will keep up with you all just incase some fluke comes and the project dates are changed and we end up still having a change to go. But that is most likely wishful thinking but then again that's what Disney is all about!! Wishing for Dreams to come true!!Right

 

[pillow]

Bummer Disney Fans!!! Can't he just quit? HA HA! Thats too bad, but maybe you can work out one of the other cruises.

Leilani and Silver 7 - We've switched from cat 6 to a guaranteed 12, so our stateroom will change. I guess you can delete the 6048, and I'll let you know where we'll be as soon as I find out. BTW, when will I find out? Don't know how that works with a stateroom guarantee. I'm hoping we'll be upgraded.

-Jodie

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Wouldn't it be great if disney said..hey we have all these window/balcony rooms lets move everyone to the outside of the ship instead of having the empty rooms. Doubt it will happen but one could hope.
Steph

I like your thinking!!!

I just reserved an 8 seater minivan in Marseilles for a private tour. Since there are only 4 of us, I'm wondering if another family of 4 wants to share? My daughter is 7 and my son is 9 (almost 10 and likes to hang out with girls ). I don't really have an itinerary worked out, but I'm thinking that we'll probably stay away from the cathedrals (the kids will probably be churched out by then) and head to some of the small, non-touristy, quaint towns. To make the kids happy (and me too), we'll probably go hang out on a beach for a couple of hours. We have the driver for 8 hours, and the total price is 498 Euros, so if we split the price it would be around $340 US dollars per family. Let me know if anyone is interested.

-Jodie

We have one too many people or I would love to do that. I think you made a good decision downgrading. If you want to sit on the balcony you can just go to one of the decks.

 

[taysmom]

Jodie-
The frommers book is Sicily. Just plain old sicily.

I found a website today for bus and ferry schedules to maddalena on sardinia. Unfortunately it was in italian with no "translate me" button. If anyone is looking for stuff to do on their own, I recommend searching by maddalena. I search up and down using olbia and sardinia and nothing...i type maddalena and bamm..the mother lode of web pages.

Lucky for all those downgrading. I already am at the bottom..no where to go but up!

At least you saved the $$ to apply to tours!

Cya
Steph

 

[pillow]

Honey, I'm applying that $$$ to the Alaska cruise I want to take next summer. Woo hoo! (I really should get some help!)

Could you re-book your cat 12 at the new price? There is a HUGE difference between the old and new price for cat 12 - like 3 or $4,000!!

Thanks for the Sardinia tip. Will trying searching that way.

-Jodie

 

[Jeff Spencer]

We confirmed out downgrade today. Yeah, I didn't expect to get that big of an upgrade and a outside room with a port hole wasn't worth $4000 to us. Taysmom, I'd still call and ask about the lower price? What do you have to lose?

Jodie, only my daughter is going on the cruise and she's 17. We have a son who's 19 but he's taking classes during the summer term at Auburn University.

 

[taysmom]

I used points... so I can't save money, but I wanted to pay less to move up!
We'll see I am going to talk to them when we get on the ship.
S

 

[silver7]

Carol--it was nice meeting you!

Wow y'all--I cannot wait till you downgraders post about your upgrades if you get them--it will be interesting to see who ends up where!

DS 14 (yes, the webmaster) went yard at his Pony baseball game last night--about 305 feet! It was his first in Pony and we were really excited for him. We did not sign him up for all stars this year--he will be busy in June

We are hosting the end of the year party for the foreign exchange students next week--that should be fun! The rapid fire German that is spoken by these kids is so cool

We will be dropping the dogs at the doggie spa (if I call it the kennel they will know so I am calling it a SPA ) exactly 6 weeks from today

 

[Worktoplay]

Jeez, if I had known the prices for the lower categories were going to drop I wouldn't have wasted my points for our stateroom. I could have saved $1000 and kept all my points to book the cat 12 cash. I guess there's not point whinning about it! I am in a guaranteed cat 7, maybe the upgrade fairy will do something for us. Not that I really care if my balcony has a porthole or not. I don't think we will be spending too much time in our room on this trip!

Marie

 

[Skallywag]

Be very interesting to see what upgrades there are around. Was laughing about Silver7 taking her dogs to the health spa - my cat and parrot go to my friends' cat hotel where i know they get treated well.

Marie you can have our category 5 with balcony if they upgrade us to cat 3. Wishful thinking but nothing else muich to do until I get cases out of the loft.

About 10 days i think until the Magic is on its way over here hope the weather is kind on the Atlantic.
Bren

 

[Worktoplay]

It would be nice to all get upgraded, but I have to say, we've cruised on Disney twice and on two other lines and we've always had a cabin number and have never been upgraded. I think it might be more likely this time since we have a guaranteed cat bu who knows! I am anxious to find out our cabin number. It will be more official then.

Marie

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

With all this talk of downgrading, I looked on the website and we could save a good deal of cash as well. Over $6000. I just don't know if I want to give up the porthole. I really think I would feel claustrophobic in an inside cabin. Either that or I would never be able to wake up in the morning!

 

[also]

It looks like I am going to try to downgrade also. Too much money not to. We were only in a cat 11 to start with so the cat 12 cabins will be the same. More money for excursions and shopping now.

 

[pillow]

Brian, when did you say the pirate shirts will be available to order again? I want to get some for my kids.

-Jodie

 

[also]

T-shirts will be posted at 6pm on Sunday evening - Get them while they last!
Barbara

 

[auntsue1]

I hope you all are happy with your downgrades. Boy you sure did save a lot of $$$! But, on the other hand if you don't get upgraded you don't feel too cramped with your cat 12. There are nice decks to sit on.

I've already said to my DSIL (Disney Lover Linda) who made the first comment about the price of cat12's, look what you started!