June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[silver7]

Wow those temps sound great! Here today it was 90 with 80% humidity

 

[jmcdonnell04]

Checked our reservation on the DCL website and we have been moved from Second seating to Main seating. This makes DW & DMIL very happy. I guess we will be scrambling on those all day excursions that don't arrive back until 5:45 - 6:15. What will DCL do? We like to follow the rules but won't go to dinner so late to interfere with tablemates, servers, etc. I guess it's pizza or hamburgers on those 4 nights.

John

 

[WVMD]

Checked our reservation on the DCL website and we have been moved from Second seating to Main seating. This makes DW & DMIL very happy. I guess we will be scrambling on those all day excursions that don't arrive back until 5:45 - 6:15. What will DCL do? We like to follow the rules but won't go to dinner so late to interfere with tablemates, servers, etc. I guess it's pizza or hamburgers on those 4 nights.

John

Ahhh.... nevermind - you (or they) wanted to be moved to earlier.... I bet your daughter won't be happy as most of the girls have late....

Virgil

 

[booklover]

Checked our reservation on the DCL website and we have been moved from Second seating to Main seating. This makes DW & DMIL very happy. I guess we will be scrambling on those all day excursions that don't arrive back until 5:45 - 6:15. What will DCL do? We like to follow the rules but won't go to dinner so late to interfere with tablemates, servers, etc. I guess it's pizza or hamburgers on those 4 nights.

John

I know one DD that is happy you have moved up.....ours! She and your DD have been IMing like the crazy girls they are!!! See you at early dining.

 

[pillow]

Hey guys. Check this out for something fun in Barcelona . . .

http://www.bcnglides.com/

Jodie

 

[Worktoplay]

Jodie,

That looks like fun. I think Celeste mentioned it in her blog. I wonder if there is any age restrictions, I didn't see it on their website but I'm multi-tasking!! lol Waiting for the credit card companies to pick up the phone so I can use my cards on our trip.

It look like you can do it at 10 in the morning and 5 in the afternoon. We should do the 5:00 - 7:00 tour and that will leave us time to get to the restaurant for dinner on the 15th!

Marie

 

[mickeyteachers]

I am so excited. We are leaving in one week. Actually less than one week. We leave our house on Tuesday for the airport. We are staying overnight at a hotel close to the San Francisco airport. Then on Wednesday we are flying to Barcelona. I can hardly wait.

I just got my travel documents and found out the hotel we are staying at before the cruise was different than the one the travel agent had orginally told us about. She also had the taxi service taking us from the airport to the wrong hotel. Good I checked over everything. She told me not to worry. I should feel really lucky that we are going on this cruise. I then got really upset. But, it is now all fixed. Thank goodness.

 

[taysmom]

You all have been busy today...here's my 2 cents....

Hello,
I'm so glad I found you all! My DD(8) and I will be joining you on the Magic. We would love to join in on all the fun!
Wendy

Welcome...I have a 9 year old...we're a fun group....

Right now I am in passport hell

Lots of pixie dust.... Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you!

Stephanie,

Thanks for finding some excursion trip reports. I believe we are on 3 excursions with you. Happy to see that the Monaco, Monte Carlo, Eze appears to be a good pick. The Florence/Pisa was a hard decision. We gave up seeing statue of David so we could see Pisa but I had no expectations that we could go up the tower -- just a drive-by, take your picture and grab a souvenir and back on the bus on the way back to the Magic. I still thought there would be shopping time especially on Ponte Vechio bridge. My ladies
need their shopping time or they will get cranky.

We have no plans for Palermo so we may tag along on your Frommer's walking tour in the morning. Would like to talk to more about this when we meet.

John

I think I am dumping florence/pisa and just going to do pisa. I've been thinking all day, but it looks like everyone who has done it and posted has been unhappy with that tour. I really don't want to ride a bus all day.

You are more than welcome to tag along. We will definately talk on board!

Hi Wendy and welcome!

Recap of the plans for the Disboarders...

On the 15th, some of the early arrivers are meeting for dinner.

There is the Roy Suite meet hosted by the generous LeiLani on June 16th.

Also on the 16th, some are meeting for lunch aboard ship at 1:30 pm, is it?

During the first sea day there will be an exchange of small mementos/gifts at place TBD...

That's all I got in terms of organized get-togethers. Various groups are doing both Disney and private tours together too.

The Lunch is at approx...1:30. You can show up after that time. I know people will be in lines to get ressies etc... Please let me know your name and party size so I can let the dining room know.

The gift exchange ended on 6/3. Sorry for the confusion. But anyone who isn't participating is welcome to see the crazy things we're exchanging. It will be the 2nd sea day, at 1:30pm place TBD.

I have an idea for those of us doing ports on our own. I'm wondering if we could set up a meeting place the night before each port so that those of us going on our own can meet, compare notes, make plans for travelling with others, etc. I know for Palermo, we were gonna talk at Leilani's party. Do you guys think this would be helpful or not? May be hard to figure out a meeting time cause of excursions, dinner plans, etc. For example, we could say . . . lets meet at 10:00pm the night before in X lounge for just 15 minutes to compare notes for the next day.

Let me know what you guys think.

-Jodie

That sounds great. I'm in!


Alrighty..I can tell things are getting tense now, 1 week to go. Even the principal mentioned me leaving. He usually doesn't notice . Closing up shop here. Can't wait to meet you all.

Cya
Steph

 

[taysmom]

I am so excited. We are leaving in one week. Actually less than one week. We leave our house on Tuesday for the airport. We are staying overnight at a hotel close to the San Francisco airport. Then on Wednesday we are flying to Barcelona. I can hardly wait.

I just got my travel documents and found out the hotel we are staying at before the cruise was different than the one the travel agent had orginally told us about. She also had the taxi service taking us from the airport to the wrong hotel. Good I checked over everything. She told me not to worry. I should feel really lucky that we are going on this cruise. I then got really upset. But, it is now all fixed. Thank goodness.

We'll be at SFO too on wednesday...what times your flight?

Steph

 

[mickeyteachers]

We are flying on Continental to Newark. We are leaving at 8:30 a.m.

 

[also]

Ok, It just clicked about the gift exchange being on the second sea day. The whole time I've been reading this, I was thinking the second day, which is a sea day.
We were thinking that the gifts we are exchanging, could be used on the cruise. I know that I'm being a big pain, but would it be possible to exchange on the first or second day?
Barbara

 

[Worktoplay]

I think LeiLani's meet and greet is on the first sea day...June 17th. Let me know if that's not correct.

I'm fine with exchanging on the first sea day if that's better for everyone. Maybe we should just exchange before or after Leilani's gathering?

Marie

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

sorry, if they were in Houston I was going to offer to go by there for you.

Oh, that is too sweet of you!!! Thanks so much for even offering...how kind!

That was nice of you anyways to offer to go by this place. Could this "meeting of theirs REALLY last to the 17th? Wow, long meeting!

Sue

I also emailed them today and I got an automated response. This is what it said:

Dear Valued Cruise Guests,

I will be out of the office from May 31st through June 16th while I attend our company's Seminar at Sea in the Mediterranean on board the beautiful Celebrity Galaxy. Many of you have expressed an interest in sailing Europe and the Mediterranean next year. I hope to return with valuable information on these amazing ports of call along with recommendations on excursions and resort properties.

My voicemail will be retrieved daily while I am away so if there is an immediate need for me to contact you, please leave a message and someone will return you call within 24 hours. My email will also be checked daily.

We appreciate your business and look forward to assisting each of you with your upcoming cruise vacation or planning your vacation in 2008...it's never too early to plan for next year!

There aren't that many sets of connecting rooms on the second floor - 16 to be exact (yes, I'm weird - I went and counted). Still there was only a 1/16th chance of you getting the same set of rooms. Funny!!

Your travel agent is probably in Europe testing out a cruise or something. Hmmm, think I need to get a job as a travel agent!

-Jodie

How insightful of you...that's just where she is!! And you must like math.

I am so excited. We are leaving in one week. Actually less than one week. We leave our house on Tuesday for the airport. We are staying overnight at a hotel close to the San Francisco airport. Then on Wednesday we are flying to Barcelona. I can hardly wait.

I just got my travel documents and found out the hotel we are staying at before the cruise was different than the one the travel agent had orginally told us about. She also had the taxi service taking us from the airport to the wrong hotel. Good I checked over everything. She told me not to worry. I should feel really lucky that we are going on this cruise. I then got really upset. But, it is now all fixed. Thank goodness.

Glad everything worked out. Good for you for being on top of things!

 

[vtiffany]

See the button to the right of the quote button? It's the multiquote button. Press it for every post you want to quote then hit post reply. All the posts you have quoted will show up. Did that make any sense?

Thanks PJ for the info.

I have an idea for those of us doing ports on our own. I'm wondering if we could set up a meeting place the night before each port so that those of us going on our own can meet, compare notes, make plans for travelling with others, etc. I know for Palermo, we were gonna talk at Leilani's party. Do you guys think this would be helpful or not? May be hard to figure out a meeting time cause of excursions, dinner plans, etc. For example, we could say . . . lets meet at 10:00pm the night before in X lounge for just 15 minutes to compare notes for the next day.

Let me know what you guys think.

-Jodie

Sounds like a great idea to me. Definitely need a meeting place that serves adult beverages.

John

Yes! Comparing notes and drinking!!!!!!

I'm an AF officer, stationed in Belgium, so we won't have the jet-lag problem that most of you will encounter. I know only too well how hard the first couple days can be after an overseas flight. I just wanted to offer a couple of tips for your flights over here:

Pickup some Airborne and start taking it a day prior to boost your immune system.

Try to shift your schedules up a couple hours the week before you come here, so you you don't have as many hours to make up.

Take a sleeping pill or dramameine on the plane and SLEEP on the way over. I know it's tempting to stay up and watch the movie or talk about the trip, but don't do it!! I've found that a sleep mask, neck pillow, and earplugs really help.

Also, if you make your seat assignments online, book an empty seat between each member of your party. The airlines always fill the middle seats in the back of the plane last. You may get lucky and have 2 seats each - or at least enough room for the kids to stretch out. If by chance the plane is full, chances are the person in the middle will be happy to swap for an aisle or window seat so you can sit next to your kids. If not, just tell the kid to say loudly "I think I'm gonna throw up!"

Once you get here take the Airborne for the first couple days to ward off any new bugs in the air.

And of course hand gel, wet wipes, and the travel rolls of toilet paper come in very handy in Europe.

I hope this is helpful.

Wendy

Welcome Wendy and great info!

Marla, Pixie Dust for you

Have a great night everyone. Talk to you all tomorrow.

Vicki

 

[silver7]

I like the first sea day--we can call it PARTY DAY!!

are we wrapping? and I do NOT mean with TP

 

[auntsue1]

The first sea day sounds fine to us! I guess we could wrap... but will have to do that on the ship because of security concerns. I don't know if I can see me wanting to wrap on the ship...unless it's done on the top deck with an umbrella drink. But with my luck one of you all will walk by and snoop!

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

I'm just finishing typing up our itinerary and I was wondering how will we know what restaurant we're meeting in for lunch on the 16th and what time. Thanks!!

 

[taysmom]

First sea day will be fine with me too...cause mine can be used on the ship!

We aren't leaving until 4:30pm on Virgin ....R u going newark to barcelona then or do you have another stop? We're going thru heathrow, then onto barcelona arriving 5:30..it would have been funny to meet in the airport!

If you feel like stopping for dinner in pleasanton let me know...we can meet you down there before and have a pre cruise meet...unless you're driving thru San jose, then it's not really on the way....

So, what time first sea day..we have leilani's meet, should we do it before or after? Give me some feedback...maybe lunch together?

Input please!

Steph

 

[taysmom]

I'm just finishing typing up our itinerary and I was wondering how will we know what restaurant we're meeting in for lunch on the 16th and what time. Thanks!!

Disney won't tell me what restaurant will be open that day, but they guarantee one will be. So, I plan on going to the restaurant first and giving them the count, then getting my ressies done. etc.. we'll meet back at 1:30 or when we're done. I don't know what time people are planning on arriving to the port, but we have to check out at 11am and we are heading straight down. So as long as they let us board around noonish, then 1:30 should be good, but feel free to come whenever. Just remember to wear your shirts to the port so we know who is who....

I just lost my cat sitter..backed out at the last minute, now I have to beg to find a new one!

Steph

 

[pillow]

I vote no for wrapping the gifts (yes, I'm lazy), and Leilani's party is fine by me to exchange.

On the pre-port meeting to compare notes, we can decide when and where at Leilani's party. I suggested 10:00 just because we should all be done with dinner. I doubt we'll be out much later than that since my 7 year old needs her sleep or the next day won't be pleasant!! On our last cruise when she was 5, my DH and I didn't get to go out at night by ourselves at all cause the poor kid was exhausted (which was really fine with us). I'm hoping on the nights before sea days, we can get her to hang out in the kids area a little longer so mom and dad can play. I'm sure my 9 year old will want to stay all night!

DINNER ON THE 15TH - Just a reminder that our reservation is for 16 people (have lost my list, please refresh my memory of who is going) at La Poma Grill restaurant - Hotel Royal, La Rambla 117. See you at 8:00. Here is the link . . .

http://www.hroyal.com/en/restaurante.htm

Jodie