June 27, 2007 10 Night - The Rodney Dangerfield of Med Cruises

[Funfoody]

I'm doing disney air, too. We can't fly a day early-and it's the best way to be sure we'll manage if our flight/connections are late.

It's the first time we're doing Disney Air- we've always flew down to Florida on our own. So I'm a bit nervous about what they will arrange for us, especially that we'll have seats together, and a minimum of connections. (We're flying out of JFK-it should be straightforward.)

But I'm also tremendously excited that the excursions will be announced soon. I've been watching the disney cruiseline special on the travel channel, and the Sara Brown Europe series, and getting psyched up.

 

[RJAYL]

OK I am almost done!

1. The Cruise is paid for!


2. I have my Air France Certificates for buy 1 get 1 free airfare will be booking Tuesday!

3. Have settled on 6/19 flying to Paris & DLP

On a side note, canceled ny RCCL Liberty cruise for Presidents week 08 for Disney Magic same Week! Who's with me!

 

[RJAYL]

Okay for anyone who cares I purchased my airfare on Air France Non-stop Boston to Paris (Go See DLP )

Returning Barcelona to Boston Stoping in Paris! Used Amex certificate for free companion ticket! Total cost $775 per person!

Now I only have to book Paris to Barcelona, Probaly through Iberia & ORY!

 

[BigBlueMan]

Used Amex certificate for free companion ticket! Total cost $775 per person!

What's the particulars on the certificate? How many AMEX points does it run?

 

[RJAYL]

I just got off ther phone with Air France & American Express!

Air France has canceled my transactions!

They will not book past June 30th of 2007 they are waiting for the contract with Amex to be renewed!

Amex refunded my points back onto my account! 45000 per ticket!

Amex behaved like profesionals (Disney Like in Customer Service!) Air France was not so nice!

I am now back in a holding pattern Amex said that they should have a new deal in place by the first week in January. I will still be checking other prices & keep everyone advised!

I think however that I will book seperate flight from Paris to Barcelona out of ORY (Seem to get better pricing from that airport, maybe because of discount airlines!)

Might have to book round trip & throw away the return portion to get the pest price!

 

[BigBlueMan]

I just got off ther phone with Air France & American Express!

Air France has canceled my transactions!

Does this mean we have to go back to calling them "freedom fries"?

Sorry, not making fun of your dilemna. I'm still at a loss on what I'm going to do with the flights over. I still think I'll end up getting a Nashville to Barcelona, then Paris to Nashville flight on one ticket, with a Barcelona to Paris trip bought separately.

I hadn't thought about Orly though. I'll check that out immediately.

 

[RJAYL]

Does this mean we have to go back to calling them "freedom fries"? .

Its the call center in Montreal that gave me the wrong information then booked the flight! However being of equal opportunity the call center in Florida pointed out their error & told me that my tickets were invalid!

Sorry, not making fun of your dilemna. I'm still at a loss on what I'm going to do with the flights over. I still think I'll end up getting a Nashville to Barcelona, then Paris to Nashville flight on one ticket, with a Barcelona to Paris trip bought separately..

Yeah I am pretty much the same thing in reverse from Boston.
Currently flying through London is $300 cheaper then Paris & you could take the eurochunnel train from DLP to London or vica versa for $59 per person.

I hadn't thought about Orly though. I'll check that out immediately.

Yeah I figured that out when I included airports within 80 miles!
It is funny Iberia Airlines pricing is better on Orbitz Then Kayak!

Also be sure to check round trip pricing with the first leg the actual flight you want to take as it is usually cheaper then one way & you can throw away the return portion!

 

[mmcelwee]

This will be our second Disney Cruise (4-Days July06). We're looking at going to DLP for a few days pre-cruise. We're new to all of the overseas travel. Any suggestions?

 

[BigBlueMan]

This will be our second Disney Cruise (4-Days July06). We're looking at going to DLP for a few days pre-cruise. We're new to all of the overseas travel. Any suggestions?

Welcome aboard! We have quite the little group here, and I expect activity in this thread to really pick up in the next few months.
We're doing Paris POST-cruise, staying at Disneyland Paris for a couple of days afterward, so I'm not much help there.
The ONLY rule of thumb I'm going by is to get to Barcelona a couple of days early. We were on the Eastern Caribbean this past September, and flew in that morning. Our flight was four hours late. If we can be four hours late on a Nashville to Orlando flight, I shudder to think what could happen on the way to Barcelona.
Hang around this bunch though, and I think you'll get LOTS of tips on not only the DLP stay, but overseas travel in general.
There's also a general thread for the Disney Med cruises which is pretty active. Most of us are still studying the airfare at this point.
ed
PS.. Where oh where.... has my soccermom goneeeeeee.... oh where.... oh where can she beeeeeeeee....

 

[RJAYL]

Just changed my Barcelona check in to 6/25 @ the Grand Marina with DCL!
No news on excursions or DLP!

 

[golfinwidow]

Just FYI, the port information is up at DisneyCruise.com now. ^-^

 

[mickeymad]

Hi Rayjl,

We were interested in the Grand Marina in Barcelona prior to the cruise. We are arrive 6/23 LA to London and then to Barcelona. We are doing the same back with a two day stop in London.

How much, may I ask, is DCL charging for rooms at Grand Marina? Does it include airport or port transfers? THAT might be worth it?

Thanks!

 

[Doingitagain]

I just posted this on the All Sailings thread also.

I just got off the phone with DCL:

1. When I called in months ago to book a hotel prestay, they made us get 2 rooms for a family of four and said they didn't have suites available. I checked again a few days ago, and they said they could waitlist for a larger room. Today, I noticed my "balance due" dropped $660 and I called and found out that we cleared the wait list and have one room for four rather than two rooms. The web site says the room has a maximum occupancy of three, so they probably will bring in a rollaway. I think that if you have a baby as a fifth person, you could also get just one larger room like this.

2. The CM said they are starting to clear airfare also. She said they will likely be chartering full planes from JFK and Florida.

3. She said a vacation planning book (with excursions) should come to us about 135 days before our cruise date.

 

[RJAYL]

Hi Rayjl,

We were interested in the Grand Marina in Barcelona prior to the cruise. We are arrive 6/23 LA to London and then to Barcelona. We are doing the same back with a two day stop in London.

How much, may I ask, is DCL charging for rooms at Grand Marina? Does it include airport or port transfers? THAT might be worth it?

Thanks!

We are paying $990 a day for 2 rooms (party of 6), with the way the Dollar is dropping against the Euro it works out better than before!

As 495 Dollar's equals about 260 Euro's!

Also as of yet you cannot book at the Grand Marina for our travel dates. When dates become available I will see if it pays to books seperately & cancel with DLP.

On another note my TA called to see if I wanted to book DLP! there package only includes the Newport Bay $872 for adults & $162 for children or the NewYork Hotel $981 for adults & $162 for children!

This package is for 4 days prior to the cruise 6/23 to 6/27 only! Price includes park passes,not a bad price!
I want the Disneyland Hotel between 6/19 & 6/25 so I am out as there is no flexibility!

 

[Funfoody]

<2. The CM said they are starting to clear airfare also. She said they will <likely be chartering full planes from JFK and Florida


Does that mean that they will have non-stop flights from JFK? That would be so great for us! We're taking Disney Air from JFK.

 

[TDC Nala]

wondered where the thread was since I have been checking out the shore excursions.

 

[RJAYL]

I just booked the Castle Club for the 20th to the 25th at the DisneyLand Hotel Ouch!

Airline tickets are next, AMEX discontinued its buy 1 get 1 free with Air France I will check their frequent flyer program next!

 

[Honu13]

My icky boss is not changing his mind! DS and I are headed to WDW in February. In the meantime, I am busing stalking all Med Threads...green with envy.

Looks like we will be doing a Med on RC in October when I can get 9 days off (including the weekends!) I will be with you in spirit, tears and rum!

Happy planning...

 

[RJAYL]

My icky boss is not changing his mind! DS and I are headed to WDW in February. In the meantime, I am busing stalking all Med Threads...green with envy.

Hey Jennifer

I will be at WDW for a few days in February as well from the 13th to the 16th then we are off to Universal

To bad about the Cruise, but I am sure that you will have a great time in the fall, probaly for less money

 

[Honu13]

Hey Jennifer

I will be at WDW for a few days in February as well from the 13th to the 16th then we are off to Universal

To bad about the Cruise, but I am sure that you will have a great time in the fall, probaly for less money

FAR less money...but none of the "Magic". I'm just glad I don't have to see her or hear that beautiful whistle...I would cry!