June 27, 2007 Med Cruise Report

[Doingitagain]

Note...we booked everything through Disney, I have been so busy that I had no time to research or even follow up on any of the tips posted on the boards. So, this may not be as informative as some of you may like. And don't expect pictures until perhaps when we get home. I don't want to spend the time uploading them.

Cast: Me, DH, DD18 and DS15.

We booked a prestay with DCL, so we left Saturday for Barcelona. The first leg of our flight took us to Amsterdam. What a wonderful airplane...individual video screens for on demand movies, games and music made the time pass quickly. We only had two hours in Amsterdam, so we went straight to the gate and skipped the World Club. Good thing we did, because they had a security issue. We had gotten our passports stamped and were almost to the screening conveyor belt, and they rushed everyone back out and 50 meters away. They had security and a bomb sniffing dog around for a while, then finally let us start again. By then the lines were very backed up.

The next flight to Barcelona was uneventful and we slept most of the two hours.

We picked up our bags from baggage claim and went outside security. A DCL representative was there to greet us, in addition to a driver who had a sign with our surname. Within minutes the four of us were in a large van and on our way to the hotel. DD and DS are adult size, plus we had seven pieces of luggage and four carryon backpacks...we still had plenty of room. The driver didn't speak much English, but made it known that we were to get in the van and leave the bag hauling to him (fine with us!). He was very professional, even wearing a suit. I know it may have been more expensive to use DCL for transfers, but for ease and low stress it couldn't have been better.

We are staying at the Hilton Diagnol Mar. It is a very nice hotel. We had great service from the bell staff and the reception staff and the housekeeping staff so far. The staff is very nice.

We had originally booked two rooms through DCL because of the three person limit, but I called in a while back and they waitlisted us for a larger room. One came through right away, and we saved a lot of money by canceling the second room. The room is quite large and fits a king size bed, pullout sofa, and rollaway easily. The only snag is that they made up the pullout sofa and when DD sat on it, it collapsed into a "V" with her inside. (OK, Jill and Lorie, you can laugh here ). Probably not comfortable to sleep. I called housekeeping, and they didn't understand English. Hard to explain a bed folding up. So they had reception call back, and they sent maintenance. He couldn't understand at first, so I finally just sat on the pull out sofa and let it fold up...that he understood. He tried fixing it, but said it was broken. He immediately put the couch back together and brought another rollaway. I actually think that fits the room better anyway, and we can still use the sofa at night. Still disappointed that I missed an opportunity to get a photo with DD folded up in the mattress (sorry, Bill, I failed a photography opportunity ).

We went for a walk around the hotel and surrounding area. The outdoor pool area looks wonderful. DD wants to spend some time tanning tomorrow afternoon and DS wants to play a game with the "life size" chess board pieces. The weather is beautiful with a light breeze to keep it cool.

We found the subway closest to the hotel (Hint, cut through Parc Diagnol Mar). We stopped at the mall across the street from the hotel and had a traditional tapas meal. It was very nice. We walked around inside the mall...just like home...chaotic with Subway, Burger King and every kind of ice cream you can imagine.

Now we are settling down to rest since we didn't get much sleep last night and we have some very busy days coming up.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Great start....can't wait to hear more.

 

[lzj21428]

I'm on the ship with you and I'll be following your TR. This way I'll see if I've missed anything.

I've started a blog of this trip. The link is in my siggie, if anyone cares to read.

Leaving tomorrow and I'm soooo excited.

See ya on the ship.

Nina

 

[CarolAnnC]

Nina, I just read your blog thus far and see you will be staying at the Rivoli Ramblas.. Please let me know how you like it. I have booked two nights there prior to our cruise and would like to know how it is.

I thought the location was good for us, right on Las Ramblas - my girls are 21 and 24 so we will all like to be in the center of excitement, lol.

Good luck flying out tomorrow..

 

[CarolAnnC]

Doingit - thanks for posting your report! What excursions will you be taking? I hope you continue posting as we future med cruisers are just eating up all these nice reports. Thanks again!

 

[Jillpie]

Marie! Marie! Marie!!!! You are in Barcelona!!! Can you believe it, one year later??! I miss you guys!! You cannot believe how excited I am that I came upon this post, I go to the trip report forum about once a week, now I'll live here with your updates! I can't wait to send this to Lorie tonight. She is just getting home from her Princess cruise today, do you believe that?!

Your trip over sounds good so far and the description of the bed sinking is hysterical, you're right, would have made for a great picture. Oh, I'd give anything to be there with you all. Who are you going to laugh with in Rockin Bar D this week?? LOL. I hope you have an amazing time and I'll be watching every day. Have a blast!!!! Jill, Don and the boys

 

[Doingitagain]

We are getting ready for our first day of touring. The beds at the hotel are great...all have feather duvets, including the rollaways. DD decided she needs one for college.

Not a great night sleeping for everyone because of jet lag...hopefully it gets better as we adjust.

Very, very quiet. The rooms are off a small hallway and don't open directly to the main hallway. I haven't seen other guests except in the lobby or at the pool.

Jill and Lorie...missing you and your families!

 

[Doingitagain]

Oh, I'd give anything to be there with you all. Who are you going to laugh with in Rockin Bar D this week?? LOL.

I am trying to convince DD to go to pub night now that she is 18. She thinks it will be a bunch of old people like us...

 

[lzj21428]

Nina, I just read your blog thus far and see you will be staying at the Rivoli Ramblas.. Please let me know how you like it. I have booked two nights there prior to our cruise and would like to know how it is.

I thought the location was good for us, right on Las Ramblas - my girls are 21 and 24 so we will all like to be in the center of excitement, lol.

Good luck flying out tomorrow..

Carol, will certainly post about the hotel. I too, chose it for the location. Keeping my fingers crossed it meets my expectations.

 

[UMTerp]

Doingitagain - Thanks for your TR!

Nina - I just read your blog. Thanks for the info! We will be flying out of Dulles on BA/Iberia for our August cruise. I had read that the luggage allowance would be the BA limit of 50 lbs since our tickets were purchased through BA. I would love to know your experience when you get back! Have a wonderful trip everyone!

UMTerp

 

[Doingitagain]

Taking a mid-day break. DD is off sunning at the great pool area.

DD reminded me I forgot to write about this guy on the plane. He had his headphones on and started singing "Hey Jude" quite loudly. We all just looked around and smiled at each other. Now someone just has to refer to "Hey Jude dude" and we smile again.

Our breakfast is included in the DCL room package. It was a very nice, traditional upscale European breakfast (I think it would cost 25 to 30 Euros if we had to purchase it, so check to make sure it is complimentary first). There was fruit, cheese, meats, eggs, bacon, sausage, fried tomatoes, pancakes, waffles, salmon and cream cheese, cereal, all sorts of cereal toppings...too many things to list. And you could order omelets or fried eggs upon request. Everyone should be able to find something they like. DD ate fruit and peanut butter toast, DS had a meat and cheese sandwich! The service was exquisite. DH set a newspaper down by his feet and our server ran over with an extra chair to set at the table and put the newspaper on it (ah, taste of DCL to come...). To top it off, they handed me and DD each a long stemmed red rose when we left!

If you don't have complimentary breakfast, the mall across the street has a lot of restaurants, including Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.

We took a taxi to our first activity...quite interesting driving in Barcelona, I wouldn't want to do it! Motor cycles scoot in and around cars, lots of traffic and fast movements. And four adults in a cab is a bit tight, but we made it. On the way the driver pulled out some paperwork and I could see it started with "Lasik Keratotomy"...and he was looking at it while driving! I checked, he was wearing glasses so it must have been before the surgery (Lasik is the eye correction surgery). And remnants of Hey Jude Dude...the driver was singing with the radio.

We went on the Barcelona Segway tour today (www.bcnglides.com). It was great! The only mishaps were mine...I was a bit unsteady going down a steep hill and another time I hit a hole and tipped...this guy in a wheel chair swerved in front of me and I took the dive rather than hitting him. No big deal, nothing injured. The Segways are actually very safe and stop when anything happens. I am not the most talented person, so don't worry about doing this excursion...it was very fun and I highly recommend it. Edgar spoke very good English and told us bits and pieces of history as we went around different sites. If you want to go inside places and shop, this is not your tour. We are doing that kind of thing later today and all day tomorrow. This was a fun way to "see the sights". Also, less strenuous than those poor folks sweating it out on the Fat Bike Tour which we also considered! (and sorry again, Bill, but no one got a photo of me taking the dive)

Micluver and her family were on the Segway tour with us!

Took a taxi back to the hotel. Traffic was much worse later in the day.

The bell staff was right there to open taxi doors for us.

Reception has been very helpful getting change for us (hard to use large Euro bills and we need tip money). I know Europeans don't expect much for tips, but it is helpful to have 1 Euro coins to hand out here and there.

Our room was neat and clean and cool when we returned!

We checked in at the DCL desk in the lobby, so we are all set to board on Wednesday. We just have to get our Key to the World card Wednesday morning before we get on the bus to the port. They are picking up our luggage early, so we may just walk around the mall for a while or sit at the pool.

But we have another day and a half to see things, so we are going to get going. We will try the Barcelona Bus Tourista (hop on/hop off bus).

 

[lzj21428]

Doingitagain - Thanks for your TR!

Nina - I just read your blog. Thanks for the info! We will be flying out of Dulles on BA/Iberia for our August cruise. I had read that the luggage allowance would be the BA limit of 50 lbs since our tickets were purchased through BA. I would love to know your experience when you get back! Have a wonderful trip everyone!

UMTerp

UMTerp, I think you are correct. I just went to their website and that looks like what it says. What a relief that is. I'm still going to try to keep everything as lite as possible. 7 bags for 5 people isn't too bad, is it?

 

[UMTerp]

7 bags for 5 people isn't too bad, is it?

I think you are doing really well!!!

Have fun!

UMTerp

 

[Jillpie]

Hey Jude Dude, OH that is SO Beth!!! I can just picture it. Your segway tour, Pat would LOVE that. It sounds like a blast Marie. So glad you are enjoying everything and that breakfast sounds delish. Can't wait for more. Haven't heard from Lorie yet, I hope she had a great cruise.

 

[lzj21428]

Doingitagain, I am so enjoying your Barcelona adventures. Sounds like a good time for all. And thanks for taking the time to post your TR.

Nina

 

[Doingitagain]

We just got back to the room and are ready to rest! We went on the Barcelona Bus Turistic. You can get a day pass for 19 Euro, or two days for just four Euro more. We got the two day pass and did part of it late afternoon/evening today. Tomorrow we will do the big route where we will get off and see places (particularly Gaudi). We felt it was just too much for one day, it can get tiring and then it isn't worthwhile anymore.

There is a stop right by the hotel for the green line (they have a green, blue and red line). There is not a lot on the green line, but it is a great way to get to the other lines since you can transfer...no taxi or metro fees. You pay right on the bus. They give you maps and headphones. You can select from a lot of different languages.

We got off on the La Rambla stop and walked it for a while. It is very interesting (and crowded). The human statues are particularly intriguing. And, of course, the obligatory stop at Hard Rock cafe so DD could get her shirt and DS could get his drumsticks (whew, we didn't have musicgirl to help us this time!).

We tried to go to one of the restaurants recommended by someone on DISBOARDS, but it didn't open for another hour. We walked by others, but it appears that waiters from two restaurants were having a huge argument (in Spanish, which we don't understand) so we just left. A rumble by La Rambla? We were tired so we went back to the hotel and had a burger in the bar. Service was wonderful and I had "the best Sangria in Spain" per the bar manager. It was very nice.

Galin, our favorite bell person at the Hilton, gave us guidance on where to get a football (soccer for US people) jersey for DD...we walked over to the mall and back and got the jersey in 15 minutes due to his help! If you stay at the Hilton, watch for him. He is in the lobby afternoon/evenings watching out for people. He speaks English very well, so I think they send him to help us poor Americans. He rescued one poor bell person who didn't understand our English questions.

Still haven't seen any guests on our floor. We did see a housekeeping cart this morning, but that was it!

P.S. DD said to tell everyone that you can get nice beach towels from the lifeguard at the pool. She was in the sun for about an hour, but got very warm. Strong rays!

 

[Jillpie]

Wow Marie, I feel like I'm already taking this trip with you, you don't mind, do you? I was lying on the couch today all bummed out, thinking of how much fun we had last year and now you're doing it again...a real feel sorry for me moment! So I can tag along with your report and I'll have the same fun as you, k??

I cannot, in any way, tell Andrew that you got drumsticks from Hard Rock there, he would DIE. That is his collection too, he gets them from everywhere. Good for Michael!!! It sounds like you did your homework on where to go and how to get there, good job! I hope you're taking tons of pictures for us to see when you get back. Can't wait for the Magic already . Have fun tomorrow with the rest of your touring! Jillpie

 

[RJAYL]

Hi All

We flew in from DLP yesterday the flight was delayed 2.5 hours we checked into the Grand Marina (Rooms are large & modern at the port High end) their is a a airiele cable car stop right in front of hotel (Muy Bueno).

A little after 5 the DCL desk was close all confused should we order room service or go out called concierge for a family friendly restaurant for 6 people with little ones and went to dinner around 7:30 (2 Taxis for 6) we were the only ones in the restaurant no one eats untill 9 we had dinner (it was great it was full when we left) got the kids settled down & went back to HOTEL everyone was in bed by midnight we all had to be up for a tour this morning at 10AM we hired a private guide & van for all day Jose Lugo Pepito toures (I would highly recomend him) we saw all of Barcelona with 4 kids in a day!

it is around 8PM now just had a few drinks & swim so I am using thr free internet access in the lobby!

Looking forward to boarding the Magic! Hope all is well with all Dissers, Hope you have gotten your luggage Buck see you all on the Ship!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Doingitagain...THANKS for your reports !

We are on the Aug 8 Med cruise and can't wait !!! Also, we're staying at the Hilton. How far is the nearest subway ? How much is a taxi to Las Ramblas ?Was the food at the Hard Rock the usual stuff ?

Thanks again, and we'll look out for Galin !! Oh, are there hair dryers at the hotel ?

GINA

 

[Doingitagain]

Doingitagain...THANKS for your reports !

We are on the Aug 8 Med cruise and can't wait !!! Also, we're staying at the Hilton. How far is the nearest subway ? How much is a taxi to Las Ramblas ?Was the food at the Hard Rock the usual stuff ?

Thanks again, and we'll look out for Galin !! Oh, are there hair dryers at the hotel ?

GINA

The subway isn't very far. We found one by cutting through Parc Diagnol Mar, but there is supposed to be one closer. At most ten minutes.

Taxis to Barcelona center were about 9 or 10 Euros depending on traffic. We didn't do it often...four adults in one cab was too tight.

We didn't eat at Hard Rock, just bought the collection items.

There are hair dryers and irons/ironing boards at the hotel. I think there is even a note that says you can contact housekeeping if you need a hair dryer with more power.

I highly recommend the Barcelona Bus Turistic. We used it as transportation to get us to Las Ramblas and other places, using our two day pass. If you use the map and plan (the hotel can give you a map when you check in) you should be able to get to most places and save taxi fare. Metro might be easier too, but DD doesn't like subways and we were unsure of the stops.