June 29, 2011-10 "MAGICAL" nights in the Mediterranean

[kmc33]

Kim- are you thinking about booking the hotel shuttle? I could not find an email address for the hotel.

Suzanne- I called Renaissance some time back and asked about a shuttle from the port to the hotel for after the cruise. Now I didn't call directly to the hotel, I called a toll free number on my reservation confirmation. The person I spoke to said he did not see any information for the hotel about a port shuttle; only an airport/hotel shuttle. I did not pursue it because I thought we were going to do the DCL post cruise tour. In the meantime we cancelled our post cruise reservation and booked at the Fira Palace near the Magic Fountain.

 

[sinnika]

Good Morning! DS and I are off to the gym, then go clothes shopping (for him mostly, I'm just about done). He had a growth spurt and his nice brand new black dress pants that he wore in Feb for a formal dance are no longer fitting! Shopped last night with DH for clothes too as he seems to have done the same!
DH was thinking of bringing his mess dress but its so much extra stuff so we settled on dress shirts, dark pants and ties for the men, and dresses for us. We are cruising DCL out of Galveston over New Years 2013 so we'll go all out then since we can drive to the port!
I'm also going to start packing soon after I pick out and pare down. We did laundry a few times on last years Med cruise - we'll do the same again.
Anyone have any experience with any good restaurants in Barcelona for paella? We went to one last year in the Gothic Quarter - our only true lousy restaurant the whole trip. Don't remember the name. Since we have 4 days total in Barcelona, I really need to plan more things there! At least the good food eats!

 

[keenercam]

On a recent Med trip report, I read a review of a tapas ace that has a restaurant too that looked good. You might want to check the menus and then the reviews on tripadvisor. It is: Sagardi at Argenteria, 62. Barrio Gotico

 

[kmc33]

Due to mechanical issues and bad weather, we missed our connection to Barcelona!

this totally stinks! We are working with DCL to rebook us on the June 29th cruise.

Take us off the FE list, cabin 6552.
have fun!

Bonnie

This is so sad. I invited her to check out our meet thread if she ends up getting rebooked for our cruise.

 

[DorothyDamato]

This is so sad. I invited her to check out our meet thread if she ends up getting rebooked for our cruise.

Wow. I would be so heartbroken! Hope she gets on board 6/29! The more the merrier!

 

[lexandme]

xxxxxx

 

[DorothyDamato]

Those are the ponchos we'll pack to carry in case of rain. I will also bring our jacket in a packet rain coats - we used them on last year's cruise when we knew the forecast was calling for showers. They came in handy. We got them at Old Navy last year. I'll also pack an umbrella. DD may pack one too.
The one thing I bought this year that I used alot in WDW last week was a water bottle holder and a carabiner and hooked it to my purse. Kept my hands free and kept my water pretty cold. Got the holder at Walmart - its super lightweight and made of a fabric. I noticed all the CM's had them too in the parks.

I am so grateful for this chat site - so many good tips. Will go out today and checkout bottle holder - Already have tons of carabiner (laughing - I didnt know what it was - I had to look it up online). Will look for the travel Charmin as well. Whoda thunkit? And the eating before flight? I was planning on doing it anyways because I cant wait that long - but the comparasion between getting no sleep and waiting to eat and eating earlier was great!

 

[sinnika]

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!
DH, DS and I are off to brunch in awhile, then probably a movie marathon (DH loves going to the movies!).
DD is still away at JROTC camp. She just completed a week of leadership camp, and she was selected to be a flight commander for one of the flights for this week's incoming camp. She is over the moon excited! She has one more week there, and now gets to use all those leadership skills! She was also selected to be a marching leader in her HS band starting in the fall. Her first college of choice is the Naval Academy and these leadership roles are crucial. We couldn't be more proud!
I checked out the weather for a few places (Rome and Malta) - looks like mid 80's temps are forecast this coming week. I hear Rome can get pretty humid. It will actually be a break from our 100 degree Houston weather!
One more week till we fly out!

 

[sinnika]

I am so grateful for this chat site - so many good tips. Will go out today and checkout bottle holder - Already have tons of carabiner (laughing - I didnt know what it was - I had to look it up online). Will look for the travel Charmin as well. Whoda thunkit? And the eating before flight? I was planning on doing it anyways because I cant wait that long - but the comparasion between getting no sleep and waiting to eat and eating earlier was great!

I only know the term carabiner because I served a few years of my 12 years in the Navy Reserve with the green side (Marines). I was a Navy nurse in charge of a group of corpmen and marines supporting a surgical support field hospital. All of our annual training exercises were in the field so I got to repel up in the Sierra Nevadas. Oh, the good old days!

 

[scubabonk]

This is so sad. I invited her to check out our meet thread if she ends up getting rebooked for our cruise.

Thanks for inviting me to this thread. It's been a hard weekend! We booked our air through DCL, with Ins. So we are waiting to hear from them on Mon. If everything works out we want to fly in to BCN a day or so early to keep this from happening again.
We had a mechanical issue @ our airport, then severe weather shut down Atlanta, we missed our connection by 40 minutes!
just amazing the turn of events, & lack of availiable flights overseas.
we will wait & see.
I hope to be sailing with you,

Bonnie

 

[princesschantelle]

Hi everyone got back yesterday
The trip was fantastic
The weather was great everyday. I don't have a scanner so sorry can't scan the navigators
If I can answer any questions I will

 

[TPBChick]

Thanks for inviting me to this thread. It's been a hard weekend! We booked our air through DCL, with Ins. So we are waiting to hear from them on Mon. If everything works out we want to fly in to BCN a day or so early to keep this from happening again.
We had a mechanical issue @ our airport, then severe weather shut down Atlanta, we missed our connection by 40 minutes!
just amazing the turn of events, & lack of availiable flights overseas.
we will wait & see.
I hope to be sailing with you,

Bonnie

Welcome Bonnie, I am so sorry to hear about your other cruise. Hopefully, you will now be sailing with us. I just checked my flight from PHL to BCN on Sunday the 26th and there are still seats available. Even an entire row of 4 together.

 

[DCLShel]

Thanks for inviting me to this thread. It's been a hard weekend! We booked our air through DCL, with Ins. So we are waiting to hear from them on Mon. If everything works out we want to fly in to BCN a day or so early to keep this from happening again.
We had a mechanical issue @ our airport, then severe weather shut down Atlanta, we missed our connection by 40 minutes!
just amazing the turn of events, & lack of availiable flights overseas.
we will wait & see.
I hope to be sailing with you,

Bonnie

Hi Bonnie-

Welcome to our thread - I hope you get on our cruise!!

What a tough weekend ! I can't imagine the stress you went through. I'm glad you had insurance.

Let us know when you find out if you get to sail on the 29th~

Shelly

 

[DCLShel]

I am going to toss in some ponchos. They have Disney written on them, so I'm sure it'll scream tourist. I doubt we'll use them, but better than bringing rain coats! I'll toss in an umbrella as well. If it is really bad, we'll just buy a couple more umbrellas. I think I bought one for $5 in NYC, so I might bring that one as it is "disposable".

Not sure if it was this thread or on the main board, but I read to bring toilet paper. I'm just bringing packets of tissues.

I bought some ponchos at the dollar store. Throwing them in - just in case! Also packing umbrellas.

We bought two rolls of the travel charmin found in the travel aisle and we always bring the individually wrapped cottonelle flushable wipes just in case a stall doesn't have toilet paper, we bring these anywhere we travel. They are great for cleaning a spot on a shirt, wiping down a table, etc

Also got two rolls of travel Charmin. DH looked at me and said "why do you need those?" Then I explained that some potties don't have tissue!

Just an FYI, the manatory boat drill is at 4pm. The sailaway party (Adventures Away) follows that at 4:30pm according to the Navigators.
Also, that night for adults is Match your Mate in Rockin Bar D at 10:30pm -11:15pm. Lots of fun!
We are planning to walk to the train station in La Spezia unless its raining. I think the train leaves around 10am (there is an 8am train but we won't be able to make that ). We are just planning to buy tickets to Monterosso and then take the ferry back if the weather cooperates. We would like to visit Portoverne as we have visited most of the towns in Cinque Terre last year (Manarola was our favorite!) Train only tickets can be purchased in the machines (have euro coins handy). If you want to buy the Cinque Terre train card, those need to be purchased at the station in the office facing the train platform. The lines can get long so allow for that. Someone posted a 40 min wait time to purchase their tickets. I remember a wait last year too and just making the train. You can also just buy a train ticket in the machine, then just get the Cinque Terre card at the first town train station. (that card is the trails only). Cost may not be much more.

Sooooo - are we doing the "meets" at a different time? Or try to designate a place on Deck 9 or 10 during the Sailaway party? Suggestions?!!

 

[sinnika]

Also got two rolls of travel Charmin. DH looked at me and said "why do you need those?" Then I explained that some potties don't have tissue!

Ok, like you don't have enough stuff to pack, but if you or your children cannot "hover" over a toilet, you may encounter some toilets with no seats, just the bowl. We've even used ones with just the open hole in the ground and you place your feet to each side, well you get the idea. So if sitting is essential, toilet seat covers (though there may not be a seat), may come in handy.

Sooooo - are we doing the "meets" at a different time? Or try to designate a place on Deck 9 or 10 during the Sailaway party? Suggestions?!!

I would suggest Deck 3 Promenade lounge around 3pm. That always seems to work on past cruises. But I'm just there to meet, not doing FE's.

 

[kmc33]

Thanks for inviting me to this thread. It's been a hard weekend! We booked our air through DCL, with Ins. So we are waiting to hear from them on Mon. If everything works out we want to fly in to BCN a day or so early to keep this from happening again.
We had a mechanical issue @ our airport, then severe weather shut down Atlanta, we missed our connection by 40 minutes!
just amazing the turn of events, & lack of availiable flights overseas.
we will wait & see.
I hope to be sailing with you,

Bonnie

Hi Bonnie, Glad that you found us. My heart goes out to you; I imagine it was an incredibly stressful time for you. I hope you are able to get onto our cruise! Let us know what happens.
Hang in there!

 

[keenercam]

Bonnie - I hope that by now, your plans are coming together and that your family will be joining us.

 

[scubabonk]

Thanks so much everyone, your well wishes did the trick and we are booked for the June 29th cruise!!!!

we are very excited, this time we are flying into Barcelona, arriving on June 27th, No air snafu's this time!

I am sure it is closed, but I don't supose we could get in on the FE exchange, I have 20 baggies of goodies to give away!

I would like to be in on the greet as well, just need the time and place.

We will have a GTY inside stateroom, hoping for something better at the port, we will see.

Looking forward to meeting you all,

Bonnie

 

[MissReeRee]

YAY!! My FE stuff came in the mail today! So excited, I was getting nervous that it wasn't going to get here... now just waiting for my new fish extender that I ordered off of ebay! I made ours last year but I figured that I should be optimistic that this won't be our last Disney cruise.
You guys better LOVE what I had made, I am kinda in love with them myself!

Also I picked up some of those double wall insulated tumblers (like the cold drinks ones at Starbucks) and stuck initials on them for our family. I HATE the tiny little cups at the drink station!

Already have one suitcase packed with all of our dinner clothes and most of the kids daytime clothes, I am SO ready to get on the ship its not even funny!!

scubabonk, I am so glad you were able to rebook! Was your insurance through disney? I'm glad they were able to get you on the next cruise and thank goodness you guys were able to be flexible to do so!

 

[MissReeRee]

Thanks so much everyone, your well wishes did the trick and we are booked for the June 29th cruise!!!!

we are very excited, this time we are flying into Barcelona, arriving on June 27th, No air snafu's this time!

I am sure it is closed, but I don't supose we could get in on the FE exchange, I have 20 baggies of goodies to give away!

I would like to be in on the greet as well, just need the time and place.

We will have a GTY inside stateroom, hoping for something better at the port, we will see.

Looking forward to meeting you all,

Bonnie

I'm not in charge of the FE exchange but I will probably have a couple of leftovers from my handouts for you guys.