June 5,2010 Relocation Cruise

[karentan]

just emailed another one too
our original plan was to get public transport to the port, but that meant having to drag all our luggage with us. this way would be so much easier.....

FYI, this is the email i sent thought 2-3 bags each would be a good guess!

Hi,
I found your website on google, and got a quote of 95 euros. We do have a large group however, so i was wondering if you could provide me a definitive quote.
There is currently 15 of us (mix of adults and children), who are needing to be picked up from the Novotel Barcelona City (Avenida Diagonal 199) at approximately 9am on the 5th June 2010, and to be dropped off to the cruise terminal (terminal C).
We will have approximately 2-3 bags each.
Could you provide me with a quote for the above, one way transfer.
Thank you for your help and i look forward to hearing from you.
Karen

 

[desparatelydisney]

Actually, that isn't such a bad idea....... We will need to get there early though, got be out of there by 9.30 to see if an upgrade is possible. Others may find that a bit too early for them, but it would be sensible to merge the groups.

Kate

Kate...do you really think we need to be there that early to request an upgrade This is our first Disney cruise so I'm new to that end of things. And if we get there that early, how soon will we be able to board?

Shhhhhhh about the you-know-what spewing!! Since there is not (as of yet) a tunnel between Europe and the US, some of us don't have that back up option!!

I'm hoping the you-know-what will just go ahead and erupt, or explode, or fall into the ocean or whatever it's going to do and get it out of it's system soon before we get over there.

To you UK folks, we are probably taking the train from Dover to London. I just bought a carry-on rolling bag (much to DH's anguish) to carry instead of my back-pack. Is this a bad idea? Am I going to have trouble with it on the train? Please be honest...I would rather take it back now than incur the wrath of a grumpy husband when my bag becomes a pain at the train station. I would rather NOT take the train and hire a car, but all the companies I have emailed are booked If any of you have any advice on a good company to carry us to London instead of the train I would truly appreciate it!

P.S. Will you all think that I am really stupid if I admit to being totally psyched about meeting so many DISers from the UK

 

[YenSid1222]

HA...I love that my little joke is actually a viable idea! Keep us posted. We are fine getting to the port early. I like to get on the ship as soon as possible so I can enjoy lunch and have some time in the afternoon before the fast paced Muster Drill/Sail Away/Change Clothes/WDT Show/Dinner.

 

[karentan]

car hire companies to try over here include enterprise, hertz, national, europcar.
we were trying to figure out the best way to get home after the cruise, and have decided on giving up on the public transport, we've decided on driving both cars down to dover the day before we fly out, leaving one car at the port, and driving back in the other one. for the car park its £85, the train for us to get home (we're about 25 miles out of london) is £65. for us, its totally worth paying the extra £20 plus petrol money for us to not have to drag loads of cases through london.
saying that, trains over here arent THAT bad, i just hate having to drag cases through london.
i think you'll be ok with the roll on case. depending on how much you're going to have in your backpack, it will probably kill your back to carry it all the way through london. then again, if you've already got one case, are you going to be able to drag 2 all the way?
i would probably (for ease of travel) stick with the backpack, as the escalators down to the underground move pretty fast, and not sure if you'll be able to drag 2 cases each down them without risking falling over. safety first

oh, and the terminal opens at 10am, and boarding normally starts at 12-1pm ish. if you want to try to pay for an upgrade, plan to get there early, if there are upgrades available, the earlier you get there, the more options you'll have

 

[desparatelydisney]

car hire companies to try over here include enterprise, hertz, national, europcar.
we were trying to figure out the best way to get home after the cruise, and have decided on giving up on the public transport, we've decided on driving both cars down to dover the day before we fly out, leaving one car at the port, and driving back in the other one. for the car park its £85, the train for us to get home (we're about 25 miles out of london) is £65. for us, its totally worth paying the extra £20 plus petrol money for us to not have to drag loads of cases through london.
saying that, trains over here arent THAT bad, i just hate having to drag cases through london.
i think you'll be ok with the roll on case. depending on how much you're going to have in your backpack, it will probably kill your back to carry it all the way through london. then again, if you've already got one case, are you going to be able to drag 2 all the way?
i would probably (for ease of travel) stick with the backpack, as the escalators down to the underground move pretty fast, and not sure if you'll be able to drag 2 cases each down them without risking falling over. safety first

Thanks for the advice, if I carry the bag, I won't use my backpack at all - just trying to decide which of the 2 to carry. We are staying at the Goring which is only supposed to be a few blocks from Victoria Station. Decisions, decisions....

As for the car company...I meant a car & driver, not just a car...don't relish the idea of driving in London on the wrong side of the road trying to find a hotel

oh, and the terminal opens at 10am, and boarding normally starts at 12-1pm ish. if you want to try to pay for an upgrade, plan to get there early, if there are upgrades available, the earlier you get there, the more options you'll have

Great Considering that (1) DH hates getting anywhere earlier than he has to and (2) he really doesn't care that we have an inside room, it will be interesting to see how much luck I have getting him to the ship 2 hours before boarding. Guess it depends on how much he likes Barcelona

 

[K8T]

Thanks for the advice, if I carry the bag, I won't use my backpack at all - just trying to decide which of the 2 to carry. We are staying at the Goring which is only supposed to be a few blocks from Victoria Station. Decisions, decisions....

As for the car company...I meant a car & driver, not just a car...don't relish the idea of driving in London on the wrong side of the road trying to find a hotel



Great Considering that (1) DH hates getting
anywhere earlier than he has to and (2) he really doesn't care that we have an inside room, it will be interesting to see how much luck I have getting him to the ship 2 hours before boarding. Guess it depends on how much he likes Barcelona

Oh my goodness you are staying at the Goring! It is or at least was, a fabulous hotel. It even has a garden and that is rare in central London.

How wonderful. Not sure I'd turn up there with a backpack though!!

I think you roll along will be fine you can roll it on the escalators and sometimes that is easier than manouvering with a bulky pack on you back. If you use the tube backpacks are a pain for others! Always used to invade my space!

Thanks Karen for looking at transport. I will ask OH when he comes in if he knows of a company in Barcelona just in case. As from one coach operator to another may be a good rate.

I think when we spoke to Disney the said terminal opens at 10am and if you wanted to upgrade to be there early. However if we are draggng everyone off too early then leave us off if the concensus is to go later.

Kate

 

[karentan]

i'm planning on being there at 10am when it opens anyway, i love having boarding group 2!!

one of the companies got back to me, it is 95 euros for all of us.
if people are seriously considering this as a viable option, can you PM me, also can you confirm that it definately is the novotel barcelona city you;re staying at.

 

[karentan]

got our room assignment, 2539!
its a cat 10 on deck 2, was hoping for a window, but wasnt expecting anything more than a cat 11 with the rate i booked, so we're one higher than i thought!

 

[sgawlak]

Greetings from Toronto!

I came across this thread and forum while looking for information on transfers from Port Dover to London.

We are a family of four, two girls (6 and 9 years old), this will be our sixth cruise on the Disney Magic. Our first time cruising the Med.

We will be flying from Toronto to Barcelona on June 3rd and staying one night at Hotel Regina Barcelona in a family room/quad share.

We have also booked the Crowne Plaza Kensington for one night after the cruise in a family room/quad share.

Wondering if anyone has booked either of the hotels?

Thanks for all the great information already posted!

Look forward to meeting you on board....Sinthia

 

[karentan]

hi sinthia! welcome to our meet thread!
i've only been on here since last week (booked a last minute deal) but everyone on here has been very welcoming and friendly!

 

[sinnika]

Just added this cruise as a back to back (we are on the May 26th cruise). DH will be getting off in Barcelona so it will be just me and DS 13 and DD 14. Going to try and catch up on your thread but right now don't plan on making any excursion ressies. Will tour on our own. Have been to Gibraltar and Cadiz twice (years ago when visiting Rota Navy base). Looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

[YenSid1222]

i'm planning on being there at 10am when it opens anyway, i love having boarding group 2!!

one of the companies got back to me, it is 95 euros for all of us.
if people are seriously considering this as a viable option, can you PM me, also can you confirm that it definately is the novotel barcelona city you;re staying at.

Yes, Novotel Barcelona City should be the right place. Just opened a few weeks ago.

I am good with trying to travel to the port together if everyone else is...

 

[milliesmum]

To you UK folks, we are probably taking the train from Dover to London. I just bought a carry-on rolling bag (much to DH's anguish) to carry instead of my back-pack. Is this a bad idea? Am I going to have trouble with it on the train? Please be honest...I would rather take it back now than incur the wrath of a grumpy husband when my bag becomes a pain at the train station. I would rather NOT take the train and hire a car, but all the companies I have emailed are booked If any of you have any advice on a good company to carry us to London instead of the train I would truly appreciate it!

I'm sure you will be fine using the train whichever bag you decide to take - You can get a direct train from Dover to London Victoria (they run really regularly - 5 minutes past the hour and 45 minutes past the hour) and the ticket costs £18.50 per person(I don't know if this is pre-booked tickets only) http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/. So you dont have to cross London on the tube. So I would choose whichever bag you are most comfortable with.

We are getting the train back but will be getting the train to London St Pancras so we wont have to manoever luggage on the tube either. because as much as I love the London Underground I don't want to be using it with luggage

 

[karentan]

same here, i like the underground (gary hates it!) but i really do not want to be using it wth luggage!

i dont mind organising the coach from the novotel to the port if everyone else is definately up for it, just need to know for definate who is up for it. i was thinking of getting it to pick us up about 9.15-9.30 ish, leaves us more than enough time to get to the port in time for those wanting to buy upgrades.

 

[YenSid1222]

GUESS WHAT??!!

I will be home the next 3 weeks!!!

That means we can go back onto the FE list....if you'll have me

Dwight & Mary-Margaret - 7119

Got you on the list!

Welcome back!

 

[karentan]

small world, just found out my old assistant manager (she transferred to another store) is on this cruise too!

 

[milliesmum]

I haven't even thought about the 'you know what', at the worst, we could drive down, we book ferries and eurotunnel all the time through work, so have a company account, which was so needed the last time, as we got priority because they had practically closed the booking system!

If it does all kick off again get in touch, we could put on a coach, collecting everyone on the way! Last time it all happened we had a VIP who needed to get to Spain urgently and we arranged it all last minute. I am pleased to say he made it!


Think positive!

Kate

Can I reserve two of those seats - just in case!!

we are flying from Doncaster Robin Hood airport on Fri 4th this allows 16 hours for us to actually get there I hope that is long enough but you never know with the planes at the moment

 

[karentan]

what hotel are you staying at?

 

[milliesmum]

small world, just found out my old assistant manager (she transferred to another store) is on this cruise too!

Yes, the brits are taking over The Magic
Citizens of the USA be afraid, be very afraid

 

[YenSid1222]

OK....as I try to squeeze in making a good looking excel file between my real work I am supposed to be doing I think this is what we should do:

Cut off for joining the FE List will be Sunday May 23rd **OR** when we reach 20 participants. We are at 18 right now. Since most people have already planned for 20, this should get us all covered...but still lets us have anyone else joins who may show up in the next week or so.

What do you think?

I will then have a nice and pretty list ready by Monday (CDT in the USA for all you folks on the other side of the pond) that I can send to your email if you like. I will make copies to have once we all meet on the ship (or at the Novotel for all the cool kids ) and then we are set to go.

Does everyone agree? Any different suggestions?