June 8, 2011 – Mediterranean

[mlm71]

Another perk of traveling with the Honey & Papa (aka the grandparents)
I booked their tickets 40 minutes before ours so we can take turns. I'm sure Maisie will be disappointed that she can't climb the tower but a nice gelato may make it up to her.

I'm I the only one going crazy with all of these trip plans? I have about 100 confirmation numbers between flights, hotels, tours... Any organizational ideas? Right now my confirmation emails are all shoved in a folder. Hopefully I don't loose it. Maybe I should make copies.

Is anyone taking their laptop? I'd like to take mine for several reasons: The trip info is all stored on it, Maisie can watch movies on the plane, I like to download and edit vacation photos daily, I want to update my blog, I'll have to check in with work on occasion and I don't want to use my phone to do that.... DH is afraid it will get lost or stolen (we are going to be in Madrid & Paris before arriving in Barcelona). Any thoughts? A friend suggested a USB lock.

We are leaving a copy of all of our confirmations, itinerary, passports, travel info, etc. with my parents here at home. That way, if our documents do get lost, the info is just a phone call away.
I also heard that you should carry another copy of your passport with you, so that you'd have at least that handy in the event your passport got lost.

We are taking our laptop (a small notebook version) as it too will have all of our confirmations, we can watch movies on the plane, and we will upload vacation photos daily. We'll keep the laptop locked in the safe onboard, but we'll have it when we need it. I am even bringing a small thumb drive to back up the photos. Crazy I know, but I don't want to lose my photos/info and carrying a small laptop and thumbdrive is an easy and small price to pay. Last year while on vacation on a fun pirate excursion out on the ocean, we helplessly watched as a lady dropped her digital camera from the top of the boat onto the deck below, it then slid right off the boat through the bottom space in the deck rail into the ocean with all 10 days of their family vacation photos never to be seen again. It was tragic!

 

[mlm71]

I changed my money already at the bank. I don't want to have to try to find an ATM and I really don't want to use one in Barcelona before we get on board. I suppose we could have tried to find an ATM at the airport but I always feel better with some cash in my pocket when in a foreign land. Remember, you need some money for the cab at least.

Gotta remember to bring some U.S. dollars with me too just in case we use Room Service.

I've heard that the best rate of exchange is at the airport. Not sure how accurate that is, I just know it beat our own bank's exchange rate, so we'll be exchanging our money at our airport before we leave. If anyone has any other suggestions (besides the ATM), please feel free to share.

I am also going to use the suggestion I got on this site before our last cruise about using the $2 bills and the gold $1 coins as tips. On our last cruise, they loved them.

 

[Pengwend]

Ok, so we have finally booked! Our stateroom is 6646. We are totally down for the FE! We did it last time and it was so much fun leaving gifties for everyone. I will have about a week between our wedding in Disney and our at home reception, so I am thinking I will be able to get the FE gifts done then (that way we can accommodate any last minute sign-ups, because we were last minute on our first cruise!) I plan to start them before the wedding, but I only have a week and a half before we leave for Disney and an incredible amount of wedding related craft projects have not yet even begun!

Also, does anyone know if it is ok for me to travel with my current passport and Driver's License? I will technically have changed my name with at the wedding right?

 

[mlm71]

Is the FE deadline up now? I'd like to start shopping! My room number is 5013 to update but I assume peoples room numbers will change if they get an upgrade, do we just walk the ship looking for the fish extenders?!

Everyone should supply their room number prior to the cruise. If there is a change you can give the new room number at the cruise meet or leave it in the other participants' FE.[/QUOTE]

Our room number for now is 1066, but I am going to try to get an upgrade at the port. I will know for sure at the DIS meet, so hopefully everyone who is doing the FE exchange will be there and I can let you all know for sure. We've been on the 1st floor before and it was nice, I was just hoping for a verandah, so I may pay to upgrade.

 

[mlm71]

Ok, so we have finally booked! Our stateroom is 6646. We are totally down for the FE! We did it last time and it was so much fun leaving gifties for everyone. I will have about a week between our wedding in Disney and our at home reception, so I am thinking I will be able to get the FE gifts done then (that way we can accommodate any last minute sign-ups, because we were last minute on our first cruise!) I plan to start them before the wedding, but I only have a week and a half before we leave for Disney and an incredible amount of wedding related craft projects have not yet even begun!

Also, does anyone know if it is ok for me to travel with my current passport and Driver's License? I will technically have changed my name with at the wedding right?

Glad everything is working out so magically for you! Can't wait to hear about your wedding! ENJOY!

 

[Pengwend]

Hiya sorry I havne't worked out how to do the proper quoting thing yet! Hope you manage to get the finances pulled together in time to book what you want. I thought we booked late, but we must have been signed up for, oooh, a couple of weeks now

I am trying to remember how long the transfer took last time. Its a bit of a blur as I haven't had more than a couple of hours continuous sleep for over 4 years now thanks to the kiddies, I'm a bit vague about most things! It wasn't long, maybe half an hour? Just checked an old Passporter and it says 40 mins. When we went last time we booked last minute too and didn't dare get an early flight so ended up with a late one which was then delayed and it made for a long tiring day with a baby. But I'm not experienced enough at travel to know if you could make that early flight. I'm guessing Disney will let you off early if you need though.

When we went to the Med last time there was a monumental mess with the boat docking and boarding so I am just hoping what you heard about 10.30 is right! Last time we literally climbed on board, grabbed the life jackets and headed to the drill. Not a relaxing start at all. From what I remember about the port itself there was next to nothing, maybe a small newsagent or too get essential drinks etc. For some reason they checked us in past this into the main hall where there was nothing to do and we stood there for a few hours!

Hopefully this trip will be smoother Though we are cursed. When sailing from Dover last year (maybe 30/40 mins drive from our home) we left our car at the port and got back to find the battery drained and the imobiliser scrambled as the boat radar signals or something had been setting the alarm over the week it had been there you've got to laugh!
Kit

Yikes, that's too bad about your car! Thank you for the good info though. I think we are going to take a red-eye from here (DC) to Barcelona and hope that my dad can upgrade us to business or first so sleeping is more comfortable. On the way home, I think we will just spend a night in Barcelona rather than try to rush off the ship and such. That way it'll be a little more relaxing our last few hours on the ship.

Getting a taxi is really really easy outside the airport, we did it last year and they speak good english.

With regard to water, we just plan to buy a few every day when we are in the ports and take a few spares back for the room. There is a bottled water package available from DCL, so you could check out the price.

Oh the package idea is a good one! Do you know if we buy food/drinks in Barcelona (at the airport or something) if we are allowed to bring those on board? Also, when we traveled from Orlando, they picked up our checked baggage for us at the airport. Will they do the same in Barcelona?

 

[mlm71]

ROLL CALL/FE/DINING SCHED/LINK:

Chris44..... Chris, Dmom, DD (13) LATE SEATING
Nvcruiser #7535..... 4AD Jenny,Harriett,Marsha and Kristie FE LATE SEATING
Pxlbarrel..... 4AD LATE SEATING
Zoom#2141..... 2AD Cielo,Ed, 1CH Josh(11) LATE SEATING
Ssisk@remax.net......2AD Sharon, Kevin, 1CH Dawson (11) LATE SEATING
Amyren..... 4AD, DD Amy,Jason,Masie(3 1/2), David and Jane EARLY SEATING
Ebony..... 2AD
Mehaul..... 2AD, 2DD (7,10) FE
The Nichoson's..... 2AD, DS (13)
Jedipup..... 2AD, DS(5)
Mickymania..... 2AD, Wendy LATE SEATING
Jeffport..... 5AD, 3 DS (16,11,4) 2 DD(14,3)
Coach P.....7AD, Karl,Laurel,Marvin,Judy.... LATE SEATING
When I grow up..... 2AD, DGS(11)
RoseW..... 1AD Rose, 2GDs Shelby(16), Andrea (13) LATE SEATING
Goofy4u..... 2AD Alma DD (14) LATE SEATING
StephenKay/Tod&Copper..... 2AD, DD(16) LATE SEATING
Jenna111..... 6AD, 2DD (7 1/2, 5)
Tbower54..... 2AD, 2DS (7 1/2, 3)
Janey2000#5013..... 2AD Jane, Jack , DD Georgia (3) FE EARLY SEATING
Mlm71...... 2 AD, Michelle, Robert FE LATE SEATING
Scottferre.......2AD, 2DD (18,16)
Evilaimes..........2AD
Superstar94........2AD 1DD(16)
Kittb........2AD 1DD 1DS (18 mons., 4)
Pengwend........2AD Gwen & Todd
PrincessChantelle........2AD 1DD
Colezoo.....??
Annekevdbroek..... ???

Please let me know if i missed anyone, and if you want me to add your names. Also, to those who are interested of joining FE and linking reservation for dining, let me know so i can add to the list. Thanks!

CRUISE DIS MEET AT 3PM PROMENADE LOUNGE DECK 3 ON EMBARKATION DAY????

FISH EXTENDER: So far only NVCruiser,Mehaul,Janey2000 & mlm71 are on the list. Also for those who are interested on doing the stateroom magnet swap, give me your room nos. so I can add them to the list.

Anyone interested of linking reservation for dining purposes? Mary's (Tod&Copper) TA will do the linking just PM her your reservation no.

Anything else that you guys want me to add on this list?


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Room 1066 for now. If I do succeed in an upgrade, I will let everyone on the FE exchange know at the DIS meet.

Can't wait!!!

 

[janey2000]

Also, does anyone know if it is ok for me to travel with my current passport and Driver's License? I will technically have changed my name with at the wedding right?

You have to have your cruise and flights booked in the name on your passport. You wont have time to have it changed before you go so will be travelling in your maiden name - like me!

 

[Zoom]

YOu can get things called Kensington locks - all laptops (as far as I know) have a tiny little purpose built slot and the lock goes in there, you set the combination, then wrap the cable round a desk or something that can't be moved.

Our tickets arrived yesterday - I beeped the horn at the annoying fedex van parked over the end of my drive so I couldn't get out, blocking the road then he handed over the tickets so I had to forgive him lol.

I think we'd definitely do the magnet swap. And almost definitely the fish extender swap too thanks.

We have still plans whatso ever with regard to the ports. DH is working stupid hours for no over time :-( so we barely see each other at the moment. But we will certainly need this break when it comes!

Kit

Hi Kit,

Should I add your name to the Fish Extender list?

 

[Zoom]

updated roll call list/fe, post#595

 

[Tod&Copper]

Oh the package idea is a good one! Do you know if we buy food/drinks in Barcelona (at the airport or something) if we are allowed to bring those on board? Also, when we traveled from Orlando, they picked up our checked baggage for us at the airport. Will they do the same in Barcelona?

You can take food and drink onboard no problem at all, but alcohol must be in your hand luggage and there isn't any restriction how much you take on

 

[kittb]

Hi Kit,

Should I add your name to the Fish Extender list?

Yes please sorry to be so indecisive. I spent this morning trying to come up with gift ideas I'll get back to you with the room number ASAP.

Kit

 

[mehaul]

Hi Kit,

Should I add your name to the Fish Extender list?

Our room # is 8512

 

[mehaul]

I've heard that the best rate of exchange is at the airport. Not sure how accurate that is, I just know it beat our own bank's exchange rate, so we'll be exchanging our money at our airport before we leave. If anyone has any other suggestions (besides the ATM), please feel free to share.

I am also going to use the suggestion I got on this site before our last cruise about using the $2 bills and the gold $1 coins as tips. On our last cruise, they loved them.

I don't think the location of the ATM effects the exchange rate. The bank that owns the ATM may have an influence on the rate. ATM's are your best bet for getting cash. It doesn't hurt to get a few Euros at your local bank before you leave the States, but your exchange rate will be pretty poor.

 

[nvcruiser]

I was told the guest services on the ship will trade your cash for euros.... that's what we were planning to do...

 

[mickymania]

I was told the guest services on the ship will trade your cash for euros.... that's what we were planning to do...

It seems that there is a limit to the number of euros you are allowed to get. Does anyone know if that is true?

 

[Tod&Copper]

I was told the guest services on the ship will trade your cash for euros.... that's what we were planning to do...

I remember being at the desk the same time as a lady doing an exchange for euros at the guest services desk. She was a bit shocked that the exchange rate wasn't very good being offered by Disney, but felt she had no choice as she hadn't got any before the cruise.

 

[kittb]

our room number is #2132

Thanks!

 

[nvcruiser]

I remember being at the desk the same time as a lady doing an exchange for euros at the guest services desk. She was a bit shocked that the exchange rate wasn't very good being offered by Disney, but felt she had no choice as she hadn't got any before the cruise.

Well dang, now I'm worried! They told me that they would exchange at whatever the current exchange rate was and I was under the impression that as long as I had cash, they would exchange for euros... I'm not sure what to do now

 

[Joan1]

Well dang, now I'm worried! They told me that they would exchange at whatever the current exchange rate was and I was under the impression that as long as I had cash, they would exchange for euros... I'm not sure what to do now

You an also try to get euros from an ATM at the airport when you arrive
ATM's will give you the best exchange rate