May 12, 2007 -- Taking the Magic to the Mediterranean -- 14 day Repo Cruise! Part 2

[misseulalie]

Does anyone have a count of how many kids are sailing with us and the rooms?

Plus, do any of the kids have allergies or diabetic?

I was going to stop at Target after Easter and load up on goodies for the kids. Maybe make treat bags for each child.

Does anyone have an offense if any candy or items are Easter or "spring" related. Basically bunnies and eggs, etc...
I will try and get non-Easter items, but the candy is going to be so cheap, I don't want to pass up a good bargin!

If anyone is putting together a list of "gifts for kids", let me know!
Thanks!

Jen

 

[milestogo]

"Oh, haven't you heard? The new Casteaway club gift is a long tube that attaches to the ice cream machine and reaches to the lounge chair of your choice! No getting up! The pricier rooms also get a smaller tube for toppings. I heard category one gets sprinkles, too!"


That is hilarious!! I totally have a picture of Eric sitting with the Blue Man Group type tube in his mouth!!!

Is anyone going to see La Nouba while at WDW? If you are curious... it is well worth the money.

 

[disneycruising]

Just remember how much money they are still making on their kickbacks for excursions booked through Disney, the bar, 6 days at sea playing bingo and all the merchandise we will be buying since we can shop non-stop 6 days in a row.

They aren't losing any money. Even if they get more people to book to fill the ship they will make up for it once they are on!

So true!

All the money that we are saving has gone right back to disney anyway: shore excursions for 6 people (which we normally don't do), photos, drink of the day, shopping, bingo...

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Linda, sadly, I think I'd like both gifts, regardless of color. The chair and the ice cream conveyer (I've named it!).


Not to bring up religion or all that represents--cuz I already like everyone here and don't want to cause problems--but is anyone here LDS? Just curious. It was the SLC comment that sparked curiousity. Now don't kill the cat, please!

 

[disneycruising]

Oh, that's good, cuz I heard it was a pool chair that you get to keep and you take from your stateroom to the pool. It has your name and stateroom number on it. And the best thing about the chairs is they are color coded to match the category you are staying in just like the DCL stateroom map.

Very funny!

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

I think I found my answer about the kids farewell. It was held on the 13th day gor the Eastbound PC cruise, freeing up the last night. I like that better and hopefully that will be the same.

 

[AuntyBrat]

I just got off the phone with my Costco TA. He was checking on the latest $200 drop for a Cat 12 GTY.

After talking to Disney he said this was the deal. He said Disney could not give him a price because Accounting/inventory control was in a meeting and making multiple pricing reductions to many cabins and that he was instructed to call back after 3 pm when they would have the list published.

He said we would qualify for the reduction and we would keep our Palo reservations, excursions and assigned rooms.

He will call me later today with the details after he has confirmed everything.

I got the distinct impression the reductions were not exclusive to cat 12 GTY this time and maybe, just maybe, higher categories will get a break too. Only seems fair to me.

Then again maybe this is all a false alarm.

We shall see.

----------------------

If some one is contemplating joining this cruise and the book through Costco and the $200 discount is accurate then the final price for 4 persons would be

2135.44 - $200 Costco cash card = $1,935.44

and a single in a cabin (approximate)

1390.86 - $200 Costco Cash Card = $1,190.86

For the cost of a room at All Star Resorts..... This has to be the bargain of the century and the final reduction may be more than $200.

Well if they drop the prices enough, we MIGHT go ahead and pay to upgrade to a verandah stateroom. But I just don't see that happening. They are probably only going to drop them a $200 or so and see if they sell. And honestly, if they can't see a 14 day cruise for $899pp plus taxes/port charges, how in the WORLD are they going to sell the same cruise for $3500pp??? I think they keep forgetting that the last minute airfare can be really expensive and that what ever you save on the cruise fare isn't making it up for the airfare. My TA (also very good friend) can totally afford the rate they are offering them. She just can't afford the airfare home. She could take a day and drive to the port, but it is getting back from Spain to Orlando that is cost prohibitive!! (like twice the amount of the cruise)

 

[eller]

My TA (also very good friend) can totally afford the rate they are offering them. She just can't afford the airfare home. She could take a day and drive to the port, but it is getting back from Spain to Orlando that is cost prohibitive!! (like twice the amount of the cruise)

We still have not booked air, but we have gotten it down to under $500 pp.

I think one other consideration is passports. If you don't have them, but could afford the cruise and the airfare home, how are you going to get a passport.

Maybe they will include air home in the next offer. That would really work for me!

Lori

 

[Kissimmee]

She could take a day and drive to the port, but it is getting back from Spain to Orlando that is cost prohibitive!! (like twice the amount of the cruise)

On sidestep.com one way BCN - MCO is $518 .... Up a bit from the $477 it was last month but still not too bad.

 

[tazzmacd]

I agree, cutting quality is just not the Disney way. That's why we all like them so much. I've never been on a cruise before, but am a frequent traveler to the parks. I have no reason to expect any less from the cruiseline. They have a reputation to uphold.

Just curious...what is the capacity for guests on the ship? I have no idea. Never been on ANY cruise, so it is a mystery to me.

Also, is it because we are first-time cruisers, but I see people have multiple ressies for Palo's, but it will only let us do one dinner. We'd love to do the brunch too.

I would have to agree with you on the quality, at least I am hoping that it is the same.

As for the Palo ressies, I think you and I were just too late booking to be able to get more then one. I am hoping that we can get some more once we board but I am not sure. This also being our first cruise I am not sure what to expect. Only what I read here.

 

[tazzmacd]

OK, where and how do you book the baby sitting? Not sure if we will need it but it woudl be nice to know where I can book it just in case.

 

[cquick]

I don't know about Palo.....I am a cast member and I don't think we can even book Palo until we board. But since we don't have an extra caregiver for Patrick, I don't think we are going to do it. Buffet Brunch is too much trouble and if Chuck and I want to eat romatically or even as 2 adults, we will wait until we bring someone with us.

Also, I have been saying for a year that I am going to lose weight for the cruise, but I am the same as ever........probably more since I haven't really done anything strenuous for 6 weeks. Guess it's the bread and water diet for me ( course it's easy to say that since I just had lunch! )

 

[eller]

Okay, I just want you to know that I walked away to workout, shower, have breakfast and get the kids on the bus and I came back to 3 pages!!!

How in the world is everybody supposed to keep up!



Lori

 

[seaulater]

I just got off the phone with my Costco TA. He was checking on the latest $200 drop for a Cat 12 GTY.

After talking to Disney he said this was the deal. He said Disney could not give him a price because Accounting/inventory control was in a meeting and making multiple pricing reductions to many cabins and that he was instructed to call back after 3 pm when they would have the list published.

He said we would qualify for the reduction and we would keep our Palo reservations, excursions and assigned rooms.

He will call me later today with the details after he has confirmed everything.

I got the distinct impression the reductions were not exclusive to cat 12 GTY this time and maybe, just maybe, higher categories will get a break too. Only seems fair to me.

Then again maybe this is all a false alarm.

We shall see.

----------------------

If some one is contemplating joining this cruise and the book through Costco and the $200 discount is accurate then the final price for 4 persons would be

2135.44 - $200 Costco cash card = $1,935.44

and a single in a cabin (approximate)

1390.86 - $200 Costco Cash Card = $1,190.86

For the cost of a room at All Star Resorts..... This has to be the bargain of the century and the final reduction may be more than $200.

Okay, so just for a point of reference if we need it, cuz you never know what IC will come up with out of the shoebox they work out of:

Here are the prices for 2 adults, including transfers and insurance (so adjust accordingly for those) as of right now on the DCL website. We will have to check later today to see what IC did:

Cat 12-$2306
Cat 11-$4506
Cat 10-$5106
Cat 9-$5906
Cat 8-$6506
Cat 7-$7706
Cat 6-$7906
Cat 5-$8106
Cat 4-$8706

I've never seen every cat from 4-12 available this close to sailing. WOW.
Okay, so now I have it down in writing on the disboards so I know where to find it when, and if, the prices drop again.

 

[tazzmacd]

so who was organizing that lose 50 pounds before we cruise diet again.....

I will take some of that action if you can figure out a way to do it!!

On a plus note, the TA just gave me my savings, we are at $1000 cdn for the rebook

Got to love it, that means this trip is cheaper then a 8 night/9 day stay at a moderate with a 9 day hopper pass and the meal plan at WDW for us. And that includes the airfare. Now you got to love that!! Totally unbelievable that's what it is.

Cheers!!

Pat

 

[AuntyBrat]

Okay, so just for a point of reference if we need it, cuz you never know what IC will come up with out of the shoebox they work out of:

Here are the prices for 2 adults, including transfers and insurance (so adjust accordingly for those) as of right now on the DCL website. We will have to check later today to see what IC did:

Cat 12-$2306
Cat 11-$4506
Cat 10-$5106
Cat 9-$5906
Cat 8-$6506
Cat 7-$7706
Cat 6-$7906
Cat 5-$8106
Cat 4-$8706

I've never seen every cat from 4-12 available this close to sailing. WOW.
Okay, so now I have it down in writing on the disboards so I know where to find it when, and if, the prices drop again.

Excellent Linda!!!! It will be interesting to see what is what after 3pm (East Coast and noon on West Coast!)

 

[seaulater]

I would have to agree with you on the quality, at least I am hoping that it is the same.

As for the Palo ressies, I think you and I were just too late booking to be able to get more then one. I am hoping that we can get some more once we board but I am not sure. This also being our first cruise I am not sure what to expect. Only what I read here.

When you get on board, before you go eat lunch, go directly to Beat Street and go to the Rockin' Bar D to make Palo reservations. The dining staff are scheduled to take reservations in there (and to change dining times, rotations) from 12 noon - 3:30 p.m. and then from 3:30 - 5 you can call 7-6843 from your stateroom phone and leave a voice mail that you would like to make reservations.

They only put so many openings on line for Palo's. Just make sure that you go to Rockin Bar D 1st thing when you get on the ship and I am sure you will have no problems getting reservations.

The other thing-even when we have Palo reservations, we either stop by our regular rotation in the dining room to "check it out" and make sure we haven't missed any freebies that night in the dining room, or we make sure to tell our servers the night before to save us whatever it is they are giving out and/or we have our tablemates grab our stuff for us so we don't miss out. On certain nights you may get pins, buttons, misc. stuff to go with the themed night.

That's my thoughts. Hope that helps

 

[AuntyBrat]

Ok, went it to try and look at my ressie and I can't because it is being serviced AGAIN!?!?! Anyone else having this problem?

 

[hopemax]

I don't know about Palo.....I am a cast member and I don't think we can even book Palo until we board.

FYI, You can do online booking the same as anyone else. My Mom was able to book a brunch and dinner when the window opened.

 

[AuntyBrat]

When you get on board, before you go eat lunch, go directly to Beat Street and go to the Rockin' Bar D to make Palo reservations. The dining staff are scheduled to take reservations in there (and to change dining times, rotations) from 12 noon - 3:30 p.m. and then from 3:30 - 5 you can call 7-6843 from your stateroom phone and leave a voice mail that you would like to make reservations.

They only put so many openings on line for Palo's. Just make sure that you go to Rockin Bar D 1st thing when you get on the ship and I am sure you will have no problems getting reservations.

The other thing-even when we have Palo reservations, we either stop by our regular rotation in the dining room to "check it out" and make sure we haven't missed any freebies that night in the dining room, or we make sure to tell our servers the night before to save us whatever it is they are giving out and/or we have our tablemates grab our stuff for us so we don't miss out. On certain nights you may get pins, buttons, misc. stuff to go with the themed night.

That's my thoughts. Hope that helps

Excellent points Linda!!! Also, if you are an exceptionally organized person (sounds so much better than OCD) make sure you have your schedule/calendar with you. Nothing worse than scheduling brunch for the same day as a Palo Dinner!!! Also some people don't like to miss out on the formal or semi-formal, or themed nites in the dining room. And you can ask your servers or tablemates to get your stuff for you.

OH - and usually if they are going to leave you goodies/momentos for the cruise, they will be in there after turndown service, so in addition to not squashing your towel animals, make sure you don't mess up a possible gift!!