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

[Michelle2]

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

Tell me about it! I miss just a few days, and am already far behind (pages and pages behind). It kind of reminds me of the EB PC thread. That thing is a monster, but this one is getting close...
Can't......keeep.......up!!!!!!

 

[Michelle2]

I can't believe I'm showing you this...

Click the "Insert Image" and paste this into the pop up box

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/images/smilies/puke.gif

Promise me you will use it judiciously ....

That is funny. I thought I had seen something like that before.

 

[gismo1554]

I was trying to get a BUNKO group going a couple weeks aga! I am sure we can get 12 people to play! Please PM me if anyone is interested. Diversions is a fun place but anywhere we can find some tables to throw dice on will do!

Connie

OK just one question what is this game??? I'm from the UK and have never heard of it

 

[gismo1554]

Fish Extenders--Can someone measure theirs and tell me how wide it is??? I am trying to guess at the size of the fish, but I never really paid that much attention. Thanks

I Will check tonight but I think its around 21cm or just over 8 inches

 

[Scoobypop]

I can make you a fish extender, if you need one. I am going to Joanne Fabric tomorrow to look for Mickey mouse or some kind of Disney fabric. A friend of mine wants a Barbie ticssue box cover.

Wow, I don't know what to say. I'm sure you have JUST as much preparation and pre cruise stuff to keep your days full as we do, so I really wouldn't want to put you out at all. Thank you SOOOO much for the offer, that is truly generous. Really, it's okay. Laura posted some advice as well, so I'll take another look around next week and see what I can come up with. I'm sure if I do find something, it wouldn't be near as nice as what you'd come up with, but really, we would feel bad putting you out like that.

 

[Scott H]

When H*** freezes over!!!!!

You couldn't DRAG me on another Carnival cruise. YUCK!
Is there a smilie of someone throwing up?

Darn it there goes my third job making Carnival Fish extenders....

 

[Scott H]

Hadley, Thought I had those number here on the laptop, so a quick re calculation from Port Canaveral to the Canary Isl would put the mid point at N32 15.297 W 48 35.649. I am pretty sure I have those numbers at home and will check there on Sat.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Connie--Thank you for the measurements on the fish extenders.

Scott--Thanks for the lat. and long. while you are on the road even!

This trip required finally getting Rio a "real" suitcase. His stuff just doesn't fit in his Buzz Lightyear pull along any more. I had planned on getting him a Samsonite rolling duffle like Marikas. But, when we went to the LLBean outlet looknig for deals on sandals he fell in love with a teal blue rolling duffle there. I argued that the entire family has Samsonite and he wouldn't match. He argued back that his backpack and dance bag are LLBean so he WILL have a matched set himself. Of course I was defeated. Thus, my cruise prep activity for last nigth was ripping out the embrodiered letters from the duffle which made it so inexpensive at the outlet (I had to keep reminding myself it was a BRAGAIN and is worth spending two hours getting blisters on my fingers). So still no further progress on door signs, fish extender, etc.

 

[seaulater]

Yes, go to the lounge. Not only can you do the Palo ressies, but if you have a specific dinner rotation that you prefer, they possibly can help there too.

Now, if Linda could just help getting our flight to MCO changed.....

What are you wanting to change?

 

[cquick]

For anyone wondering about Bunko and how to play. I can assure you that it takes no talent, no strategy, just fun. You need to have 12 people, 3 tables of 4. you roll 3 dice. you play "rounds". The first round you try to roll for 1's, next round, 2's, etc. until you get to 6's. you get 1 point for each time you roll for the target number. For example, if you are playing the 1's round, you count only the 1's, Then if you roll 3 ones, you get 21 points (Bunko) and you get to hold the Bunko baby until someone else gets Bunko. There is a head table and when the head table readches 21 points, that round is over.

I play with a women's group and a couple's group. We all put in $5 at the beginning of the game and at the end, divide up the money according to wins, losses, # Bunko's, and who is holding the Bunko baby at thte end of the game.

The thing to remember is is't only in FUN! here's a website with some info.
http://www.buncorules.com/rules.html

 

[taxtracker]

Gosh, I hate to admit that the cruise we are taking after the Trans Atlantic is on the Carnival Freedom! don't worry about us, we'll tough it out! Just found out tonight from my friend Faith that both the Disney Magic and the Carnival Freedom will be in Monte Carlo on the same day!

I've a veteran cruiser, 17 cruises, this is my first Disney, two on Carnival, but most on Celebrity. I"ve absolutely NEVER had a bad or even a mediocre cruise, on any ship, even the antiquated Russian icebreaker to Antarctica was a great time, with great fellow cruisers. You are going to be in Europe, on a cruise ship, is it really possible for it not to be a great time? yes, there will be differences, but it is all about attitude! I envy you being able to do b2b, on ANY ship, ANY cruise line!

 

[padalyn]

Count me in on that diet.

Is anyone renting a car at the airport and droping it at the Port? Which car company does this?

I don't recall which ones they are - but there are only 2 - Hertz and Avis I think. I found them by googling the port and looking at the business registry. The rate wasn't too bad - 30.00 per day with no return fee. Be careful returning to a different location - some rental companies charge a return fee. I ran into that in Alaska!! The fee was as much as the rental

I did luck out and did a return for the agency and got the SUV for a compact price and no return fee.

 

[cquick]

I've a veteran cruiser, 17 cruises, this is my first Disney, two on Carnival, but most on Celebrity. I"ve absolutely NEVER had a bad or even a mediocre cruise, on any ship, even the antiquated Russian icebreaker to Antarctica was a great time, with great fellow cruisers. You are going to be in Europe, on a cruise ship, is it really possible for it not to be a great time? yes, there will be differences, but it is all about attitude! I envy you being able to do b2b, on ANY ship, ANY cruise line!

Thanks! That's exactly how I feel. We have been Disney and Royal Carribean and they were both wonderful cruises. I will be with about 40 friends on the Carnival Freedom, so I know we'll have fun! Plus, I am very excited about the excursions in Italy! Never been there before! Always wanted to go!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

That's right Erik, I'm beautiful! and I'm not fat, I'm vuluptuous. and I wish i could spell that.

i'm not fat, i'm fluffy! and i don't obsess about my weight (although for my health i need to!) but i seriously have to buckle down after this cruise and lose some pounds before i get diabetes or some other health disorder...even i can't lie to myself anymore because i can feel my body is at it's max!

Yep, I'm taking our daughter Jamie this Thursday on the Wonder for her 15th birthday and I told DH this morning, that we almost paid more for the 3 night cruise than for him and I on the 14 night!

did you already have all the rebooking credit like tips paid and OBC...if not get them while on this cruise!!!!

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

no offense here....that is the type of candy we are giving the crew members!!! we gotta save $$$$ when we can! i look at it like this...they sell jelly beans year round in the candy aisle!

no allergies or anything for my kids....

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...

we are taking 2 excursions! a first for us because of the $$$ we saved and i might buy a picture package! this price drop (esp. the 1600) has paid for all my drinks, excursions, pictures, and spending money for the cruise....i am so excited!

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)

the airfare is not that bad...i was just pricing it for my MIL and it was $680 from BCN to LA and it is still about $500 BCN to dallas according to kayak.com...that really is not that bad!

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! )

i keep telling myself every morning that i am going to start today! and i will probably lose some weight before the cruise...but not 50 this time!

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.

the weird thing is that to add 2 kids to this raises the price $600!!! i thought 3rd and 4th persons were $99!!!???

I miss a day and now whew, lots to catch up on!

Amazing about the additional price drop, I have a request in with my TA.

I also tried to get a price for air for one person, for a reference point in case we decide to try to bring my mom (in her own gty 12 cabin). The website would not let me do it, so I called. Interestingly, DCL is now not offering air for this cruise! With a paid reservation, they will "research" air and give you a price if they find something, but do not guarantee that they can provide air. I'm sure we'd do better price-wise on our own (will look tonight), but I wonder if this is also discouraging people from booking. The CM I spoke with said they close off airfare about a month out, and my sense, although she didn't come out and say it, is that the non round-trip nature of our air made them cut it off earlier bc it's more challenging for them to deal with than round-trip. As I said, I wonder what effect this has on the attempt to fill up cabins at this point and all the price reductions. But WOW for us!!!

Cupcake

my TA told me all along that many people were pushing DCL to charter a special flight or flights from BCN to MCO that way people could just fly round trip from their initial destinations but disney refused...i think they really dropped the ball on all of us.....

POC3 will premier on Friday May 25th on the Magic - just told by DCL!

that is very sad! i wish they would have done it on a sea day! LET'S ALL WRITE DCL AND SEE IF THEY WILL CHANGE IT!!! although it may be what another poster wrote in that they will not have the finished movie in time and are going to send it to barcelona...but surely they could send it to Gibraltar instead!!!!

 

[cquick]

So, you think they will show the movie at midnight on Thursday night? Or at midnight the LAST night, Friday night?

 

[misseulalie]

I can't believe I'm showing you this...

Click the "Insert Image" and paste this into the pop up box

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/images/smilies/puke.gif

Promise me you will use it judiciously ....

YEA!!! I knew a local DIS'er would come through!!

I promise to only use it when I speak of Carnival Cruiselines.



Not to sound like a total moron, but where is the "Insert Image" button that I click?

 

[rikimuk]

I've a veteran cruiser, 17 cruises, this is my first Disney, two on Carnival, but most on Celebrity. I"ve absolutely NEVER had a bad or even a mediocre cruise, on any ship, even the antiquated Russian icebreaker to Antarctica was a great time, with great fellow cruisers. You are going to be in Europe, on a cruise ship, is it really possible for it not to be a great time? yes, there will be differences, but it is all about attitude! I envy you being able to do b2b, on ANY ship, ANY cruise line!

I envy all the B2Bs as well I wish I could do that. I must be honest my dream was to do a transatlantic cruise (OK I dont have big dreams lol) I always wanted to go on the Queen Mary 2 but very expensive from the UK. However this is almost the same and the best bit!!!!!! ITS DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lindsay

 

[rikimuk]

So, you think they will show the movie at midnight on Thursday night? Or at midnight the LAST night, Friday night?

As long as they show it Im happy. How cool will it be watching a the release of the movie on the boat lol. (Not that Im excited at all lol)

 

[rikimuk]

In 4 weeks time Im off to orlando to start my holiday then a week later Im joining all of you on the Magic and I cant wait. This is only my second Disney cruise (I did the 4 day one last year) and Im so excited I have walked around work smiling all week so far even though they are moving my job and treating me badly. Nothing can spoil my mood.

I have started making presents for everyone and to the person who posted that she had just joined so dont make anything for her I am anyway. Everyone can have a present you dont need to give me anything in return.

Disney here I come lol!!!

Sorry everyone Im starting to sound slightly looney but Im really sane I just love everything Disney and holidays from this place lol.

Lindsay

 

[txaggie94gigem]

man...y'all were chatty yesterday afternoon!!!

OK, now I'm trying to book excursions. I've got the wine tour in Tenerife and the Cadiz and Jerez tour in Cadiz. Both are relatively inexpensive and short. I'm going to try to change the Cadiz tour to the horses once I'm on the ship. I hope that they will at least have a waiting list for it.

Does anyone know what the cancellation policy is for excursions?

Also, I was looking at Gibralter and mainly I want to see the apes. How many are doing Gibralter on their own?

i plan on doing Gibraltar on my own...they say the place with the cable car/apes is about 1 mile from port...does anyone know if we can walk there or do we have to taxi? i am trying to figure out how much $$$ to get in Gibtbraltar pounds before we go....

You can cancel your excursions 2 days prior to the vacation start date. So, in my book, that would be May 10, or you will be charged for them even if you decide to cancel once on board. (However, I guess it depends on who you deal with at the Shore Excursion Desk, because they have been known to credit the excursion you want to cancel, to another new booked excursion, but they don't have to.)

that's good to know because i plan on checking the weather at CC before we go...we have a fishing excursion booked and if it is going to be yucky weather i will cancel it early!!!!

When H*** freezes over!!!!!

You couldn't DRAG me on another Carnival cruise. YUCK!
Is there a smilie of someone throwing up?

my hubby is always bothering me to go on a "cheap" cruise out of galveston on carnival but we never have....i think i will take him on one during spring break next year to let him have the full experience!!!

Won't POC3 debut at 12:01am on the 25th? That interferes with early excursions not the magic fountain trip.

Speaking of the magic fountain; is anyone organizing or are we all just going on our own?

well, if they show the movie on the morning of the 25th at 12:01 we will be exhausted for our day in barcelona but if they wait until nighttime to show it we may not be able to see it either...i also really wanted to see the fountain...we have palo at 6pm though so i do not know....i also do not want to miss the farewell with the characters and on board is 10:30 so i do not know if we would have time to get there and back after Palo anyway....

OMG in some ways I think the brunch is better than the dinner...just depends on my mood!!! Make sure you skip breakfast and midnight snacks so that you arrive ready to graze...it is a seafood lovers paradise and then the pizzas...they are so good....we have gotten them to go so we can eat them later in our room...well that and our stateroom hostess almost swooned when we brought her her favorite one...of course come to think about it, we didn't get to eat it later, the girls scarfed it up and wanted to know if we would get them more when we went again later in the week...of course we did for everyone!!!

thanks for the idea! under the radar of course...i forget that they usually only get rice and veggies and do not get some of the rich foods we get to enjoy...i will do this this time!

We have a friend who loves to take Carnival in the Med and says it is 180 degrees different from Carnival in the states. MaryAnn won't sail Carnival here, but loves them for the Med. She is going back for her 3rd cruise with them this summer!! So I hope you have as good a time as she has had!!

i bet you are right! i know alot of the cruises out of galveston on carnival are "party cruises" due to the lower drinking age...i think ir is different people and age group that fly to the med for a cruise...i am not saying that teens are bad but after the party we saw before prom a couple years ago at the radisson resort at the port...i do not want to hang out with that crowd anymore!!! i do not know if they were high school or college but all were drinking heavily and none looked to be 21!!!