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

[gismo1554]

We saw online that taxis are readily available, and the estimated cost is 25-30 euros plus .90 per piece of luggage. Since there are three of us, we still come out ahead plus we can go when we want, but of course, it's easier not to have to deal with the luggage. We are flying out at 11:20 to Dublin, so do not have the issue of needing to divest ourselves of luggage in order to tour during the day. I know other DISers on our flight, but I don't think there's enough room for us to go together. Hmm. Will have to ponder!

C.

Thought I'd seen about baggage charges somewhere. Maybe if there's a minivan taxi at the port a group of you could share? Not sure how common they are in Barcelona

 

[txaggie94gigem]

there are other people up wwith me!!!!! let's talk....

 

[gismo1554]

there are other people up wwith me!!!!! let's talk....

lol some of us are in work! (Time difference so its 9.40am here)

 

[gismo1554]

OK so I know I live in Europe and all but I have never been to any of the places we are going except Tennerife before it switched to Euros (like 20 years ago). Anyway does anyone have any ideas about how much money we are likely to need in each port? All we want to do is probably buy a few souvenirs and maybe a drink or two as well as a meal in Barcelona but we aren't really planning on eating off the boat anywhere else (not a full meal anyway maybe just a few snacks). Anyone any ideas on rough prices of things or know where to look for a guide? I've given up looking now as I've spent ages trying to find something and haven't managed it.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

lol some of us are in work! (Time difference so its 9.40am here)

HEY! i am working here too!!!! well, sorta....

 

[gismo1554]

HEY! i am working here too!!!! well, sorta....

well I am attempting to work but with only 4.5 days left in work I'm not doing too well at this!

 

[gydell]

Laura - Call the senators office or fax them! Did you see how fast they took care of Taxtracker's passport? They told her she would have it in a couple of days with no extra fees!

 

[gydell]

I can't believe I am up at this hour!

 

[tazzmacd]

Ya know, listening to all your passport troubles I do feel for your guys but one thing that shocks me. The USA Government put these rules into place that all people flying even to Canada would have to now have a passport so you would have thought that they woudl have anticipated the increase in demand for passports and staffed accordingly. From the sounds of all the trouble that you guys are going through they didn't staff accordingly. Maybe that should result in somebody's job, but then again it is the gov't and they will jsut send who ever did it to some other job to mess up.

Good luck with trying to get them.

On another note, still trying to find a couple of grass skirts, no luck so far but that is next weeks shopping trip.

Cheers!!

Pat

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Hey Debbie, Are the reality threads on the disboards or another message board. Not that I need to get caught up in another board, but we are huge reality junkies here. Can't wait to talk catch up on it all with you on board!

Here on the disboards. There are several threads on the Community Board.

fess up...what shows do you watch??? thank god for DVR!!

you may all now return to your regularly scheduled cruise planning....

Oh..... Amazing Race, Survivor, American Idol (but that is not a MUST see), Dancing with the Stars.

I occasionally watch America's Next Top Model, but mostly the recap show if I happen to stumble on it (no clue what the regular day of that show is )

to our new friends.
If you would like to be added to the roster can e-mail me at maymedrepo@wideopenwest.com

You can include as much or as little information as you would like. You can also a include a photo at the e-mail address.

DIS board name
First Name - Relationship - and age (or something close to the age ) for all of those in the cabin
Hometown
Stateroom number
Dining
You may include a photo if you would like

You can view the list by clicking on the link in my signature


I did an update to the roster, but when I signed on this morning I have a few new ones. So that will be updated in a few days.

Debbie

 

[tig82174]

Hi Everyone,

Welcome newcomers! Wow it really is looking like a party now. I've still got some catching up to do here but next week should be very quiet for me. The move will be behind us and I'll be sitting around (still unable to drive due to my broken/sprained ankles) at my neighbors' house. I'll definitely be spending some quality time on this board.

To update, the packers will finish today and tomorrow the movers arrive to cart our stuff away. We close on the sale of our house on Friday. This has been a very smooth move so far despite my injury that has largely put me on the sidelines. Ted has stepped up and picked up the slack. He is exhausted but this trip is certainly providing the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm feeling better but not getting around too well with the new non-weight bearing cast. The idea is to keep me off my feet...easier said than done.

I'm looking to order a couple of more items from CafePress so if anyone has a discount code/coupon please pass it along. Thanks.

Erik, When I was in Coronado last week I signed Amy up for gymnastics camp at Island Tumble in August. I told them that she didn't have her cartwheel yet. (They expect their 6-yr-olds to be able to do a cartwheel.) Amy quickly chimed in that she was going to learn to do cartwheels on the Disney Cruise!

Ottosmom, I noticed on the cruise roster that you are from Norfolk. We're neighbors...well at least for the next couple of weeks.


Kathy

Well then Amy and Rio and I will have our work cut out for us won't we!!


Erik

 

[NoWorriesMate]

Hi everyone,
haven't dropped by for almost a thousand posts it seems.

summer is making an appearance here 110F today (42C) and a big sand storm. not nearly as pretty as the snow so many of you had.

glad to hear the documant are not very exciting. we leave in a week and there is no sign of them yet. also never had a cruise planning booklet... and as for magnets...

i keep hoping to start packing, but by the time a catch up with the posts i run out of time - so if my whole family are nude you know who to blame!

if anyone has any particular needs from the middle east just let me know and i iwll do my best - but please keep it small and light... we have a lot of flying to do just to get to you.

see you all soon

michelle

 

[littleowensmommy]

Hello everybody,

We will be joining you all on the transatlantic! It will be me (35), my daughter Lauren (4), Lani (2), Mom (58), Dad (63), MIL (68), and MIL's friend (?). Our first cruise was just recently (24 Feb-3 March Western) and we fell in love with cruising--especially via Disney.

I got a great military rate for a GTY CAT 12 room and now I'm agonizing about whether or not to upgrade now to a CAT 6 ($1200 more) or just take my chances at port for an upgrade. Any advice?

Looking forward to meeting up with everybody.

We did just that. We re-booked the CAT 6 military rate.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Good Morning All. I'm spending hte day trapped at home waiting on the Culligan Man, so I'll probably be posting on and off all day. It is much more fun than cleaning house

Welocome to all hte new cruisers. Good to know you're comming along.

Ken, Scott and Debbie--I was most certainly not lurking at 7000 last night. Sleep is good Congrats to Debbie oon 7000

Kathy--Glad to know the move is running smoothly (and almost over for now) and hte ankles are somewhat healing. Good luck with the healing process. I noticed one of hte new cruisers has an 8 year old son. I thin in the end Owen (and Rio) will have as many friends on board as Amy!

Linda--I would so be calling/faxing senators at this point. We're sending good vibes your way.

Now that spring weather is really here, all the little animals are finally out. Right now there is a gorgeous woodpecker getting breakfast from a fallen log in the front yard. Yesterday the kids and I spent about a half hour wathcing a brilliant cardinal messing about in the bushes around the deck. I do love this time of year.

Erik--The pressure is on to teach those cartwheels Amy will be forevered scarred if she does not get into the camp, and Rio just asssumes you can work magic and should not be disallusioned I wonder how DCL feels about kids (of all ages) turning flips down the hallways?

 

[jw2736]

Whew!!! I finally caught up on these posts. Ive been busy with work and writing training reports so I had only 50 or 60 pages to read. We got our docs yesterday, but can you beleive that UPS just dropped the package at the door? Good Grief, such important papers should of been delivered by Brinks.
Just started packing and doing last minute shopping. I think all the plans are finshed too. Oh yea..the grass skirt has been carefully packaged to prevent wrinkles.
ITS ALMOST TIME!!!!! Not that im geting antsy or anything. See ya'll soon

 

[kpros]

sweetsue posted this info about Euros on the First Med Cruise thread. I thought it would be good info for everyone there as well.

As of yesterday,

Exchange rates posted on MSN Money were $1.34 per Euro for yesterday. Expect to pay much more than that when you really exchange money. This is more of a "commodity" rate used for trading similar to stock. It's also close to what the bank exchange rate would be if you used a charge card. To compare, the cheapest I could buy Euros was at $1.4128 per Euro. This was through a military bank. Through regular banking it was closer to $1.44 per Euro.

Back to the charge cards. It used to be that using a charge card ensured you got the very best rate since they used the "bank" exchange rate, not what you'd actually pay for cash. Credit card companies have smartened up in recent years. Most credit card issuers now charge a surchage on exchanging money. Even with the surchage, it's often still cheaper than it would be to exchange the money into cash and then purchase the item. Here's an example:
A 100 Euro item:
Bought with cash: It's cost you about $144 (using the regular banking exchange rate).
Bought with credit: It'd cost you $134 and then you'd have a surchage. Using the 2.5% quoted earlier, the surchage would be $3.35 for a total of $137.35.
As you can see, it's stlil cheaper with credit - but not as cheap as it used to be before the surcharge.

You can exchange Euros on the ship. You will pay the worst exchange rate doing this. You are paying for the convenience.

You can extract money from an ATM. This will give you the "bank rate" similar to a credit card along with any ATM surcharges you might have. ATM machines are very prevalent in Europe. You will find more ATMs there then you will in the US. Cons: you are limited to the daily ATM withdrawal amount. There is also the concern the bank will shut off the ATM card since it's having "unusal" behavior by being used out of the country. A phone call in advance to your bank should help - but it isn't guaranteed.
Ways to help: Carry multiple ATM cards, Call you bank in advance and notify them of your trip. Carry their regular (not toll free) number with you so you can call using a phone card if you need to.

You can carry US$ travelers checks and cash them at a bank. Pro: If you cash at a typical "ex-pat" or "hostel" location you will likely get the best exchange rate going. Con: This is the least convenient.
I've also heard that very few places in Europe will take US$ travelers checks. Imagine walking into a store here and handing them a Euro traveler check. Most clerks wouldn't have a CLUE what to do! Even a US$ traveler's check is often hard to use.
You coulc carry those US$ travelers checks to Barcelona and cash them in at the AMEX office. They are located about half way down Las Ramblas and have banking services there.

As for carrying cash. You can carry a lot if you use a money belt and don't flash the contents in front of everyone.

What we are doing:

I'll be purchasing some Euros before the trip. The remaining will wait until I'm in country (better exchanges rates are usually available in country vs. before you leave). This will allow me to take a cab from the airport to the hotel and grab some food before I have to go hunting for the neighborhood ATM machine.

We will have:
1) Nominal amount of Euros upon arrival
2) ATM from standard accounts
3) Second ATM from savings account at a different bank
4) Credit card from yet a third bank
5) Credit card from a fourth bank

This way the chances of all FOUR cards not working are pretty slim.

I hope that helps! It's timely too - since I was just looking at all of this stuff yesterday.

Sue

 

[Scott H]

Honestly I was just checking work email last night. Court hearing today so prep is going on.

I am pretty sure we will finish packing this weekend, Lynn has been doing a great job of getting a bunch of stuff together. Gotta pack for next week, the cruise and then road trip the following week.

Good luck with the passports, start calling, do you have a passport center close by???

Hang in there on the move, that can be no fun for sure. Been there done that, yech.

Hey Jimmy Concert tonight.

I must admit, Lynn and I have gotten hooked on dancing with the stars.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Ken--thanks for reposting Sue's info. over here. We are planning on something similar (using mostly ATMs and Credit). Dave travels to Germany for work frequently and the credit card still works better than exchanging cash from a fee persepctive (Disney Visa). We called Disney Visa last week to advise them where we would be and when and were advised to call again RIGHT before we leave as the longest such a note will stay on the account is 30 days and it can fall off in only 2 weeks I've never been told this before, but I will call from the port on the 12th anyway to increase the odds of the primary card not being turned off (yes we'll have 2 back-ups--we have no back up ATM so I have to cover somewhere).

Deanna--As you do not have a television I am imagining you being as lost as I am reading all the reality show conversations. I propse every time the gang starts DIShing about reality TV onboard you and I take it as a cue to go get another souffle at Palos

Ken or Scott? Ken I think--thanks for reassuring me that our T-shirtless selves will not be shunned by the group (of course, you may all decide to shun us for some other reason )

 

[mom_rules]

We're doing the Rock Tour in the early AM. It's over at 9:45. Then I think we'll get something to eat and try to get to the seige tunnels, which the tour doesn't include. I must admit, I'm afraid of the cable car, but I would like to walk down the Rock if the tour doesn't do this.

We're taking that tour also!

We are also a little leary of that cable car too!
Sounds like we're in good company.

 

[newgeneb]

Good Morning All -just caught up on all the post - thanks for everyones help - we got our docs yesterday both sets- not much in them except luggage tags - all packed and ready to go