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

[kpros]

Talk me out of this?? Maybe I should try to focus on the return voyage, from Spain back to Port Canaveral instead? Maybe the price on that will fall so drastically too?

I don't think anyone around here will be trying to talk you out of this cruise.

Ken

 

[tig82174]

I think I need an intervention. We're going on a three night in a couple of weeks, but I keep obsessing about bringing the Magic to Barcelona!

I found a rate for DH, DS, DD, and myself for only $2200 total and I am having the worst time resisting!

We took our family to Hawaii in September (kids missed two weeks of school), now we're going to Florida for two weeks (kids will miss another two weeks of school), and here I sit contemplating the May cruise (would mean ANOTHER two weeks out of school).

We are actually moving to Florida this summer (July/August) so this February/March trip there is also for business/househunting/jobhunting purposes.

This little voice in my head keeps chanting"how many kids get to see The Canary Islands or the Rock of Gibraltor" in thier lifetimes?

We're military and could possibly even catch a Space A military flight from Rota, Spain back to the states, so airfare might even be ok.

Talk me out of this?? Maybe I should try to focus on the return voyage, from Spain back to Port Canaveral instead? Maybe the price on that will fall so drastically too?

You'll find no such interventions and support for NOT taking this cruise here. This board is a BASTIAN of peer pressure to GO ON THE CRUISE, GO ON THE CRUISE, GO ON THE CRUISE! hehehehe


Erik

 

[gydell]

It's the best travel deal out there right now!

 

[LovableGluttons]

Imagine missing 6 weeks of school in one year?

Last year my kids didn't miss even one day! LOL

and right before a HUGE move across country, buying a new house, DH retiring from the military.

Plus, my kids are starting to love these globetrotting vacations. What if I can't take them out of school next year to go anywhere? Well, we'll be near WDW so we can visit the mouse on weekends and holiday beeaks.

I was thinking I could pull my kids out of school for good mid May as they finish school June 2nd. We wouldn't likely make it back before the last day of school.

Uhoh. I se a plan coming together here.

It sure would make a neat military retirement gift for DH, wouldn't it? I coudl easily spend the same amount of cash on a retirement party, but the cruise would be so much better! LMAO

 

[misseulalie]

Also, imagine how many kids can say they've sailed across the Atlantic or seen the Barbary Apes?

Come on! It's only $3,100 for 4 people!!! That is the cheapest cruise I've ever seen!!!

I'm taking my DD out of school for the last 7 days. Her teacher is more than hppyfor her.

 

[kpros]

Imagine missing 6 weeks of school in one year?

Last year my kids didn't miss even one day! LOL

and right before a HUGE move across country, buying a new house, DH retiring from the military.

Plus, my kids are starting to love these globetrotting vacations. What if I can't take them out of school next year to go anywhere? Well, we'll be near WDW so we can visit the mouse on weekends and holiday beeaks.

I was thinking I could pull my kids out of school for good mid May as they finish school June 2nd. We wouldn't likely make it back before the last day of school.

Uhoh. I se a plan coming together here.

It sure would make a neat military retirement gift for DH, wouldn't it? I coudl easily spend the same amount of cash on a retirement party, but the cruise would be so much better! LMAO

I would think that if you were taking military flights, you may want to take them after the cruise instead of before the cruise. What would happen if you got bumped on the flight over and missed the cruise. At least having the flight after the cruise, it wouldn't be as critical if you got bumped for some reason.

Ken

 

[OH 6]

It's funny - Kaye was the author of the completely lame E-mail I received.

Also, while other people are able to book Palo High Tea and brunch for table of 3-4, I still cannot. The system tells me that there is nothing available. So it would appear that there are still systems problems for some of us that I'm sure DCL will not acknowledge.

Thanks to all our disboard friends for the offers of help during this mess!

Ken

You were right - I guess I caught her on a good day or it was the calls from the day before that got it done and she was just the messenger. She came up lame today with the exact same message about dining a Palo that I saw posted on here earlier.

My teams at work use templates - so I know what they're doing - the difference is that I empower my teams to escalate customer issues like ours...clearly DCL isn't encouraging this or the CMs are not getting the message.

Oh well - I'll keep trying and put it on my commment card at the end of the cruise.

 

[kpros]

You were right - I guess I caught her on a good day or it was the calls from the day before that got it done and she was just the messenger. She came up lame today with the exact same message about dining a Palo that I saw posted on here earlier.

My teams at work use templates - so I know what they're doing - the difference is that I empower my teams to escalate customer issues like ours...clearly DCL isn't encouraging this or the CMs are not getting the message.

Oh well - I'll keep trying and put it on my commment card at the end of the cruise.

It's all very disappointing. We are doing the B2B and we are using DCL air so I already know that their system can't handle one part of the flight before the repo and the second part of the flight after the Med cruise. It's setup to handle flights before and after the same cruise. So it will be fun to see just how the tickets actually look.

Ken

 

[OH 6]

Talk me out of this?? Maybe I should try to focus on the return voyage, from Spain back to Port Canaveral instead? Maybe the price on that will fall so drastically too?

I think this voyage is going to be the cheaper one for the reason you're hesitating. School will be out in August...

We don't have kids - but this was a deal we couldn't pass up. I got talked out of both PC repos in '05 by work commitments. I have a new boss and am settled in enough to tell them when I'm going to be gone - as long as I have the time available. Even for me to say that I've seen the Canary Isles and climbed "the rock" and saw the Royal Equestrian School train and perform...how many adults can say that, let alone the kids?

You could justify the learning experience, maybe add just a bit of structure to the trip and have them write a diary or gather items to scrap book once you're home to document the trip...

As others have said - we're not here to talk you out of it...here have a glass of kool-aid and then let us know what you think.

 

[milestogo]

LovableGluttons:

Littleowensmommy is taking her kids out of school for a move across country too! So, you wouldn't be alone - they are also a military family. You absolutely will not find the drop in prices on the August trip - it is way more full than this cruise and more and more people will sign up as they hear about our cruise and the first ones back from the med.

Another family (CACruisin) is getting homework for the cruise and getting the internet package with a laptop. Although she isn't rebooking until March because she felt so much pressure from her kid's school!

Erik's right you won't get much "talk me out of it" from this group. We're the group of rationalizers!!!

 

[cquick]

Talk me out of this?? Maybe I should try to focus on the return voyage, from Spain back to Port Canaveral instead? Maybe the price on that will fall so drastically too?

NO! I absolutely will not talk you out of this! Travel is the best education a child can get! Can they bring homework, do it online? I would do it!

Pretty soon the kids will be all grown up like my 27 year old who is an engineer and he would love to take the trip, but some people have to work!

DO IT!

 

[milestogo]

Well, my daughter just saw the Roger's and Hammerstein (the Brandy version, not Leslie Warren version) version of Cinderella for the first time. She loved the music and all the characters. Everytime I hear the music from this show I fall in love with it all over again. I can't even pick which song is my favorite. She has been sick for a week now with a nasty cold and has watched the new Cinderella 3 about 15 times. So, I can't wait to get on the boat and have her watch Twice Charmed.

 

[padalyn]

Another questiion - How are you planning on charging your phones, computers, cameras, and IPods after the cruise while staying in Europe? I posted this on the other board also. I can't find any converter that will accept these items.

I use an iGo system - one charger for many items - it does the conversion for you from 220 to 110. I am still taking a small converter since my camera battery has a special charger that I can't plug into my iGo with. I also recommend the surge protector that someone else mentioned (great post #2416 that lists ALL the types needs etc!), since power fluctuates in many places; power flucuations can fry electronics! The flucuations are dependent on the needs - we have systems in place here in the US to keep that from happening (someone from a major power company explained that to me years ago) - however that is not the case everywhere.

Just be sure to get the right one for the type of laptop you have - the juice70 won't charge a p3 or p4 laptop. try their website for info:

http://www.igo.com/
This is from their FAQ area of the site:
Will I need a converter to use my adapter in other countries where the voltage is up to 230 volts?
No, our adapters are rated from 110 volts to 230 volts and 50/60h. You will only need the generic travel adapter plug that allows your adapter to be plugged into a wall socket.


I love the unit - since it works on wall current, airplane juice (when one can find a plane that has the outlet in the seat) AND car!! One system and not all the bulky transformers. well worth the money (about 120 USD)

 

[tig82174]

Well, my daughter just saw the Roger's and Hammerstein (the Brandy version, not Leslie Warren version) version of Cinderella for the first time. She loved the music and all the characters. Everytime I hear the music from this show I fall in love with it all over again. I can't even pick which song is my favorite. She has been sick for a week now with a nasty cold and has watched the new Cinderella 3 about 15 times. So, I can't wait to get on the boat and have her watch Twice Charmed.

We watched it last night, too! It is very fun.....I just adore Bernadette Peters (for reasons beyond the film, obviously----but she's a treat in it, of course)....and it reminds me of the days back when Whitney was our diva and not so, well,.....you know!

Have you watched the Cinderella 3 movie yet? Is it even out yet? We haven't .....our next big Disney movie thrill is "Bridge to Taribathea" which I think opens this weekend and which we're very excited about! I also heard that Tinkerbell movie is coming out soon....I saw the trailer at disney.com on the Fairies page....it looks like it might even be a pixar kinda film...created by computer.



Erik

 

[BobandLee]

Good Morning All!
Snow Day! A first for my work since 1978.
Was nice to just stay in bed this morning.
Seventeen Inches (43.2 cm) of snow was the official count.
3 - 4 foot drifts in the yard.
Can't wait for Peter any more. Have to start on the driveway.

Everyone stay warm and have a
Happy Valentine's Day

 

[BobandLee]

Just my two cents...
when my kids were growing up, I never took them out of school for vacations.
Since then my thinking has changed a bit. I now would do it in a heartbeat for something that would be such a learning experience as this trip would be.
Heck, I look at it as a big learning experience for me.

 

[tig82174]

Good Morning All!
Snow Day! A first for my work since 1978.
Was nice to just stay in bed this morning.
Seventeen Inches (43.2 cm) of snow was the official count.
3 - 4 foot drifts in the yard.
Can't wait for Peter any more. Have to start on the driveway.

Everyone stay warm and have a
Happy Valentine's Day

Snow day here, too! (although in truth I don't think it's actually that bad outside...looks like less than a foot of accumulation to me but who am I to question a "free" day off of work! Now I'll have more time to lay around and fantasize about the trip! Also now I have no excuse not to make a nice dinner......because in addition to being Valentine's Day, today is my and Jason's 4th anniversary!


Happy snow day to everyone who got one today ....and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to everyone!!



Erik

 

[webray]

Hi guys!

Happy Valentine's day!



Bob and I took the kids out of school many times for vacations and we never ever felt guilting or second guessed anything. We were usually gone for two weeks at a time, Florida, Washington DC, etc. The kids made up their work, before they left, some while we were gone and very little when we got back, depending on what it was. They were never any worse for wear..in fact..with the work the teachers gave them, lol, sometimes they were ahead of the kids..lol, when they got back because classes moved slower than the teacher thought it would. School is great, but you really can't beat hands on life experience for the kids.

 

[first timers]

Happy Valentines Day!

Has anyone found a good deal to exchange dollars for euros? I found a site to exchange for euros cash or traveler checks in euros at foreignexchangeservices.com/ They offered a rate of $1.3642/euro and an $8.00 shipping fee. I hesitate exchanging euros on the ship at guest services or in town as you never know what the exchange rate might be. Any other options or thoughts? Alex

 

[gydell]

happy Valentine's Day!!!!!