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

[aarato]

Does anyone know if calling a toll-free number from the ship is allowed?

I suspect it is a possibility, but I just want to be absolutely sure. I need to make a call on May/18 and we're still going to be in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. If anyone could tell me how much it costs, I would greatly appreciate it.

Option2: Rent a satellite phone.?

 

[mickey squared]

When we were on the Aug. double dip, we arrived at the port gates about 9:30 and had to wait outside until 10:00 when security opened them up. There are benches and enough room for your luggage and we just talked with some of our fellow cruisers. My dh dropped us off and he returned the rental car. By the time he was back on the shuttle it was almost 10:00. I don't know if it has changed since then..

 

[gydell]

When we were on the Aug. double dip, we arrived at the port gates about 9:30 and had to wait outside until 10:00 when security opened them up. There are benches and enough room for your luggage and we just talked with some of our fellow cruisers. My dh dropped us off and he returned the rental car. By the time he was back on the shuttle it was almost 10:00. I don't know if it has changed since then..

Thanks!!!

 

[tig82174]

Does anyone know if calling a toll-free number from the ship is allowed?

I suspect it is a possibility, but I just want to be absolutely sure. I need to make a call on May/18 and we're still going to be in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. If anyone could tell me how much it costs, I would greatly appreciate it.

Option2: Rent a satellite phone.?

No it is not allowed...if you look in that little planning booklet they sent out ages ago (but I think some people never even got them) there was a page about phones. It gave the ship to shore number that your friends/family at home can use to contact you at sea if they need to (although it's VERY expensive, I've heard...and the charge goes on your stateroom....NOT their home telephone bill). In parentheses right after that it says that we cannot dial toll-free numbers (800, 866, or 888) from the ship. So I'd rent the satellite phone if that is an option for you.


Erik

 

[Scott H]

Had a great diner with Ken and Shari and their daughter last night. One more day here in CA then home to a bunch of work. Thanks goodness Lynn is getting it all together for us.

Hey a week from today we will be at OKW meeting up with you all. KEWL.

Pre-Cruise Wine and Cheese get together: Hosted by Scott H (Scott and Lynn) - to be held at Old Key West Resort on the evening of May 11, 2007. Unusually 4pm to 8pm or so. RSVP to Scott H. BYOB - More info to come. Room number posted here when known

Wish we were on our way with the rest of ya , so to all safe travels.

 

[pooh & tinker]

Had a great diner with Ken and Shari and their daughter last night. One more day here in CA then home to a bunch of work. Thanks goodness Lynn is getting it all together for us.

Hey a week from today we will be at OKW meeting up with you all. KEWL.

Pre-Cruise Wine and Cheese get together: Hosted by Scott H (Scott and Lynn) - to be held at Old Key West Resort on the evening of May 11, 2007. Unusually 4pm to 8pm or so. RSVP to Scott H. BYOB - More info to come. Room number posted here when known

Wish we were on our way with the rest of ya , so to all safe travels.

tinker and i are going to try and make it. we only live about 15 minutes from the okw. if you should need anything don't hesitate to ask.. i will be looking at the posts until friday night..day before the cruise.

 

[Scott H]

I thought that everybody was ignoring me but you don't have an answer yet either! I have asked 3 times - If we get to the port early can we be dropped off at the baggage dropoff (we are taking a limo) or do we have too wait outside? No answer, I will be watching to see if you finally get one!

This is what has happened to us in the past, someone will stop you coming in and tell you that you cannot come in until 10am, you tell them you are picking up someone, they let you thru, then you drop off your party with their luggage the same place others are getting picked up, and return the car and come back with the shuttle from the car rental company - OR - show up at the car rental company to return the car early, they will put you in the next shuttle they have going to pick up folks getting off the ship so you are not hanging around the office, the shuttle just drops you off where they are picking up folks. You will probably see folks already in line against the fence, in the center part of the fence, there will be a pile of luggage waiting by the gate for the porters who will take them to the ship (about 9am I think they started to load the luggage). One of your party stays with the luggage, the rest get into line to wait until they let us in the terminal. If you show up after 10 or 11am, they will have already let us into the terminal and there should be no line. I am sure that Linda (Seaulater) can correct me if I am wrong in any of my details.

I think ship to shore phone charges are $6.50 a minute, whether call is coming in or going out.

Lynn

 

[gydell]

This is what has happened to us in the past, someone will stop you coming in and tell you that you cannot come in until 10am, you tell them you are picking up someone, they let you thru, then you drop off your party with their luggage the same place others are getting picked up, and return the car and come back with the shuttle from the car rental company - OR - show up at the car rental company to return the car early, they will put you in the next shuttle they have going to pick up folks getting off the ship so you are not hanging around the office, the shuttle just drops you off where they are picking up folks. You will probably see folks already in line against the fence, in the center part of the fence, there will be a pile of luggage waiting by the gate for the porters who will take them to the ship. One of your party stays with the luggage, the rest get into line to wait until they let us in the terminal. If you show up after 10 or 11am, they will have already let us into the terminal and there should be no line. I am sure that Linda (Seaulater) can correct me if I am wrong in any of my details.

I think ship to shore phone charges are $6.50 a minute, whether call is coming in or going out.

Lynn

Thanks! We are taking a limo so I was hoping they would let him drop us off.

 

[cquick]

Connie, we are missing our garage sale on 5/20 - its making me crazy because it is a big one that happens twice a year with about 150 houses. I have so much stuff piled up to sell it's taking up too much space!

Your neighborhood garage sale sounds like ours. You should see the streets on garage sale day! Our women's association uses it 2X a year for a fundraiser, we do all the work with signs, etc. We usually make about $2500 per year just on the sales. We made over $7000 at our last event: Bunny in the Park, kind of like a big Easter Egg hunt with food, crafts, games and stuff! We also do a Fall Festival with Costume contest. All our money goes to Women's Shelters, children's homes, scholarships, etc. It's a lot of fun, too.

 

[milestogo]

I did it 3 bags! 44 pounds!!

KIDDING I stayed up till midnight repacking and got all of mine and Zoe's with all the "extra" crap into 3 bags. Jonathan packs his one bag allowance today after he finishes his 4 hours of lecturing. As Erik said, the longest day of the year. This has been a very hard year for him. We've got one carry on each, the stroller, the booster seat and an extra box of stuff that won't be coming back with us. I, also, squeezed in another empty rolling duffle into the bigger duffle! So, I'm happy with what I accomplished even though I didn't 3 total. Of course, in reality I knew that would be impossible. I hope all of you enjoy our wrinkled and recurring wardrobe.

Kelly, When are you taking off? I can't believe after all of these months and months of anticipation and preparation the trip is really upon us! Have a wonderful week. Tell Zoe Amy and Owen look forward to meeting her. She's going to be like one of our gang being right next door! I hope the only child enjoys having a big brother and sister aboard the ship!
Kathy

Are you kidding, she isn't going to want to stay in our room. She's just at the age when she has asked about having a sister and cousins. Since that isn't going to happen we've told her she can have pretend sisters, she's going to love it. She really loves older girls.

We're leaving Monday morning!

Our printer is borken and squeezing researching/buying a new one into the schedule at this point is not gonna happen. So, we will spend a couple hours at Dave's office tomorrow getting things printed (2 magnets, Orlando hotel confirmation, Barcelona hotel confirmation, Florida rental cars confirmation, Boston rental cars, confirmations, directions to hotel and to port, etc. etc.--filling that binder now )

My printer pooped out this week too, so I've been printing hundreds of pages one at a time and turning it off and on.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

Thanks. I have found that site too. I just wondered if anyone had found additional spots, or routes for comparison. Or what the closest Metro to the cruise terminal is. I now think is the Drassanes station on the Green Line. That one is near the statue of Columbus, and I've found reference to a shuttle bus that runs between the statue and the various slips in the cruise port.

One of the places we are attempting to visit is Park Guell. That site said the entrance was a 20 minute walk from the Lesseps station on the Green Line. However, I did a bit more investigating, and found that people would also recommend taking it one more stop to the Vallcarca station. But you still have a long steep walk. Or the easiest way is to take Bus 24 from the Placa de Catalunya, which drops you right outside the entrance.

we really want to see park guell too! i need to look at my notes but one stop you walk down the hill to park guell and then down again to another stop when you leave...we'll have to touch base when we are onboard....

YEAH - I know how great it is to FINALLY see this message!!!!

no message here yet although today it does say that we paid for overnight shipping so it should be mailed soon! i am SO GLAD i fudged on my dates by a week!!!!!!

She is a pediatrician.

Most of the meds that she is packing in our first aid kit are samples without a prescription label. I hope that isn't an issue at the port.

well forget the ships doctor! we know who to go to now!!! what do you mean your DW doe snot have office hours on vacation?

 

[txaggie94gigem]

In one week we will be on our way!!!!!

 

[cquick]

Ankle update...I'm no longer using the aircast on my right ankle while I'm in the house. It's feeling really good and there is very little swelling. The cast is supposed to come off of the left ankle next Wednesday. It's hard to tell how much swelling remains but this new cast is now loose too so it's a good sign.
Kathy

Oh, speaking of ANKLES! Yesterday Patrick came home from the workshop for Disabled Adults and he was in so much pain in his feet and ankles! We thought he just had a cramp, but they are both swollen, and so today he's going to the orthopedist! I'm sure it's nothing but it needs looked at before we go.....it's always something!

 

[milestogo]

Your neighborhood garage sale sounds like ours. You should see the streets on garage sale day! Our women's association uses it 2X a year for a fundraiser, we do all the work with signs, etc. We usually make about $2500 per year just on the sales. We made over $7000 at our last event: Bunny in the Park, kind of like a big Easter Egg hunt with food, crafts, games and stuff! We also do a Fall Festival with Costume contest. All our money goes to Women's Shelters, children's homes, scholarships, etc. It's a lot of fun, too.

My sister and I are garage sale warriors. People come to my house and it looks like a preschool, but I bet I paid $5 for each item at the most. We set everything up for the garage sale and then Jonathan stays to sell while we go to buy. Talk about trading junk!

 

[cquick]

I thought that everybody was ignoring me but you don't have an answer yet either! I have asked 3 times - If we get to the port early can we be dropped off at the baggage dropoff (we are taking a limo) or do we have too wait outside? No answer, I will be watching to see if you finally get one!

I sure don't have an answer to that! We NEVER get to the port until at least noon! We have tried, but it just doesn't work for us!

 

[milestogo]

When did Figment Sandy and Sharon drop off the cruise list. I just realized I had made gifts for them and couldn't find their names on the roster to check their rooms?

Hadley are you one of our group who is not making it to the parks? Do you want me to bring you a crushed pretzel to the party?

 

[milestogo]

Never mind they're on the other cruise

 

[NHdisneylover]

When did Figment Sandy and Sharon drop off the cruise list. I just realized I had made gifts for them and couldn't find their names on the roster to check their rooms?

Hadley are you one of our group who is not making it to the parks? Do you want me to bring you a crushed pretzel to the party?

We do not ge tto go to the parks this trip It is so totally sad. BUT we do get 10 days in September (I am holidng onto that thought). IF you are in EPCOT and near Norway and feel like picking up a sweet pretzle (no almonds please) for me you will have my undying gratitude. That is MY Disney treat that I long for all year. But really, I am sure I can handle being within 10 miles of the Kring La and not getting one just this once (and they aren't as good as they once were, but htey are still yummy). So, you will be at the Wine and cheese gala? Hurray. I am so excited to meet people and the sooner the better.

 

[NHdisneylover]

CAST LIST IS OUT! Rio did not get the part of Kurt (didn't think he would--he is too new at this and he looks too young for the part) but he IS in the children's choir (they had a huge turnout and there were almost 40 kids who got no parts at all). He is soooooooo excited First rehersal is Tuesday.

 

[Michelle2]

One week for us too. I am glad I saved alot of things to be done this last week, since I knew it would probably be the slowest week (too much excitement makes things go slower for me). Now I have alot to do, so I am sure it will be better.

Everyone have great times on your trips! I am very envious. See you at the port!

I am so glad that Rio is excited! Sounds like alot of fun!