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

[Kissimmee]

Think I'm finally caught up enough to start posting a bit. Swiss air just called and they found my bag. How's that for speedy? Actually it's only been a week since we got back for the B2B but the wife had given up hope... Her Transatlantic Tee Shirt was in there and Disney said there were no more so she is happy it's been found.

Speaking of Swiss air. I read someone's post that they found them very accommodating at the Barcelona airport. Unfortunately our mileage did vary. Long story but the up shot is that the agent made us weigh each carry on and because a couple were over the 8Kg weight insisted they go as checked bags. This brought our bag count to the limit for our group and I still had a mailing tube with my Amateur Radio Antennas in it. The tube was 5 foot by 2 inched and weights about 2 Kg. She said it was too large for the cabin and because we had reached our checked bag limit adding the carry-ons she would only send it by cargo or as excess baggage but after 30 minutes of trying to call the cargo desk and not being able to find the excess baggage price list. I was force to leave it behind or risk missing the plane.

To add insult to injury as we boarded the plane there were many people with huge carry-ons and one with a plastic artists tube larger than my own.

Anyway Swiss Air USA was very apologetic and is going to reimburse me for the cost of the antennas (about $40).

Here is a hint: when you arrive at the Barcelona airport isolate the carry-ons so they are not visible to the desk agent when you check your bags. Neither the security folk or the boarding agents gave anyones carry-ons a second thought.

 

[seaulater]

Oh, she won the pageant for our town, so she's Miss (Insert Town name) She did wear make-up. She looks like a ghost w/o it. She is a strawberry blond and VERY fair, doesn't tan at all, very blond eyebrows. She looked like a beacon next to all those girls who tan regularly. It was kinda funny. She would tan if she could.

I'm not big into pageants, almost got sick with nerves before and during this one, but it has been a wonderful learning experience for her. Last year she did not make the top 8, so we improved her interviewing skills, speech, etc...which I think in the long run, will help her gain employment. There were lots of "mingles" as the pageant was sponsored by the chamber of commerce, so she gained experience handling herself in a business/social situation, which is way different that just a normal party, as you all know. Winning the scholarship was just icing on the cake.

That is just awesome! I know how empty the wallet can be after that many years of dance. We have been doing that with Jamie now for 12 years. Dance, voice, piano, violin, trips, etc.

Now we have drill team to add and this week she is in Costa Rica with her spanish class!

I keep thinking of all the money I will have once all these things end and how many more Disney Cruises I'll be able to go on!

 

[seaulater]

Greetings everyone! Here comes one of my infamous insomnia posts in the middle of the night from a strange hotel on a business trip!

So I have been reading the board but not necessarily keeping up perfectly......so in general: WELCOME HOME B2Bers!! It's so good to have you back, we missed you!

I"m so glad to hear from Kelly and Kathy, too that all those ports in so few days was too much.....it's just further proof that we NEED a portless cruise!! We can take one 7 day cruise with a different crazy port every day and THEN do the cruise to nowehre!!! That was the only POSSIBLE complaint that Jason and could have had....was that after all those days at sea, teh rush and bustle and early mornings of the ports felt very taxing.....wonderful, but taxing!! Jason and I were even saying that as much as we LOVED being the first ever TransAtlantic voyage.....but I bet the August return voyage will be a lot better. Because they will do all the ports so close together and it will feel very very busy and then all of a sudden they'll get 6 or 7 days of endless relaxation at sea only to finish at the incomparable Castaway Cay before coming home......I'm glad we got be on the Magic first....but I bet the August repo is going to be just phenomenal in that way!

Don't know if you would really want to be on the August repo with probably 1,000 kids with six sea days. I know when we did the first 10 day Christmas cruise with 1,300 kids after a couple of days the teenagers were everywhere (riding down staircases in wheelchairs, making out in the hallways, etc., etc.)

I'll stick with the May cruises and the 300 kids any day!

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Linda, we just said no to the $3000 week in Ireland Katey wanted to take with her choir group. I thought it was really too expensive and we could do better.Yes, she will miss the week with her friends, but well, she'll have to deal. We are taking her to Spain along with the return cruise this summer,after all, and for half the price.

 

[Michelle2]

Think I'm finally caught up enough to start posting a bit. Swiss air just called and they found my bag. How's that for speedy? Actually it's only been a week since we got back for the B2B but the wife had given up hope... Her Transatlantic Tee Shirt was in there and Disney said there were no more so she is happy it's been found.

Speaking of Swiss air. I read someone's post that they found them very accommodating at the Barcelona airport. Unfortunately our mileage did vary. Long story but the up shot is that the agent made us weigh each carry on and because a couple were over the 8Kg weight insisted they go as checked bags. This brought our bag count to the limit for our group and I still had a mailing tube with my Amateur Radio Antennas in it. The tube was 5 foot by 2 inched and weights about 2 Kg. She said it was too large for the cabin and because we had reached our checked bag limit adding the carry-ons she would only send it by cargo or as excess baggage but after 30 minutes of trying to call the cargo desk and not being able to find the excess baggage price list. I was force to leave it behind or risk missing the plane.

To add insult to injury as we boarded the plane there were many people with huge carry-ons and one with a plastic artists tube larger than my own.

Anyway Swiss Air USA was very apologetic and is going to reimburse me for the cost of the antennas (about $40).

Here is a hint: when you arrive at the Barcelona airport isolate the carry-ons so they are not visible to the desk agent when you check your bags. Neither the security folk or the boarding agents gave anyones carry-ons a second thought.

This same thing happened to me!! I wasn't going to even mention my carry-ons to the check in lady, and we were about to leave, (I thought, COOL!) and my DH asked about it!! Sorry, but I am still mad at him about that one. I could have killed him. LOL I felt bad because we also held up the line while we were fixing stuff all around.
The lady made us check them in, and one was our laptop bag. Long story short, we made them get it back for us on our layover stop in Geneva (we wanted our entertainment for our son on the long flight home---thank goodness it was right up front where they got to it easily and quickly.)
So I am still really burnt about how they made some do it and others not.

 

[milestogo]

Well, guys, I have a story to tell you...

As many of you know I came home to a house full of company waiting to go to DL. My SIL had quite a surprise for everyone today... don't know how she kept it a secret for a week. Her daughter's b'day was today (7) and she arranged for Snow White (the one from DL!!!) That's right the real one - to come to the house for a tea party. She spent an hour playing with Zoe and Avery and having lunch with us. It was absolutely adorable. Apparently, several prince and princess will be available for private parties in the near future, so let me know if you are interested. We've been visiting this particular Snow White for several years and emailing her, so she found out how to do it. It was one of the cutest things we'd ever seen. My SIL was just in tears, but worse was Jonathan who acted like we had a rock star in the house. Big Disney day here.

 

[ssnyder]

Well, guys, I have a story to tell you...

As many of you know I came home to a house full of company waiting to go to DL. My SIL had quite a surprise for everyone today... don't know how she kept it a secret for a week. Her daughter's b'day was today (7) and she arranged for Snow White (the one from DL!!!) That's right the real one - to come to the house for a tea party. She spent an hour playing with Zoe and Avery and having lunch with us. It was absolutely adorable. Apparently, several prince and princess will be available for private parties in the near future, so let me know if you are interested. We've been visiting this particular Snow White for several years and emailing her, so she found out how to do it. It was one of the cutest things we'd ever seen. My SIL was just in tears, but worse was Jonathan who acted like we had a rock star in the house. Big Disney day here.

WOW!

That is fantastic.

 

[eller]

Well, guys, I have a story to tell you...

As many of you know I came home to a house full of company waiting to go to DL. My SIL had quite a surprise for everyone today... don't know how she kept it a secret for a week. Her daughter's b'day was today (7) and she arranged for Snow White (the one from DL!!!) That's right the real one - to come to the house for a tea party. She spent an hour playing with Zoe and Avery and having lunch with us. It was absolutely adorable. Apparently, several prince and princess will be available for private parties in the near future, so let me know if you are interested. We've been visiting this particular Snow White for several years and emailing her, so she found out how to do it. It was one of the cutest things we'd ever seen. My SIL was just in tears, but worse was Jonathan who acted like we had a rock star in the house. Big Disney day here.

I love days like that. Thanks for sharing!

Lori

 

[Michelle2]

For all of you reading... Pat, his family and I shared a very funny moment...
We were watching the quiet cove clue for the mystery at sea when the elevator opened and Jo Jo and Goliath (from Playhouse Disney) came out unexpectedly. They jumped into the scene and threw the characters off so much that they couldn't pull it back together. We were all laughing so hard tears were coming out of our eyes.

What were your funny moments on the trip?

My DH was at that. I was recovering from some sleep deprivation, and he came back to our room and told me about it. I was sooo bummed that I missed that. I loved that mystery series. Those characters were too cute!

I was so happy to FINALLY meet you Kelly, on the last night of the cruise! Even then I would not have known it was you until we were discussing DVC while walking out of the theater. LOL

 

[Michelle2]

Well, guys, I have a story to tell you...

As many of you know I came home to a house full of company waiting to go to DL. My SIL had quite a surprise for everyone today... don't know how she kept it a secret for a week. Her daughter's b'day was today (7) and she arranged for Snow White (the one from DL!!!) That's right the real one - to come to the house for a tea party. She spent an hour playing with Zoe and Avery and having lunch with us. It was absolutely adorable. Apparently, several prince and princess will be available for private parties in the near future, so let me know if you are interested. We've been visiting this particular Snow White for several years and emailing her, so she found out how to do it. It was one of the cutest things we'd ever seen. My SIL was just in tears, but worse was Jonathan who acted like we had a rock star in the house. Big Disney day here.

Cute! Too bad I don't live in California, or else I would love to do something like that....

 

[nanaguide]

Kelly - I bet Zoe and Avery were in heaven. I wish they did that here at WDW. How nice that your SIL got that all arranged - what wonderful memories. They'll be talking about it for years.

I've addressed 5 mailing envelopes of Disney glossy newspapers with the Magic and Barcelona Fireworks on the cover to be mailed tomorrow morning. Chris, Linda, Susie, Cynthia, and Scott hope you get them by Monday. I have 10 left if anyone wants one just send me your address and I'll get it in the mail to you. Scott, we talked about you should be a CT at WDW so I thought you might enjoy reading the Disney paper. Enjoy!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hello Everybody. So here is one little way that this cruise/group has changed us. David's sister was here yesterday (she lives in L.A.). She and David hook up sometimes when they both end up on the same city on business (happened in Toronto a few months ago). Somewhere along the way they started a tradition of seeing the blue Man Group together if they are where there is a Blue Man show (only managed Boston, Toronto and Chicago thus far). Anyway, she is alwasy trying to get us to meet her in Vegas sometime to see the show there (David never has work in Vegas). It has never been appealing to us to go all the way to Vegas just so David (and Rio--he loves those zany blue guys also) can see blue men. Yesterday she brought it up and I think all 4 of us said in unison "We could visit Chris and Rob!" All of the sudden Vegas is appealing. It seems any time we think of traveling now our first thought is to what cruise friends might we be able to visit if we do. Any one else find themselvse thinking this was?

 

[milestogo]

Funny you mentioned that... not only do we love Blue man group (saw the first one the first year in NY), but this afternoon when my BIL had to fly out after the party he went to Vegas. If his connection didn't happen we were going to have to drive out there... "Oh wow, we could see Chris and Rob!!!" Orlando is going to be the problem.... so many folks came from Orlando.

Speaking of Orlando... Jennifer and Rachid are you home yet?

 

[nanaguide]

Hello Everybody. So here is one little way that this cruise/group has changed us. David's sister was here yesterday (she lives in L.A.). She and David hook up sometimes when they both end up on the same city on business (happened in Toronto a few months ago). Somewhere along the way they started a tradition of seeing the blue Man Group together if they are where there is a Blue Man show (only managed Boston, Toronto and Chicago thus far). Anyway, she is alwasy trying to get us to meet her in Vegas sometime to see the show there (David never has work in Vegas). It has never been appealing to us to go all the way to Vegas just so David (and Rio--he loves those zany blue guys also) can see blue men. Yesterday she brought it up and I think all 4 of us said in unison "We could visit Chris and Rob!" All of the sudden Vegas is appealing. It seems any time we think of traveling now our first thought is to what cruise friends might we be able to visit if we do. Any one else find themselvse thinking this was?

You know Orlando is just getting a Blue Man Group. It's at Universal. I'm anxious to see how they compare to the Vegas show. Now you can put Orlando on your map to see the Blue Man Show.

 

[NHdisneylover]

You know Orlando is just getting a Blue Man Group. It's at Universal. I'm anxious to see how they compare to the Vegas show. Now you can put Orlando on your map to see the Blue Man Show.

We saw the adds for that. But, it is at GASP Universal (as you point out). I don't know if we can bring ourselves to go there. It seems so disloyal to WDW But really, we really haven't ever been. Somehow we get down to Florida and even with 10 day trips it feels like we just can't get enough of the World (and that is usually only the four main parks --we are finally planning on taking the kids to DisneyQuest and water parks this September).

 

[misseulalie]

Hi everyone!!!!

Yes, I'm here but just now reading all the posts. It has been very hectic getting back to reality and a bad end to a great trip. No, we didn't have any problems with our flights, they were fine. We flew home from Paris to Newark, then connecting to Orlando. When we landed in Newark, we were checking our voice messages while waiting to go through customs. Rachid got an urgent message from his sister in Morocco. So he called right away and found out that his brother died the day before. His brother was only 47 and from the little information I got it was related to his heavy smoking.
So instead of getting on a flight back to Orlando, Rachid ended up catching a flight from JFK to Morocco. He is still there and will return on Sunday.

I think I told some of you that my MIL and SIL were supposed to join us, but my MIL couldn't get a visa for Europe. Well, now we know why. There is absolutely no reason why a 70 year old woman couldn't get a visa, but for some reason the gov't rejected it. If she was on the cruise, she wouldn't have been with my BIL when he died, and I know she wouldn't have forgiven herself for being on vacation as her son passed. What's that saying.. "there's always a reason why things happen a certain way..."

BUT.... otherwise we are doing fine and am thinking about the great time we had and the great friends we made. It is so wierd to spend so much time with people then all of sudden never see them.

I decided I loved the Tranatlantic and the med was ok. It was tiring and long. I couldn't imagine doing the 10 day. I really needed that sea day in the middle.
The only people not to check in is Alex and Karen. I am waiting to see how Mackenzie's (sp?) teeth are doing and how long they actually stayed in Barcelona. ( not the teeth; Karen and Alex)

Hello to my new friends; Kelly and Jonathan, Kathy and Ted, Karen and Alex, Richard and Heloisa, and Apryl. sorry if I forgot anyone!!!

By the way, I didn't gain an ounce!!!!

Kelly, I'm still thinking about your $1,000 luggage.

I am still looking for pic's of the ship as we left Jetty Park, anyone???

Jennifer

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Condolences to you and your family Jennifer. Luckily you checked your messages when you did! I am a firm believer in things happen for a reason.

Debbie

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Just got home from work... but I would rather have been in Margaritaville... like we were one month ago yesterday..... ( I got my dates mixed up LOL)

 

[tig82174]

Don't know if you would really want to be on the August repo with probably 1,000 kids with six sea days. I know when we did the first 10 day Christmas cruise with 1,300 kids after a couple of days the teenagers were everywhere (riding down staircases in wheelchairs, making out in the hallways, etc., etc.)

I'll stick with the May cruises and the 300 kids any day!

A very well taken point! I'll stick with the May, Sept. and Feb cruises.

 

[Scott H]

Jennifer our condolences also.

Wow best part and funny part of the voyage. Tough questions. all of it was great to me, thanks to you all. Would do it again in a heart beat.