May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[Ladyshopper]

Thought I would come and say hello, as may be joining this cruise!

Currently booked on 31st August Med Cruise, but thinking of moving my reservation to this one, as its the same price for a 2 week cruise as a one week med one!

Only thing holding me back is my sons exams, am still trying to confirm with the school if he has any in May during the time we would be way. At the moment am about 90% certain he doesn't, but am holding out a bit longer just to make sure, as these exams are very important in the UK.

Anyway, will be subbing to the thread and hopefully will be able to confirm for sure soon.

 

[Tink1987]

Thought I would come and say hello, as may be joining this cruise!

Currently booked on 31st August Med Cruise, but thinking of moving my reservation to this one, as its the same price for a 2 week cruise as a one week med one!

Only thing holding me back is my sons exams, am still trying to confirm with the school if he has any in May during the time we would be way. At the moment am about 90% certain he doesn't, but am holding out a bit longer just to make sure, as these exams are very important in the UK.

Anyway, will be subbing to the thread and hopefully will be able to confirm for sure soon.

Welcome

 

[Debbru]

DH & I are on this cruise, although we haven't been on this thread for awhile.

Hoping for some advice because we are totally confused - LOL!

When we booked the cruise, we also booked ground transfers:
May 18th - Hobby airport to cruise port
June 1st - Cruise port to Barcelona airport

We were charged $120 for the round trip transfers.

We don't have our flights booked yet for Orlando to Hobby, but I've been reading online that DCL will only be running shuttles from George Bush Airport. So I went online to check our reservation & see what it showed. This is what I found:

May 18th:HOTEL to cruise port

That's it! No mention of any airport - No mention of June 1st transfers.

So I called DCL this morning - their computer screen shows the transfers that were originally booked. He looked at "DCL online" and saw what I was seeing. He's sending a request to their computer department to figure out what's wrong.

BUT, I asked him if they were doing transfers only from Bush - He checked & assured me that DCL was doing transfers from Bush AND Hobby thru May 2013 & would discontinue Hobby only after the Magic returned from Europe.

Do I believe him??? Southwest is opening dates this Monday - do you think it's safe to book a flight into Hobby?

 

[MissAndrea]

I've been MIA for awhile because of our September trip to Disney World. Now that I have time to focus on this trip, I'm finding I have questions. I'm only going to ask one for now though. Our plan is to spend the day in Barcelona when we disembark, spend the next day in Paris, the next 2 days at Disneyland Paris, then London, then Iceland (thanks Mandy for the great suggestion on IcelandAir), then home. There are a few days where we will check out of a hotel that morning but plan on site seeing in that city until we move on to the next city that evening. I have no idea what we are supposed to do with our luggage! Do/can hotels hold them? Any other suggestions on what to do with our stuff?

 

[Tink1987]

I've been MIA for awhile because of our September trip to Disney World. Now that I have time to focus on this trip, I'm finding I have questions. I'm only going to ask one for now though. Our plan is to spend the day in Barcelona when we disembark, spend the next day in Paris, the next 2 days at Disneyland Paris, then London, then Iceland (thanks Mandy for the great suggestion on IcelandAir), then home. There are a few days where we will check out of a hotel that morning but plan on site seeing in that city until we move on to the next city that evening. I have no idea what we are supposed to do with our luggage! Do/can hotels hold them? Any other suggestions on what to do with our stuff?

Any hotel in Europe will hold your bags for you as long as you want on the day of check out - its never been a problem for any hotel I have stayed in throughout Europe

 

[MandyGirl]

Thought I would come and say hello, as may be joining this cruise!

Welcome aboard!

DH & I are on this cruise, although we haven't been on this thread for awhile.

Hoping for some advice because we are totally confused - LOL!

When we booked the cruise, we also booked ground transfers:
May 18th - Hobby airport to cruise port
June 1st - Cruise port to Barcelona airport

We were charged $120 for the round trip transfers.

We don't have our flights booked yet for Orlando to Hobby, but I've been reading online that DCL will only be running shuttles from George Bush Airport. So I went online to check our reservation & see what it showed. This is what I found:

May 18th:HOTEL to cruise port

That's it! No mention of any airport - No mention of June 1st transfers.

So I called DCL this morning - their computer screen shows the transfers that were originally booked. He looked at "DCL online" and saw what I was seeing. He's sending a request to their computer department to figure out what's wrong.

BUT, I asked him if they were doing transfers only from Bush - He checked & assured me that DCL was doing transfers from Bush AND Hobby thru May 2013 & would discontinue Hobby only after the Magic returned from Europe.

Do I believe him??? Southwest is opening dates this Monday - do you think it's safe to book a flight into Hobby?

It's been making my head spin as well. However, taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive from what I have been finding. If Southwest rates on Monday are good, fly into Hobby and take a cab (or Super Shuttle or a limo). Also keep in mind the 'bags fly free' on Southwest when comparing flights.

We actually just flew home from Orlando through Hobby yesterday for our connection.

I've been MIA for awhile because of our September trip to Disney World. Now that I have time to focus on this trip, I'm finding I have questions. I'm only going to ask one for now though. Our plan is to spend the day in Barcelona when we disembark, spend the next day in Paris, the next 2 days at Disneyland Paris, then London, then Iceland (thanks Mandy for the great suggestion on IcelandAir), then home. There are a few days where we will check out of a hotel that morning but plan on site seeing in that city until we move on to the next city that evening. I have no idea what we are supposed to do with our luggage! Do/can hotels hold them? Any other suggestions on what to do with our stuff?

Glad it helped you! I have got to get on the stick with researching Iceland! And the rest of our cruises for that matter! I have told hubby he is in charge of the European part of our vacation but I know how that will go

 

[MandyGirl]

By the way - those of you flying into Hobby will appreciate it's smallness and closeness to Galveston. http://www.fly2houston.com/hobby

My girls and I flew into Hobby on Sept 21 to watch the Magic sail into port. We actually watched sailaway on Sept 22 at about 4:50 and STILL made a 6:30 flight with time to spare, even with one spot of standstill traffic on northbound I-45.

Connected through Houston Hobby yesterday - grabbed lunch. Good choices there.

Flying into Hobby in November for my parents to pick us up for the Magic Western Caribbean. They are driving from east Texas, so I asked them to just pick us up at the airport. Super excited to accompany them on their first Disney cruise!

 

[MandyGirl]

On Wednesday, hubby and I got to spend the day at Hollywood Studios and Epcot with Binkytell (Sarah, hubby Brian and their two kiddos from Scotland). It was exactly 7 months until we will be having a pre-cruise celebration at Tremont in Galveston! I think we came to that realization right after the fireworks. Before we know it, we will be counting months on just ONE hand for the EBTA!!

 

[gramfrog]

We just found out this past week that we are going to sail out of Galveston on January 18 with five of our grandkids and their parents (Christmas gift!); we will fly into Houston Intercontinental (Bush) the day before. I will post anything we find out about Disney transport from the airport/hotels/port, and accommodations,etc when we return to help all of us with the EBTA!

 

[MissAndrea]

Any hotel in Europe will hold your bags for you as long as you want on the day of check out - its never been a problem for any hotel I have stayed in throughout Europe

Whew!! That is a relief! Thanks so much

 

[MissAndrea]

Glad it helped you! I have got to get on the stick with researching Iceland! And the rest of our cruises for that matter! I have told hubby he is in charge of the European part of our vacation but I know how that will go

I sat here today researching stuff to do in Iceland and I don't even have the rest of the trip planned! So many places and things to do...I'm so excited to get started on it!!

 

[Tink1987]

Jealous of all you going to Iceland afterwards - that will be awesome!

 

[MandyGirl]

We just found out this past week that we are going to sail out of Galveston on January 18 with five of our grandkids and their parents (Christmas gift!); we will fly into Houston Intercontinental (Bush) the day before. I will post anything we find out about Disney transport from the airport/hotels/port, and accommodations,etc when we return to help all of us with the EBTA!

Yay!! Congratulations! I'm on the Nov 3 sailing out of Galveston, so if there is anything you want me to check out for while down there, just let me know.

I sat here today researching stuff to do in Iceland and I don't even have the rest of the trip planned! So many places and things to do...I'm so excited to get started on it!!

Isn't it crazy?!? I keep coming across things and think, "why are we only stopping over 2 nights here?!?" Hubby has to get back to work, but that doesn't mean the girls and I have to get back right then

Jealous of all you going to Iceland afterwards - that will be awesome!

Have you booked your airfare to the US already? Look into Iceland Air if you haven't. We went with them because of their rates, and then that stopover is an added bonus.

 

[padalyn]

DH & I are on this cruise, although we haven't been on this thread for awhile.

Hoping for some advice because we are totally confused - LOL!

When we booked the cruise, we also booked ground transfers:
May 18th - Hobby airport to cruise port
June 1st - Cruise port to Barcelona airport

We were charged $120 for the round trip transfers.

We don't have our flights booked yet for Orlando to Hobby, but I've been reading online that DCL will only be running shuttles from George Bush Airport. So I went online to check our reservation & see what it showed. This is what I found:

May 18th:HOTEL to cruise port

That's it! No mention of any airport - No mention of June 1st transfers.

So I called DCL this morning - their computer screen shows the transfers that were originally booked. He looked at "DCL online" and saw what I was seeing. He's sending a request to their computer department to figure out what's wrong.

BUT, I asked him if they were doing transfers only from Bush - He checked & assured me that DCL was doing transfers from Bush AND Hobby thru May 2013 & would discontinue Hobby only after the Magic returned from Europe.

Do I believe him??? Southwest is opening dates this Monday - do you think it's safe to book a flight into Hobby?

We rented a car from Enterprise - one way.

Mandy - we are spending 7 hrs in Iceland, thank-you. However, there seems to be some question as to WHAT TO DO WITH THE CARRY ON LUGGAGE!!
any suggestions? anyone?

 

[padalyn]

Thought I would come and say hello, as may be joining this cruise!

Currently booked on 31st August Med Cruise, but thinking of moving my reservation to this one, as its the same price for a 2 week cruise as a one week med one!

Only thing holding me back is my sons exams, am still trying to confirm with the school if he has any in May during the time we would be way. At the moment am about 90% certain he doesn't, but am holding out a bit longer just to make sure, as these exams are very important in the UK.

Anyway, will be subbing to the thread and hopefully will be able to confirm for sure soon.

welcome - I think we have cruised together before!

 

[Tink1987]

Have you booked your airfare to the US already? Look into Iceland Air if you haven't. We went with them because of their rates, and then that stopover is an added bonus.

I am from the UK so will be flying back to the UK as soon as we disembark.

I will NOT be crying, kicking and screaming at my desk on the Monday when thinking of all of you on the second part of your trip

 

[MandyGirl]

I am from the UK so will be flying back to the UK as soon as we disembark.

I will NOT be crying, kicking and screaming at my desk on the Monday when thinking of all of you on the second part of your trip

I was meaning as you are flying to the US to embark on the cruise.... come a few days earlier so you can have a stopover in Iceland if it works with your city pair?

 

[MandyGirl]

We rented a car from Enterprise - one way.

Mandy - we are spending 7 hrs in Iceland, thank-you. However, there seems to be some question as to WHAT TO DO WITH THE CARRY ON LUGGAGE!!
any suggestions? anyone?

No problem. I came across a tour operator that picks up and drops off at the airport, especially if going to the Blue Lagoon area. Are tour operators able to also accommodate carryon luggage in their vans? I know we've had that done in St Thomas and elsewhere - luggage stays in van while we are doing the tour parts.

We also ended up getting an Enterprise car rental one-way with no drop fee. Called their 800 number. I think it depends on the Rep you get because the other time they tacked on the $100 drop fee. Email sent afterwards to confirm the reservation did not have the drop fee.

 

[Tink1987]

I was meaning as you are flying to the US to embark on the cruise.... come a few days earlier so you can have a stopover in Iceland if it works with your city pair?

Oh sorry, missed that ;-)

Unfortunately, due to the longer trip we are taking over NYE 2013 and for the month of January for my partners 30th birthday, we can't take any more leave from work.....

 

[mellojon]

Excited to say I am going!!!!!

Joining me will be my mom and sister and then my family friend Ray.


Looking forward to sailing in 208 days!!!