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

[MandyGirl]

We're just 2 adults. I think we're leaning towards 2 nights in Barcelona, 3 in London. But we might yet switch that. We have not decided on how/when we're getting to London.

I had a look at the other recommendation you made. The Hotel Acta Atrium. It's funny, it has a great rating but the last comment is a bad one from "grumpydude". Wouldn't you naturally discount a little someone's comments who calls himself grumpydude? I'm a fan of bigger hotels - not sure why though. Acta Atrium isn't very big.

We would be roughly the same and not in the room very much. As long as we can still walk after 14 days of cruise food.

LOL - "grumpydude". Yes, it is a small hotel. Pool is smaller than it looks like. It's on a quaint street with trees and nearby pastry shops, etc.

Larger hotels we considered:
http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-5560-novotel-barcelona-city/index.shtml
http://www.hotelbarcelonauniversal.com/default-en.html

Negative on the Universal was that it was not in a "great" area for night time walking, but huge plus is the reviews of the metro being literally out the front door.

We have also booked with booking.com as well (and cancelled a couple reservations). I have been pleased with them.

The walking in Barcelona will be good for the post-cruise time. Just will be negated with the chocolate/churros and sangria...

We also did Aerobus from the BCN airport. Very easy and saves money over a cab. Also be sure to look into Easyjet to London. You have to pay for luggage, etc but usually still cheaper than the larger carriers.

Jeepers creepers! This return air is making me have heart palpitations. Any suggestions? Called DVC and found out they won't book air for DVC bookings. This is our 13th Disney cruise and I guess we never tried to let them book the air. Yikes!

Like GoofyNewfie and a few others, we booked directly with IcelandAir. I found it to even work out to be different prices choosing "one way" versus "stopover". While we have to pay a hotel for a stopover, it gives us a chance to see Iceland. Also consider flying IcelandAir to one of their gateway US cities, then hook on another one-way flight on a different carrier (like JetBlue or Southwest). JetBlue does some codeshare with IcelandAir, and I have booked two different tickets before that were codeshare and able to check my bags through. Keep an eye on cheapoair.com as well, and when you see a carrier you like look at their website directly (I found our Iceland Air tickets about $100 less booking directly on their website versus cheapoair). If you see a rate you like, jump on it. They change so frequently.

 

[MandyGirl]

Also look at Acta Ink 606 -- near metro and also train to airport I believe.

 

[valbob89]

We are still looking for airfares home. Because of his height and back problems, we try to travel business class to Europe. US airways has had the best rates but they have gone up so much, around $3,000 pp. He was commmenting that at that price you would think you would get a seat that fully reclines and is wider. So just for laughs I priced Singapore Air, which gives you a seat and a separate fully reclined bed. If anyone has any extra cash laying around, a ticket from Barcelona to San Francisco is a mere $23,000 pp. But hurry, half the seat are already taken.

 

[Tink1987]

We are still looking for airfares home. Because of his height and back problems, we try to travel business class to Europe. US airways has had the best rates but they have gone up so much, around $3,000 pp. He was commmenting that at that price you would think you would get a seat that fully reclines and is wider. So just for laughs I priced Singapore Air, which gives you a seat and a separate fully reclined bed. If anyone has any extra cash laying around, a ticket from Barcelona to San Francisco is a mere $23,000 pp. But hurry, half the seat are already taken.

Oooh quick, where do I sign up?! lol

 

[GoofyNewfie]

We are still looking for airfares home. Because of his height and back problems, we try to travel business class to Europe. US airways has had the best rates but they have gone up so much, around $3,000 pp. He was commmenting that at that price you would think you would get a seat that fully reclines and is wider. So just for laughs I priced Singapore Air, which gives you a seat and a separate fully reclined bed. If anyone has any extra cash laying around, a ticket from Barcelona to San Francisco is a mere $23,000 pp. But hurry, half the seat are already taken.

We picked up Iceland Air for the way home and got their semi-business class. Can't remember what it's called off the top of my head. But you're in regular seats in a x2 rather than a x3 and you get business class service - including their lounge. For the 2 of us, it was the same or a little less than for 1 person one-way on Air Canada.

For the To Houston leg, I'm hoping my airline status will get us a free business class upgrade. But it's on a small commuter-style airplane so it might be a waste. Oh well. About time I get a perk from all this business travel.

Good luck with the airfare.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

For those of you that like to get a picture of a place before you get there, I've added some Placemarks for the GWB and Hobby Airports and the Tremont House hotel some of us are staying at before the cruise. EDIT: On the cruise website main page's map. Sheesh. I never mentioned where.

If anyone would like me to add any more hotels or various placemarks, let me know.

George W Bush is certainly in the wrong direction, isn't it? I guess we'll get to see a bit of Houston then.

 

[MandyGirl]

We picked up Iceland Air for the way home and got their semi-business class. Can't remember what it's called off the top of my head. But you're in regular seats in a x2 rather than a x3 and you get business class service - including their lounge. For the 2 of us, it was the same or a little less than for 1 person one-way on Air Canada.

That's what we placed my mother-in-law in with Iceland Air for the trip home. Gives her room to spread out a little more and hopefully some peace and quiet from the grandkids I think we split up after JFK since she is flying back to her house versus home with us. We offered to use AAdvantage miles for her since they have come out with better routings versus what came available in summer, but she wanted to be on the same flights with us until we were back on US soil. (And understandable - as she would be by herself)

 

[mboekhoff]

We were on the EBTA last year and the weather was nice, but cool. Sweatshirt and pants or long shorts were good. Some days it was cool enough to wear a wind breaker over a sweatshirt. We are from Minnesota so we aren't wimps about the cold but it will definitely get chilly.

Anyone have a thought on how hot/warm/cold it's going to be once we get out into the ocean? Our thinking had been that we'd just be bringing summer clothes but wonder whether it might get chilly at times.

It doesn't get too hot where we are. Anything over 15C/60F will be shorts and tshirts for us.

 

[Yvet]

I have read that there are wavephones on the Magic...
I thought that they were only at the Dream and Fantasy...

Does anybody know if the alarmclocks are also the same on the Magic as they are on the Dream and Fantasy (the ones with Iphone docking stations)????

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Another place we almost stayed at (a Novotel I think) was not as walkable but in the budget.

A fair number of likely looking hotels including the Novotel Barcelona City are sold out.

I dare not say what hotel I'm leaning towards. There are only 4 rooms left.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

We were on the EBTA last year and the weather was nice, but cool. Sweatshirt and pants or long shorts were good. Some days it was cool enough to wear a wind breaker over a sweatshirt. We are from Minnesota so we aren't wimps about the cold but it will definitely get chilly.

I guess the dates for this cruise are about the same as last year's. We're 4 days later so that's not going to make much of a difference.

Thanks for the info. I think that was my question.

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

Posted this on FB a day or two ago, but wanted to also post here as I know not everyone has a FB account!

OK, folks, one more chance to vote on the type of private bar experience that I will be booking for our trip - going to start on this relatively soon, so if you've NOT already put in your two cents, please do so here - please note that this will NOT sign you up but will at least give me an idea of what to book thru DCL....

You can find the survey here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDlIa05ZbWtNOHA1eDdqVU5hLWV0M0E6MQ#gid=0

Once I get an idea of what we're doing i will be contacting each of you asking you to commit to the tasting and letting you know the price. Of course, to participate you will have to be over 21 (this will be verified by DCL) and the charges will be added to your room charges.....

If you have any questions, ask, and I'll do my best to answer or get back with you when I find out the answer!

PS - Don't answer the survey twice, I will remove all of the duplicate postings -

 

[MandyGirl]

I have read that there are wavephones on the Magic...
I thought that they were only at the Dream and Fantasy...

Does anybody know if the alarmclocks are also the same on the Magic as they are on the Dream and Fantasy (the ones with Iphone docking stations)????

I can't remember what the alarm clock looked like -- but for some reason I think ipod docking station. I shared a cabin with my parents and gave them the bed while my 2 year old and I took the bunk beds... out of sight of the alarm clock.

Yes - the Magic definitely has the wavephones. Had them last month and on the 2011 WBTA.

A fair number of likely looking hotels including the Novotel Barcelona City are sold out.

I dare not say what hotel I'm leaning towards. There are only 4 rooms left.

I keep forgetting we will be there at the start of June. Getting touristy...

PS - Don't answer the survey twice, I will remove all of the duplicate postings -

So can we make up fictitious Disboard names and vote multiple times? Just kidding. Thanks for handling this!!

PS - made a new sangria recipe at home and told hubby that it may have to be duplicated in our stateroom on the ship...

 

[NancyIL]

I can't remember what the alarm clock looked like -- but for some reason I think ipod docking station. I shared a cabin with my parents and gave them the bed while my 2 year old and I took the bunk beds... out of sight of the alarm clock.

No more propeller-like clocks on the Magic and Wonder?

 

[heatherb819]

The temps from last year should be on those navigators, wherever they might be. The kids swam everyday, I would lay out at the pool each day, it was comfortable, jacket or sweatshirt at night. I didn't take one so I had to buy one on board (darn)! They did have special TA sweatshirts so if you "forget" yours like I did!!!

 

[MandyGirl]

No more propeller-like clocks on the Magic and Wonder?

I'm not thinking so-- I think I recall seeing it and thinking I should have brought my ipod. I could be wrong though and confusing with the hotel room from pre-cruise. I was doing my best to avoid all clocks that week

 

[MandyGirl]

I'm not thinking so-- I think I recall seeing it and thinking I should have brought my ipod. I could be wrong though and confusing with the hotel room from pre-cruise. I was doing my best to avoid all clocks that week

I just flipped through all the pictures I took onboard, and of course there were none of that side of the cabin. I do recall something going off in the middle of the night, like an alarm clock, and my dad just putting it in the closet because he couldn't figure it out.

I did a quick search on Disboards and came across this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46428937

 

[Tink1987]

I just flipped through all the pictures I took onboard, and of course there were none of that side of the cabin. I do recall something going off in the middle of the night, like an alarm clock, and my dad just putting it in the closet because he couldn't figure it out.

I did a quick search on Disboards and came across this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46428937

Thanks for finding that - pleased they are iPod docks as I will use my iPhone alarm clock each morning now. I have Mickey Mouse's Club house song wake me up each morning

 

[Tink1987]

I've been reading about those Vista spa passes the last couple of days - are they worth getting at all?

 

[sdlong329]

That's craziness!

You never know what DCL will pull. Last year for 2011 WBTA, DCL put out a MEO rate for the transatlantic and other Med cruises. It was only for European residents, not US, but yet the transatlantic was connecting both continents (Barcelona to Port Canaveral). Price difference would have saved us about $800 off the rate we booked at. You see FL resident rates, but DCL had a European resident rate for the transatlantic.

I can understand a discounted rate for Europeans ... DCL trying to get business from a specific clientele. After all, it's much easier for a European to sail DCL in the Mediterranean / Baltics. It's merely another avenue for increased business and revenue.

On the other hand, not offering transfers to the BCN airport for Brits seems like an oversight. I wonder if DCL offers transfers to BCN airport for ANY Europeans?


Steven