May 26, 2007 (5/26/07) "First Magical Med Cruise!!" (The M&M's!)

[poconoboatniks]

Bumping us back to page one

 

[sweetsue]

I have a question for those of you that have been to Europe. My DD5 and I usually share one bed and my DM takes another. Are the beds in the hotels large enough to share? Are they the size of a double bed or the size of a twin? Does it vary by hotel? Do I have to pay for a triple because we are 3 people or can I save the $ and only get a double? DD doesn't take up much room and some of the rates for a triple increase by almost $100/night!

Thanks for any help!

Sweet Sue

 

[DebWills]

I'm here reading..but have been pretty quiet. I am sailing on the Celebrity Infinity the end of June in Alaska and that has my priority right now.

At this point we are planning to spend 2-3 nights at DLP on DVC points.. to acclimate to Europe and the time difference. Then head to Barcelona the day before we sail. Haven't decided on a hotel yet.

Deb

 

[Bareacuda]

After reading some of the posts... I did make hotel reservations.. for $455.oo per night(ouch) at the Grand Marina. I went thru DCL, all taxes and transfers are with that price, and hopefully I get a brick of gold to go with that

Ann

 

[Hygiene99]

After reading some of the posts... I did make hotel reservations.. for $455.oo per night(ouch) at the Grand Marina. I went thru DCL, all taxes and transfers are with that price, and hopefully I get a brick of gold to go with that

Ann

Sorry no gold !!

But I did not realize transfers go with it thanks..

 

[jeanneg]

I'm curious about the transfers also. Maybe it just covers the "extra" leg (hotel to ship). And if, in fact, it does cover all three legs, will you be refunded the extra $100 charged for transfers if you stay in the Grand Marina Hotel? I seriously doubt we will arrive a day earlier, but it's just good to know these things. I'm starting to get antsy about arriving the same day.

And another question: Ya know how people who book the DCL transfers from WDW to the port always complain that the bus leaves so late and they are always among the last guests to board the ship.........well, what time do you think Disney will bring the hotel guests to the Magic in Barcelona? Since the ship departs so late, they might not bring you there until 3 or 4 pm. Heck, I want to start partying as soon as possible!

 

[Bareacuda]

Talked to DCL this afternoon...

The time isn't set in stone yet as for the pick-ups at the hotels... but we will be on ship no later then 3pm... ship leaves at night around 9 or 10.Plenty of time to party

And as long as Im not getting any gold... Im not going!

 

[sweetsue]

I'm thinking of coming in a day or two early, visiting the Aquarium and park areas near the port, and then checking in as early as possible. I figure check-in will be a royal pain this first time and I want us to board as early as possible! At the moment I have DCL transfers but in PC it's so much easier if you arrive by yourself that I'm tempted to drop it all and just book on my own. Now I just need to find that Motel Seis!

Sweet Sue

 

[sweetsue]

*** Posted on wrong thread. Sorry ***

Sweet Sue (DIS-challenged tonight...)

 

[Hygiene99]

 

[DebWills]

I figure check-in will be a royal pain this first time and I want us to board as early as possible!
Sweet Sue

Good point. That reminded me that when we arrived at the LA port for the 1st West Coast Cruise (May 05) around 10am, folks were STILL getting off the ship that had been on the repo cruise. I can't recall now if it was a luggage issue or customs or what..but at one point it seemed like as many folks were still getting off the ship as were arriving to get on.

And, that was in the US.. no telling what the process will be in Spain. Anyone disembarked in Europe before that can share the experience?

Deb

 

[poconoboatniks]

Does anyone know what time DCL has scheduled us for boarding? Deb is right. We waited a long time to board in Calif. I think we had boarding pass # 4 or 5 and we were early getting to the port. Several dissers arrived after us and got an earlier boarding pass. I hope DCL learned from their Calif. mistakes.

Poconoboatniks

 

[milestogo]

For the first West Coast Cruise, we arrived at 10:45am and didn't get on the boat until after 3pm. All the computers crashed and the employees were not used to the west coast systems. But 7 weeks later when we took the next cruise it was a breeze.

I'm wondering how it will work for those of us who are on the repo then returning for the 11 night. Did anyone do the back to back Panama, mexico? How did it work for you and your luggage? Did you have to leave the boat? where did your luggage go?

 

[littleowensmommy]

Kelly, Are you staying in the same stateroom for both cruises? If so, I would assume that you will unpack on 12 May and be good to go until 6 June. We are moving from 8032 to 6056 and my TA told me that the cabin steward would take care moving us. As far as I know, we won't have to take our luggage off the ship on 26 May. We can get off the ship and tour Barcelona for the day but we won't be able to reboard until DCL starts boarding the 26 May passengers.

 

[kpros]

We are also doing the repo and 1st Med cruise. We have the same room booked for both - unless we get an upgrade (fat chance for that). I'm hoping the change over process with go well.

The first timers were on the May Panama repo and the 1st west coast cruise, so Alex should be able to provide some insight into the process when he visits this thread.

Ken

 

[meb51]

I was wondering about the boarding times and procedures as well. I seem to remember that there were separate lines for non US citizens when we went on the Panama Canal cruise. I wonder what happens now? I assume most people boarding will either be from the states or from European countries other than Spain. Has anyone cruised in Europe before? Since the ship leaves late, we're hoping to take a tour of Barcelona before we board. I certainly don't want to cut it too close.

 

[milestogo]

We have two different rooms as of now for each cruise. We are counting on an upgrade for the repo, which looks like it might happen due to the time of year and school being in session. I seriously doubt we will get the upgrade for the 11 night, but you never know. I'll be very impressed if we don't have to worry about moving our stuff. I'd hate to be sitting at the port with all our stuff for 6 hours!

I'm including a post I put on the repo cruise thread this morning:

I'm officially putting out my list of goals to accomplish in our remaining 55 weeks. Anyone else have any goals before the trip? Anyone else have goals they want the rest of us to help push them to accomplish?

Goals before trip:

1: Increase our business income to pay for DVC & cruise! Benefit: increase stays each year!
2: Finish my Doctorate - or be within 4 classes by the start of the cruise - must bring one book/class with me on cruise. Benefit: obvious!
3: Choose my dissertation. Benefit: peace of mind, excitement of beginning research.
4: Finish all sewing projects in the house! Benefit: clean the sewing area & have complete rooms!
5: Sell all books and junk on Ebay: Benefit: downsize the junk in our house!

 

[figment52]

I just peaked at the weekend schedule for The Travel Channel and there are shows on Marsaille, France and Napels, Italy on this Saturday (4/29/06).

Just a little something to peak our interest for next summer - like we need any encouragement.

 

[Bareacuda]

Hi Milestogo...

We did a back to back 2 years ago.. it was wonderful. We had the same room and stayed on the ship. No change in anything but a quick trip to Guest Services to get a new KTTW card with the new dates on it! Keep your old cards... they have all your transfers on it !!!

 

[jeanneg]

I'm officially putting out my list of goals to accomplish in our remaining 55 weeks. Anyone else have any goals before the trip? Anyone else have goals they want the rest of us to help push them to accomplish?

Yep, here are mine:
1) Win the lottery so I can easily pay off this cruise and still have lots of money to spend onboard and share with my friends (that means you guys!)

2) Lose at least 30 pounds

3) Get selected for an extreme make-over so I will look MARVelous when I cruise

4) Somehow manage to get my house cleaned from top to bottom so I won't have to return to a mess

That should just about do it......I don't require much to be happy