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

[meb51]

I feel better about the the time leaving Barcelona. I'm going to have to think about the Paris connection. If we were to take the option that would allow us to get back to our regional airport the next evening, we woud change from Air France to Delta in Paris. I just thing 90 minutes may be cutting it too close. I wouldn't mind be stranded in Paris for an extra day but I don't think I want to be stranded in the Paris airport for an extra day in the event we miss our connecting flight.

 

[Bareacuda]

Hi Marie,

I just talked to DCL about my flight... they don't have any time or cities listed as of yet
I know we won't miss our boarding, we decited to come in a day early to Barcelona and watch the ship come in

Ann

 

[renegade7]

I just purchased my tickets yesterday for my father and I. We canceled our air and transfers with Dinsey too.

We are also flying out a day early to be on the safe side and maybe adjust to the time difference a little sooner that others (9 hours for me). See our travel below.

I still need to confirm a hotel - any suggestions other than those from Disney. I have been searching the web. I found one for $100 (80 Euros) it is a 3 or 4 star seems to be close to the port (H10 Montcada, Barcelona).

Is anyone looking into travel insurance just for the flight and keeping Disney's for the cruise portion?

I picked up a book on cruising the Med at Borders this weekend. After spending a good two hours trying to choose between the 3 books they had. I also browsed a book on Barcelona and grabbed some websites that might be helpful. If I find anything interesting I will pass it on.

I can't believe it is a little less than a year off - but yet I am so excited. I am looking forward to meeting those of you who are on on the flight over on 5/24. But first up is the Food and Wine Festival in Oct. - Get to book our reservations on 7/31 - at 4 AM - this is when living on the west coast is not fun.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/24/07
Depart SFO @ 7:15 am
Arrive JFK @ 3:36 pm
Delta flight #1448
Seat 28A

Meet up with my dad who is getting a ride from PA to JFK...

Depart JFK @ 8:20 pm
Arrive BCN @ 10:25 am (5/25)
Delta flight # 94
Seats 22 F & G

6/6/07
Depart BCN @ 12:25 pm
Arrive JFK @ 3:00 pm
Delta flight # 95
Seats 23 F & G
Should allow 2 hours for customs before your next flight....

Depart JFK @ 6:00 pm
Arrive SFO @ 9:32 pm
Seat 28A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

BTW -
By getting our own flight we are saving $924 from the prices Disney quoted me and we know our travel plans...

In addition we are not using their transfers and are flying in a day early and getting a hotel for around $100. We are still saving at minimum $735 from the price quote Disney gave with an arrival the same day as the cruise.

 

[Scratch42]

http://airfare.travelzoo.com/european-airfare/248282

Thought this might help somebody!

j

 

[jeanneg]

Scratch42: thanks for the link....those rates are amazing! Unfortunately, they fall outside the timeline for the cruise!

 

[jeanneg]

renegade7: Welcome to Delta #94/#95! We are seats 18A and B for both flights so we won't be too far away. If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay? Ours were $897 each with all the taxes and surcharges (Raleigh to Barcelona roundtrip) I checked and the JFK-BCN portion alone was $732 so I guess it's not too bad. I'll admit I was hoping for something with a 6 in front of it!
Yes, I'm keeping DCL insurance for the cruise and will probably purchase extra insurance for the flight. Someone suggested insuremytrip.com but I have not yet checked them out.
We also booked our hotel: Hotel Ramblas which is situated right on Las Ramblas (#33). I found it through Kayak.com and booked it through Octopus.com which I think is a British travel company that buys up lots of rooms in bulk. I chose it because they said it was fully refundable up until a certain amount of time. It was rated as being an exceptionally nice 3* hotel and I liked the location. I think the rate is $183 and it includes a hot buffet breakfast. If enough of us stay in the same area, we can share taxis to and from the hotel.

 

[Hygiene99]

Hi Marie,

I just talked to DCL about my flight... they don't have any time or cities listed as of yet
I know we won't miss our boarding, we decited to come in a day early to Barcelona and watch the ship come in

Ann

Ship does not leave port until 9 pm for this cruise !!

or so it says !!

We cannot book until tomorrow, Due to the fact that we are staying a few days after the cruise..
flight 94 looks good !!

 

[jeanneg]

You are right about the ship taking off at 9pm! That gives you a nice cushion if you fly in on the same day and your flight is DELAYED. If, however. it is CANCELLED you'll end up screwed no matter what time the ship leaves port. That's because most international flights go out just once daily and if you miss it or it gets cancelled, you'll have to wait until the next day. I really didn't want to leave a day early but I thought about it long and hard and decided it was worth the peace of mind. A friend of mine recently missed her international flight because of bad weather in this area and couldn't fly into Italy until the next day. She was going on a group tour and had to join it in progress at the second city. Her insurance covered the monetary loss, but it was a major hassle and she would have preferred to have gotten there as scheduled.

 

[konslerg]

renegade7: Welcome to Delta #94/#95! We are seats 18A and B for both flights so we won't be too far away.

Well, we're booked on Flight #95 with you. It seemed the only reasonable flight unless you decided to stay over another day in Barcelona. Seats 19 F & G We paid $786 and change through Travelocity from Miami.

...but we still have our Disney transfers and the EuroStar Grand Marina through Disney at about $400 per night. I think I'm going to check out The Ramblas ...sounds like it's a whole lot more reasonably priced than the Grand Marina!!

Now for the "cloud in thre sky," ...does anyone worry about Delta going bankrupt and cancelling flights sometime within the next 330 days LOL

 

[jeanneg]

Wow, that's a great rate.....I'm jealous!

Yes, I do worry about Delta going "belly up", but I paid for it with a credit card so my money should be safe. Of course, I don't want to be scrambling for an alternative flight at the last moment, but what can you do? Just about all the American carriers are in a similar situation. I'll take my chances. BTW, does anyone know when their contract comes up for renewal?....that's usually the time they decide to go on strike.

 

[Hygiene99]

how about this !!!!

found that on cheapo air.com it works for us !!!
have not booked anything yet but that fare is VERY attractive..
and flights work nicely !!

560.00 + tax Sale Fare
Swiss Air Lines
Flight 53 332 BOS - Boston Logan
ZRH - Zurich 06:55pm - 24May, Thu
08:15am - 25May, Fri Nonstop Econ
7hr 20mn
Swiss Air Lines
Flight 4756 M82 ZRH - Zurich
BCN - Barcelona 09:30am - 25May, Fri
11:10am - 25May, Fri Nonstop Econ
1hr 40mn

Swiss Air Lines
Flight 1953 321 BCN - Barcelona
ZRH - Zurich 09:40am - 08Jun, Fri
11:25am - 08Jun, Fri Nonstop Econ
1hr 45mn
Swiss Air Lines
Flight 52 332 ZRH - Zurich
BOS - Boston Logan 01:00pm - 08Jun, Fri
03:20pm - 08Jun, Fri Nonstop Econ
8hr 20mn

 

[renegade7]

renegade7: Welcome to Delta #94/#95! We are seats 18A and B for both flights so we won't be too far away. If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay? Ours were $897 each with all the taxes and surcharges (Raleigh to Barcelona roundtrip).

SFO-JFK-BCN round trip for me was $1094.
JFK-BCN round trip for dad was $734.

I booked my flight myself because:
1. It saved me about $1000 that I can use otherwise now.
2. I know my flights and don't have to wait till a minimum 3 months prior to find out. I am a planner and that would have driven me to drink.

 

[jeanneg]

Peter/Jen: That's an awesome fare! I'd be tempted to take it. You're lucky because Boston is a true international airport. RDU is considered international, but in fact it only has one transAtlantic flight each day (AA's RDU to London). A flight like the one you found would be 3 legs for us and we are trying to avoid that. I'll miss you on Flight 94!

Renegade: did you select your seats already?

 

[poconoboatniks]

Is anyone traveling home the same day we disembark? I'm getting fares for $671 on Delta (to Spain) and Lufthansa (coming home). I just need to know a safe time for the flight home. We're planning on flying in and out of JFK.

If we fly Lufthnasa in both directions the airfare is $729. I'm wondering if we should just go with Luft and forget about worrying about Delta. What do you seasoned international travelers think?

Renegade, Did you say your Dad is traveling from PA? If so, where? We're in the Poconos and my parents are in Scranton. Sisters are coming from Lehigh Valley area.

 

[meb51]

Is anyone traveling home the same day we disembark? I'm getting fares for $671 on Delta (to Spain) and Lufthansa (coming home). I just need to know a safe time for the flight home. We're planning on flying in and out of JFK.

Wow! Those are great fares. What site are you using? We're flying out of Mississippi (probably getting the same flight out of JFK that others are getting) but my MIL may fly out of a PA airport.

Marie

 

[AnnaS]

SFO-JFK-BCN round trip for me was $1094.
JFK-BCN round trip for dad was $734.


Hi everyone,

JFK - BCN - $734 - wow, I hope we can get something close to this airfare non/stop also for our cruise. I am expecting it to be around $1,000 each.

 

[jeanneg]

Is anyone traveling home the same day we disembark? I'm getting fares for $671 on Delta (to Spain) and Lufthansa (coming home). I just need to know a safe time for the flight home. We're planning on flying in and out of JFK.

If we fly Lufthnasa in both directions the airfare is $729. I'm wondering if we should just go with Luft and forget about worrying about Delta. What do you seasoned international travelers think?

Renegade, Did you say your Dad is traveling from PA? If so, where? We're in the Poconos and my parents are in Scranton. Sisters are coming from Lehigh Valley area.

So far, I think there are 3 groups of us flying home on disembarkment day on the 12:25 Delta flight: myself, Gloria from Miami, and Renegade7. I really don't think it's a problem timewise.
Believe me, I have no strong allegiance to Delta. I would use one of the other major international carriers if it got me there just as easily. The problem is that if you're coming from a minor airport as I will be, you need to first get to an international hub such as JFK or Boston before you can catch the overseas flight and I'm trying to minimize the number of "legs". If Lufthansa gives you a better fare, go for it!

Speaking of Lehigh Valley, my daughter just graduated from Lehigh University in May. She loved it so much she is now living and working in Bethlehem, PA.

 

[renegade7]

Renegade, Did you say your Dad is traveling from PA? If so, where? We're in the Poconos and my parents are in Scranton. Sisters are coming from Lehigh Valley area.

Dad is from (and I grew up in) the "Back Mountain Area" which is about 30 minutes from Wilkes-Barre in the "country."

He is getting a ride to JFK from an acquaintance who owns a limo service down the road from him.

 

[renegade7]

Renegade: did you select your seats already?

5/24/07
SFO to JFK - Seat 28A
JFK to BCN - Seats 22 F & G

6/6/07
BCN to JFK - Seats 23 F & G
JFK to SFO - Seat 28A

 

[Bareacuda]

I must be too easy going

We are flighing home the day of disembarkment . Disney has never let us down on flights coming home. Enough time to not rush!!! Our problem is arriving a day early in Las Vegas staying the night and catching a plane the next morning.

Coming home is the same way... getting a hotel room, because of our flight comes in later. We have never driven home the 3 hours from the air port.

Now Im wondering... is it Im easy going or lazy? hahahaha!