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

[sweetsue]

I asked about hotels in Barcelona. We don't have a lot of preferences. In a safe area of town, not to far from tourist attractions/the port and moderate price. We don't have any kids either. Thanks.

Barcelona is very small and most touristy places are fairly close (easy bus or metro ride). You might consider staying at a place in the Gothic Quarter (Barre Gotic). The Gothic Quarter is bounded by Las Ramblas on the West (a broad avenue perfect for pedestrians), the port to the south and Playa Catalunya to the North (a big "plaza" with fountains and stores). This section has many places to stay and is fairly safe. From around metro station Liceu (midpoint of Las Ramblas) south, the area does get a bit seedy at night as it's close to the port (think sailors getting off of boats after months...). In general, as you get closer to Las Ramblas and Playa Catalunya, the price of the hotel will increase.

A couple of questions - do you want to be close to a Metro station or are you planning on only walking around? Are you only there for the evening or are you there in the daytime? Are you planning on visiting museums, seeing architecture, shopping, or do you prefer soaking up the local atmosphere while sipping a drink at an outdoor cafe? Answers would help narrow down your choices.

And finally, what is moderate? Is that $100 US? Prices in Barcelona are much higher than the US.

Then hopefully I can narrow it to just a few choices for you.

Sweet Sue

 

[misseulalie]

Good Idea

How do we do this?

Well, if everyone wants to do it (or mostly everyone) I will contact the DIS'er who made them so I can order them for this trip. I probably have to order them pretty soon.

So if we want to do this, please speak up!!!

 

[misseulalie]

Here's the list. I think I got everyone from both PMs and the thread. Please let me know if I've missed someone:

List of people for DCL gathering/wine tasting in ROY SUITE (tour included)! 1PM on first sea day.

Ron (LegalBriefs)/Monica (host/hostess)
Jeanne (jeanneg)/John
Tracy (winotracy)/Bill (AskAGeek)
Ken (kpros)/Shari (spros)
Sue (sweetsue)/Barbara
Peter (Hygiene99)/Jenn
Celeste (icunurse_celeste)/Jennie
Kelly (milestogo)/Jonathan
Kim (sunshine state kim)/Todd + kids
Kathy (littleowensmommy)/Ted
Andy (charwac1)/Charlene
Ron (ronunc)/Becky
Bob (wrabitdad)/Dale
Marie (meb51)/Steve/MIL ?
Karen (coalchick)/Doug
Ellen (poconoboatniks)/Bob/Kate-12/Brett-9/Bob/Helen/Linda/Colleen
Cayla (padalyn)/Stacey/Barbara/Bev
Deb/Linda (debwills)
Alex/Carolyn (first timers)
Melanie (LtL Mermaid) /Allison

Sweet Sue

I would love to be added to the list. I've never seen the suites yet
(Misseulalie) Jennifer and Rachid

 

[kpros]

Hey Jen1781 - I would like to update my list for the name badges and lanyards. Post a few more times and then you can PM me or check out the 1 post on page 55 of the thread for a link to the cruise list.

Ken

 

[Jeni1781]

Barcelona is very small and most touristy places are fairly close (easy bus or metro ride). You might consider staying at a place in the Gothic Quarter (Barre Gotic). The Gothic Quarter is bounded by Las Ramblas on the West (a broad avenue perfect for pedestrians), the port to the south and Playa Catalunya to the North (a big "plaza" with fountains and stores). This section has many places to stay and is fairly safe. From around metro station Liceu (midpoint of Las Ramblas) south, the area does get a bit seedy at night as it's close to the port (think sailors getting off of boats after months...). In general, as you get closer to Las Ramblas and Playa Catalunya, the price of the hotel will increase.

A couple of questions - do you want to be close to a Metro station or are you planning on only walking around? Are you only there for the evening or are you there in the daytime? Are you planning on visiting museums, seeing architecture, shopping, or do you prefer soaking up the local atmosphere while sipping a drink at an outdoor cafe? Answers would help narrow down your choices.

And finally, what is moderate? Is that $100 US? Prices in Barcelona are much higher than the US.

Then hopefully I can narrow it to just a few choices for you.

Sweet Sue

We will probably do mostly walking, but it wouldn't hurt to be near the Metro. We will be there for both daytime and evening. We want to visit musems, architurce, and shop. Moderate is under $200.

Have you heard anything (good or bad) about the hotels that Disney is helping people book with? Thanks for all the help.

 

[Coalchick]

We are in.

 

[kpros]

Hi Karen - got the check - thanks!

Ken

 

[Jeni1781]

Here's the list. I think I got everyone from both PMs and the thread. Please let me know if I've missed someone:

List of people for DCL gathering/wine tasting in ROY SUITE (tour included)! 1PM on first sea day.

Ron (LegalBriefs)/Monica (host/hostess)
Jeanne (jeanneg)/John
Tracy (winotracy)/Bill (AskAGeek)
Ken (kpros)/Shari (spros)
Sue (sweetsue)/Barbara
Peter (Hygiene99)/Jenn
Celeste (icunurse_celeste)/Jennie
Kelly (milestogo)/Jonathan
Kim (sunshine state kim)/Todd + kids
Kathy (littleowensmommy)/Ted
Andy (charwac1)/Charlene
Ron (ronunc)/Becky
Bob (wrabitdad)/Dale
Marie (meb51)/Steve/MIL ?
Karen (coalchick)/Doug
Ellen (poconoboatniks)/Bob/Kate-12/Brett-9/Bob/Helen/Linda/Colleen
Cayla (padalyn)/Stacey/Barbara/Bev
Deb/Linda (debwills)
Alex/Carolyn (first timers)
Melanie (LtL Mermaid) /Allison

Sweet Sue

Can someone please tell me the details of this event? Sorry, I am chock full of questions.

 

[cquick]

We are going to Rome on our own with a private guide. The tour price was comparable to what I was going to pay through DCL for 3 and we get to see all major sites plus the Vatican and Sistene Chapel! Our TA used the same tour guide last year, so we know he's good with kids.
Sweet Sue

Dear Sue, Who are you going to book with in Rome? We are going on the Trans Atlantic Repo with Disney and will be in Rome on June 6, 2007.
Our son is disabled and we thought a private guide would be good for us. Connie

 

[littleowensmommy]

Welcome Back Sue!

Glad to hear the skiing was good. Where did you go? We took the kids to Keystone 2 years ago and it was great. Their children's ski school was excellent. Owen was skiing from the top of the mountain by the 4th day and it was his first time. We're going to Tahoe for Easter week next year.

Kelly and I (and families) would like to go to see the fountains with you and Christina on Friday evening. I'd also like to see the dancing that you had mentioned in the Gothic Quarter on Saturday afternoon too. If you'd like to plan to meet up with us that would be great. Just let us know where to be. I'm planning to purchase a 2-day pass for the tourist bus. Amy is really looking forward to meeting Christina. I've been telling her about all of the little girls who are going to be on this trip with us...Zoe, Sophia, Lena and Christina. They're all going to have so much fun together.

We're also doing A Day at the Farm in Palmero and Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri For Families in Naples. We've got a private tour arranged for Rome but we may do the VIP Tour of the Vatican and Highlights of Rome through DCL instead. I've put in a request through the Vatican for a Scavi Tour but I haven't received a confirmation yet. The kids can't do the Scavi Tour but our tour guide has offered to watch them for us during that time if we end up getting booked. If we don't get the Scavi Tour I may switch to the DCL tour since it includes most of the things we were planning to see on our private tour as well as lunch. The private tour is 900 Euros for a car and driver and tour guide.

 

[kpros]

Can someone please tell me the details of this event? Sorry, I am chock full of questions.

From the 1st post on page 55:

Wine Tasting: May 27 at 1:00pm in the Roy Suite - hosted by LegalBriefs (Ron and Monica) - RSVP via PM to Sweetsue

Basically, everyone brings a bottle of wine (or other drink of your choice) to share and we all get together to say hello and meet some other disboarders. As a bonus, you get to see the Roy Suite. In the past, we have brought wines from our own areas - this could be somewhat different because of the distance most people are traveling to get to the ship.

Ken

 

[Hygiene99]

Thanks for the nice welcome. This is our first Disney cruise and we are so excited but overwhelmed with the planning process. Do you know where you are staying on the 25th? We are arriving that day as well. Thanks.

Well I Sorta Do ???

Tracy or Jeanneg

Would you tell me where we are staying Thanks

Peter

 

[Hygiene99]

We will probably do mostly walking, but it wouldn't hurt to be near the Metro. We will be there for both daytime and evening. We want to visit musems, architurce, and shop. Moderate is under $200.

Have you heard anything (good or bad) about the hotels that Disney is helping people book with? Thanks for all the help.

EXspensive Not Good or Bad!!!!

 

[Hygiene99]

Can someone please tell me the details of this event? Sorry, I am chock full of questions.

Yip Come To a the Highest level Suite, on the Boat, and have a Glass or 2 of wine, and Meet some nice people.

It is Room # 8530

You IN??

 

[Hygiene99]

Sue - did you make the Palo Res, for 4 people like we talked about LOL

Smileys are not working!!!


Love Ya!!
is that 5 posts ? LOL
Peter

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

sweetsue: thanks so much for adding us to your Roy Suite Tour list. We are SOOOO excited! We are not big alcohol drinkers, any recommendations on what to bring and where to buy it (in Barcelona that day)? I am worried about carrying beverages overseas!

Kpros: Were we supposed to tell you our favorite characters for the badges? I thought I may have read that somewhere but I am not sure. If so, mine is Little Mermaid (big surprise, huh?) and Allison's is Belle. If not, sorry I am losing my mine I guess!

Where and when are we going to meet to hand out the badges and meet everyone the first day? Maybe right before or during the deck party? I don't know if anyone has set a time, but I was just curious to see if anyone had a plan yet!

 

[milestogo]

That was me, thanks. I got your listing!

 

[milestogo]

SweetSue: That was some really fantastic info! Thanks very much!! We absolutely love the longer light hours.

 

[jeanneg]

We are staying at the Las Ramblas Hotel. I've never stayed there before but I know the area and it's a good location. I booked it through Octopus.com and paid about $175 for a room for 2 with hot breakfast. Hope that helps.

 

[winotracy]

We are staying at the Las Ramblas Hotel. I've never stayed there before but I know the area and it's a good location. I booked it through Octopus.com and paid about $175 for a room for 2 with hot breakfast. Hope that helps.

We did the same Oh and Peter, this is where you are at too