May 26, 2010--5/26/2010 10 Night Mediterranean

[marlower]

I just ordered the pacsafe camera bag 200! I have a friend headed to Rome next month so we each went in half on the bag. She will use it in March and I will use it in May and if we end up both liking it, then we will order another!

Also, just wanted everyone to know I added a couple of links for info on the Vatican if you are interested: http://muchomagico.weebly.com/links.html

 

[sinnika]

Call me Dis obsessed, but I have been checking the discounts regularly to see if there was any military discounts for this cruise. They've been available for the other May cruises. So just for grins, I went to the DCL site and put in the "MTO" (military offer) code and was able to get a cat 4 for an amazing price!!! Yes, we will lose the kids free offer but the difference is $1348 to go from a 12 to a 4!!! Our new price for this cruise is $3589 for the 4 of us in a cat 4!!! We were going to try for an upgrade at port but this is so much better!!! Just FYI, I also asked about suite availability and all suites are currently booked.
Just trying to get the word out to fellow military so they can take advantage of this! My TA did not even know but they will be getting the word out too now!!!!
And the family is going to be thrilled too!!!!!

 

[marlower]

Call me Dis obsessed, but I have been checking the discounts regularly to see if there was any military discounts for this cruise. They've been available for the other May cruises. So just for grins, I went to the DCL site and put in the "MTO" (military offer) code and was able to get a cat 4 for an amazing price!!! Yes, we will lose the kids free offer but the difference is $1348 to go from a 12 to a 4!!! Our new price for this cruise is $3589 for the 4 of us in a cat 4!!! We were going to try for an upgrade at port but this is so much better!!! Just FYI, I also asked about suite availability and all suites are currently booked.
Just trying to get the word out to fellow military so they can take advantage of this! My TA did not even know but they will be getting the word out too now!!!!
And the family is going to be thrilled too!!!!!

That is amazing!! Congrats!! Happy Dance for you!

 

[colmom]

Finally got our flights for the cruise!! No more obsessing- just did it! Will be getting to Barcelona on the 23rd and leaving on the 5th!

Do the Disney transfers from boat to airport get you to the airport faster than everyone else? Our June 5th flight leaves at 11:55 am.

 

[bill3540]

Call me Dis obsessed, but I have been checking the discounts regularly to see if there was any military discounts for this cruise. They've been available for the other May cruises. So just for grins, I went to the DCL site and put in the "MTO" (military offer) code and was able to get a cat 4 for an amazing price!!! Yes, we will lose the kids free offer but the difference is $1348 to go from a 12 to a 4!!! yay:

Where are the MTO rules? Is it active only? Thanks tons!

 

[bill3540]

Booooo! No brunch available...hopefully the group brunch will pan out.

Yeah! Got all the other excursions...after being bumped off the server 3X!
Anyone else have problems with that?

Okay, now...how do we get from the airport to our hotel? Hmmmmm.

xoxoxo Liz

 

[sinnika]

Where are the MTO rules? Is it active only? Thanks tons!

From the Disbaord website under discounts:
"Disney Cruise Line's Military discounts are available for all branches of active and retired members of the Military. It also is extended to certain divisions within the "Department of Defense": FBI, CIA, Secret Service and NASA (Kennedy Space Center and Houston). Up to 3 staterooms can be booked on one ID. "

DH is retired military.

 

[marlower]

Booooo! No brunch available...hopefully the group brunch will pan out.

Yeah! Got all the other excursions...after being bumped off the server 3X!
Anyone else have problems with that?

Okay, now...how do we get from the airport to our hotel? Hmmmmm.

xoxoxo Liz

Hi Liz,

Yes, I was bumped off several times during my excursion bookings!! So frustrating!!!

 

[marlower]

Finally got our flights for the cruise!! No more obsessing- just did it! Will be getting to Barcelona on the 23rd and leaving on the 5th!

Do the Disney transfers from boat to airport get you to the airport faster than everyone else? Our June 5th flight leaves at 11:55 am.

I would think a taxi would get you there faster but I'm not sure. My thinking is that DCL will need to wait to fill the bus first but I"m not positive on that.

 

[sinnika]

Booooo! No brunch available...hopefully the group brunch will pan out.

Yeah! Got all the other excursions...after being bumped off the server 3X!
Anyone else have problems with that?

Okay, now...how do we get from the airport to our hotel? Hmmmmm.

xoxoxo Liz

I hope both of our groups get the Palo brunch!

Which excursions are you doing? And what hotel are you staying in Barcelona? Public transportation is always an option (train). There's also an airport shuttle that goes to Placa Catalunya which is at the top of Las Ramblas.

 

[jocjarmom]

Guess I won't be seeing you hanging around down in steerage with us on Deck 2. That's a great deal... good for you!

We got kicked off several times when trying to book Palos & spa. It was definitely very frustrating!

It only takes about 20 minutes from the airport into downtown Barcelona, and as I recall, it wasn't ridiculously expensive. I think from the port to the airport, with all your luggage for 4 people, it's somewhere between 35 and 40 Euros by taxi.

 

[sinnika]

Guess I won't be seeing you hanging around down in steerage with us on Deck 2. That's a great deal... good for you!

I stayed in a cat 12 room in June with the kids (DH didn't sail that time) and I really loved the quiet and the darkness! And I liked the bed being against the back wall furthest from the door. That was a great room! We have stayed in a cat 6 before (pixie upgrade from a cat 9) and this time I was secretly hoping to do a port upgrade to maybe even a suite, but this is really the next best thing! Plus there are no suites available. So now when we arrive in Barcelona by train that morning, I may arrange a morning tour since we arrive at 8:30am. Will also take care of the issue of waiting till boarding time. We'll plan to get to the port around 12 in time for some lunch so we can head back out to sightsee some more!

DH was so thrilled when I called to tell him about the upgrade! He really wanted that veranda for his anticipated "seasickness" LOL.

 

[bill3540]

I hope both of our groups get the Palo brunch!

Which excursions are you doing? And what hotel are you staying in Barcelona? Public transportation is always an option (train). There's also an airport shuttle that goes to Placa Catalunya which is at the top of Las Ramblas.

I'm hoping the brunches both make too! That would be great.

We're staying at the Novita...isn't that the correct name...wonder if they'll
have shuttle...well we can dream! Seems like there would be a general downtown shuttle....

Okay, we chose an excursion at each place...we've never been there and may never get back!
Valletta, Malta - Blue Grotto Boat Trip and Fishing Village
Tunis, Tunisia - Dougga
Naples, Italy (Pompeii)-Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri
Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome) - Jumping Back into Eternal Rome
La Spezia, Italy (Florence, Pisa) - Cinque Terre Scenic Boat Tour
Ajaccio, Corsica - Les Calanches
Villefranche, France (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice) - Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze

SO awesome that you got MTO...but then ya'll deserve it!

Liz

 

[bill3540]

When do the first timers get to book?

 

[sinnika]

When do the first timers get to book?

March 12th at 12am EST.

 

[Kiss-im-mee2]

We have taken the airport bus twice to Pl. Catalunya. We stayed at the Hotel Contential and it is close to the bus stop. If you have several people a cab would cost not much more but cabs for more than three people are hard to come by. There are a few mini vans but even those didn't seat many people. The last time we just walked down La Rambla to the port shuttle and took that to the ship.

 

[mrosen]

I just ordered the pacsafe camera bag 200! I have a friend headed to Rome next month so we each went in half on the bag. She will use it in March and I will use it in May and if we end up both liking it, then we will order another!

Also, just wanted everyone to know I added a couple of links for info on the Vatican if you are interested: http://muchomagico.weebly.com/links.html

Did you look at the Pacsafe 100 vs 200 Camera Bag? Just interested in if you feel the size difference of 200 isn't too big to carry around regularly but worth getting. I would carry my digital SLR all the time with an extra zoom lens, battery and some memory cards. I'd rather not have a bag that is bigger than I need.

I have seen more reviews online for 100 and not many for 200 so interested in your perspective on of the size of the 200. I have tried to find these locally where I live to actually see in person but have not been able to so any input you have Pacsafe 200 Camera bag from the size perspective would be wonderful to know.

 

[Kiss-im-mee2]

Thanks Eileen! Do you know how much the CT Passes are?

I think the CT pass was 8.50 euros. There are a couple different ones. One includes the ferry. We have never taken the ferry as we prefer the trails. Also the ferries always look overcrowded. It is possible to take a ferry right from La Spaezia near the tender dock.

 

[marlower]

Did you look at the Pacsafe 100 vs 200 Camera Bag? Just interested in if you feel the size difference of 200 isn't too big to carry around regularly but worth getting. I would carry my digital SLR all the time with an extra zoom lens, battery and some memory cards. I'd rather not have a bag that is bigger than I need.

I have seen more reviews online for 100 and not many for 200 so interested in your perspective on of the size of the 200. I have tried to find these locally where I live to actually see in person but have not been able to so any input you have Pacsafe 200 Camera bag from the size perspective would be wonderful to know.

I have only seen the 200 not the 100 in person. It really isn't that big and I like that I will have extra space for my flip camera plus some snacks, etc., and I love the front zipper pocket that is secure. I originally was looking at the Tenba messenger camera/laptop bag but that thing was humongous so the pacsafe 200 is small in comparison to the Tenba bag. I have a smaller camera bag (I got at Walmart) that I plan to use when I need to carry my camera to school functions etc. but I think the pacsafe 200 is a great option for the excursions. I hope that helps! I actually purchased it online here: http://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/catalog/camsafe-security-camera-p-868.html as this was the best price I could find with free shipping.

 

[ingreece]

Eileen- Would you mind if I joined you in Cinque Terre? Caleb will stay on the ship.