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

[sinnika]

Hello Everyone,

Today or tomorrow is the last day to purchase Disney Paris admission tickets for 15% off. I just bought tickets for 1 day 2 parks adults $71 and children 3-11 were $62. We will be in Paris for 4 nights after getting off of this cruise and reboarding for the Baltic Capitals.

I wish we had more time in Paris to go to DLP but maybe our next trip. How exciting to go on the Baltics cruise too! We were booked on that one first (the July 6th one) before switching over to this one. That will make one awesome vacation for you!

On another note, the May 15th Med cruisers received their cabin assignments the other day so hopefully we will know something in the next 10 days or so. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to any upgrades given, but there have been some amazing upgrades for some!

Also, the DCL site is now listing suites and prices when booking. There are no suites left on our cruise, so no need for us to arrive at the port early!
Now I need to plan a private tour for the am in Barcelona since we'll be getting off the overnight train from Paris at 8:30am with all our luggage. Has anyone looked into any private tour companies in Barcelona?

 

[sinnika]

Hello All! We just found we will be joining you on the May 26 cruise! We couldn't be more excited. This will be our 2nd cruise with Disney. We are a family of 4 plus my mom from Maryland. I am Debi, husband Paul, Shaelyn 10, Christopher 14 and my mom Janet. Now on to the part I love most, planning. We have never been to Europe, are pretty clueless, and we are joining late in the game. I know I have tons of research ahead of me. airfare, before and after hotels and all the port tours. Oh, and to add an interesting twist my mom is handicapped and uses a scooter so we are contacting mobility accessible tours for some of the ports. I look forward to getting to know you all! Debi

Welcome Debi! Maryland is my home state! I grew up in Baltimore and go back a couple times a year as ALL of my family is there! How fun to be going with your mom too! Have fun with all the planning! Have you found our facebook page and website yet? There are loads of info there!

 

[marlower]

Hello All! We just found we will be joining you on the May 26 cruise! We couldn't be more excited. This will be our 2nd cruise with Disney. We are a family of 4 plus my mom from Maryland. I am Debi, husband Paul, Shaelyn 10, Christopher 14 and my mom Janet. Now on to the part I love most, planning. We have never been to Europe, are pretty clueless, and we are joining late in the game. I know I have tons of research ahead of me. airfare, before and after hotels and all the port tours. Oh, and to add an interesting twist my mom is handicapped and uses a scooter so we are contacting mobility accessible tours for some of the ports. I look forward to getting to know you all! Debi

Welcome Debi!! Make sure you check out our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=277870927901&ref=ts and our website http://muchomagico.weebly.com/
Happy Planning

 

[Fawn]

Hi Everyone! We're new to this cruise...just booked today! It will be myself and my two girls, 19 and 20. This will be our 15th Disney cruise (I think), and 17th overall.

I'm obviously behind the ball in planning and stuff...I'm compulsive so it's going to drive me crazy! LOL A couple questions for the vets on this thread.

1. Ports of call - are most people planning on Disney excursions, going it on their own or private tours? Without much time, I'm thinking Disney ones, but they are usually so much more expensive. Any direction here would be very appreciated!

2. Barcelona...anyone flying over early? Anyone have research on hotels that I can tap into? I'm thinking we'll go over 3 or 4 days early, enjoy the city and rest up before the cruise.

3. Any college kids on this thread? My girls are already asking.

4. Meet and greets set up?

5. Weather over there...it's pretty much like here, right? So Spring/early summer stuff? I know we can't wear shorts on many of the excursions, but may be too warm for jeans...capris ok?

6. Flying back on June 5....anyone know the timing we should be looking at to get flights? How far is it to airport, when will ship dock??

7. Anything else you can throw my way would be great. So little time to prepare, and we have a booked schedule between now and then to boot!

Can't wait to meet everyone! I'm so excited!!!!

 

[sinnika]

Hi Everyone! We're new to this cruise...just booked today! It will be myself and my two girls, 19 and 20. This will be our 15th Disney cruise (I think), and 17th overall.

I'm obviously behind the ball in planning and stuff...I'm compulsive so it's going to drive me crazy! LOL A couple questions for the vets on this thread.

1. Ports of call - are most people planning on Disney excursions, going it on their own or private tours? Without much time, I'm thinking Disney ones, but they are usually so much more expensive. Any direction here would be very appreciated!

2. Barcelona...anyone flying over early? Anyone have research on hotels that I can tap into? I'm thinking we'll go over 3 or 4 days early, enjoy the city and rest up before the cruise.

3. Any college kids on this thread? My girls are already asking.

4. Meet and greets set up?

5. Weather over there...it's pretty much like here, right? So Spring/early summer stuff? I know we can't wear shorts on many of the excursions, but may be too warm for jeans...capris ok?

6. Flying back on June 5....anyone know the timing we should be looking at to get flights? How far is it to airport, when will ship dock??

7. Anything else you can throw my way would be great. So little time to prepare, and we have a booked schedule between now and then to boot!

Can't wait to meet everyone! I'm so excited!!!!

Welcome Fawn! I think you might be the DCL cruise vet! 15 DCL cruises! WOW! Make sure you check out our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/g...0927901&ref=ts and our website http://muchomagico.weebly.com/
You should find the answers to many of your questions there!
I'll take a stab at a few though (keep in mind they may be my opinion only )

1. Ports. Lots of DIY's, lots of DCL excursions only, lots of private tours, and combinations of everything. The facebook page and website has planning links and DIY events.

2. Many (if not most) on this thread coming into Barcelona at least a day or more earlier. Check out FB discussion on Barcelona hotels and who is staying where.

3. Not sure

4. See website links

5. Not sure

6. DCL says no flights before noon I think, though some have earlier flights booked. We're staying an extra night to avoid that worry.

Enjoy all the planning!

 

[Kiss-im-mee2]

Welcome Debi and Joanna, It's great to have you on board. You have some fun planning ahead of you. Get to your library and get some travel books and some Samanth Brown and Rick Steves CDs. More important read our web sight and our facebook page. We have so much good info on the discussion page and the events page.

Joanna, this will be my fourth year in a row spending some of May in the Med. It will be like early summer and capris will work well. I wear shorts a lot too you just can't wear them into churches and I wouldn't wear them in Tunisa. It should be warm enough to go to the beach but the water will be a bit cold.

I'm glad to hear that the May 15 cruise has gotten room assignments. I keep checking but nothing yet.

 

[wrennies]

Keep checking with the room assignments. We had booked a gty. and got ours months ago.

 

[sinnika]

We changed our cat 12 gty to a cat 4 gty at the end of Feb when the military rates came out for this cruise. No assignment yet. We did have a cabin assignment when we were a cat 6 when we first booked. Normally the cat 12 gty's will all be assigned around the same time (about 45-60 days prior to cruise). And that's when the upgrades will happen too even on assigned rooms. Unless you specifically note on your ressie that you do not want to be moved. I've even thought about changing our ressie to 2 cat 12's but DH would not be happy without the veranda. I would love the extra space though (2 bathrooms, 2 closets)!

 

[marlower]

I just found this great site for info on Monaco. When looking at a Monaco map the road along the harbor is the only flat road. All other roads go up the hill. There are several elevators and escalators hidden around town to make it easier. You can also take the #1 bus which goes to all the tourist places. Just check which direction it is going.

http://www.monaco-montecarlo.com/index-guides_monaco-en.html

Thanks Eileen, Just added a link for this site to the website as well!

 

[marlower]

Hi Everyone! We're new to this cruise...just booked today! It will be myself and my two girls, 19 and 20. This will be our 15th Disney cruise (I think), and 17th overall.

I'm obviously behind the ball in planning and stuff...I'm compulsive so it's going to drive me crazy! LOL A couple questions for the vets on this thread.

1. Ports of call - are most people planning on Disney excursions, going it on their own or private tours? Without much time, I'm thinking Disney ones, but they are usually so much more expensive. Any direction here would be very appreciated!

2. Barcelona...anyone flying over early? Anyone have research on hotels that I can tap into? I'm thinking we'll go over 3 or 4 days early, enjoy the city and rest up before the cruise.

3. Any college kids on this thread? My girls are already asking.

4. Meet and greets set up?

5. Weather over there...it's pretty much like here, right? So Spring/early summer stuff? I know we can't wear shorts on many of the excursions, but may be too warm for jeans...capris ok?

6. Flying back on June 5....anyone know the timing we should be looking at to get flights? How far is it to airport, when will ship dock??

7. Anything else you can throw my way would be great. So little time to prepare, and we have a booked schedule between now and then to boot!

Can't wait to meet everyone! I'm so excited!!!!

Welcome Aboard!! Like sinnika said, check out our facebook page and our website for most information! Hope that helps!

 

[colmom]

We changed our cat 12 gty to a cat 4 gty at the end of Feb when the military rates came out for this cruise. No assignment yet. We did have a cabin assignment when we were a cat 6 when we first booked. Normally the cat 12 gty's will all be assigned around the same time (about 45-60 days prior to cruise). And that's when the upgrades will happen too even on assigned rooms. Unless you specifically note on your ressie that you do not want to be moved. I've even thought about changing our ressie to 2 cat 12's but DH would not be happy without the veranda. I would love the extra space though (2 bathrooms, 2 closets)!

Being a first time cruiser, I don't understand the talk about cabin assignment upgrades and changes. We requested a certain cabin and have that cabin # in our reservation (we are Cat 9). Will that get changed on us? Do I need to watch our reservation? Also, when you talk about upgrades, are they upgrades you have to pay for? Just wondering...

Linda

 

[TammyAlphabet]

We changed our cat 12 gty to a cat 4 gty at the end of Feb when the military rates came out for this cruise. No assignment yet. We did have a cabin assignment when we were a cat 6 when we first booked. Normally the cat 12 gty's will all be assigned around the same time (about 45-60 days prior to cruise). And that's when the upgrades will happen too even on assigned rooms. Unless you specifically note on your ressie that you do not want to be moved. I've even thought about changing our ressie to 2 cat 12's but DH would not be happy without the veranda. I would love the extra space though (2 bathrooms, 2 closets)!

I did a cat 4 in 2008 for the Westbound Repo. It will be real nice to have a verandah for this cruise.

 

[Debs Disney]

Welcome Debi! Maryland is my home state! I grew up in Baltimore and go back a couple times a year as ALL of my family is there! How fun to be going with your mom too! Have fun with all the planning! Have you found our facebook page and website yet? There are loads of info there!

Wow small world! I am about 30 minutes from Baltimore in Carroll County. Thanks for the facebook and website info I just got it

 

[Debs Disney]

Welcome Debi!! Make sure you check out our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=277870927901&ref=ts and our website http://muchomagico.weebly.com/
Happy Planning

Thanks for the info and welcome. I have a lot of work ahead of me but I am going to enjoy every minute of it

 

[sinnika]

Being a first time cruiser, I don't understand the talk about cabin assignment upgrades and changes. We requested a certain cabin and have that cabin # in our reservation (we are Cat 9). Will that get changed on us? Do I need to watch our reservation? Also, when you talk about upgrades, are they upgrades you have to pay for? Just wondering...

Linda

DCL has been offering lots of incentives to fill some of its ships that haven't been selling as well as they would like. Some examples for these Spring Med cruises are the kids sail free, and more recently, the $999 pp for the 1st 2 people on the cat 12 gty. The rates are $699 pp with the military offer for cat 12's. There may also be airline employee, cast member rates, and travel agent rates too thrown in the mix. There are only 13 cat 12 rooms. DCL will far exceed selling 13 cabins at these rock bottom low prices. They do it to fill the ship. So all of those excess 12 gty people will be assigned somewhere. They could get a 12, or they could get a cat 11, or even a 10 or 9 or ???. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to upgrades or staying in your cat you booked. Check out the May 15th thread - they have a 10 page discussion on room assignments and free upgrades, plus lots of other great info! Thy're a friendly chatty bunch! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2206751&page=105

I think the important thing to remember is to book the category you will be happy with, and be happy for your fellow cruisers if they get sprinkled with pixie dust and get a free upgrade!

On our first cruise, we were upgraded for free from a cat 9 to a cat 6. On our 2nd cruise, we booked a 12 gty and got a 12. Now if you really want to stay in your particular cabin and don't want a free upgrade, let your TA or DCL know that. And DCL will not move your assigned cat 9 cabin to another cat 9 cabin. If your booking is a GTY, you are guarenteed to get at least that category or higher, but it could be anywhere on the ship.

If you don't get a free upgrade, or if you go from a 12 to an 11 but would like a window, you can always check into paying for an upgrade when you board. These are generally at a discounted rate. DCL has a chart, and you pay the difference of what you booked at. So if you paid for a 12, and got a 9 for free, but want to upgrade to a 6 at port, you pay the difference from the 12 to the 6.

Hope that explanation helps. Any other veteran cruisers, please add your upgrade experiences.

 

[sinnika]

I did a cat 4 in 2008 for the Westbound Repo. It will be real nice to have a verandah for this cruise.

Tammy, I wish you and everyone else on this cruise lots of pixiedust for free upgrades!

 

[colmom]

DCL has been offering lots of incentives to fill some of its ships that haven't been selling as well as they would like. Some examples for these Spring Med cruises are the kids sail free, and more recently, the $999 pp for the 1st 2 people on the cat 12 gty. The rates are $699 pp with the military offer for cat 12's. There may also be airline employee, cast member rates, and travel agent rates too thrown in the mix. There are only 13 cat 12 rooms. DCL will far exceed selling 13 cabins at these rock bottom low prices. They do it to fill the ship. So all of those excess 12 gty people will be assigned somewhere. They could get a 12, or they could get a cat 11, or even a 10 or 9 or ???. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to upgrades or staying in your cat you booked. Check out the May 15th thread - they have a 10 page discussion on room assignments and free upgrades, plus lots of other great info! Thy're a friendly chatty bunch! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2206751&page=105

I think the important thing to remember is to book the category you will be happy with, and be happy for your fellow cruisers if they get sprinkled with pixie dust and get a free upgrade!

On our first cruise, we were upgraded for free from a cat 9 to a cat 6. On our 2nd cruise, we booked a 12 gty and got a 12. Now if you really want to stay in your particular cabin and don't want a free upgrade, let your TA or DCL know that. And DCL will not move your assigned cat 9 cabin to another cat 9 cabin. If your booking is a GTY, you are guarenteed to get at least that category or higher, but it could be anywhere on the ship.

If you don't get a free upgrade, or if you go from a 12 to an 11 but would like a window, you can always check into paying for an upgrade when you board. These are generally at a discounted rate. DCL has a chart, and you pay the difference of what you booked at. So if you paid for a 12, and got a 9 for free, but want to upgrade to a 6 at port, you pay the difference from the 12 to the 6.

Hope that explanation helps. Any other veteran cruisers, please add your upgrade experiences.

THANK YOU!! That was a wonderful explanation. I can't believe all of the stuff I have learned on this site and the Facebook site- who needs travel books when you experts are here I appreciate your help so much and hope we all get free upgrades!

Linda

 

[jocjarmom]

THANK YOU!! That was a wonderful explanation. I can't believe all of the stuff I have learned on this site and the Facebook site- who needs travel books when you experts are here I appreciate your help so much and hope we all get free upgrades!

Linda

We aim to please, Linda!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Tammy, I wish you and everyone else on this cruise lots of pixiedust for free upgrades!

Since I am in an accessible cabin, I don't think that there will be any upgrades for me. Thanks for the pixie dust.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

BTW everybody, I called today to add the aBD add-on and it is SOLD OUT!! I was a bit surprised. I am on the waitlist.