May 5, 2010 Magic of Barcelona

[everafter1]

Thanks, Tara! It is actually after the movie, it's one of my favorites, as well It's our 5th anniversary, so we're really excited. This will be our 5th time on DCL, but first time outside the carribbean.

As far as airfare goes, we just let DCL book it for us. I know it's a lot more expensive that way, but we thought it might be easier this way (and we got a great rate on the cruise). Plus my husband is in the military, so if we have to cancel for any reason, it makes things a little easier. (I don't anticipate that happening, but you never know.)

Can't wait to hear more from you all!
Lindsey

 

[DisneyCrowd]

when did you get cat 12 with the kfo? if you got cat 12 with kfo, how much did the price go down? i have seen it at $999 for as long as I have watching it. i think i figured it to the people at disney. they make some kind of mistake when entering your residence...my TA got lucky and got a cat 12 KFO offered to them...it was a mistake, but i had to jump at it right there and then. there was no holding the reservation, not even for an hour. it is true that the cat 12 kfo is not being offered right now, but i would think it will be again very soon as the there are still a lot of empty staterooms with 4 months to go. I just wrapped up my hotel now too for 5 nights in barcelona, got a good deal for booking early (15% off)...so with cruise for 3, air for 3 and hotel for 5 nights, I am at about $5k even.

Hi Downtik,
Well, my TA and I called up DCL for another conversation to get them to own up to their deal. As soon as we mentioned that the rate went down in Cat 12, they gave us the offer (Cat 12 @999 with KFO). THe first few times we called, it was a long discussion with nothing resolved. this time, there was no discussion and we got the rate. I dunno but i'm very happy!

With respect to Barcelona, any advice on hotels that are economic and close to the ports and attactions. we will be staying just 2 nights before the cruise and one after. If you can name a couple hotels and approximate price that would be helpful. thanks Downtick

 

[tarald]

Hi there,

I was wondering if you guys are still planning on doing fish extenders. It looks as though we may have a small groups so that might make it easier.

My big worry is that I don't have a room number yet. We are only guaranteed a category and we will get our state room number closer to the date of the cruise.

Do you think I could still participate? I have on son who is eight.

Thanks,

Tara (New one)

 

[downtick]

You got very lucky getting the cat 12 with KFO...they just are not offering it right now, but I think they will again soon as the boat IMO is still kind of empty..i will keep on checking for my friends that are going but did not get the kfo...if it does become available, they will honor it.

as far as the hotel, I am staying at the hotel pulitzer for 5 nights prior..it is ranked #11 on trip advisor and is in a great location..they have a sister hotel right next door too, the hotel regina..ranked #23 on trip advisor..not bad at all!! they both seem to be about $150 a night or so..it seems all hotels there are that much, not cheap! but if you prepay as I did, they give you 15% off (but you have to look for their offer, otherwise you will not get it!). i am sure you can get a room for less, but the way i look at it, i sneaked by with the KFO offer, so the 1k i saved is going for the 5 nights at the hotel.

 

[lmhall2000]

Hey Tara!

Yes! We plan on doing the Fish Extenders...it should be light, and if we don't have room numbers yet, what you could do is post a picture of your fish extender! I know our kids would have a blast doing a "Fish Extender" hunt on all the decks and then they could write them down as they find them...we hope to pay for an upgrade at port so we won't know our room number until that afternoon. So to make it easier, just put out your fish extender and we'll find you!

I also highly encourage anyone looking for hotel deals to use priceline...a website that helps is www.betterbidding.com folks post their 'wins' and show how they did it, believe it or not there are a few tricks around the one try a day trick...I used their tips and was able to do it 5x a night...about the 25th try I landed the STEAL...most times I tried 4star and up in London (Kensington district) it always said it would not take my offer...but one night it took it and I paid about 68 US dollars for a room that was going for $185 pounds per night on their online special..well over $320 a night..and we got two rooms at that price...if we end up having to stay a night, we'll definitely do it, we just don't know when we're flying in/out yet!

Tara

 

[Goofy Mum]

I thought about passing on the Fish Extenders as I was hoping to travel light but if there aren't a lot of us participating then I think I'll give it a go. Are we doing gifts for each individual or each cabin? This is all new to me but with three months to go I would like to start preparing!
Anyone have any ideas?
Discuss...

Oh also. In regards to room numbers. We can arrange to all meet someplace on board to exchange that information. I think that's what the other groups have done.

 

[everafter1]

Well, it looks like there will be a few more of us onboard! My parents and sister just booked a room on this sailing, as well, so it should be a lot of fun! I am trying to get my sister to sign up for the DIS too

I may also have some friends booking this cruise, as well. It still seems far out, but I am getting excited!

 

[tarald]

I thought about passing on the Fish Extenders as I was hoping to travel light but if there aren't a lot of us participating then I think I'll give it a go. Are we doing gifts for each individual or each cabin? This is all new to me but with three months to go I would like to start preparing!
Anyone have any ideas?
Discuss...

Oh also. In regards to room numbers. We can arrange to all meet someplace on board to exchange that information. I think that's what the other groups have done.

I was thinking about only doing for the kids. I hate to have to haul too much stuff. I guess it depends on how many people are participating.

 

[cj'smom]

I might be interested in the FE depending on how it is handled. Do you give gifts everyday, a couple times during the cruise or just once during the duration of the cruise? Since I'm traveling alone with a young child I need to keep our luggage to what I can manage by myself. The idea of the FE sounds great but I could only do it if I bring just 1 or 2 small gifts pp and if the FE group doesn't get too large.

 

[cj'smom]

I was thinking about only doing for the kids. I hate to have to haul too much stuff. I guess it depends on how many people are participating.

I'd prefer to do it just for the kids too if I participate. From reading previous threads, it sounds like many of the gifts given are geared more towards kids (candy, pencils, postcards, etc.) plus I don't need a double amount of "stuff" to haul home.

 

[lmhall2000]

I might be interested in the FE depending on how it is handled. Do you give gifts everyday, a couple times during the cruise or just once during the duration of the cruise? Since I'm traveling alone with a young child I need to keep our luggage to what I can manage by myself. The idea of the FE sounds great but I could only do it if I bring just 1 or 2 small gifts pp and if the FE group doesn't get too large.

My plan was just to bring one goody per kid/participant one time for the whole trip, we might bring a box of M&M's from Sam's club and just throw some in on off days for a special treat for the kids or a pack of gum...but then I think the gum will end up on my shoe if I'm not careful! I thought for the kids who are able to read I would make them a mini book on each port we're covering to give them common phrases they can say in that native language and fun fact about the country/locale...

Any others have ideas for them?

Thanks!
Tara

 

[cj'smom]

I am still looking for our deal, I really need to fly out of Atlanta, so far no Atl airlines discounting Europe that late in Spring yet...the waiting game is annoying!

Tara

Have you found airfare yet? Delta is driving me crazy! The fare for the itinerary I want (the nonstop flights) started at $960 a few weeks ago, then went up to 1,200 and now is back down to 1,150. I'm using miles but if I do the new pay-with-miles program it will cost me less miles if the fares go down. The amount of miles for straight awards tickets is very high - 3-4 times that of a domestic ticket. Plus, Delta keeps changing the classification of the dates from medium to high and back to medium again. Everytime I log in I get a different figure. Now all the window/aisle seats in coach are gone. Yes, very annoying.

I'm actually considering coming back through Germany and visiting family for a couple days there. Incredibly, it would be cheaper in miles to do that than to fly direct back to ATL.

 

[everafter1]

Some friends of mine are looking at booking this cruise too, and they have been checking Iberia (sp?). Apparently they found some good rates through them. We live in Orlando, so airfare is always hit or miss. Good luck with the search

 

[cj'smom]

Any others have ideas for them?
Tara

I like the idea of the mini-book (though it sounds like a lot of work for you). I vote for things that are small as many of us will have luggage restrictions flying home. Magnets or something symbolic from hometown, anything Disney of course - stickers for journals/scrapbooks. I also like the idea of "disposable" gifts that the kids could enjoy on the cruise and NOT have to pack to take home - candy, glow sticks, temporary tatoos, etc.

 

[cj'smom]

Some friends of mine are looking at booking this cruise too, and they have been checking Iberia (sp?). Apparently they found some good rates through them. We live in Orlando, so airfare is always hit or miss. Good luck with the search

Hi Everafter and welcome! Sounds like it will be a fun cruise for you and your family and a great anniversary. Like your avatar, LOL!

You would think that with ATL Hartsfield being the worlds busiest airport that we would have the best fares out of here but Noooo...Delta doesn't seem to think so! I'm constrained by needing to use my Delta miles so have less choices in airlines.

 

[everafter1]

Thanks, CJ'smom! We're really looking forward to it I have to say, I am a fan of your avatar, as well!

Yeah, I would have thought it would be easier to fly out of ATL too! I'm sure that's frustrating. Flying out of Orlando is always interesting, as well

 

[lmhall2000]

Have you found airfare yet? Incredibly, it would be cheaper in miles to do that than to fly direct back to ATL.

I'm about to SCREAM!!! The only good news I can report is that the Atlanta fares to South America (has been that way for 6 weeks!!) now goes through flights through May 29th..so I'm hopeful that when they do offer a short window of fare sales through Atlanta it will at least go through the dates we need...pay attention tonight! They usually change fares on Monday nights after Monday and again some short lived fares on Wednesdays...

I have to find 7 seats so I'm quaking but still not panicked yet!

I'll post here as soon as I see something!!

Tara

 

[tarald]

Some friends of mine are looking at booking this cruise too, and they have been checking Iberia (sp?). Apparently they found some good rates through them. We live in Orlando, so airfare is always hit or miss. Good luck with the search

I live in Orlando, too!!! We have a brother-in-law who works for Northwest so we are thinking of flying standby with his benefits. I know it is a risk but we are leaving four days early so we will be sure to make it and it will save us a lot of money. I have been looking at flights as well from here and I think that Iberia seems like the best deal so far. If you find anything better will you let me know? I'll let you know as well.

 

[everafter1]

I live in Orlando, too!!! We have a brother-in-law who works for Northwest so we are thinking of flying standby with his benefits. I know it is a risk but we are leaving four days early so we will be sure to make it and it will save us a lot of money. I have been looking at flights as well from here and I think that Iberia seems like the best deal so far. If you find anything better will you let me know? I'll let you know as well.

From what I understand, if you're leaving a few days early, it might not be a big risk. My friends who have flown standby on airline employee benefits say it's getting back into Orlando that is the hard part, since it's such a popular destination.

We were lazy and booked air with DCL... definitely more expensive, but when I factored in that it includes ground transfers, it wasn't as overpriced as I thought it would be. (Definitely still more expensive, but not as outrageous as I originally thought.) It was easier this way too, because my husband is military, so if we have to cancel for any military reason, Disney assured us it would be taken care of. (We don't anticipate it happening, but you never know.) I'm still keeping an eye on fares, though, so I will definitely let you know if I find anything.

 

[downtick]

why don't you leave from miami if you live in orlando? i know its a 4 hour drive down here,, but air europa is $640pp rt (with taxes) and they have tons of flights..something to look into. If you can save around $300pp i think the extra 4 hour drive is well worth it! I booked with orbitz.com...i also use this thing called ebates.com that gives you % back when you buy things online..orbitz only gives you 1% back, but whatever...i got like $20 back from them for tickets i was going to buy regardless...check out orbitz, they have tons of air europa flights from miami.

you too imhall2000...if there are 7 of you and airfare is around 1k a person, you will save about $2800 more or less...it is a far drive from atlanta, but with all that money you are saving you can stay at south beach for 1 night prior and 1 or 2 nights after your return and still have about $2300 or more left over!