May 5, 2010 Magic of Barcelona

[sayhello]

I'm bringing a noise machine (bet security will love that). It did help last time.

When you say a noise machine, do you mean like white noise? Nature sounds? I was thinking of bringing one of those. What kind did you bring?

Sayhello

 

[cj'smom]

I used to worry about the topless beach issue with my sons also. They'll be 5, 8, and 12 when we set sail. But what you have to understand about living in Europe (EU) Is there's nudity all around us. Naked rear-ends on TV so much you don't even blink anymore and after 9pm nearly anything goes. Topless, topless and more topless and LANGUAGE. Even in some of our newspapers there's "page 3 girls" who are just topless women posing.

As for nude beaches...they're few and far between and they're reserved for 'naturalists' only. I'm not sure but I think it may be illegal to go nude on a public beach. I never heard of it anyway.

Thanks for the heads-up with all this. I'll know to be extra cautious with any TV watching. Glad to hear the nude beaches are not just everywhere. May make a beach visit doable - will have to discuss further with dd (9) and see how she feels about it. I love going to the beach and would like to say I've swam in the Med but I don't want to make dd feel uncomfortable.

 

[downtick]

just bought the air tickets...they were only $290pp, but $350pp in taxes!! Whatever, $640pp total, 1 stop in madrid for only 2 hours..can't complain!

 

[cj'smom]

i am more worried about the thieves trying to pick pocket you..i know about this personally in rome! luckily i grabbed the gypsy and pushed her down to the ground..any of these people approach you, get away from them as fast as possible.

Re: Pickpockets/gypsies in Rome
Had a long talk with an American family who lived in Italy for many years. They said pickpockets are VERY common there and warned about the gypsies specifically. They work in teams to have one distract you (often a woman or child) while another one picks your pocket. One shocking ploy is to throw a baby at you. Of course the instant reaction is to reach out and catch the child so it won't be hurt - while you are doing that someone else picks your pocket or steals your belongings. Yikes!

Another one they told me about is they throw fake bird poo on you, point out that you got hit by a pigeon and offer to help wipe it off all the while helping themselves to your pockets!

Advice they had: if the gypsies start approaching you don't make eye contact, go quickly in the other direction, don't take out your wallet to give them money (they'll snatch it) even if it's a child begging, don't ride bus 64 (infamous for thievery), stay with a group.

Also use a hidden safety wallet (waist, neck, or leg) and consider buying a slashproof purse or backpack (thieves slash the straps right off your shoulders). In general try to blend in by dressing more European - more muted colors and overall dressier than American casual. Said typical American white sneakers stick out like a sore thumb, lol!

I'd imagine much of the advice would apply in Barcelona and other cities also.

Edited to add: I started a thread on this on the main cruise board so others can chime in with advice.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34975845#post34975845

 

[dsedwards]

On a totally different note, I was reading that the Medina in Tunis was kind of yucky...as someone else mentioned, skeevy men, haggling, not so clean...now I'm rethinking that tour

When I was sixteen I took a week-long Spring Break trip to Spain with a teacher and a few kids from my Spanish class. One of the stops on the tour was a trip across the Straits of Gibraltar to Tangier, Morocco. It was an amazing, mindblowing day. The sights, sounds, and smells were so incredibly different from anything I had ever experienced before. I absolutely loved it. (I later heard Rick Steves describe Tangier as the "armpit of Africa" and it broke my heart a little bit. He has since, however, come around.)

I suspect Tunis will have a similar feel to Tangier and I'm really looking forward to that. What I'm debating, however, is whether it'll be too intense for the kids. I'm sure it'll depend a lot on the specifics that are encountered or avoided.

 

[lmhall2000]

just bought the air tickets...they were only $290pp, but $350pp in taxes!! Whatever, $640pp total, 1 stop in madrid for only 2 hours..can't complain!

Great job Downtick!! 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

 

[sabrecmc]

When you say a noise machine, do you mean like white noise? Nature sounds? I was thinking of bringing one of those. What kind did you bring?

Sayhello

It is a Homedics, I believe. It does nature sounds, waves, waterfall (the waterfall sounds like white noise to me). The nice thing about it for the cruise is that it has a projection feature that projects the time on the ceiling, so when I wake up at night, I just look up and there's the time. It isn't too bright at all (though I don't like things totally dark, especially in an unfamiliar place). I got it at Bed, Bath & Beyond after reading about it in the Passporter guide. We were really pleased with it the last trip.

I suspect Tunis will have a similar feel to Tangier and I'm really looking forward to that. What I'm debating, however, is whether it'll be too intense for the kids. I'm sure it'll depend a lot on the specifics that are encountered or avoided.

This is pretty much how I feel too. If it were only me, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I've lived in Europe and been all over the world, so honestly wouldn't be worried, especially on a DCL excursion...but "too intense for kids" is my concern. However, DCL lists it as a family excursion. I would love to hear some first hand experience rather than being paranoid about what I read online.

Great job Downtick!! 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!

Also waiting...we leave out of our small, local airport, so have to get to a hub. Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas or Memphis most likely. Still no discounts, though with the deals I managed to find on our intra-Europe flights, I'm not going to complain. I never just happen upon deals like that EasyJet deal yesterday...I was so excited! That always happens to someone else, not me!

 

[downtick]

i was going to wait longer to see if i can get cheaper, but i think from $290, fares are only going to go up! Taxes and fees will stay the same, so $290 r/t to barcelona is sweet! Now just sifting through the 100's of hotels in barcelona for the 5 nights we will be there...i am reading so many things about the thieves there, reminds me of the vatican! i guess the rule of thumb is, if a stranger approaches you on the street with any question whatsoever, get away from him as fast as possible!

 

[Goofy Mum]

i was going to wait longer to see if i can get cheaper, but i think from $290, fares are only going to go up! Taxes and fees will stay the same, so $290 r/t to barcelona is sweet! Now just sifting through the 100's of hotels in barcelona for the 5 nights we will be there...i am reading so many things about the thieves there, reminds me of the vatican! i guess the rule of thumb is, if a stranger approaches you on the street with any question whatsoever, get away from him as fast as possible!

An incredible fare! I decided to book us on British Airways from London to BCN. It's going to cost me approx £110 per person. So that's not much less than you're paying to fly TransAtlantic! Well done!

 

[DisneyCrowd]

Welcome Downtick! You got a great deal and I know a trip your family will never forget! I think that price pp roundtrip is really good! If I found our flights for that I would probably go ahead and book, but keep your eyes open, something lower may pop up the next 2 weeks...if you find anything, come and post here for the rest of us looking for deals! Have fun planning...

I am working on a list of helpful sayings with phonetically spelled helps that might come in handy...I'll share as we get closer, if any of you have phrases you find helpful like the ones above, please share!

Planning the Med!!

Tara

Hi Downtick,
What did it take to get them (DCL) to own up to their offer. I have been back and forth for some time now and they will not give in. In their T&C Cat 12 is not offered but I got Cat 12 and KFO. A computer glitch i guess. Nevertheless my agreement states if price goes down i get the lower price. the price went down but they will not commit on the reduced price because KFO is not offered in Cat 12 (although mine states Cat 12 and KFO). an endless circle.....any advice Downtick

 

[downtick]

Hi Downtick,
What did it take to get them (DCL) to own up to their offer. I have been back and forth for some time now and they will not give in. In their T&C Cat 12 is not offered but I got Cat 12 and KFO. A computer glitch i guess. Nevertheless my agreement states if price goes down i get the lower price. the price went down but they will not commit on the reduced price because KFO is not offered in Cat 12 (although mine states Cat 12 and KFO). an endless circle.....any advice Downtick

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.

 

[tarald]

Hi,

I just found this page and wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Tara. We just booked this cruise today and we are so excited to be joining you on this cruise. My husband and I are traveling with our son who is eight, my parents, and two of my aunts.

This is our sixth Disney Cruise we have been on. We were lucky enough to go on the first Trans-Atlantic cruise as well.

You guys have posted a lot of really useful information and I hope I will get a chance to talk to some of you about some things.

Thanks,

Tara (The new one)

 

[lmhall2000]

Hi,

I just found this page and wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Tara. (The new one)

WELCOME!! Come on in and share what you guys are planning...will you all do excursions together? Sounds like a great family trip!

Tara H.!!

 

[Goofy Mum]

Hi,

I just found this page and wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Tara. We just booked this cruise today and we are so excited to be joining you on this cruise. My husband and I are traveling with our son who is eight, my parents, and two of my aunts.

This is our sixth Disney Cruise we have been on. We were lucky enough to go on the first Trans-Atlantic cruise as well.

You guys have posted a lot of really useful information and I hope I will get a chance to talk to some of you about some things.

Thanks,

Tara (The new one)

Welcome!

 

[sabrecmc]

For those of you doing tours on your own in Rome, I found this on Rick Steve's website:

The recommended tour company Rome Walks has put together a helpful video of the walking route to the Civitavecchia train station from the cruise ship port. You can find it on Rome Walks' You Tube channel (click on "Port Civitavecchia to Rome").

 

[Goofy Mum]

For those of you doing tours on your own in Rome, I found this on Rick Steve's website:

Oh thanks for that!
BTW I LOVED your "Nun" comment. Brilliant!!
It's the first time I smiled all night I think.

 

[sabrecmc]

I saw your reply, Goofy Mum! Glad I could bring a smile to your face! I was completely serious though. Those nuns were yelling at the pickpockets-to-be and basically watching over the poor tourists on the bus. This happened both times we happened to use that line. One nun patted this poor guy's butt, because that's where his wallet was and she was trying to tell him to move it...well, comedy ensued, of course. Good times.

On a different topic, do we know what time we can board the ship in Barcelona? I don't want to show up at the port too early, but would love to get onboard and have a nice lunch. Do they open the rooms at 1:30 like regular cruises? That would be perfect b/c I could then take my daughter to the room to nap before the safety drill (which was at 5:30 on the 2007 cruises, btw...the ship left port at 10pm, but all aboard was 5pm).

 

[Goofy Mum]

I think the DCL agent told me they begin boarding at 1 however we don't leave port until around 10pm. We have to be on board for the 5pm life boat drill but then we can debark again if we like.

 

[everafter1]

Hi All! My husband and I just booked this cruise for our anniversary and we are SO excited! I've never been to Europe, but we love DCL

 

[lmhall2000]

WElcome EverAfter (If it's after the movie, I think that's my husband's and my favorite movie!! ) Happy Anniversary!!! It will be a great way to celebrate it! Catch us up on how you booked airfares and what deals you find on excursions and such!

Tara