May 5, 2010 Magic of Barcelona

[strawberryblonde]

I'm also a little worried for us too... I read somewhere that the ash cloud may be around for a bit because it's not moving much... I'm really hoping that's not the case. We're flying to Barcelona with a connection in Frankfurt. I know it's way early, but I may call the DCL flight desk on Monday to see if they have contingency plans in place. I'm thinking positive thoughts for all of us and for those first Med cruisers too! It's looking like my husband might make it back from his trip by Monday. They finally got the ok to fly out yesterday, but they're having to go a special route to get around the cloud. I'm hoping they won't send him on another trip before his leave starts!

I always worry about that too, if they send DH off on a trip right before something special we have planned.

What gives me hope, is that the cloud is moving away from the UK, which means it should move away from Germany and Spain as well.....just the unknowing, and the fact that there could be more ash to come, it is a bit unnerving.

Flying wasn't even our first choice, but I couldn't find a deal by train, and DH wasn't able to get off time before the cruise to allow for driving....we are supposed to fly in the night before cruise. If we have to drive all night.....yuck ....at least we have that option though, poor folks that don't, it isn't as though they can swim.

 

[everafter1]

I always worry about that too, if they send DH off on a trip right before something special we have planned.

What gives me hope, is that the cloud is moving away from the UK, which means it should move away from Germany and Spain as well.....just the unknowing, and the fact that there could be more ash to come, it is a bit unnerving.

Flying wasn't even our first choice, but I couldn't find a deal by train, and DH wasn't able to get off time before the cruise to allow for driving....we are supposed to fly in the night before cruise. If we have to drive all night.....yuck ....at least we have that option though, poor folks that don't, it isn't as though they can swim.

I definitely agree! Apparently because of all the trips the military is making they have the right to cancel leave, if necessary, but once a year they can take "high priority leave" which means in the event they start cancelling leave those with high priority will have less of a chance of that happening.

That gives me hope too and I'm hoping it will start moving away faster. We are flying in day of, which is one thing I wish I could change, but I'm sure it will be fine. DCL scheduled our flights, and said they take care of it if something happens, so I'm assuming they would handle this as well. I'm hopeful that it will work out for everyone, though

 

[Goofy Mum]

I think we'll all be OK to fly. Flights here in the UK continue to be grounded until Sunday but I'm sure we'll all be just fine!

 

[disney-lover]

I think we'll all be OK to fly. Flights here in the UK continue to be grounded until Sunday but I'm sure we'll all be just fine!

I agree with you, well I am hopeful anyway! We still have a couple of weeks so hopefully it will have cleared by then. If not then we have started looking into alternative travel, either driving over or going on the train, it will be hassle but if needs be it can be done.

My heart totally goes out to anyone trying to get over now from America for the earlier cruise.

 

[Goofy Mum]

I agree with you, well I am hopeful anyway! We still have a couple of weeks so hopefully it will have cleared by then. If not then we have started looking into alternative travel, either driving over or going on the train, it will be hassle but if needs be it can be done.

My heart totally goes out to anyone trying to get over now from America for the earlier cruise.

Well hopefully flights will be resuming shortly and everyone be safe and on time! Let's just hope this thing doesn't decided to erupt again!
But we already decided we're going to drive if we can't fly out. I heard the ferry's are already selling out! Maybe we should get together and hire a coach!

Ironically, the weather in Coventry has been beautiful these past few days! Glad the kids are back in school tomorrow!!

 

[Cruiser25]

I am new here and was searching for any news related to the cruise and came upon this board and the april 24 cruise board. I am very worried about this volcano. I was just looking at the Apr 24 cruise board and it is nothing short of panic. As of now, BCN airport is closed and there is talk all over the news that things will get worse before better. I live in the states and fly into madrid then on to barcelona. Luckily I bought travelex insurance 1 day before this whole thing began and I am afraid that I may have to use it, but hoping not! I really hope this all blows over and away by May 5. Til then, will be cautiously nervous.

 

[everafter1]

I'm trying to stay hopeful as well that things will clear in the next 2 weeks. Although it would be better if things would clear sooner for our friends on the first Med cruise. I am hoping since we booked flights with DCL that they would handle it for us if we need to make changes but there's nothing they can really do if all the flights are booked up. We just have to stay positive

 

[Cruiser25]

I just reviewed my travel insurance contract and there are no exclusions for this type of incident, so that is a sigh of relief. I am really expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Guess only time will tell. If the airports are closed there be a handful of cruisers on the boat. I would be surprised if disney would not cancel but then again its all about money so I really wouldn't be surprised either. I would at least expect them to offer credits for a future cruise in the worst case scenario. Anyway, this certainly does not seem to be getting any better any time soon. Good luck to you all.

 

[torimarrett]

I'm trying to stay hopeful as well that things will clear in the next 2 weeks. Although it would be better if things would clear sooner for our friends on the first Med cruise. I am hoping since we booked flights with DCL that they would handle it for us if we need to make changes but there's nothing they can really do if all the flights are booked up. We just have to stay positive

I also booked my flights through DCL. I agree with you about staying positive. It looks like flights are cancelled through Monday and possibly mid next week. There are several news websites tracking the cancellations.

 

[everafter1]

I also booked my flights through DCL. I agree with you about staying positive. It looks like flights are cancelled through Monday and possibly mid next week. There are several news websites tracking the cancellations.

I guess that's really all we can do I see you're from Clermont, which flights are you on with DCL? I didn't think anyone else on our cruise had booked air with DCL, so I'm glad we're not the only ones! They have us flying out of MCO on a Luftahnsa flight on 5/4 in the evening (8pm, I think) and connecting in Frankfurt. To be honest, they have us cutting it a little close with our arrival time in Barcelona, so I was already nervous about that, but they assured me everything would be ok. I think I may call on Monday (since the flight desk is closed on weekends) to see if they have contingency plans set up for flights.

Welcome aboard cruiser25! I'm glad your insurance will cover things if something happens. Kaleigh has created an awesome website for our cruise with lots of good information on it http://may5med.weebly.com so be sure to check that out

My husband just landed in Spain a few hours ago. They were diverted there instead of going to Germany. He said that military planes are still going in and out of Spain, but that because so many were diverted to there, they are pretty backed up with flights trying to leave.

 

[sabrecmc]

Things are looking up. They think, or should we say hope, 50% of European airspace will open tomorrow.

Saw the above on the thread in the main forum. Also seems BCN is reportedly opening up. So far, test flights have encountered no problems. I'm optimistic, though I think it is smart to think about alternate arrangements. We're playing it by ear. If we can get to Europe, we'll get ourselves on the ship somehow!

 

[Goofy Mum]

I spoke to DCL last night and asked what the chances are of them cancelling the cruise due to the filght situation. The reply was "Disney has never cancelled a cruise and have no intention of doing so despite the flight situation."

There's a lot of Americans scheduled for the cruise however there's probably even more Europeans scheduled who are all probably working on alternative travel plans. Like I mentioned before, we're planning on driving if we have to. Won't be much fun though without my fellow American's on board.

Anyway let's all think positive and let the pixie dust work it's "MAGIC".

 

[everafter1]

Saw the above on the thread in the main forum. Also seems BCN is reportedly opening up. So far, test flights have encountered no problems. I'm optimistic, though I think it is smart to think about alternate arrangements. We're playing it by ear. If we can get to Europe, we'll get ourselves on the ship somehow!

I saw that too on another thread, so that makes me optimistic. Let's hope it keeps going

I'm sure they wouldn't cancel the cruise. They run them out of Florida even if there are hurricanes, they just divert them away from the storms. We'll get there one way or another

 

[disney-lover]

I have just been reading through the 24th April thread and my heart goes out to them all on there, this must be so worrying for them. I really hope they get all get on their flights and arrive at the ferry port in Barcellona one way or another.

Goofy mum, don't joke, A coach is looking like a good option for us We have also said we will get there one way or another, think train will be cheaper and quicker but we would need to make a decision quite early on as more and more people will be thinking the same.

 

[Goofy Mum]

I have just been reading through the 24th April thread and my heart goes out to them all on there, this must be so worrying for them. I really hope they get all get on their flights and arrive at the ferry port in Barcellona one way or another.

Goofy mum, don't joke, A coach is looking like a good option for us We have also said we will get there one way or another, think train will be cheaper and quicker but we would need to make a decision quite early on as more and more people will be thinking the same.

ha ha...well there's 6 of us... how many in your party,12? There's quite a few Brits going so maybe it's an idea! Have you ever seen "Coach Trip"? I promise we would be the first to get voted off!

 

[disney-lover]

ha ha...well there's 6 of us... how many in your party,12? There's quite a few Brits going so maybe it's an idea! Have you ever seen "Coach Trip"? I promise we would be the first to get voted off!

Yep 12 of us. I think there are some other brits on this thread as well. We would be able to claim the money back from the airline if the flight was cancelled. I wonder how much it would be

OMG coach trip, yes I've seen it, think we would be first off though

 

[strawberryblonde]

I feel sooo badly for the 4/24th cruisers ....such stress at what should be an exciting/packing time. Hoping for the best of outcomes for them.

This has all made me quite nervous for us as well. I did check into train for us and got nowhere, it is all so confusing to me. We could drive if worse comes to worse....I think it would take us about 15 hours. The trouble for that plan, is where to park. So far I've just found a car park that allows up to 8 days for 75 euro, can't figure out how to add more days on.

 

[fitnessmouse]

We could drive if worse comes to worse....I think it would take us about 15 hours. The trouble for that plan, is where to park. So far I've just found a car park that allows up to 8 days for 75 euro, can't figure out how to add more days on.

We're going to drive. WE had planned on driving anyway. takes approx `15 hrs for us as well.
in the cruise papers it said something about parking at the nearby wtc. it didn't say you had to reserve a spot

 

[Goofy Mum]

Just checking the cost for a ferry if need be. Will cost about £1000! That's IF there's availability. Also have no idea what channel tunnel tix would cost if we drive. Maybe I shouldn't be panicking.

The flight ban continues now until 7pm tomorrow night.

 

[strawberryblonde]

We're going to drive. WE had planned on driving anyway. takes approx `15 hrs for us as well.
in the cruise papers it said something about parking at the nearby wtc. it didn't say you had to reserve a spot

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that a reservation was needed (or even available for that matter!), hope I didn't worry you. I just wanted plan on costs. Did the cruise papers mention what cost for the wtc? I'll do another search and see what I can come up with.....