May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[Jeff Spencer]

Just the one on the first sea night. Two "semi-formal" nights as well, which in other cruise line dress codes would be "informal", i.e., anywhere from a suit and tie to sport coat to nice polo shirt and slacks.

 

[LDSsinglegirls]

First of all, a heads up. If you're logged in prior to midnight you won't be able to book anything after midnight UNLESS you first log off and then log back on. I learned this the hard way back on 2/14.

You will be able to book the excursion for everyone that is in your "travel party", i.e., your specific reservation and any other reservations linked to your reservation. In our case for example, we have two reservations - one for each stateroom - that are linked for my family, which is a travel party of 4. When I log on for either reservation, I can book dining, excursions, spa treatments for any one, 2, 3 or 4 of us. Yes, you are booking for specific people in your travel party...their names show up in a drop down box and you select who you're booking for.

So, you can only book for those in your room unless other rooms were booked as a single travel party.

Thanks a million Jeff! Our reservations are in fact linked together.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

For those that booked the Novotel Barcelona City like I did, I was just checking their site as we'd decided to stay over a night after the cruise and I saw where they've moved their opening date from March 1st to March 29th. I think I'm going to give them a call and ask how confident they are in the new opening date. I'd hate to get down to the last month or few weeks and have to scramble to find a place to stay.

Update: I called the 1-800-NOVOTEL number and they said they didn't have any information on the opening date.

 

[Hilari Smith]

For those that booked the Novotel Barcelona City like I did, I was just checking their site as we'd decided to stay over a night after the cruise and I saw where they've moved their opening date from March 1st to March 29th. I think I'm going to give them a call and ask how confident they are in the new opening date. I'd hate to get down to the last month or few weeks and have to scramble to find a place to stay.

Update: I called the 1-800-NOVOTEL number and they said they didn't have any information on the opening date.

Thanks for the update Jeff. We booked at this hotel the night before the cruise. I think we prepaid it....Let us know if you get any more info.

 

[jedijill]

Thanks for the update Jeff. We booked at this hotel the night before the cruise. I think we prepaid it....Let us know if you get any more info.

thanks from me too. I also booked and pre-paid it.

Jill in CO

 

[Jeff Spencer]

I'm not that worried. I too prepaid our two rooms. If anything, I may book rooms that are refundable up to 72 hours before arrival as a backup just for peace of mind.

 

[trampslady]

I'm not that worried. I too prepaid our two rooms. If anything, I may book rooms that are refundable up to 72 hours before arrival as a backup just for peace of mind.

Thanks for all this info. I have, in fact, been working on our hotel arrangements for two nights before and two nights after myself. Novotel seemed to be the winner as I can't find anything even remotely close in price. If you don't mind, may I ask what your prepaid price was? Since it's our first trip to Barcelona, I'm concerned about the location. I want to use the bus turistica for the hop on/hop off option for one full day, and we plan to purchase tickets to visit Montserrat one day as well. And, we'd prefer to avoid the metro if we can.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Our rate, booked through hotelclub.com was $112.65 per room/night.

 

[Pinmeister]

This cruise will be here before you know it!! My family and I have been planning everything and all we need is a cheap flight to Europe!!!

My DM, DD, DS, DS, and DBFFNY are all very excited too!

One thing that I can't wait for is the on board pin trading!!! I am the crazy fastpass pin man so obviously I am a crazy pin tradin' maniac!!!

Anyone found any cheap airfare? Like I said we are all still looking.

I'm gettin excited and I already have my dancin shoes packed!!!

HEEEEEEY HEEEEEEEEEEEEY BABAY!!! WHOO HAAA!!! i WANNA KNOOOOOW IF YOU'LL BE MY GIRL!!!!!

Hey bubby627
I too am looking forward to pin trading. Do you have any experience with trading on board. Any tips would be gratly appreciated. I know plenty of the ins and outs at WDW but since this is my first cruise I will be a little lost. Are there any PTN or special meets. Do you trade online like PP?
Looking forward to meeting everyone wpecially a fellow pin nut.

 

[AppleGuy]

Hello Apple Guy! We booked our Italy excursions through Claudio as well. His company comes highly recommended from everyone I know that has taken European tours through Italy. My TA uses him exclusively and all comments have been beyond stellar. Never been to Italy myself so this is all second hand. We are doing Pompeii and almalfi, Rome, and Piza/Florence.

It looks like you are doing the same 3 tours that we have planned. We also were told that Claudio came highly recomended. We haven't been to Italy before either so all of us are really looking forward to those 3 days.

What plans does everyone have for the day before the cruise in Barcelona? We want to see Sagrada Famille church, Olympic stadium, the local markets but don't have any other plans--any suggestions? Any great restaurants or food that we shouldn't miss?

Apple Guy-- Gary

 

[llkoolj40]

How many formal nights are there on the 11 night cruises?

I'm trying to decide whether it's worthwhile packing my Kilt for the formal nights.

Heck yeah!!!! That would be great!!!

Lori

 

[rashdecision]

It looks like you are doing the same 3 tours that we have planned. We also were told that Claudio came highly recomended. We haven't been to Italy before either so all of us are really looking forward to those 3 days.

What plans does everyone have for the day before the cruise in Barcelona? We want to see Sagrada Famille church, Olympic stadium, the local markets but don't have any other plans--any suggestions? Any great restaurants or food that we shouldn't miss?

Apple Guy-- Gary

We arrive on the Thursday morning before the cruise. As of now, we are planning on hitting the Ho:Ho bus at least one day but probably two. That way we can hit all the major sites and still get to the aquarium which is on the bus route with the kids. I considered a tour but we are spending so much on private excursions that Im trying to budget it in Spain.

 

[Pinmeister]

Need to find a hotel to stay 5/13 and 5/14 and want to share excursions. I am traveling with dh

We are also staying the 13th and 14th in Barcelona. We have booked a room at Casa de Billy, a B&B highly rated on Tripadvisor. The cost is 75 euros a night.

 

[Pinmeister]

Now another question. If we fly back home that day - the 26th - what is the earliest you'd all recommend our flight leaving? I don't want to jump all over a great deal that leaves at like 10 or 11 or something and just not be able to make it from the ship. Thanks!

Hi Prinny27, we are flying out of JFK (driving up from Delaware) which was $300 cheaper than Philadelphia and Non-stop a big plus...tickets were $720.
Our return flight leaves at 11:20AM which was the latest non-stop we could find. I called DCL and they said it would be quicker to get our own transfer to the airport. Nancy & Frank

 

[pixiedust519]

Hey bubby627
I too am looking forward to pin trading. Do you have any experience with trading on board. Any tips would be gratly appreciated. I know plenty of the ins and outs at WDW but since this is my first cruise I will be a little lost. Are there any PTN or special meets. Do you trade online like PP?
Looking forward to meeting everyone wpecially a fellow pin nut.

I love pin trading on the ship! Each night they set up a little stand in the atrium by guest services where they sell DCL pins and a CM has a pin book to look through. There's also usually at least one night where you can pin trade with the officers of the ship in the atrium. I LOVE that night because you can just go down the row and find lots of good pins and chat with the officers. We also like to pin trade in the gift shops, CMs standing outside the restaurants, guest services, all over! You'll have plenty of opportunities to trade and you can usually find some really great pins onboard. I always go for the DCL exclusive pins but you can also find some good Disneyland or WDW ones too. Happy pin trading!

 

[dvcmagic]

Hi everyone, we just book our cruise and are very excited to be joining you on this cruise.

We will be celebrating our birthdays DH on the 22nd and DVCMagic on the 23rd. In addition, we are looking forward to spending some time with our daughter who works aboard the Disney Magic! We are also traveling with our Aunt (Cindirella) and Uncle (BuckeyeFred) taking their first Disney!

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Welcome to the group dvcmagic.

Best of luck on spending time with your daughter on board. From what I've read, it's really difficult for cast members, who typically have odd schedules, to work it out to spend time with their family/friends.

On the pin trading, I may bring our old collection of pins. Years ago, after they first started doing the pins, we would buy almost every limited edition pin that came out...even bought some of the harder to find pins on ebay. After a while though we just stuck them all in a Disney bag and put them in a drawer.

Alan: I agree with Lori...go for the kilt!

 

[Travelbee]

First of all, a heads up. If you're logged in prior to midnight you won't be able to book anything after midnight UNLESS you first log off and then log back on. I learned this the hard way back on 2/14.

You will be able to book the excursion for everyone that is in your "travel party", i.e., your specific reservation and any other reservations linked to your reservation. In our case for example, we have two reservations - one for each stateroom - that are linked for my family, which is a travel party of 4. When I log on for either reservation, I can book dining, excursions, spa treatments for any one, 2, 3 or 4 of us. Yes, you are booking for specific people in your travel party...their names show up in a drop down box and you select who you're booking for.

So, you can only book for those in your room unless other rooms were booked as a single travel party.

Just a word of caution for those with linked reservations. My understanding is that only one person from all the linked reservations can be logged on at one time.

For those that booked the Novotel Barcelona City like I did, I was just checking their site as we'd decided to stay over a night after the cruise and I saw where they've moved their opening date from March 1st to March 29th. I think I'm going to give them a call and ask how confident they are in the new opening date. I'd hate to get down to the last month or few weeks and have to scramble to find a place to stay.

Update: I called the 1-800-NOVOTEL number and they said they didn't have any information on the opening date.

Thanks for the update. I too am not too worried but may look into making some backup plans if there are good deals to be had. Sounds like there'll be quite a few of us staying there precruise! We can have a mini dismeet there!

 

[dvcmagic]

We have cruised twice before while she was working (this will be our sixth Disney Cruise) and once we were able to spend a lot of time and another, not some much. But that’s ok... She actually is getting off the Disney Wonder this Sunday and will be home until late April. So… we are just using this as an excuse to get to the Med!

 

[gullunge]

For those that booked the Novotel Barcelona City like I did, I was just checking their site as we'd decided to stay over a night after the cruise and I saw where they've moved their opening date from March 1st to March 29th. I think I'm going to give them a call and ask how confident they are in the new opening date. I'd hate to get down to the last month or few weeks and have to scramble to find a place to stay.

Update: I called the 1-800-NOVOTEL number and they said they didn't have any information on the opening date.

I've emailed them also for the same concern, here is the reply from the hotel:

We kindly inform you that we expect to be opened on the 29 th march 2010 but in the event of any delay, we can assure you that we will contact to offer an alternative hotel
Your booking is confirmed at NOVOTEL BARCELONA CITY
Best regards

Cecilia GARCÍA
Responsable de Reservas/Reservation Manager
NOVOTEL BARCELONA CITY
So I guess I will just wait to see..