*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* From Spain to Space Mountain - Part 4

[jinxleprechaun]

A few people have recently asked for advice on excursions in gibraltar.

Myself and Helen have visited quite a bit in the past 5 years (even getting married there) and this is what I have found.

We have looked to do the dolphin excursion but when speaking with a booking agent on 2 occasions we have been advised that the chances of seeing dolphins on that day. Was not too good, it may be just our bad luck, but did not fancy paying for just a basic boat trip. One other point is that they charge for infants regardless of age, Grace was only 12 months at the time and from experience this is the only company I have found charging for children so young.

In regards to the different options at the top of the rock there is obviously the cable car which charges £7.50 for a single journey and £9 for a return journey (it is a long walk back down, not sure why anyone would buy a single!!) this only entitles you to see the monkey enclosure and nothing else.

Other attractions at the top are St Michaels cave, the Great siege tunnels and the moorish castle which in my opinion are well worth doing. The cost of this with the cable car company is £19 for adults and £12 for children. This option involves quite a walk between the sites of around 3 miles for the round trip and it can be quite tiring as it is very hilly.

An alternative option is a minibus tour, there are numerous drivers touting for business at the border with gib/Spain, on the main street and also at the base of Europa point as you go up towards the cable cars (trying to take business from the cable cars). From memory the trip includes entry to the top of the rock and all the attractions mentioned above and costs around £15. The benefit with this is that you are taken to all the sites and there is minimal walking, the tour takes about 3 hours but if a group of 8 book the whole bus I'm sure the driver will negotiate. I'm sure there will be drivers on the dock trying to overcharge so it may be better to book at one of the other sites.

We did the trip in our own car and for entry for 2 adults and a car it came to about £20 for entry to all the attractions (£10 for the car and £5 per adult) So the minibus tour is quite reasonable.

A helpful website is http://www.gibraltarinfo.gi/gibraltar-tickets.aspx which is for the cable car company but gives a good description of the different attractions

Hope this is of help.

If you have any queries please feel free to PM me

Paul

Thanks Paul

 

[GA-yaya]

We live in Loganville.
When are leaving to go to Barcelona?
We have been there 4 times before.
I still can't believe I booked this again. I missed the Magic, when we did
The Wonder in April.
Going to bring the Magic Home!!!!!!!

We have only been to Barcelona the one time last year before our Med cruise, and we LOVED it, so we are going back a few days early to do further exploring - eating & drinking. LOL!

We are flying Delta (of course, they're the only game in town) from Atlanta to BCN direct on the 6th. How about you?

Again, Welcome Aboard!

 

[smootenloopers]

One of the many candy thingies that is typical Dutch is licorice. Sure, you can get it in most countries nowadays but nothing compares to the REAL licorice. Isn't that the truth, Liesbeth? However, we've got like hundreds of different sorts of licorice and it would be fun to be able to give participants the option to try a couple of them instead of just one.

For the uninitiated, some Dutch licorice is salty, some is sweet. I love the DZ drop and order it by the 2-kilo bag from an importer here in the US! Had to go have a piece just from reading about it!

Same goes for the typical old dutch candy, comes in so many lovely tastes.

Mmmmm, babbelaars.......

And with such little amount of kids participating, I'm strongly considering adding a special kiddotype of candy for them.

They might enjoy spekkies, too

.

 

[eeyorelvr10]

We have only been to Barcelona the one time last year before our Med cruise, and we LOVED it, so we are going back a few days early to do further exploring - eating & drinking. LOL!

We are flying Delta (of course, they're the only game in town) from Atlanta to BCN direct on the 6th. How about you?

Again, Welcome Aboard!

Peggy and Roger! Ken & Christie are experts in Barcelona. Dare I ask if anyone's putting together a pre-cruise meet? Maybe at Tapa's Tapa's again Ken? Maybe we can pay the "waiter" in coin again....assuming he's still there.

Anyway, Been there what, twice with you guys? Either way, can't go wrong with any info they give you. Sign......

Adopted child of K&C

 

[eeyorelvr10]

We live in Loganville.
When are leaving to go to Barcelona?
We have been there 4 times before.
I still can't believe I booked this again. I missed the Magic, when we did
The Wonder in April.
Going to bring the Magic Home!!!!!!!

My goodness, at it so soon, this time your not even waiting for the airport!

Sorry, off I go to mop the kitchen floor. Volleyball party on Thursday and my shoulder is almost back to normal so no excuse for dilly dallying.

 

[GA-yaya]

Peggy and Roger! Ken & Christie are experts in Barcelona. Dare I ask if anyone's putting together a pre-cruise meet? Maybe at Tapa's Tapa's again Ken? Maybe we can pay the "waiter" in coin again....assuming he's still there.

Anyway, Been there what, twice with you guys? Either way, can't go wrong with any info they give you. Sign......

Adopted child of K&C

Sounds like Ken & Christie have a fan!!!
That's excellent!

 

[Dgentrysim]

In 11 Weeks We leave for Barcelona!!!

WAHOO!!!!!

 

[nick262]

Did Tod & Cooper answer the question regarding the store at the end of the Pier in Barcelona? I scanned all of the pages but did not see it.

Tod & Cooper, can you please confirm the store at the end of the Pier in Barcelona is still open?

Thanks,

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Just saw Pirates 4 tonight. We were going to hold out and hope to see it on the ship in Sept, but just couldn't wait. I really liked it better than Pirates 3 - the action was more constant.

Will say though that it looks like Johnny Depp is the one drinking from the Fountain of Youth - he doesn't seem to have aged a day past 35.

We just booked today! Can't wait to get back to Barcelona!!

Welcome!!!!

 

[GA-yaya]

Will say though that it looks like Johnny Depp is the one drinking from the Fountain of Youth - he doesn't seem to have aged a day past 35.

Sigh!

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Hi Everyone,

Phew! All the grants are in...and the craziness is over. Now I just have to do the adminstrative stuff and then it will be on to the next projects....but at least the craziness of 14 grant deadlines in 2 months is over!

Keri

 

[KrisannB]

subscribing

Hey Laura!!!! Great to be sailing with you again!

A few people have recently asked for advice on excursions in gibraltar.

Myself and Helen have visited quite a bit in the past 5 years (even getting married there) and this is what I have found.

We have looked to do the dolphin excursion but when speaking with a booking agent on 2 occasions we have been advised that the chances of seeing dolphins on that day. Was not too good, it may be just our bad luck, but did not fancy paying for just a basic boat trip. One other point is that they charge for infants regardless of age, Grace was only 12 months at the time and from experience this is the only company I have found charging for children so young.

my few cents in here too - we did the Disney excursion on the 2010 EBTA and it was nice, we saw lots of dolphins BUT this year on teh EBTA some of the Diser's went and they saw NOTHING - BUT before dinner that night on Deck 4 we were all out on watching as we were sailing from Gilbraltor - we first saw 3 whales and then about 10 minutes later so many dolphins! I have pictures my husband took of them - it was awesome - we stayed there watching them for over an hour!

Actually, no, not really, Jill!!


This is going to be too fun with such a large ebta reunion!! I'm buying new PJs for the occasion.......


.

I think I will actually be up for it this time, hmmm - new pj's! SHOPPING!!

Krisann

 

[middleofamerica]

Candy Swap

Dennis and I are a bit stuck on this one. We're trying to think of some candy representative of either Georgia, the South, or the U.S., but not having much luck. We'd bring peanut brittle, but we can only find it in large packages - nothing small and individually wrapped. You thought Jacqueline's image was bad, we'd be walking around going, "Here, break off a chunk." Eew. The only thing I can think of that's relatively small and pre-packaged is a pecan log (pronounced PEE-can, we're in the South, honey) and well, those are just nasty. If anyone would like to make a suggestion, we'd love to hear it.

How about individually wrapped moon pies? Or goo-goo clusters? Just two things that popped into my head that were "southern"!

 

[JessicasMom]

How about individually wrapped moon pies? Or goo-goo clusters? Just two things that popped into my head that were "southern"!

Might not want to get goo-goo clusters....just sayin....

 

[kileybeth]

Newbie on the thread here. Thinking of ditching our West Coast cruise to Mexican Riviera (never been) in Oct to sail transatlantic again!!! We sailed with Disney in April 2011 and flew home with Aer Lingus into JFK for a pretty decent price ($400 or so each?)

Just looked and it's gonna be $605 each minimum on Aer Lingus flying over to BCN.

Anyone have a better deal or know where I might look/book???

If I can get this airfare down some, I know I can convince the DH to go for it!

We loved the 14 days vs 7 day cruise and airfare from east to west coast USA is stupid expensive right now to get us out to LAX from here.

Help a girl out pretty please?

 

[Schmendrick54]

Newbie on the thread here. Thinking of ditching our West Coast cruise to Mexican Riviera (never been) in Oct to sail transatlantic again!!! We sailed with Disney in April 2011 and flew home with Aer Lingus into JFK for a pretty decent price ($400 or so each?)

Just looked and it's gonna be $605 each minimum on Aer Lingus flying over to BCN.

Anyone have a better deal or know where I might look/book???

... [snip]

Help a girl out pretty please?

Here's a crazy thought -- My in-laws are joining us on this cruise and they are flying from BWI to Barcelona round-trip with the return flight in May 2012. They are also cruising with us from New Orleans to Barcelona on April 14, 2012 on the Voyager of the Seas. We booked inside cabins for this 16-day EBTA for under $600 each. I think their R/T airfare was about $900 ($450 each way.) So if you want to cross the ocean twice, you can look for a cheap round trip airfare.

Good luck!

Jerry

 

[PFlamingo]

Newbie on the thread here. Thinking of ditching our West Coast cruise to Mexican Riviera (never been) in Oct to sail transatlantic again!!! We sailed with Disney in April 2011 and flew home with Aer Lingus into JFK for a pretty decent price ($400 or so each?)

Just looked and it's gonna be $605 each minimum on Aer Lingus flying over to BCN.

Anyone have a better deal or know where I might look/book???

If I can get this airfare down some, I know I can convince the DH to go for it!

We loved the 14 days vs 7 day cruise and airfare from east to west coast USA is stupid expensive right now to get us out to LAX from here.

Help a girl out pretty please?

I got one-way from Orlando to JFK to Barca for about $535 each through Cheapoair.com. You can also look at 1800flyeurope.com. We're driving to Orlando, leaving the car with family, and driving back after the cruise, which works out better for us, even though we live about 90 minutes from Atlanta. The $600 range is about the cheapest I've seen for one-way.

 

[Pinky166]

Welcome to the new cruisers.

Just saw Pirates 4 tonight. We were going to hold out and hope to see it on the ship in Sept, but just couldn't wait. I really liked it better than Pirates 3 - the action was more constant.

Will say though that it looks like Johnny Depp is the one drinking from the Fountain of Youth - he doesn't seem to have aged a day past 35.

I agree, he really doesn't appear to have aged in the last 10 or so years!

 

[Tod&Copper]

Did Tod & Cooper answer the question regarding the store at the end of the Pier in Barcelona? I scanned all of the pages but did not see it.

Tod & Cooper, can you please confirm the store at the end of the Pier in Barcelona is still open?

Thanks,

Unfortunately we didn't see a liquor store at the end of the pier, but there is one inside the cruise terminal and DH bought some supplies there before we went through to board. So there is a chance to buy wines and spirits at the port

 

[squitty]

Welcome aboard to all the new Cruisers

Unfortunately we didn't see a liquor store at the end of the pier, but there is one inside the cruise terminal and DH bought some supplies there before we went through to board. So there is a chance to buy wines and spirits at the port

Mary thank you for this

I think we will be having a look around