*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* From Spain to Space Mountain-Taking the Magic Home

[MandyGirl]

just searching for accomodation in barcelona just now, but struggling to find a room for 2 adults and 2 children even though one will only be 8 months old,
anyone in same position got any recommendations??

I think that's why MandyGirl booked the Hotel Universal Barcelona, as she also had a problem getting a room for 2 ad 2 ch.

Yep - that's us. One adult, another adult flying standby (so he may or may not be at check-in), one child turning 5 years the week of the cruise, and one who will be turning 15 months old the day of checkin. Literally, a room with a king bed, and we'd be set - there are so many mornings we are all four in bed together. But the hotels seem to count each person. We will be staying in a smaller hotel room in NYC prior to the cruise, and four is no problem at all. Anyway, for now, we are at Universal Hotel Barcelona. Two adults one child wasn't so hard to find, but having the extra baby has been the killer. Just different countries and how hotels are handled. Universal has a "triple room" and you can add a crib. I messaged someone who stayed there recently, and they felt it resembled "old" downtown Dallas where the hotels are - but not unsafe.

I wanted something close to the metro, and not over $200 per night - and I was not going to do two rooms. I am keeping a roving eye though, although Curt is fine with Universal. (It is ranked pretty high with TripAdvisor - like in the top twenty hotels).

Now... in Colorado this summer... we will be in a tent, approximately 9'x9'... and will be just fine...

Just figured out that DS and I can check 1 bag each (no more than 50 pounds) and can each take on a carry-on and 1 personal item. Sheesh....how am I gonna cram all our clothing requirements into that?

That's us as well - flying American with 50lb weight limits. At this point, I'm just glad our baby is ticketed so we can have a bag checked under her name (versus her being a lapchild!).

I was amazed at how much less I could have packed and taken. There were clothes I never used, items recommended to pack I didn't need, etc. So this year, I'm going to try and go with "less is more". Now with all that being said, you know I'll not pack all this stuff and will definitely wish that I had packed more.

Let's hope I don't regret this decision!!!!

We are trying that same strategy! For 8 nights out of San Juan (our last cruise), we did one carryon each, and made it work. Of course that was the Caribbean, tshirts and swimsuits were the norm, but we also did formal nights.

This is what I spent part of my day doing today. I got the cookie cutter just the other day in the mail and I couldn't wait to try it out!

Love it! Those are so cute!!

I know this sounds really sad but, in the past we've also packed way too many clothes, so I now make up an excel spreadsheet with the 14 days on it, listing port days, sea days and what the attire will be counting for 2 formals, one semi formal and cruise casual.

ahhhh.... another Excel packer....

Don't get me started on Disney Dooney & Bourke.....I am so in love with my new bag from the Dream. I have a couple of D&B's, what one do you have?

I still love the "old" D&B from the late 80s/90s with the all-weather leather. Some of the best handbags!

Just checking out Cruise TT to see who is going to be in port the da we leave and the answer is:

4 other Ships

RCI Liberty of the Seas
Costa Pacifica
Ocean Princess
Adonia
= 12053 possible people at the port with us....

Just in case any one was wondering......

I'm pleased to know that we are the only ship in port at each of our ports of call from the website I checked a few months ago! Embarkation will be crowded, but the rest should be good!

oh and to share some good news, found out today that i got a promotion at work!

Congrats, Karen!!!

Count Jeremy and I in as iPad owners. Love them! I am looking forward to downloading some TV shows and books prior to the cruise. I just wish that internet on the ship wasn't so expensive so I could download while on board!

I've already had Curt doing that to my ipod. And internet on the ship... that would tempt me to 'work' if it was affordable! I may do some work in NYC, but hoping to avoid it after leaving the country.



And gosh - you guys had lots of reading for me to do to catch up!! You rock!!

 

[GA-yaya]

One can never have too many shoes, purses, good wine or friends (or too much parmesan cheese on pasta)!

I agree completely! Especially the part about good friends!

Having said that, I must pass on my husband's warnings early in our marriage about my packing too much...."If you can't carry it, you can't take it!" Well, that has worked for many, many trips over many years.

Last year we (DH & I) went on the 10 day Med cruise, and took 1 hanging bag with all dresses/tux/dress shoes, 2 rollerboards, a laptop bag & my purse. We used just about everything we took, did laundry on the ship 2 times -- worked out really well.

Already planning how to do this trip, but also planning to take an additional hanging bag (more dress clothes to bring).

(We'll see how this actually all works out.)

 

[Dgentrysim]

oh and to share some good news, found out today that i got a promotion at work!

Always love to hear good news! Congratulations!!!!

 

[PFlamingo]

Claire, love the D&B's! I keep looking at them, but just can't bring myself to spend that much on a purse.

I have dozens of purses, but tend to use the same one for months on end. Unless we go some place special, I don't bother changing purses.

One can never have too many shoes, purses, good wine or friends (or too much parmesan cheese on pasta)!

Or Chocolate!!

oh and to share some good news, found out today that i got a promotion at work!

Congratulations!

oh and 75+/100+ pairs of shoes!!! holy moly! guess im not the typical girl, i own 2 pairs of timberland boots (one for work and one for rest of the time), and 2 pairs of flip flops. thats it. and i dont own a single handbag......

Oh, Karen, this is just not right.

Okay ladies, we have a sister in need!! We need a shoe intervention here!! I say we kidnap Karen in Barca and take her shoe shopping!! (And if we just happen to pick up a few pairs ourselves, all the better!)

 

[Namsupak]

Claire- I haven’t seen the new 40th anniversary bag. I got the same DCL Dream bag though. I love it! My current bag that I carry every day is the princess D&B. I really want to see the new 40th anniversary bag now though!

Karen- Congrats on you promotion!!! I am in the same boat with you about shoes. I love looking but just have a few pairs. I actually just bring 3 pairs of shoes with me on the cruise. A pair of dress shoes that are really slip on mary janes, workout shoes and a pair of sandals for the beach. Maybe that's why for a 1 week trip DH and I can share 1 suitcase.

 

[auntlynne]

...I'm pleased to know that we are the only ship in port at each of our ports of call from the website I checked a few months ago! Embarkation will be crowded, but the rest should be good! ...

Checked last week: only port with company is Gibraltar - the P&O Ventura will be there in the morning.

Count Jeremy and I in as iPad owners. Love them! ...

"Inherited" my niece's iPad when she realized that it didn't do anything her iPod was already doing (< a week after buying it). Maybe I shouldn't have paid her full price, though, for taking it off her hands.

Noticed a woman last April using hers in Funchal at a mall; I think she had only gotten it a week or so earlier - she was using Skype to talk to her family (I think she was a cruiser).

...Having said that, I must pass on my husband's warnings early in our marriage about my packing too much...."If you can't carry it, you can't take it!" ...

I have a corollary about shoes, if you can't walk comfortably in them, don't buy them. Don't know how women are doing those spiky high heels nowadays.

 

[Pinky166]

I still love the "old" D&B from the late 80s/90s with the all-weather leather. Some of the best handbags!

I'd never heard of D&B until they started the Disney range, they are not available in the UK. I know they have been around since 1975, as it says so on my bag.....but I tend to think of that as being personalised for me, it's the year I was born.

Claire, love the D&B's! I keep looking at them, but just can't bring myself to spend that much on a purse.

Thanks Pat. I agree they are expensive. Except for the Dream one what I have done with the others is chosen the one I want when we've been in WDW but when we get home DH puts them away until my birthday or christmas etc that way I don't feel so bad about spending so much on a bag.

Claire- I haven’t seen the new 40th anniversary bag. I got the same DCL Dream bag though. I love it! My current bag that I carry every day is the princess D&B. I really want to see the new 40th anniversary bag now though!

This is really not a great photo but it gives you an idea of the pattern.....

The Messenger is on the top of the shelf, the bucket style underneath, they also do a larger tote style too.

 

[karentan]

The Messenger is on the top of the shelf, the bucket style underneath, they also do a larger tote style too.

i didnt realise they did messenger style bags, i might have to get one now!

Okay ladies, we have a sister in need!! We need a shoe intervention here!! I say we kidnap Karen in Barca and take her shoe shopping!! (And if we just happen to pick up a few pairs ourselves, all the better!)

 

[Pinky166]

i didnt realise they did messenger style bags, i might have to get one now!

They are the new 40th Anniversary ones that came out last month whilst I was there.

 

[squitty]

Thanks.

I know what you mean, I quite fancy another one but not sure what......have you seen the 40th Anniversary ones? They had just been released when we were there last month and I quite liked the messenger style one but I had already spent way too much money.

I have Claire...I see you've posted the photos. I liked the new princess ones too Scroll down in this link Here

we have just booked 3 nights at bcv with points off a dibber, hope we get a nice room, susie

Great Susie, what dates have you booked?

By the way I finally got an IPad YEY!!!

Yes I know I'm probably about a year behind the rest of you, but the price drop on the old model finally made my mind up,and I ran out at the weekend and purchased one.

I already LOVE IT!!!

I already can't imagine how I lived without the dictation software which allows you to speak your documents and it types them automatically for you.

In fact at this very post was not typed but simply spoken and my iPad did all the hard work for me.

Did I mention I LOVE IT!!!

SW

I'm an apple convert, I love my Macbook and my iPhone. I am holding out though for the iPad2 to see if there is much difference. Fantastic prices for the iPads though.

oh and to share some good news, found out today that i got a promotion at work!

Congratulations Karen

 

[granmaz]

Karen, congrats on the promotion. More money to buy MORE SHOES!!!

Oh, and I have what appears to be 100's of shoes. I have loads I have never worn too. I went on a shopping spree last year before the WBTA after I lost had weight, almost 4 stones. For some reason this spree included lots of shoes from M&S as there were loads in the sale and they kept getting cheaper.

Do any of you guys using the on-board laundry rooms?

Last year we were following the Transatlantic with a week at Walt Disney World, meaning we needed to organise a three weeks of clothes in our limited luggage allowance.

So there was nothing for it but to use the on-board laundry facilities, it was a sinch really, we simply loaded our clothes into a machine and took a dip in the pool and returned 45 min later to place them into the dryer.

We only bothered to iron the items that really needed it. Everything else just got hung up in the wardrobe.

This stopped us having to pack 21 days worth of T-shirt and smalls which as you can imagine really help to cut down on the packing space. Whilst washing clothes on my vacation isn't my idea of great fun, it was a small compromise which meant we had extra room in our luggage for souvenirs on the way home.

However, there was one occasion when I went to check on my washing and found a mother Ironing what I can only describe as a months worth of laundry. I remarked on quite how much she was doing, and she replied "This means when I get home I just relax!!!

Funny that's what I thought vacations are for!

SW

I do laundry. I couldn't bear the thought of 2 weeks worth of dirty laundry building up, particularly when it is hot and humid out there!! I do iron too, though not as many things as if I was at home!! I don't think our UK clothes are made for the tumble dryer just the same as the US ones so I take more care tumble drying them or taking them to hang in the room. I wish I dare send things out to launder, particularly the unmentionables.

I fully understand that mother ironing everything before going home as it can be such hard work unpacking etc and getting the family organised once home. However, I now wash and take home things unironed that I am not going to wear again, but I so hate that pile of creased clothes waiting to be ironed for months back home!!!

 

[Manon_Paul_Nina]

Hi back again,
Wow the board is going fast... Sorry but I don't have time to read it all...
We always take clothing for 1 week, and than wash everything when nessessary...
Sometimes just give them a little bath in the tub or use the washingmachine...

Called to DCL yesterday to order a B-daycake and a private table for just our party...
Our girl doesn't eat with strangers on our table, so we need to have one...
As usual they were very friendly jet again...
Less than 6 months left, im getting more and more excited

 

[LindaBabe]

Good Morning, Happy Cruisers!

Have to say, buying a D&B wouldn't do me much good - I hate to even carry a purse!

Shoes are another sore topic - I LOVE them - I'd rather have pretty shoes than diamonds, but I can't wear them. I have one pair of dressy 'soft spots' with low heels and they hurt so much I can't stand them on. Needless to say they *aren't* coming on this trip. Sandals, water shoes, and 1 pair of sneakers - that's it.

Still freaking out over the single suitcase weight allowance.

 

[Tod&Copper]

Oh, Karen, this is just not right.

Okay ladies, we have a sister in need!! We need a shoe intervention here!! I say we kidnap Karen in Barca and take her shoe shopping!! (And if we just happen to pick up a few pairs ourselves, all the better!)

Definitely, shoe shopping... count me in !!

 

[Dgentrysim]

Definitely, shoe shopping... count me in !!

Count me in! It'll be tough, but shoe intervention is definitely called for here! Just want to show the DIS support she has here!

 

[sue l]

I have a Dooney & Bourke...I have never used it though as I've just never got round to it. It's still in the wardrobe in the original packaging.

This is mine

That is so funny, I have the same bag also I just got for Christmas the small one with the multi colored Mickey Baloons and I bought the one on the Dream and also the Purple one from the Magic Kingdom in Downtown. I love the Disney Dooney & Burkes. They are awesome.

 

[sue l]

Ladies, your bags are fabulous!

And I've yet to meet a woman who doesn't love shoes and purses. I'm a sandal nut myself, so most of my shoes are sandals and flip flops!

Me too, I am more of a sandal freak myself. Although I did buy 4 pairs of boots and 2 pairs of clogs this winter. Husbands don't need to know, do they?

 

[StephenKay]

Hello Stevie. Looking forward to seeing you all dressed up in your kilt!

Hi Claire I've got my sporran at the ready even I've got a handbag lol see you in September

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Hi everyone .. sorry I have been a bit AWOL lately but I went on a big adventure to London at the weekend with my Mum and my 2 DDs to see "Love Never Dies" which was totally amazing. We spent 2 days there and since I get back I have been busy with work. I have been reading all about shoes and bags and washing and FE gifts and kilts and it is all very exciting.

So to summarise my thoughts on the above .... I love shoes, particularly sandals and wedges. Not so big on bags but I am coveting all of those D & B Disney bags, I always do one load of washing mid cruise to save on weight, I haven't started my FE gifts yet or even decided what to make, and I love men in kilts !!! Now did I miss anything else ?????

 

[Tod&Copper]

Hi everyone .. sorry I have been a bit AWOL lately but I went on a big adventure to London at the weekend with my Mum and my 2 DDs to see "Love Never Dies" which was totally amazing. We spent 2 days there and since I get back I have been busy with work. I have been reading all about shoes and bags and washing and FE gifts and kilts and it is all very exciting.

So to summarise my thoughts on the above .... I love shoes, particularly sandals and wedges. Not so big on bags but I am coveting all of those D & B Disney bags, I always do one load of washing mid cruise to save on weight, I haven't started my FE gifts yet or even decided what to make, and I love men in kilts !!! Now did I miss anything else ?????

Welcome back, glad you had a nice weekend

Love the summary I love men in kilts too