Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repoing Repossession Cruise Pt.2

[DisneyVegas1]

After a nearly 4 hour long, gruelling test Marika passed her BLACK BELT test today

Great Job Mate

 

[DisneyVegas1]

DCL typically uses Delta, even for the transatlantic flights.

When we flew for the TA last year DCL had us on US Airways , and now that I know some of the pilots can make water landings im good with it ...It was just amazing what that pilot did ...someone will probably hire him for there own private pilot ..LOL

 

[pjpoohbear]

Marika, That is just too cool, congrats on all your hard work and passing the test.


I am doing the train, for me it works out in price to flying BUF to BCN. Instead I am doing BUF-JFK-DUB, DUB-PAR, via JetBlue/Airlingus. Then 2 days with my cruise mates at DLP. Then the Overnight train PAR to BCN for 8:30 am on Saturday. In test pricing it works out to be about $375/$120 for airfare and $152-235 (depending on which sleeping combo I choose) for the train. My thoughts on the train are this, cool way to travel, and I won't need a hotel the night before in BCN, so for me, a single, it is a wash on the cost if I book the 4 person cabin, and a slight splurge if I went with the two person sink and breakfast included (would love to do this with a cruise mate rather then stranger), and if I find a mate (this room is a single party only), on the cruise who wants to do the shower room (2 meals included), at $293 each hey very cool.

I did the PanCan this year on 1 checked and 1 one carry-on, so I think I will be good for the TA with the same. My checked was under 50 lbs, and since my flight on Airlingus originates in the US that is the measurement they will use.
Pj

 

[runswithscissors]

That sounds like a great plan! How long is the train from DLP to Barcelona? How cool would that be to go to DLP!!

The trip is 12 hrs and they have 3 different types of accomodations. Check out eurorailways.com - they have a pdf document that gives all the specifics on Elipsos Trainhotel.

Oh wow that would be awesome to go to DL Paris... I don't know if we can work out the logistics and cost of it- but it would be nice if we could do that!!!!!! I haven't a clue on how to even start to work on something like that (the flight there, where to stay, how to get around, how to book the train, etc.)

I started researching the cost of airfare using Sept 2009 dates and used the Disney Paris website to check out their hotels. They list their hotels and a number of partner hotels. We will stay at the Disneyland Hotel while we're there but this isn't the most economical choice. Google "hotel, Paris" and you can start your research there. Check out the eurorailways website to look at the train info. This is a celebratory trip for us, so we're going all out.

 

[ibouncetoo]

If you head out in the yard soak up some extra susnshine for me, okay?

I'd be very glad to.

 

[pjpoohbear]

I wonder if we should have a DIS meet on the overnight train, lol.

Pj

 

[pit303]

Marika congrats on your great job!!

 

[BoosGram]

320K miles on your car-WOW! What kind of car was it???

It was a '93 Camry. Not too surprisingly, after we gave it away (and it was still running!), we got a 2002 Camry, which is a great car, too.

We are staying in the Inn garden view room. It is a studio, but with 2 beds instead of a hide-a-bed. I like the location of the room in the Inn but can't compare the free standing units. The resort is smaller than those at The World so even in those units it would not be a very far walk to access restaurants, pool, etc. The lobby is comfortable and has free WiFi access. Being a bit computer illiterate, I don't understand how they can have the WiFi available in the lobby, but not in the rooms direcly above it. There is a walkway to the beach that requires a room key for access. The grounds are well kept, the paint is fresh and clean everywhere. They are doing some refurbishing in the lobby area right now, so there are partitions up to wall off those areas and some noise from the work. It will be very nice when completed. There are lots of activities for kids, crafts, pool games (in warmer weather of course), the campfire I mentioned, miniature golf, an unbirthday party, etc. Anything specific you would like to know?

There seems to be lots of activities nearby....boat excursions to see manatees, kayak excursions, some historical museums, shopping, etc.

Thanks for the info. How close are you to the ocean?

And Marika, YOU SO TOTALLY ROCK!

 

[scoutsmom99]

After a nearly 4 hour long, gruelling test Marika passed her BLACK BELT test today

CONGRATULATIONS MARIKA

What an incredible accomplishment

 

[SeaSpray]

Well, I have good news and bad news, the bad news is the wedding was called off! I do feel very bad for them.

Bad for us...there is no Cat 11 showing availibility and like a dummy I had already cancelled ours *wants to bang head* so will see what the TA can do for us!

Good news is we are cruising with yall again and I swear a Pirates Oath, no matter what we are not flip flopping or canceling again!

I'm sorry to hear about the wedding being called off, but Welcome Back Aboard!

My Passat had sat outside on Thursday night when it was around -15F. I let the car warm up 15 minutes before I left for work. Twenty minutes into my 25 minute commute to work, I was at a stop sign. Hmmmmm...what's that smell? Must be the truck in front of me. So I get to the parking garage at work, and I notice the smell indeed had not gone away, and in fact, suddenly became quite overwhelming. It went from smelling similar to oil burning to a toxic fume. Bottom line: The cold air froze the air injector pump, when in turn backs up the exhaust into the cabin of the car. UGH! The Volkswagon dealership said this is not extremely uncommon with these temperatures we're having, and before deciding to get a new pump (approx $500 w/labor) it should sit in their garage overnight to see if it unfreezes. Besides....there's not a pump to be found in the area, so it will have to be ordered. I haven't heard from them yet, but I'm guessing I'm going to be without a car on my 3-day weekend. GRRRRRRRR

Sorry to hear this about your car!!! I hope that the repairs don't end up being too expensive or take too long.

OKAY--here is my big mommy brag:

After a nearly 4 hour long, gruelling test Marika passed her BLACK BELT test today

CONGRATULATIONS MARIKA!! That's quite an accomplishment after so many years of hard work!

I think we'll be begging about July to go to the midwest... for cooler weather. Have to admit... today was great!
Spent 3 hours on the lake paddling... in board shorts and a tank top!

Ann

And it will be another beautiful day today...I might actually go into my tiny yard and pull some weeds. In July I look to the mountains for cooler weather...I don't think I can go back to the midwest humidity. I'm visiting Chicago in May and November of this year...May should be great but I'm a tad worried about Thanksgiving!

Ok I'm jealous of your great weather!!!! We got another 8" of snow here today!!

The train from Paris to Barcelona is about 12 hours if I recall. It's an overnight trip, leaving Paris in the evening and arriving Barcelona the next morning. The train fare is higher than airfare, however you need to factor in luggage restrictions. Most European airlines allow you 2 checked bags, but there is a combined weight limit of 70lbs. The overage charges are huge. So by the time you factor in the airfare and the luggage charges, you're up to the train fare.

That all sounds good, but the train has its limitations as well. There is not luggage car on the train. You keep your bags with you, and you don't have much extra space. The train offers 3 different types of sleeper cars, 4 person, 2 person with a sink and 2 person with a shower and toilet. I had a 2 person no bath. We had a total of 4 large duffle bags, 2 large carry ons and 2 tote bags and we barely had room for it all. There was a small over the door storage rack that I somehow was able to get one of my huge duffle bags and a carry on up onto. There's a small 'closet' really just big enough to hang your coats. I stuffed a bag in there. We had no space to walk because the rest of the bags were on the floor. I know a few in our group who booked the 2 person with a shower ended up using the shower as a closet and gave up being able to shower in the morning. But even with the challenges, I'd do the train again instead of flying.


DCL typically uses Delta, even for the transatlantic flights.

Thanks for this info!!!

Bye for today--I am off to sell everything I own (well, just about anyway)

I hope you're able to sell all of your things!! I can't imagine organizing all of my "stuff" for a move like that! I'd probably be trying to sell everything that I own, too! lol

When we flew for the TA last year DCL had us on US Airways , and now that I know some of the pilots can make water landings im good with it ...It was just amazing what that pilot did ...someone will probably hire him for there own private pilot ..LOL

AMEN to that!!! The fact that everyone survived, and only some with minor injuries, is truly amazing!!!!

The trip is 12 hrs and they have 3 different types of accomodations. Check out eurorailways.com - they have a pdf document that gives all the specifics on Elipsos Trainhotel.



I started researching the cost of airfare using Sept 2009 dates and used the Disney Paris website to check out their hotels. They list their hotels and a number of partner hotels. We will stay at the Disneyland Hotel while we're there but this isn't the most economical choice. Google "hotel, Paris" and you can start your research there. Check out the eurorailways website to look at the train info. This is a celebratory trip for us, so we're going all out.

Thanks for the info! I've created a separate Favorites folder for all of this great info.


I called our travel agent on Friday in order to add DCL air and pre-cruise hotel, but he basically talked me out of booking it right now. He also was able to answer my 101 questions about what can be booked separately, what we can use DCL for (transfers, etc), and what we can't use DCL (can't get a DCL transfer if we arrive prior to embarkation day if we didn't book the air and hotel through DCL....etc. So for now...until airfares and schedules are released this fall, we're only booked for the cruise itself. I keep telling myself that there's still plenty of time to take care of the other details. LOL

 

[dclfun]

I called our travel agent on Friday in order to add DCL air and pre-cruise hotel, but he basically talked me out of booking it right now. He also was able to answer my 101 questions about what can be booked separately, what we can use DCL for (transfers, etc), and what we can't use DCL (can't get a DCL transfer if we arrive prior to embarkation day if we didn't book the air and hotel through DCL....etc. So for now...until airfares and schedules are released this fall, we're only booked for the cruise itself. I keep telling myself that there's still plenty of time to take care of the other details. LOL[/QUOTE

YIKES! If I were you, I'd book everything possible with DCL and then cancel later. The last time around with the TA lots of people had to waitlist things and then paid more than if they'd originally booked it. Right now, only the most expensive hotel DCL offers is available so you might want to get on a wtl if you want one of the less costly. I'm surprised your t/a would talk you out of booking air/hotel when you don't even have to pay for it now or truly commit to anything until final payment.

OH- for those looking, as of today there was at least one Cat 11 available. Call asap!---Kathy

 

[got2travel]

Oh wow that would be awesome to go to DL Paris... I don't know if we can work out the logistics and cost of it- but it would be nice if we could do that!!!!!! I haven't a clue on how to even start to work on something like that (the flight there, where to stay, how to get around, how to book the train, etc.)

Let me know if you decide to look into it, I can let you know how I did it.

 

[got2travel]

Marika, That is just too cool, congrats on all your hard work and passing the test.


I am doing the train, for me it works out in price to flying BUF to BCN. Instead I am doing BUF-JFK-DUB, DUB-PAR, via JetBlue/Airlingus. Then 2 days with my cruise mates at DLP. Then the Overnight train PAR to BCN for 8:30 am on Saturday. In test pricing it works out to be about $375/$120 for airfare and $152-235 (depending on which sleeping combo I choose) for the train. My thoughts on the train are this, cool way to travel, and I won't need a hotel the night before in BCN, so for me, a single, it is a wash on the cost if I book the 4 person cabin, and a slight splurge if I went with the two person sink and breakfast included (would love to do this with a cruise mate rather then stranger), and if I find a mate (this room is a single party only), on the cruise who wants to do the shower room (2 meals included), at $293 each hey very cool.

I did the PanCan this year on 1 checked and 1 one carry-on, so I think I will be good for the TA with the same. My checked was under 50 lbs, and since my flight on Airlingus originates in the US that is the measurement they will use.
Pj

Just so you are forewarned, we were told by the booking agent and by the train company that even if we purchased all 4 tickets for the 4 sleeper, if the engineer saw that there were empty berths he could put other people in there.

 

[pjpoohbear]

Monica, I am so on that. As there are several people who have expressed interest in the train, perhaps as we get closer we can find bunk mates in our group. Monica, do you remember was there any room under the seats for bags?

Pj

 

[gismo1554]

Well, I have good news and bad news, the bad news is the wedding was called off! I do feel very bad for them.

Bad for us...there is no Cat 11 showing availibility and like a dummy I had already cancelled ours *wants to bang head* so will see what the TA can do for us!

Good news is we are cruising with yall again and I swear a Pirates Oath, no matter what we are not flip flopping or canceling again!

Welcome back!

 

[gismo1554]

OKAY--here is my big mommy brag:

After a nearly 4 hour long, gruelling test Marika passed her BLACK BELT test today

Well done Marika

 

[gismo1554]

Lorri, be sure to factor in luggage limitations when booking European flights. They have a maximum luggage weight, not per bag, but total luggage weight per passenger. had to add 'luggage weight' into that sentence, didn't want it to sound like they weigh the person

lol by 2010 you never know! They might start charging people per weight band lol

 

[gismo1554]

Will she be my personal Body gaurd on the ship??

Good for her!!

If you come to Edinburgh, I will help as much as I can,please pm, I live 30 mins from edinburgh, I ship you around no probs!!


They are all differant, but with these 2 you pay around £7 pounds for a suitcase to go in the hold(up to 20kgs) you can buy extra luggage with these 2 at not a bad cost, thats what we did for switzerland.Hand luggage is good with both them, you get a mini suitacase, but with easy jet they dont weigh the hand luggage, I think Ryan air does though.

I think the majority of airlines are now weighing handluggage. My friend flew Easyjet from Bristol a few months ago and her hand luggage was weighed on the way out!

 

[gismo1554]

I called our travel agent on Friday in order to add DCL air and pre-cruise hotel, but he basically talked me out of booking it right now. He also was able to answer my 101 questions about what can be booked separately, what we can use DCL for (transfers, etc), and what we can't use DCL (can't get a DCL transfer if we arrive prior to embarkation day if we didn't book the air and hotel through DCL....etc. So for now...until airfares and schedules are released this fall, we're only booked for the cruise itself. I keep telling myself that there's still plenty of time to take care of the other details. LOL

With regard to the transfers:
Although this is technically right it all depends as we arrived the day before last time and simply got the shuttle back to the airport to pick up the DCL bus. We didn't have any problems doing this.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I think the majority of airlines are now weighing handluggage. My friend flew Easyjet from Bristol a few months ago and her hand luggage was weighed on the way out!

Well, thats not the policy and they were at it as they say in scotland.

Easy jet web site.

Hand baggage – no weight limit
easyJet has no weight restriction on hand baggage, the only stipulation is that you must be able to lift your bag safely into the overhead lockers without assistance, so the weight must be within reason.

In order to comply with safety regulations of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and to reflect the limited space in the overhead storage bins, there is a size limit, which means that your bag must not be bigger than 55x40x20 cm. Visit our carrier’s regulations for full details on our baggage policy.

These flexible hand baggage rules give you the freedom

Above from easy jet web site.