Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repoing Repossession Cruise Pt.3

[DisneyVegas1]

Hi All,

Ending my lurker status and would like to join your thread. We are two friends from California and we arrive on September 14. I'm so excited and can't wait for September!!!





We booked our flight (one-way from San Francisco to Barcelona) for about $700/each through airfare.com. I looked for months on several travel/airline websites and airfare.com was consistently cheaper. And, the fare is much less for those of you who are closer to the East Coast. (i.e. $564 incl. tax with one layover on British Airways from MCO.) The only scary thing is that the fare is non-refundable. You can get travel insurance though. I was a little nervous when I booked it b/c the fares are soooo much cheaper than any other websites and I wondered if there was a catch. But I received confirmation email rightaway and about one week after booking I went directly to the airline's website (American Airlines) and chose my seat for both legs with no problems. (I have a layover in New York.)







Thanks for the info re: the Praktik!!!!! I was booked at the Continental Palacete but the Praktik will be about 1/3 less and is still close to everything so I'm now booked at the Praktik. I can use the extra money for all of my KonK Koolers on the ship.

Aboard Mate

 

[CACruisin']

The one I chose is in Sants-Plaza d'Espanya. if I've spelled that correctly. :lol:
It's not right smack in the middle of things like Gracia/etc. are- but it's close to the airport and sorta to the port (closer than Gracia/etc.) so as long as the neighborhood was okay- I was fine with that. We'll need private transportation for all of us and our luggage to the apt and to the port later on- so those being the shorter distance--- and using the metro during our stay there (without luggage obviously LOL) to get to other things is fine with us.
I looked in the Gracia area and areas around that for an apt- but they were more expensive for our family AND didn't look as nice. Kinda cheap looking/etc. and a lot smaller. The price we're paying here is for a 4 bedroom -and it was more expensive for smaller apts near/in Gracia that says they sleep 5 but tiny rooms, single beds (even for us parents? LOL) in a lot of them and in all of those one would have to sleep on the pull out sofa as well. And most without a/c. We may not need it- but I like to have it if we do! Yes, I'm from Texas..... and we have a/c everywhere!

I hope we get confirmation of this apt because I have been looking and looking and going thru every hotel and apt imaginable and this one suited us best AND the best price. hehe Oh and it does have living areas, balcony, full kitchen (not that I think we'll even use it LOL) etc.

Oh and I guess we're GIT's because we're not 55 yet. LOL

The area should be fine. We walked from here to Las Ramblas and the area in between was a bit "iffy" - inebriated folks midmorning, lots of yelling, and some sort of fight had just taken place with a bloodied face. The kids and I doublestepped and caught up with a group of Spanish women walking ahead of us. I'm sure the area was ok, but I wouldn't want to be there alone or in the dark is all.

Hmm.. I just always thought that the transfers were packaged into the airfare price. They included transfer from BCN to hotel, hotel to port, PC to MCO. I think I remember that because if you book airfare you don't have to book transfers. I tried to check on the DCL website, but it appears to be on vacation itself. I guess the additional transfer you need if you book a hotel with DCL (and don't come in the day of the cruise) is included in the hotel price.

BTW, I checked Lufthansa's website and they do have a price for 11 and under. One way child price is $573 inc. taxes.

But as I said before, the times may not work for your family...

So near as I can tell...

Scenario 1-- Book DCL airfare only (no hotel). Included in airfare cost is "complementary ground transfers and baggage handling" according to the DCL website. Transfers included are between BCN and port in BCN and between PC and MCO. If you aren't going to those places (ie your are going to your own hotel), you lose the transfer in question. Looks like you might be able to use the transfer in FL though, if you are going to MCO. That should be verified before counting on it tho

Scenario 2-- Book DCL airfare and hotel thru DCL. Get all three transfers included in the quoted price. My guess is that the difference between the two transfer cost and the three transfer cost is included in the price of the hotel that DCL charges.

We were told by our travel agents that when we dropped DCL airfare, the only transfers we could get would be between the airport and the port and between PC and MCO. Cost was $95 pp. However, when I look at the DCL website it looks like the transfers are $65 pp.

Gosh, this seems complicated. Hopefully, if I am wrong here someone will correct this!

I looked at our confirmation. With air only it includes transfers from airport to port in BCN and then port to airport in FL. I think others are right though and if you deviate air, there will not be transfers available (unless you go back to the airport on cruising day which would be silly.)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yes! There are several on this cruise that were on the 2008 PC. PJ and Marilyn that I can think of right now. What an amazing trip that was!

Did you participate in any DIS gatherings?

We were on that cruise, also!

Didn't know anything about DISing at that time.

 

[sandiedvc]

Just got an email from Travelzoo about a airfare sale from JFK to BCN on Orbitz.

Air Berlin was showing a fare of $455 inc taxes. Price before taxes was only $260. Stop in Dusseldorf. I assume this is a good airline?

Aer Lingus was showing $630 inc taxes, but their website shows $591 inc taxes. $566 before taxes.

Both fares are from Thurs, 9/16/10.

 

[sandiedvc]

Yes! There are several on this cruise that were on the 2008 PC. PJ and Marilyn that I can think of right now. What an amazing trip that was!

Did you participate in any DIS gatherings?

Us, too!

We went to some DIS gatherings and I tried posting on the PC cruise thread, but it moved waaaay too fast for me!

 

[DisneyVegas1]

Here is our new home ...Part 4 of the thread ....Please do not post here till the mods close this one ....Just thought I would share so you can bookmark it

Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repoing Repossession Cruise Pt.4

 

[pilk]

Hi All,

Ending my lurker status and would like to join your thread. We are two friends from California and we arrive on September 14. I'm so excited and can't wait for September!!!

Welcome to the group.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

The area should be fine. We walked from here to Las Ramblas and the area in between was a bit "iffy" - inebriated folks midmorning, lots of yelling, and some sort of fight had just taken place with a bloodied face. The kids and I doublestepped and caught up with a group of Spanish women walking ahead of us. I'm sure the area was ok, but I wouldn't want to be there alone or in the dark is all.


I looked at our confirmation. With air only it includes transfers from airport to port in BCN and then port to airport in FL. I think others are right though and if you deviate air, there will not be transfers available (unless you go back to the airport on cruising day which would be silly.)

Hi,
thanks for the info on the area.... we probably won't do a lot of "walking" from area to area..... but that's good to know. Knowing DH we probably won't be doing a lot of "night/dark" things anyway.... darn party pooper always has to be in bed so early! ugh

I think it sounds like the only transfers we might be able to use is from port to MCO at the end of the cruise- and if we can find the cruise cheaper on our own it wouldn't be worth paying the deviation fee/etc. to stay with Disney on the flight.... just to have that transfer from port to MCO.

BIP, did you see that the Lufthansa fare out of DFW one way is $700? (have to book online on the US website for Lufthansa). I guess that info was buried in my post. Sorry.

Also, right now on travelocity they have one way fare from MCO to DFW for $97 ($118 with taxes). Those are one stop, not non-stop, but it gives you an idea for when Southwest's window opens up (gotta love the free luggage there).

Anyway, that is a total of $818 a person. Cheaper than DCL. Check it out, you may not like stopping in Frankfurt... YMMV.

If you are going to use the transfers included in the DCL airfare, you would want to figure that in the price of booking it yourself.

Where can I find this?
$818 is less than what we have booked with Disney now- PLUS we're gonna have to deviate and pay the deviation fee plus our TA said that the airfare could also be higher- on top of the deviation fee! So yeah, we may need to book it on our own if possible.
Can you direct me to the lufthansa fare?
and I'll try to find the southwest oneway on travelocity...
thanks!

 

[paulasillars]

Oh, don't laugh! I have already started shopping! Well...just a couple of things, I figure if we leave in September, the only things I will be able to buy at that time of the year will be winter stuff. Aren't we all doing that...or is it just me .
PS, Nice to have somebody from my end of the world aboard

I bought our FE gifts a few weeks after booking this cruise so I guess you could say I started shopping/packing already too - its never too early!

It great to have someone else from "down under" on board - we hunted down the Kiwi cast members last time

There are lots of low cost airlines to look into, but be sure to check baggage fees which can be very steep for every bag. We are comming from Heidelberg and are seriously considering taking an overnight train from ehre to Barcelon (and Paris ould be closer). Leave Friday night and be in Barcelona first thing Saturday morning. You would save the cost of a hotel Friday night and not loose any days of touring to travel if you did that. Note: price train fare on French sites--American sites mark it up substantially.

I've found some of the really low cost airlines don't allow (or didn't when I have tried in the past) non-US citizens to book flights on them, I usually now use Expedia or Travelocity for my booking within the US.

I've been going totally nuts with trying to work out the international part - I can get to Barcelona on my airpoints (a 33 hour flight! ) but getting back one way from LA is going to cost about 75% of a return flight <insert rude words about airlines>

In the unlikely event that we get stranded on a uncharted island, which disney character would you want to be stranded with?

Captain Jack - we wouldn't be stranded for long that way

Thanks Mrs. Mork and Krista!!! Mrs. Mork - looks like we were both on the WB PC 2008 cruise. I love the repositioning cruises - more bang for my buck. I may even book the Los Angeles-Vancouver repo cruise in 4/11. The prices for this cruise are great.

We are also considering doing similar - thinking about the last Alaska cruise and then the repo back to LA. At least there isn't a 33 hour flight to get to LA

 

[woody73]

We are also considering doing similar - thinking about the last Alaska cruise and then the repo back to LA. At least there isn't a 33 hour flight to get to LA

Paula, you might want to check this.

The last time I looked, there was a gap between the last Alaska cruise and the repo back to L.A., so one could not do a B2B.

Woody

 

[TotallyAngelic]

we have the GIT"s, Geezers In Training!! You can help us Geezers get to where we are wanting to get to!!!

So, officially it is the Old Geezers and GITs group!! Meet for warm milk and cookies in Cove Cafe!!

This always makes me laugh .... calling someone a "GIT" in the UK isn't exactly polite

Hi All,

Ending my lurker status and would like to join your thread. We are two friends from California and we arrive on September 14. I'm so excited and can't wait for September!!!

Thanks for the info re: the Praktik!!!!! I was booked at the Continental Palacete but the Praktik will be about 1/3 less and is still close to everything so I'm now booked at the Praktik. I can use the extra money for all of my KonK Koolers on the ship.

Hi Kermit and welcome aboard ..... we are also staying at the Praktik Rambla ....there are quite a few of us, we will probably be taking over the hotel

Here is our new home ...Part 4 of the thread ....Please do not post here till the mods close this one ....Just thought I would share so you can bookmark it

Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repoing Repossession Cruise Pt.4

Consider it done Captain. I wonder how many threads we will have comandeered by the time we travel ??

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

Should I admit I spent the last month trying to find a bag that I needed and then found I had started packing at some point last year and put it in a bag with about 3 t-shirts and sun lotion for the cruise? I think Im going mad!

Oh, we are going to get on just fine! Already packing and terrible memory, just like me!

No, we're all alone too I fear! We are at the Hilton Diagonal Mar.

The Hilton Diagonal Mar is on the same street as us I think? Is it a Disney hotel...Just wondering if we could do transport to the ship from another hotel? Does anyone know?

I bought our FE gifts a few weeks after booking this cruise so I guess you could say I started shopping/packing already too - its never too early!

It great to have someone else from "down under" on board - we hunted down the Kiwi cast members last time

Pinky Bars? Buzz bars? Chocolate fish? Jaffas? OMG I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Actually, I was born in Paraparaumu NZ, but have lived in Aus since I was 5.
So I'm a Bitsa!

 

[sandiedvc]

The Hilton Diagonal Mar is on the same street as us I think? Is it a Disney hotel...Just wondering if we could do transport to the ship from another hotel? Does anyone know?

The Hilton Diagonal Mar is a Disney hotel. Part of the reason we chose it as we (me) are international novices! Besides I can't speak more than two words in Spanish and those are so horribly pronounced I cause native speakers to laugh at me!

My kids were trying to teach me Spanish in a cab in Cozumel, and we had the cab driver in stitches. We all agreed that for the sake of international relations I should refrain from trying.

So back to question, we were told that we couldn't book just the hotel to the port transfer by our travel agent. However, I seem to remember that I saw that someone had done just that. I guess we could ask some of the Med cruisers when they start returning. Failing that, I am going to check with the Disney desk when we check in.

 

[gismo1554]

Hi All,

Ending my lurker status and would like to join your thread. We are two friends from California and we arrive on September 14. I'm so excited and can't wait for September!!!

We booked our flight (one-way from San Francisco to Barcelona) for about $700/each through airfare.com. I looked for months on several travel/airline websites and airfare.com was consistently cheaper. And, the fare is much less for those of you who are closer to the East Coast. (i.e. $564 incl. tax with one layover on British Airways from MCO.) The only scary thing is that the fare is non-refundable. You can get travel insurance though. I was a little nervous when I booked it b/c the fares are soooo much cheaper than any other websites and I wondered if there was a catch. But I received confirmation email rightaway and about one week after booking I went directly to the airline's website (American Airlines) and chose my seat for both legs with no problems. (I have a layover in New York.)

Thanks for the info re: the Praktik!!!!! I was booked at the Continental Palacete but the Praktik will be about 1/3 less and is still close to everything so I'm now booked at the Praktik. I can use the extra money for all of my KonK Koolers on the ship.

Hi and welcome! Not too bad a price on the flights from the sounds of it. Were doing BA to Barcelona but only from London as we live in the UK.

 

[gismo1554]

We are also considering doing similar - thinking about the last Alaska cruise and then the repo back to LA. At least there isn't a 33 hour flight to get to LA

Same here. Or we may do the first Alaska one but alot depends on whether Dan enjoys cruising or not. If not may have to rethink this one.

 

[gismo1554]

Oh, we are going to get on just fine! Already packing and terrible memory, just like me!

The Hilton Diagonal Mar is on the same street as us I think? Is it a Disney hotel...Just wondering if we could do transport to the ship from another hotel? Does anyone know?

Pinky Bars? Buzz bars? Chocolate fish? Jaffas? OMG I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Actually, I was born in Paraparaumu NZ, but have lived in Aus since I was 5.
So I'm a Bitsa!

LOL! Definately going to get on! Glad its not just me!

Not sure about transport from another hotel but may be worth asking?

 

[M4travels]

I also wanted to say thanks for the info on Praktik. Because of various situations work has changed and while we still are planning on traveling with y'all we've had to scale back just a bit. Moving to the Praktik from Le Meridien has saved us about 200 Euro for our 3-night stay in Barcelona and for that we are VERY thankful!!!

I saw that there is a D'land meet scheduled for March 13. Any further info on it at this time?

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I know this is totally off topic, but I had to share a link with everyone.

Last year there was a live webcam of Shibu Inu puppies that was all over the Internet. Well, a new liter was born on Saturday, January 16! Here is the link if you would be interested in seeing some really cute puppies!

http://www.ustream.tv/sfshiba

 

[grmmybtty]

The Hilton Diagonal Mar is a Disney hotel. Part of the reason we chose it as we (me) are international novices! Besides I can't speak more than two words in Spanish and those are so horribly pronounced I cause native speakers to laugh at me!

My kids were trying to teach me Spanish in a cab in Cozumel, and we had the cab driver in stitches. We all agreed that for the sake of international relations I should refrain from trying.

So back to question, we were told that we couldn't book just the hotel to the port transfer by our travel agent. However, I seem to remember that I saw that someone had done just that. I guess we could ask some of the Med cruisers when they start returning. Failing that, I am going to check with the Disney desk when we check in.

I booked at the Pratik Rambla and also had purchased the transer package separate from airfare. I spoke with the Disney TA about using Disney transfer even though I was not staying at a Disney hotel. Since we are only a short distance from Le Meridien, she said that we needed to check in with the Disney desk at Le Meridien to find out the exact details and get ourselves and our luggage there at the designated time that we can use the transfer from hotel to port. I booked air using miles and will be arriving on 9/9, we will not be able use the airport to hotel part of the transfer. We plan to take the Aerobus to Placa Catalunya and walk the distance to our hotel. Its 5 euros per person and we have to handle our own luggage, but we pack lightly anyway, so it is doable. Hope the info helps.

Looking forward to meeting all the Disers at the Pratik. Looks like a big crowd.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I booked at the Pratik Rambla and also had purchased the transer package separate from airfare. I spoke with the Disney TA about using Disney transfer even though I was not staying at a Disney hotel. Since we are only a short distance from Le Meridien, she said that we needed to check in with the Disney desk at Le Meridien to find out the exact details and get ourselves and our luggage there at the designated time that we can use the transfer from hotel to port. I booked air using miles and will be arriving on 9/9, we will not be able use the airport to hotel part of the transfer. We plan to take the Aerobus to Placa Catalunya and walk the distance to our hotel. Its 5 euros per person and we have to handle our own luggage, but we pack lightly anyway, so it is doable. Hope the info helps.

Looking forward to meeting all the Disers at the Pratik. Looks like a big crowd.

That is really helpful thanks Betty. We planned to take the bus to Placa Catalunya and then walk to the hotel too, but I didn't know you could use the hotel transfer at Le Meridien. I wonder how much they charge you to do that, as it might be a better option than taking a taxi. Do you have to book the transfer in advance.