Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repositioning Repossession Cruise

[granmaz]

I know. The cheapest we got last year was BA and that was more expensive than my flight in 2 weeks to Florida return! My hope is that we don't have to pay as much again.

Last time I paid $930.10 for a single from MCO to LGW with BA if that's anything to go by and £86.49 for Cardiff to Barcelona. I'm estimating around the £750 for the two mark but leaving myself £1000 to cover it all

I did a dummy booking for a similar time in 09 for a multi city LGW - Barcelona - MCO -LGW, but it doesn't work!!! Cant mix zones apparently.

I haven't convinced my husband yet as he doesn't fancy a TA on a cruise ship but would prefer an ocean liner built for the job like the QM2. Tell me about your crossings? I think he thinks he will spend the cruise in the cabin being sick!! He isn't seasick at all normally.

 

[gismo1554]

I did a dummy booking for a similar time in 09 for a multi city LGW - Barcelona - MCO -LGW, but it doesn't work!!! Cant mix zones apparently.

I haven't convinced my husband yet as he doesn't fancy a TA on a cruise ship but would prefer an ocean liner built for the job like the QM2. Tell me about your crossings? I think he thinks he will spend the cruise in the cabin being sick!! He isn't seasick at all normally.

Well I did the East and West ones last year and loved them all. The East one however had quite bad weather. The waves were huge and my Dad and Brother in law got sea sick. Still we had fun. There were lots of activites to do and we found that Ginger Ale was a cure for anything! Oh that and if you had a drink the constant movement of the boat disappeared. I know one of the formal nights was so bad I colided with a wall going back to my room but honestly you got used to it.

My Boyfriends going this time and he's never been on a cruise so Im hoping it will not be like this! The West bound one last time (which was a month earlier) was smooth and fairly warm really. Didn't even bother with the sea sickness bands which I couldn't remove on the East Bound ones. All I would say is that the West Bound had less activities than the East Bound but I'm hoping that this will be different this time.

 

[CACruisin']

All I would say is that the West Bound had less activities than the East Bound but I'm hoping that this will be different this time.

I'm curious about this. DH is really looking forward to lots of activities (he's not a sit around the pool/read a book kind of guy). There was a ton of different activities on the EB. What sorts of things weren't available on the WB?

We were on the EB TA with you and loved it. All of my pictures are with my seabands on though .The weather just added to the experience !

 

[gismo1554]

I'm curious about this. DH is really looking forward to lots of activities (he's not a sit around the pool/read a book kind of guy). There was a ton of different activities on the EB. What sorts of things weren't available on the WB?

We were on the EB TA with you and loved it. All of my pictures are with my seabands on though .The weather just added to the experience !

The main stuff I noticed was the activities in the kids club were either cancelled or altered i.e. Flubber was on at 9pm one night so conflicted with our dinner seating. Um going to check in my navigators now and see what else was missing but thats the thing that comes to mind

 

[gismo1554]

OK so heres the differences:

There were dancing lessons on the WB but I think there were language lessons on the EB
Mouse 2O deck party was shorter on the WB
There was no Tropicalafragalistic deck party
There seemed to be less Pub master stuff as well as less quizes
There were less alcohol tastings
Whereas on the way over at dinner we got little gifts like the battery operated candles and stuff on the way back we got nothing at dinner
There seemed to be less music on the boat too such as in the nightclub at night

It just felt like the entire crew were drained which I guess they were because they'd had a busy summer.

I still wanna do the WB due to the different ports however.

 

[CACruisin']

Thank you for the info! Hmmm, DH will be bummed about the fewer tastings . It makes sense that the crew would be drained after the busy summer. I'm also looking forward to the new ports on this trip.

BTW, I'm so impressed you were able to check your navigators so quickly . My EB navigators are "Somewhere in my scrapbook stuff" . (no, I still haven't scrapped that magical trip... I'm still stuck somewhere in 2005 .)

 

[gismo1554]

Thank you for the info! Hmmm, DH will be bummed about the fewer tastings . It makes sense that the crew would be drained after the busy summer. I'm also looking forward to the new ports on this trip.

BTW, I'm so impressed you were able to check your navigators so quickly . My EB navigators are "Somewhere in my scrapbook stuff" . (no, I still haven't scrapped that magical trip... I'm still stuck somewhere in 2005 .)

LOL I should just say that I've only just litterally three weeks ago finished scrapbooking them so that's why I knew where they were. Today I finished scrapbooking everything from the last 3 years as I hadn't done any of it and as Im back to Florida for 2 weeks in 2 weeks thought it best to get it sorted before I went. I have already started scrapbooking for this one though lol as they had a note in the paper today about the cruise so put that in a file ready to go.

 

[granmaz]

Thanks for the information about activities. I guess you didn't need language lessons on the way home!! It was a bit mean not to give the same gifts out though. We didn't get any on the WB PC Repo this last may, so maybe that idea has gone anyway!!

We have been to Madeira, and are going to Tortola next September, but another vsit would be nice.

 

[Hoagie Pie]

I was very disappointed to hear that there wasn't as much on the WB last year. On the double-dip this year I was expecting more too and maybe I just got spoiled. I loved all the little surprises either at dinner or at night. I loved the Tropi party and the Mouse20! I also love the quizzes. CACruisin - I think you and I played a couple of Family Feud games, but I could be wrong!

You are all doing well with your scrapbooking. I still haven't scrapbooked the 2006 cruise. I need to get motivated and I have a whole separate room for scrapbooking that my DH was sweet enough to fix up for me. I need to get busy, but glad to hear there are other scrappers on the cruise.

Also, with the airline tickets - somebody told me to book a round trip - cheaper, but don't use the other 1/2. We will do that this time AND they won't question you as much if you buy a round trip. I know last year I told them one way and they wanted to know why one-way, what cruise ship, etc. I thought the round-trip might work out better. Is anybody planning on Barcelona a few days ahead of time?

 

[granmaz]

I was very disappointed to hear that there wasn't as much on the WB last year. On the double-dip this year I was expecting more too and maybe I just got spoiled. I loved all the little surprises either at dinner or at night. I loved the Tropi party and the Mouse20! I also love the quizzes. CACruisin - I think you and I played a couple of Family Feud games, but I could be wrong!

You are all doing well with your scrapbooking. I still haven't scrapbooked the 2006 cruise. I need to get motivated and I have a whole separate room for scrapbooking that my DH was sweet enough to fix up for me. I need to get busy, but glad to hear there are other scrappers on the cruise.

Also, with the airline tickets - somebody told me to book a round trip - cheaper, but don't use the other 1/2. We will do that this time AND they won't question you as much if you buy a round trip. I know last year I told them one way and they wanted to know why one-way, what cruise ship, etc. I thought the round-trip might work out better. Is anybody planning on Barcelona a few days ahead of time?

Make sure you book the round trip with the leg you fly bring first. If you do it the other way round and you don't turn up for your first flight they will cancel the rest of the ticket!

We will try to go to Barcelona early as we haven't been there yet, also i want to make sure my baggage turns up!!

 

[MrsMork]

Make sure you book the round trip with the leg you fly bring first. If you do it the other way round and you don't turn up for your first flight they will cancel the rest of the ticket!

We will try to go to Barcelona early as we haven't been there yet, also i want to make sure my baggage turns up!!

We will want to go to Disney Paris first, then maybe a couple of days in Barcelona. What is the best way to get from Paris to Barcelona? I think we will be dealing with luggage issues again within Europe, correct?

 

[Hoagie Pie]

We will want to go to Disney Paris first, then maybe a couple of days in Barcelona. What is the best way to get from Paris to Barcelona? I think we will be dealing with luggage issues again within Europe, correct?

Last year our friends flew from Barcelona to Paris and yes, they did have a problem with their luggage. They said the flight was quick and not very expensive. I don't know how much they charged, but our friends going from Barcelona to LA were charged hundreds of dollars to bring it on board. Hope that helps, but might have confused you more.

Thanks for the tip on the round-trip ticket.

 

[granmaz]

We will want to go to Disney Paris first, then maybe a couple of days in Barcelona. What is the best way to get from Paris to Barcelona? I think we will be dealing with luggage issues again within Europe, correct?

There is a train I believe. I am sure I read that folk used one from Paris to Barcelona last time.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1062787&page=309

Look at post 4627 at a photo of someone waiting for the train. Perhaps PM them for info.

 

[alleluia5]

My EB navigators are "Somewhere in my scrapbook stuff" . (no, I still haven't scrapped that magical trip... I'm still stuck somewhere in 2005 .)

And I thought I was the only one so behind in my scrapbooking

Is anybody planning on Barcelona a few days ahead of time?

We are thinking of going a day or so early - but no idea of things like where to stay, etc - ideas?

 

[MrsMork]

Thanks, Marilyn! How do you find that stuff??? I don't have much luck doing searches on here.

 

[Hoagie Pie]

The Spanish Village in Barcelona is worth seeing - great shops and restaurants. We spent about 4 hours there last year, but could have spent more. I felt rushed. As far as hotels, I would just go with one of the Disney hotels. My TA said that would be best because luggage would be taken care of and Disney thinks it is a "good" hotel, but that was just her input. I am already dreaming of getting on this cruise. My DH's cousin is on his first Magic cruise today with the family and I am vicariously living through them with life boat drill, the horn signaling you are off, dinner and the show, not to mention MagicQuest - my favorite game!!!

 

[padalyn]

I was very disappointed to hear that there wasn't as much on the WB last year. On the double-dip this year I was expecting more too and maybe I just got spoiled. I loved all the little surprises either at dinner or at night. I loved the Tropi party and the Mouse20! I also love the quizzes. CACruisin - I think you and I played a couple of Family Feud games, but I could be wrong!

You are all doing well with your scrapbooking. I still haven't scrapbooked the 2006 cruise. I need to get motivated and I have a whole separate room for scrapbooking that my DH was sweet enough to fix up for me. I need to get busy, but glad to hear there are other scrappers on the cruise.

Also, with the airline tickets - somebody told me to book a round trip - cheaper, but don't use the other 1/2. We will do that this time AND they won't question you as much if you buy a round trip. I know last year I told them one way and they wanted to know why one-way, what cruise ship, etc. I thought the round-trip might work out better. Is anybody planning on Barcelona a few days ahead of time?

Oh my ...airfare. I have been doing a little research, I have decided that since I am trying for the mini-reposition from Barcelona to Dover, then the first Batic...I am going to book RT into Heathrow. Take a smaller (eeww.. ) plane to Barcelona maybe one or two days earlier than the cruise leaves. After returning to England, I plan to go to Paris for a couple of days. Then most likely back to Heathrow for the connection. It looks like I can do all of this for about 1200 RT out of NYC. Of course this is ALL subject to change.

Oh BTW - I am solo for this whole trip. Decided to not take on a roomie, so I am paying the extra...oh well, cat 11 instead of 7 - such is life.

 

[Diznyfan68]

I've been researching airfare and have discovered that it is cheaper to not fly directly into Barcelona, I've found airfare for under $400 to Dublin and for under $200 on to Barcelona. DH and I are thinking of flying out the Wednesday night prior - going to Dublin and spending the day there and then flying on to Barcelona that night and spending the next day touring Barcelona. We will probably end up booking into a hotel that DCL works with and getting transfers for at least that leg of the trip.

 

[got2travel]

There is a train I believe. I am sure I read that folk used one from Paris to Barcelona last time.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1062787&page=309

Look at post 4627 at a photo of someone waiting for the train. Perhaps PM them for info.

Hey, those are my pictures. Thanks for posting. It was nice to relive them again. May have to pull out my photo albums now!

The train was definitely an experience. Here's a link if anyone is interested, http://www.eurorailways.com/products/night_trains/barcelona_to_paris.htm

Someone arranged a group rate, buses from DLP to the train station and then buses from the train station to the port in Barcelona. We left Friday night and boarded the Magic Saturday afternoon.

 

[got2travel]

I've been researching airfare and have discovered that it is cheaper to not fly directly into Barcelona, I've found airfare for under $400 to Dublin and for under $200 on to Barcelona. DH and I are thinking of flying out the Wednesday night prior - going to Dublin and spending the day there and then flying on to Barcelona that night and spending the next day touring Barcelona. We will probably end up booking into a hotel that DCL works with and getting transfers for at least that leg of the trip.

Be sure to check the luggage restrictions for the Dublin-Barcelona leg, since European carriers are much more strict on the wieghts. Usually a total weight limit per person, not per bag. So you can check in say 5 bags, but the combined weight can't be over maybe 20kg (about 44lbs). I know 20kg is the limit for Easy Jet, not sure about any other carrier. If you start in the US and then have a connection, you must follow the US rules. But if you take a solo European flight, you must follow the Europe rules.