"Seven Seven 07" 20070707-11 Night Mediterranean Cruise

[calif disney 1]

We have been looking at the various ports and shore excursions. We definitely want one of the DCL excursions for Rome. However, if we take an excursion in every port, that could run several thousand $$$$. What does everyone else plan to do? (1 or 2, half, or almost every port)?

I'm have to agree with Epcot. I want to see as much as possible, but I am not to excited with what I have seen so far of the excursions. Not sure what I expected, but they don't look all that great. I am hoping that there are things to do in the ports, so the family can get off the boat, and just look around.

 

[ugarxdawg]

Just booked all our flights. Now it is getting real!

 

[EPCOT_VA]

I've actually been surprised at how quick the time is passing.

It must be true that time speeds up as you get older...

Does anyone know if the most popular tours sell out quickly?

Or do they keep "adding buses" as long as there is interest?

EPCOT_VA

 

[MJGirl]

Just booked all our flights. Now it is getting real!

I booked mine yesterday as well ... Just crossing my fingers that prices don't drop!

 

[EPCOT_VA]

I booked mine yesterday as well ... Just crossing my fingers that prices don't drop!

I just compared the price for the booking we made last August on British Airways. For our family of four it went up a total of $2963! I'm glad we bought when we did. I don't think you have to worry about fares going down at this point. At least not significantly if at all.

I'm sure there are still much cheaper tickets out there. However the rule now is buy as early as possible. Airlines are managing their yields much better now and fare wars are much less common than they used to be.

 

[cohartman]

We are booked for the cruise but not sure if we are going yet. I was wondering what airlines everyone plans to use? I really can't figure out who flies to Barcelona direct from the U.S. I don't mind changing plans in the U.S. But I'm not sure about in Europe. So I was hoping to have direct flight from the East Coast. Any ideas???

We are planning this trip from the Bay Area. We have a ten yr old girl. Would love to compare notes.

Best Regards, Carol

 

[MJGirl]

We are planning this trip from the Bay Area. We have a ten yr old girl. Would love to compare notes.

Best Regards, Carol

Welcome aboard Carol !!!

 

[cohartman]

Hi, thanks. We cruised the Western Carr. over Thanksgiving 2005 and reserved then on the "mystery cruise of Summer '07."

We are taking the Virgin Atlantic direct flight from SFO to Heathrow, then jumping to BCN on a cheap round trip.

Would love to meet any others from the West Coast.

Best, Carol

 

[MJGirl]

Hi, thanks. We cruised the Western Carr. over Thanksgiving 2005 and reserved then on the "mystery cruise of Summer '07."

We are taking the Virgin Atlantic direct flight from SFO to Heathrow, then jumping to BCN on a cheap round trip.

Would love to meet any others from the West Coast.

Best, Carol

Watch out for luggage restrictions on the cheap round trip (It may not be as cheap as you think ). Are you staying in London for a few days or just changing flights? We are doing London and Paris before the cruise and heading back to Paris after the cruise. On our "cheap" flight (Air France) from Paris to Barcelona, we are resticted to 25 kg each in luggage. There is a 12 Euro per kilogram over the 25 mark cost! Ouch!!!! Looks like I will be doing laundry on the ship!!

Just wanted to warn you to check your limits!

 

[cohartman]

Thanks for the limit information. It helps when one of the travelers is small!


If you have not found your hotel, etc yet you should look at

Casa Serra. You can google it.

We were in Barcelona in 2004 for 10 days and loved it. In fact, this cruise was so attractive because we would get to go again. Since there are only 3 of us the very large and fabulous Casa Serra does not work.

 

[MJGirl]

I'm booked in at one of the Disney suggested hotels. Probably not the cheapest, but they will pick me up and get me to the ship on time! Can you tell I'm new to this whole cruise and Europe thing.

 

[ugarxdawg]

I booked mine yesterday as well ... Just crossing my fingers that prices don't drop!

I am just not going to check the prices again. That way I will always think I got the best deal.

 

[MJGirl]

I am just not going to check the prices again. That way I will always think I got the best deal.

Great idea ! Why upset yourself needlessly!

 

[OurDogCisco]

We are planning this trip from the Bay Area. We have a ten yr old girl. Would love to compare notes.

Best Regards, Carol

I think I wrote that a long time ago. I bought our tickets and we are going. We are flying AirFrance. I was pretty much limited to which airlines to take because my trip insurance wouldn't cover any airline in bankruptcy. Anyways, we are flying out SFO to Paris and then, Paris to Barcelona.

My dds will be 9 1/2 and 6 at the time of sailing...

 

[OurDogCisco]

We were in Barcelona in 2004 for 10 days and loved it. In fact, this cruise was so attractive because we would get to go again.

What are some of things you did in Barcelona with your kid?

Thanks..

 

[OurDogCisco]

Watch out for luggage restrictions on the cheap round trip (It may not be as cheap as you think ). Are you staying in London for a few days or just changing flights? We are doing London and Paris before the cruise and heading back to Paris after the cruise. On our "cheap" flight (Air France) from Paris to Barcelona, we are resticted to 25 kg each in luggage. There is a 12 Euro per kilogram over the 25 mark cost! Ouch!!!! Looks like I will be doing laundry on the ship!!

Just wanted to warn you to check your limits!

I second that. Some only allow one piece of luggage per person. I'd double check that.

Also, I was reading that Europeans dress a little dressier than us Americans. My friend who went last year said that it is true. Her dh wore docker type pants, etc... She wore dresses, etc.. What is everyone else doing for clothing? Even some of the tours tell you have to have dresses below the knees and shoulders covered. This means more clothes for us I guess? What do you think?

 

[cohartman]

I would imagine that is very true. When we go, I try not to wear tennis shoes, especially white ones anywhere. Or jeans.

For many parts of the trip, if you are going to visit a church, I would say that a dress is appropriate, out of respect. I would add mandatory for Vatian City.

In Barcelona, lots to do with kids. My daughter would tell you that the roof top pool at the hotel was the best part. However, the kids enjoyed the double decker bus, the Gaudi architecture especially the Sagrada, the beach (although some were topless) and Picasso Museum.

Daytime in Las Ramblas is great with kids. It is very Old World. Nighttime, think Bourbon Street. At night lots of street preforming artists with fire, contortionists, etc. If there is a parade, there are these Giant Figures that are the centerpiece, those were cool. We also saw the teams that build towers of people, although not sure how to plan that, it was an accident that we were there.

Can't wait!!!!

 

[cohartman]

Hi, I also would mentioned that the upscale shopping in Barcelona will look more like New York or even Walnut Creek, CA.

On the Passeig de Gracia, there are the same stores that are in Walnut Creek. Clarks Shoes, Benetton, Starbucks, Gap.....

Everyone speaks English, too.

 

[Briarmom]

How is everyone?
I haven't done any planning. I am an embarrassment to the DIS.
We still don't know where we will be moving in the late spring, so it feels impossible for me to do anything.

Is there a site listing excursions and such that the normal, trip-planning DISers could link for me?

Oh, and I've actually gained weight instead of losing it.
We are cruising the Nile in a few days and hopefully by the time that is over I'll know where we're moving.

 

[MJGirl]

Can you believe that 5 months from now we will be sailing on the Mediterranean Sea!!!