"Seven Seven 07" 20070707-11 Night Mediterranean Cruise

[DadofLostBoys]

We are booked on this cruise too. It will be me, DH, DS then 6, DS then 10 and my MIL. We will be in 6082 and 6083.

I lived in Sicily for 3 years when I was a child and England for 4 1/2 years as a teen (my dad was in the Navy) and though I have visited the cities we will be sailing to on the Magic, I'm sure they have changed a great deal. I can't wait to see them again and share the sights with my boys.

We are looking at flights and looks like British Air has the best deal for us. We will be flying out of Baltimore.

We will probably do a mix of DCL excursions and some on our own.

Hi and welcome aboard
Have you looked at flying out of Dulles? We live in Gburg and are flying out evening of Jul 3 into London. Spending 2 nights then flying on to Barcelona.

Beleive it or not, we got the best airfare (British Airways) using AAA in Gettysburg and I tried using all the different websites.

Used Priceline to obtain hotels in London and Barcelona.

-John-

 

[Hanover]

Hi and welcome aboard
Have you looked at flying out of Dulles? We live in Gburg and are flying out evening of Jul 3 into London. Spending 2 nights then flying on to Barcelona.

Beleive it or not, we got the best airfare (British Airways) using AAA in Gettysburg and I tried using all the different websites.

Used Priceline to obtain hotels in London and Barcelona.

-John-

Actually, my dh did tell me just now it was Dulles and not BWI. We have only used BWI for all our WDW and other vacations the last dozen years so I automatically assumed that he was talking about Baltimore when he told me about the flights. We have AAA too, so we'll have to see if they can get us a deal.

We are right around the corner from you in Hanover! Our ds9 plays Gettysburg Midget Football and we do a lot of other activities in Gettysburg. We really love this area.

 

[cohartman]

Anyone coming from the West Coast? San Francsico?

 

[APinCA]

Anyone coming from the West Coast? San Francsico?

We are flying out of LAX. Booked a flight (LAX-LHR) with United points in Oct, but just found out that the flight no longer exists, and now we are have a LAX-ORD (Chicago)-LHR (London Heathrow) flight. Booked British Airways to Barcelona, and to Paris post cruise. Now we have to figure out how to get three weeks worth of travel clothes/purchases/etc in one bag each (under 44lb). I may have to wear several layers of clothes home...

Kathy

 

[cohartman]

Hi, I often FEDEX myself a box or two of stuff home at the end of a vacation. There are also services that will handle the luggage as a service. Just an idea.

 

[MJGirl]

Hi, I often FEDEX myself a box or two of stuff home at the end of a vacation. There are also services that will handle the luggage as a service. Just an idea.

Hi ... Can you please tell me what you mean about the luggage service. I too am restricted on my luggage on Air France between Paris and Barcelona .. No concerns between Toronto and London and between Paris and London? Also, Is Fed/Ex reasonable for shipping overseas? I'm thinking of sending a package home prior to the cruise with souvenirs from the London/Paris portion? Thanks.

 

[cohartman]

There are services that take care of the luggage piece for you. They are really easy to use. Not all that cheap, HOWEVER, the hassle free travel with limited to no luggage is awesome.

I have a corporate rate for FEDEX and it is really reasonable, but probably do to the rate. I usually take international shipping labels with me, then the account number and address is preprinted.

luggageclub.com
luggageconcierge.com
luggagefree.com

 

[APinCA]

I just found out that we can pay for extra baggage on British Airways. It will cost $77 (prebooked online, otherwise $111 at check-in) per piece beyond our 1 bag per person. Sounds cheaper than shipping. We should only need it going back. Will be buying small and light on this trip.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!!

 

[DadofLostBoys]

I just found out that we can pay for extra baggage on British Airways. It will cost $77 (prebooked online, otherwise $111 at check-in) per piece beyond our 1 bag per person. Sounds cheaper than shipping. We should only need it going back. Will be buying small and light on this trip.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!!

I've found this on BA's website:
To/From Americas and Nigeria for adults and children aged 2 years and older:
FIRST and Club World - 3 bags
World Traveller Plus and World Traveller - 2 bags
Maximum dimensions per bag (H+W+L): 158cm (62in)
Maximum weight per bag: 23kg (51lbs)

also, for Connecting flights
You will receive the most generous allowance on connecting journeys with British Airways, where you have purchased one ticket your whole journey (a through ticket). Where separate tickets have been purchased for a connection, the individual allowances will apply.

I hope this is helpful and good news.

-John-

 

[APinCA]

I've found this on BA's website:
To/From Americas and Nigeria for adults and children aged 2 years and older:
FIRST and Club World - 3 bags
World Traveller Plus and World Traveller - 2 bags
Maximum dimensions per bag (H+W+L): 158cm (62in)
Maximum weight per bag: 23kg (51lbs)

also, for Connecting flights
You will receive the most generous allowance on connecting journeys with British Airways, where you have purchased one ticket your whole journey (a through ticket). Where separate tickets have been purchased for a connection, the individual allowances will apply.

I hope this is helpful and good news.

-John-

Thanks John, but we are flying over on United and just taking BA from LHR to BCN (and to CDG).

I just realized that our flight back to London from CDG is too early for the normal transfers. Wanted to spend more time in London before we fly home so we're on a 7:40 am flight. Oops. I'm looking at the private shuttles posted on the DIS Disneyland Paris boards.

 

[MJGirl]

I'm in the same boat! The flight from Toronto to London is no problem. The problem lies in the flight from Paris to Barcelona a few days later on Air France. I'm thinking I may just FedEx some souveneers home from Paris before heading to the ship!

 

[MJGirl]

Hi Everyone ... Just wanted to pop by and see how everyone is ... I've been reading that people are starting to get their info packages. Can anyone tell me when we will get all our final info (luggage tags, boarding info, etc.) I heard somewhere a week before??? Will it really be that late? I'm heading out on June 28th. Will I get the info in time? What happens if it doesn't arrive and I don't have my luggage tags??? Help >>> Should I start to panic now or wait a few months

Take care all!

 

[Hanover]

Hi Everyone ... Just wanted to pop by and see how everyone is ... I've been reading that people are starting to get their info packages. Can anyone tell me when we will get all our final info (luggage tags, boarding info, etc.) I heard somewhere a week before??? Will it really be that late? I'm heading out on June 28th. Will I get the info in time? What happens if it doesn't arrive and I don't have my luggage tags??? Help >>> Should I start to panic now or wait a few months

Take care all!

We have the shore excursion guide from Disney Cruise Line and have gone through and circled what we are most interested in. Hopefully we will be able to get them reserved no problem at the 90 day mark. Some we were interested in had age limits that were too old for ds6 (his 6th birthday party was today!) like the jeep tour in Sardinia. I think we may just do the beach there or a local tour. My MIL has offered to take ds6 on a train tour if we do the jeep one with ds who will be 10. We will also do Disney tours in Rome, Pisa and Pompeii. Still undecided about Sicily,Marseille and Nice.

We are booking our flights tomorrow. Looks like we will fly out of Dulles and arrive in Barcelona (via London) around noon on the 7th. We'd love to come in earlier, but there's no way DH can get out of work before that. His unit cannot take any leave at all from about the 1st of July through the 6th due to coverage for the 4th of July holiday/fireworks/parade dates.

In the other 3 DCL trips we have taken, we have gotten our boarding tickets, etc. 2 weeks;1 month and 10 days respectiveily before our cruises. The best thing to do is just call and tell DCL when you will be leaving for Europe and ask when they plan to send them. I know my parents AAA agent had to FED EX their tickets to Florida when we went on our 1st DCL trip.

We did call DCL tonight to ask about boarding times and getting transfers. The agent said that you can board up until 8PM. He said they recommended not coming in on a flight after 2:45 PM because of something closing (can't remember). He said they are going to have a Sail Away party and all the usual things they have on the Caribbean cruises. He said they still do not know what nights the pirate party or shows will be held on. I was hoping to get an idea of what night to book for Palo without missing a main show. He did say there will be some new acts/shows. He also said they will be picking up local foods and serving them the night before reaching the port to give a preview of what to expect. He said the children's club activities will also be geared towards learning about the next country/port we will be heading to the next day. He also told me that they will have 1 formal night on night 2 (first day at sea) and 2 semi formal nights. One on night 7 and one on night 10. I'm sure the latter is subject to change based on the first sailings and how things go.

 

[MJGirl]

Thanks for the update Hanover ... My problem is I can't book until 75 days out as it will be my first cruise. I can just hope that my choices will still be available. I too am eyeing the Jeep Safari, however, I want to visit Florence over Pisa! My daughter is 16 so the age limit is not really a problem for us. I don't gamble, so I can get by with only seeing the outside of the casino, and the wine tasting tours, I can sample the wine on my own. I don't think I'm going to do much drinking off the boat. Call me paranoid, but I want to be sure to have my wits about me while on a different continent.

My TA knows about my itinerary as she booked both parts for me. I'm also doing the London/Paris Adventure by Disney. I'll be in London on the 1st of July (our fourth of July up north here), but will be in Paris on the fourth. Can't wait!!!!

 

[Hanover]

Thanks for the update Hanover ... My problem is I can't book until 75 days out as it will be my first cruise. I can just hope that my choices will still be available. I too am eyeing the Jeep Safari, however, I want to visit Florence over Pisa! My daughter is 16 so the age limit is not really a problem for us. I don't gamble, so I can get by with only seeing the outside of the casino, and the wine tasting tours, I can sample the wine on my own. I don't think I'm going to do much drinking off the boat. Call me paranoid, but I want to be sure to have my wits about me while on a different continent.

My TA knows about my itinerary as she booked both parts for me. I'm also doing the London/Paris Adventure by Disney. I'll be in London on the 1st of July (our fourth of July up north here), but will be in Paris on the fourth. Can't wait!!!!

You are welcome. At least with a few other DCL 11 day MED cruises before us, we will hopefully get to see some of their posted navigators to better get an idea of the on board activities. I don't want to schedule anything on board other than Palo, but it would be nice to know what night Pirate Night and the main stage shows are on as well.

We don't gamble either so I doubt very much we'll do anything but drive by the casinos in Monaco. We will probably not be doing much wine drinking out in town either. When I lived in Sicily (1979-1982) my dad's secretary owned a huge farm with a working winery and let us come stomp grapes with our feet to make our "own" batch of wine. We had a blast and as an adult now thinking about it, I'm sure they just got rid of that batch and showed us some of the wine they earlier made. I wish she was still around to let my boys try it out. We did extensive traveling when I lived there and also our school went on several field trips a year. I remember the puppet shows and catacombs the most. All the ruins and Mt. Etna too. My ds9 would really like to see Mt. Etna, but I think it's a bit far away and we are going to see Mt. Vesuvius to please his volcano penchant.

I would love to do the London/Paris adventure too, but it's not going to be happening this year. We have our December cruise and Eastbound Repositioning cruise coming up to save for. My mom is Scottish and her entire huge extended family still lives in Scotland except one sister who is in Australia. My parents are going to take ds9 to Scotland and England in 2 years. We lived in London from 1986 -1990 and I'm sure it's changed quite a bit. We last went to Paris in 1989 and I have never been to DLP, but would love to do so sometime in the near future. My MIL was still trying to talk us into going on HAL yesterday instead of DCL, but I think we have won her over. I think she will love DCL, especially deck 4 for reading and the Quiet Cove pool.

 

[MJGirl]

Boy ... you sure have moved around!!! I'm jealous, I've only lived in Montreal area and Toronto area. I'm glad you mentioned the catacombs. That is one of the tours that really sounds interesting to me! Can't wait.

 

[Hanover]

Yes, we did move around A LOT. I lived in 16 different houses in 19 years (a couple were local moves in the same city to move to on -base housing). Fortunately, we did travel extensively when we lived overseas. We went all over Europe, and to Africa and Russia.

I'm not sure how my boys would like the catacombs. We went when I was 5 or 6 for the first time and I don't remember being scared, but more intrigued. Our school went there each year on field trips too. I found a website on them: http://members.tripod.com/~Motomom/index-3.html

 

[DadofLostBoys]

We finalized our tours. After much discussion, we decided to go with private companies and only do two.

We doing private tours in Civitavecchia/Roma for €470 and Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi Coast for €500 for the 5 of us. Of couse the prices do not include entrance fees, "licensed" guides, nor lunch, as does the Disney excursion, but we were willing to trade that for the personalization of the tours.

We were considering doing the same for Florence/Pisa, but all we really want to do there is climb the tower, so I think we will just make reservations online and head there on our own.

Not sure what we are going to do while we're in the other ports. We do not plan on doing any organized excursions - but we reserve the right to change our minds!

I am also trying to arrange ground transport with Disney. I hoping to do Airport-Hotel/Hotel-Port, but Airport-Hotel was not available since we did air on own. That's okay, found and reserved a taxivan for €50. What I really wanted though, was the Hotel-Port. What I liked was that our luggage will be picked up at the hotel and delivered to our stateroom.

Ciao,

John

 

[MJGirl]

I am also trying to arrange ground transport with Disney. I hoping to do Airport-Hotel/Hotel-Port, but Airport-Hotel was not available since we did air on own. That's okay, found and reserved a taxivan for €50. What I really wanted though, was the Hotel-Port. What I liked was that our luggage will be picked up at the hotel and delivered to our stateroom.

Ciao,

John

Are you booked into a hotel through Disney? I booked my own flight but got a room through Disney (Hilton Barcelona del Mar) and I was allowed to book Airport-Hotel/Hotel-Port.

 

[DadofLostBoys]

Are you booked into a hotel through Disney? I booked my own flight but got a room through Disney (Hilton Barcelona del Mar) and I was allowed to book Airport-Hotel/Hotel-Port.

Booked our own air and hotel. Just received an email from DU saying that they have made the Hotel-Port transfer. It is US$125 for the 5 of us.