The Med Thread - All Sailings - Mediterranean

[MJGirl]

Hi guys! Just found you! We will be on the June 16 11 day. Has anyone here heard of the Elipsos Trenhotel from Paris to Barcelona? Just considering our options and was wondering... We are considering the ABD London/Paris trip before the cruise and need a way to get to Barcelona. Just looking into options other than hoppiing on another plane. Anyone know anything about it?

Only 81/2 months to go

Hi Lisa ... I'm doing the ABD London/Paris trip as well. I've looked into the RailEurope Train and the price (this year as can only book 60 days in advance) is $460 US for 1 adult 1 youth (16) 2nd class and $550 for first class. This quote is for a day train which leaves Paris at either 11:00 am pr 1:00 pm and arrives in Barcelona at 9:45 pm (longer layover on the earlier train). There is also an overnight train for around $300 2nd class or $400 1st class, but my concern is what to do with luggage until 8:30 pm in Paris, and what if train is late or has problems. The overnight train arrives in Barcelona at 8:30 am, so I'm not sure what we can do in Barcelona until the trip sets sail. After all, we will have all our luggage with us. I'm probably going to wait until time get's closer and ask ABD and travel agent what they recommend? I just looked at the Elipsos and it looks like something to bring up to the Travel Agent as well. Anyway, it is going to be a fantastic trip. You should be getting back from Barcelona just as I head out to London!

 

[wackywexler]

Hi ,

We are on the westbound repo cruise, this thread has great info,

Thanks!

 

[LisaTex]

Good morning all!
MJ girl - have you done ABD before? We are also considering one of the Spain trips.
How did you find the daytime train trip? When I looked at the raileurope web site and put in Paris-Barcelona - all I got was the Elipsos. Like you said - you can't reserve for a while so time to check it all out.

Thanks for the website info! Oh, did you see anything about luggage restrictions?

 

[slindamood]

Raileurope is at times limited in its offers. for more train options - try this - just fill in dates between now and March. Say you will purchase the ticket in France (which you can do).

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage?_DLG=SvHomePage&_CMD=cmdHomepageUK&WB=HP

 

[slindamood]

Luggage - from the Elipsos site

Hand luggage In the roomettes there are spaces set aside for hand luggage. As a general rule, each customer is allowed two pieces of hand luggage, whose dimensions must not exceed 70X55X25 cms.

 

[LisaTex]

Thanks for the info. I obviously didn't check the site out close enough. The link was a great help!

 

[nzdisneymom]

I am shore the ship will be on local Europe time otherwise it would be very confusing, the UK is at least 5 hours in front of East Coast USA, and the area the Magic will go its at least one hour more so six in front, thats a quarter of a day!.

As posted beofre the Panama cruise was on local time all the way through.

And even on the Western Caribbean cruise, we adjusted our clocks to local time -- they always had something in the Navigator as well as put a slip on our bed at turn-down about adjusting clocks either fwd or backward.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I got reply from DCL and there will be no Jack Sparrow for Med. Cruise because:-

The Flying Dutchman, which is a 175-foot pirate ghost ship created for
Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, has anchored at
our private island of Castaway Cay. In conjunction with this event,
Captain Jack Sparrow may be sighted on the island.

but they didn't mention about Pirate Night, don't know if we will have it?

I'm betting that because DCL bills Pirate night as the Pirates IN the Caribbean party, since we won't be in the Caribbean, it wouldn't make sense -- but I also bet they will have some other fabulous events in store for us in the Med! Personally I can't wait to see what Magical things they come up with!

 

[misseulalie]

Is anyone else having trouble booking hotels? I am looking for a hotel near the port for less than $150 with 4 people-2 adults,2 kids (by "near" I mean 15-20 miles from the port)

Evey hotel seems to be booked, fit only 3 people or over $150. I found "Flor Parks hotel" for $120 a night. Has anyone heard of this hotel or can anyone share their hotel info?

Thanks!

Jennifer

 

[ugarxdawg]

I am looking at apartments in BCN before the cruise. Has anyone else already booked and apartment in BCN. We will be there for 4 nights before the cruise. It looks like it would be cheaper than the 2 hotel rooms we would need.

 

[MJGirl]

Good morning all!
MJ girl - have you done ABD before? We are also considering one of the Spain trips.
How did you find the daytime train trip? When I looked at the raileurope web site and put in Paris-Barcelona - all I got was the Elipsos. Like you said - you can't reserve for a while so time to check it all out.

Thanks for the website info! Oh, did you see anything about luggage restrictions?

Hi Lisa ... This will be my first ABD trip, but hopefully not my last. Regarding teh train, I just tried different Friday departures. I found the Day train when I tried a November departure, but only came up with the overnight when I tried December dates. I'm not sure about the luggage requirements, as I didn't check that out yet. Someone said 2 hand luggages each... That might be a problem. We will be packing for 3 weeks after all!

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

I am looking at apartments in BCN before the cruise. Has anyone else already booked and apartment in BCN. We will be there for 4 nights before the cruise. It looks like it would be cheaper than the 2 hotel rooms we would need.

We booked the Hispanos 7 Suiza. From the website it looks very nice. We are a family of 5 so we were having the same issues with some hotels telling us we would need 3 rooms! This is an apartment with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchen. Tripadvisor has good reviews and pictures.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

For those having problems booking hotels try the following links, one thing from my checking I noted many hotels haven't released their 2007 rooms and prices as yet, so that might be why you cannot get availability, from contacting some hotel chains it appeared late October is when they planned to release there summer 2007 dates. However try these I have booked now.

Http://www.hotel-barcelona.com/
Http://www.bcninternet.com/tourism.php
Http://www.barcelona.com/
Http://www.1st-barcelona-vacation-apartments.com/
Http://www.expedia.co.uk/default.aspx
Www.barcelonaturisme.com
www.barcelonahotels.es

 

[konslerg]

We had the Grand Marina booked through Disney, but the rate was so high I did a little investigating and ended up cancelling that and booking the Barcelona Universal Hotel.

http://www.barcelonauniversalhotel.com/?gclid=CO3x_Oqj2IcCFQ1vVAodCxiz1Q

It was about half the price of the Grand Marina, included breakfast buffet and would appear to be very close to Las Ramblas and Port Vell. We'll see whether it was a good choice or not, but with only one night there, I'm not sure it makes too much difference ;-)

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yours looks to be in a good location just up from thep ort, and very close to the 1992 Olympic village, its on the hill next to you, the metro (underground trains) can take you to many places from Paral-lel, is on the green L3 and purple L2 that goes to Sagrada famila Gaudi's cathedal a must see, also easy to get form the airport, train bus or transer taxi 7 ish miles away, I have a hotel on La rambla but choose that for sleeping a familiy of four in one room and location for shops etc.

 

[misseulalie]

Thanks for the links, I am finding more hotels. I found a GREAT apartment that will fit 6 people, but was confused about the cancellation policy. It says 30-15 days 50% non-refundable, 15-1 day 100% non refundable. What about if your over 30 days? Do you get all your $$ back? I want to book this then keep looking for a little while longer...
Any ideas???

Heres the link...

http://www.bookings.org/hotel/es/di...ckin=2007-06-01;checkout=2007-06-06#topanchor

I also found this apartment it has a 20% non-refundable charge. I have never stayed in apartments when we travel, we always stay in well known hotels. How does this look to you?

http://bs.bs-tech.net/Customers/property_detail.php?acocod=gothicblue


Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[woody73]

. . . What about if your over 30 days? Do you get all your $$ back? I want to book this then keep looking for a little while longer...
Any ideas???

Don't book unless you are going to stay there.

Woody

 

[misseulalie]

Don't book unless you are going to stay there.

Woody

Why? Because I'm taking up space for someone else or because of problems of getting $$ back?

 

[LisaTex]

Hi Lisa ... This will be my first ABD trip, but hopefully not my last. Regarding teh train, I just tried different Friday departures. I found the Day train when I tried a November departure, but only came up with the overnight when I tried December dates. I'm not sure about the luggage requirements, as I didn't check that out yet. Someone said 2 hand luggages each... That might be a problem. We will be packing for 3 weeks after all!

We did a Hawaiian trip with ABD last year - it was great. I have already promised myself to pack light - but 3 weeks IS a long time. Will have to play with the train schedules a little more as time goes on. I don't know how it is where you are in Canada, but we don't have the option of using trains much in Texas. Just thought it would be something different.

 

[MJGirl]

Hi Lisa!

I used to commute to work daily by train, and have taken the odd train trip, but nothing much. I've been told that train is the way to see Europe. That's why I was considering a day train. Still waiting to figure it all out!