The Med Thread - All Sailings - Mediterranean

[profdsny]

Hi ProfDsny ... I'm flying Air France from Barcelona to Paris as well but my flight leaves at 12:35. I don't know if this will help you with connections or not, but thought I would let you know there is a later flight available.

What time does the flight leave from Paris? We'd like to get back the same day, rather than stay over. If we are going to do that, might do Zurich with Swiss Air.

 

[EPCOT_VA]

I was so worried about airfare as well. I was buying 6 round trip tickets. When I found JFK to BCN for $575 I jumped on it! Now we have to commute from DC to JFK, but I figure that was worth $3,000 for my family.

EPCOTVA, We are sailing on July 28th, when are you sailing? You say July as well. We live in Centreville VA...where are you? What airport are you using?

Our family, myself, DW, DD (7) & DD (9) are on the 7-7-07 cruise. We live in Bristow. Our flight is out of Dulles Airport. On our last trip to WDW we ran into a couple from Gainesville. They came up to us in the parking lot at Ft. Wilderness because they recognized our car from driving around here in Virginia. I guess the license plate was easy to remember "EPCOT".

 

[GrayFal]

I travel frequently and find www.kayak.com to be very helpful in comparing prices of flights.

Do I recall that DCL sends out special bag tags for your checked luggage to be automatically picked up at the airport and taken to the ship? If so, is this only if you book the airfare through DCL?

If you did book your own flight, can you purchase this "baggage transfer" service? We are arriving at 11:00 AM on the day of sailing. I am hoping to see some of Barcelona prior to boarding the ship. It would make it a lot easier if the checked bags were taken care of.

Any info is appreciated...

I understand that the port is about a 20 -25 minute drive from the airport...you might want to go to the port - check yourself and your bags in and grab a taxi from there.

 

[MJGirl]

What time does the flight leave from Paris? We'd like to get back the same day, rather than stay over. If we are going to do that, might do Zurich with Swiss Air.

Hi ... I'm staying in Paris for a few days to visit Disneyland Paris. I figure it will be the only chance I get!

 

[MJGirl]

I can't recall if this was mentioned before, but be careful if you are connecting via London. I was warned that some connections in London require you to change airports from heathrow to gatewick..

If you are planning to catch the Continental or Delta direct from barcelona back to the US, be aware that the seats are filling up. On Sat when i looked Continental flight from Barcelona was 1/3 full for July 18th

Hi Din ... If you are coming home on the 18th of July .. Does that mean you are on the July 7th cruise?? If so, have you dropped by our cruise thread? We would love to get to know you! Please follow the link below!

 

[RJAYL]

Hi, we have been waiting a bit because I want to us AMEX points for one of the tickets, and Air France hasn't signed off on these past June yet. However, they have a flight ns to Paris, then transfer to Barcelona at a fairly good, for that season, point. The return leaves Barcelona at 10:30 then to Paris for a transfer to Chicago. There is also Swiss Air which flies to Barcelona. Also, Iberia, and possibly American. And as of today, Virgin is flying out of Chicago again starting in April. But they don't fly to Barcelona, and they don't have their prices out yet either. So, a few choices. None 'cheap', some just cheaper. So start checking. Good luck.
(Btw, my mother lives in Westmont.)

I checked with Air France over the Weekend you can book into July NOW!

I have 3 certificates and will book airfare today!

 

[funnybunny921]

I asked this in the main cruise thread, but figured i might have better luck here. If the schedule says we get back to port at 6am on the 16th what is the earliest i can book a flight for? i would like to take the one that leaves at 945 but i think that might be pushing it to check bags etc.

can anyone give me any insight on how much time to give ourselves to get off the boat to the air port and check our bags? don't want to cut it close but otherwise i have a much longer day.

 

[MJGirl]

Hi .. I read somewhere (probably on here) that you should try not to book a flight home before 10:30 am. (but don't quote me). I would check with DCL or your TA to be sure!

 

[funnybunny921]

thanks!

I ended up calling dcl I want to book after work today but dcl will be closed by the time i get to it.

FIY: The lady I spoke with said that any flight after 1030am would be ok, but if it was at 1030 you need to make sure you are one of the first off the boat. since our choice was 945 and save 200$ per person or 125 and be safe, we picked be safe.

Can't wait to really get started once the excursions are announced.

 

[milestogo]

I spoke to DCL this morning about the 9:40 Delta flight and she told me that disembarkation begins at 9am even though the boat docks at 6:45. So, they are advising no flights before 11am. We saved almost $500 per person by taking that flight, so we are staying over for the night in Barcelona and going the next day.

 

[MJGirl]

I'm glad I booked the 12:35 flight

 

[littleowensmommy]

Our Continental flight was 11:10am when we booked it but the departure has now been moved up to 10:55am. I hope it doesn't change again. We're flying out on 6 June.

 

[justhat]

Anyone know how much time you need at the airport in Barcelona before a flight? I know they suggest 2-3 hours early here, but what is it there. I'm wondering cause an 11am flight seems tight if you can't get off the ship till 9am. After we missed our flight home from a Princess cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale in 2005 I'm leery. There was a customs problem so we all had to stay on the ship longer than anticipated and many people missed their flights.

 

[funnybunny921]

Justthat,
I am pretty sure you shouldn't have a customs problem as everywhere we travel is EU and the US customs will come later. You will need time at the airport to do the vat thing to get your refund and to shop (though they suggest that if you want to buy duty free liquid and you have a layover in eutope to do it on your last stop)

I have also heard of people having problems getting on their flight if they show up too late (with in an hour) but that was in the Galway airport.

 

[din]

I'm glad I booked the 12:35 flight

Is this the delta flight?

 

[profdsny]

I checked with Air France over the Weekend you can book into July NOW!

I have 3 certificates and will book airfare today!

Hi, I tried yesterday and so far they don't have AMEX after June 30th. However, you may have different certificates than I do. I'm trying to use reward points for a companion ticket. I'm getting a bit frustrated, because it seems every other airline I've tried to there has the deal going through all next year. But, either the flights leave Barcelona before 10:30 or we have to stay overnight somewhere. AF is the only one of the bunch that can fit into the schedule. I hate to spend cash when I have these, but I don't want to wait much longer either.

 

[MJGirl]

Is this the delta flight?

Sorry ... this is an Air France flight from Barcelona to Paris!

I still have to figure out how I'm getting home... So far the best option is Air Transat, but I've heard they cram people in? Our flights get taxed to death here in Canada. I'm looking at anywhere from 900 to 1300 (Cdn) return from Toronto to London ... My local TA told me to wait until January to see what kind of charters open up...

 

[RJAYL]

Hi, I tried yesterday and so far they don't have AMEX after June 30th. However, you may have different certificates than I do. I'm trying to use reward points for a companion ticket. I'm getting a bit frustrated, because it seems every other airline I've tried to there has the deal going through all next year. But, either the flights leave Barcelona before 10:30 or we have to stay overnight somewhere. AF is the only one of the bunch that can fit into the schedule. I hate to spend cash when I have these, but I don't want to wait much longer either.

Unfortunately After going through all the motions including booking my flights Air France called back & cancelled my reservations.

All flights must be complete by 6/30/06. I called AMEX & they refunded the points used for the certificates to my account! I was also told to try back after the 1st as that is when the contract would be renewed.

Untill then I will search for other alternatives.!

 

[funnybunny921]

Hi, I tried yesterday and so far they don't have AMEX after June 30th. However, you may have different certificates than I do. I'm trying to use reward points for a companion ticket. I'm getting a bit frustrated, because it seems every other airline I've tried to there has the deal going through all next year. But, either the flights leave Barcelona before 10:30 or we have to stay overnight somewhere. AF is the only one of the bunch that can fit into the schedule. I hate to spend cash when I have these, but I don't want to wait much longer either.

looks like you are from chicago too. the flight i found was using kayak.com we are returning the 16th of June and they have a flight to heathrow at 125pm. not very cheap but it gets to ohare at about 7pm sat instead of 11am the next day

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi all,

As the excursion info is set to be released mid Dec, it has got me thinking.

I have back problems and cant sit in the same position for long periods of time. Unfortunatly that means Rome is a definate nono for me as the coach trip to get there is at least 90mins each way , then the walking around.

I am hoping that when they release the excursions that they will have some short ones eg half days. (fingers x)

The one thing I would really like to see is the leaning tower of PISA - Does anyone know how far PISA is away from the ship ??? Hope its not more than an hour away.

Thanks
I cant wait for this cruise, as I only have a 2 hour flight compared to the normal 9 hours!!!!