Who's in for GREECE and TURKEY, June 15 2003????

[nzdisneymom]

Hi all!

I booked for this cruise back in February, got my pre and post hotels in June and my plane tickets 2 weeks ago. I just hadn't looked for a thread until now. You all seem like a great group. I'll be adding myself to the roll call list.

This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise. Traveling with my Mom and Daughter (13 at cruise date). It's my daughter's graduation trip so she chose this cruise and I'm letting her choose all of our activities this time (I have veto power, but don't think I'll need to use it). A lot of helpful info here from the experienced Disney Med cruisers.Thank you!

I saw there's some opposition to an FB page, but if there ever becomes one (for those who expressed interested and who have FB) I'm in. I follow both DIS and FB for my upcoming December 2012 on the Fantasy and it's been fun for me. Plus I like that it's not open to the public. I just don't want to be the admin.

Welcome! I added you to the Who's Sailing list which is the unofficial list - thanks for adding yourself to the Roll Call spreadsheet. I think it's great that your DD will get to choose what to do - there are so many skills that she'll develop as she goes through the offerings and figures out what interests her and fits into the schedule. When I was in middle school, my favorite assignment was for 7th grade social studies when we had to plan a trip through our state. This was before the days of the internet so we had to write to Chambers of Commerce to get brochures, etc. I think that's when I became hooked on travel planning!

A few folks have asked about doing a FB page but no one has set one up. There's one for the next cruise that we're doing but I find that most of the planning stuff is still done here on the DIS and the FB is more getting us connected as "friends" on FB to become better acquainted in "real life" sort of ways.

I love these pics! And I love the "Greece is the Word" many of you are using on your signatures. I think I'll add it to mine too.

Are there any plans for a group T-shirt? If not would the creators be offended if I make T-shirts for my family?

As far as I know, no one has mentioned doing group T-shirts. We did them once for a cruise and then we all met in the Atrium while wearing them and had the Shutters guy do a group picture.

Well, you won't believe our itinerary for getting to Barcelona.

I booked our flights yesterday and I wanted to use my Aeroplan points (Star Alliance) because I've got a bunch and a bunch due to expire next year AND to offset the cost of what will be an expensive cruise.)

It is the most ridiculous routing but it could have gotten worse before it gets better so I took the flights.

Toronto to London Heathrow to Zurich to Barcelona

We're stopping in London for a few days after the cruise but we have to connect in Geneva to get to London.

Not to mention the fact that I waited one day too long and because of that, I missed out on a better itinerary AND the day I actually wanted to fly. Consequently, we get to spend 2.5 days in Barcelona instead of the original 1. I hadn't planned on seeing much of Barcelona but that's now changed. LOL

Let's hope our luggage follows us everywhere!

Wow- I would be afraid of my luggage not making it with me, and if it didn't make it, how long it might take to "catch up." I would definitely put your "final destination" on your luggage tags - maybe that's the advantage to having 2 1/2 days in Barcelona - you have a cushion of time there, so you won't need it because your luggage won't get lost - where if you only had a day, then you'd have to worry. (DH tells me I'm a worrier.) We loved London and would love to go back for more time there. We will have 1 1/2 days in Barcelona (I figure once we arrive at the hotel, if we can get into our room, we'll crash for a couple of hours before I make everyone get up and get out to start getting through the jet-lag.) We're figuring out what we want to do while there and have a pretty good plan for how to spend the day and see the city - we were there for a few hours in 2007 and nodded off the whole time we were on the HOHO bus but do remember some of what we got to see! When we went to London, we were able to get into our room when we checked in, so we all got a shower and then had a nap - the shower did way more to refresh us than the nap did - I let everyone rest for two hours and then made them get up so we could get out and explore. We had a meet and greet at the hotel lobby with other DISers at 7 p.m. that night and as soon as we were done chatting with them, we were ready for bed (LOL).

 

[DL1957]

Hi all!

I booked for this cruise back in February, got my pre and post hotels in June and my plane tickets 2 weeks ago. I just hadn't looked for a thread until now. You all seem like a great group. I'll be adding myself to the roll call list.

This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise. Traveling with my Mom and Daughter (13 at cruise date). It's my daughter's graduation trip so she chose this cruise and I'm letting her choose all of our activities this time (I have veto power, but don't think I'll need to use it). A lot of helpful info here from the experienced Disney Med cruisers.Thank you!

I saw there's some opposition to an FB page, but if there ever becomes one (for those who expressed interested and who have FB) I'm in. I follow both DIS and FB for my upcoming December 2012 on the Fantasy and it's been fun for me. Plus I like that it's not open to the public. I just don't want to be the admin.

Welcome, like you I follow both Dis and FB. Sue

 

[seaulater]

Wow- I would be afraid of my luggage not making it with me, and if it didn't make it, how long it might take to "catch up." I would definitely put your "final destination" on your luggage tags - maybe that's the advantage to having 2 1/2 days in Barcelona - you have a cushion of time there, so you won't need it because your luggage won't get lost - where if you only had a day, then you'd have to worry. (DH tells me I'm a worrier.) We loved London and would love to go back for more time there. We will have 1 1/2 days in Barcelona (I figure once we arrive at the hotel, if we can get into our room, we'll crash for a couple of hours before I make everyone get up and get out to start getting through the jet-lag.) We're figuring out what we want to do while there and have a pretty good plan for how to spend the day and see the city - we were there for a few hours in 2007 and nodded off the whole time we were on the HOHO bus but do remember some of what we got to see! When we went to London, we were able to get into our room when we checked in, so we all got a shower and then had a nap - the shower did way more to refresh us than the nap did - I let everyone rest for two hours and then made them get up so we could get out and explore. We had a meet and greet at the hotel lobby with other DISers at 7 p.m. that night and as soon as we were done chatting with them, we were ready for bed (LOL).

In 2007 when we did the Med the first time, there was alot of luggage that did not make it (I think over 60 bags). By the end of the 10 nights, there were still about 30 missing bags that never caught up with us. The problem seemed to be for those flying from the US that they changed carriers in like Atlanta or Miami or New York. So they would fly domestically in the US and then connect to like Aer Lingus or British Airways and from what we were told that if the flight was overweight, that those changing carriers generally got their luggage bumped.

We flew Delta the whole way and had no problems with luggage coming.

However, someone I know at DCL that was dealing with all these luggage issues suggested that if you have say four people travelling, instead of putting all of dad's luggage in one suitcase, mom's in anothers, kids in each of their own, that instead you spread out the luggage so if you are missing a bag you aren't missing all of someone's stuff. So in 2010 when we did it again, my daughter and I split up clothing so we had it spread out just in case our luggage didn't follow us. On that trip we did Delta to London and then connected to Gilbratrar on Ryan Air, because we couldn't make Barcelona because of her high school graduation.

Luckily our luggage all arrived, but in case it didn't, at least one of us wouldn't have been without clothes for the trip.

 

[burma]

Paid off the trip today
I was GTY when I got my email confirmation of final payment there was a room number on there. I guess we are excited was hoping for the upgrade to a 1 br ... so we are on deck 8 any thoughts about this we have read good and bad reviews ... input is appreciated.

Thanks !!!

 

[MoonDaughter23]

Welcome! I added you to the Who's Sailing list which is the unofficial list - thanks for adding yourself to the Roll Call spreadsheet. I think it's great that your DD will get to choose what to do - there are so many skills that she'll develop as she goes through the offerings and figures out what interests her and fits into the schedule. When I was in middle school, my favorite assignment was for 7th grade social studies when we had to plan a trip through our state. This was before the days of the internet so we had to write to Chambers of Commerce to get brochures, etc. I think that's when I became hooked on travel planning!

That sounds like a cool project.

Over the summer we went to the library and my daughter has read 3 books on Spain and/or Barcelona (Rick Steves being one of them made me proud) She made a list of everything she wants to see during our 2 1/2 days there. I haven't gotten the list for the other places yet, but she's been working on it in her free from mega homework and school activities schedule. But I'm not worried. The hardest part of the planning is done for me.

 

[wvuflu]

We booked our cruise back in July and have been excited since, but after seeing this site...WOW!! After Disneyfalcon's blog and some others, I feel ready to conquer some of these ports on our own. It will be me, my DH, DD who will be 10 and my DS who will be 8. This is my 6th cruise, but my first Disney. You all are going to be an amazing source of information!!!

 

[nzdisneymom]

We booked our cruise back in July and have been excited since, but after seeing this site...WOW!! After Disneyfalcon's blog and some others, I feel ready to conquer some of these ports on our own. It will be me, my DH, DD who will be 10 and my DS who will be 8. This is my 6th cruise, but my first Disney. You all are going to be an amazing source of information!!!

Welcome!

 

[burma]

Anyone with DD ages 11 or 12 that would like to get the kids to know each other before the cruise? On our April Fantasy cruise we had the kids doing an email chain. Kinda broke the ice for them Pre cruise.

 

[mindelmouse]

Anyone with DD ages 11 or 12 that would like to get the kids to know each other before the cruise? On our April Fantasy cruise we had the kids doing an email chain. Kinda broke the ice for them Pre cruise.

We've done that a lot before as well. I have a DS and DD that are now 11 and will be 12 when we cruise.

 

[mehaul]

Anyone with DD ages 11 or 12 that would like to get the kids to know each other before the cruise? On our April Fantasy cruise we had the kids doing an email chain. Kinda broke the ice for them Pre cruise.

My DDs will be 9 3/4 and 12

 

[Lyrah]

Well, you won't believe our itinerary for getting to Barcelona.

I booked our flights yesterday and I wanted to use my Aeroplan points (Star Alliance) because I've got a bunch and a bunch due to expire next year AND to offset the cost of what will be an expensive cruise.)

It is the most ridiculous routing but it could have gotten worse before it gets better so I took the flights.

Toronto to London Heathrow to Zurich to Barcelona

We're stopping in London for a few days after the cruise but we have to connect in Geneva to get to London.

Not to mention the fact that I waited one day too long and because of that, I missed out on a better itinerary AND the day I actually wanted to fly. Consequently, we get to spend 2.5 days in Barcelona instead of the original 1. I hadn't planned on seeing much of Barcelona but that's now changed. LOL

Let's hope our luggage follows us everywhere!

We've had several trips where our luggage was lost. Mostly on TAP Airlines. So what we do now, if possible, is check our luggage to each airport. We usually have enough time during layovers to go pick up our luggage, and then take it to the counter and recheck it on our next flight. I know it sounds like a hassle, but we haven't had any lost luggage since doing this. Best of luck!

 

[DL1957]

We booked our cruise back in July and have been excited since, but after seeing this site...WOW!! After Disneyfalcon's blog and some others, I feel ready to conquer some of these ports on our own. It will be me, my DH, DD who will be 10 and my DS who will be 8. This is my 6th cruise, but my first Disney. You all are going to be an amazing source of information!!!

Welcome
I noticed you are in Richmond. We live east of you in Williamsburg!

 

[justhat]

My DDs will be 9 3/4 and 12

My daughter will be 9.5 when we sail.

 

[MJGirl]

Don't know if this has been mentioned or not, but just noticed that the tours are up for Gibralter and Madeira ... This is for the Transatlantic on May 18. Does this mean our excursions will be up soon ??

Hope everyone is doing good. Just did online checkin for my WDW trip in 10 days. Spending the Canadian Thanksgiving with lunch at Le Cellier !!!! I wonder if they'll have turkey?

 

[DL1957]

Don't know if this has been mentioned or not, but just noticed that the tours are up for Gibralter and Madeira ... This is for the Transatlantic on May 18. Does this mean our excursions will be up soon ??

Hope everyone is doing good. Just did online checkin for my WDW trip in 10 days. Spending the Canadian Thanksgiving with lunch at Le Cellier !!!! I wonder if they'll have turkey?

Have a great trip, Last week they told mid January hopefully that they were wrong. Sue

 

[NAG]

Airlines are booked!!

MKE to Toronto on air Cananda. Then direct to BCN. Paid $1050/per a couple weeks ago....prices have gone up since. Return flight is between 11 and noon the day we get off the boat. No hotel yet. But we are traveling with our 12 year old girl...

 

[pxlbarrel]

We've had several trips where our luggage was lost. Mostly on TAP Airlines. So what we do now, if possible, is check our luggage to each airport. We usually have enough time during layovers to go pick up our luggage, and then take it to the counter and recheck it on our next flight. I know it sounds like a hassle, but we haven't had any lost luggage since doing this. Best of luck!

You guys are making me nervous!

We're flying business class all the way so hopefully that helps and since we've got a couple of days in Barcelona, if the luggage is delayed, it can catch up with us before we board the ship. We're flying Air Canada across the ocean and the other flights are with Swiss.

 

[tajz90]

You guys are making me nervous!

We're flying business class all the way so hopefully that helps and since we've got a couple of days in Barcelona, if the luggage is delayed, it can catch up with us before we board the ship. We're flying Air Canada across the ocean and the other flights are with Swiss.

The luggage will make it. If not, consider it an adventure! We are so much better packers thanks to our luggage-less vacation

 

[MJGirl]

Airlines are booked!!

MKE to Toronto on air Cananda. Then direct to BCN. Paid $1050/per a couple weeks ago....prices have gone up since. Return flight is between 11 and noon the day we get off the boat. No hotel yet. But we are traveling with our 12 year old girl...

When are you flying out of Toronto? I'm on the June 12 flight direct flight. Not flying back until June 30. Doing a side trip to Venice

 

[MJGirl]

You guys are making me nervous!

We're flying business class all the way so hopefully that helps and since we've got a couple of days in Barcelona, if the luggage is delayed, it can catch up with us before we board the ship. We're flying Air Canada across the ocean and the other flights are with Swiss.

What day are you flying out? We're on the June 12 overnight flight.