Good Guidebook?

[Minniespec]

This July I'm going on an 11-night Mediterranean cruise, and I'm kind of overwhelmed. I'm hoping to find a good book that can give me information of both the ports and the Magic itself. I've looked into the passporter a little, but I want to know if it has good information on Mediterranean cruises. Also, which is better- the deluxe version or the paperback one? Or is there a better book than the passporter for Mediterranean cruises?

Thanks in advance- I've got a lot of learning to do

 

[dahuffy]

"Passporters Guide to Disney Cruiseline" hands down!! I couldn't plan a Disney cruise without mine.

http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/planning-your-disney-cruise-voyage/

 

[imortalcandy]

When we go somewhere we print anything we may be interested in doing, maps, restaurants ect and put it all in a folder or small binder. That way we only have info on things we want instead of a book with only 30% of things we would do.

 

[llnolte]

I bought the Passporter for our past cruise on the Magic in October and it has lots of information on doing the Med cruise-the port of Barcelona and then all of the other ports and excursions you can take. The excursions are rated based on previous cruiser reviews. The passporter website also offers e-books that you can purchase with cruise tips, etc. We found all of the information very helpful. We just had the paperback version. Not sure what the difference is between that and the deluxe version.

 

[Mommb]

The content of the regular and deluxe Passporter books is identical (and, as mentioned above, includes a lot of information on the Mediterranean cruises). The only difference is that the deluxe is loosened, so that pages can be pulled out if you want to carry them around, and that there are a number of pockets that can be used to hold receipts, tickets, and so on. The pockets also have space to write notes about plans and spending each day and what you want to remember for future trips.

The only other guide specifically for the Disney cruise line is Birnbaum's, which has very little information on the Mediterranean cruises. There are a few general guides to Mediterranean ports, but they have much less about the ships. I did buy the DK guide to Mediterranean cruises because it has plentiful photos and drawings to help my kids get excited, but my main resource is the Passporter.

 

[Minniespec]

Thanks so much to everyone- passporter it is!

 

[kcashner]

The Passporter is excellent; definitely the best in print. However, do realize that ANY guidebook is out of date before it is published and that this is a time of huge change for DCL. In addition to the Passporter, I'd seriously read the boards for current info.

 

[Minniemouse07]

The content of the regular and deluxe Passporter books is identical (and, as mentioned above, includes a lot of information on the Mediterranean cruises). The only difference is that the deluxe is loosened, so that pages can be pulled out if you want to carry them around, and that there are a number of pockets that can be used to hold receipts, tickets, and so on. The pockets also have space to write notes about plans and spending each day and what you want to remember for future trips.

The only other guide specifically for the Disney cruise line is Birnbaum's, which has very little information on the Mediterranean cruises. There are a few general guides to Mediterranean ports, but they have much less about the ships. I did buy the DK guide to Mediterranean cruises because it has plentiful photos and drawings to help my kids get excited, but my main resource is the Passporter.

Basically the difference between the two is that one is spiral bound and the other one comes in a binder (and then you can just order refills for any of the PassPorter books afterwards). They both have the same content, including the number of PassPockets.