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

[nzdisneymom]

iPhones only need an adapter because they are rated for universal voltage but I'm not sure about your nook. You may need a converter.

Check each electronic to be sure. Converters are more expensive than adapters.

Good to know. I saw some adapters on amazon that said ideal for iPhones. I'm wondering about iPads, kindles, and iPod touches. I will check apple and see if they have info.


I'm spending some time today putting together the little things we will want for this trip, getting a box started. Things like the Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets. We still have some from previous trips, not sure if they even sell them any more.

I also checked with our bank yesterday about using our ATM / debit card in Europe and what fees, etc., might be incurred. They don't charge a currency conversion nor a fee for ATM until you have more than four out of network ATM withdrawals in a month. Of course there will be whatever charge the ATM we use has, but we lucked out before in not having that when we were in Italy and in England previously. So we will have to plan accordingly. We typically exchange some before we leave so we don't have to immediately find an ATM.

 

[mindelmouse]

Good to know. I saw some adapters on amazon that said ideal for iPhones. I'm wondering about iPads, kindles, and iPod touches. I will check apple and see if they have info.


I'm spending some time today putting together the little things we will want for this trip, getting a box started. Things like the Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets. We still have some from previous trips, not sure if they even sell them any more.

I also checked with our bank yesterday about using our ATM / debit card in Europe and what fees, etc., might be incurred. They don't charge a currency conversion nor a fee for ATM until you have more than four out of network ATM withdrawals in a month. Of course there will be whatever charge the ATM we use has, but we lucked out before in not having that when we were in Italy and in England previously. So we will have to plan accordingly. We typically exchange some before we leave so we don't have to immediately find an ATM.

So try as we might, we found that they no longer sell the Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheets. We tried to get them before our August cruise. We had some left from previous cruises but we were running out. My DH found them on Amazon and bought a case just in case they completely disappear. We love those things.

 

[tajz90]

We get our supply from amazon also. Best laundry sheets

 

[MoonDaughter23]

ok completely off topic ( do not flame me) what type of electrical connection is needed in Barcelona. We are staying a week before the cruise, but need to charge iphones and nooks. We have/recieved no help in the local stores on this issue Anything would be appreciated.

Don't know if this helps (or perhaps you already know about them) but in addition to our converters we bought these great multi device charging stations made by ZONE Electronics that roll up to the size of a cardboard paper towel roll for packing. I found them at CVS for $10 a piece just before our last trip to Europe and figured it wouldn't hurt to try. They are awesome! We bought them almost 2 years ago, have used them on every vacation since and they are still working great.

We've never been to Barcelona so I don't know how abundant the outlets are in their hotels, but in our tiny room in Paris and B&B in Rome they only had 1 outlet. Using our 2 charging stations (plugged in to our 2 converters) we were able to charge 3 iPods and 3 cell phones at once each night and then only had to charge our cameras batteries separately (only because our cameras are older and don't have a USB plug). They can each charge up to 4 devices at once (depending on what type of ports you have) and have a little baggie inside the storage compartment with adapters to match your device. On our Fantasy cruise we added a Kindle and iPad Mini to our charging needs and were still covered. If your local or other local drug store doesn't have them maybe Amazon or eBay would or something similar for less than Sharper Image prices.

 

[Lynn G]

iPhones only need an adapter because they are rated for universal voltage but I'm not sure about your nook. You may need a converter.

Check each electronic to be sure. Converters are more expensive than adapters.

I do not know about nooks, but my Kindle is rated for 220 volts, it was one thing I specifically asked about before buying it.

 

[4boons]

We just found out that DD's study abroad to China is going to conflict with the Med, so we had to transfer out of this cruise.

We were so looking forward to cruising with y'all, but now we will just have to wait for another time.

Have fun!

Bill

 

[o&smom]

I noticed they a put a few Barcelona shore excursions up that have to be booked from the ship. We may take one of them. Hopefully this means the Turkey and Greece ones are not far behind! Sue

Called dcl yesterday to check on when Greece and Turkey excursions will show up. I am going crazy not being able to plan what I might be able to do! They said that they had not heard anything, but would do some checking and call me back on Mon or Thurs. So they will probably show up on Monday now!

It appears our ship is quite full by looking at dcl website, so we asked and were told there are only 10 - 15 cabins left on our cruise! So much for hoping for some discount rates after PIF.

Happy planning to all!

Marni

 

[mindelmouse]

Called dcl yesterday to check on when Greece and Turkey excursions will show up. I am going crazy not being able to plan what I might be able to do! They said that they had not heard anything, but would do some checking and call me back on Mon or Thurs. So they will probably show up on Monday now!

It appears our ship is quite full by looking at dcl website, so we asked and were told there are only 10 - 15 cabins left on our cruise! So much for hoping for some discount rates after PIF.

Happy planning to all!

Marni

We'll see now that the pif dates are approaching that's when you'll see how full the ship really is. People sometimes hold on til the end.

 

[rossjen2]

I really, really hope the Greece/Turkey port adventures are released soon too! My planning has also sort of hit a stand still until I know if we are going to explore the ports through Disney or on our own. Although, I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up too much because this our first Disney cruise and guessing lots of the excursions will be full before we can book them.

I would also agree with everyone above - the Rick Steves med ports book has been great! I just wish he had Malta in it and for the La Spezia port, I wish he talked about Cinque Terra (but I did get the Rick Steves Italy 2012 book and that has a really good section on it)

I was wondering if anyone has found decent websites for information about the trails that connect Cinque Terra? I believe that they are currently closed and would like to find somewhere where I can keep track of their status.

thanks,
jen

 

[DL1957]

Called dcl yesterday to check on when Greece and Turkey excursions will show up. I am going crazy not being able to plan what I might be able to do! They said that they had not heard anything, but would do some checking and call me back on Mon or Thurs. So they will probably show up on Monday now!

It appears our ship is quite full by looking at dcl website, so we asked and were told there are only 10 - 15 cabins left on our cruise! So much for hoping for some discount rates after PIF.

Happy planning to all!

Marni

Thanks for the info...hopefully it is Monday. Tuesday will be 31 days before the first group can book. Not much time to research things! Sue

 

[canadakath]

Just finished booking our flights. Had originally planned on the direct flight Toronto to Barcelona with Air Canada - Toronto is 3 hours from us and figured direct would be easiest with the kids, BUT... Air France had a seat sale! I know there have been some negative comments about AF and flying through CDG airport, but for ~$900 each we were able to go YYZ-CDG-BCN on June 13, then BCN-CDG for a 4 night stay in Paris before flying back to Toronto.

Paris is one of my favourite cities, and I am so excited to take DH and the boys there. Have already done more research on what to do and where to stay than I have for our cruise ports!

I am planning on booking a personal tour of the Louvre, targeted for kids, through Paris Muse. Has anyone heard of them? There are lots of good reviews on other sites. If anyone can keep my boys interested for 2+ hours in a museum, it's worth every penny....

Still planning on doing Rome and Athens with excursions - either DCL depending on what is available or private. The other ports will be on our own, with a heavy focus on beach time when we can - trying not to overload the kids with "touring" so that they still enjoy the stuff we do. I have many memories of being dragged into old churches as a kid. We lived in Europe and EVERY town has a church that is 400+ years old that my mom insisted we look at. Of course now I would have appreciated it, but at the time, not so much. Trying not to make my kids get that feeling, so that they will be open to more big trips in the future...

Serious planning time now...have fun all!

 

[MinnieDiva]

I would also agree with everyone above - the Rick Steves med ports book has been great! I just wish he had Malta in it and for the La Spezia port, I wish he talked about Cinque Terra (but I did get the Rick Steves Italy 2012 book and that has a really good section on it)

I was wondering if anyone has found decent websites for information about the trails that connect Cinque Terra? I believe that they are currently closed and would like to find somewhere where I can keep track of their status.

thanks,
jen

Read this:

http://www.ricksteves.com/news/cinque-terre/cinque-terre-disaster.htm

He loves that area and at one point noted that a tv special due to be shot there last year would be done this year. I'd bet he blogs an update...

 

[DL1957]

Just finished booking our flights. Had originally planned on the direct flight Toronto to Barcelona with Air Canada - Toronto is 3 hours from us and figured direct would be easiest with the kids, BUT... Air France had a seat sale! I know there have been some negative comments about AF and flying through CDG airport, but for ~$900 each we were able to go YYZ-CDG-BCN on June 13, then BCN-CDG for a 4 night stay in Paris before flying back to Toronto.

Paris is one of my favourite cities, and I am so excited to take DH and the boys there. Have already done more research on what to do and where to stay than I have for our cruise ports!

I am planning on booking a personal tour of the Louvre, targeted for kids, through Paris Muse. Has anyone heard of them? There are lots of good reviews on other sites. If anyone can keep my boys interested for 2+ hours in a museum, it's worth every penny....

Still planning on doing Rome and Athens with excursions - either DCL depending on what is available or private. The other ports will be on our own, with a heavy focus on beach time when we can - trying not to overload the kids with "touring" so that they still enjoy the stuff we do. I have many memories of being dragged into old churches as a kid. We lived in Europe and EVERY town has a church that is 400+ years old that my mom insisted we look at. Of course now I would have appreciated it, but at the time, not so much. Trying not to make my kids get that feeling, so that they will be open to more big trips in the future...

Serious planning time now...have fun all!

Congrats on getting your air taken care of. We "bit the bullett" a few months ago and booked. I promised myself I would not go back and check fares well. I was on Delta's site and could not pass up checking. As of last week our airfare had gone up $200 a person. I hope I can leave it at that and not check again! Sue

 

[DL1957]

Read this:

http://www.ricksteves.com/news/cinque-terre/cinque-terre-disaster.htm

He loves that area and at one point noted that a tv special due to be shot there last year would be done this year. I'd bet he blogs an update...

Thanks for the infor. DH is our researcher if he comes up with some good websits I will share them. Right now he is working on the area around the hotel in Barcelona.
PS As of 7 am EST this AM no update on the shore excursions so maybe it will be Thursday! Tomorrow is the one month mark for the first group to book shore excursions.

 

[Lynn G]

We just found out that DD's study abroad to China is going to conflict with the Med, so we had to transfer out of this cruise.

We were so looking forward to cruising with y'all, but now we will just have to wait for another time.

Have fun!

Bill

Sorry you had to drop out, we will catch up with you again on some other cruise I am sure!

 

[nzdisneymom]

We are daily checking DCL's site for port excursions, too. It's like watching airfare We are pretty done planning except for the ports that haven't been listed yet.

We are planning to do Cinque Terre on our own - taking the train up to the furtherest point and then back to the various villages along the way, and only walking the "famous" portion of it as it seems quite doable for us. Of course the weather will determine how much we do.

 

[lllpath]

ok completely off topic ( do not flame me) what type of electrical connection is needed in Barcelona. We are staying a week before the cruise, but need to charge iphones and nooks. We have/recieved no help in the local stores on this issue Anything would be appreciated.

Check the Magellans travel catelog for converters and plug adaptors. They have a list of those needed for all countries.
www.magellans.com

 

[lllpath]

Is anyone doing a tour of Barcelona on their own? Last DCL cruise out of Barcelona they had some options on the embarkation day but I don't see any listed on the website (at least yet). We have a whole day prior to embarkation day so we'd like to do some things in more detail this trip. Suggestions welcome!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Is anyone doing a tour of Barcelona on their own? Last DCL cruise out of Barcelona they had some options on the embarkation day but I don't see any listed on the website (at least yet). We have a whole day prior to embarkation day so we'd like to do some things in more detail this trip. Suggestions welcome!

We are arriving in Barcelona on Thursday morning before sailing on Saturday. We plan to use the HOHO bus for our tour of Barcelona - we rode it in 2007 for a couple of hours but were so exhausted from the flight over that we nodded off through it - but it was worth doing and we're doing it again but will actually Hop OFF at a few spots We will probably just get the pass for one day (Friday) and on Thursday just see what we can see in the area near the hotel. We also have one night in BCN after we get back before going to the airport the next morning, so while we're in BCN pre-cruise, we'll figure out something we'll want to do when we get back.

It's a shame when people come in so late that they miss the departure port as a port - we felt that way in 2007 and took it as a "lesson learned" when sailing - make sure to have time to see the departure port We did that for Vancouver and London and really enjoyed those couple of days pre-cruise to get our bodies used to the new time, rest from the travel to the port, and get to see where we were.

 

[colemame]

Hello all! What an amazing amount of info!!! Thank you so much to all those that have posted. This cruise will be our first with Disney and our first to the Med. It will be myself, DH, DS (9) and DS (5). Any thoughts on ports of call that may be just for my DH and myself and if so has anyone gone on their own and left the kiddos on ship?