7/14/2014 - 12-Night Mediterranean Cruise (with Greece) Venice to Barcelona

[gusdmh]

Hi folks!
I booked our 2nd Disney European cruise for my family. This time it's all Greece. Let's share any info you may have about the cruise, such as flights, itineraries, and best places to shop. Also, any hints for those traveling with a wheelchair, as in the case with my oldest son.
Finally, I've seen other threads where they've started closed groups on Facebook. It made for quicker communication.
As for me, I plan on flying to Rome and then take a train to Venice. Hopefully, at the end of the cruise, I could meet some friends in Barça.
Gus - DH
DW
DS-25
DS-18

ADDENDUM 2/22/13:
Anyone joining this thread and interested to be in the fish extenders (FE) list, just post your DIS user name, who is in the sailing party, and stateroom number. In the following posts,'htlmkid' was kind enough to have started gathering names and rooms.
ex: keenercam (Cam) -- Cam, DH (Howard) Room 6124

Also, if you're interested in joining the closed Facebook group, go to Keenercam's post on page 2 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/medmagicjuly/). She was kind enough to have started it.

Again, thanks (HOOAH) to htlmkid and keenercam for helping out. So far, in the first week since starting this thread, many folks have shared their knowledge and experience of traveling to Europe. This is a great opportunity to learn from each other of the best way to have a wonderful time. The Med is 17 months away but before you know it, we will have the vacation of a lifetime aboard the Disney Magic.
Gus - aka: gusdmh

 

[2littlestitches]

We are booked on this one too!

We have four rooms, party of 12, which includes my husband, two sons, parents, and siblings.

Love the itinerary, and I am most excited about Venice and Santorini!


Looking forward to planning for this awesome adventure!

 

[Cousin Orville]

We're booked on this as well. Very excited about Venice and all of the Greek ports. I'll be traveling with my dw and 3 children (ages 9, 4, and 1).

As far was wheelchair accessibility, I've only been to Venice and Malta and have never traveled with anyone with a wheelchair. Having said that, we went to Mdina in Malta and loved it. It's on a hill so there are some gently sloping streets, but I don't believe there were any steps and they had generally wide streets. Venice on the other hand, I would imagine will be more of a challenge. Do the bridges have ramps? Can't remember.

Venice should be awesome sailing out of.

It's a long ways away, but should be exciting.

 

[vacationsitis]

We are booked on this one too. We are a family of 4.
Myself: Sumita
DH: Chris
DD: 16 (at the time of cruise)
DD: 14

Very excited about the port intensive cruise.

 

[rounderjd]

We're booked, too! Very first cruise will be the 12 night in July 2013 with the overnight in Venice, which we chose over the Greek itinerary in part because we hoped we could do a more Greek intensive itinerary in the future.

Since we're not yet CC members I was skeptical about getting staterooms at decent rates but our TA was able to book us one of the secret verandas this morning!

 

[gusdmh]

Hi Everyone,
Glad to meet you all! This cruise will be exciting.
Gus

 

[denise]

Glad I found the thread! Nice to meet you.....

We are also booked for this cruise and are very excited about it.

We have done a couple long cruises before with Disney and we really loved them. So glad they are going to so many Greek ports.

We are:
me....denise
DH....Jimmy
DD....Eleni (will be 24 at time of cruise! She is 22 now, birthday next week)

We have been to Greece, Eleni and I, only once. My husband lived in Greece for many years growing up so he has seen it all. Eleni and I have not been to the islands this cruise goes to. When we were there in '07, before the Med cruise, we stayed in Greece for almost one month. We didn't visit these islands as there was so much we wanted to do and we still didn't see it all!

A facebook group would be fun. I have done that with our last two cruises.

I booked our room with a cash reservation but still thinking about changing it over to DVC points...

Oh and if it helps...DH speaks Greek fluently. It was his first language! Eleni and I also speak Greek but not as well as he does....

Let the planning begin!!!
denise

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

Have a great cruise!

 

[corbett744]

We are in. Can't wait. Always heard that if you so to Greece, you must go to Santorini- so OK, this works.. Just 2 of us DH, Mike and Me, Cindi.

 

[SailingSeas]

We are coming too. DS will be 23, and DD will be 17. So happy to see folks their age. Pretty sure flying into Venice ahead of time, and staying a few days. I'm trying to remember the limited Greek from my childhood. Should be humorous.

Oh, and if you guys notice my stateroom is empty after Santorini, just grin and look away. (would love to move there)

 

[htmlkid]

We are also booked. We did the 12 night in 2011 and now excited about this trip. I know its very early but Im willing to start up a Fish Extenders List.

Please email your fish extender interest,who's in your party. age and include room number.

Fish Extedner List
To add less confusion this list was discontinued

 

[dizneeat]

Hi!
We are currently on the Disney Dream and booked this cruise yesterday.

We cannot wait to cruise with Disney without the long distance flight.

Please count us in for the FE.
Karin and Tom, room 7060

So excited. Our first time on the Magic and then we will have sailed on all four ships!



Update:
We changed our minds and have settled to set sail on the Magic July 26.

 

[keenercam]

Hi, everyone! DH and I booked this last week. We are so excited since we have always wanted to see Venice, Myknos and Santorini. We feel like this itinerary is a dream itinerary for us.

We were on the Magic 10 night Mediterranean cruise in June-July 2011 with our two kids who had just graduated high school and college, and it truly was the trip of a lifetime.

This trip will be just DH and I and with three "dream" ports, we feel like this one will be very romantic and even more exciting. We've totally splurged and booked a verandah cabin.

When we sailed out of Barcelona, I coordinated a dinner the night before we got on the ship. I think there were 42 of us and we had a private room at a highly-recommended restaurant in Barcelona. As this trip gets closer, I am hoping that those of us who can might coordinate a get-to-know-you meal before boarding.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you in the coming less than 17 months!

Has anyone started a Facebook group for this cruise yet?

Forgot to add: We are interested in the FE too. Our names are Cam and Howard.

 

[SailingSeas]

Keener, dinner before sounds divine and very worldly, if we can make it.

I have not seen anyone post a Facebook group. I do not have a facebook page (and won't be getting one anytime soon) so if there's anything good on there, please let me know!

 

[vacationsitis]

Hi, everyone! DH and I booked this last week. We are so excited since we have always wanted to see Venice, Myknos and Santorini. We feel like this itinerary is a dream itinerary for us.

We were on the Magic 10 night Mediterranean cruise in June-July 2011 with our two kids who had just graduated high school and college, and it truly was the trip of a lifetime.

This trip will be just DH and I and with three "dream" ports, we feel like this one will be very romantic and even more exciting. We've totally splurged and booked a verandah cabin.

When we sailed out of Barcelona, I coordinated a dinner the night before we got on the ship. I think there were 42 of us and we had a private room at a highly-recommended restaurant in Barcelona. As this trip gets closer, I am hoping that those of us who can might coordinate a get-to-know-you meal before boarding.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you in the coming less than 17 months!

Has anyone started a Facebook group for this cruise yet?

Forgot to add: We are interested in the FE too. Our names are Cam and Howard.

Dinner in Venice sounds like a great idea.

 

[vacationsitis]

Glad I found the thread! Nice to meet you.....

We are also booked for this cruise and are very excited about it.

We have done a couple long cruises before with Disney and we really loved them. So glad they are going to so many Greek ports.

We are:
me....denise
DH....Jimmy
DD....Eleni (will be 24 at time of cruise! She is 22 now, birthday next week)

We have been to Greece, Eleni and I, only once. My husband lived in Greece for many years growing up so he has seen it all. Eleni and I have not been to the islands this cruise goes to. When we were there in '07, before the Med cruise, we stayed in Greece for almost one month. We didn't visit these islands as there was so much we wanted to do and we still didn't see it all!

A facebook group would be fun. I have done that with our last two cruises.

I booked our room with a cash reservation but still thinking about changing it over to DVC points...

Oh and if it helps...DH speaks Greek fluently. It was his first language! Eleni and I also speak Greek but not as well as he does....

Let the planning begin!!!
denise

Denise, it looks like you live close to us. Great to share tips on airfares etc.

 

[htmlkid]

Hi!
We are currently on the Disney Dream and booked this cruise yesterday.

We cannot wait to cruise with Disney without the long distance flight.

Please count us in for the FE.
Karin and Tom, room 7060

So excited. Our first time on the Magic and then we will have sailed on all four ships!

Welcome you have been added to the FE group.

 

[htmlkid]

Hi, everyone! DH and I booked this last week. We are so excited since we have always wanted to see Venice, Myknos and Santorini. We feel like this itinerary is a dream itinerary for us.

We were on the Magic 10 night Mediterranean cruise in June-July 2011 with our two kids who had just graduated high school and college, and it truly was the trip of a lifetime.

This trip will be just DH and I and with three "dream" ports, we feel like this one will be very romantic and even more exciting. We've totally splurged and booked a verandah cabin.

When we sailed out of Barcelona, I coordinated a dinner the night before we got on the ship. I think there were 42 of us and we had a private room at a highly-recommended restaurant in Barcelona. As this trip gets closer, I am hoping that those of us who can might coordinate a get-to-know-you meal before boarding.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you in the coming less than 17 months!

Has anyone started a Facebook group for this cruise yet?

Forgot to add: We are interested in the FE too. Our names are Cam and Howard.

Welcome you have been added to the FE group. Please email me your room number.

 

[corbett744]

I love the idea of a night before dinner in Venice. Great idea!

 

[keenercam]

I am glad to take on the task of planning and booking a dinner for the night before, in Venice, once we get within a few months of the sail date. At that point, everyone will know when they are arriving and where they are staying in Venice (if they are arriving the night before).

I haven't looked very closely at this itinerary and details, but I thought that I heard that we board the ship on Monday in Venice but we don't set sail until Tuesday, so that we can enjoy the evening in Venice on Monday. Does anyone know if my understanding is correct?

I have been having fun ordering "prep supplies" from amazon. I have bought two guide books for Greece and yesterday I bought a basic Italian language learning CD (Pimsleur level 1), since Howard and I hope to spend a day or two in Venice pre-boarding. LOL! Figured it would be fun. I've also already started browsing tripadvisor.

By the way, we are in cabin 6124 which is a verandah cabin near the aft elevators.