Med Cruisers...Let's Discuss Planning!(Updated Tour Info, Links & BCN Info on Page 1)

[tajz90]

Nice With 5 ships in Port on our Rome day plus the fact that only one tour time works for us, I was trying to get my family to give me the OK this morning. It's hard to harass people to "hurry up and decide" over email.

Oh wow. How do you find out how many ships are in port at a certain time? We are on the 7/13 sailing.

 

[lilpooh108]

Oh wow. How do you find out how many ships are in port at a certain time? We are on the 7/13 sailing.

A few months ago my husband looked up the port schedule for Civitavecchia. If you google it, it will come up.

We used it to decide whether to do private tours or do everything on our own.

 

[tajz90]

A few months ago my husband looked up the port schedule for Civitavecchia. If you google it, it will come up.

We used it to decide whether to do private tours or do everything on our own.

Thanks

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

Thanks

We are in luck with one of the lightest port loads of the month. Only 4,273 people and the Thompson Dream is the only other ship. Our port load is 2,500 and the Dream is 1,773.

 

[tajz90]

We are in luck with one of the lightest port loads of the month. Only 4,273 people and the Thompson Dream is the only other ship. Our port load is 2,500 and the Dream is 1,773.

Awesome!

 

[lilpooh108]

Rick Steve's brief article on Cinque Terre trail closures, etc:

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

 

[lilpooh108]

We are in luck with one of the lightest port loads of the month. Only 4,273 people and the Thompson Dream is the only other ship. Our port load is 2,500 and the Dream is 1,773.

Lucky you!

For anyone else looking, I found the schedule here:

http://ports.cruisett.com/schedule/Italy/135-Civitavecchia_Rome/June_2013/

 

[dorothyn]

Lucky you!

For anyone else looking, I found the schedule here:

http://ports.cruisett.com/schedule/Italy/135-Civitavecchia_Rome/June_2013/

Thanks for the schedule. I'm thankful that there's only one other ship in port the day we'll be in Rome (June 30). Several days there are over 10,000 people in port at Civitavecchia. Thankfully none of us Disney passengers will be in port the day the visitor count hits 15,000.

 

[lilpooh108]

Thanks for the schedule. I'm thankful that there's only one other ship in port the day we'll be in Rome (June 30). Several days there are over 10,000 people in port at Civitavecchia. Thankfully none of us Disney passengers will be in port the day the visitor count hits 15,000.

Mine is close...we are there on 6/5 and the load count is 12,000 +

We were originally going to take the regional train but lol, that can't/won't happen. My daughters WILL fall asleep on the train ride, and I can't risk not getting a seat for our group of 9. Going all the way to Termini is out of the question---I have horrific memories of almost missing our train the last time I was there. I've never ran so fast w/luggage in my life.

Does anyone know the drive time from the Vatican to the Port? Google maps says an hour, but what's the actual drive time w/traffic? Is leaving at 4:45 p.m. sufficient for our ship departure time of 6:45 p.m.?

 

[nzdisneymom]

Mine is close...we are there on 6/5 and the load count is 12,000 +

We were originally going to take the regional train but lol, that can't/won't happen. My daughters WILL fall asleep on the train ride, and I can't risk not getting a seat for our group of 9. Going all the way to Termini is out of the question---I have horrific memories of almost missing our train the last time I was there. I've never ran so fast w/luggage in my life.

Does anyone know the drive time from the Vatican to the Port? Google maps says an hour, but what's the actual drive time w/traffic? Is leaving at 4:45 p.m. sufficient for our ship departure time of 6:45 p.m.?

We are planning to leave from Rome by 3:45 for a 6:45 all aboard. We want time so if the car breaks down there is time for a replacement, or still time to catch a train.

 

[bigAWL]

Thanks for the schedule. I'm thankful that there's only one other ship in port the day we'll be in Rome (June 30). Several days there are over 10,000 people in port at Civitavecchia. Thankfully none of us Disney passengers will be in port the day the visitor count hits 15,000.

I notice that June 30 is a Sunday this year. I'm wondering if anyone knows what effect that has on touring in a place like Rome... especially the Vatican?

 

[canadakath]

I notice that June 30 is a Sunday this year. I'm wondering if anyone knows what effect that has on touring in a place like Rome... especially the Vatican?

As it is the last Sunday of the month, the Vatican has free entry and will be very crowded. You can't pre-book tickets for that day, and I don't think tour groups can go in. Also, entrance is only from 9-12:30. Visitors can stay inside until 2 p.m.

 

[lilpooh108]

We are planning to leave from Rome by 3:45 for a 6:45 all aboard. We want time so if the car breaks down there is time for a replacement, or still time to catch a train.

Great idea about the back up plan. Are there train stations along the way to Civitavecchia that I can cab to if our van transfer (knock on wood) breaks down?

 

[nzdisneymom]

We get to start booking our excursions at midnight on Friday! So we're going through them port-by-port and finalizing the ones we want to do with DCL.

We originally thought we would take a DCL tour to visit Monte Carlo on our first stop in Villefranche, and then make our way to Eze on our own during our second visit. But DCL has an excursion that incorporates both locations, so we will leave our second day in Villefranche open for a restful, relaxing day as the following day will be a full day in Florence.

These are the highlights from the description of the excursion:

• Take an approximate 45-minute drive along the Lower Corniche to Monaco.
• Ride an escalator or elevator up the cliff and enjoy a 45-minute guided walking tour including an external visit of the Oceanographic Museum and inside visits of the Monaco Cathedral and Prince's Palace, where you will also be able to observe the changing of the guard.
• Enjoy approximately 90 minutes of leisure time where you can enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes or browse the shops.
• Re-board your coach for a 15-minute drive along part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.
• Arrive at the coach parking area in Monte Carlo and walk approximately 15 minutes up to Casino square, surrounded by immaculate gardens.
• Then enjoy approximately 60 minutes of free time to shop, explore the Grand Casino or browse the impressive range of top cars outside in Casino Square, before walking back to your coach.
• Leaving Monaco, drive approximately 30 minutes along the Middle Corniche to the spectacular medieval village of Eze, perched on a craggy peak above the Mediterranean.
• Enjoy a 30-minute guided walking tour through the steep cobblestone streets followed by approximately 60 minutes of free time for exploring or shopping.

One thing we especially wanted was to have some free time to explore and shop on our own in both Monte Carlo and Eze. We also had looked into how to get from the port to Eze and back using public transportation, and while it is doable, it looked a bit more complicated than we wanted to figure out with the time constraints we will have. So for us, the DCL excursion is the way to go.

I have noticed that the excursion offerings seem to have more free time built into them than we've seen on previous cruises - I'm glad about that because that's one thing I've often put on our comment card about excursions. I don't mind being funnelled through a souvenir shop, but give me time to actually look - or if I don't want to shop, give me time to look around the immediate area! I have also noticed that DCL seems to have taken notice of the number of people who hire drivers/guides on their own - so they've made this option available (although it seems like they are a bit pricier - but I wonder how booking through them will work if you're late getting back to the ship with a car/driver you've reserved through DCL - will it be the same as the excursions when they put you on a motorcoach and take you around?

 

[lilpooh108]

We get to start booking our excursions at midnight on Friday! So we're going through them port-by-port and finalizing the ones we want to do with DCL.

We originally thought we would take a DCL tour to visit Monte Carlo on our first stop in Villefranche, and then make our way to Eze on our own during our second visit. But DCL has an excursion that incorporates both locations, so we will leave our second day in Villefranche open for a restful, relaxing day as the following day will be a full day in Florence.

These are the highlights from the description of the excursion:

• Take an approximate 45-minute drive along the Lower Corniche to Monaco.
• Ride an escalator or elevator up the cliff and enjoy a 45-minute guided walking tour including an external visit of the Oceanographic Museum and inside visits of the Monaco Cathedral and Prince's Palace, where you will also be able to observe the changing of the guard.
• Enjoy approximately 90 minutes of leisure time where you can enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes or browse the shops.
• Re-board your coach for a 15-minute drive along part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.
• Arrive at the coach parking area in Monte Carlo and walk approximately 15 minutes up to Casino square, surrounded by immaculate gardens.
• Then enjoy approximately 60 minutes of free time to shop, explore the Grand Casino or browse the impressive range of top cars outside in Casino Square, before walking back to your coach.
• Leaving Monaco, drive approximately 30 minutes along the Middle Corniche to the spectacular medieval village of Eze, perched on a craggy peak above the Mediterranean.
• Enjoy a 30-minute guided walking tour through the steep cobblestone streets followed by approximately 60 minutes of free time for exploring or shopping.

One thing we especially wanted was to have some free time to explore and shop on our own in both Monte Carlo and Eze. We also had looked into how to get from the port to Eze and back using public transportation, and while it is doable, it looked a bit more complicated than we wanted to figure out with the time constraints we will have. So for us, the DCL excursion is the way to go.

I have noticed that the excursion offerings seem to have more free time built into them than we've seen on previous cruises - I'm glad about that because that's one thing I've often put on our comment card about excursions. I don't mind being funnelled through a souvenir shop, but give me time to actually look - or if I don't want to shop, give me time to look around the immediate area! I have also noticed that DCL seems to have taken notice of the number of people who hire drivers/guides on their own - so they've made this option available (although it seems like they are a bit pricier - but I wonder how booking through them will work if you're late getting back to the ship with a car/driver you've reserved through DCL - will it be the same as the excursions when they put you on a motorcoach and take you around?

This one sounds great! What is the name of this excursion?

BTW...has anyone taken the Vatica-led tour of the museum and chapel? It's only 2 hours long and this is the only time that works with our hectic schedule.

All the small group private tours take too long and we don't need a group specific private tour since honestly, we won't have any art questions.

My daughter is watching me type and she'd like me to insert this princess icon for no good reason.

 

[nzdisneymom]

This one sounds great! What is the name of this excursion?

BTW...has anyone taken the Vatica-led tour of the museum and chapel? It's only 2 hours long and this is the only time that works with our hectic schedule.

All the small group private tours take too long and we don't need a group specific private tour since honestly, we won't have any art questions.

My daughter is watching me type and she'd like me to insert this princess icon for no good reason.

It's Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze. And tell your daughter that there doesn't have to be a reason to put in

 

[lilpooh108]

It's Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze. And tell your daughter that there doesn't have to be a reason to put in

Thanks! That was the tour we were looking at. Just wasn't sure if there was a different one. And lol on the princess thing.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

That's right! Any time is a great time to post a princess.

I like this guy myself:

 

[lilpooh108]

That's right! Any time is a great time to post a princess.

I like this guy myself:

Hehe. I'm partial to this icon It describes how I feel planning excursions for this trip. It was a lot easier traveling to Europe w/my husband "back in the day" without any real plans.

I don't know if anyone is doing London prior to the cruise, but we just got our free Ceremony of the Keys tickets mailed back from England. It's a 30 minute closing ceremony for the Tower of London...and it's pretty cool. I think boys will enjoy it (it's creepy). I highly recommend it. Dates are filling up for summer already so if anyone wants tickets, I'd write to request them now.

 

[tufbuf]

It's Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze. And tell your daughter that there doesn't have to be a reason to put in

We did the reverse way on our Med in 2010 and meals were included in Eze.