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

[Cousin Orville]

This came up on my cruise meet thread, but I thought I would post it here just in case. .

If you don't have to take your passport off the ship (and as I recall on other cruises I did not generally have to take it) you might want to have a copy on you.

This will be especially helpful if you decide to buy some costly piece of glass in Venice or some other high priced "remembrance" along the way. They will need the passport info to fill out the VAT forms at the merchant.

(It could also be helpful if you miss the boat, but that's another problem)

In my experience, you can request a VAT form and have everything filled out except the PP#. You can fill that in once back on board. Whether or not they are "supposed" to look at your PP, I don't know. Having shopped at several different stores in different countries, I've never had a problem getting a VAT form without a PP. They just leave that line blank.

Now watch, on my next trip someone will insist. You could also take a photo of it with your phone to avoid carrying a hard copy.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Back from the Rick Steves travel conference. The presenters were absolutely incredible. Way above my expectations. They convinced me to go with carry on only. Bought four maximum size carry ons. Learned lots about the the french riviera, athens and rome.

Carry on only? Now that's impressive.

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

Carry on only? Now that's impressive.

Been a long time since I checked a bag that was not a surfboard. For some reason airlines don't see that as a carry-on.

We are going for 16 days. Five days clothes, wash them twice.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Back from the Rick Steves travel conference. The presenters were absolutely incredible. Way above my expectations. They convinced me to go with carry on only. Bought four maximum size carry ons. Learned lots about the the french riviera, athens and rome.

I watched part of this online, particularly the packing lady. We always do laundry when traveling so we can pack relatively light since we don't mind the laundry.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Carry on only? Now that's impressive.

I have done three weeks in Europe in a carry on and that included carrying Girl Scout uniforms...

Won't do it this trip because my mother is NOT doing carry on so.....

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

I have done three weeks in Europe in a carry on and that included carrying Girl Scout uniforms...

Won't do it this trip because my mother is NOT doing carry on so.....

Either is my mother. I know European airlines are infamous for losing luggage, I am not going to risk it. I would rather know I have some clothes and do with less than risk losing it all.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We have no real connections. We fly Atlanta to Paris and then do car and train after that so... assuming it gets to Paris we will be fine. And we have a week before the cruise if something does happen.

 

[woody73]

I watched part of this online, particularly the packing lady. . .

I liked her tip: "If you're not going to wear it three times, don't pack it."

Woody

 

[poohmomof5]

I liked her tip: "If you're not going to wear it three times, don't pack it."

Woody

I just told my 15 year old daughter, and she looked at me with the most insane look and said it wasn't possible! I told her she was going to be limited to 4 pair of shoes and you would have thought I told her she wasn't coming on the trip at all!!!

 

[Disney 24/7]

Does anyone know what airline is DCL air using out of Newark, New Jesry to Barcelona?

 

[lilpooh108]

Does anyone know what airline is DCL air using out of Newark, New Jesry to Barcelona?

I don't personally know, but if you dont' get an answer the most logical thing is to check which airline(s) use New Jersey as a hub to Europe. I think AA does.

 

[lilpooh108]

Carry on only? Now that's impressive.

We've been to Europe a few times and this trip will be our first and only trip where we're checking luggage (I have 2 kids). I have only ever brought carry-ons. So this will be interesting for us.

To be safe, I'm not putting any of our clothes/shoes/underwear or necessary items in the checked luggage. It's all diapers, baby formula and other "nonsense" that can be bought there if needed. We'd considered just buying formula there but my DD2 is on Alimentum which is "special" and can't be purchased there.

If they lose it, she's gonna try soy for the first time. Cue the explosive diapers.

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

I just told my 15 year old daughter, and she looked at me with the most insane look and said it wasn't possible! I told her she was going to be limited to 4 pair of shoes and you would have thought I told her she wasn't coming on the trip at all!!!

Your way too nice, my daughter has been limited to three - dress, walking and deck shoes.

 

[DenverVal]

Yes, my teens are also limited to three pairs of shoes. They do survive. I have noticed that they do occasionally slip an extra pair of flip flops or Toms in their carry-on. We generally travel with two checked bags for four people. Having experienced having to keep track of a total of 8 bags -once-, I will never, ever, ever do that again.

 

[tajz90]

We are carry on people. No checked luggage. If we can't carry it, it's not going!

 

[texasgirl29]

Whew! Just read all 28 pages of this thread!
We're on the Magic August 10 from Barcelona.

I've been sucking up all the info I can find about DIY. We are a family of four (mom, dad, 16DD and 13DD) traveling with my husband's parents and his brother. My inlaws have done the DCL Med cruise before.

We're planning a private tour in VilleFranche but DIY in all the Italian ports. I'm even rethinking the French port....

Had to laugh at the comments about teenaged daughters. I have one who would wear the same clothes the entire time, and one that shudders in horror if you mention wearing an outfit more than once. Seriously thinking about COO, too.

 

[bats]

Whew! Just read all 28 pages of this thread!
We're on the Magic August 10 from Barcelona.

I've been sucking up all the info I can find about DIY. We are a family of four (mom, dad, 16DD and 13DD) traveling with my husband's parents and his brother. My inlaws have done the DCL Med cruise before.

We're planning a private tour in VilleFranche but DIY in all the Italian ports. I'm even rethinking the French port....

Had to laugh at the comments about teenaged daughters. I have one who would wear the same clothes the entire time, and one that shudders in horror if you mention wearing an outfit more than once. Seriously thinking about COO, too.

See you onboard! We're on the 4 nighter before it too, can't wait.
We've done 3 Med cruises now, or is it 2? Who knows, anyway .. we love them. Great weather and only a short hop of 2 hours flying for us to Barca!

Can highly recommend www.yourtourinitaly.com for Rome. They do other cities too, think it's either Pisa or Naples but their website has the details. We had 42 people with them in 2011 and they were excellent.

See you onboard!!

 

[lilpooh108]

Whew! Just read all 28 pages of this thread!
We're on the Magic August 10 from Barcelona.

I've been sucking up all the info I can find about DIY. We are a family of four (mom, dad, 16DD and 13DD) traveling with my husband's parents and his brother. My inlaws have done the DCL Med cruise before.

We're planning a private tour in VilleFranche but DIY in all the Italian ports. I'm even rethinking the French port....

Had to laugh at the comments about teenaged daughters. I have one who would wear the same clothes the entire time, and one that shudders in horror if you mention wearing an outfit more than once. Seriously thinking about COO, too.

Welcome! Have you found Tom's Port Guides yet for DIY? He "publishes" them on the internet for free and includes photo step by step how tos for the most popular ports (except for our La Spezia one).

Google it and it will come up. Super helpful. Hope you guys have a great time on your cruise!

 

[bats]

Either is my mother. I know European airlines are infamous for losing luggage, I am not going to risk it. I would rather know I have some clothes and do with less than risk losing it all.

We live in Europe, have flown hundreds of times all over and have never lost one piece of luggage. Do you know for a fact that 'we' lose more or are you just trying to worry people?

ANY airline can lose luggage, please don't try to worry people about European ones being worse than any in the US or Canada.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Actually you will discover the European airlines actually enforce their carry on rules. And that means a large number of Americans who 'thought' they had carry on actually don't. (Remember airlines measure wheels and handles, luggage companies don't )