7/25/2013 Med. Mickey's 12 Night Italian Job - with Nice, Valletta and Dubrov !

[mikeandmela]

Thanks K8T

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

Has anyone tried to login to the DCL website today. I keep getting an "internal server error - try again later" message. It's frustrating because my booking window is opening up in a few hours (finally)!

 

[cdnxpat]

I just got the same message and we are in the same situation. I'm sure it will be good to go soon....

 

[mikeandmela]

I was just talking to a rep on the phone and she said the Disney servers are having trouble. She expected it to clear up later.

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

Thanks! I did clear up and we're all set for the most part!

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

Are any of you NOT doing a DCL excursion in Venice? Just looking for alternatives! Also, wanted to explore Venice in the evening by ourselves. Is this possible (easy to return to ship?)? Would appreciate any ideas! Thanks

 

[Celestine]

Are any of you NOT doing a DCL excursion in Venice? Just looking for alternatives! Also, wanted to explore Venice in the evening by ourselves. Is this possible (easy to return to ship?)? Would appreciate any ideas! Thanks

We're not doing DCL & we've never been to Venice before. My understanding is that its about an hours walk (max) from ship to St Mark's square if you choose not to use the water bus or get a water taxi. Some cruise lines offer transport to/from St Marks square (at a cost) but don't know whether DCL will

Celestine

 

[thestewarts]

We're not doing DCL & we've never been to Venice before. My understanding is that its about an hours walk (max) from ship to St Mark's square if you choose not to use the water bus or get a water taxi. Some cruise lines offer transport to/from St Marks square (at a cost) but don't know whether DCL will


We too are doing Venice on our own. Water bus or by foot it's not a long trip (about 45mins -1 hour) to St Marks Squ. There is loads more to see even if you don't want to go that far (The Rialto and the canal through the city looks like it's about halfway there) so I'm sure an evening visit could easily be fitted in.

 

[K8T]

Are any of you NOT doing a DCL excursion in Venice? Just looking for alternatives! Also, wanted to explore Venice in the evening by ourselves. Is this possible (easy to return to ship?)? Would appreciate any ideas! Thanks

We don't do any organised excursions, far too expensive and restrictive, waiting at toilet stops and visiting shops who are on DCL commission! Instead we do our own thing, Europe is safe and easy to negotiate.

We have been to Venice a number of times and it really is very doable on your own.

Just walking around the city and finding your way through the narrow streets and over the bridges is an experience around every turn, there are churches and squares to wander and sit in.

The vaporetti are really easy to use and you can get one over to the little islands of Murano and Burano in 10/15 mins, where there is glass blowing and pretty buildings.

I have spent time in Venice on my own and it is easy to wander around in the evening, even better take a Gondola at dusk. When we have been on cruises a bus has always been available at a small cost into the bus station which is a short walk into the main area, so I hope DCL will follow suite.

If you have any questions do ask.

 

[Flora Fan]

Great laundry idea:

On our last trip to the World, my DS brought Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets. They contain the soap and softener within the sheet. Then it acts like a dryer sheet when you transfer Cothes to the dryer. They are small and travel well in a ziploc in your luggage.

We used them during our last trip and they really work. I've already bought mine for the cruise.

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

Thank you for your input, Celestine, thestewarts, and k8t!!

Also, Flora Fan, I've been looking for the Purex 3 in 1 sheets for weeks and can't find them! Where did you get them?

 

[Flora Fan]

I bought mine on Amazon. It's the only place I could find them.

 

[mom_rules]

I bought mine on Amazon. It's the only place I could find them.

We used to be able to buy them here but now looks like they've all been replaced with those "pods". Too bad-I really liked the sheets.........

 

[Figment_Fan]

We're doing a DCL excursion in Venice on the first day. DD and I are doing a ghost walking tour that evening. DS and DW don't want anything to do with ghosts.

I plan on roaming around Venice on day 2 on my own. I plan on finding and taking an old fashioned map and getting properly lost, then finding my way back to the ship. Planning on just staying on foot, not using the water taxis, but trying to find all the bridges. Now, how many of my family will go with me is another question. I have a feeling everyone is going to be a little foot sore and tired by this day of the cruise.

 

[Bunless]

I plan on roaming around Venice on day 2 on my own. I plan on finding and taking an old fashioned map and getting properly lost, then finding my way back to the ship. Planning on just staying on foot, not using the water taxis, but trying to find all the bridges.

That's our plan for both days, with the hope of having one of those great Italian dinners that go very late. Trying to decide about how to go about getting lost, lol. Head straight to st marks and then loose ourself getting back to the boat? The east side of the grand canal on day one, west side day two? What is the best way to get lost?

 

[Celestine]

That's our plan for both days, with the hope of having one of those great Italian dinners that go very late. Trying to decide about how to go about getting lost, lol. Head straight to st marks and then loose ourself getting back to the boat? The east side of the grand canal on day one, west side day two? What is the best way to get lost?

I think that is going to be our plan on one of the days - catch the water taxi there (well, it is Venice so it would be rude not to) & amble back. Dependent on how that goes we'll see what we do on day 2!

Celestine

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

We're doing a DCL excursion in Venice on the first day. DD and I are doing a ghost walking tour that evening. DS and DW don't want anything to do with ghosts.

I plan on roaming around Venice on day 2 on my own. I plan on finding and taking an old fashioned map and getting properly lost, then finding my way back to the ship. Planning on just staying on foot, not using the water taxis, but trying to find all the bridges. Now, how many of my family will go with me is another question. I have a feeling everyone is going to be a little foot sore and tired by this day of the cruise.

Thanks Figment. I've booked a "Venice by Night and Gondola ride" through Viator. It was fairly reasonable as far as gondola rides go. There is something magical about Venice at night and I wanted my DD's to experience it. I think we'll do day 2 on our own.

 

[Pavilion 2000]

Are any of you NOT doing a DCL excursion in Venice? Just looking for alternatives!

We signed up for a mask decorating class (not through Disney) the first day we're in Venice. That evening, we're doing a ghost tour via Viator.

The second morning, I got us tickets to the Doge Palace with the secret itinerary tour. After Doge Palace, I figured we would just walk around St. Peter's Square and then back to the ship.

 

[Figment_Fan]

Ummmm, bunless, for me getting lost is EASY. I suffer from directional impairment. I'm one of the few guys who will stop and ask for directions. No choice. I'm lost within a few minutes.

And, just because my head is attached and I won't lose it, doesn't mean that the grey matter inside is always properly engaged.

I can always try to blame the many ear infections I had as a kid for screwing up my sense of balance and therefore my sense of direction, but, I believe that I have always been directionally impaired.

Maybe I can find a support group . . . "Hi, my name is John - and I'm lost, like, all the time."

 

[pixie3]

FINALLY booked my airfare and hotel. That is a serious weight off of my shoulders!

They canceled the private ball at the Doge's Palace. I was really looking forward to that. They said that they didn't have enough interest. That is impossible because I know people were trying to book it and it was full!!! Oh well. I think we are going to do Venice on our own for both days. If I do an organized tour at all I'll probably look into Viator.

Reminder to check the FE list on my signature to make sure your information is correct.