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

[lilpooh108]

Pompeii is less intense drive wise then Sorrento, but I am not sure if you asking which to do "with" Pompeii or what?

This is a very hilly part of Italy with winding roads and "Italian Drivers" Not always the best combination unfortunately.

We're going to Pompeii regardless, but I wanted to know if it was less nauseating to go to Positano without Sorrento, or perhaps skip Positano and straight to Sorrento?

I guess Positano is closer right, so shorter drive on hilly roads?

If it's that bad and a pregnant lady can't handle it, we might just all split up after Pompeii But I'd hate for her to change her plans completely without knowing how bad it REALLY is. Now it's sounding like my kids probably can't handle it. I was driving up the 405 from OC to LA a month ago and my DD puked in the car from the traffic being so bad (stop and go for 2.5 hours).

 

[whiteside61]

Can anyone tell me what time the bus arrives and departs Florence for the DCL "Florence on Your Own" excursion? I am assisting my mother and sister in planning their trip and wanted to prebook tickets to the Uffizi and Accademia. Both museums require a prebooked entry time. I am hoping they will have time to visit both museums, enjoy a cafe lunch and do some general sightseeing in the alloted time.

They are on the Aug 31 7 night med cruise.

 

[abayaflowers]

Someone please tell me it's not as bad as Rt. 49 in Cali. near Yosemite.

Yes, it's pretty much like that. Don't close your eyes... keep them open. If you can crack the window open, this will help.

 

[abayaflowers]

We're going to Pompeii regardless, but I wanted to know if it was less nauseating to go to Positano without Sorrento, or perhaps skip Positano and straight to Sorrento?

I guess Positano is closer right, so shorter drive on hilly roads?

If it's that bad and a pregnant lady can't handle it, we might just all split up after Pompeii But I'd hate for her to change her plans completely without knowing how bad it REALLY is. Now it's sounding like my kids probably can't handle it. I was driving up the 405 from OC to LA a month ago and my DD puked in the car from the traffic being so bad (stop and go for 2.5 hours).

It's just windy roads. Small, narrow, and like the previous disboarder mentioned, the drivers, switchbacks, etc.

So, I live off a very windy road near Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. It's really windy. The windy part gets most everyone who is not accustomed to driving the windy roads in the mountains.

Again, we were okay until we were in the windy part of the roads going to Sorrento. We planned to go to Positano, but again our driver got really back car/motion sickness.

It's not stop & go traffic like OC to LA (I graduated from UC-Irvine) and commuted through LA traffic.

The kids can handle it.

They had so much fun!

Just make sure that your friend adjusts to the uncertainty of the road and have fun

We made the best of it and that's why we had a private tour guide and driver.

Just need to accommodate the unexpected exciting situations.

Have fun!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Can anyone tell me what time the bus arrives and departs Florence for the DCL "Florence on Your Own" excursion? I am assisting my mother and sister in planning their trip and wanted to prebook tickets to the Uffizi and Accademia. Both museums require a prebooked entry time. I am hoping they will have time to visit both museums, enjoy a cafe lunch and do some general sightseeing in the alloted time.

They are on the Aug 31 7 night med cruise.

I looked and can't find anything, but if you kind of work backwards that might help. We are suppose to depart from the port at 7:30 and they say this is a 10 plus hour excursion. So figure they want you back on board at say 6 and work backwards. 2.5 hours from Florence to port is 3:30 And if they leave around around 8 then that's 10:30 or so into Florence.

Accidemia is smaller and won't take as long. Uffizi could take forever, they will have to pick and choose!

 

[lilpooh108]

It's just windy roads. Small, narrow, and like the previous disboarder mentioned, the drivers, switchbacks, etc.

So, I live off a very windy road near Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. It's really windy. The windy part gets most everyone who is not accustomed to driving the windy roads in the mountains.

Again, we were okay until we were in the windy part of the roads going to Sorrento. We planned to go to Positano, but again our driver got really back car/motion sickness.

It's not stop & go traffic like OC to LA (I graduated from UC-Irvine) and commuted through LA traffic.

The kids can handle it.

They had so much fun!

Just make sure that your friend adjusts to the uncertainty of the road and have fun

We made the best of it and that's why we had a private tour guide and driver.

Just need to accommodate the unexpected exciting situations.

Have fun!

Thanks. I'll let her know. I bet she'll want to sit it out.

When I was little my dad thought it'd be fun to drive up PCH from LA to SF. I puked for days between Santa Barbara and Hearst Castle.

 

[DenverVal]

Can anyone tell me what time the bus arrives and departs Florence for the DCL "Florence on Your Own" excursion? I am assisting my mother and sister in planning their trip and wanted to prebook tickets to the Uffizi and Accademia. Both museums require a prebooked entry time. I am hoping they will have time to visit both museums, enjoy a cafe lunch and do some general sightseeing in the alloted time.

They are on the Aug 31 7 night med cruise.

I had the same question. This is the best answer my TA could get:
Thank you for your email.

I would be happy to further assist you.

First of all, the time listed for the port adventure (shore excursion) includes the meeting time onboard the ship. Prior to beginning the port adventure, Guests will meet with a member of the Cruise Staff who will collect the tickets, distribute any waivers, and answer any questions about the excursion. Guests will then be escorted off of the ship. This is included in the approximate length of the experience.

As far as the specific pick-up time at Florence, if the travel time is about 2.5 hours and the arrival back at the ship is about 5:15pm, the pick-up time should be at approximately 2:45pm. However, as communicated, the tour escort will give the exact meet time since it could be earlier to allow time for everyone to get on the transport.

I hope this information has been helpful.

Have a Magical Day!

Wilma
Email Guest Services
Disney Cruise Line

It would appear that the time advertised is less than the actual duration. My thought was "No, not really either helpful or convincing".

 

[nzdisneymom]

I had the same question. This is the best answer my TA could get:
Thank you for your email.

I would be happy to further assist you.

First of all, the time listed for the port adventure (shore excursion) includes the meeting time onboard the ship. Prior to beginning the port adventure, Guests will meet with a member of the Cruise Staff who will collect the tickets, distribute any waivers, and answer any questions about the excursion. Guests will then be escorted off of the ship. This is included in the approximate length of the experience.

As far as the specific pick-up time at Florence, if the travel time is about 2.5 hours and the arrival back at the ship is about 5:15pm, the pick-up time should be at approximately 2:45pm. However, as communicated, the tour escort will give the exact meet time since it could be earlier to allow time for everyone to get on the transport.

I hope this information has been helpful.

Have a Magical Day!

Wilma
Email Guest Services
Disney Cruise Line

It would appear that the time advertised is less than the actual duration. My thought was "No, not really either helpful or convincing".

If return to ship is scheduled for 5:15 and is a 10- hr excursion with 2 1/2 transportation each way and 5 hours in the city, I would think they would meet back at 2:45 so they should be in the city by 10. If you are pre booking entry times that are strict windows, then figure 10:15-2:15 as your operating window.

 

[DenverVal]

My confirmation says they meet to leave at 7:45 and they return to the ship at 5:15. If this is true then it is a 9.5 hour excursion, not 10-10.5 as advertised. They commit to the 9.5 hours and I can't get them to explain the discrepancy. The ship doesn't leave until 7:30, and they could easily extend it by an hour or two. I am unhappy that this leaves only 4.5 hours in Florence, but I couldn't come up with other affordable OYO travel options.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

we are doing Florence and Michelangelo and our conformation says 7:15 till 5:15, which kind of makes not sense since we are in port at 7:45...but I guess we meet at 7:15 so we are ready to leave by the time the ship docks.

 

[nzdisneymom]

we are doing Florence and Michelangelo and our conformation says 7:15 till 5:15, which kind of makes not sense since we are in port at 7:45...but I guess we meet at 7:15 so we are ready to leave by the time the ship docks.

Yes, that's how it works, they want you ready to go so they can get you on your way. We are doing this same excursion.

 

[lilpooh108]

Brain freeze ---

I don't need to bring my regular (non travel) health insurance cards right? If I'm seeking reimbursement later on I'd just submit a form. Any reason to bring these?

 

[nzdisneymom]

Brain freeze ---

I don't need to bring my regular (non travel) health insurance cards right? If I'm seeking reimbursement later on I'd just submit a form. Any reason to bring these?

We bring ours. It might be that it would be accepted depending on where we needed health care. Besides, we have a bit of a drive to our departure airport, so we leave home a day before and get back a day later, so we have time between leaving the house and leaving the country where we hope we don't need them.

I actually called them two weeks ago to find out what to do if we needed healthcare out of the country.

 

[randc]

Does anyone know where the bus drops you off in Florence and Rome if you are doing the "On Your Own" excursions through the cruise line. When I called DCL they told me they didn't know and it would be up to the tour group. It'd be nice to know before we left on the cruise so we could get an idea of where we are in relation to the attractions.

 

[tajz90]

Does anyone know where the bus drops you off in Florence and Rome if you are doing the "On Your Own" excursions through the cruise line. When I called DCL they told me they didn't know and it would be up to the tour group. It'd be nice to know before we left on the cruise so we could get an idea of where we are in relation to the attractions.

In 07, we were dropped near the Spanish Steps area.

 

[randc]

In 07, we were dropped near the Spanish Steps area.

Thank you. That gives me a starting point to plan our walking tour.

 

[DenverVal]

Does anyone know where the bus drops you off in Florence and Rome if you are doing the "On Your Own" excursions through the cruise line. When I called DCL they told me they didn't know and it would be up to the tour group. It'd be nice to know before we left on the cruise so we could get an idea of where we are in relation to the attractions.

I asked this question in my first email about Florence, this is the reply:
I have been asked by a member of our Shoreside Guest Services to contact
you.

Here is the requested information regarding the port adventure: Florence On Your Own Adult Only Departure:

1. Where does Guest get dropped off when they tour on their own?

Since the traffic regulation in Florence are very strict, there are two different drop off points that can be implemented. As such, it is difficult to tell exactly which one since the Municipality may be changing it. At the moment the two drop off points are:
--Lungarno along Arno River: approximately a 10 minute walking distance from the pedestrian area (Piazza Santa Croce).
--S. Maria Novella Church, next to the railway station of Firenze: also approximately a 10 minute walking distance from the pedestrian area.

I hope this information has been helpful.

Have a Magical Day!

Wilma
Email Guest Services
Disney Cruise Line

 

[abayaflowers]

Brain freeze ---

I don't need to bring my regular (non travel) health insurance cards right? If I'm seeking reimbursement later on I'd just submit a form. Any reason to bring these?

We bring ours as well. We also get the trip insurance to cover any medical evacation off the ship (helicopter or plane ride).

But, you will still need to let your insurance company know if you are leaving for another company. They might need to know ahead before any claims are paid. Hopefully, you will not need it.

Also, ask them how much is covered for International travel, get the name of the agent, as well as the date and time you called.

I worked for a health insurance company and they are sticklers on being notified ahead of time of any changes that might impede on your health insurance.

 

[lilpooh108]

Hi guys...

I'm making myself a cheat sheet of all important numbers (hotels, tour ops, transfers, etc).

What is the Port Agent number for DCL in Barcelona in case we need to call on embarkation day (knock on wood)?

Thanks!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Hi guys...

I'm making myself a cheat sheet of all important numbers (hotels, tour ops, transfers, etc).

What is the Port Agent number for DCL in Barcelona in case we need to call on embarkation day (knock on wood)?

Thanks!

I want to say that the information is in the Cruise Docs - I don't have mine with me but would be glad to check if you didn't find out already.