Inaugural Magic Cruise to Greece and Turkey - June 15 - 27;DONE with pictures!!

[lilpooh108]

Hi Deb, following along!

Love your TR and your pictures Can't wait to read more!

I believe Deneval is from Jamaica.

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks, lilpooh!!

 

[A's Princess]

What an amazing trip and great pictures! Looking forward to your next update.

 

[Scraptographer]

I am really enjoying your report. My DH has also read it and commented on how similar our plans are for this trip, from staying at the Diagonal Mar, to the majority of your excursions! Except of course that we can't do the adults only version yet . We really appreciate the time you are taking to do this.

Yvonne

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks!

Another day done!

 

[jennorthernireland]

Great trip report so far, thank you! Looking forward to reading more

 

[Scraptographer]

Still happily enjoying your trip report and looking especially forward to your comments on your Delos excursion and your Blue Grotto and Fishing Village excursion, since we also have both of those excursions booked.

I was intrigued to see the pictures and read your comments about Ephesus and the Waterpark since we have chosen an excursion that includes both as our kids are teenagers.

Could you tell me where the photo from Pisa that included all three buildings, from the Baptistery to the Leaning tower of Pisa was taken?

Many thanks

Yvonne

 

[lilpooh108]

Hi Deb!

Love your write up and pics of Turkey and Mykonos. We've always wanted to tour Ephesus (sp?) Thanks for the photo tour

BTW, I prevent the alcohol flush by taking a Prevacid 1 hour before drinking. It's not because I'm a lush, but because I used to do a lot of corporate cocktail things (firm weekends, firm parties, mixers) and it's embarrassing to look drunk around colleagues when you're not. Anyway, take a Prevacid (or generic) 1 hour before, and you'll only get a slight flush. Watch the alcohol consumption though. It decreases your alcohol metabolism so if you have 2-3 drinks, it sort of sneaks up on you. Random OT

 

[Deb in IA]

Still happily enjoying your trip report and looking especially forward to your comments on your Delos excursion and your Blue Grotto and Fishing Village excursion, since we also have both of those excursions booked.

I was intrigued to see the pictures and read your comments about Ephesus and the Waterpark since we have chosen an excursion that includes both as our kids are teenagers.

Could you tell me where the photo from Pisa that included all three buildings, from the Baptistery to the Leaning tower of Pisa was taken?

Many thanks

Yvonne

Sad confession - I've been using stock photos from Google. Our home computer died and I haven't been able to download my pics from the vacation yet. But as soon as it is fixed, I will go back and replace these with our own pictures.

Hi Deb!

Love your write up and pics of Turkey and Mykonos. We've always wanted to tour Ephesus (sp?) Thanks for the photo tour

BTW, I prevent the alcohol flush by taking a Prevacid 1 hour before drinking. It's not because I'm a lush, but because I used to do a lot of corporate cocktail things (firm weekends, firm parties, mixers) and it's embarrassing to look drunk around colleagues when you're not. Anyway, take a Prevacid (or generic) 1 hour before, and you'll only get a slight flush. Watch the alcohol consumption though. It decreases your alcohol metabolism so if you have 2-3 drinks, it sort of sneaks up on you. Random OT

I've never tried that before! Thanks for the tip!

The alcohol flush runs in my family, but my cousin has it a lot worse. She can't drink at all. Her husband was a big shot banker, and once, at a fancy holiday party, cousin decided that she was going to drink the "big girl champagne" and not the bubbly water or ginger ale. Not long after drinking a single champagne flute, she was in the bathroom, violently barfing up hors d'oeuves.

She's never tried any more alcohol after that.

 

[Scraptographer]

Colour me impressed that you have been doing so much extra work to find photos when yours are not available in order to enhance our reading and viewing pleasure . And sorry to hear about your computer. From my perspective it is better to lose a computer than your trip photos!

 

[cforsythe]

Deb, I love your report. I really appreciate all of the details about the DCL excursions.

I am currently booked for "The Best of Rome" tour. Did you hear anything about this excursion? After reading your experience on the one you did, I am considering changing. My only drawback is that your tour did not do the Sistine Chapel and I really would like to see that.

Any help you could give would be appreciated!

 

[Deb in IA]

Colour me impressed that you have been doing so much extra work to find photos when yours are not available in order to enhance our reading and viewing pleasure . And sorry to hear about your computer. From my perspective it is better to lose a computer than your trip photos!

Finally had a chance to download some pictures. I've put some of our actual shots in, and I'll add more over the next few days.

Deb, I love your report. I really appreciate all of the details about the DCL excursions.

I am currently booked for "The Best of Rome" tour. Did you hear anything about this excursion? After reading your experience on the one you did, I am considering changing. My only drawback is that your tour did not do the Sistine Chapel and I really would like to see that.

Any help you could give would be appreciated!

Thanks for reading!

I think I looked at the Best of Rome tour, but I think I chose the Jumping Back to Eternal Rome over it because of the price. The Best of Rome includes lunch (we tend to be light lunchers), and I think did not include the Pantheon, which we really wanted to see. I would have liked to see the Sistine Chapel too, but there just was not enough time on this tour, with all the other things we did.

 

[lilpooh108]

Her husband was a big shot banker, and once, at a fancy holiday party, cousin decided that she was going to drink the "big girl champagne" and not the bubbly water or ginger ale. Not long after drinking a single champagne flute, she was in the bathroom, violently barfing up hors d'oeuves.

She's never tried any more alcohol after that.

Oh how horrible! Poor her!! Maybe she can't metabolize it at all. Poor thing...

I try not to use the Prevacid too often (maybe twice a year), b/c obviously it's not good to mix that stuff.

 

[McDonald5]

OK, please forgive the stupid question. But when you say "adults only departure" are you saying that only you and your husband CHOSE to get off the ship? Or do you mean that only adults are ALLOWED off the ship? We'd like to do a Med cruise in 10 years (yes, a long time from now, I know) when the kids are 14, 16 & 18 but you have me a bit worried that they wouldn't be allowed off the ship. I only even ask b/c one of your posts says "adults only departure" but it has a picture of your daughter in it... Ok, thanks and sorry if that's a silly question.

 

[Deb in IA]

OK, please forgive the stupid question. But when you say "adults only departure" are you saying that only you and your husband CHOSE to get off the ship? Or do you mean that only adults are ALLOWED off the ship? We'd like to do a Med cruise in 10 years (yes, a long time from now, I know) when the kids are 14, 16 & 18 but you have me a bit worried that they wouldn't be allowed off the ship. I only even ask b/c one of your posts says "adults only departure" but it has a picture of your daughter in it... Ok, thanks and sorry if that's a silly question.

No worries!

All cruisers are allowed off the ship!

To Disney, anyone 18 and older is "adult".

Some of the excursions are listed as "adult only departure". That just means that no one in that tour is under 18. There are usually similar tours that don't have that designation, and that usually means there will be kids.

We knew that we were on some long excursions, and while we love kids, we know that sometimes, especially the younger ones, get tired and cranky, so when he had the option, we picked the adult departures.

Hope that answers your question!

 

[keenercam]

Deb - I LOVED your trip report. Thank you so much!!!! Your embarkation photo is just wonderful! You must be so happy to have all these wonderful memories of this amazing trip with your family.

 

[McDonald5]

No worries!

All cruisers are allowed off the ship!

To Disney, anyone 18 and older is "adult".

Some of the excursions are listed as "adult only departure". That just means that no one in that tour is under 18. There are usually similar tours that don't have that designation, and that usually means there will be kids.

We knew that we were on some long excursions, and while we love kids, we know that sometimes, especially the younger ones, get tired and cranky, so when he had the option, we picked the adult departures.

Hope that answers your question!

Yes it does! Thanks!

 

[cforsythe]

Deb How did you like the hotel where you stayed? We are staying there 1 night before our cruise in August.

What time was your room ready?

How did you know what time your transfers to the ship were going to be with DCL transfters?
Thanks,
Charleen

 

[Deb in IA]

Deb How did you like the hotel where you stayed? We are staying there 1 night before our cruise in August.

What time was your room ready?

How did you know what time your transfers to the ship were going to be with DCL transfters?
Thanks,
Charleen

Hi Charleen!

The Hilton was fine - very clean and modern. Friendly people, they all speak English pretty well. Lots of Americans guests, too.

I think it is designed to cater more to business-types, because they have a small-ish restaurant but many large conference rooms.

And I wish they had American-type rooms, so that we didn't have to get 2 rooms for the 4 of us.

But they do have an outdoor pool and fitness area, and a courtyard.

As for the transfers, just check in at the Disney Hospitality Desk in the Lobby of the hotel. They will give you your tickets for the bus and time it leaves for the port.

 

[Deb in IA]

Deb - I LOVED your trip report. Thank you so much!!!! Your embarkation photo is just wonderful! You must be so happy to have all these wonderful memories of this amazing trip with your family.

Thanks!

DH and I are very fortunate that our "kids" still want to go on Disney vacations with us.

I guess we raised them right!

LOVE your wedding pictures in your sig, by the way!