Magic May 31, 2014 A Magical Voyage Around the Mediterranean

[Kilted Candyman]

I'll have to check but I'm pretty sure we saw Sparta last year and this year. Amy has a weakness for the Krewe of Barkus so we've been to two Mardi Gras to see it. Eventually I want to be at the full blown Mardi Gras weekend.

So, not having done the Europe cruises, what do they replace Pirates in the Caribbean with? I assume there will be a formal and semi-formal night? I have kilts and am not afraid to use them Last cruise (8-day Bahamas) I did the whole one in kilts, including the 5K -

The photographers went crazy at times One of them kicked Amy out of the pic to do some solos of me. If they been some of Amy's favorites she might have been a bit ticked.

What unique things should we expect?

Jim

 

[Sir William]

Reporting aboard!

We will be celebrating DS's college graduation.

 

[Sir William]

I assume there will be a formal and semi-formal night? I have kilts and am not afraid to use them Last cruise (8-day Bahamas) I did the whole one in kilts, including the 5K -
Jim

We gotta quit trying to meet this way! Guess I'll have to bring my kilt as well.

 

[DisneyNurse19]

Welcome Welcome Welcome!!!


Been looking at reports and pictures and so far I think we're not going to do anything major in Villefranche. I know how my husband is and if I plan this whole trip of GO GO GO ...he will be Cranky Cranky Cranky by the 2nd day. Villefranche looks like a cute little town that we can spend some time in and have a nice day.

At first I was looking at this like my first Disney trip where we packed in EVERYTHING and were tired and cranky by the end. I just want to enjoy myself and have a nice time without planning everything from sun up to sun down. Now Rome is another story...I do want a good plan that day, but I figure if I don't stress him out on the days leading up to Rome he can make it through Rome without getting too cranky.

We have just been on the 12 night Venice Cruise and we booked all our excursions through DCL. The one thing we said was that we didn't want to do 10-12 hour excursions so we stuck with the 5 hours ones and it worked out very well, in others words we had the 'best of both worlds'
A morning sightseeing and an afternoon by the pool

 

[chefgirl96]

Hi all! I am reporting for roll call.

It will be myself & DH on this cruise for our 15th anniversary Once in a Lifetime vacation. It is our first cruise (although I did sail on The Big Red Boat as a youngster but I barely remember that) and our first time to Europe and our first time leaving our children for so long.

Our FIRST everything!

I am a little overwhelmed at all the planning required but I *do* love planning & enjoyed compulsively planning our all girls trip to WDW in 2010 - which I gathered much of my wisdom from the Disboards for that trip!

I have read 69 pages worth of the Med planning thread, but still have questions.
Okay to ask those here? Or maybe there is a Disney cruise mentor available?

Or should I start a pre-trip report with all my plans/questions/crazy ideas?

 

[bats]

Hi all! I am reporting for roll call.

It will be myself & DH on this cruise for our 15th anniversary Once in a Lifetime vacation. It is our first cruise (although I did sail on The Big Red Boat as a youngster but I barely remember that) and our first time to Europe and our first time leaving our children for so long.

Our FIRST everything!

I am a little overwhelmed at all the planning required but I *do* love planning & enjoyed compulsively planning our all girls trip to WDW in 2010 - which I gathered much of my wisdom from the Disboards for that trip!

I have read 69 pages worth of the Med planning thread, but still have questions.
Okay to ask those here? Or maybe there is a Disney cruise mentor available?

Or should I start a pre-trip report with all my plans/questions/crazy ideas?

I'm happy to help .. Have done 3 Med cruises and booked this one too as its only a short 2 hour flight to Barca for us.
We always book DIY excursions so the timings and itinerary suit us and not the other 50 people on the bus. We use www.yourtourinitaly.com for all of them and they are great. When you look at their web page, if you don't see a tour you like, email Andreina and tell her what you'd like, they are very helpful and friendly.

Best wishes
Joa

 

[bats]

I'll have to check but I'm pretty sure we saw Sparta last year and this year. Amy has a weakness for the Krewe of Barkus so we've been to two Mardi Gras to see it. Eventually I want to be at the full blown Mardi Gras weekend.

So, not having done the Europe cruises, what do they replace Pirates in the Caribbean with? I assume there will be a formal and semi-formal night? I have kilts and am not afraid to use them Last cruise (8-day Bahamas) I did the whole one in kilts, including the 5K -

The photographers went crazy at times One of them kicked Amy out of the pic to do some solos of me. If they been some of Amy's favorites she might have been a bit ticked.

What unique things should we expect?

Jim

Pirate night is the same .. Same menu, same show, same name, same fireworks, just a different location!
There was one menu change and that was Mediterranean Menu (surprise surprise) .. It had some weird stuff that I now can't remember! Sorry.

There were Med pins available and of course plenty of clothing with Med written on them. Also, the characters were in local dress at certain ports.

Hope that helps

 

[bats]

We are hoping (cross your fingers) we may get lucky and be able to catch a soccer game while in Barcelona after we disembark. Has anyone else booked flights or hotels in Barcelona yet?

Just in case you weren't aware, the European football season ends mid May, but you could book a tour of Camp Nou instead. It's a fantastic stadium, albeit quite old looking now compared to others.

 

[chefgirl96]

Is there some sort of "ideal" timeframe to book airfare?

 

[bats]

Is there some sort of "ideal" timeframe to book airfare?

We've just booked ours, but its only a 2 hour flight to Barca for us. We booked it with BA as their prices had dropped to below what we paid this year (with another airline).

Maybe see if your chosen airline has had a regular time for sales each year and wait for that? Where are you flying from?

 

[Tianni]

Is there some sort of "ideal" timeframe to book airfare?

I'll tell ya what... I'd book NOW... We booked a few weeks ago and when I looked the other day the prices had gone up $2000.00 for the 4 of us... It made me glad we booked when we did! We also learned that if you stay Sunday and go home Monday... It may be cheaper still to stay in a hotel on Sunday evening and fly home on Monday. That is what we are planning on doing. We are also flying into Dublin for a night as well.

We are flying United if that helps any... United was MUCH cheaper than Delta... We also tried KLM (through Delta) but it was also much more expensive as well... Hope this helps!

 

[Tianni]

Just in case you weren't aware, the European football season ends mid May, but you could book a tour of Camp Nou instead. It's a fantastic stadium, albeit quite old looking now compared to others.

Bummer... But we will have to look into this for DS!!!

 

[chefgirl96]

Maybe see if your chosen airline has had a regular time for sales each year and wait for that? Where are you flying from?

We are flying from Chicago (U.S.) - I am just wondering if more flights will open up since it "seems" so far off. Or are whatever flights already available the only ones which will ever be?

 

[braysmommy]

Bummer... But we will have to look into this for DS!!!

We visited Camp Nou after the EBTA and it was amazing. If you have a soccer fanatic in the family I highly recommend it.

 

[Kilted Candyman]

Well we are crunching the numbers and it looks like we are going to be able to swing it. Big issue is 2015's trip is to Gretna Green for renewing our vows on our 20th. We can't jeopardize that.

But like I said we are looking like it will happen. Will probably make the decision next month. We will have to probably cut some corners. No extra nights in Barcelona, one official port adventure (the rest will have to be us walking it, which I'm sure will be fine) maybe only one brunch, etc. I will probably lose in the pin budget as well

On the Gretna well will probably cut it from 9 days to 5 to save on hotels. Instead of the tours of London or Edinburgh we'll hit the zoo. Amy loves pandas

Pirate night is the same .. Same menu, same show, same name, same fireworks, just a different location!
There was one menu change and that was Mediterranean Menu (surprise surprise) .. It had some weird stuff that I now can't remember! Sorry.

There were Med pins available and of course plenty of clothing with Med written on them. Also, the characters were in local dress at certain ports.

Hope that helps

Thanks. Wouldn't be a Disney cruise without Pirate Night!

Jim

 

[Tianni]

Links to 2013 Mediterranean Trip reports
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3125543
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3126201
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2485312
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3125277
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3127465

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3140528


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There is a new TR out!!! It's a good one..> LONG but good!!!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3140528

 

[Kilted Candyman]

There is a new TR out!!! It's a good one..> LONG but good!!!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3140528

Very nice! Thanks. Can't wait to see it finished.

Jim

 

[Kilted Candyman]

Sorry folks.

Amy's boss just got engaged. Guess when the wedding is? May 31st.

BUMMER!!!!!!!!

On to our second choice, a 7-day western Caribbean.

Just for the record -

This sucks!

Jim

 

[bats]

Sorry folks.

Amy's boss just got engaged. Guess when the wedding is? May 31st.

BUMMER!!!!!!!!

On to our second choice, a 7-day western Caribbean.

Just for the record -

This sucks!

Jim

As second choices go, it's not the worst one in the world!!
Sorry you won't be cruising with us, but best wishes for the second choice!!

 

[Sir William]

Very nice! Thanks. Can't wait to see it finished.

Jim

Jim,

This is the second cruise, or is it third, that we've almost sailed together. One of these days we'll finally make it, I'm sure.

See you over on XMTS.