First Med Cruise - Our excellent adventure!

[nifferearly]

Hi,

I loved your trip report! We're going to the Med next August. It'll be my husband and I, 60 yo mother and 6 yo son. I had planned to book private tours in Italy, but your report made me feel a bit braver about doing it on my own.

It's obviously significantly cheaper to do it like you did in Rome. But do you feel you knew or learned enough about the sights? I always enjoy tours because I like to learn the history of what I'm seeing. But the flexibility and freedom of exploring on my own also appeals to me. Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated!

I'd also appreciate any advice on Naples and La Spezia. I'd like to do the Cinque Terre, while my husband really wants to see Pisa (he's a civil engineer).

Thanks!

[travelbug24]

Originally Posted by nifferearly

I'd also appreciate any advice on Naples and La Spezia. I'd like to do the Cinque Terre, while my husband really wants to see Pisa (he's a civil engineer).

Some of our cruise mates did the Cinque Terre and loved it. We did Pisa and it was absolutely amazing. The church, baptistry and bell tower are exquisite! The little town of Pisa was quaint and charming. If your husband is an engineer, he will truly appreciate the workmanship and the story behind its completion. Our guide was Roberto who looked like Ben Kingsley. He was a hoot. IMO, Pisa is a must do.

[Disneyfalcon]

Originally Posted by nifferearly

Hi,

I loved your trip report! We're going to the Med next August. It'll be my husband and I, 60 yo mother and 6 yo son. I had planned to book private tours in Italy, but your report made me feel a bit braver about doing it on my own.

It's obviously significantly cheaper to do it like you did in Rome. But do you feel you knew or learned enough about the sights? I always enjoy tours because I like to learn the history of what I'm seeing. But the flexibility and freedom of exploring on my own also appeals to me. Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated!

I'd also appreciate any advice on Naples and La Spezia. I'd like to do the Cinque Terre, while my husband really wants to see Pisa (he's a civil engineer).

Thanks!

Hi nifferearly! Thanks for reading!

You would definitely get more history on a tour. We did a fair amount of reading before our trip, so we knew what we were looking for and at. The flexibility was awesome, but if you enjoy the facts and history, a private tour may be for you.

Naples was neat to walk through, but that's all we did there. We were on our way to Pompeii! I would recommend catching the bus to the train station and on to Pompeii. If I'm not mistaken, there were audio tours there that you would enjoy.

I really wanted to see Pisa. I agree with Travelbug, it was really great. Debbie did Florence on your own and she thoroughly enjoyed that too.

[Olaf]

Very good trip report, and amazing pictures. I also have a Canon, but I'm guessing you had a serious lens on yours? A low light lens? Your report has just about sold me on this cruise (Disney ought to pay you). Considering a Med cruise next summer, as we're currently stationed over here. Kicking myself that I didn't book something while on our cruise last year. Thank you taking the time to put this together.

Go Air Force!

[Disneyfalcon]

Originally Posted by Olaf

Very good trip report, and amazing pictures. I also have a Canon, but I'm guessing you had a serious lens on yours? A low light lens? Your report has just about sold me on this cruise (Disney ought to pay you). Considering a Med cruise next summer, as we're currently stationed over here. Kicking myself that I didn't book something while on our cruise last year. Thank you taking the time to put this together.

Go Air Force!

Hi Olaf! Thank you! I rented the 16-35L for this trip. It was a great low light wide angle lens.

You should definitely take a Med cruise since you're there!! The military discounts were awesome, so hopefully they'll do them again. I sailed on a travel agent rate, but my inlaws and parents both sailed on a military rate. They paid $2400 for verandah for an 11 night cruise!

Woo hoo, go Air Force!!

[Michelle2]

I just found your report, after 5 or 6 months? LOL

I was on that cruise with you! We also had a blast! We were on the Transatlantic over so thankfully did not have any flight issues to get there, but we sure had them on the way back! It was just me and my teenage son who was 17. He saw me looking at your pictures a bit ago, and said "We were there!" I think it has great memories for him too although he didn't like all the walking at the time.

I had to just totally agree with you on these things:

We really enjoyed Tunisia too! I was thrilled to go to a new continent! (one of the reasons I really wanted to go on this cruise, I had already been to all the other countries except Malta.)

We did Rome on our own too and was probably on the same train over from Civitavecchia with you. We also BARELY missed that 8:00 train.

I also noticed the streets and how filthy they were...thank goodness it was quick to the station right?

We alsoLOVED Monaco. Loved loved loved it! I couldn't stop taking enough pictures of it either. It was probably our favorite stop, that and Amalfi/Pompeii. LOVED these ports!

Loved your pictures, you are a talented photographer! Did it take forever to learn how to fully operate a camera like that? Mine were just on a point and shoot. LOL

[Disneyfalcon]

Originally Posted by Michelle2

I just found your report, after 5 or 6 months? LOL

I was on that cruise with you! We also had a blast! We were on the Transatlantic over so thankfully did not have any flight issues to get there, but we sure had them on the way back! It was just me and my teenage son who was 17. He saw me looking at your pictures a bit ago, and said "We were there!" I think it has great memories for him too although he didn't like all the walking at the time.

I had to just totally agree with you on these things:

We really enjoyed Tunisia too! I was thrilled to go to a new continent! (one of the reasons I really wanted to go on this cruise, I had already been to all the other countries except Malta.)

We did Rome on our own too and was probably on the same train over from Civitavecchia with you. We also BARELY missed that 8:00 train.

I also noticed the streets and how filthy they were...thank goodness it was quick to the station right?

We alsoLOVED Monaco. Loved loved loved it! I couldn't stop taking enough pictures of it either. It was probably our favorite stop, that and Amalfi/Pompeii. LOVED these ports!

Loved your pictures, you are a talented photographer! Did it take forever to learn how to fully operate a camera like that? Mine were just on a point and shoot. LOL

I am amazed every time someone reads it after all this time!

You were on our cruise? Cool!! I have so much wonderful memories from that cruise.

My Dd definitely got tired of the walking at times. I just kept reminding her she could be in school like her brother!

I agree, a lot of my excitement about Tunisia was hitting a new continent. Awesome!

We probably were on that same morning train. That one was packed!! We all had seats except my Dad. I was so glad because we were so tired.

Those streets were crazy!! What on earth?

Monaco was my favorite too. It was just so so beautiful!

Thank you for the compliment! I used my camera on point and shoot mode for years. When I finally decided it was time to learn how to use it, it didn't take long.

I am always learning new things about photography, but that's part of the fun.

Thanks for reading!!

[heatherbelle]

What a great trippie, we're booked on the 08/20/11 med cruise and I'm so looking forward to it. We're planning on doing our own trips, so yours has already given me loads of confidence. Thanks for doing it.

[floydfamily4]

Oh my goodness what an exciting trip! I just found your TR (ok I'm supposed to be working but don't tell anyone! ) I am planning a 2012 7-night family trip but now realize that while on board I MUST book a med cruise. Thank you so much for sharing!! I cannot believe how beautiful everything was! I am just amazed. I do have 1 question though...it seemed like a lot of walking and my kids are currently 6 and will likely be 9 when we cruise. Do you think they could handle it? Thanks again for sharing

[Disneyfalcon]

Originally Posted by heatherbelle

What a great trippie, we're booked on the 08/20/11 med cruise and I'm so looking forward to it. We're planning on doing our own trips, so yours has already given me loads of confidence. Thanks for doing it.

Thanks, Heather! You really can do it on your own. Don't worry.

Originally Posted by floydfamily4

Oh my goodness what an exciting trip! I just found your TR (ok I'm supposed to be working but don't tell anyone! ) I am planning a 2012 7-night family trip but now realize that while on board I MUST book a med cruise. Thank you so much for sharing!! I cannot believe how beautiful everything was! I am just amazed. I do have 1 question though...it seemed like a lot of walking and my kids are currently 6 and will likely be 9 when we cruise. Do you think they could handle it? Thanks again for sharing

I wish I had a decent excuse not to work out! I just don't!

Some cities were a lot of walking. I think a 9 year old would be fine. There are other options you can use though, we just wanted to walk. We could have taken taxis several times and were to cheap. There were lots of places where busses were super cheap, like Naples, but we wanted to walk off our meals!

[jns]

Originally Posted by Disneyfalcon

Thanks pixie08! I am using a Canon 50D. For most of this trip I had the 16-35L lens on, which I rented, as it is not in my budget yet.

just wondering about renting a lence how do you go about doing this


Thanks for a great trip report
loved all your photos

[Disneyfalcon]

Originally Posted by jns

just wondering about renting a lence how do you go about doing this


Thanks for a great trip report
loved all your photos

Hi jns! In some big cities you can rent from local places. Then you don't have to pay shipping.

If not, there are several places online. I like borrow lenses.com and lens rentals.com.

[mkmommy]

I just thought I would bump this up as it is such a wealth of information for those going to the Med.

[Disneyfalcon]

Originally Posted by mkmommy

I just thought I would bump this up as it is such a wealth of information for those going to the Med.

Happy to help!

[Kewz1]

Please don't think me to be a stalker but...I have your TR in my Fav's place.
DH & I were just referencing it the other night. We're not even taking the Med Cruise until 2012 and I'm already planning it.

I guess that makes me an anal stalker!

Kristen