Med Cruisers . . . Let's Discuss 2013 Planning!

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Originally Posted by DisneyOHFan

Yes, we had to pick an arrival time.

When did you pick it? I have not even booked the DCL transport. Guess I need to figure out how to do that.

[lilpooh108]

Originally Posted by OrangeCountyCommuter

Unless it is a very small group I would not think you are doing the underground



Don't be upset if you miss it. We did it on our last trip, it was cool, but......they are so proud of it that it takes longer then it should IMHO (and we love ruins and history). For a first time visit, you will be fine without it. The place is pretty overwhelming.

I would not do the Vatican museum with an 11 year old. Actually for most of you, realize that there is no crowd control there. Even with a tour it will be beyond packed...think MK on Christmas day and add some people.

Help with a question please

Did you go with the Colosseum-led tour last time of the Underground?

I'm curious about logistics. We'd like to leave 15 minutes early from the tour (Colosseum led). Is this do-able? I was looking at pictures elsewhere and it looks like you go through a locked gate to reach some stairs.

If the guide would have to leave the group in order to unlock the gate for us, then I guess I can't really leave 15 minutes early.

I just hate that our day is so hectic.

[tufbuf]

Originally Posted by OrangeCountyCommuter

Unless it is a very small group I would not think you are doing the underground



Don't be upset if you miss it. We did it on our last trip, it was cool, but......they are so proud of it that it takes longer then it should IMHO (and we love ruins and history). For a first time visit, you will be fine without it. The place is pretty overwhelming.

If we choose this excursion, it'll be a third visit to the Colisseum. The catacombs seems interesting that's why we are considering it and am hoping we will go underground in the Colisseum as well. Oh well. We will see...

[tajz90]

The dungeon / upper tier tours are small group tours. I don't know why, but the number 12 or 25 sticks in my mind. There are only certain tour times. We chose a noon tour for our group.

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Originally Posted by lilpooh108

Help with a question please

Did you go with the Colosseum-led tour last time of the Underground?

I'm curious about logistics. We'd like to leave 15 minutes early from the tour (Colosseum led). Is this do-able? I was looking at pictures elsewhere and it looks like you go through a locked gate to reach some stairs.

If the guide would have to leave the group in order to unlock the gate for us, then I guess I can't really leave 15 minutes early.

I just hate that our day is so hectic.

Yes, this is the tour I did
It ends at the top of the Colosseum. Wonderful view. You are kind of locked in up there. The guide has to go down and unlock the gate to let you out (lots of jealous folks asking "how did you get up there?")

I will warn you that our tour probably went 30 minutes long. Seems like it was suppose to be over about the time we got to the upper level. We did have a few people skip the last part. Two guys just left for lunch and some people did not feel up to the climb to the top. So if you are behind you can bail out as they move between the levels

[lilpooh108]

Originally Posted by OrangeCountyCommuter

Yes, this is the tour I did
It ends at the top of the Colosseum. Wonderful view. You are kind of locked in up there. The guide has to go down and unlock the gate to let you out (lots of jealous folks asking "how did you get up there?")

I will warn you that our tour probably went 30 minutes long. Seems like it was suppose to be over about the time we got to the upper level. We did have a few people skip the last part. Two guys just left for lunch and some people did not feel up to the climb to the top. So if you are behind you can bail out as they move between the levels

Hmm...I'd hate to disrupt the group. Did the guide have to unlock a gate and let those guys out? The ones that left for lunch/didn't feel like climbing? Or did they just leave before going into the gate and up the stairs? (If so, that's what we'll do too in order to leave early.)

We'll have plenty of time before the tour---will I be able to tour the upper levels by myself with the ticket. I know that the ticket only includes entrance once so I don't want to mess up by going in and having to come back out for the tour to meet up.

We don't mind skipping the forum part in order to see the top of the Colosseum.

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

No, the lunch guys just disappeared when we started up from underground, they just handed her their audio sets. The other folks actually just sat outside the gate as they waited on family who continued the tour.

You can't go to the upper level with out a guide. So you can't do that before. I "think" you can collect your ticket in advance and tour the main part that is open to the public, but that tends to change. (Rome is not always predictable). We had the first tour of the day so we didn't have time to try that.

if this is your first trip to Rome, you may discover a "hectic" schedule is stressful. I love Rome and Italy, but it isn't the most organized place you will ever tour. Things tend to run on "Itailian time". You then add in that the city was built by the Romans and now has millions of people and their cars......plus I am always lost there

[lilpooh108]

Originally Posted by OrangeCountyCommuter

No, the lunch guys just disappeared when we started up from underground, they just handed her their audio sets. The other folks actually just sat outside the gate as they waited on family who continued the tour.

You can't go to the upper level with out a guide. So you can't do that before. I "think" you can collect your ticket in advance and tour the main part that is open to the public, but that tends to change. (Rome is not always predictable). We had the first tour of the day so we didn't have time to try that.

I'm sorry. I wasn't clear.

Did your tour group meet the guide after your tickets were collected/stamped or before?

I would like to tour the main levels (open to anyone) with our tickets before the tour in order to take pictures, since we'll be leaving right after the underground portion.

I read that the tickets are for one entry, so my guess is if the tour meets outside of the ticket collection area I can't go into the Colosseum first since my ticket won't be good for re-entry.

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Originally Posted by lilpooh108

I'm sorry. I wasn't clear.

Did your tour group meet the guide after your tickets were collected/stamped or before?

I would like to tour the main levels (open to anyone) with our tickets before the tour in order to take pictures, since we'll be leaving right after the underground portion.

I read that the tickets are for one entry, so my guess is if the tour meets outside of the ticket collection area I can't go into the Colosseum first since my ticket won't be good for re-entry.

I don't really remember. I will ask my mother and let you know what she recalls

They sent us to a certain area to wait, but I just can't recall when they took the tickets

[lilpooh108]

Originally Posted by OrangeCountyCommuter

I don't really remember. I will ask my mother and let you know what she recalls

They sent us to a certain area to wait, but I just can't recall when they took the tickets

Thanks so much for your help. We're going with 1st timers, so I'd feel bad if all they saw was the underground part. Without the context of the higher levels it'd just look like a bunch of walls I've only toured the main portion myself and like you, can't remember specific either.

[mehaul]

Originally Posted by lilpooh108

I'm sorry. I wasn't clear.

Did your tour group meet the guide after your tickets were collected/stamped or before?

I would like to tour the main levels (open to anyone) with our tickets before the tour in order to take pictures, since we'll be leaving right after the underground portion.

I read that the tickets are for one entry, so my guess is if the tour meets outside of the ticket collection area I can't go into the Colosseum first since my ticket won't be good for re-entry.

You can tour the main levels only after the tour. The tour enters through a separate entrance.

[mehaul]

Originally Posted by lilpooh108

Thanks so much for your help. We're going with 1st timers, so I'd feel bad if all they saw was the underground part. Without the context of the higher levels it'd just look like a bunch of walls I've only toured the main portion myself and like you, can't remember specific either.

After the lower level tour, you then go to the upper level. It is a much better view than the main level

Here is a link to photos of lower and upper

www.worldofmouse.com/2011-med-trip-report.html

[lilpooh108]

Originally Posted by mehaul

After the lower level tour, you then go to the upper level. It is a much better view than the main level

Here is a link to photos of lower and upper

www.worldofmouse.com/2011-med-trip-report.html

Thanks so much. Loved your pics!

Were you one of the first off the ship?

We are still trying to decide which tours to take. We're leaning towards a private Colosseum tour and private Vatican tour...but we have to figure out the timing/schedule. I can't believe how short our day is in Port.

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

OK. I did some checking. We actually had the Roma Pass as our "ticket" and paid for the tour as an add on and with that you could tour in advance. But... it's been two years and the rules change so don't count on it.

I tried doing some online research and several posters on Rick Steves and Fodors say you can tour in advance, but YMMV.

[lilpooh108]

Originally Posted by OrangeCountyCommuter

OK. I did some checking. We actually had the Roma Pass as our "ticket" and paid for the tour as an add on and with that you could tour in advance. But... it's been two years and the rules change so don't count on it.

I tried doing some online research and several posters on Rick Steves and Fodors say you can tour in advance, but YMMV.

Thanks OCC---I appreciate your response. This helps in figuring out our day.

I also posted this question on Fodors & Tripadvisor, and the responses seem all over the board so I'll just have to figure it out when we get there.