May 26, 2010--5/26/2010 10 Night Mediterranean

[Eeyore77]

Our Hobbies:

Jennifer (Me): Horseback Riding and anything Disney.
Chris (DH): He really has no real hobbies but he sure does love to watch TV.

 

[speakupjc]

Dantzler (Dance) - College football (Ohio State/University of Alabama), Planning trips (everyone I know says I should be a travel agent as I keep looking and always find some incredible deals), Playing bunco, Playing euchre, traveling, Home decorating, Theater and anything Disney (we are DVC members)

Catherine - Girl Scouts (she is in her second year and is a brownie), Traveling, Art (she won 3rd place in a art contest in which about 150 students competed), Watching videos, Anything Disney (She asks me every morning how long it will be before our cruise).

George - Robotics (He hand made our daughter a Robot Halloween costume and it took first prize out of about 45 entries), Star Wars, History (He loves the history channel), Traveling, Playing Euchre and anything Disney (He loves our DVC membership)

 

[NHdisneylover]

For Us:
Dallas (Dad) - Being sarcastic, reading, sports (especially TN Vols!)
Wrenn (Mom) - Reading, computer games, good movies (as in Nicholas Sparks movies!!!)
Nate (15) - Facebook, computers, music, texting .....everything any other typical teenager does
Matt (13) - Computer games, X-box, bike riding
Tyler (12) - Football, Basketball, Baseball, more football, more basketball, more baseball, Tn Vols sports

I never knew that was a hobby

Dantzler (Dance) - College football (Ohio State/University of Alabama), Planning trips (everyone I know says I should be a travel agent as I keep looking and always find some incredible deals), Playing bunco, Playing euchre, traveling, Home decorating, Theater and anything Disney (we are DVC members)

Catherine - Girl Scouts (she is in her second year and is a brownie), Traveling, Art (she won 3rd place in a art contest in which about 150 students competed), Watching videos, Anything Disney (She asks me every morning how long it will be before our cruise).

George - Robotics (He hand made our daughter a Robot Halloween costume and it took first prize out of about 45 entries), Star Wars, History (He loves the history channel), Traveling, Playing Euchre and anything Disney (He loves our DVC membership)

Did you live in the midwest at some point? We love euchre--maybe we can play a couple of games with you. No one in germany plays it of course. Sadly Marika does not care for it and will harldy ever play with us--this in spite of Dave and i explaining that we had to kids so we could play

 

[speakupjc]

We used to live in Ohio and MI. My husband taught me how to play and we love it. We would love to play with you. What time and day do you think will work? If you want we can meet in a public area and play there or you can come up to our suite. We have a cat 1 with a separate living room/dining room area so there will be plenty of room to play. Email me your stateroom number and I will email you mine.

 

[traceyjayne]

Tracey- me
I work full time so not much chance of too many hobbies with an active 9 year old to run around for and two dogs too!I am on a constant battle to lose weight and I am always on some sort of diet so exercise plays an important part of my spare time.
I am a bit of a computer holic and like to plan for trips and keep in touch on facebook. I like to do some aerobics classes each week when my knees are not playing up- old age is creeping in!
Eric- hubby is great at helping around the house and garden but not great at DIY!. We all love to go for family walks especailly whan the weather is better and with our two small dogs. Eric is very keen on history and loves to assist with Luke when he gets some History or science home work etc.Eric is also a very keen reader, mostly crime novels.
Luke is 10 years old this October although very tall for his age and would easily pass for 12 as he is also mature for his age. He is a member of the local Swimming club and trains for the team for around 3 hours per week. He has also done a martial Arts class on a Sunday morning for the past 4 years called Aikido. Choir is an after school club and last year the choir sang with many other schools at the ROYAL ALBERT HALL in London. He loves all musicals and has taken part in several local productions as his grandmother is a member of the local drama and singing group. Luke is also a CUB Scout and attends the group every Thursday evening.
Another after school club is football that Luke does on a Monday night.
luke is an excellent reader and he loves to read many books, I am sure this should be one of the more unusual pastimes for a boy!

 

[jocjarmom]

Hi all, and happy Sunday!

Right now we are up to 26 families who have signed up for FE. I would like to get to 27 so we can do 3 groups with 9 families in each.

So far, here is who I have signed up:
Threebritts*
Marlower
Traceyjayne
Mkjecruisers
Speakupjc*
Jocjarmom
KLS Georgia
Nicsmom1500
JoandWayne*
Cra33f
Bill3549*
Eeyore77*
DeaDea
Bewitched00
Pookinandpiglet
Connieosci
Tahitiantraveler*
Juliethecruisedirector
BSH*
ARG73*
Nhdisneylover*
Kansasdisneymom*
Mustravel2day*
inGreece*
Wrennies
Dgentrys*

If you are on this list and don't want to be, then please let me know. If you are NOT on this list and DO want to be, then please let me know. My email is joceysjewels@gmail.com.

If there is an "*" next to your name, that means I do not have your cabin number(s). I realize you may not yet have your cabin number assigned, but if you do, please let me know. As soon as you get the assignment, shoot me a message.

We have guidelines posted on Mucho Magico and on the FB page as well, so if you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Karen

 

[NHdisneylover]

We used to live in Ohio and MI. My husband taught me how to play and we love it. We would love to play with you. What time and day do you think will work? If you want we can meet in a public area and play there or you can come up to our suite. We have a cat 1 with a separate living room/dining room area so there will be plenty of room to play. Email me your stateroom number and I will email you mine.

Sounds fun. I will try to PM you tomorrow. It is late here and I am too tired to think very clearly

Hi all, and happy Sunday!

Right now we are up to 26 families who have signed up for FE. I would like to get to 27 so we can do 3 groups with 9 families in each.

So far, here is who I have signed up:
Threebritts*
Marlower
Traceyjayne
Mkjecruisers
Speakupjc*
Jocjarmom
KLS Georgia
Nicsmom1500
JoandWayne*
Cra33f
Bill3549*
Eeyore77*
DeaDea
Bewitched00
Pookinandpiglet
Connieosci
Tahitiantraveler*
Juliethecruisedirector
BSH*
ARG73*
Nhdisneylover*
Kansasdisneymom*
Mustravel2day*
inGreece*
Wrennies
Dgentrys*

If you are on this list and don't want to be, then please let me know. If you are NOT on this list and DO want to be, then please let me know. My email is joceysjewels@gmail.com.

If there is an "*" next to your name, that means I do not have your cabin number(s). I realize you may not yet have your cabin number assigned, but if you do, please let me know. As soon as you get the assignment, shoot me a message.

We have guidelines posted on Mucho Magico and on the FB page as well, so if you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Karen

Thanks for organizing this Karen I will send you our cabin numbers as soon as dCL assigns them. In the meantime, did you get the message that we are in two seperate cabins and each cabin will have a fish extender? We would like each cabin to be part of a different FE group if possible please. Thanks.

 

[speakupjc]

Sent you a pm with the cabin number. If you need anything else please let me know. Thanks for including us.

 

[NicsMom1500]

Kim: Reading, writing, travel, anything Disney, puzzles, blogging.

Michael: Reading books on Walt Disney, downloading music, running, movies.

Nicolas: Reading, writing, Legos, Star Wars. He plays baseball in the spring. He has taken karate and violin.

We like our family game nights and our Disney obsession has even carried on to our pets. Our dog is named Disney. Our pet rabbit is named Capt. Jack.

 

[NicsMom1500]

Hi.
We have booked a private tour with Katja Hansel with RomeKidsTours.

I was able to get the travel agent rate.

Up to 10 hours with her as our private guide at 65 Euros per hour for more than 3 people (55 Euros if just the three of us).
550 Euros for the private driver and a 7 seater minivan for a 10 hour day (450 Euros in a Mercedes Sedan for just the three of us). Pick up and return to the port.

Katja is willing to allow others to join us so we can all share the cost. She'll need to just arrange for a larger vehicle. See details above. No deposit required. Payment due that day.

Here's some info from Katja:
We would see the Roman Forum, the Colisseum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the the Spanish Steps in the morning…..grab a quick bite for lunch somewhere ….I am sure Nicolas loves pizza…. J and would then go to the Vatican Museums at around 2:30 to see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.Considering the fact that usually we all make new friends pretty rapidly on Cruiseships….. in case you may want to add more people and children to the tour……no problem….I will just need to little ahead of time…..so I can book a larger vehicle.

If anyone is interested, please see her website. I was able to find great reviews. I can also forward her emails so you can get a feel for whether she would work for your family. We are a family of 3 and our son is 10. You can read more about me at my bio on the WDW Moms Panel or on my blog.

We'd love to share the day with another family not only to save money but to also build lasting friendships!



Feel free to email me
nicsmom1500 at gmail dot com

 

[Kiss-im-mee2]

What do you consider hot??How warm was it??? We are just trying to judge it although we know we have months to go...

I just got home from the Solstice. I tried to answer your question while on board but the ship computor kicked me off before it got posted so I decided to wait until I got home. We will be there in late May so the weather should be fairly warm. Most of the days we had middle 80's and we wore shorts. We did go for a swim a few times but the water is still cold from winter. I wouldn't bother to bring anything as heavy as a sweat shirt but would take a wind/rain jacket with hood. Also a light long sleeve tee shirt type jacket that could be worn under the rain jacket just in case we have soom cold weather. The weather this winter has been so crazy it's hard to predict what the med will be like this year. The weather the last three years has been so perfect I hope we have the same.

 

[lakerz5]

I just got home from the Solstice. I tried to answer your question while on board but the ship computor kicked me off before it got posted so I decided to wait until I got home. We will be there in late May so the weather should be fairly warm. Most of the days we had middle 80's and we wore shorts. We did go for a swim a few times but the water is still cold from winter. I wouldn't bother to bring anything as heavy as a sweat shirt but would take a wind/rain jacket with hood. Also a light long sleeve tee shirt type jacket that could be worn under the rain jacket just in case we have soom cold weather. The weather this winter has been so crazy it's hard to predict what the med will be like this year. The weather the last three years has been so perfect I hope we have the same.

that is wonderful to hear...I know temperatures could vary, but I was expecting 60's and 70's, not 80's....nice potential surprise

 

[jocjarmom]

I just got home from the Solstice. I tried to answer your question while on board but the ship computor kicked me off before it got posted so I decided to wait until I got home. We will be there in late May so the weather should be fairly warm. Most of the days we had middle 80's and we wore shorts. We did go for a swim a few times but the water is still cold from winter. I wouldn't bother to bring anything as heavy as a sweat shirt but would take a wind/rain jacket with hood. Also a light long sleeve tee shirt type jacket that could be worn under the rain jacket just in case we have soom cold weather. The weather this winter has been so crazy it's hard to predict what the med will be like this year. The weather the last three years has been so perfect I hope we have the same.

Me likey! I'm a warm weather gal myself. So glad we're heading into the homestretch for winter!

 

[Dgentrysim]

I would love to hear from those of you who have been to Rome. We've opted to do Rome by ourselves (I believe it's for 7 hrs). What would you say is reasonable to do in that time frame (with the Vatican and Collessium a must!). Do they drop you off at one location and that's where you meet back up with the bus going back to the ship...or do they have two pick-up places? Also, I've heard a lot about pickpocketers/gypsies. How bad is it providing you are very careful? I would appreciate any input you have about this! Thanks! Have a great day!

DisneyDeb

 

[sinnika]

I would love to hear from those of you who have been to Rome. We've opted to do Rome by ourselves (I believe it's for 7 hrs). What would you say is reasonable to do in that time frame (with the Vatican and Collessium a must!). Do they drop you off at one location and that's where you meet back up with the bus going back to the ship...or do they have two pick-up places? Also, I've heard a lot about pickpocketers/gypsies. How bad is it providing you are very careful? I would appreciate any input you have about this! Thanks! Have a great day!

DisneyDeb

Deb,
We've never been to Rome but we have traveled to Pisa and Florence by train before on our own and found it very easy to get around. This time we will be going by train to Rome too and meeting a private tour guide at the train station in Rome to show us around. We'll be getting around by metro and bus with him to save on some walking. We have those 2 must-do's on our list too, plus the trevi fountain and ths Spanish steps. This is the suggestion we got from our guide:
"As far as what you would like to see…. I would suggest we go by the Colosseo, overlook the Forum, see downtown and then head over to the Vatican. You really cannot do a tour of the Vatican and Colosseo/Forum/Palatine Hill in one day. There’s too much too see --- so I’d suggest focusing on one or the other. The Vatican, St. Peter’s Square, and St. Peter’s Basilica are quite a full plate on their own – as is the Colosseo/Forum/Palatine Hill. In addition, the fees to get into the Colosseo combo would be €60 (5 x 12), and into the Vatican Museums probably €61 (3 adults and 2 children tickets). I would just not rush through these – You can always come back to Rome – most folks do! If you want to see the Pantheon and the Trevi, then I’d suggest we limit your ”entries” to EITHER the Colosseo combo or the Vatican area…. Frankly, the Colosseo is pretty cool from the outside – not much inside (kind of a static display). The Forum we could do from above… and talk about some history…. There is FAR MORE (Almost too much) to see at the Vatican. Of course, this depends on your interests…. Not sure what your children would like to see…."

We are going to spend our afternoon at the Vatican and the museums there so will only see the collosseum from the outside.

 

[happyfeet]

Hola everyone:
Have just booked this fab Magic cruise,DS Max 18 yrs (just) & me, single mum Sue.
We "took the Magic home"(from the Med )a couple of years ago & both had a greet time.
My slight concern is that Max now too old for the teen club,are there any other older teens ?
He will just have completed his IB exams & will be heading back to the UK to read Law at Uni (grades permitting)in September,so our last chance for a holiday together,want it to be "special"
looking forward to meeting you all

 

[sinnika]

Hola everyone:
Have just booked this fab Magic cruise,DS Max 18 yrs (just) & me, single mum Sue.
We "took the Magic home"(from the Med )a couple of years ago & both had a greet time.
My slight concern is that Max now too old for the teen club,are there any other older teens ?
He will just have completed his IB exams & will be heading back to the UK to read Law at Uni (grades permitting)in September,so our last chance for a holiday together,want it to be "special"
looking forward to meeting you all

Welcome Sue and Max! If Max is just finishing high school, he would be allowed in the Stack I believe. Don't think once he is in college he would be. Not sure what IB exams are??
We have a few teens on board - its harder here in the US as most kids are still in school and difficult to pull them out as they get into the high school years. Lots of younger kids traveling too. Check out the website: http://muchomagico.weebly.com/
Also there is a facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=277870927901
Where in Spain are you?

Taina

 

[Dgentrysim]

sinnika.....thanks so much for your prompt response even though you told me what I didn't want to hear! lol We wanted to do the same things you talked about....Vatican, collussium, spanish steps, trevi fountain, pantheon. So does that mean with your private tour...you are going to be able to see all that? What time will you be able to get the train and get into Rome? How did you come up with your private escort? This is a little too much to process sometimes...how much time do we have to do as much as we want?! lol

Thanks again!

DisneyDeb

 

[sinnika]

sinnika.....thanks so much for your prompt response even though you told me what I didn't want to hear! lol We wanted to do the same things you talked about....Vatican, collussium, spanish steps, trevi fountain, pantheon. So does that mean with your private tour...you are going to be able to see all that? What time will you be able to get the train and get into Rome? How did you come up with your private escort? This is a little too much to process sometimes...how much time do we have to do as much as we want?! lol

Thanks again!

DisneyDeb

Hi Deb,
The guide I am using sent me the current train schedule. One of the other diser's posted about him. Here's what he posted to me and his site is very useful for planning on your own too - lots of great tips:

"Thanks for reaching out to me….
There are many options for cruisers coming into town. This link on my web page lays out your trip into Rome from Civitavecchia…. http://www.roninrome.com/ transportation/cruising-come-to-rome-for-the-day-2 . I’d buy a BIRG ticket so you can ride the metro in Rome free that day. AS I left the ship I would purchase my BORG ticket at a newsstand or Tabacchi shop. This way you can avoid the lines at the train station to buy tickets at the counter or the machines. Validate your BORG ticket before getting on a train. Unfortunately, there are no “children: rates for the BIRG and your children are over 10 so they will need a ticket….

The BIRG ticket is good on regional trains to and from Civitavecchia. The current schedule for trains departing from Civitavecchia to Rome in May looks like this:

Departure Arrival

07:33 C.CCHIA 08:50 ROMA TE

07:59 C.CCHIA 09:20 ROMA TE

08:41 C.CCHIA 09:50 ROMA TE

08:59 C.CCHIA 10:28 ROMA TE

09:41 C.CCHIA 10:50 ROMA TE

09:59 C.CCHIA 11:20 ROMA TE

These are usually the times… Based on what your boat info, it appears the 7:59, 8:41 or 8:59 trains may be your best bet."

We do have one bit of extra leeway. We are not going back to the ship from Rome but are headed by train to Florence so no rush to go back to the ship for us. We are spending the night in Florence to maximize our time there and skip that 2 1/2 hour travel time from La Spezia (for at least one of the ways.)

 

[momtomari]

alright I took the plunge and booked today. we will be joining on this cruise as a celebration of my graduation, moving, and maris bday.