08/08/07 Well, Olbia Monkey's Uncle! We're cruisin' on the 10nt Med Cruise!

[nordkin]

Wow! I don't check the boards one night and you guys were busy.

JeanieP - Welcome and I will get your information posted later today. I am on my work computer so I did not get your email.

I will also post which nights are formal etc. If anyone is interested I am also willing to post excursions and who is going on which one.

 

[UMTerp]

I'm with you on this one -- it's embarrassing how many books I have bought! It just prolongs the fun of the trip to get so involved in the planning, though.

Me too! I bought a bunch and have been checking more out of the library! I got a few for my kids from the library about Rome and Pompeii. I will get some more for them as time gets closer.

giggles_32181 - best of luck with the puppies!

UMTerp

 

[JeanieP]

Thanks for the theme night information. Very helpful. Does anyone have the show/entertainment schedule or any special guests on our cruise, since it is the last Med cruise of 2007?

Although I have been on 2 DCL adventures before, this is the first time on DIS and I have read much (on other boards ) about Door Signs and Fish Extenders? What is meant by this? I remember at camp we would make crazy door signs with our names and other crazy pictures, but what does it mean on a DC? Is it as literal as bringing some poster board, creating a sign or celebration, and taping it to the door? Also, on some of the blogs I have read about using a Fish Extender for treats by fellow passengers? IS anyone doing that for our cruise, and if so, I better come prepared or my little ones, ages 4 and 6, will definitely complain that mom's not with it. What is this extender thingy, and do they sell it on the ship? Will the cabin steward mind if we have stuff on the outside of the door?

 

[UMTerp]

Let me see if I can help with some of these questions....

Thanks for the theme night information. Very helpful. Does anyone have the show/entertainment schedule or any special guests on our cruise, since it is the last Med cruise of 2007?
*** Don't know

Although I have been on 2 DCL adventures before, this is the first time on DIS and I have read much (on other boards ) about Door Signs and Fish Extenders? What is meant by this? I remember at camp we would make crazy door signs with our names and other crazy pictures, but what does it mean on a DC? Is it as literal as bringing some poster board, creating a sign or celebration, and taping it to the door?
*** Door signs can now ONLY be magnetic! Some people design signs on their PCs and print them on magnetic paper (available at office supply stores). I have done this in the past. Don't know if I will this time or not.

Also, on some of the blogs I have read about using a Fish Extender for treats by fellow passengers? IS anyone doing that for our cruise, and if so, I better come prepared or my little ones, ages 4 and 6, will definitely complain that mom's not with it. What is this extender thingy, and do they sell it on the ship?
*** Fish extender is the name some people gave on the EB Panama Canal cruise 2005 for a hanging organizer type thing. It has a hanger, wood dowel, and a few pockets. People hang it from the fish outside of their cabin onthe ship. Some people have used them to exchange gifts and/or messages with fellow cruisers. I have shared a few goodies with fellow cruisers in the past but will not this time due to luggage limitations. Don't know what anyone else has planned for this....

Will the cabin steward mind if we have stuff on the outside of the door?

*** OK only if it is magnetic. No tape or glue!

HTH!

UMTerp

 

[kugalbelle]

Our DD who's turning 21 on the 11-night prior to this cruise absolutely loves all the dressing up for the formal and semi-formal evenings. Even though she's busy stressing with finals etc (finishes College/University on Jun 22nd and graduates on Jul 18th) she called us this evening to say that she's been thinking about the cruises and already know's what she'll be wearing for the total of 8 dress-up evenings.

My husband and I are a little older than your daughter but I would thing that we would be close. I am 26 and He is 25 well almost he will be 25 in October. It will be nice to see people close to our age.

Sure - she'd love to meet you both .....

 

[JeanieP]

Thanks for the information on the Fish Extender and Door Signs. I get it now! I couldn't figure out the reference to the fish, but now I can picture that fish/light thingy outside the cabin door! I think I will bring something to hang on that fish and sneak goodies and notes to my own kiddos -- they will love that and have something to look forward to.

Very good info on the magnetic requirement too! Thanks!

I love this Board! I learned something new today!

Just an FYI, if anyone is doing Cinque Terre on their own (La Spezia port), I can recommend a great local foccaceria and wine shop. The wine shop carries the local sweet wine (that I cannot spell for the life of me -- something like schiacchetra) of these villages and it is very good. You can also taste other local wines. The train serving the 5 villages is very easy to use and you can see most of the towns in one day if you tried really hard (although I would stick to three). My favorites are Monterroso and Vernazza. Corniglia has my favorite family run restaurant in the area (Hotel Cecio - out of this world Pesto and a view over the ocean that is hard to beat), but I think they are only open for dinner and the 300 or more steps you must climb to get to Corniglia can be daunting. Monterosso also has a small sandy beach, but I bet it will be extremely crowded with other tourists. There are also excellent hiking trails between the villages (vineyards galore!) and a monastery in the hills. I highly recommend Cinque Terre as something you can do on your own if you don't plan to visit Florence. However, I wouldn't recommend it if you have difficulty walking up steps or on cobblestone.

 

[kugalbelle]

Hi everyone,
I managed to capture the Magic arriving into Gibraltar this morning off the port's webcam.
The video is up on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LQ2wgzdwa8
(Couldn't get to capture the stream so this is video footage of the PC screen - sorry it's a little bumpy!)

 

[kugalbelle]

Got video of the Magic leaving Gibraltar today from the webcam ....
Up on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3_7TstT8EM

 

[bellelinus]

I'm sorry that I won't be meeting you on this cruise after all -- my travel agent pointed out that we could take GTY 12 cabins on the July 28 11 night Med plus the transatlantic repo for less than what we had already paid for the cat 9 cabin on this cruise . . . after some thought, we went for it and booked today. We will use the Aug. 8-18 time to go to Paris and DL Paris, what we had planned to do beginning Aug. 18.

Hope all of you have a great trip (and I'll be seeing some of you on the July 28 and Aug. 18 cruises!).

 

[JeanieP]

Goodbye Julie. Sounds like you have a great plan. Wish you the best!

I couldn't open YOUTUBE, I think it must be blocked on my computer.

I have been reading some of the other Threads and found some great info on the May 26 First Magical Med Thread. Post 15 by SweetSue and Posts 811 and 934 have great information about cruise activities. One of the posts, I think it is 934, has a list of DCL questions and answers. For example, we can bring wine on board, but we cannot bring food. This revelation is a bit of a disappointment, because I was hoping to be like Lucy and sneak back a giant cheese of some sort. I wonder how they regulate that if I hide a sausage or other food item in my bag? Anything in a sealed bottle is suppposedly fine -- olive oil too. The thread also said that Tea with Wendy would be at 4:00 pm on one of the Sea Days.

 

[UMTerp]

I'm sorry that I won't be meeting you on this cruise after all -- my travel agent pointed out that we could take GTY 12 cabins on the July 28 11 night Med plus the transatlantic repo for less than what we had already paid for the cat 9 cabin on this cruise . . . after some thought, we went for it and booked today. We will use the Aug. 8-18 time to go to Paris and DL Paris, what we had planned to do beginning Aug. 18.

Hope all of you have a great trip (and I'll be seeing some of you on the July 28 and Aug. 18 cruises!).

Sorry to hear you won't be joining us! Your plans sound great! Enjoy! I looked at prices for our cruise yesterday and it seems like our prices are the only ones that are not going down! I guess we will have a pretty full ship!

Thanks for all of your help with the various ports!

UMTerp

 

[d3boyz]

I read this link and it interested me. All of you are on the 10-day Med cruise leaving 08 AUG? Are you already familiar or is this for getting introduced prior to sail-date? I read the part on the link about formal and semi formal nights. Are these listed somewhere that I missed, or are they organized through your group?

My family and I will be also on this cruise (I think I'm more excited than my boys) and we're also doing the westbound trans-Atlantic just afterwards.

Deb

 

[scrapycruiser]

Deb...WELCOME !! Yes, we are all on the DCL Med Aug 8 cruise ! And, no,
we didn't know each other prior to this. We are just having fun sharing
ideas and excitement about the cruise !

What are the ages of your 3 boys ? I raised 3 sons, they are all grown. Our Grandson, Jack, is going with us. He'll be 11 in Sept. He's very inquisative and excited about his first trip to Europe !

Have you signed up for any tours ? Looking forward to chatting with
you ! GINA

 

[d3boyz]

Thanks for the welcome, Gina!

We've previously sailed twice on Disney (4-day and 7-day) and the hardest part was getting my husband to agree to the FIRST one! Now he's as hooked as I am! Our buoys are Jack-14 (amazingly enough, he will be 15 in SEP!), Will-11 (who will be 12 tomorrow!), and Tom-10 (a Vetran's Day baby...). They are SO excited and also a little nervous (to fly as far as Europe, etc). I bet they would love to meet your Jack and share some ideas!

Have you chosen tours yet?

Deb

We haven't decided on tours yet. I have a friend in Rome who is a tour guide and admits that his wife is even BETTER at it! I'm going to try to get some guidance from him while there. Another friend of mine and I just got back from Rome last week where WE had a little vacation and walked the city for 4 days. I know none of my boys will be up for all that. I did decide that the Colosseum (guided tour), Roman Forum, and Vatican City (at least St Peter's Basilica) are a must.

 

[momma4v3]

I read this link and it interested me. All of you are on the 10-day Med cruise leaving 08 AUG? Are you already familiar or is this for getting introduced prior to sail-date? I read the part on the link about formal and semi formal nights. Are these listed somewhere that I missed, or are they organized through your group?

My family and I will be also on this cruise (I think I'm more excited than my boys) and we're also doing the westbound trans-Atlantic just afterwards.

Deb

Hi Deb,

We are going on both cruises as well. I have 3 daughters, 9, 10 and 12 on 8/18. We have early seating.
I was the reluctant one for cruising but 4 years ago relented and now I love "cruising with the Mouse" The girls have so much fun on the cruises too.

Linda

 

[UMTerp]

Welcome Deb!

See the first posting for list of cruisers.

UMTerp

 

[Belle2002]

For those of you who have bought a bunch of tour books, any suggestions?? I have borrowed so many from the library it's rediculous, I think it's time to break down and buy some!! I'm looking for something good on Italy, Barcelona and Paris....I'm so confused.....I know for sure I don't care for Rick Steves books or Lonely Planet books. I've been checking out the rough guides and Time Out, but am not sure. Also wondering if anyone has bought the AAA spiral guides, the Paris and Barcelona ones seem to be sold out where I am!!! Any tips would be appreciated!!!

 

[JeanieP]

Hi Belle! Yes, I too have been checking out Travel Books like crazy and getting soooo excited. I think the type of book you like will depend on what you are looking for. For quick and colorful references of major highlights, I am a fan of the Eyewitness Travel Guides -- they are spiral also and provide walking recommendations and highlight restaurants by area. For your inner backpacker/rougher, I have to admit I get a kick out of the youthful and fun Let's Go series -- this is budget travel at its most creative. Fodor's is good too, and of course, going straight to the tourist websites are a great source of information and helpful hints on traveling.

I haven't been on the Disney Cruise LIne website in a while -- did everyone see their PODCAST? Nothing too new on the PODCAST, but great to download and show the kiddies.

Has anyone been following the hilarious Davidson Drifters live blog of the Transatlantic cruise? Great photos, great personal stories and just a riot to read. I have also enjoyed Michelle's daily live postings on that Trip Report thread -- LIve from the Med. Sounds like it was a rather rough passage, and the pictures of the "wave pool" are rather intimidating! I hope we have better weather!

 

[UMTerp]

Sounds like it was a rather rough passage, and the pictures of the "wave pool" are rather intimidating! I hope we have better weather!

I agree! That's why I didn't book the transatlantic even though I know a bunch of people who did! We should be in much better shape movement-wise!

Have a great weekend everyone!

UMTerp

 

[jillnan]

Has anyone been following the hilarious Davidson Drifters live blog of the Transatlantic cruise? Great photos, great personal stories and just a riot to read. I have also enjoyed Michelle's daily live postings on that Trip Report thread -- LIve from the Med. Sounds like it was a rather rough passage, and the pictures of the "wave pool" are rather intimidating! I hope we have better weather! [/QUOTE]

I loved reading the Davidson blog. As a mother of 2 daughters....I kept thinking this may be us in a few years. Some of their pictures were hilarious. The looks on their faces are classic.