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

[scrapycruiser]

Hi Everyone...I'm here waiting with the rest of you ! I'm really curious about what DCL will offer from La Spezia. So how many of us on this Aug 8th thread ? Which port is everyone looking forward to the most ?

 

[bellelinus]

Hi Everyone...I'm here waiting with the rest of you ! I'm really curious about what DCL will offer from La Spezia. So how many of us on this Aug 8th thread ? Which port is everyone looking forward to the most ?

I agree with you about being anxious to hear what DCL will offer from La Spezia . . . I prefer to do things on my own, but that's a weird port for Pisa/Florence (most cruise lines use Livorno).

As for which port I am most looking forward to, it's like being asked which is your favorite child! They are all so special in their own way . . .

 

[UMTerp]

Yes, hard to choose! Has anyone read the descriptions on the DCL page?
Some of them seem like excursion descriptions to me. Time will tell.

Has anyone booked independent excursions yet? I'm thinking about doing that some but wondering about the cost.

Have a great day!

UMTerp

 

[bellelinus]

Yes, hard to choose! Has anyone read the descriptions on the DCL page?
Some of them seem like excursion descriptions to me. Time will tell.

Has anyone booked independent excursions yet? I'm thinking about doing that some but wondering about the cost.

Have a great day!

UMTerp

You are right -- a lot of the port descriptions do sound like excursion descriptions!

If you go to the Cruise Critic Europe ports of call board, you will find a lot of info on private drivers/excursions people have used, recommended, etc. However, it does sound like a lot of money to do it this way. I plan on doing my own excursions/transportation (using local trains, buses, or on foot) everywhere except La Spezia, which seems problematic. I'm hoping there they will have some kind of an "on your own" transportation to get you to Florence and back, perhaps with a stop at Pisa, without having to stay with the excursion once in Florence. Most other lines have "on your own" transport available, so I expect (hope!) DCL will as well.

 

[UMTerp]

Wow bellelinus, I admire you planning to do your excursions on your own! Have you been to some of these places before? We haven't been to Europe at all so really don't have any idea what to expect! I like the idea of private excursions instead of going with the DCL "herd". I'm going to have to do some more research.

I'm thinking there won't be as much demand for Palo on these cruises! Maybe the Palo staff will get a break during the Med cruises.

UMTerp

 

[bellelinus]

Wow bellelinus, I admire you planning to do your excursions on your own! Have you been to some of these places before? We haven't been to Europe at all so really don't have any idea what to expect! I like the idea of private excursions instead of going with the DCL "herd". I'm going to have to do some more research.

I'm thinking there won't be as much demand for Palo on these cruises! Maybe the Palo staff will get a break during the Med cruises.

UMTerp

Yes, I've been to Europe quite a bit -- most recently to England last year and Germany and the Czech Republic this year. Yes, with three kids, no other adults, and doing everything on our own. For example, I think taking the train from Citavecchia to Rome and back, dealing with the schedules and ticket sellers, is a big part of the fun of travelling. Ditto for getting to Pompeii from Naples via train and then taking the ferry over to Capri, etc., etc. That's the way I like it! However, I know that it's not for everyone. The problem I have found with LaSpezia is that it is fairly remote and the trains from there to Rome do not run that frequently. I definitely do want to make it back to the ship before it sails, so that's why I am hoping for DCL transport there. However, I want to make my own reservations for the Accademia, Uffizi, etc., and see them on my own schedule, not as part of an excursion.

 

[jrabbit]

... I'm thinking there won't be as much demand for Palo on these cruises! Maybe the Palo staff will get a break during the Med cruises.

I think that you might be right - choices, choices - REAL Italian food (avoid the tourist restaurants) or the not so real Italian food (I don't want to say "fake") in Palo.

Ashore
The real deal when it comes to food - I'm looking forward the the pizza in Napoli.
Looking forward to eating my way through Italy. My family might need a wheelbarrow to get me back onboard in Tuscany.

Aboard Ship
the price in Palo will be less expensive than on shore
most days we are to be onboard the ship before the restaurants in Italy open up for dinner (thats 8pm at the earliest!!)


Typically (well, never actually) we do NOT eat on shore in the Caribbean (why - because the Magic has all of that "free" food for us), but on this trip my family is planning on eating on shore every chance we get.

 

[UMTerp]

Good point! I didn't think about the restaurants at the ports opening so late. I wonder how much we will be able to eat at them other than lunch maybe? We looking forward to trying some good food too!

Anyone else making some holiday gift purchases in anticipation of this trip? I bought money belts for my DH and me. I also got blow-up pillows for all of us for the plane. I purchased some shirts from travelsmith for me!

Still thinking about shoes. I bought some good walking shoes but they look to heavy for the warm weather we will certainly experience. I read somewhere that Tevas and white tennis shoes are no-nos in Europe so I'll be looking for something else comfy for the whole family for this trip.

UMTerp

 

[bellelinus]

Good point! I didn't think about the restaurants at the ports opening so late. I wonder how much we will be able to eat at them other than lunch maybe? We looking forward to trying some good food too!

Anyone else making some holiday gift purchases in anticipation of this trip? I bought money belts for my DH and me. I also got blow-up pillows for all of us for the plane. I purchased some shirts from travelsmith for me!

Still thinking about shoes. I bought some good walking shoes but they look to heavy for the warm weather we will certainly experience. I read somewhere that Tevas and white tennis shoes are no-nos in Europe so I'll be looking for something else comfy for the whole family for this trip.

UMTerp

You should look for some good quality sandals -- Dansko Lolitas look great, even work for a semi-formal night (I have them in black), but can be walked on for days . . . Mephisto also makes some really good sandals. I know both brands are expensive, but they really do look good and are very comfortable for walking.

 

[UMTerp]

Thanks for the tip on sandals, bellelinus! I'll check them out!

UMTerp

 

[scrapycruiser]

I bought my husband one of those talking translators, some new luggage tags,and airport approved luggage locks.
I bought my Grandson,who's going with us, an inexpensive digital camera for the cruise.
BTW, any of you traveling with kids...check out the Roman Elevator (?). It's a motion simulator ride that talks about the history of Rome. Our guide, Stephano, says it's very popular with all ages ,so we're going to work that in.
We keep looking for the shore exc info on the DCL site ???

Merry Christmas, everyone ! Gina

 

[bellelinus]

Just a head's-up that the excursions and prices (!) are on the DCL website now.

 

[UMTerp]

I've just been looking at the excursions! What hard decisions we will have! I'm going to have to print out the entire list and do some studying!

scrapycruiser - a talking translator sounds neat! My DH would probably like one too!

Have fun everyone!

UMTerp

 

[nordkin]

I will say do not miss Pompei or Sorrento. We spent a week in Sorrento several years ago and are excite about going back. Pompei is beyond description. I am glad I will e able to share both of these places with my 22 year old daughter who did not get to go with us the first time.

 

[giggles_32181]

I've just been looking at the excursions! What hard decisions we will have! I'm going to have to print out the entire list and do some studying!

scrapycruiser - a talking translator sounds neat! My DH would probably like one too!

Have fun everyone!

UMTerp

That is a great Idea. I have done the same thing and made copies for the other 2 adults going with me. We are going to get togthere in a few weeks and decide what to do. Wow there is some cool things to do. I am so excited. We are going into Barcelona a few days early so there is only 220 days left for me and each day I get more and more excited. Rome and Pompii are what I am looking forward to the most. I also got thought that in France i can't remember where but on one of the excursions you get a sent of perfume created just for you, How neat is that.

 

[UMTerp]

I was joking with my family that DH was responsible for learning Italian, DS was responsible for learning French and I already know some Spanish. Well, I guess DH took it seriously! He bought himself an Italian speaking course on CD with workbooks!!! I sure hope he has an opportunity to use his new skills since he is going to so much trouble!

I've read all of the excursions and am having difficulty figuring out what we want to do. It's overwhelming! I'm glad we still have some time!

Have a great new year everyone!

UMTerp

 

[scrapycruiser]

It's fun reading about the excursions. My sister has traveled alot in Europe so she's helping me decide. Our Grandson is going with us and he definitely wants to go to the catacombs in Palermo.We'll go the beach in Olbia to relax.We have a private guide for Rome, Pompeii and Amalfi Coast, and Marseille. Still undecided about Villefranche and La Spezia. We are thinking about the tour to Genoa. It is not as far as Florence ( can't see spending 5+ hours on a crowded bus ). Once we were on a cruise and had to take a bus tour into Edinburg. There was an accident on the highway and we ended up having only 3 hours in Edinburg !! Genoa's aquarium is suppose to be the best in Europe, and seeing Columbus' home would be neat. And Jack (my gson) says he'd like to go to the chocolate factory. We'll be in Barcelona 3 nites before the cruise. The $ signs keep going up, but what the heck...it's a trip of a lifetime !!

 

[jrabbit]

The $ signs keep going up, but what the heck...it's a trip of a lifetime !!

Yea, the DCL excursions are NOT cheep and the Dollar to Euro conversion does not help at all either (1/2/2007 $1.3286 = e1) OK, so now I can sympathize with DCL for wanting a better conversion rate before building the 3rd mythical ship)

 

[Kissimmee]

Hi. My family is booked on the June 6th 10 day Med cruise. A few of us live near WDW and are planning a pre cruise Get-Together and BBQ in the Orlando area. Possibly at Fort Wilderness or my small farm and maybe combined with a group day a WDW.

I thought we might open the doors and invite Med Cruisers for all the other Med dates except those Repositioning Cruiser types .... OK, I guess you guys can come too, but only if you promise to do the cooking.

I'm thinking April but no date has been set so suggestions are welcome.

PS: I was only teasing the Repositioning Cruisers.. They still have to cook though. wink wink

Link to thread WDW BBQ for Mediterranean Cruisers

 

[arica480]

Hello all,

I haven't been on here in awhile. How was everyone's Christmas and New Year? I hope well.

Well, I've got some good news and some bad news....

The bad news is...we may be doing our MED cruise with Carnival instead of Disney (I'm trying to fight that...but I don't know how far I'm getting)

The good news is... we are doing the Panama Canal cruise in 2008... anyone else thinking of doing that cruise too?