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

[UMTerp]

Thanks nordkin! I guess one of us will have to have one hand on DD! DS is too big for anyone to snatch (unless they are really strong!)

UMTerp

 

[scrapycruiser]

Thanks for the "heads up" ! Jack, our 11 yo Grandson is bad about wandering off. We lost him at WDW last year ( for about 30 min ). I'm going to put the fear of God in him for sure. DH and I said we're going to rotate days of being the "responsible" Grandparent. That way the other can be a little more relaxed and more free to look around and shop,etc. At least he's good about not talking to strangers What a wourld we live in !!

 

[UMTerp]

What a wourld we live in !!

That's the truth!

UMTerp

 

[UMTerp]

Good morning everyone!

Anyone else reading the blogs from the current cruise? Interesting reading!
Seems like the on-line connections on the ship aren't what they could be.
I read from one blogger that Marseilles France could easily be done on your own. I may look into that.

On Friday we will only have two months left!!!

Have a great day!

UMTerp

 

[JamesF408]

Good morning everyone,

So close! Especially for some of us that planned this trip 1 1/2 years ago! My wife and I tossed around the idea of booking the Disney Mexico Cruise in 2008. Especially since we live in California, we wouldn't have to worry about airfare.

My wife was reading some blogs online as well from current cruisers. It seems that there are some kinks that will hopefully be worked out by our time.

If the internet connection on the ship wasn't that great, it could have been do to the fact that it was raining and the internet on the ship is via satellite?

On another note, we have our excursions booked and Palo reserved. We don't have any excursions planned for France and one other spot, and we decided to stay till Monday in Barcelona. In order to save money on our flight. I am looking forward to Italy. We have excursions on every stop there. We are going to Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii in Naples, which is the one I am looking forward to the most!

Hope everyone is anxiously awaiting! I know I am.

 

[d3boyz]

D3BOYS.... Sorry if I'm repeating myself...I forget who I told what to.
But my 11 yo Grandson,Jack, will be with us. I was glad to hear you had a son that's 12. Will he go to the Oceanears Lab ? Jack says he doesn't want to ,but I think he'll change his mind once he meets some guys his age.

Hey there Scrapycruiser!

My boys are Tom (10), Will (12), and Jack (14). I've given the younger two the option of self-checkout from the club, though they are registered there. My husband was worried about this and I told him that having this freedom almost ensures that they will choose to stay in the club! They'll realize that all of the fun and games are INside and that it's not as much fun on the OUTside. At least that's what I think!

Deb

 

[d3boyz]

Sorry I have not been around the last few days, but I have been out of town. It would be wonderful if everyone who recently joined the thread would provide the list of people cruising with ages for the children, I will update the list of cruisers. Those of you who posted early on and have returned, I will also update your information as you are already included on the list of cruisers.

Donna

d3boyz: John (dad), Deb (mom), Jack (14), Will (12), and Tom (10) on deck 6.

 

[nordkin]

d3boyz: John (dad), Deb (mom), Jack (14), Will (12), and Tom (10) on deck 6.

I have updated the list with your information.

 

[d3boyz]

I have updated the list with your information.

Thank you!!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Hi James ! Aren't we lucky to have the benefit of learning from the early Med cruisers ! It's fun reading their blogs !! I really hope the weather improves ! Has anyone done any research to see if the rough seas are unusual ?

Aug 15, the day we're in Marseille is the Feast of the Assumption...a holiday. We have booked a private guide/driver. We'll start in Les Baux were the festivities are : Carreto Ramado, enormous cart decorated with fruit leaves,fruit and veg pulled by 50 cart horses all deco. Major event of summer. Then there's the Provencal Feria, like bull fighting w/o any animals killed.

Then we're going to St Remy and either Aix or Arles.

The tour is through Provence Tours/ Tania
9 am- 5 pm : 400 Euros

If anyone would like to join our tour, I could see if she has the space. Or, if you'd rather tour on your own you could email Tania and see if you could arrange that. provencetours@free.fr

Just wanted everyone to be aware of the holiday and the festivities !!

 

[UMTerp]

Thanks for reminding me of the holiday! We have a DCL excursion booked for now. Thanks for the information!

UMTerp

 

[JeanieP]

The Disney Cruise Line Trip reports has a new thread running entitled: "Post all Med Exursion Info Here Please". It is a very interesting thread -- one person almost done with the May 26 Med cruise has posted all of her excursions -- the highs and lows. Also, on DebWills' blog that is on page 44 of our thread, she updated her blog with her take of the Castellet and Wine tasting excursion in Marseilles (highly recommended by Deb).

Some personal thoughts: I think some folks have been disappointed in the excursions. But, a common theme I picked up is "not enough time to see everything, no free time to shop." This was especially true of the excursions in Rome and Florence. This was also my complaint the first time I cruised and did most port visits via ship exc, if possible. However, if you know ahead of time that your excursions do not offer free time or time to shop, I think that will lessen the disappointment. The ride to Florence also eats up a lot of sightseeing time, so remember to keep that in mind.

Also, for those of you visiting ports on your own, several bloggers had positive things to say about taking the train into Rome. However, we will need back up plans if you planned to take taxis around towns -- apparently summer is when the taxi drivers like to strike. So, start researching bus routes, metro options, and the ever popular foot patrol possibilities.

 

[scrapycruiser]

The Disney Cruise Line Trip reports has a new thread running entitled: "Post all Med Exursion Info Here Please". It is a very interesting thread

JeannieP...I agree ,lots of fun reading it !

I like the way June 16 Diser's listed everyones' excursions,etc. Did anyone see that ?

We decided to do Florence on your Own, and I'm glad we did. It's an easy city to get around in without depending on taxis ( that might be on strike ).This way we can grab a slice of pizza and have more time to shop and tour the churches and Accademia. I ordered our tkts for the Accad. on line. Not looking forward to the long bus ride, but I'll rest and read.

 

[nordkin]

I like the way June 16 Diser's listed everyones' excursions,etc. Did anyone see that ?

I am willing to post everyone's excursions on the list of cruisers post. I think it is a good idea. I found out yesterday that the Village of Chefeu(sp) and Marionette Show excursion has been cancelled, so I have to find another excursion for my mother and daughter in Palermo. We are doing one that is too active for my mother and she and my daughter want to do something in Palermo. Looks like a lot of discussion tonight.

 

[ladyvet]

I found you guys! Scrapycruiser told me about the site. My family is also on the August 8th cruise. We are coming a day early and staying at the Atenea Mar.
We are:
Beth (mom) age 40
Dan (dad) age 44
Caleb age 11
Ivey age 9

We are in category 5 with an early dinner seating. We have been on 3 previous Disney cruises, and once had late dinner seating. I can't eat that late! We live on a farm here and we're up with the chickens.

I have noticed we have some excursions with some of you. It's not long now!
Beth

 

[momma4v3]

I am willing to post everyone's excursions on the list of cruisers post. I think it is a good idea. I found out yesterday that the Village of Chefeu(sp) and Marionette Show excursion has been cancelled, so I have to find another excursion for my mother and daughter in Palermo. We are doing one that is too active for my mother and she and my daughter want to do something in Palermo. Looks like a lot of discussion tonight.

We were cancelled too. We also had our Rome excursion cancelled by the vendor. I am bummed, I really wanted to see the catacombs!

Linda

 

[scrapycruiser]

Linda...Sorry about your excursions ! We were going to do Cefalu & Marionette Show, but now are doing Palermo for Kids which includes a show.

Also, they have the catacombs in Palermo which I understand is more interesting than the catacombs in Rome. Check it out ! GINA

 

[kugalbelle]

I found you guys! Scrapycruiser told me about the site. My family is also on the August 8th cruise. We are coming a day early and staying at the Atenea Mar.
We are:
Beth (mom) age 40
Dan (dad) age 44
Caleb age 11
Ivey age 9

We are in category 5 with an early dinner seating. We have been on 3 previous Disney cruises, and once had late dinner seating. I can't eat that late! We live on a farm here and we're up with the chickens.

I have noticed we have some excursions with some of you. It's not long now!
Beth

Welcome to Beth and family

We were cancelled too. We also had our Rome excursion cancelled by the vendor. I am bummed, I really wanted to see the catacombs!

Linda

Linda, after reading some of the reports from the excursions. Maybe far better DCL cancelling some if the excursions now and giving us a chance to find alternatives.

-Charmaine

 

[astroth]

Here's what we're planning for excursions so far:

Our group: Me, DW, DS8, DS4, DF

Day 3 - Palermo: Erice and Segesta
Day 4 - Naples: The Hidden Treasures of Herculaneum
Day 5 - Olbia: Aggius and the Ethnographic Museum
Day 6 - Civitavecchia - Etruscan Treasures
Day 7 - La Spezia - Lerici's Castle and Dinosaurs
Day 8 - Marseille - Marseille and the Santons Figurines (all but DF), Castellet and Bandol (DF)
Day 9 - Villefranche - Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze (Me, DF, DS8)

Subject to change, of course. But we're pretty excited about this schedule!

 

[UMTerp]

We also had our Rome excursion cancelled by the vendor. Linda

Was this a private tour or one of the DCL excursions? How will we know if one of our booked excursions has been cancelled? I hope those with cancelled DCL excursions get some type of priority for rebooking another excursion!

JeanieP - Thanks for the info about shopping. I agree that it will help to go into it with the thought that shopping is not going to happen. Too bad!

Have a great day everyone!

UMTerp