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

[CruisnParkers]

I was hoping that someone on the board might have some kids with an interest in making a friend before the cruise - might help with the transition to the oceaneer's club. My sons are 7 and 4, and the 7 year old is especially interested. The last time we cruised, I had a hard time convincing him to go to the club. This time I'm hoping he'll be more interested, being in the older group. He did like the facilities for the 5-7 olds better than the 3-4 year olds. Feel free to contact me privately.

Thanks!

 

[CruisnParkers]

Nordkin,
I found some more details about our cruise - we will be in cabin 6610. We're also arriving in Barcelona 8/7, staying one night at the Hotel Colon ( we wanted to stay in the city).

Also, we'd like to participate in the exchange. It sounds like fun!

Thanks!
Jen

 

[jillnan]

I bought our Cool Downz from QVC in a pack of 6 for about $20. I have never regretted buying them.

Thinking about the heat in the Med in August, I bought mini personal fans from Brookstone. However, I think we'll need Cool Downz too! Thanks for the tip.

 

[JeanieP]

Wow, I'm glad I'm not the only one this excited. And to think there is a forum out there for people like us
Our family of four will be staying on deck 6. Early seating.
DW Jen , DH Mike, DS (7) and DS (4)
Also, extended family is coming with us.

If anyone that has any kids 7 and 4 who are interested in starting a correspondence with my sons before the trip, let me know! It might be fun to have a friend already before the trip starts.

Thanks!
Jen P

Hi there,

Some of us, like 2Tinks and Vailcruiser, do have DD ages 6 and 7. My DD is 6 and my DS is 4. Welcome to the board and I know this will be a great opportunity for our children!

 

[giggles_32181]

I bought our Cool Downz from QVC in a pack of 6 for about $20. I have never regretted buying them.

I was just searching these and tring to find cool disney prints. I went to ask.com and searched cooling neck wraps and found this http://www.digitizedmind.com/wraps.html#05 site but Allison. They are 5.00 each and 1.50 shipping for the 1st one and .50 for each additional. She said when you buy 4 get the 5th free so that is what I just did. Hope that helps everyone. I wanted to have them be disney. QVC had some but I Called Cool Downz and I think they were 18.68ish and about 4 bucks for shipping and handling. For a set of 6. I am going to try these at work ( I work in the office of a Factory with no AC on the floor and I will let you know how good they are.

 

[Vailcruiser]

I was hoping that someone on the board might have some kids with an interest in making a friend before the cruise - might help with the transition to the oceaneer's club. My sons are 7 and 4, and the 7 year old is especially interested. The last time we cruised, I had a hard time convincing him to go to the club. This time I'm hoping he'll be more interested, being in the older group. He did like the facilities for the 5-7 olds better than the 3-4 year olds. Feel free to contact me privately.

Thanks!

Hi, your 7 year old will like it much better. My daughter has been twice since entering this age group and loves it (3-5 yrs was difficult)! What time are you boarding? Maybe a few of us with this age group might seek one another out? It's hard to document a time, seeing we all want to explore and such - I know a few of us were planning on boarding sometime between 11:30-1 and once on the ship signing up for the tea 2nd day at sea - we all may be standing in the same line. I am so excited for all of them, we have never met anyone before our cruise before and only befriended our table mates, so this is really cool.

I can't believe how HOT it may be - I wasn't thinking it would feel like 110 We like it hot, but WOW!

Some of the new blogs are really great! We can't wait!

BTW - one of our senators has a call into the passport agency.

 

[sharonrs50]

Nordkin - great list. Thanks. Glad your mother is better and able to cruise.

My mistake - I forgot to list our excursion at Villefranche to Canne, Grasse, and St. Paul. Please add to the list.

Sharon

 

[sharonrs50]

I know a few of us were planning on boarding sometime between 11:30-1 and once on the ship signing up for the tea 2nd day at sea - we all may be standing in the same line. I am so excited for all of them, we have never met anyone before our cruise before and only befriended our table mates, so this is really cool.:

BTW - one of our senators has a call into the passport agency.

I am so glad you are getting help with your passport. It should turn out well for you.

We also are going to board early, and try to sign up for the tea for the 2nd sea day.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Vailcruiser....great to hear you've got help with your passport !

Sharon.... Glad to see we've got company on the St Paul,Grasse,Cannes Tour ! Really looking forward to St Paul.Hope we get enough time there !GINA

 

[CluelessSanFran]

Has anyone exchanged for the euros yet? Just checked Wells Fargo today and it was one US dollar per 0.71 euro. Maybe by the time we cruise it will be 1 to 0.65 ouch! Awefully hard to believe four years ago we were at 1 to 1:10 euro. Oh well who cares, I am excited about this trip! Our friends who are Italians will give me some recommendations of good restaurants in Italy and I will share with the group shortly. This couple traveled to Italy several times a year so they are familiar with the country. We plan to bring lots of pins to do some trading!

 

[sharonrs50]

: Sharon.... Glad to see we've got company on the St Paul,Grasse,Cannes Tour ! Really looking forward to St Paul.Hope we get enough time there !GINA

Thanks Gina. I am so looking forward to this cruise. It will be so much fun to have people we know on the excursions. Are you planning on coming to the DIS meeting the first sea day?

Sharon

 

[sharonrs50]

Has anyone exchanged for the euros yet? Just checked Wells Fargo today and it was one US dollar per 0.71 euro. Maybe by the time we cruise it will be 1 to 0.65 ouch! Awfully hard to believe four years ago we were at 1 to 1:10 euro. Oh well who cares, I am excited about this trip! Our friends who are Italians will give me some recommendations of good restaurants in Italy and I will share with the group shortly. This couple traveled to Italy several times a year so they are familiar with the country. We plan to bring lots of pins to do some trading!

Are you located in San Francisco? We are in the East Bay.

We haven't exchanged our money yet. I am hoping for the best. At least we are paying on the ship with American money. That saves us something.

We are going to London first, where the dollar only equals 50 cents. Talk about ouch.

Sharon

 

[scrapycruiser]

Sharon...Yes, definitely we'll be at our DIS Meet ! I can't remember when I was so excited about a cruise !!! Now if we could decide what to do in La Spezia. I think we've changed our minds a dozen times ! Just don't want to do too much . It's too bad we don't have that extra sea day. But I'm not complaining ! GINA

 

[jillnan]

I think I have the list updated with everything but the children on the cruise. Please look it over and let me know if there are any corrections. I placed the link in my signature a while ago to make it easier for everyone.

Donna

Donna,
Thanks so much for listing # of children and their ages. I am pleased to see we have a lot of 10 year olds. My DD is a little shy and having the opportunity to meet her fellow 10year olds at the beginning of the cruise is great!

Also, update for me....DH and I have Palo reservations on the 16th.
Jill

 

[sharonrs50]

Sharon...Yes, definitely we'll be at our DIS Meet ! I can't remember when I was so excited about a cruise !!! Now if we could decide what to do in La Spezia. I think we've changed our minds a dozen times ! Just don't want to do too much . It's too bad we don't have that extra sea day. But I'm not complaining ! GINA

Gina - We will be at the DIS meeting also.

I understand about not wanting to do too much. I have that concern also. Are you sure that you don't want to see Florence? According to my travel agent between Florence and Pisa, choose Florence. Cinque Terre is great for people who have already seen Florence.

I would love that extra sea day, too.

Sharon

 

[CluelessSanFran]

Are you located in San Francisco? We are in the East Bay.

We haven't exchanged our money yet. I am hoping for the best. At least we are paying on the ship with American money. That saves us something.

We are going to London first, where the dollar only equals 50 cents. Talk about ouch.

Sharon

Hi Sharon,

We are in San Francisco. We'll fly into Chicago O'Hare and then to Paris for a day and then fly into Barcelona at 2:30pm the next day and take a transport to the ship so we'll miss all the activities that the group had previously arranged. I don't know if there's a message board on the ship so we could locate some of you guys. Would anyone want to make some T-shirts with special logos, patches or something else so we could identify the Pre-board Disney group? Just a thought. I remember there was a library on the ship and conference room. Would the late arrivals like us care to meet somewhere to get the latest scoops?

Robert

 

[CruisnParkers]

your 7 year old will like it much better. My daughter has been twice since entering this age group and loves it (3-5 yrs was difficult)! What time are you boarding? Maybe a few of us with this age group might seek one another out? It's hard to document a time, seeing we all want to explore and such - I know a few of us were planning on boarding sometime between 11:30-1 and once on the ship signing up for the tea 2nd day at sea - we all may be standing in the same line. I am so excited for all of them, we have never met anyone before our cruise before and only befriended our table mates, so this is really cool.

I can't believe how HOT it may be - I wasn't thinking it would feel like 110 We like it hot, but WOW!

Some of the new blogs are really great! We can't wait!

BTW - one of our senators has a call into the passport agency.

Hi Vailcruiser -
I hope my son likes it better. He can be a bit shy at first. We haven't decided when we will board - we will be in Barcelona the morning of the 7th, so we are pretty flexible.



Jeanie P -
I was reading the older posts (trying to catch up!), and saw you had written something about Cinque Terre. We have a Pisa excusions booked, but are thinking about cancelling it, since the kids can't go up the leaning tower anyway. Do you think kids (4+7) could do the hiking in Cinque Terre? How steep is it? Any additional info you have would be great!

All,
I am now also worried about the heat. I really wish my sons hadn't broken their disney fan / spray bottles. Anyone have any idea where I can get more? It would be nice if they were Disney.

Has anyone catalogued all the great suggestions about what to bring? I saw the posts on toilet paper, and am worried I will forget something that we really need and haven't thought about!

Thanks for your help, and sorry if my newness is showing....

Jen

 

[UMTerp]

http://www.digitizedmind.com/wraps.html#05 site but Allison.

I think she posts on the disboards. I saw something on either the community or budget boards a while back.

Thanks!

UMTerp

 

[nordkin]

Has anyone catalogued all the great suggestions about what to bring? I saw the posts on toilet paper, and am worried I will forget something that we really need and haven't thought about!

Thanks for your help, and sorry if my newness is showing....

Jen

I don't think anyone on our cruise has done this, but it would be a great asset for someone to take it on. I have a list I use for all our travels and after so many trips I just do a spot check before leaving to make sure I have not forgotten something.

Don't worry about your newness showing, we are all here to share ideas and answer questions. It makes the experience much more enjoyable.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Sharon...We are planning a trip to Italy ,which will include Florence with my sister and husband in two years I would love to see it this time but it's too far ,for us. With the heat and all the other tours we're doing, we had to take a break somewhere, and La Spezia seemed the logical place. Still unsure what we'll do, but are looking at Cinque Terre. Gina