4/24/2010 Med cruise: Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your Ears

[Lyrah]

Hi all Just wondering if anyone has any idea at all about formal nights on this cruise ? I haven't been able to find anything written in any of the paperwork that I've recieved so far - or on the Disney website. This is our first ever cruise and as such - we are really lost on some issues Thanks for all of your help

Formal night is our first night at sea. There are two semi-formal nights. One is the day we are at La Spezia and the other is the night we are in Villefranche. A lot of men just rent tuxes from Cruiseline Formal wear so that they do not have to bring dress clothes. That is what my husband is doing, and I am bringing my own formal and semi-formal wear.

 

[lynnemcb]

Hi all

Changed plans for Rome and also for Pompeii - decided against DCL trip and now booked DIY - booked train 1st class with seating for 2 adults , 2 children for 66 euros and the same again for Pisa. I dont think you can book the one to pomepii online?

Does anyone have any advice re booking tickets for colloseum and sistine chapel - some sites say book in advance , some say for colloseum go to palatine hill gate and get tickets there - anyone any experiences?. For Sistine chapel some sites say takes two hours to reach there through vatican museums - whats your views if youve done this - dont think could keep kids amused for 2 hours and only me who wants to see the ceiling??

When it came to the crunch couldnt pay out for the excursion costs - £600 for one day in rome with DCL - hope dont regret it


Lynne

 

[Giant talking head]

Formal night is our first night at sea. There are two semi-formal nights. One is the day we are at La Spezia and the other is the night we are in Villefranche. A lot of men just rent tuxes from Cruiseline Formal wear so that they do not have to bring dress clothes. That is what my husband is doing, and I am bringing my own formal and semi-formal wear.

Thanks !! Wow.. first night huh ?? Pretty sure that we'll be suffering from major jet lag as we're not arriving until the morning before we sail ... oh well -- I'm certain we'll have a great time !!

Thanks again

 

[Dicecatt]

Thanks !! Wow.. first night huh ?? Pretty sure that we'll be suffering from major jet lag as we're not arriving until the morning before we sail ... oh well -- I'm certain we'll have a great time !!

Thanks again

Not the embarkation day, but the first At Sea Day, which is April 25. You might mean that anyway but I just wanted to clarify

 

[jedijill]

Hi all

Changed plans for Rome and also for Pompeii - decided against DCL trip and now booked DIY - booked train 1st class with seating for 2 adults , 2 children for 66 euros and the same again for Pisa. I dont think you can book the one to pomepii online?

Does anyone have any advice re booking tickets for colloseum and sistine chapel - some sites say book in advance , some say for colloseum go to palatine hill gate and get tickets there - anyone any experiences?. For Sistine chapel some sites say takes two hours to reach there through vatican museums - whats your views if youve done this - dont think could keep kids amused for 2 hours and only me who wants to see the ceiling??

When it came to the crunch couldnt pay out for the excursion costs - £600 for one day in rome with DCL - hope dont regret it


Lynne

Hi, I'm from the 5/15 cruise and have been to Rome before on my own. Definitely book your Vatican Musuem tickets in advance. Very easy to do online now. If all you want to see is the Sistine don't take a tour but just walk through the museums to the Chapel. It will be very crowded but you can get there in far less than 2 hours.

The line is defiantly shorter at Palentine Hill than at the Coliseum. I'm one who would rather book in advance to not stand in any line but it is up to you.

HTH

Jill in CO

 

[Giant talking head]

Not the embarkation day, but the first At Sea Day, which is April 25. You might mean that anyway but I just wanted to clarify

ohhhhhh.... ok then... thanks ... guess that's why I was able to book Palos for that night ... so now.... hummmm what to do... what to do ??? I'm lost... first time crusiers here Do we keep our Palo reservations... or cancel and hope to get a booking on board ????? I'm soooooo lost !!!

 

[grlzmom]

My plan is to tip 5-10 Euro per person for the DCL excursions, depending on how they go...for private tours, closer to 10-15 percent.

We budgeted about the same, 5-10 euro pp for DCL and 15 percent for private tour.

Time is getting close for us on the BTB. We will be meeting some of our fellow cruisers on Friday night before the cruise. It will be interesting putting together names with faces.

We will be at the hotel pool. Easy to find, the only one with 5 girls and 1 boy in tow

Formal night is our first night at sea. There are two semi-formal nights. One is the day we are at La Spezia and the other is the night we are in Villefranche. A lot of men just rent tuxes from Cruiseline Formal wear so that they do not have to bring dress clothes. That is what my husband is doing, and I am bringing my own formal and semi-formal wear.

We rented tux for DH for the transatlantic and are probably just going to skip formal for the MED. We have always had great results renting the tux from Cruiseline.

Hi all

Changed plans for Rome and also for Pompeii - decided against DCL trip and now booked DIY - booked train 1st class with seating for 2 adults , 2 children for 66 euros and the same again for Pisa. I dont think you can book the one to pomepii online?

Does anyone have any advice re booking tickets for colloseum and sistine chapel - some sites say book in advance , some say for colloseum go to palatine hill gate and get tickets there - anyone any experiences?. For Sistine chapel some sites say takes two hours to reach there through vatican museums - whats your views if youve done this - dont think could keep kids amused for 2 hours and only me who wants to see the ceiling??

When it came to the crunch couldnt pay out for the excursion costs - £600 for one day in rome with DCL - hope dont regret it


Lynne

We booked everything we could ahead of time. With one one day there, don't want to spend any of it in line. Train tickets all booked too except leg from port to Rome, waiting to see how early of train we can catch. Reassuring to have all the trains booked ahead of time.

ohhhhhh.... ok then... thanks ... guess that's why I was able to book Palos for that night ... so now.... hummmm what to do... what to do ??? I'm lost... first time crusiers here Do we keep our Palo reservations... or cancel and hope to get a booking on board ????? I'm soooooo lost !!!

You can keep the one you have and try and change the night as soon as you board they will have someone from Palo/dining available after boarding the ship.

 

[carpenta]

ohhhhhh.... ok then... thanks ... guess that's why I was able to book Palos for that night ... so now.... hummmm what to do... what to do ??? I'm lost... first time crusiers here Do we keep our Palo reservations... or cancel and hope to get a booking on board ????? I'm soooooo lost !!!

We had reservations for Palo the same night as formal night on our last cruise. We did not feel like we missed alot because the other diners with were formal and it made the dinner so much more special and the dining experience at Palo should not be missed. It is pretty difficult to book onboard and thinking we are in the Med. it may be even more difficult.IMHO. A bird in the hand....Don't forget to have your picture taken while at Palos by the Disney staff and order the chocolate souffle. To die for.

 

[Dicecatt]

We had reservations for Palo the same night as formal night on our last cruise. We did not feel like we missed alot because the other diners with were formal and it made the dinner so much more special and the dining experience at Palo should not be missed. It is pretty difficult to book onboard and thinking we are in the Med. it may be even more difficult.IMHO. A bird in the hand....Don't forget to have your picture taken while at Palos by the Disney staff and order the chocolate souffle. To die for.

I so agree, chocolate souffle, yum.

We will be dining in Palo on Formal night, very excited! Part of the reason I'm very happy about that is that I WANT to dress up...and I feel like some people in the regular dining rooms might not, including a couple of members of our party, they aren't into formal night. I want to "feel the magic" lol, and be around fellow diners who are also spiffied up. I know I spelled spiffied wrong, that is a word that I should probably not use again.

 

[grlzmom]

We had reservations for Palo the same night as formal night on our last cruise. We did not feel like we missed alot because the other diners with were formal and it made the dinner so much more special and the dining experience at Palo should not be missed. It is pretty difficult to book onboard and thinking we are in the Med. it may be even more difficult.IMHO. A bird in the hand....Don't forget to have your picture taken while at Palos by the Disney staff and order the chocolate souffle. To die for.

I so agree, chocolate souffle, yum.

We will be dining in Palo on Formal night, very excited! Part of the reason I'm very happy about that is that I WANT to dress up...and I feel like some people in the regular dining rooms might not, including a couple of members of our party, they aren't into formal night. I want to "feel the magic" lol, and be around fellow diners who are also spiffied up. I know I spelled spiffied wrong, that is a word that I should probably not use again.

I totally agree about chocolate souffle and it does feel special when everyone is dressed up

We like to go on "lobster night". I LOVE the lobster medallions in Palo way better than the lobster in the dining room. Yum Yum.......

Don't think I could do a cruise without my chocolate souffle (more than once is even better).

 

[salboz]

Hi all

Changed plans for Rome and also for Pompeii - decided against DCL trip and now booked DIY - booked train 1st class with seating for 2 adults , 2 children for 66 euros and the same again for Pisa. I dont think you can book the one to pomepii online?

Does anyone have any advice re booking tickets for colloseum and sistine chapel - some sites say book in advance , some say for colloseum go to palatine hill gate and get tickets there - anyone any experiences?. For Sistine chapel some sites say takes two hours to reach there through vatican museums - whats your views if youve done this - dont think could keep kids amused for 2 hours and only me who wants to see the ceiling??

When it came to the crunch couldnt pay out for the excursion costs - £600 for one day in rome with DCL - hope dont regret it


Lynne

I have talked with a number of independent guides in Italy and the all have said to buy your tickets in advance for the Coliseum and the Vatican. When you go to buy them, however, you have to pick a time. With the tickets, you can pretty much go right in. It takes a while to get to the Sistine chapel as you have to go through museums first. You also will have the option of buying ticket with or without a guide. The two hour lines are people waiting to buy tickets.

Sally B

 

[Happy Goofy]

Palo is a must do don't miss it. On the TA we are doing a group brunch and my husband and I are doing dinner on formal night. On the Med cruise we are going to do the High Tea. It is really special.We are doing it May 1st if anyone wants to join us.

 

[auntlynne]

To DCL Newbies:

On embarkation day, DCL will give you information on where you can make dining changes. This includes reservations for Palo - they may slots for brunch, tea, or dinner that you were unable to book online. Usually its in Rockin' Bar D or Wavebands - if you can't find the info or the location, ask any of the CMs (Cast Members - crew). Also, throughout the cruise you can talk with dining room head mangers if you have problems or go up to Palo and make an additional reservation. The one meal (of each type) rule applies to online bookings. If they've got space, they'll take your money.

If you don't like the dining rotation they give you, you can check and see if something else is available. This will show up on your KTTW (Key to the World card - your credit-card shaped room key) looking like: APLAPLAPLAPLA or some other configuration of the letters A P and L - Animator's Palate, Parrot Cay and Lumiere's. What does it matter? For some, they like to have one of the formal nights in Lumiere's, with its more formal decor. No mind you, all three venues will serve the same Med cruise - specific special meals on the same night. There are menus unique to each dining room that will see listed as "Rotation" nights. On those nights, which will be cruise casual dining, what you eat in Parrot Cay will be different than Animator's Palate or Lumiere's. There is no wrong way to have dining. But any of the formal nights in Lumiere's looks nicer. (They may know this and have each of the 5 or 6 sets of diners placed there for the various formal nights throughout the cruise).

 

[Giant talking head]

Thanks to everyone for all of your tips !!! Palo it is then for formal night Gosh.... Sooooo much to learn..... Sooooo little time !! But it is very exciting to be first time cruisers

 

[Dicecatt]

Anyone get a credit from DCL? I had a $13 credit...and I have no idea what it is for.

 

[NC_Tink]

Anyone get a credit from DCL? I had a $13 credit...and I have no idea what it is for.

Did you get an email? I didn't get one, or at least not that I know of. I can't think of what it might be for either -- sorry. But, congratulations -- that's a couple more drinks! Or that almost pays for one meal at Palo

 

[Dicecatt]

Did you get an email? I didn't get one, or at least not that I know of. I can't think of what it might be for either -- sorry. But, congratulations -- that's a couple more drinks! Or that almost pays for one meal at Palo

No, no email. I just noticed it on my credit card. How weird! Not complaining though

 

[Becx N Gav]

A picture is worth a thousand words and the following picture says it all. If you're wondering what that thing is, it's suppose to be our fish extender...I have no time or energy to make another one so its coming with us warts and all! I think its time to go to bed. Have a happy Easter everyone!

I think that's pretty cool - definitely unique

Hey Everyone,

I'm ready to start officially planning a 'DIS reception" on this cruise. I'm thinking about doing it on our 2nd sea day (May 1st) in the afternoon (2pm-ish time frame). I need to get a good head count of how many people would like to attend. We'll serve hot & cold Hors D Oeuvres and have a nice get together If you're interested in attending, please send me an email to pete@wdwinfo.com and let me know how many you'll have with you so I can get an accurate head count.

Thanks,
Pete

I'll see if we can make it

My plan is to tip 5-10 Euro per person for the DCL excursions, depending on how they go...for private tours, closer to 10-15 percent.

Thanks for this info, that is what I was thinking as we're trying to work out how much money we'll spend off the ship

 

[RichC17]

Are you okay with civilian dating style or would you like it 24 April - 5 May?

My sister-in-law, who is a she is a screen printer, put this picture on a shirt. The image only could printed as black on a white shirt. If you want one the price is $15. Please PM me and let me know how many and the size. Kids shirts will run some what large.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[skoi]

All right, we're getting serious now. Booking ground transportation.

Time to firm up the details.

I think the terminal opens at 10:00 AM. Is this right?

Any idea what time breakfast for late seating was on the last Med cruise? I want to plan our pick up back to the airport on May 5.

Belinda- I might have some additional questions for how you used the booking engine as I'm pretty stupid.

Off to get ready to meet my tutor.

Julie