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

[Dicecatt]

007 Med Dinners: location - attire - menu theme - nighttime entertainment

Day 1 Barcelona Cruise Casual Let the Magic Begin Welcome Aboard! let the Magic Begin
Day 2 Sea Day Formal The Golden Mickeys The Golden Mickeys
Day 3 Palermo Cruise Casual Rotation Dinner Comedy & Ventriloquism
Day 4 Naples Cruise Casual Rotation Dinner On the Nose Game Show
Day 5 Olbia Cruise Casual Rotation Dinner The Art of the Story
Day 6 Civitavecchia Cruise Casual Master Chef Movie Night: Pirates of the Caribbean
Day 7 Sea Day Semi-Formal Prince & Princess Twice Charmed
Day 8 La Spezia Cruise Casual Flavours of the Mediterranean Crew Talent Show
Day 9 Marseilles Pirates/Cruise Casual Pirates IN the Caribbean When Mickey Dreams
Day 10 Villefranche Semi-Formal Captain’s Gala Disney Dreams
Day 11 Sea Day Cruise Casual Till We Meet Again Remember the Magic: A Final Farewell

I have a question...on the April 24th voyage, isn't day 7 and Day 8 switched? I was inputting the dress code information into my itinerary and realized this shows Day 7 and Day 8 backwards...according to Disney. I just want to verify...Day 7 is La Spezia and Day 8 is At Sea, correct?

 

[NC_Tink]

I have a question...on the April 24th voyage, isn't day 7 and Day 8 switched? I was inputting the dress code information into my itinerary and realized this shows Day 7 and Day 8 backwards...according to Disney. I just want to verify...Day 7 is La Spezia and Day 8 is At Sea, correct?

That's correct, those days are switched on our itinerary

 

[Postman]

According to Disney's site they're switched. I hope that's the case as May 1 is a national holiday apparently and some of the museums would otherwise be closed in Florence.

It's caused some confusion with trying to investigate private tours!

 

[auntlynne]

I have a question...on the April 24th voyage, isn't day 7 and Day 8 switched? I was inputting the dress code information into my itinerary and realized this shows Day 7 and Day 8 backwards...according to Disney. I just want to verify...Day 7 is La Spezia and Day 8 is At Sea, correct?

That was reference material (from the 2007 cruise) to give you an idea of what to wear, menus, entertainment...

 

[CarolinesMom]

Hi everyone! I am one of the other couples sailing with Dicecatt. My folks would make up the 3rd couple. They are the non-excursion people I love them anyway. I thought I'd swing by and say hello!

 

[CarolinesMom]

Just wander around, apparently. I don't really know them, they are my friend's parents, and just decide what they want to do that day. Okay by me, my plans will be set anyway. And my friend and her husband as well...she is also a planner...totally the opposite of her parents.

I could never do that...but to each his own

Yes, my folks like to get up when the want, wander around as they want. Total go with the flow kinda last minute folks.

 

[NC_Tink]

Hi everyone! I am one of the other couples sailing with Dicecatt. My folks would make up the 3rd couple. They are the non-excursion people I love them anyway. I thought I'd swing by and say hello!

Jill!

 

[alltheparks]

Wow, that's tough. Here I thought the Australians can't be beat for slowness to get anything done...

It wasn't easy though trying to get my 15 month old to look straight ahead and have a "neutral" expression on his face. All I can say is thank goodness for digital cameras!

We spent an hour at the post office, making everyone mad, trying to get a passport photo of DS when he was 4 months.

 

[alltheparks]

If you are really un-crafty, cafe press is a source for shirts that have no minimum quantity order requirement.

And maybe something like that exists in Australia.[/QUOTE]

Looks like another project for mom!

 

[alltheparks]

Oh yeah, that would be great, always more fun with a group! We thought about doing the DCL Pisa thing but everything I read it seems like an easy do it yourself trip.

We might join you as well, we have DCL Pisa excursion booked. Anyone know how much the train ride is supposed to cost?

 

[alltheparks]

DS and I had already talked about what "Australian" gifts we could find, Kangaroo's and Koala's when on the list. I will add Dingo!

 

[Leesh77]

I have been reading the comments regarding private excursions and cruise excursions (or perhaps even NO excursions)...I am definitely a big planner ( I have been known to create color itineraries with maps that are bound....yes, seriously).

That being said...

Does anyone have any reccos for private tour companies in Malta, Tunisia, and Corsica? Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks all!
Leesh77

 

[shushh]

welcome Jill!

When did we become so chatty???! 2 pages overnight!!!! Now I have so much to say I don't know where to start

Lara, before I forget, vistaprint has a special on at the moment (although they always seem to have specials on), prices at a quick glance seem much cheaper than cafepress, so is shipping. If we're organised enough, maybe we can co-ordinate our T-shirt order to save on shipping.

Ok my short term memory is failing me, now I can't remember what else i had to say...

 

[shushh]

I have been reading the comments regarding private excursions and cruise excursions (or perhaps even NO excursions)...I am definitely a big planner ( I have been known to create color itineraries with maps that are bound....yes, seriously).

That being said...

Does anyone have any reccos for private tour companies in Malta, Tunisia, and Corsica? Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks all!
Leesh77

We're going with Touring Malta in Malta. DH researched and organised this one so can't give alot of comment! As for Tunis, I contacted about 4. We ended up going with a private guide we found through Trip Advisor. The other main ones that seem to rate mentions are ExperienceIt Tours, Tunisia Discoveries and Batouta Voyages.

Speaking of private tours, someone on the main forum made me go into panic mode regarding the company I used to book 2 of our tours in Italy despite my friend's reassurances (they used them recently). So I emailed the one that she recommended instead. He ended up recommending the guy that I chose in the first place! I thought it was quite amusing (but not so funny in my moment of doubt and paranoia!!!)

Well the good thing is that I now have a quote that is about 100Euro cheaper than my current tours. But he seems so impersonal. This is with Rome Connections by the way. Lara what are your thoughts on your experience with them?

 

[shushh]

Ok let's see...

ploughed my field - check
attempted to beat Jeannes score in bejeweled blitz - check
try to catch some of Julie's collectible in farmville - check

washing - drats
grocery shopping - bugger

where's the baby?!?!?!

 

[NC_Tink]

We might join you as well, we have DCL Pisa excursion booked. Anyone know how much the train ride is supposed to cosrt?

Hey Lara!

I looked at the RailEurope website and prices change slightly depending on time of departure and what "class" you pick - but for our family I "guess-timated" departure of 9am with a return at 1pm. The fare for 2 adults, 1 youth and 1 child was $100 US in the economy 2nd class seat. I'm not really certain what the difference between the 2 different second class seat options are - but there is a $2 per seat price difference. And, there are two different 1st class seat options Comfort ($59/seat) and Comfort Flexi ($64/seat). Also, there are different prices based on whether you're on an intercity train or on a regionale. I think the one's I priced were the Intercity. Regionale prices at the 2nd class level were not significantly more expensive - but at 1st class there was a $20 per seat difference.

Okay - hopefully all of that information made some sense

 

[NC_Tink]

Ok let's see...

ploughed my field - check
attempted to beat Jeannes score in bejeweled blitz - check
try to catch some of Julie's collectible in farmville - check

washing - drats
grocery shopping - bugger

where's the baby?!?!?!

 

[grlzmom]

DS and I had already talked about what "Australian" gifts we could find, Kangaroo's and Koala's when on the list. I will add Dingo!

Yeah, note to self, make BIGGER fish extender and buy book on Koala and Dingo care

Ok let's see...

ploughed my field - check
attempted to beat Jeannes score in bejeweled blitz - check
try to catch some of Julie's collectible in farmville - check

washing - drats
grocery shopping - bugger

where's the baby?!?!?!

What, I will have to work harder, did you beat me in bejeweled. I need to get on there and check! Don't even think about getting more Valentines than me lol.

Hey Lara!

I looked at the RailEurope website and prices change slightly depending on time of departure and what "class" you pick - but for our family I "guess-timated" departure of 9am with a return at 1pm. The fare for 2 adults, 1 youth and 1 child was $100 US in the economy 2nd class seat. I'm not really certain what the difference between the 2 different second class seat options are - but there is a $2 per seat price difference. And, there are two different 1st class seat options Comfort ($59/seat) and Comfort Flexi ($64/seat). Also, there are different prices based on whether you're on an intercity train or on a regionale. I think the one's I priced were the Intercity. Regionale prices at the 2nd class level were not significantly more expensive - but at 1st class there was a $20 per seat difference.

Okay - hopefully all of that information made some sense

I guessed about 200 dollars for my family of 8. Compared to the DCL Pisa it was about 675 for my family. What a savings! I think would be great if we could get a morning train. My kids are all about getting the picture in front of pisa that makes them look like they are holding it up

 

[susanowen27]

If you are really un-crafty, cafe press is a source for shirts that have no minimum quantity order requirement.

And maybe something like that exists in Australia.

Looks like another project for mom![/QUOTE]

I see that Cafepress has a 20% site wide sale with the code 20PREZ thru Feb 15th if anyone is interested .

Got DH to the doctor, they gave him a shot in the knee and now he can walk again, but I'm not sure I can trust it to do alot of walking. I'm just kinda frozen with my planning. I might do more DCL excursions now with questionable mobility.

 

[auntlynne]

...I might do more DCL excursions now with questionable mobility.

Have you checked with Happy Goofy (John & Charlotte); they might be a "taking it easy" group which might be more accommodating than a large group on a bus.