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

[NC_Tink]

Anyone know if they pushed shopping on the last set of Med excursions? You always hear how the tours from ships and just group tours in general do that, and we're not big shoppers. We usually just pick up some souvenirs. That was the one thing I didn't like about being on with our guides in China- in Beijing we went to a couple places and the main purpose was to get us to spend money on expensive items: jade, pearls, silk, etc.

Julie

From some of the reviews that I read - I think it was the opposite. A lot of people complained that way too much time was spent eating in mediocre restaurants (lunches that were overcrowded and took over an hour and a half to complete) and that left them no time to do any type of shopping on excursions. I'm not huge on shopping - but I like to at least pick up a small souvie in each of the ports (even if just t-shirts and such).

 

[skoi]

From some of the reviews that I read - I think it was the opposite. A lot of people complained that way too much time was spent eating in mediocre restaurants (lunches that were overcrowded and took over an hour and a half to complete) and that left them no time to do any type of shopping on excursions. I'm not huge on shopping - but I like to at least pick up a small souvie in each of the ports (even if just t-shirts and such).

Us too, but we've seen horror stories of people going to rug shop after rug shop, or whatever the specialty of the area is. As I mentioned about our trips to China, the touristy part in Beijing was very "factory" based. You get a little talk about how the goods are produced, and then they take you to the store to buy expensive stuff. And we did buy some things- thinking it'd be a long time before we went back to China.

I'm not much into mediocre restaurants either. The Berber village thing sounds interesting, but maybe the kids we're taking are too big for the sort of kid-oriented things they'll be offering. I don't know. Obviously our cruise will be the test case for the new tours.

Julie

 

[mehaul]

From some of the reviews that I read - I think it was the opposite. A lot of people complained that way too much time was spent eating in mediocre restaurants (lunches that were overcrowded and took over an hour and a half to complete) and that left them no time to do any type of shopping on excursions. I'm not huge on shopping - but I like to at least pick up a small souvie in each of the ports (even if just t-shirts and such).

We took the med cruise in 2007. There was a "shopping lady" on board who gave a short presentation before each port. She was not overly pushy. She handed out a guide for each port with a few suggested shops.
I posted all the guides at www.worldofmouse.com
We took Disney excursions in Naples/Pompeii, Florence and Palermo. None of the excursions included shopping. On the Florence excursion they gave us about 90 minutes on our own before the bus pickup. We went for gelato and hit a few shops during that time.

 

[shushh]

We just came home from a Europe travel show in the city and we're exhausted. The cost of our flights is a killer. For the flight that works, its going to be around US$1800 per adult.

So far the prices of the private tours that I've enquired about are cheaper than DCL's 2007 tour prices. We will definitely consider any unique tour by DCL tour. I'm worried though about age limits as Jonah will only be 18 months at time of travel. I too am not a big fan of being "made" to shop somewhere.

As for FE, I read somewhere that some people have only 1 gift per cabin, rather than one per person. Should we just leave this til about 2-3 months out and then see who is interested at that stage?

Oh and we are 15 hours ahead of US eastern time. We just had daylight savings recently. It used to be 14 hours.

 

[skoi]

Well 15 is about halfway between 13 and 18, so I'm not that crazy.

If they do the Berber village experience in Tunis, we might do that, if it sounds appropriate for older kids. They do want to go to the souks, because ds is a bargaining fiend. When I took the big kids out alone in China, he did all the bargaining and was really good at it. Just the thought of it makes me nervous. I don't know why, just a hang up I have.

Good to hear there weren't shopping stops. I hate that sort of thing because travel completely stretches our budget, and we don't like to feel obligated to spend money on things we'd never want.

Julie

 

[DISNEY_DEPRIVED]

Thank You everyone for the welcomes... i'm soo eager to see the excursion list, i can't even imagine what the prices will be like if they do an ABD type.. and like it was previously stated...this will be the first cruise this year so no nice reviews to read.. i guess that responsiblity falls on us April Criusers...

I've yet to buy my plane ticket either.. but i actually live in Italy so, mines isn't as bad as some...

I'm soo ready for this cruise... i'm ready to do NOTHING for once on a vacation....

Sherry!

 

[skoi]

Wow, Italy. Very cool. When dh was considering converting from Reserves to Active Duty, one of the potential postings would have been Naples, and we were very excited about that. He decided to stay Reserves, though, and ended up in Afghanistan a couple years later. Not quite as nice as Italy, but maybe more potential for career advancement.

 

[shushh]

How does being in the reserves work in the states? Do you have to do a certain amount of service still? Or only get called upon when needed? I still can't imagine how you do it all alone and home school, and work and study!

Sherry, Italy is one of my favourtie countries. I fell in love with it when we first when to Rome eons ago. How long have you been living there? I need to resurrect my high-school Italian for our trip!

 

[skoi]

They say reserves is one weekend a month, two weeks a year, unless you're deployed. However, dh always had on-line classes to finish, exams to study for, and extra work to do in between weekends, and the higher in rank, the more responsibility you had. When he was the lead petty officer, he had a lot to do in off time. But he's done in May, and not reenlisting.

Can't wait. I spoke with my Arabic teacher, but he's never been in Tunisia, so no help there. Still up in the air about tour versus on our own.

Julie

 

[skoi]

Anyone waiting for the Disney Dream announcement? I forgot all about it, because I've been so busy.

I saw one picture on another thread, of the slide, and it looked amazing.

Julie

 

[NC_Tink]

Anyone waiting for the Disney Dream announcement? I forgot all about it, because I've been so busy.

I saw one picture on another thread, of the slide, and it looked amazing.

Julie

There are virtual tours of the ship and "photos" on the DCL website! You're right - that slide does look amazing!

 

[shushh]

Good morning all!

My son and I went through the virtual tour together and the poor poppet thought that it was "his" ship in April. He didn't seem too fazed when I told him otherwise and just stated "well, we'll go on that one another time then"...Hmmm now to save up some more.

I do like the new ship however, I have to agree with some of the other posters on the general forum that it didn't quite blow me away. The Oasis does look awesome though.

 

[skoi]

The big kids thought it looked a little two modern. They like the Art Deco Style of the Magic. They're excited about the Aqua Duck, and the new restaurants. Oldest dd thought there were a lot of bars. And she's sailed on Carnival, where the first thing you see when you board is a bar in the atrium!

We won't be on the Dream until 2012 when we celebrate oldest dd's high school graduation, so this cruise is our last for a long time.

Julie

 

[Happy Goofy]

When we decided to do the Med Cruise we were getting prices such as $800-$1000 per person -one way. When we saw the price of the Eastbound repositioning cruise we thought that was a better deal. So for just a little more we are getting another two week vacation and we can take as much luggage because we have a home about 5 minutes from Port Canaveral,FL. I have to admit I am a little leary about being at sea for 6 days. Could anyone give me some info on how that is going to be? We booked the flight home through Disney- which so far was the cheapest. We will worry about luggage then.

I too wish they would release the excursions early so we can do some research. We did the Panama Cruise and did the Disney Excursions and were pretty happy with most of them. Keep us informed of any plans for the fish extenders, secret Mickeys or any other type of get together.

 

[skoi]

I envy you guys who are doing the TA and the Med.

However, oldest ds and I are going to Morocco in March to volunteer at a children's hospital. We're very excited about it. I was going to go alone, but he asked to come, and they'll take him, so we're off.

We'll still be on the cruise, unless we get arrested or something. I keep thinking of that old movie- Midnight Express? Where the people get arrested with drugs in Turkey or Morocco or some place like that. Not that we'd do anything illegal, but with our bad luck, who knows what could happen?

Could you share what you're paying with Disney for air? I haven't even looked yet.
Julie

 

[Happy Goofy]

We are one of the few staying onboard from the TA to the Med. Cruise. Anyone else?
Our air from Disney was $1470 with transfers for the two of us. IS anyone going to Disneyland in Paris after the cruise? If so what are you paying for hotel and flights. We would love to do it but I think we have reached the limit with the two cruises. We booked oneof these cruises on the Panama Cruise so we got the $200 room credit and the discount.

 

[skoi]

We're coming right home after the cruise. We'll be in Barcelona three days before, but that's it.

I think someone else did mention they were doing the TA, but I'm not sure.

Still haven't purchased airfare. I've put off the planning completely, because as I mentioned, ds and I will be going to Morocco in March, so I have to practice my Arabic and arrange that trip. I think I bit off way more than I can chew, this time.

Julie

 

[Irish9697]

I just booked this cruise for us. Still not positive it's 100% going to happen for us, but would love it to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it will be just the 3 of us - me 35, ds 10 and dd 9.

 

[skoi]

I just booked this cruise for us. Still not positive it's 100% going to happen for us, but would love it to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it will be just the 3 of us - me 35, ds 10 and dd 9.

Welcome aboard Irish9697! Hope you make it with us.

Julie

 

[NC_Tink]

Irish 9697!!!

As Julie said -- hope you all get to come with us!!