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

[skoi]

mrosen and anyone else I might have missed.

I've been really busy with the kids' school and trying to catch up in my Arabic class. The second class was canceled, so now I'm in the beginner three class and it's Students are only allowed to speak Arabic and I barely know how to figure out the script.

We're getting quite a group here. We've only lost one person that I know of. Pretty good.

Anyone looking at airfare yet, besides Belinda?

Julie

 

[Michelle2]

Haven't booked my flights yet -- read somewhere in my "research" that a good time to book airfare is about 4 months in advance of your trip. Of course, if the airline you're booking has the ability to "show seats" via its website and you notice that the flight you want is looking like it's starting to get full - then you might want to purchase earlier. I figure it's a gamble no matter what - but my DSis-in-law went to Italy this past summer and informed me that she booked her airfare about 6 -7 months in advance and noticed that the airfare dropped significantly a couple of months later (yes, she was bummed).

I hope that the fares go down...still looks a little pricey to me. I remember looking for one way fares back from Spain in 2007 after the TA and the prices were much better at 2 and a half months before sailing than they are now at 6. I will be keeping an eye out, and fingers crossed. I don't think I will get too serious for a few months though...good to know others' experiences too!

As for questions regarding how it works for two B2B cruises - I believe that you will be able to leave your luggage in the room - if you have the same room on both cruises. Only you will have to disembark for a short time and then reboard with the rest of us.

I wish that they would do in Spain like they do in Florida, and have everyone get off (who will be staying on the ship for the next cruise) and re-check in, but get back onboard before everyone else. Usually at Port Canaveral, they are already checked in and back on the ship before the next cruisers are even allowed in the terminal. But, with it being a foreign country, you never know. I was hoping that we would not have to disembark and sit around and wait around for too long though....

I can't believe it is coming up so close. We were going to sneak away on a Magic cruise beginning of December, but I do not want to risk it cost wise, since these two are so important to me. I am just happy we do not have to have a hotel room before or after the cruise!
We stayed at the one that was close to the airport...started with an R...Radisson, or Renaissance. Very nice, and very close to the airport for a quick getaway the next day.

 

[skoi]

I'm glad we're not the only ones who haven't booked airfare. I'm hoping it will go down significantly. I just got an email from Lufthansa (we flew them a few years ago to Kazakhstan and weren't overly impressed), with great fares for October through Christmas. So hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

Julie

 

[shushh]

OK, not getting notifications either! Was wondering where everyone was. SHould have just checked!!!!

Weekend was lousy unfortunately, we were all sick! And yes temps are in celcius. I can't convert to fahrenheit...so had to look it up. 15 celcius is 59F, and 30C is 86F. We are currently in Spring and usually the weather is lovely, but its been abysmal the whole weekend.

Julie, I am glad you found a hotel! I would be happy to get any place that is clean with a reasonable rate. A meet would be nice but I agree that jetlag may be a problem. I am watching airfares too and desperately hoping that it will go down.

Anyone worked out what they are doing at the various ports? We are most likely to do things ourselves but are just waiting for Disney to release their excursion just so we have a comparison.

By the way, who have we lost?

Belinda

 

[NC_Tink]

Do any of you know when Disney might release their excursion options? Like Belinda, I think we'll do a lot on our own - but I want a comparison before I start contacting tour companies for those places that I want to hire a driver/guide.

 

[shushh]

Lubi, it seems like the excursion details come out about 150 days before sailing so the platinum/concierge cruisers can review before booking. So we have about 48 days!

Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. Celebrating our baby's first birthday! Hope you all have a great weekend.

 

[NC_Tink]

Happy Birthday to your baby!!

 

[skoi]

Happy belated birthday Baby Aussie!

 

[skoi]

Did we ever reach a conclusion about how early is too early to book flights for the return home?

I actually looked today, sticker shock wasn't too bad, considering lately I've been looking at flights to Morocco for the summer.

Also: we're looking at doing all ports on our own. We have agendas for Villefranche (sort of), but definitely for Rome and Florence. Naples we're still debating whether we want to go to Pompeii.

Tunis we know what we want to do, it's just a matter of deciding whether my Arabic and French is good enough to brave it on our own, or do we want to pay a lot of money for a tour. I got one quote for 400 Tunisian dinars for a day tour of Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the Medina for three in a jeep. Still waiting to hear from other companies. I read you can just get a cab and they'll take you and help you out. I'm going to ask my Arabic tutor his opinion on that option Tuesday evening.

Malta we have loose plans: we want to go out to Mdina and the other town nearby.

Corsica is all Napoleon for the kids. My opinion doesn't matter there.

Julie

 

[shushh]

Thank you everyone for baby's birthday wishes! The day went well and the rain stayed away

He started childcare yesterday so I'm feeling the guilts at the moment. I didn't think it would still happen with number 3! He's adjusted well thankfully and loves being there. In fact, today when DH picked him up. He cried because he wanted to keep playing...Very relieved.

Haven't really looked into Malta and Tunisia in great detail. So Julie, would love to hear what your Arabic tutor has to say and also the tour companies that you contacted. The european ports seem to be quite well reported on in various places.

Good luck with your flight bookings!

 

[guynwdm]

So what are people doing after the cruise? I was thinking about going to Paris to hit Disneyland while I am that close. I am getting a bit of sticker shock on that right now. Everything seems really expensive there. Any thoughts on how to make that work?

 

[mehaul]

So what are people doing after the cruise? I was thinking about going to Paris to hit Disneyland while I am that close. I am getting a bit of sticker shock on that right now. Everything seems really expensive there. Any thoughts on how to make that work?

In 2007 we went to DLP for 4 nights prior to the cruise and 2 nights to London post cruise. I had originally planned to stay in Paris and take the train to DLP for a day, but with 4 people (2 kids) it is cheaper to stay at DLP than in Paris, since you can get 1 room instead of the 2 you will need to house a family in Paris.

This trip we're just going to fly in the night before and then directly home afterwards.

 

[Michelle2]

Did we ever reach a conclusion about how early is too early to book flights for the return home?

I actually looked today, sticker shock wasn't too bad, considering lately I've been looking at flights to Morocco for the summer.

Also: we're looking at doing all ports on our own. We have agendas for Villefranche (sort of), but definitely for Rome and Florence. Naples we're still debating whether we want to go to Pompeii.

Tunis we know what we want to do, it's just a matter of deciding whether my Arabic and French is good enough to brave it on our own, or do we want to pay a lot of money for a tour. I got one quote for 400 Tunisian dinars for a day tour of Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and the Medina for three in a jeep. Still waiting to hear from other companies. I read you can just get a cab and they'll take you and help you out. I'm going to ask my Arabic tutor his opinion on that option Tuesday evening.

Malta we have loose plans: we want to go out to Mdina and the other town nearby.

Corsica is all Napoleon for the kids. My opinion doesn't matter there.

Julie

I have no idea what I am doing yet...I think I will use the Disney excursions as a guide in the ports I am unfamiliar of. I cannot WAIT until those come out! Then it will seem more real to me....
Rome, and Pisa definitely on my own since I have done it on my own before...no prob. Th others, I am not so confident of...I may even do a Disney excursion for Tunis, but again, not too sure. Corsica will be all Napoleon for me too.

My DD13 decided not to homeschool this year, so she will not be able to go with me and I am so bummed. I am looking for a travel partner since my husband and DS7 will be ready to go back after the Transatlantic cruise. My older 2 are in high school, and there is no way they will be able to miss that much school at the end of the year. I am hoping to get my mom to meet me there in Barcelona, but I am going with or without someone else.

 

[skoi]

So what are people doing after the cruise? I was thinking about going to Paris to hit Disneyland while I am that close. I am getting a bit of sticker shock on that right now. Everything seems really expensive there. Any thoughts on how to make that work?

We considered Paris first, then Granada, but decided we'll just do a few days in Barcelona before, then come right home. We have a trip planned for Egypt (oldest daughter and I) for September, and I'm supposed to be going to Morocco in the summer for three weeks for an Arabic class, so we're definitely cash poor right now.

I'd love to stay on afterwards, but it's not in the cards (especially the credit cards) for us.

Julie

 

[NC_Tink]

So what are people doing after the cruise? I was thinking about going to Paris to hit Disneyland while I am that close. I am getting a bit of sticker shock on that right now. Everything seems really expensive there. Any thoughts on how to make that work?

We're actually contemplating DLP on the front end. We have to be back stateside for my in-laws' 50th Anniversary party the week after the cruise - so no dawdling in Europe on the back end. We have hotel ressies in Barcelona for the 3 days leading up to the cruise - but we can easily cancel those and change our plans. I guess it depends on what the cost differential between being in Barcelona for 3 days or being at DLP for those days. Since the package prices aren't available for April yet I have to wait to make that decision. Also, the added airfare/train fare going from the US to Paris to Barcelona and finally back to the US. DH wants me to lay it all out for him - money wise - before we can make a final decision on what we're doing.

Of course, there's always the possibility that he (DH) adds on a quick business trip on the front end, in which case we'll be headed to London for a few days prior to the cruise.

 

[shushh]

Oh I would LOVE to go to DLP but we have to head straight home after the cruise as well

I am so undecided about what to do in Tunisia. part of me wants to brave it and take the taxis myself but seeing as there are 7 of us, I am a bit worried that we might get separated.

 

[skoi]

I didn't get a chance to ask my tutor last night about Tunisia. We got into a huge discussion about religion, and then what city in Morocco would be the best for me to go to.

If I get a chance, I'll ask my instructor (yes, I'm that serious, I have an Arabic class and a tutor on the side) tonight after class.

Julie

 

[shushh]

Ok need your thoughts. Here is a quote I got from a local guide for Tunis.

** Meet at La Goulette port. at 8:00/8:30 a.m
** Drive to Carthage, visit of the Byrsa hill,the archeological musem,stop at the Roman water storage& aquaduct,visit of the Romain villas,visit of the Tophet sanctuary and the former Romano-Punic harbour,visit of Antonius Pius public baths.
** Drive to the charming village of Sidi Bou Saïd: Pedestrian visit of the Artist colony village to enjoy the typical architecture with it's nice blue & white colors.
** Drive to Tunis: Sighteseeing of the modern part of the city,then a pedestrian walk in the old city " the Medina " a stroll in the souks to have an idea about the local hand craft.(Possibility for shopping if interested)
** Drive back to the port at 4:00 p.m ( End of the service )
The above programme includes:
¤ The transportation in an a/c mini bus.
¤ The entrance fees to the sites & museum.
¤ The fees of a professional English speaking Guide.
¤ A soft drink in a local coffee shop in the medina.
¤ The parking fees and local taxes.
The cost is 300 u.s.dollars for the family of 7 guests.

Is this too cheap to be true? The other quotes I got was US$475 and US$450. These 2 are from big companies. The itineraries/inclusions were near identical.

 

[skoi]

Sounds good. Can you pm me with the name of the company. We got a quote for a similar tour for the three of us for $400 Tunisian dinars, which is about $300 US. We also got on for $110 US a person, and one cheaper.

Julie

 

[skoi]

I just saw Belinda's countdown and see it's about six months and one week until we leave! I have nothing planned! Nothing. And it's not like it's just a Caribbean cruise.

Time to get busy.

Julie