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

[shushh]

Julie, which flights did you get in the end? If you're looking for a hotel near the airport, I remember on another thread someone mentioning the Marriot Renaissance? I think it includes a free shuttle somewhere (not sure where to though! LOL!!!)

No luck then with sharing a tour with anyone else on our cruise? I was sure I saw someone posting requesting tour buddies...

 

[skoi]

We're leaving that day, around 1:30. The connection time in London is kind of tight, but if we miss the flight, we'll manage.

We have a Tunis tour, but I'm hesitating taking it. I'm still thinking I want to get out there and handle it myself. After 19 days in Morocco (though we'll have babysitters to watch out for us part of the time) we should be all right.

 

[Happy Goofy]

I agree about dropping the FE from the Med. cruise. Everyone will be so busy with the port activities etc. We are doing them on the TA but there is more free time then. On the other hand if the majority want to have the FE we will go along with them.

 

[NC_Tink]

We're leaving that day, around 1:30. The connection time in London is kind of tight, but if we miss the flight, we'll manage.

We have a Tunis tour, but I'm hesitating taking it. I'm still thinking I want to get out there and handle it myself. After 19 days in Morocco (though we'll have babysitters to watch out for us part of the time) we should be all right.

Julie - we're catching a flight back about 1:30 as well - going through Heathrow and need to make a connection (terminal 3 to terminal 5) in 3 hours -- hoping we make it! It's the only flight out to Newark that night -- so we figured we'd go for it. At least there's a later flight (in case we do miss), but that goes into JFK, which would be a much longer drive for my Brother to come get us. Just have to have some faith, trust and pixie dust that we'll make our connections! So, I'll throw some your way and you'll have to make your connections too!

 

[susanowen27]

I am trying to add an Avatar so I am testing it!

Can you use this picture on the B@B photo page?
Thanks
Susan

 

[decham]

Is there one good place to go to read about what others are doing at the different ports? I know that Disney has many excursions … what I am looking for is "are there things that people are planning on their own"? I guess I am wondering how hard it would be to plan your own excursions and am wondering if there is a good place to read about what others are doing. By the way my family and I are booked for April.

 

[Lyrah]

Hi and Welcome aboard!

Lynne has made an awesome website with tons of info on it. Just click on the link in her signature. I am not sure if there is an area where it tells what everyone is doing. I think a lot of people are still doing research and trying to decide.

My family and I at this point are planning on doing an excursion in Tunis and exploring all of the other ports on our own. We are also interested in tours with other cruisers depending on where and what they are planning.

When I can I am going to post some info and websites that might be helpful to others in planning their own excursions. A page or so back I added a little info on Naples.

I think that it would be great if other cruisers post what they have found so that we all have as much informative infomation as possible.

 

[shushh]

Hurray! Another cruiser. Welcome!

I echo Lyrah with regard to Lynne's website. It is full of useful info, as is mehaul's site. For private excursions, go the Med 2007 FAQs. A DISer by the name of Andrew has kindly listed many, many companies for private tours. I've added a post towards the end with some companies for Tunis, Malta and private transfers in Barcelona.

Other than that, there's no quick way of finding out what people are doing. I've listed what we're doing on post#274. On the trip reports sub-forum, lmhall has a trip report. I know they are doing alot of ports on their own.

Hope that helps!

Susan, what's the B@B photopage?

Belinda

 

[Happy Goofy]

I think the Lanyards are a good idea so we can identify ourselves.I agree about the FE would be too much for this trip. We can just have a few social get togethers so we can get to know each other and exchange ideas. I keep forgetting what activities are for this cruise and what is for the TA. I have to keep going back to your site and THANK YOU so much for doing that- it keeps things in order.

 

[auntlynne]

... Lynne's website. It is full of useful info, as is mehaul's site. For private excursions, go the Med 2007 FAQs. ...

Other than that, there's no quick way of finding out what people are doing. I've listed what we're doing on post#274. On the trip reports sub-forum, lmhall has a trip report. I know they are doing alot of ports on their own....

There's a link to mehaul's site on the website (Misc. page) - first one listed.

 

[susanowen27]

Hurray! Another cruiser. Welcome!

I echo Lyrah with regard to Lynne's website. It is full of useful info, as is mehaul's site. For private excursions, go the Med 2007 FAQs. A DISer by the name of Andrew has kindly listed many, many companies for private tours. I've added a post towards the end with some companies for Tunis, Malta and private transfers in Barcelona.

Other than that, there's no quick way of finding out what people are doing. I've listed what we're doing on post#274. On the trip reports sub-forum, lmhall has a trip report. I know they are doing alot of ports on their own.

Hope that helps!

Susan, what's the B@B photopage?

Belinda

Great information, thanks. Just a typo, was trying to post photo for the EB TA AND April 24 Med cruise BTB CRUISERS photo page

 

[grlzmom]

to the new cruisers!

Been busy here, but am managing to get some of our port plans organized.

Doing all day private tours with limoinrome in both Civitavecchia and Naples seeing just about everything we can see in 10-12 hours but highlights are private tour of Vatican Museum, etc. in Rome with Art Historian and private tour Pompeii with archeologist (I'm really interested in Pompeii).

In Malta decided we want to see the blue Grotto.

La Spezia, not sure. After two long days touring maybe don't want to do much but have reserved limoinrome just in case.

Tunisia, think we want to see the Bardo museum.

Segway tour in Barcelona

We were planning to do mostly DCL tours since it was just going to be me and the girls but now its me, dh and 6 of the kids so better to do it on our own.

Have managed to get all my tours booked for the transatlantic cruise prior to this one, so making progress but still need to pin down airfare!

Love reading about everyone's plans! Jealous of some of you that have trips coming up soon.

For anyone who is over nighting in Barcelona, where are you staying?

And, for anyone going to Blue Grotta who might have info to share, would love to hear it. We may just end up doing the DCL tour if we can't figure out something else.

 

[skoi]

Welcome aboard!


We're still up in the air for a few ports. We know we're doing Rome, Malta, Villefranche, and Ajaccio on our own.

Not sure about Tunis, depends on whether we want to go to Carthage. If we don't do Carthage, we're going alone into the medina to just tour around the city.

Also not sure about Naples, depends on if the kids want to see the museum and cathedrals in the city or go down to Amalfi (my choice).

We're currently booked on the Florence on your own with Disney, so we don't have to deal with the train, etc.

I also like the idea of lanyards. This is another discussion I completely missed.

Julie

 

[auntlynne]

... I also like the idea of lanyards. This is another discussion I completely missed.

Julie

You haven't missed the lanyard discussion yet.

Lynne

 

[auntlynne]

I submitted the Brunch Bunch request with the following names:

John
Charlotte
Lynne
Jeanne
Julie
Brian
Lubi
Belinda
Malcolm
Lara
Chris
Sandy
Tony

Got phone call from the Palo reservationist verifying she received the request. It is a first-come first-served system. She cannot say if we can have the room or which day (I requested it after Castaway Cay so it won't conflict with the Gold/Platinum CC / Crew Mixer. They will notify me 30 days before the cruise and will automatically drop any personal pre-board brunch reservations you have made.

I did not submit Sherry's name as I have not heard back from her. There is still room for her or one other person.

Also, if 12-14 more people want to have a group lunch in the private dining room, we can submit those names as a separate day's brunch.

Lynne

 

[NC_Tink]

Is there one good place to go to read about what others are doing at the different ports? I know that Disney has many excursions … what I am looking for is "are there things that people are planning on their own"? I guess I am wondering how hard it would be to plan your own excursions and am wondering if there is a good place to read about what others are doing. By the way my family and I are booked for April.

aboard!!! It's nice to see more cruisers joining us!

As you can see by previous posts - it's kind of a hodge podge as to what folks are doing - we're doing a little mix and match as well. We've booked two private tour companies - one in Rome (Rome Connection) and one in Naples (Pleasant Travel). I got both of these companies' names off of the list that Andrew Derek made. Here's a link to that thread -- it's post # 4 2007 Mediterranean Cruise thread Also, in post #2, there are links to 2007 trip reports and what folks did then. Although some of the ports are different - it gives you a good idea. And, of course there are the links within this thread to Auntlynne, mehaul, and other places that also will provide you with great sources of information about the places we'll be visiting

Anyway - like I said - for us - private tours in Rome and Naples (we're doing Pompeii, Mt Vesuvius and Sorrento). In Corsica - I think we're doing it on our own - just going to walk into town and see what we can see. Malta - I think we want to see the Blue Grotto - we may just book the DCL excursion on this one. Tunis - we haven't decided between the Carthage/Medina tour (DCL) or the Berber Village (DCL). Villefranche - DH and boys want to see the Prince's car collection - so we think we're headed to Monaco - probably via DCL since there's Grand Prix stuff going on that week. La Spezia -- I have a couple DCL excursions I still need to run past my boys -- but we may just hop on a train and go into Pisa - climb the tower and then head back to the ship. We may make this a short day since the two days prior will be jam packed with Rome and Pompeii itineraries.

 

[shushh]

Wow, I've woken up to such a flur of activity on the thread! Sounds like everyone's been busy organising.

Jeanne, how long are you planning to stay in Barcelona? With the size of your family, how about an apartment? There are heaps which are beautiful, centrally located and well-priced!

 

[auntlynne]

I'll be back from vacation Feb 7 and will put a who's doing what page on the website. Until then, keep posting and talking.

PS: If you are uncertain whether to do a DCL excursion or on your own, you can book the Disney one and then cancel it (leaving it available for people with later booking opportunities).

Aloha,
Lynne

 

[alltheparks]

We are definately interested in sharing private tours, working with a few others on this site, but nothing confirmed yet.

Anyone interested in seeing the long detailed email I put together (Decham and Lyrah) should PM your home email address and I will forward the details. Plus, I am open to other suggestion.

I will post our plans once finalized!

 

[grlzmom]

Welcome aboard!


Also not sure about Naples, depends on if the kids want to see the museum and cathedrals in the city or go down to Amalfi (my choice).

Julie

I'm really looking forward to the Amalfi coast/Sorrento. Amalfi looks beautiful! We are combining that with Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.

We are trying decide about Tunis Berber Village too, can't find a review anywhere. Have booked DCL Grotto trip for now. Please post if you find something better.

Wow, I've woken up to such a flur of activity on the thread! Sounds like everyone's been busy organising.

Jeanne, how long are you planning to stay in Barcelona? With the size of your family, how about an apartment? There are heaps which are beautiful, centrally located and well-priced!

Our little board does seem to be getting busier Truthfully I don't want to stay in Barcelona at all, want to go home after a month of vaca but if I can't get the flight I want will add just 2 days on at the end.