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

[Brooklyn]

Hi everyone! I am currently trying to book a room but I am having a difficult time with Disney. I am trying to use a military discount because my husband is a Marine, but I am being told that he must be traveling with us. That is currently not an option so me and my mom are trying to go. I am wondering if anyone on here has any advice or dealings with Disney that could help me out. Thanks!

We have used the military discount before but never without my husband. I am not sure they will allow it. I have always heard that the military member has to be present inorder to use the discount.

 

[Artopping]

That is what I was afraid of. I personally think it is dumb a spouse can't use the military discount to. I mean they allow the active duty member to use their ID to book up to 3 staterooms and of course the military member is not staying in all 3.

 

[Brooklyn]

That is what I was afraid of. I personally think it is dumb a spouse can't use the military discount to. I mean they allow the active duty member to use their ID to book up to 3 staterooms and of course the military member is not staying in all 3.

Yes I can understand your frustration. There have been times when my husband has been deployed and sometimes we were able to take advantage of things and sometimes not. I hope it all works out. The discount is great on this cruise, better then most military discounts they throw out there. Last summer we were booked with a military discount but then the CAT 12 rates came out and it was cheaper to switch to those. We however are not using the military discount for one of our rooms this time around bc we got a better deal with the kids sail free. I hope it all works out for you.

 

[goofprincess]

Spent hours on the computer last night/this morning working on Florence/Pisa and Naples plans. Put some of the Pompeii info on the website. Still have lots of work to do to figure out our day in Pisa & Florence.

Here's what I'm planning for Naples

Bus/tram/taxi or walk to Naples Garibaldi Central Station (rail)

Circumvesuviana train (Naples to Sorrento) to Pompeii-Scavi-Villa-dei-Mysteri station (across the road from site entrance)

Visit Pompeii site for 2-3 hours with audio tour (no tour guide), allowing Karen to take lots of pictures.

Lunch in Pompeii (need to check out options)

Return train toward Naples, stopping at Herculaneum (halfway back to Naples)

Visit Herculaneum 1-2 hours

Complete train return to Naples

Eat pizza in its hometown (Naples)

Back on boat around 6-7 (leaves port at 9pm)


None of this has to be booked ahead of time (better check on the train, hadn't I? - they say it's more like a commuter train).

If anybody decides they want to come along, just let me know.

- Lynne

We happy to tag along and let you be our tour guide. You know Tony, laid back and goes with the flow.

 

[Leesh77]

My Naples tour is full, but I have another tour with openings:

May 3rd Villefranche
Private guide up to 8 people
I have 2-4 spots left (waiting to see about 2 of them)
to share 600 Euro between everyone

Tour will include:
Visit Nice (market of the old city), the medieval villages of Saint-Paul and Eze, as well as Monaco and Monte-Carlo. We take the most scenic roads to enjoy the best panoramas.

The tour company has an excellent reputation.

Please PM me if you are interested! Thanks!

Dicecatt -- I had to comment because you are using the exact same tour company that I booked, and they suggested the same exact tour. LOL. Just thought it was funny.

 

[grlzmom]

Yes I can understand your frustration. There have been times when my husband has been deployed and sometimes we were able to take advantage of things and sometimes not. I hope it all works out. The discount is great on this cruise, better then most military discounts they throw out there. Last summer we were booked with a military discount but then the CAT 12 rates came out and it was cheaper to switch to those. We however are not using the military discount for one of our rooms this time around bc we got a better deal with the kids sail free. I hope it all works out for you.

Kind of same here, we are using the military rate for the TA but kept the kids sail free for the MED, it worked out way better (other than the fact we will be in closet rooms vs. balconies).

Stephanie would you by any chance personalize that Small World graphic that you made for me please? Would love it if I could have it with Simons Family on it Would print as is but have been victims of the magnet thief before.

 

[grlzmom]

Anyone who is doing the back to back have any great and wonderful plans for Saturday the 24th or is everyone just planning on getting back on board?

 

[Brooklyn]

Anyone who is doing the back to back have any great and wonderful plans for Saturday the 24th or is everyone just planning on getting back on board?

I don't even plan on leaving the terminal...I just hope that DCL let's us board early.

I wonder if the buses over the bridge will be running at 0900?

That is my biggest complaint about that port is having to ride that bus over that huge bridge to get anywhere. It is just so inconvinient.

Yes I can personalize that magnet for you. I put our awful last name on everything so it does not "walk away".

 

[grlzmom]

I don't even plan on leaving the terminal...I just hope that DCL let's us board early.

I wonder if the buses over the bridge will be running at 0900?

That is my biggest complaint about that port is having to ride that bus over that huge bridge to get anywhere. It is just so inconvinient.

Yes I can personalize that magnet for you. I put our awful last name on everything so it does not "walk away".

I was hoping it would be like doing a back to back in the States and they would walk us off last and bring us back on 20 minutes later (wishful thinking maybe but anything is possible). Would love to have the empty ship for a few hours, it's my kids favorite part of a back to back, sitting in the Cove Cafe feeling all adult like.

Would love the magnet personalized. Much less likely to grow legs and walk away. Would be great to have a cute magnet that says something like "this area under video surveillance" or something.

Thanks!

 

[Brooklyn]

I was hoping it would be like doing a back to back in the States and they would walk us off last and bring us back on 20 minutes later (wishful thinking maybe but anything is possible). Would love to have the empty ship for a few hours, it's my kids favorite part of a back to back, sitting in the Cove Cafe feeling all adult like.

Would love the magnet personalized. Much less likely to grow legs and walk away. Would be great to have a cute magnet that says something like "this area under video surveillance" or something.

Thanks!

I am really hoping that it is like "regular" back 2 backs. We too are hoping to enjoy an empty ship.

 

[uwo93]

I love the sound of butter chicken lasagna! Brought back fond memories of the head chef on the Magic making us an Indian dinner a few years back. Unfortunately, I was stricken with norovirus that night (not such a fond memory).

Don't be psyched out by the bridge to/from the Barcelona port. I don't remember it being that tough.

We are heading to the Orlando area on Sunday. Anybody need anything small picked up at Downtown Disney? Send me a pm.

 

[Brooklyn]

Don't be psyched out by the bridge to/from the Barcelona port. I don't remember it being that tough.

Not so much tough, just time consuming. I am very efficient and hate waiting around on buses to fill up to leave, etc...

 

[skoi]

That's one of the reasons I'm not thrilled with the military discounts from Disney. We're a reserve family, and would only be eligible for it when he was deployed, and then we can't use it without him being with us. So it's never good for us.

Good luck working out your rooms. We hope you can join us.

And we have space for Amalfi Coast, again, without Pompeii.

Julie

 

[RichC17]

lynne - love the graphics. so cool!

Thanks you so much!!!!!

 

[susanowen27]

Anyone who is doing the back to back have any great and wonderful plans for Saturday the 24th or is everyone just planning on getting back on board?

WE are buying the 2 day pass for the hoho bus and are hoping to spend both days visiting the sites that we just saw from the bus last time. Last trip we just had time to ride all three loops and our half day was over. This time I want to see Park Guell, Casa Batillo, Casa Mila, Picasso, La Sagrada Familla and Parc de Montjuic, plus the fountains. Optimistic?

 

[alltheparks]

Okay DH just told me his South America conference has been changed from a few days in Buenos Aires and a small town two hours away, to all of the conference being held in the small town, which means no hotel for DS and I to stay in.

Another tick as to why DS and I should do the Transatlantic, plus I have never played Bunco, and I really want to learn. Is there a beginner's table?

I am putting the cruise on hold today, and we will see what we decide over the next five days! Yeah!

 

[Brooklyn]

Okay DH just told me his South America conference has been changed from a few days in Buenos Aires and a small town two hours away, to all of the conference being held in the small town, which means no hotel for DS and I to stay in.

Another tick as to why DS and I should do the Transatlantic, plus I have never played Bunco, and I really want to learn. Is there a beginner's table?

I am putting the cruise on hold today, and we will see what we decide over the next five days! Yeah!

Sounds like a plan to me!

 

[Artopping]

I am really surprised by Disney's military discount being that they are usually so family oriented. You are right it doesn't make sense a Reservist he/she would be deployed so how would you take advantage of the discount. Also I have to say what military personnel can take 2 weeks off with this late of notice and there is always the chance the leave being denied or revoked. I am sorry just frustrated because I was so looking for to this cruise. I love Disney and my dream trip has always been to go to the Mediterranean so I was thinking how perfect combining the two together. Thanks ladies!

 

[Dicecatt]

Dicecatt -- I had to comment because you are using the exact same tour company that I booked, and they suggested the same exact tour. LOL. Just thought it was funny.

It is funny! I figured the other travel party must be someone here!

 

[Brooklyn]

Reservists can take advantage of the military deal. They have to show active duty orders (active duty papers must be dated as of January 1st of the previous year to qualify). Since a deployment is usually a year for reservists you potentially could have a whole another year to use the discount.