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

[cam71099]

Alyson!!

Where on LI are you? I grew up in Manhasset!

To answer your question... you'll find some folks are doing DCL, others are hiring tour companies, some are DIY, but I think quite a few of us are a combination of a little bit of everything Our family's plans as they currently stand...

Valetta, Malta: DCL - Blue Grotto and Fishing Village
Tunis, Tunisia: DCL - Medina and Carthage
Naples, Italy: We've hired a driver to take us to Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius (my oldest DS wants to climb!) with a stop in Sorrento for lunch and a little shopping - cause you know if DS is going to make Momma climb - then Momma's going to make them all shop
Civitavecchia, Italy: We and another family are going via private driver and guide (Vatican) to Rome and see the highlights
La Spezia, Italy: DIY - we're hooking up with a few fellow travelers and going by train to Pisa
Ajaccio, Corsica: DIY - think we're going to walk into town - maybe see a couple of sites, go to the "market" and grab a picnic and then head to the beach and soak up the sun!
Villefranche, France: DCL - Monaco and Top Car Museum

So funny, we are in Great Neck, right next to Manhasset

Thanks so much for your info. Do you mind telling me where you found out about the private tours and such. Did you book the train ride? How are you getting in to different attractions, purchase before or purchase when you get there? This is all so overwhelming! We originally thought we would just go through DCL for most everything but now I am thinking if we can save money lets venture out and check out other options. It will just be the two of us traveling, our 3 kids will be with my parents, so we are really flexible.

Thanks!!
Alyson

 

[Dicecatt]

We are in for the FE...You can count my husband and me as one! We don't have a cabin number yet.

 

[Dicecatt]

Hi all!

I know I don't post much, not too big on that! However I love to read what everyone has to say The biggest thing I am interested in is how many of you are doing tours and such on your own as opposed to doing a Port Adventure through DCL. Since reading about this I have been wondering if we should do the same and my husband has been searching trying to figure things out. He asked if I could go on here and ask you all where you are going though and how you are doing it. We are mainly looking at Rome but any other information is welcomed! Thanks so much in advance. I will try and become more active on here, I promise

Alyson

Hi Alyson,

Here is what we are doing (kind of a mix and private and DCL):

Malta: Blue Grotto & Fishing Village
Tunis: Medina and Carthage
Rome: Private tour
Naples: Private tour
La Spezia: Portofino and Santa Margherita
Corsica: Las Calanches through DCL
Villefranche: Private tour

 

[NC_Tink]

Jeanne - feel free to join us if you'd like! We're playing it fairly loose that day - figure after having such intense ports - we'll need a day just to "veg". I've read that the market is wonderful and a stop there was recommended on some port review I had read (can't remember which since I've read so much Also, there's a beach very close to port (I think I recall it's about a 10 minute walk) It probably won't be warm enough to go swimming - but I'm sure my boys will splash in the water anyway!

 

[linkandclover]

Hi all!

I know I don't post much, not too big on that! However I love to read what everyone has to say The biggest thing I am interested in is how many of you are doing tours and such on your own as opposed to doing a Port Adventure through DCL. Since reading about this I have been wondering if we should do the same and my husband has been searching trying to figure things out. He asked if I could go on here and ask you all where you are going though and how you are doing it. We are mainly looking at Rome but any other information is welcomed! Thanks so much in advance. I will try and become more active on here, I promise

Alyson

Hi Alyson,

We are doing the following:
Valetta on our own
Tunes DCL Berber village
Naples private tour to Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii and Sorrento
Rome private tour
La Spezia my husband and younger son are on DCL trip to Ferrari, myself and older son DCL Florence on your own
Corsica on our own
Ville Franche travel to Monaco on our own

Our private tours are through Romeinlimo

Debby

 

[NC_Tink]

So funny, we are in Great Neck, right next to Manhasset

Thanks so much for your info. Do you mind telling me where you found out about the private tours and such. Did you book the train ride? How are you getting in to different attractions, purchase before or purchase when you get there? This is all so overwhelming! We originally thought we would just go through DCL for most everything but now I am thinking if we can save money lets venture out and check out other options. It will just be the two of us traveling, our 3 kids will be with my parents, so we are really flexible.

Thanks!!
Alyson

Wow - small world!!

As for private tours - found a lot of my information right here on the DIS. One of our fellow DISers who cruised the Mediterranean in 2007 was kind enough to share all sorts of information on private tours. Here's a link to that thread: 2007 Mediterranean Andrew Derek's post is #4 - he lists many companies! I also used Cruise Critic to research some of these companies as well as Rick Steve's book on Rome to get more information.

We have not booked the train ride to Pisa. A week or so ago, I asked this question, of our fellow cruisers, and am quite happy to report that everyone feels that the train is easy to find and easy to get tickets that day . As for tickets for the different venues... our tour operator in Rome will get us tickets for the Colosseum - but we'll be purchasing tickets for the Vatican Museums that day. However, we do have a private guide booked and I've been told that she will help us get tickets. As for Pisa - I don't think we're actually going to climb the Tower - my boys want those "tourist" photos - ya know - the one where it looks like you're holding the tower up Other places we'll need tickets - like Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius - again we haven't pre-purchased - didn't even think about those. hmm, now I'm wondering if I should? Anyone who's been before want to direct us here - should we prepurchase tickets for Pompeii and/or Mt. Vesuvius?

 

[carpenta]

We booked all the ports with shore excursions through Disney. I don't think that is the case for everyone here in this forum. We've not been on a cruise nor to many of these places in Europe before and with some younger kids just felt it was easier for us to opt that route and book through DCL. And in several cases, we had a tough time narrowing down which adventure to pick from the DCL choices. In a few ports we did only 1/2 day adventures but in most ports we picked all day ones we are doing.

We are doing things on our own in Barcelona as we have a hotel for before and after the cruise for a few days. We've not figured out yet everything there we are doing in Barcelona . We are still trying to find time to research that and then decide we do everything there on our own vs find anything we want to do through some local tour company as there are some day trip options to places 1-2 hours outside of Barcelona.

We did all our excursions through Disney last cruise in 2007 and thought the tour company (Trumpy tours in Italy and France) did a wonderful job especially with the kids. The guides were quite kind and patient with the questions and the tours themselves were flawless. We also will be doing all our tours through Disney again. Barcelona is such a great town to explore on your own and the tour bus that circles on three loops can be boarded and tickets purchased on the bus. You can spend a good portion of the day just strolling Los Ramblus the main drag in Barcelona.We booked our hotel through Disney previously and again this trip and the hotel was five star and located in a great downtown location that makes it easy to walk to all the tourist areas.

 

[auntlynne]

Hey guys - I am putting your excursion info on the Med Excursion page - maybe if it's in one place, people can get some info now & in the future.

If anyone EVER wants anything removed from the website, let me know. I don't want you to think I'm taking liberties with your personal info!

- Lynne

(You can access the website by the address listed below in my signature box

 

[NC_Tink]

Okay - just thought I'd share this tidbit of information. I was watching one of our news shows and they stated that travel to Europe is fairly inexpensive right now and that hotel prices are dropping. So, out of curiosity I checked our hotel rate in London a few days ago and the price had come down 40 GBPs for the 4 nights (so, I rebooked at the lower rate). I checked again tonight and the price has come down another 60 GBPs! So, I've rebooked again and am now a total of 100 GBPs less than where we were just a week ago! So, you might want to check your hotel rates. Don't know if Barcelona's prices are coming down as well - it may not change - but if it has - BONUS

 

[TheCruisers]

Please add us to the FE's list.

Eleasa, DH Jim and DS Raine (8) GTY

Thanks
Eleasa

Lynne - Just posting will do for joining the FE

Here's what I've got so far:

alltheparks

auntlynne
Brooklyn
dolphingirl47
grlzmom
Happy Goofy
linkandclover
lynnemcb
NC_Tink
RichC17
shushh
skoi


12 family groups - 14 cabins - 25 adults - 23 kids

Including the following children:

Jonah (18m)

DD Kelsie (4)
DD Madison (4)

Lara (5)

DS Bryce (6)
Aiden (6)
DS (6)

Bella (7)
Nickolas (7)
Elliot (7)

DD Brooklyn (8)
Chloe (8)
DD (8)

DS Jared (10)
DS Kieran (10)

DS Sigurd (11)

DS Connor (12)

DS Ryan (13)
Emily (13)

Kelsey (15)
DD Sadie (15)

Karen (16)

Kayti (18)

Hey! I finally figured out that multi quote thingie!!!!

Lynne, you don't have us on the FE list. Can we still be added?

Thanks!
Eleasa

 

[Dicecatt]

Hey guys - I am putting your excursion info on the Med Excursion page - maybe if it's in one place, people can get some info now & in the future.

If anyone EVER wants anything removed from the website, let me know. I don't want you to think I'm taking liberties with your personal info!

- Lynne

(You can access the website by the address listed below in my signature box

Lynne, I just wanted to say...you are awesome.

 

[cam71099]

Okay - just thought I'd share this tidbit of information. I was watching one of our news shows and they stated that travel to Europe is fairly inexpensive right now and that hotel prices are dropping. So, out of curiosity I checked our hotel rate in London a few days ago and the price had come down 40 GBPs for the 4 nights (so, I rebooked at the lower rate). I checked again tonight and the price has come down another 60 GBPs! So, I've rebooked again and am now a total of 100 GBPs less than where we were just a week ago! So, you might want to check your hotel rates. Don't know if Barcelona's prices are coming down as well - it may not change - but if it has - BONUS

That is great! Our airfare went down, however the airlines wont adjust it for us. DH was pretty upset! You just never know with airfare. We booked it when we did b/c we saw prices going up, who knew the next week or so they would go down again
Has anyone had good luck with airfare?

Alyson

 

[auntlynne]

...Lynne, you don't have us on the FE list. Can we still be added?

Now, you are on the list.

I post it here because I do overlook posts (or get so excited about something that I forget).

If anyone is ever checking to see if I caught there info (even a PM doesn't guarantee I'll get it right) and it is not listed, let me know.

...Has anyone had good luck with airfare?

Only Southwest.

- Lynne (not from Scotland, but my mother's family was, a long time ago)

 

[TheCruisers]

Now, you are on the list.

Thank you! For this and everything else you do!

 

[shushh]

Lynne you are super efficient!

Here's what we're doing

Valetta, Malta: Private tour - Touring Malta
Tunis, Tunisia: Private tour
Naples, Italy: Private tour - Rome Connection - Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano & Amalfi Coast
Civitavecchia, Italy: Private tour - RomeConnection
La Spezia, Italy: Private tour to 5T -5T National Park Tourist Office
Ajaccio, Corsica: DIY
Villefranche, France: DIY

 

[auntlynne]

I hope you just copied & pasted.

 

[auntlynne]

WEBSITE UPDATE:

After 2 days of "Unable to Publish, Try Again Later," I removed some pages, combined others and finally got it to print. If what you are looking for seems missing, it might just be in another place. I did take away the deck plans that showed "our" highlighted cabins - the problem didn't happen until I put those pages on the site.

I put the cruiser info for this cruise up top, with the cruiser info for the TA - information pages for various ports are in order of visitation.

It has accepted my last few saves and publications.

- Lynne

 

[salboz]

We are 2 people looking for others to share our tours for more fun and a lower cost. Here is the itinerary

-Naples - a drive along the Amalfi coast road to see and stop in Sorrento , Positano a lunch by Costantino to enjoy the homemade local food and admire a spectacular view of Positano Villagge , along the Amaldi coast road you can stop anytime you wish to take pictures or to admire colors of Mediterraneum Sea and Ligally island mentioned by Greek poet Omer , tour also includes Pompei excavation to see a real Roman city with its roads , shops , Termopoliums , Domus , Circus , Theatre and other sites of interest . A stop by a local place for lunch , pizza slice or gelato can be considered.
Shore excursion is of 9 hour from pick up to drop off ship side , at cost of 450/500/550euro for a group of 2/4/6 person .

Admission fees for Pompei , guide for Pompei , lunch and tip are not included.


-LaSpezia - to see Pisa leaning Tower , Piazza dei Miracoli , Baptistry , Duomo - a drive along the way to Florence to see Tuscany country side - Florence hilites like Duomo , Academia to see David by Michelangelo , Campanile Bell of Giotto , Pontevecchiio , S.Lorenzo area , Santacroce church to see monument to Michelangelo , Piazza Santacroce with its typical flee market , Piazza della Signoria , Palazzo Medici and Palazzo Pitti from the outside , Academia to see David by Michelangelo , Piazzale MIchelangelo up the hill of Arcetri to have a breath taking view of Florence and other sites of interest in town. A stop by a local place for lunch , pizza slice or gelato can be considered.
To avoid line at Academia i can book for you.

Shore excursion is of 9 hour from pick up to drop off ship side , at cost of 500/550/600 for a group of 2/4/6 person.
Admission fees for Academia 10euro each person , Santacroce church 5euro each , lunch and tips are not included.

- Civitavecchia - Hilites of Rome like Circus Maximus , Palatine Hill , Roman Forum , Colosseo , Piazza Venezia , Mussolini Balcony , Vittoriano Monument , Pantheon , Trevi Fountain , Spanish Steps , S.Peter in Vinculis to see Statue of Moses by Michelangelo , Tiberina Island on the Tiber river , some ancient Roman bridges while crossing the river and other significant sites , tour of Rome also includes Vatican to see Vaticam Museum ( Sistine Chapel ) Basilica and S.Peter Square . A stop by a local place for lunch , pizza slice or gelato can be considered.

Shore excursion is of 9 hour from pick up to drop off , at cost of 450/500/550 for a group of 2/4/6 person. Admission fees for Colosseo 12euro each person , Vatican Museum 14euro each , guide for Vatican , lunch and tips are not included.


This is through All Around Italy and has very good reputation.

 

[grlzmom]

Jeanne - feel free to join us if you'd like! We're playing it fairly loose that day - figure after having such intense ports - we'll need a day just to "veg". I've read that the market is wonderful and a stop there was recommended on some port review I had read (can't remember which since I've read so much Also, there's a beach very close to port (I think I recall it's about a 10 minute walk) It probably won't be warm enough to go swimming - but I'm sure my boys will splash in the water anyway!

I agree, even if my kids aren't ready to "veg", pretty sure me and dh will be, and market/beach are both on my "want to do" list

WEBSITE UPDATE:

After 2 days of "Unable to Publish, Try Again Later," I removed some pages, combined others and finally got it to print. If what you are looking for seems missing, it might just be in another place. I did take away the deck plans that showed "our" highlighted cabins - the problem didn't happen until I put those pages on the site.

I put the cruiser info for this cruise up top, with the cruiser info for the TA - information pages for various ports are in order of visitation.

It has accepted my last few saves and publications.

- Lynne

Agreeing with everyone else Lynne, thanks for all your hard work on the website

 

[auntlynne]

Have any of y'all checked in the open/close status for anything in Ajaccio, since we are there on a Sunday?