7/13/13 ~~ Eastern Mediterranean Mouseketeers!

[WDW Princess 71]

Hi All,

After doing a lot of thinking and research for Mykonos, our family (just DH and kids and I, not my parents) were originally planning to do the Elia Beach excursion with Disney, as we really want to have a relaxing beach day at some point on the cruise, so this will be the perfect stop for that.

But, I discovered recently that we can book a day pass on our own at the Saint John Mykonos resort for 30 Euros per person (comes out to about $38 USD), this price does not include lunch/food, but includes full access to pool, beach, chairs, towels, gym and showers. Seems like a great deal (cheaper than the Disney excursion) and probably less crowded than Elia beach, I'm guessing. Also better variety since we'd have both the pool and the ocean/beach, plus a hotel lobby to go into if we get hot, or just need a break from the sun. . The kids will enjoy playing in the pool and the beach (the beach looks really small, but that is OK).

I emailed the hotel, and they sent me a form to book the day pass, and children are for sure welcome at this resort.

http://www.saintjohn.gr/

Is anyone else doing this? Just curious. They will pick you up at the port and drop you back off (at the time you request, which is also nice). The transfer to and from the resort is also included in the 30 Euros per person price.

So, this is our new plan for Mykonos. I'm excited!!

Kathy,

We booked this from a tip from another DISer on here, Heather I think it was? Anyway yes it was super easy to arrange via email--they can be a bit slow at times- sometimes they respond to you the next day, sometimes its like a week later- that laid back beach mentality I guess! But nevertheless, I was able to complete my form and send it back. I also asked if I could Skype call to give a CC number as I didn't want to send it unsecure over email- he said I could just pay upon arrival and I didnt need to give a CC number even though it asks for it on the form, which was good. So I just wrote on there 'as per email conversation, will provide CC number on arrival'. They confirmed receipt so I guess all is good! They also will take you back to Mykonos a little early so you have time to explore town, which we want to do. We figure on heading back around 2:00 PM to have a late local lunch and some shopping in town. Hopefully we'll all be on the same transportation from the ship to the resort! They told me they'll email us with meeting point details a few days prior- I told them that was fine as we plan on checking email via a wifi hotspot a few days prior while in Athens.

 

[LovesToRun]

Lucky West Coasters! I was up at 5 AM this morning to take my youngest daughter for a tonsillectomy this morning (!) and now I am debating going to bed early and setting an alarm for 11:50 PM or just staying up . . .

Well, I think being able to book shore excursions starting at 9PM is the only benefit West coasters have when cruising with Disney. It is so expensive to fly to the east coast for a Caribbean cruise... BUT that won't ever stop us from cruising with Disney! (Although, it was nice the short time the Wonder was based in LA for Mexico cruises. We took advantage of that).... oh, and I won't cruise up to Alaska (even though the Wonder is only 3 hours from us in the summer up in Vancouver, and one summer was based here in Seattle!!!)... I grew up in Alaska, so I have zero desire to cruise where I grew up, and DH and kids have been up there enough that they feel the same. Spent enough time up in Alaska... I'd rather spend my time in warm places now.

Hope your daughter's tonsillectomy went well!! Hopefully she will get lots of ice cream and popsicles!

Well, if I were you, I'd just stay up till mid-night... you don't want to miss it by sleeping through your alarm if you set it for 11:50. Have fun booking!

I can also tell any silver people what is still available once the gold window is open tonight, if you ask. We are only booking Palo, and 2 excursions... so not a lot.

Kathy,

We booked this from a tip from another DISer on here, Heather I think it was? Anyway yes it was super easy to arrange via email--they can be a bit slow at times- sometimes they respond to you the next day, sometimes its like a week later- that laid back beach mentality I guess! But nevertheless, I was able to complete my form and send it back. I also asked if I could Skype call to give a CC number as I didn't want to send it unsecure over email- he said I could just pay upon arrival and I didnt need to give a CC number even though it asks for it on the form, which was good. So I just wrote on there 'as per email conversation, will provide CC number on arrival'. They confirmed receipt so I guess all is good! They also will take you back to Mykonos a little early so you have time to explore town, which we want to do. We figure on heading back around 2:00 PM to have a late local lunch and some shopping in town. Hopefully we'll all be on the same transportation from the ship to the resort! They told me they'll email us with meeting point details a few days prior- I told them that was fine as we plan on checking email via a wifi hotspot a few days prior while in Athens.

Thanks for all this info!! And, thanks for telling me about the CC. I was wondering if there was a more secure way to send the CC info, especially since it's just for them to have on file to charge in case you are a no-show. I will email them and ask them if I can just give them my number when I arrive.

Yah, we might very likely be on the same transportation. I can't imagine they will be just going back and forth all morning.... we were also thinking of staying until 2 PM (I'm sure we'll be sunned out by then). We were thinking of having them pick us up at about 9 AM.... but I was reading some reviews on Trip Advisor, and one person who did a day pass got to the resort at 10 AM and all the chairs were taken up (mostly just with people's stuff the chairs reserving the chairs), so they recommended getting there early to get a chair.

We are really active, so we aren't the kind of people to just "sit" and sunbathe for a long period of time.. so if we don't get a chair, it's not a huge deal... we'll be sitting on the side of the pool, in the pool, at the beach, and just going back and forth, I'm sure.

It'll be fun to see familiar faces at the resort!! I'm getting excited!

 

[smores]

Smores: Last time we were stopped in Villefranche we used Riviera Premium Tours. They were fabulous. http://www.rivierapremiumtour.com/ They were really easy to deal with, added extra time without charge when one of our pre-scheduled bookings ran late, and mailed back to Canada (without charge) my son's glasses after he left them in the van when we met back up with the Magic.

Gold bookers: Good luck to everyone getting everything they want. Let us know if any of the excursions or Palo days sell out....

thank you so much Newfoundland Sailor....i emailed them to see if we can arrange a trip to catch a glimpse!

 

[MrsG]

Hi everyone! I'm Gold, so I'm pretty sure I can book things at 12:01 AM on March 30. Anyone else staying up late tonight????

I'm about to start thinking about our FE gifts . . .

We are gold!! We are booking tonight! But, since we are on the West Coast, we are booking at 9:000PM (that is 12:00AM East Coast time). So, we don't have to stay up as late. I'm just hoping that the excursions we are planning to book that my parents also want to book are still open when Silvers can book because my parents are silver. Fingers Crossed!



Oh fun! It sounds like a great alternative to the beach (and more options for restaurants/food, too).

We'll be up and booking as well!!!!

Lucky West Coasters! I was up at 5 AM this morning to take my youngest daughter for a tonsillectomy this morning (!) and now I am debating going to bed early and setting an alarm for 11:50 PM or just staying up . . .

Julie, hugs and hope she feels better very soon.

 

[bellelinus]

OK, Palo booked and all checked in! There seemed to be plenty of Palo availability, for brunch and dinner. Also, for port arrival time, all times were open. Good luck to everyone Gold booking now, and EXTRA good luck (but hopefully you won't need it) for those booking later as Silver.

 

[bellelinus]

Hope your daughter's tonsillectomy went well!! Hopefully she will get lots of ice cream and popsicles!

Thanks to you and to MaryAnn (Mrs G) for the good wishes! Yes, lots of ice cream and popsicles and liquid Tylenol with codeine, for that matter . . . I think she'll recover quickly.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

My best activities booking/online checkin experience in 7 cruises! Easy, no technical issues, plenty of availability, and got to do online checkin right away (it used to be sometime around 3:00 AM ET, for some strange reason). I did have to change my passport expiration date to a random date in the future, because my current one is not valid past 90 days post cruise, as it showed up as an error. I am renewing in about a month or so, so I just put in a future date and luckily that worked for the system and I was able to complete the checkin and get the 11:00 AM port arrival time.

Definitely plenty of Palo availability for brunch & dinner. Both days I checked had all time slots available. I got my birthday dinner booked on July 15 and picked brunch for July 22 so they are pretty spread out.

So excited now I can't sleep. Checking in and booking Palo always makes me feel like the cruise is so close!!!

 

[tajz90]

I was a bit disappointed with the times left for the massages. Grrr. I wanted a massage earlier in the cruise, but I am not willing to be ready for an 8am appointment. Geez. I will check later.

However, I did book Delos Island which is the only excursion I really wanted with DCL. Yeah.

I also booked a Palo Brunch. Not sure if I will keep it though. I'm not wanting to bring dress clothes this time around. We will see.

 

[LovesToRun]

OK, Palo booked and all checked in! There seemed to be plenty of Palo availability, for brunch and dinner. Also, for port arrival time, all times were open. Good luck to everyone Gold booking now, and EXTRA good luck (but hopefully you won't need it) for those booking later as Silver.

Yes, we are all booked, too! Palo, check-in, shore excursions we wanted....

But, to add to 'bellelinus' saying there is plenty of Palo and port arrival times (early times) available, as of now, the ONLY shore excursions that are booked up as of now is: Malta by Segway and the 16 passenger Private Vehicle excursions in both Rome and Athens (and I think there was a 3 passenger private vehicle booked up for Athens as well). But, all of the other excursions are open still!

Let's hope all of this availability stays this way so all the silvers can get what they want.

 

[LovesToRun]

I was a bit disappointed with the times left for the massages. Grrr. I wanted a massage earlier in the cruise, but I am not willing to be ready for an 8am appointment. Geez. I will check later.

In my past experience, some spa appointments open up once you get on the ship. I bet you could get a better time once you board the ship.... but I could be wrong. I've only used the spa a few times in all the cruises we've done, and all those times, I waited to book until I got on the ship, and I always got really desirable time slots. Yah, keep checking back... people cancel and change things, too. But, if you can't change it, just head to the spa once you board the ship on July 13 and I bet they will have openings that work better.

 

[LovestoSail]

Anyone know why the Angels and Demons tour wasn't listed for Rome ? that is the only one I really wanted. I'm disappointed.

 

[LovesToRun]

Checking in and booking Palo always makes me feel like the cruise is so close!!!

I know! I always feel the same.... that checking in and booking everything does make the cruise feel like it's so much closer. I can't believe it really isn't that far away. We booked this Med cruise the day it came available for booking over a year ago! Back then, it seemed like light ages away, and now, here we are just a few months away from the cruise. Hard to believe!

 

[LovesToRun]

Anyone know why the Angels and Demons tour wasn't listed for Rome ? that is the only one I really wanted. I'm disappointed.

Hmmmm..... that is strange. I wonder if they are still figuring out logistics of this tour, and it will be available for booking soon?? Just a thought? Or, maybe they decided to not offer it, but never took it out of the Port Adventure menu?

I would keep checking back to see if it shows up... or you could call Disney Cruises and ask.

That is too bad since it's the only one you really wanted... hopefully it'll show up! Good luck!

 

[LovestoSail]

Hmmmm..... that is strange. I wonder if they are still figuring out logistics of this tour, and it will be available for booking soon?? Just a thought? Or, maybe they decided to not offer it, but never took it out of the Port Adventure menu?

I would keep checking back to see if it shows up... or you could call Disney Cruises and ask.

That is too bad since it's the only one you really wanted... hopefully it'll show up! Good luck!

Thanks LovesToRun, yes, I'll keep checking. reading over a 2000 page book.. and now not being able to do the tour will be a bummer. We could possibly do it on our own, but the logistics get tricky....

 

[LovesToRun]

Thanks LovesToRun, yes, I'll keep checking. reading over a 2000 page book.. and now not being able to do the tour will be a bummer. We could possibly do it on our own, but the logistics get tricky....

LovestoSail,

I just did a quick search on Google, and found this:

http://www.angelsanddemons.it/the_official_tour.aspx

Have no idea if this is the same thing as what the Disney excursion was, or if this works for someone coming from a cruise ship, or if this company/tour has good reviews or not, etc. etc., but it might be worth checking into, if Disney ended up cancelling this tour.

Again, hope it works out for you!

 

[MrsG]

My best activities booking/online checkin experience in 7 cruises! Easy, no technical issues, plenty of availability, and got to do online checkin right away (it used to be sometime around 3:00 AM ET, for some strange reason). I did have to change my passport expiration date to a random date in the future, because my current one is not valid past 90 days post cruise, as it showed up as an error. I am renewing in about a month or so, so I just put in a future date and luckily that worked for the system and I was able to complete the checkin and get the 11:00 AM port arrival time.

Definitely plenty of Palo availability for brunch & dinner. Both days I checked had all time slots available. I got my birthday dinner booked on July 15 and picked brunch for July 22 so they are pretty spread out.

So excited now I can't sleep. Checking in and booking Palo always makes me feel like the cruise is so close!!!

I agree, the easiest yet. Tom and I looked at each other after checking and double checking 10 mins. in, thinking we must be forgetting something. Tried to check in last night but kept getting error. Just did it now and got 11-11:30 port arrival time so early times are still available.

 

[bellelinus]

I agree, the easiest yet. Tom and I looked at each other after checking and double checking 10 mins. in, thinking we must be forgetting something. Tried to check in last night but kept getting error. Just did it now and got 11-11:30 port arrival time so early times are still available.

MaryAnn, let's coordinate the first day on the ship and see if we can book a wine tasting together . . . and anyone else who is interested, too!

 

[bellelinus]

Let me add that I went on this morning around 8:30 to look at the Vista Spa and was able to book "Alone time" on a sea day for 2 PM, which is really good . . . most days had it available for 8 AM and 5:15, but the 2 PM slot was harder to get. I'm not sure about the availability for all spa appointments, but this is the one in the villa with the hot tub.

 

[MrsG]

MaryAnn, let's coordinate the first day on the ship and see if we can book a wine tasting together . . . and anyone else who is interested, too!

Sounds like a plan, Julie!!!

 

[Stimpy]

Hi everyone! Haven't checked in for a while!

Welcome to all the new cruisers. I noticed there are a few more boys my DS's age (13, almost 14 when we cruise). He'll be happy to hear that.

I was a day off for our booking day! I don't know why I thought it was tonight. I signed on yesterday afternoon to double check what we were going to book and saw that I could actually book it then. Fortunately, I was able to get all our excursions. Missed the time I wanted for the couple massage...like someone else mentioned the only times left were at 8:00 AM each morning. Way too early LOL We really have no interest in Palo so I didn't have to worry about that.

We are doing the following:
Villefranche: White River Rafting (boys), Perfumer Appretice(girls)...my DD is too young for the River Rafting
La Spezia: Explore Lucca & Pisa
Civitavecchia: Vatican City, Coliseum, & Catacombs
Athens: Acropolis w/ Youth Activity
Kusadasi: Archaeological Quest & Ephesus
Mykonos: Delos Island
Valletta: Turkish Schooner

I'm also stressing about the dress codes. The girls are easier, capris & sun dresses. It's my DS & DH that are hard. I'm going to check out Old Navy online now for DS. DH is a whiner with the heat....yet this cruise was his idea & he's the one that wants to go to the Vatican. He may just have to suck it up & wear slacks.