7/14/2014 - 12-Night Mediterranean Cruise (with Greece) Venice to Barcelona

[SailingSeas]

That looks incredible! Disney has offered special excursions for Barcelona, pre and post cruise, so we can dream about this little fantasy, right?

If there's enough demand, Disney will research it. We should all call/write/poke the powers that be and ask them if this will be avaialble for our sailing!

 

[MPS516]

It would be great, the ship does not arrive prior to our sailaway so may be difficult to include all the cast, but maybe they would do an after hours tour without them.

 

[keenercam]

Wow! That tour looks so wonderful! Kind of like something you'd experience with Adventures by Disney. Sadly, I'm thinking that they wouldn't be able to do that kind of thing for us since we sail away before the Palace is closed to the public.

Not that I'm planning this far in advance or anything (LOL!), but Howard just bought me this very nice Brighton tote bag for the cruise. I may use it for a weekend away to Saint Augustine a few months from now, but otherwise I am putting it away for our European adventure!

The "feet" on the bottom are so cute - they are anchor-shaped leather cutouts:

ETA:
Here is the inside. I think the print is really cute. There is a piece of leather in there to hook keys too and a zippered pocket. Most importantly, the top of the tote zips closed.

 

[poohmomof5]

Super cute bag!!!! OMG!

 

[keenercam]

Super cute bag!!!! OMG!

I can't believe I forgot to take a photo of the lining. I have to see if I can find one. It is, indeed, SUPER CUTE!!!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

The bag is really cute!

 

[SailingSeas]

...please do not show my daughter that bag...

 

[keenercam]

LOL! I just added a photo of the inside and showing that the top of the tote zippers closed.

 

[SailingSeas]

LOL i keep expecting to find a hidden mickey on the bag.

OK, I'm getting overwhelmed by what to try and see in Venice. What are some of the 'must see's' that are on your lists?

 

[poohmomof5]

For our trip to Venice this summer, I am doing a "backstreets of Venice" tour, just to get more local atmosphere. And we booked the "Secret Itinieraries" tour for Doge's Palace. This isn't a Disney excursion, but it is limited to 25 people and you get to go over the Bridge of Sighs, and go to the torture chambers, jails etc. It is limited to 25 people. I booked that in conjunction with the climb the clocktower tour and I am super excited about both!

I also found online some local tours where they take you to several wine bars for wine samplilng and tapas. YUMMY!!

And of course, we are going to so a Gondola ride.

 

[MPS516]

We have laid out a self guided back streets walkabout based on places friends have told us to see. Will be looking for a private tour of Doge's Palace, if we hit the timing for an after hours group which I understand a few local tours do. Grand Canal by water bus and as many waterside café or wine stops as we can fit into 3 days.

 

[denise]

Did you just find a local company for the tours?
When we did the Med cruise in '07 we hooked up with another
family from the DIS for some tours. Just two families and they were great. We did one tour with Disney and it was ok but really liked that there were only 7 of us on our private tours....we saw things that the Disney tours didn't show even though they were doing the same tour...
Let us know what company you used and of course if you loved it.
I heard the gondola ride is over the top expensive....

For our trip to Venice this summer, I am doing a "backstreets of Venice" tour, just to get more local atmosphere. And we booked the "Secret Itinieraries" tour for Doge's Palace. This isn't a Disney excursion, but it is limited to 25 people and you get to go over the Bridge of Sighs, and go to the torture chambers, jails etc. It is limited to 25 people. I booked that in conjunction with the climb the clocktower tour and I am super excited about both!

I also found online some local tours where they take you to several wine bars for wine samplilng and tapas. YUMMY!!

And of course, we are going to so a Gondola ride.

 

[poohmomof5]

Did you just find a local company for the tours?
When we did the Med cruise in '07 we hooked up with another
family from the DIS for some tours. Just two families and they were great. We did one tour with Disney and it was ok but really liked that there were only 7 of us on our private tours....we saw things that the Disney tours didn't show even though they were doing the same tour...
Let us know what company you used and of course if you loved it.
I heard the gondola ride is over the top expensive....

Yep, just used Tripadvisor and google.

For the gondola ride, I hear it is about 100 Euros, but there are 7 of us, so I am okay with that for the once in a lifetime experience.

 

[denise]

Yep, just used Tripadvisor and google.

For the gondola ride, I hear it is about 100 Euros, but there are 7 of us, so I am okay with that for the once in a lifetime experience.

so is it 100 Euros for all 7?

 

[poohmomof5]

so is it 100 Euros for all 7?

I think it is about 100 Euros for a Gondola, so its not really a per person charge. I will let you know in July!

 

[MPS516]

still, $ 130 for 20 minutes but what are you gonna do, you have to do it if we are in Venice

 

[SailingSeas]

I love all the suggestions. If this helps, there's a current fare guide at http://www.gondolavenezia.it/history_tariffe.asp?Pag=43 for the gondola's. I have a link for the vaporettos too, I think back on Page 6.

 

[poohmomof5]

I love all the suggestions. If this helps, there's a current fare guide at http://www.gondolavenezia.it/history_tariffe.asp?Pag=43 for the gondola's. I have a link for the vaporettos too, I think back on Page 6.

Look at that, the ride is 40 minutes, not 20! Yee haaa!

 

[MPS516]

While the market is trading the Euro for $ 1.2822 on Thursday at LAX it was $ 1.4372, that's a killer. Time to head to the currency trader to get about $ 1.30.

 

[keenercam]

While the market is trading the Euro for $ 1.2822 on Thursday at LAX it was $ 1.4372, that's a killer. Time to head to the currency trader to get about $ 1.30.

I saw it was at 1.28 yesterday but couldn't get to our back branch where they sell currency. Hoping it is still at 1.28 or lower on Monday - I should be able to get it for 1.31, I think. Worried a bit about what the North Korean threat may do to the financial markets - we'll have to watch closely.