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

[SailingSeas]

If you book it direct, you may pay lower rates; that is just the single room pricing for the initial Disney block.

 

[Lynn G]

I can't remember if I've joined up yet, but we booked this one on our July 13 cruise this year as we had sooo much fun. We were planning on going on the 9 day, but loved Malta and Kusadasi so much we wanted to go back, and we also loved the 12 days.

So count us in if there is a list, although we will NOT be doing FE. Way too much stuff and work for me.

There are 5 of us, me, dh, and 3 boys, 18, 15 and 12 (turning 13 on the cruise)

Can't wait. We also did an Alaska cruise last week and it was awesome.

Now I need to book Venice. We want to go for several days before the cruise. How much time do you all suggest? And where to stay for a family of 5? Kind of stressed about deciding and could use some help.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome!

Denise, you tease. lol

SLG, welcome to the group. we are also not going to do the fish extenders, and did not on our other med cruise either. I am trying really hard to pack light; my daughter has a tendency to overpack and getting back through Barcelona last time was a nightmare of repacking at the terminal. I want to convince her this time to bring 7 sundresses, and thats it and work for everything from bathing suit cover ups, formal nights, touring, etc. I should also tell her that hair appliances are banned in Greece.

I digress. We are adding on 3 nights, pre stay; one night to decompress, two touring days, then the third morning to hit the ship. We have veto'd doing a post-stay in Barcelona; we want to get back home afterwards.

I really don't want to talk about coming home just yet.

Love the "7 sundresses" packing idea!

 

[SailingSeas]

Lynn, if I could only get her to do it. Her shoes alone could sink a ship, and her hair appliances mutate and multiply every time she leaves the room. Pixar could get ahold of her stateroom and make a teen version of Toy Story and it would be a huge hit. My son is a total neat freak, packs light and precisely (he's a great traveler) and my daughter looks like she could clothe an entire small country.

On our Fantasy cruise in April, my son stopped the room steward from organizing her shoes. "Why bother? she's just going to throw them everywhere anyways, don't do it." They were both laughing. He was definitely tipped extra for being such a great sport.

 

[jd99]

Lynn, if I could only get her to do it. Her shoes alone could sink a ship, and her hair appliances mutate and multiply every time she leaves the room. Pixar could get ahold of her stateroom and make a teen version of Toy Story and it would be a huge hit. My son is a total neat freak, packs light and precisely (he's a great traveler) and my daughter looks like she could clothe an entire small country.

On our Fantasy cruise in April, my son stopped the room steward from organizing her shoes. "Why bother? she's just going to throw them everywhere anyways, don't do it." They were both laughing. He was definitely tipped extra for being such a great sport.

I have a 15 year old. And an almost 10 year old who looks up to her overpacking sister. Nuff said.

 

[MPS516]

Published September 3, 2013. | By Scott Sanders.

A recent article published by Daily Mail reports that Italy’s Minister of the Environment, Andrea Orlando, will be proposing an immediate ban on cruise ships in and around Venice during a cross party parliamentary committee this coming October. Lobbyist for the ban claim that huge cruise ships are eroding the canals and the city’s fragile foundtations, contribute to the increased flooding that occurs every winter, and are impacting the delicate eco-system. According to the article, Venice residents see the cruise ships as an eye sore to the historic landmarks. While the cruise lines pay huge port fees, Venetians argue that the passengers bring little economic benefit to the city. It is important to note that the Daily Mail article references a ban on cruise ships in the Grand Canal. However, cruise ships only sail past the opening of the Grand Canal while en-route to the cruise terminal in the Giudecca Canal, not through the Grand Canal.


Hmm, have to watch this so we can make plans for getting to the ship on time. Guess after a water taxi and gondola collided killing a German tourist things started heating up. Then a Carnival Ship passed by St Marks Sq within a couple dozen meters of the bank with a taxi at the dock exciting still others.


.

 

[SailingSeas]

JD, my son said he's more than willing to send his sister over, since you are clearly accustomed to cruising in estrogen, and have probably learned how to sleep on the verandah by now. Apparently I am a bad mother and gave him no such out as they are in an inside stateroom and he's got to 'suffer for two weeks.'

Kids.

MP, that's been a conversation for a little while now. I am glad I have not yet bought my flights. Cruising accounts for about 20% of the tourist trade, according to some, and employ over 5,000 people in the city. What i've seen in the Italian trade rags is that they want to ban the superliners, but keep the more reasonably sized ships, like the Disney Magic.

 

[Lynn G]

It sounds like the teen age girls need to be given 1 suitcase and told that is all they can take and they need to decide what is more important, shoes, hair stuff, or clothes. (BTW I have no kids so my suggestions might be outrageous and unworkable)

 

[keenercam]

Lynn - We did that for our kids for our 10 night Med cruise in 2011 (we were in Europe for 15 days). They each were permitted one suitcase and one carryon and a backpack for all of their stuff. We also told them there'd be laundry facilities on the Magic. It worked out very well.

I am getting more excited about this trip with each passing day. I did some research on hotels yesterday and I started a thread asking about Venice hotels. Here is the link, in case there is information on my other thread of value to any of you:

Cam's Venice Hotel thread

I also started researching airfare to get an idea of what that looks like right now. I think it was $1866/RT/person with the multi-city configuration of PHL-VEN and BCN-PHL. I'll monitor it between now and the end of January with the expectation of booking by the end of January.

 

[SailingSeas]

Keener, if you can get out of BOS or JFK, Aer Lingus is looking like $1,365 per person for the same configuration, layover in Dublin, if you want to fly out on 7/11 and return on 7/26. I haven't played with the dates yet to see if leaving earlier could be less.

Lynn, i had teased my daughter to make friends with two other girls; one could bring hair and makeup stuff, another dresses, and a third, shoes. They could play dress-up all week (the girls on our med cruise did that, and had a blast each night)

 

[jd99]

It sounds like the teen age girls need to be given 1 suitcase and told that is all they can take and they need to decide what is more important, shoes, hair stuff, or clothes. (BTW I have no kids so my suggestions might be outrageous and unworkable)

We actually do that. But the size of the suitcase keeps getting larger. and larger.

I also started researching airfare to get an idea of what that looks like right now. I think it was $1866/RT/person with the multi-city configuration of PHL-VEN and BCN-PHL. I'll monitor it between now and the end of January with the expectation of booking by the end of January.

Not sure what dates you are using. We are planning to go to Athens first - earlier in July - because we are going to spend some time with relatives on a Greek Island before the cruise. I have seen $1404 one stop (through Philly) for a Pittsburgh-Athens Barcelona-Pittsburgh itinerary. Don't want to fly USAir however so I am continuing to hold out for Air Canada. The same itinerary through Toronto is at 1440. I'm hoping it drops to closer to 1300 (or 1200 - I can dream right?) and then I will book.

 

[keenercam]

Hmmm... we have flown USAir to Europe and every time we've flown to Jamaica, and have had good experiences. Due to work schedules and wanting to fly direct, we are limited in which airport and the flight schedules. We will fly out on Friday night, 7/11 and then after spending one night in Barcelona (wish it were longer!), we will fly back Sunday morning on the only non-stop out of BCN to PHL at 10:45.

 

[LyndaC]

Here's a reccomendation for a filling inexpensive place to eat, it's tiny and they've only got 4 bar stools, so it's a good take away option

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...lfredo_s_Fresh_Pasta_To_Go-Venice_Veneto.html

Alfredo's Pasta to go

 

[LyndaC]

sorry, nothing to see,

 

[SailingSeas]

I am using another amazing site: http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/venice/index.html

I especially love the information for a woman traveling alone in Italy. It appears to be written by a woman too, and some of the advice is awesome.

She also does a great writeup of Cinque Terre, one of my favorite places in the world.

 

[keenercam]

Here's a reccomendation for a filling inexpensive place to eat, it's tiny and they've only got 4 bar stools, so it's a good take away option

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...lfredo_s_Fresh_Pasta_To_Go-Venice_Veneto.html

Alfredo's Pasta to go

I saw that place on TripAdvisor. It looks wonderful. And someone who did a Med cruise this summer recommended it in her trip report. Thanks for the link!

I am using another amazing site: http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/venice/index.html

I especially love the information for a woman traveling alone in Italy. It appears to be written by a woman too, and some of the advice is awesome.

She also does a great writeup of Cinque Terre, one of my favorite places in the world.

Wow! Great website! Thank you for sharing!

Can you both put these on our Facebook page, as well, please?

 

[Lynn G]

Maybe I should have added the stipulation on the teen agers luggage that they have to carry all their own luggage - then the bags could not get TOO big?

 

[SailingSeas]

Hi Lynn, that's one of the first rules parents learn when the diaper bags are gone. "You pack it, you carry it." Although my brother did try fashioning a mini baby backpack with pullups for his son once.

Keener, you can add my link - I am not in the Facebook group. I did update my post on Page 6 here, in my "notepad on the Med Cruise."

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3064787&page=6

 

[3 girls mom]

I am the DH hacking my DW's account. The five of us have finally made travel plans. We are flying on Turkish Airlines from Houston direct to Istanbul where we will spend a few nights before heading off to VCE for a few nights before the cruise, where we will stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Venice Mestre San Giuliano on the mainland.

Post cruise we are heading straight to Paris where we will stay at Hilton Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport for a few nights. Not sure how we are getting there, but we will probably fly Air France on a round trip ticket that we will throw away the second-half.

We are flying back to Houston on United passes. Total cost for for all of us on Turkish is $3,473.50 and United is 150,000 miles and $483.5 for taxes. I expect the Air France will cost around $1,200 but I have not booked yet. I did the tickets this way so that we could all be on the same flights. We picked the Hiltons, because that is where I have the points.

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5507

Article on cruise ships being banned from the Grand Canal in Venice.

 

[3 girls mom]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5507

Article on cruise ships being banned from the Grand Canal in Venice.

I think the Giudecca Canal mentioned in the recent articles is different from the Grand Canal. I do not believe cruise ships currently sail the Grand Canal.