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

[denise]

we have only done Ho Ho in Berlin and London...
Berlin it was HOT....hottest day they had ever had they said...
no room inside so we had to sit upstairs...and boy did we melt!! Waited forever at one stop to continue. They gave us free water in a cup but it was as hot as the sun was! uck...We didn't get to see all we wanted because it really took a long time!!! We did go to the Hard Rock for lunch and the server spilled an entire pitcher of ice water on our friends back. All he said was can you do that again?
We needed to get back to the meeting place for Disney to pick us up to take us to the train..this was a Berlin on your own trip..which of course our bus couldn't get to! The World Cup was playing that day and Germany was playing for 3rd or 4th place. Streets were closed everywhere and there were armed police all over the place. They drove us to a mall, it had air conditioning and let us sit in there for a couple hours. Other buses left their people to sit in a park...although there was shade they were dying in the heat. They had to bring a train to that location we were at to pick us up to take us back to the ship...We got back to the ship 3+ hours late...missed all seating of dinner! We were worried the ship would leave without us but there were over 500 of us that were late...they gave us free sandwiches and water on the train too...no air on the train at all...Oh and did I say it was hot!! What an experience....but Disney was great and waited to pull away so the town could send us off with fireworks!!!

London was wonderful...just the right amount of stops at each place and we got a boat ride too...it was nice...

Never done the Ho Ho in Athens...we just walked or took a city bus. People at the bus stops are very helpful usually if you feel lost. Even though we speak Greek at one time we felt lost and people were so nice to help us get back to our hotel....

 

[esther1403]

Trying to coordinate the FE group for this cruise.

I have the list but I don't know how to share it with all of you.

Try this link and tell me if it works.

https://excel.office.live.com/x/Exc...romNBlhiAK8PZPeTrg&title=FE+Greek+Cruise.xlsx


If someone wants to change something please let me know by a PM.

Thank you everybody just 47 days...

 

[MPS516]

Sorry but still laughing about your Berlin HOHO, its not funny but when bad goes worse before getting ugly just have to look back and chuckle

We are on the Baltic Cruise next July and I have just decided Warnemunde will be an organized tour. I speak absolutely no German and my DW would be wrapped so tight by the time we had our second delay we would be in an ambulance instead of a train headed back.

Here's to hoping things go well for all of us in Greece

 

[denise]

Sorry but still laughing about your Berlin HOHO, its not funny but when bad goes worse before getting ugly just have to look back and chuckle

We are on the Baltic Cruise next July and I have just decided Warnemunde will be an organized tour. I speak absolutely no German and my DW would be wrapped so tight by the time we had our second delay we would be in an ambulance instead of a train headed back.

Here's to hoping things go well for all of us in Greece

Everyone spoke English so there was no problem there...it was the World Cup that was the problem!!
We are glad we did the Berlin on your own with Disney or we would have missed the ship for sure!!! Too far from Warnemunde to go off on your own I think...
the train was super fast and it still took an hour or more each way and it was non stop!

 

[FranciJo]

we went to Madrid 23 years ago. We stayed at the Hotel Europa. Basic, but with a great location. Would definitely use them again. They had a cafe on the 1st floor and we had breakfast there each day. We also used the Rick Steves book about Madrid and did the walking tour. And the hop on, hop off bus. Worked our well. There was a live theater near the square that was performing Carmen. We just got in line, bought tickets and had great seats. A great experience.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! We'll be staying with our friends. They live there, so have lots of things planned for us. We're mostly curious about transportation between Barcelona and Madrid.

 

[corbett744]

We flew from Barcelona to Madrid. Cheaper than other choices. Then went home from there. Tok a taxi to the Hotel. While in Madrid, we spent one day walking, and one on a bus. Loved Madrid. In retrospect, we wish we had made the effort to go to Toledo.

 

[SailingSeas]

Is anyone else too excited to sleep? I'm going to be a mess by the time July rolls around.

 

[seaulater]

we went to Madrid 23 years ago. We stayed at the Hotel Europa. Basic, but with a great location. Would definitely use them again. They had a cafe on the 1st floor and we had breakfast there each day. We also used the Rick Steves book about Madrid and did the walking tour. And the hop on, hop off bus. Worked our well. There was a live theater near the square that was performing Carmen. We just got in line, bought tickets and had great seats. A great experience.

We did a segway tour in Madrid. It was awesome!

 

[keenercam]

I am going to email the cruiser directory to everyone in it again this weekend.

If you are not in it and want to be, please send me your information as soon as possible.

If you are in it already, please let me know ASAP whether I can include your email address in the directory so that others can contact you to coordinate tours, water taxis, etc.

If you do not want your email address included, please let me know.

Remember, the directory will only be emailed to those who have sent me their information to include in it.

If you are not already in it and want to be, please send me the following information via private message here:

adult names
younger cruiser names, gender, ages
DISBoards user name (if you are on the DISBoards)
where you are from
cabin number
arrival date to Venice
Venice hotel
email address (let me know if it can go in the directory that every directory participant gets)
any other information you want to share (some are sharing flight information to coordinate water taxis, etc.)

 

[LyndaC]

Perhaps, just somehow, I booked a 7 night Alaska DCL cruise last night, just perhaps, I'll get home on July 7th. That gives me plenty of time to pack and get ready to fly to Venice on July 9th doesn't it?

 

[cinderbear]

I have two spaces available on a private water taxi for those that are staying at The Hilton Molino Stucky checking in 7/12/14. Our flight gets into Venice at 9:35AM and we are flying USairways from Philly. Can someone post this information for me on facebook as I will never go on facebook? Please PM me if you are interested or know anyone that would be interested. (Oh by the way) it was much cheaper than I thought it would be. Thanks

 

[KathyInCitrus]

Is anyone else too excited to sleep? I'm going to be a mess by the time July rolls around.

36 days for me, but who's counting?
Panic has begun to set in!

 

[MPS516]

Perhaps, just somehow, I booked a 7 night Alaska DCL cruise last night, just perhaps, I'll get home on July 7th. That gives me plenty of time to pack and get ready to fly to Venice on July 9th doesn't it?

Ok, now this is just being a DCL hog, its unfair that you get to enjoy the Wonder and the Magic in the same month

I have two spaces available on a private water taxi for those that are staying at The Hilton Molino Stucky checking in 7/12/14. Our flight gets into Venice at 9:35AM and we are flying USairways from Philly. Can someone post this information for me on facebook as I will never go on facebook? Please PM me if you are interested or know anyone that would be interested. (Oh by the way) it was much cheaper than I thought it would be. Thanks

Just curious on what you found it for, we arrive several days earlier and seem to see 110 euro about the best price

36 days for me, but who's counting?
Panic has begun to set in!

Yep 39 days for us and very excited

 

[SailingSeas]

LOL I cracked up at your response to Lynda, MP. Lynda, I saw those rates, I would be tempted too if i had the time at work. And pfft, you don't need to unpack and pack, all you need to do is do your laundry on the day before you get off the ship, sift the long sleeves and pants to the top of the pile as you're packing. Take them out when you get home, slip in the bikinis, and you're good for Round 2! Although you probably have already planned on packing for both before you go! You sound way organized.

I was so tempted to stay at the Molino Stucky. We are at the Hotel Papadopoli Venezia, and waiting (forever) on my water taxi quote. It's so close though that I may tell the kids we are walking/People Mover-ing it. Denise and Kathy - you'll know by the fumes rising from my daughter's head that first night, if we do.

Is anyone looking for anything neat to do for a couple of hours in Venice? I work with someone who frequents Venice, and she gave me a couple of leads on a quick mask-making place. If we can fit it in, I think my daughter and I are going to try and make it over there. They get stunning reviews and accept walk-ins: http://www.camacana.com/courses/abc-mini-courses/

 

[SailingSeas]

For anyone who cares - just a head's up on Pirate Night. There is the potential for it to be swapped for Semi-Formal night on our itinerary. It's supposed to be on the night we're in Santorini; just awaiting official approval from the locals to confirm it on our itinerary.

I also want to find out what people are using for trip apps for their iPhones/Androids. I just discovered Triposo, and along with Kayak's itinerary app for all my confirmations, and some Rick Steve's podcasts, am feeling much more confident. Anyone have any other good suggestions (well, and the DCL Navigator app.)

 

[Cousin Orville]

Just curious on what you found it for, we arrive several days earlier and seem to see 110 euro about the best price

Venicelink offers 99 Euros for booking.

Yep 39 days for us and very excited [/QUOTE]

40 days for us!

 

[Cousin Orville]

For anyone who cares - just a head's up on Pirate Night. There is the potential for it to be swapped for Semi-Formal night on our itinerary. It's supposed to be on the night we're in Santorini; just awaiting official approval from the locals to confirm it on our itinerary.

I also want to find out what people are using for trip apps for their iPhones/Androids. I just discovered Triposo, and along with Kayak's itinerary app for all my confirmations, and some Rick Steve's podcasts, am feeling much more confident. Anyone have any other good suggestions (well, and the DCL Navigator app.)

Interesting. I thought Pirate Night on the day of Santorini was a done deal. I wonder why they need Greece's approval. I would have thought they would be back in international waters by night.

Thanks for the suggestion of Triposo. I see they have a Triposo and a Triposo Greece (and other specific locations). I use Tripit to organize my trips - it's one of my most frequently used apps. Also have these "lectures" on my iPad - http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=3231
Like an in depth tour of the various sites you may see: Acropolis, Ephesus, Knossos and many more. I also use the Xe app for currency conversion. Also FlightTrack and various airline apps.

Edit: My link isn't taking you to the specific lecture. Search "Great Tours Greece"

 

[cinderbear]

Just curious on what you found it for, we arrive several days earlier and seem to see 110 euro about the best price

It was 95 euro for up to four people on the Venicelink website to our hotel

 

[Robub]

Greetings. We are cruising on the July 14th Med cruise departing Venice and wondering if any fellow cruisers are familiar with the embarkation arrangements at Venice port. Terminal location. Access from the town (staying night before in Venice). Much appreciated.

 

[smilis]

My daughter and I did Mykonos on our own last year. Very easy to do. Easy walk to the windmills and shopping and restaurants are wonderful. Can't wait for another crepe with nutella and strawberries!

Seaulater: This is our first time to Greece, so I'm interested in those who have done certain ports on their own. We are currently signed up for the Delos Island tour in Mykonos. It kind of sounds like more ruins and by that point of our cruise, we'll probably have seen quite a few already. Have you been to Delos Island? Your description of easy walk to windmills, shopping and restaurants sounds nice. Your thoughts??