7/26/2014 - 12-Night Mediterranean Cruise (with Greece)

[JoyB-UK]

Thought I would say 'hello' - not been here for a while either, or done any real planning for a few weeks with one thing and another - life sure gets in the way of planning !!!

So nothing firmly planned as yet, but think we will be doing our own thing in Villefranche as getting to Monaco seems easy enough.

Hoping to do the DCL Pisa tour if there is availability and maybe a DCL Rome tour - but that's as far as I've got so far.

Looking forward to getting Xmas out of the way and getting into proper planning mode

We went to Monaco on our first visit to Villefranche and it is very easy to do. There was plenty of time but quite a bit of walking is required. The main tips I would pass on is first of all remember to validate your tickets in the train station before you get on the train or you may be fined. Secondly, check the return train times when you get to Monaco, it's a bit of a walk to/from the station so if you miss a train you might not fancy walking back into the city.

We did the little train tour of Pisa with DCL and would recommend it. It wasn't a full day which is what we wanted. You travel by coach to the outskirts of Pisa then transfer to the little train and they drive you around the streets of Pisa. Other than the tower there isn't a huge amount to see. After the tour you are dropped off in the main square and have plenty of time to walk around the tower area. There are plenty of cafés and ice cream shops and a large row of market stalls selling Italian souvenirs which were the cheapest we saw all trip, so stock here.

 

[LindseyJane3101]

We went to Monaco on our first visit to Villefranche and it is very easy to do. There was plenty of time but quite a bit of walking is required. The main tips I would pass on is first of all remember to validate your tickets in the train station before you get on the train or you may be fined. Secondly, check the return train times when you get to Monaco, it's a bit of a walk to/from the station so if you miss a train you might not fancy walking back into the city.

We did the little train tour of Pisa with DCL and would recommend it. It wasn't a full day which is what we wanted. You travel by coach to the outskirts of Pisa then transfer to the little train and they drive you around the streets of Pisa. Other than the tower there isn't a huge amount to see. After the tour you are dropped off in the main square and have plenty of time to walk around the tower area. There are plenty of cafés and ice cream shops and a large row of market stalls selling Italian souvenirs which were the cheapest we saw all trip, so stock here.

Thanks for the tips, have written them down in my planning book

That sounds like the Pisa trip we want to do, as only want a short day here as want to save our energy for a full Rome day - hope there is availability for this one when our booking window opens - it is our 1st cruise so think we are low down the pecking order for booking stuff Hopefully will have a plan B by then if worst comes to the worst.

 

[luke]

) Have now booked our flights with easyjet out of Liverpool on 24th July, and booked Novotel Barcelona City hotel for 2 nights pre-cruise. Am slightly panicked about the fact that our return flight is at 11am on 7th august - but it was either that or 10pm and we didn't much fancy hanging round Barcelona for a day with all our luggage and tired children !

We fly out the day after you but are on your return flight to Liverpool.
Don't worry about the 11 o clock flight, should be plenty of time to get off the ship and to the airport, as long as you're off the ship by 8 o clock

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

The ship normally docks at 7am it depends on rush hour traffic but if off early you could be at the airport about 8.30am.

We have done this before.

 

[LindseyJane3101]

Thanks Luke and Disney Fantasy

Will be an early start on the last day then !

Do you arrange taxi's to pick you up from the port ?

Thanks.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks Luke and Disney Fantasy

Will be an early start on the last day then !

Do you arrange taxi's to pick you up from the port ?

Thanks.

You can do, but there is a ready supply there and also a rolling DCL service by coach to airport.

 

[LindseyJane3101]

You can do, but there is a ready supply there and also a rolling DCL service by coach to airport.

Can anyone use the DCL coach service - or is it the one that you have to book for all transfers via DCL ? Thanks.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Can anyone use the DCL coach service - or is it the one that you have to book for all transfers via DCL ? Thanks.

It is best to pre book it with DCL but for the port to airport run, you can add it on, on the cruise. There is a rolling service, as a coach fills up it goes, if you pre book a letter on your cruise card, called the key to the world card tells them you booked transfers, that card is your room key, charge card on ship and also your ship ID on and off the cruise. If you have a lot of luggage or you do not know the time you will get off the DCL coach service is best.



http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/transport/barcelona-cruise-port.html

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Today it's exactly nine months to the cruise.

 

[luke]

Today it's exactly nine months to the cruise.

I should probably start looking for a good price for our pre cruise Barcelona hotel

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I should probably start looking for a good price for our pre cruise Barcelona hotel

I booked got a discount and free breakfast as well, pre snd post cruise.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Really not liking all the negative reports from the 'new' Magic. I know that we have 9 months until our cruise but it sounds like there are some major issues. I don't mind the stained dirty un decorated cabin walls but plumbing problems with flooding and no hot water are a big turn off. I hope that disney take all the complaints seriously and get the problems fixed straight away.

The Magic is the only disney ship I have sailed on so she is of course my favourite and I booked this opening day before any refurb details were published, I will be happy just to be on her but if you are paying disney prices then you expect disney standards.

 

[dizneeat]

Really not liking all the negative reports from the 'new' Magic. I know that we have 9 months until our cruise but it sounds like there are some major issues. I don't mind the stained dirty un decorated cabin walls but plumbing problems with flooding and no hot water are a big turn off. I hope that disney take all the complaints seriously and get the problems fixed straight away.

The Magic is the only disney ship I have sailed on so she is of course my favourite and I booked this opening day before any refurb details were published, I will be happy just to be on her but if you are paying disney prices then you expect disney standards.

I have been following a lot of threads about the "new" Magic as well and this has me somewhat worried.
We have been on the three other ships and spent 2 weeks aboard the Fantasy this summer and we were so looking forward to the Magic, but these issues (plumming, rust on deck 4) really don't sound inviting.
Let's hope Disney will get everything fixed before it is our turn to cruise. They are asking premium prices, so I expect everything to be in full working order and well looked after.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have been following a lot of threads about the "new" Magic as well and this has me somewhat worried.
We have been on the three other ships and spent 2 weeks aboard the Fantasy this summer and we were so looking forward to the Magic, but these issues (plumming, rust on deck 4) really don't sound inviting.
Let's hope Disney will get everything fixed before it is our turn to cruise. They are asking premium prices, so I expect everything to be in full working order and well looked after.

Do not worry, we saw the same on the introduction of Dream and Fantasy, I have seen some six plus reports, two negative for positive, senior management are on ship, the minor issues will be sorted out, -I had a friend on last few days they didn't report issues, the photos I saw had limited issues.

Some people like to post negative stuff.

 

[LindseyJane3101]

It is best to pre book it with DCL but for the port to airport run, you can add it on, on the cruise. There is a rolling service, as a coach fills up it goes, if you pre book a letter on your cruise card, called the key to the world card tells them you booked transfers, that card is your room key, charge card on ship and also your ship ID on and off the cruise. If you have a lot of luggage or you do not know the time you will get off the DCL coach service is best.






That is so useful to know, didn't realise we could book the port-airport run on the cruise - cheers

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

It is best to pre book it with DCL but for the port to airport run, you can add it on, on the cruise. There is a rolling service, as a coach fills up it goes, if you pre book a letter on your cruise card, called the key to the world card tells them you booked transfers, that card is your room key, charge card on ship and also your ship ID on and off the cruise. If you have a lot of luggage or you do not know the time you will get off the DCL coach service is best.

That is so useful to know, didn't realise we could book the port-airport run on the cruise - cheers

No probs!

 

[JoyB-UK]

I've stopped reading the new magic threads now, took a step back and realised I was panicking too soon. It's just disappointing that everything wasn't perfect straight away. I know it will be all good for us.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I've stopped reading the new magic threads now, took a step back and realised I was panicking too soon. It's just disappointing that everything wasn't perfect straight away. I know it will be all good for us.

Good call, too much doom and gloom, we have nine months to go, it will be all sorted quickly, and people I know say it's not so bad, they were on the last cruise and out a different context on things.

 

[angelinaxox]

Yes. It has been disheartening to read the Magic threads. I haven't begun any of my planning yet, but I am still excited for this cruise.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Yes. It has been disheartening to read the Magic threads. I haven't begun any of my planning yet, but I am still excited for this cruise.

I would say to you and everyone else it's never too early to start planning, some good advance hotel desks in Barcelona are out, and I have booked private tours for all bar one port with good guides there, often private tours are more flexible than DCL ones, and get you closer, and you can have your own guide to listen to, shoeing you what interests you, and avoiding tourist traps like tourist restaurants with basic food.

For a family of say four private tours may come out similar to a Disney tour.