9-08-2010 Pirates through the Mediterranean/ Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A Pirates Life for Us

[lawyergirl22]

Hello everyone--

We just booked this cruise, also! We are Gianna (me) my kids DD (6) and DS (3 almost 4 at time of sailing) and my parents. First time on a Disney Cruise and it will be the kids first time to Europe. Very exciting!

I'm interested in learning tips :

traveling w/ sm children
Tunisia
Malta
Corsica
tour country side of Rome
Cinque Terre

Look forward to meeting everyone !!

GINA

We are also very interested in tips for touring with the small kids. I have been scouring the web and travel books for things that the kids will like in each of the ports, and trying to balance in some adult things, too! I don't expect this will be our last trip to Europe, so I am not going to try and cram it all into this one trip. Enjoying time with my family is my main goal!

Looking forward to sharing ideas with everyone as the next 11 months (or so) passes. Has anyone booked their hotel for Barcelona yet?

Gianna

 

[dennismcneely]

Hi everyone!! Is there any room left for 3 more? We are Dennis (me) Monica (DW) And Madison (DD 8) We booked this cruise while on board the Magic Sept 19-26 2009 Western Caribbean. The 20% discount plus $400 onboard credit offer was just too tempting to let it go! This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise. Though I'm originally from Monroe, NC I'm living in Spain (Madrid), so no flights needed I really look forward to getting to know some of you folks. By the way, we will be on the 7 night Alaskan as well (August 23rd 2011), which will make our 4th Disney Cruise

Med cabin# 5510
Alaska cabin # 5512

You guys take care,

Dennis

 

[wrennies]

Hi everyone!! Is there any room left for 3 more? We are Dennis (me) Monica (DW) And Madison (DD 8) We booked this cruise while on board the Magic Sept 19-26 2009 Western Caribbean. The 20% discount plus $400 onboard credit offer was just too tempting to let it go! This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise. Though I'm originally from Monroe, NC I'm living in Spain (Madrid), so no flights needed I really look forward to getting to know some of you folks. By the way, we will be on the 7 night Alaskan as well (August 23rd 2011), which will make our 4th Disney Cruise

Med cabin# 5510
Alaska cabin # 5512

You guys take care,

Dennis

I lived in and taught Kindergarten in Monroe for many years. Do you happen to have twin nieces?
Iam on the May 26 Med. cruise. I read over all the Med. boards looking for ideas and links.

 

[dennismcneely]

Nope I don't have twin nieces I actually left Monroe for Madrid back in 1975, however we 'the Mc Neelys' were a very well known family in Monroe, I still have a couple of cousins living there (Janice & Margaret)
Good to know you anyways

Dennis

 

[YodaMouse]

Hi everyone!! Is there any room left for 3 more? We are Dennis (me) Monica (DW) And Madison (DD 8) We booked this cruise while on board the Magic Sept 19-26 2009 Western Caribbean. The 20% discount plus $400 onboard credit offer was just too tempting to let it go! This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise. Though I'm originally from Monroe, NC I'm living in Spain (Madrid), so no flights needed I really look forward to getting to know some of you folks. By the way, we will be on the 7 night Alaskan as well (August 23rd 2011), which will make our 4th Disney Cruise

Med cabin# 5510
Alaska cabin # 5512

You guys take care,

Dennis

Glad you will be joining us. My DH and I lived in Spain for 3 years, 1984 - 1987. We lived outside of Madrid in Alcala de Henares.

We will be on that Alaskan cruise as well! Hopefully we will meet on this cruise and then can look for you on the Alaska one.

 

[dennismcneely]

Nice to meet you MaryAnn, What a Coincidence!! I now Live in Madrid, but lived in Torrejon de Ardoz (Air Force Base) many years, my father was deployed there and my mom worked there for many years after my dad passed away. It will be great to meet you on the Magic in September 2010 and then see you again on the Wonder Alaskan cruise 2011 .

Take care,

Dennis

 

[LuggageLady]

The hubby and I will be cruising with you guys! We are Devon and John! We are also from Houston, TX as I noticed someone previously mentioned their children will be traveling from. It will just be the two of us!

Question?
Should we book our hotel for Barcelona through Disney or is there really any benefit?
Any suggestions for our first Disney Cruise would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I am in the luggage industry so if there are ever any questions on luggage or travel accessories, I am here to help!

 

[renegade7]

Just popping in - sure a quiet group. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Safe and Healthy New Year. I am offically in planning mode as I know September will be here now before I know it (let alone June when we can book excursions, Palo & the Spa). I think I have narrowed my hotel choices down to the following:

• Hesperia Del Port
• Hesperia Metropol
• Hotel HCC Taber
• Hotel Praktik Rambla
• Hotel HCC Open
• Best Western Premier Hotel Dante
• Hesperia Ramblas
• H10 Universitat

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on any of these. TIA

 

[IrishCowboy]

Have a great cruise!

 

[renegade7]

It is mighty quiet on here....

Yeah! I have booked my flight and hotel! I am getting excited.

9 months from today we will be on the Magic.

I got a flight on Continental for $908 RT (SFO-EWR-BCN). It is over $100 cheaper than I paid in 2007.

I am staying at the Hotel Praktik Rambla for 2 nights prior.

Now to start working on those ports of call and what I want to do.

 

[castmeaway]

Any one considering adding the Adventures by Disney option to their cruise?

 

[renegade7]

Any one considering adding the Adventures by Disney option to their cruise?

I am considering it. I am in the process of pricing out what they offer vs. what I want to do (via Disney) vs. what I think I can do on my own. There are few that I really like and a few I am not excited about.

 

[castmeaway]

We did the comparison, and it was a wash; however, we've heard excellent reviews of AbD. Like you there were a few excursions that we wouldn't have done on our own, but like the idea of a small group and having Disney take care of the details. Figured some cultural experiences would be memorable. They are limiting participation to 40 cruisers.

 

[renegade7]

We did the comparison, and it was a wash; however, we've heard excellent reviews of AbD. Like you there were a few excursions that we wouldn't have done on our own, but like the idea of a small group and having Disney take care of the details. Figured some cultural experiences would be memorable. They are limiting participation to 40 cruisers.

Wow - good to know about the limit. Do you have any idea of what the interest is for our cruise. I have been dragging my feet. I guess I should really start getting that list narrowed down to what I want to do.

 

[castmeaway]

Don't know specific numbers for our cruise, but have been told that they were selling better than expected with many earlier sailings sold out. Since there hasn't been much advertising and they just had a seminar for TAs this past Friday, sales should pick up.

 

[OKW93]

It's February! Saving my pennies for those excursions. Yikes!

 

[LuggageLady]

Any suggestions on what excursions everyone is planning on doing? I am having a hard time with Tunisia...

 

[renegade7]

Any suggestions on what excursions everyone is planning on doing? I am having a hard time with Tunisia...

Still working on making decisions, but leaning toward the ABD add-on or doing some Disney and some on my own.

 

[tig82174]

Still working on making decisions, but leaning toward the ABD add-on or doing some Disney and some on my own.

Jason and I just officially added the ABD this morning. It was a pretty big bite the bullet moment since we're B2Bers and so this was already a pretty pricey vacation....but we figured that the ABD actually goes to 80% of the things we would have done on our own anyway but will create a more special and intimate way to experience all the ports than booking separate excursions...PLUS....I'm a big proponent of letting them do all the work and planning! So I love that I don't have to rush on at midnight on the day bookings open and try to get all the excursions and everything....not to mention actually having to read and decide....now we can truly just turn off our brains and enjoy the ride!

 

[renegade7]

Jason and I just officially added the ABD this morning. It was a pretty big bite the bullet moment since we're B2Bers and so this was already a pretty pricey vacation....but we figured that the ABD actually goes to 80% of the things we would have done on our own anyway but will create a more special and intimate way to experience all the ports than booking separate excursions...PLUS....I'm a big proponent of letting them do all the work and planning! So I love that I don't have to rush on at midnight on the day bookings open and try to get all the excursions and everything....not to mention actually having to read and decide....now we can truly just turn off our brains and enjoy the ride!

On the B2B with you... So torn, as I do think it is a pretty good deal, but some of the excursions are "eh" - Malta, Tunis, Corsica, and parts of Naples & Florence. I do like that they all include meals though. I am going to call back and get more details today or this weekend, but found out that all of the excursions a minimum of 7 hours - per the rep - it is almost like they took 2 of the excursions offered and smashed them together - lol. So want to find out what else their computers say versus what is on the website. I am then pricing out what I would do via Disney or if we did on our own through a tour company and see what I am looking at cost wise/savings.