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

[gatzsd]

Hi there...we are doing Rome on our own too. It seems like I have spent hours researching Rome. You are so lucky as you already know where everything is. We plan to walk to the train station and will be doing St. Peter's Basilica first like you. (We have tickets to the Nacropolis at 10:15). Then, we plan to do the Vatican...not a tour, just walk through. We will be traveling with our 8 year old dd and a 12 year old ds and I know they do not want to spend 3 hours inside the Vatican. However, your 3 y/o may be more patient than our 12 y/o. The HOHO bus sounds good and I also heard that taxis are pretty reasonable in Rome. Good luck!

Rome isn't too hard to figure out if you have a map -a lot of things are walking distance from each other. We walked a lot last time vs taking public transit. But I didn't have a toddler with me last time! We took a taxi a few times, my only advice is that make sure they go by the meter - because some taxi drivers will try and quote you a grossly higher amount before you leave. Taxi stands are everywhere to catch a taxi. I always would hop in and state my destination confidently like I do it everyday and then they would just go by the meter - which isn't too expensive, but certainly more than the metro.
You are so lucky to have tickets to the Nacropolis! I really want to do that and heard its amazing - but they don't allow children.

 

[gatzsd]

Hi Stacie, just wondering, where are you buying your Colosseum tickets? We are also planning to do Rome on our own and I am busy researching how to do it. Hopefully our other friends who are now coming on the cruise with us, will also be doing this trip with us and they are dependent on their 2 1/2 year old twins moods, as you are with Evie, perhaps we can put our heads together to pick each others brains..... speak soon, Marie

Hi Marie,
Here is the link where we are buying our tickets:
http://www.ticketclic.it/Gb/index.cfm

I haven't chosen a time yet, trying to figure out the best time. I had the Rick Steves Rome book the first time we went and it was great. We plan on doing a lot of outside activities like Colosseum, Trevi, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps vs trying to tackle the museums/churches (other than St Peters) - but who knows - if she is doing great, then we may try some other things too. There are amazing places for sit down lunch, but if the kids are having a rough time, there are lots of deli type of places with amazing food in their case for like paninis etc - or some Roman pizza is always a nice treat for on the go lunch/snacks. I think my daughter will have the most fun on the train.

 

[cquick]

We are doing it on our own because we have been before. Will take the BIRG train and do St Peters Basilica first-
but buying Collosseum tickets ahead of time. I REALLY wanted to do a walking tour of the Vatican Museum since last time we didnt' have a guide
We also might do the HOHO bus in Rome just for ease of use vs trying to figure out the metro or buses.

We are also planning to take the train first thing in the morning to St. Peter's. Please tell my what the BIRG train is and how to buy tickets in advance for it.

I was looking at the Vatican Offical website in order to purchase tickets online, but I read somewhere that a disabled person and his caregiver get into the VaticanMuseums for free. But I didn't see that info on the website.

After the tour of the Vatican, we plan to do lunch and then see if Patrick is up to going on the HOHO bus around the city. If he's not, then Chuck is going to take him back to the ship on the train, and my friend, Susan and I are going to do the Coliseum and the forum and the Trevi fountain on our own.

Connie

 

[cquick]

I just got back from the library and they had a brand new EyeWitness Travel book on Corsica. Ajaccio is in a beautiful part of the island...very picturesque and wild coastline!

 

[Daffydee]

I found great information on eportreviews.com which includes step by step directions (with pictures) on how to find the train station.

I purchased my tickets for the Vatican through http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do

Hope this helps.

 

[cali cruiser]

Rome isn't too hard to figure out if you have a map -a lot of things are walking distance from each other. We walked a lot last time vs taking public transit. But I didn't have a toddler with me last time! We took a taxi a few times, my only advice is that make sure they go by the meter - because some taxi drivers will try and quote you a grossly higher amount before you leave. Taxi stands are everywhere to catch a taxi. I always would hop in and state my destination confidently like I do it everyday and then they would just go by the meter - which isn't too expensive, but certainly more than the metro.
You are so lucky to have tickets to the Nacropolis! I really want to do that and heard its amazing - but they don't allow children.

Thanks for all the good advice! My husband is from New York, so he is more confident in taxis than I am. I will definately tell him what you said to do. We will have children with us too, however, my husband is going to watch them while my mom and I do the tour of the Nacropolis. I think he might take the kids to the top of St. Peter's and then we'll meet up after our tour. It sounds like there are a few DIS families that may be walking to the train. Maybe we can all meet and walk together? Thanks again!!!

 

[renegade7]

I wish I could keep my same room from the Med to the TA! So far, we are still in an inside for the TA.....

No pixie dust for us, we're doing B2B and have different rooms. :-(

Yeah! We have room 8584 - an upgrade from Cat 6 to a Cat 5! It is Aft and has 1 review and it is good. It is an adjoining room with a Cat 3. But for the TA we still are in our orignial Cat 10. Maybe a bit closer we will get more pixie dust.

1630 on the first sea day works great for me right now, anyone else have any opinion? I'm getting really psyched about this now! (Like I could get any more!)

As someone else mentioned our Muster Drill is at that time, so maybe after?

What's everyone doing in Rome? Disney tours or on your own tours?

hmmm? Connie

Doing on our own, but using a service (rather than the BRIG ticket).

 

[cquick]

I found great information on eportreviews.com which includes step by step directions (with pictures) on how to find the train station.

I purchased my tickets for the Vatican through http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do

Hope this helps.

Oh, yes, I found that too, and I actually put it into a Word document and printed it out! It's going into my cruise file.

 

[eeyorelvr10]

I keep forgetting to check in here. I know some of you from past cruises and from the "after" cruise also.

I got a room assignment and while I got an upgrade, still not close enough as I will have to transfer my bags too. Oh well, at least I'm on the ship.

NOTE TO SELF: I have got to get back on here.

 

[cquick]

I found great information on eportreviews.com which includes step by step directions (with pictures) on how to find the train station.

I purchased my tickets for the Vatican through http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do

Hope this helps.

Yes, that's where I was looking for tickets, too, but I didn't see anything about the disabled person and a companion getting in free.

I will keep checking on that. Connie

 

[cquick]

I keep forgetting to check in here. I know some of you from past cruises and from the "after" cruise also.
I got a room assignment and while I got an upgrade, still not close enough as I will have to transfer my bags too. Oh well, at least I'm on the ship.
NOTE TO SELF: I have got to get back on here.

So are you on the B2B? We don't have the same room for both sailings, either. I call once a week to check! Maybe the one we are on for the WBTA will open up! It would be really cool to stay in the same stateroom the whole time!

 

[cquick]

Doing on our own, but using a service (rather than the BRIG ticket).

So what's a BRIG ticket?

 

[eeyorelvr10]

So are you on the B2B? We don't have the same room for both sailings, either. I call once a week to check! Maybe the one we are on for the WBTA will open up! It would be really cool to stay in the same stateroom the whole time!

Had a friend who has done several back to back. On one, he got to stay. On the other, he transferred but was told to leave everything on the hangers and they would transfer so he double hung most everything and carried very light suitcases up to his balcony on the 2nd cruise. I hope they offer us that same deal. I did do one back to back but we stayed in the same cabin.

OH, wonder if they assigned cabins no the other one.

 

[renegade7]

So what's a BRIG ticket?

I hope I got the name right... It is a train ticket that you buy that gets you round trip train fare and use of public transit in Rome (buses & subway) for around 9 Euro.

Yeah! We have room 8584 - an upgrade from Cat 6 to a Cat 5! It is Aft and has 1 review and it is good. It is an adjoining room with a Cat 3. But for the TA we still are in our orignial Cat 10. Maybe a bit closer we will get more pixie dust.

So I actually got a Cat 4... When I looked up the room review on the DIS it said Cat 5 but when I looked up the room on Disney's website it is a Cat 4!
I am so not going to like being in an inside room on the TA after this I fear.

 

[renegade7]

Had a friend who has done several back to back. On one, he got to stay. On the other, he transferred but was told to leave everything on the hangers and they would transfer so he double hung most everything and carried very light suitcases up to his balcony on the 2nd cruise. I hope they offer us that same deal. I did do one back to back but we stayed in the same cabin.

OH, wonder if they assigned cabins no the other one.

OMG that would be awesome. Kimmy and I were trying to figure the best way to repack everything (knowing we will just be unpacking it again shortly thereafter).

 

[gatzsd]

We are also planning to take the train first thing in the morning to St. Peter's. Please tell my what the BIRG train is and how to buy tickets in advance for it.

I was looking at the Vatican Offical website in order to purchase tickets online, but I read somewhere that a disabled person and his caregiver get into the VaticanMuseums for free. But I didn't see that info on the website.

After the tour of the Vatican, we plan to do lunch and then see if Patrick is up to going on the HOHO bus around the city. If he's not, then Chuck is going to take him back to the ship on the train, and my friend, Susan and I are going to do the Coliseum and the forum and the Trevi fountain on our own.

Connie

The BIRG (Beerg for pronunciation) is usually the one they sell you anyway - 9 Euro and gets you roundtrip to Rome and back and is good for all the public transport in Rome (Metro/Bus). You can buy them ahead of time, but I heard that is not as advisable because you are in only one of the time slots? Can't remember exactly. You can by them right at the train station. One tip I read on this board is to buy them at the newstand inside the train station vs the ticket window - the line is a lot shorter. The HOHO will be I think around 20Euro each. Not sure yet if we will do that or just grab a couple of cabs - that might end up being cheaper and easier. I would suggest you buy your Colesseum tickets ahead of time as the line is long. If you don't - a tip is to buy them at Palantine Hill where there usually isn't much of a line at all and then walk back to the Colesseum because the ticket gets you into both (as well as Roman Forum)
Last time I just loved walking around the streets of Rome. Dont' know if I will do it as much this time because we are on such a port intensive cruise and because of DD and because it might be quite hot when we are there.

 

[gatzsd]

so I just paid for an upgrade to a category 9 GTY vs my old 12 GTY hoping for a better room (was given a category 11) I am praying to the Mickey Gods for some pixie dust to come my way and give me a nice room!!!!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

so I just paid for an upgrade to a category 9 GTY vs my old 12 GTY hoping for a better room (was given a category 11) I am praying to the Mickey Gods for some pixie dust to come my way and give me a nice room!!!!

Here's hoping you get dusted big time!

As someone else mentioned our Muster Drill is at that time, so maybe after?

I totally forgot about the muster drill, but, safety first! After sounds fine to me.

I've got a question for the FE group, I got a PM from dopeylvr who is travelling with eeyorelvr and was wondering if they could get into the FE. There's just 2 adults, no kids, but wanted to run it by everyone else before I said yay or nay?

 

[cquick]

I hope I got the name right... It is a train ticket that you buy that gets you round trip train fare and use of public transit in Rome (buses & subway) for around 9 Euro.
.

Do you know if I can buy this ticket in advance online?

 

[cquick]

Here's hoping you get dusted big time!



I totally forgot about the muster drill, but, safety first! After sounds fine to me.

I've got a question for the FE group, I got a PM from dopeylvr who is travelling with eeyorelvr and was wondering if they could get into the FE. There's just 2 adults, no kids, but wanted to run it by everyone else before I said yay or nay?

oh, sure, why not? It's not the first of August yet, anyway.