August 13, 2011 Med - Mickey's Marauding Mates

[Anal Annie]

Hiya, we are in an oceanview room on deck 1 I think (I read somewhere that it was the lower the better for travel sickness!)

Forgot to mention that I have heard that Deck 1 is supposed to be very quiet because there are less cabins down there!

Annie, I have just seen pictures of the secret balcony cabin - it is wonderful! Thank you so much for spotting that and sharing it. I am really looking forward to it - and the deck 6 one looks better than deck 7 so I am glad I decided to stay on your deck

I am going to book the taxis for the various pick ups shortly. Let me know if you want to share the cruise pick up. If I don't hear from you I'll book but ask if we can increase numbers later if need be.

Oh good! I'm glad you approve of the room and that you were able to snag it! They are usually the first Cat 7's to book up so I guess the PIF date scared off whoever had them booked!! I forgot to ask you if you'd seen any pictures of them or not. I think the balcony is sooo much better than the true Navigators enclosed ones. Oh, and sorry I lost track of the days & forgot to tell you it's cool to include us on the post-cruise transfer if that makes it cheaper for you guys too! 25 euros per family sounds like a reasonable deal. Do they charge extra for luggage? I am hoping to keep to (1) 17" carry-on and (1) large checked bag for each of us. Shall we just plan it so that you deduct 25 euros from the 300 euros for the romeinlimo tour? In case you need to provide our hotel information we're going to the Hotel Jazz near Placa Catalunya. The address is Pelai 3.

Afraid ya'll are going to have to do something to stop me from doing toooo much more shopping! I went again yesterday because Kohl's was having an extra 15% off their sale prices & I got a couple of bathing suits & a couple of tops for myself + a few casual shirts for DH. (Yes, TWO bathing suits.) I need to STOP!! We have too long to go between now & the cruise - I can't keep up this pace!! We'll be bankrupt!!

So it's almost the weekend...when does everybody go away on their trips (ie Jeff & Karen)?! Hope you both have a GREAT time!! We'll miss ya!!

(PS) should I add what deck everyone is on to the first post or is that silly? Seems most of us are on 6 in some shape or form....

 

[mikki.young]

The car is booked. I emailed this morning and got a reply tonight. Now I'm being tempted by the thought of going to the Dali museum, it's about 90 minutes away but sounds great fun.

 

[luke]

The car is booked. I emailed this morning and got a reply tonight. Now I'm being tempted by the thought of going to the Dali museum, it's about 90 minutes away but sounds great fun.

I took a school trip to the Dali museum in Figueres last year, it was a lot of fun, one of the best art museums I've been too, Dali really did have a fascinating mind! I definitely recommend it if you get time

 

[jd99]

So it's almost the weekend...when does everybody go away on their trips (ie Jeff & Karen)?! Hope you both have a GREAT time!! We'll miss ya!!

(PS) should I add what deck everyone is on to the first post or is that silly? Seems most of us are on 6 in some shape or form....

We head off on Tuesday. Girls will go to school a little more than a half day as our flight is later in the day. They actually won't miss any school - except for a couple of hours Tuesday for this trip (unusual for us!) Been monitoring the weather in So Cal. It's not as warm as we would have hoped - well let me correct that. It's been very warm the last week or so but when we are there it cools down! I'm afraid if it cools down a lot, we'll end up spending more than a day at Disneyland. And our whole purpose in going to So. Cal instead of Orlando was to do something "different." Oy.

 

[jd99]

We finally started trying to make some decisions on what we are going to do in each port on this trip. I think we are going to do DCL excursions (or some form of an excursion) in each of the Italian cities. We just remember the long drives from the cities to the port and how bad weather in La Spezia almost made a lot of people miss the ship. I just stress about taking that chance. But we want to maximize our days in the ports so going on our own won't work because I'd be so worried about getting back that we'd cut our days much shorter than we would if we are with DCL.

So while we are going to do Florence "on our own" we are going to take the DCL transportation there and back to ensure we have a full day and make it back.

Still haven't decided final about Rome but we just loved the DCL excursions we took last year (jumping back into Eternal Rome) and may do it again. Or we may do what we are doing in Florence - do Rome "on our own" but using DCL transportation.

In Naples, we are definitely (I think) doing the Pompeii/Sorrento/Capri excursion. We loved Sorrento and want so spend a little time there wandering. We've never been to Capri and last year we chose a trip that didn't do Pompeii because we had just been at Carthage.

In La Palma I think we are just going to go to the beach. Probably on our own - once we find out what beach, how to get to it, etc.

In Villefranche, the kids want to go to Monte Carlo so we may take a DCL excursion that includes time outside of the bus to MC but we may see about doing it on our own.

We have a full day in Barcelona as our flight from Athens arrives early. But we will have just come off of a week on a Greek Island and 2 days of intense touring in Athens so I'm not sure if we are going to do a lot of exploring this year or just head to Las Ramblas for Tapas and shopping.

That is our plan - at the moment - and subject to change at any time.

 

[Kels Sem]

Jeff, I hope you enjoy your trip and the weather is good for you.

I really must sort out booking the transfers. Ok so my question is how long does it actually take to get off the ship & get luggage etc after breakfast? I really don't know what time to book the transfer to pick us up? Can anyone shed any light on this. BTW we will be at early breakfast.

 

[Anal Annie]

We head off on Tuesday. Girls will go to school a little more than a half day as our flight is later in the day. They actually won't miss any school - except for a couple of hours Tuesday for this trip (unusual for us!) Been monitoring the weather in So Cal. It's not as warm as we would have hoped - well let me correct that. It's been very warm the last week or so but when we are there it cools down! I'm afraid if it cools down a lot, we'll end up spending more than a day at Disneyland. And our whole purpose in going to So. Cal instead of Orlando was to do something "different." Oy.

I hope it doesn't stay cold on you out there the whole time....we went to CA for 3 nights before our Mex. Riviera cruise & spent 2.5 days at DL...FROZE our you know whats off as it was JULY so we thought it would be warm! NOT!!

We finally started trying to make some decisions on what we are going to do in each port on this trip. I think we are going to do DCL excursions (or some form of an excursion) in each of the Italian cities. We just remember the long drives from the cities to the port and how bad weather in La Spezia almost made a lot of people miss the ship. I just stress about taking that chance. But we want to maximize our days in the ports so going on our own won't work because I'd be so worried about getting back that we'd cut our days much shorter than we would if we are with DCL.

So while we are going to do Florence "on our own" we are going to take the DCL transportation there and back to ensure we have a full day and make it back.

Still haven't decided final about Rome but we just loved the DCL excursions we took last year (jumping back into Eternal Rome) and may do it again. Or we may do what we are doing in Florence - do Rome "on our own" but using DCL transportation.

In Naples, we are definitely (I think) doing the Pompeii/Sorrento/Capri excursion. We loved Sorrento and want so spend a little time there wandering. We've never been to Capri and last year we chose a trip that didn't do Pompeii because we had just been at Carthage.

In La Palma I think we are just going to go to the beach. Probably on our own - once we find out what beach, how to get to it, etc.

In Villefranche, the kids want to go to Monte Carlo so we may take a DCL excursion that includes time outside of the bus to MC but we may see about doing it on our own.

We have a full day in Barcelona as our flight from Athens arrives early. But we will have just come off of a week on a Greek Island and 2 days of intense touring in Athens so I'm not sure if we are going to do a lot of exploring this year or just head to Las Ramblas for Tapas and shopping.

That is our plan - at the moment - and subject to change at any time.

I just can't bring myself to give DCL all that money if we can do some of the same things privately for nearly the same amount...our budget is pretty tight. I wish there was time for Capri AND Pompeii AND Sorrento AND Positano!! I think our Rome tour covers most of the same things as the DCL one and then some...I'm still hoping to figure out Villefranche and La Spezia on our own. Not sure about Palma yet...we also want to do a beach there but I hate to only go for 4 hours with DCL's excursion...let me know if you figure out something on your own...there are like 80+ beaches there so there should be a way to figure out something!!

Jeff, I hope you enjoy your trip and the weather is good for you.

I really must sort out booking the transfers. Ok so my question is how long does it actually take to get off the ship & get luggage etc after breakfast? I really don't know what time to book the transfer to pick us up? Can anyone shed any light on this. BTW we will be at early breakfast.

Kelly - if I was you I'd probably book the transfer for between 8- 8:30... DCL told me you should be off the ship by about 7:30 with the early breakfast...

OK, off to swim practice...hoping no storms so practice isn't cancelled...

 

[Kels Sem]

Annie, I'm going to book the transfer to the port. Are we agreed a 10am pick up? we should be at the port by 10.30 then.

LNRP - Are you still wanting to share with us. I just want to double check before I book.

 

[Anal Annie]

Annie, I'm going to book the transfer to the port. Are we agreed a 10am pick up? we should be at the port by 10.30 then.

LNRP - Are you still wanting to share with us. I just want to double check before I book.

Hi Kelly! Yes, 10:00 sounds good to me too! Let me know how much we owe ya once you're done. When shall we settle up? Do u want me to send u something now or when we meet up at the Novotel?! Are u using that place you'd posted the website for before? I am still debating what to do for our airport to hotel & hotel to airport transfers...taxi or car service?! Is anybody else planning on using a taxi for that? Wonder if it's cheaper to book a round trip with a car service? When we leave to go home our flight is EARLY (like 7:30) so I was thinking having a ride pre-arranged might be easiest...that's not something I want to mess around with at 5:00 am!!!

Ahhh. The sun is out again...we had storms yesterday. Getting ready to head out to swim practice - last one for a week now. Yesterday they got 1 hour in then practice got called short by 30 min. for thunder (this particular pool is actually an outdoor meter pool that is covered in the winter by a gigantic inflated "bubble". So it's really like a HUGE umbrella and therefore is not safe from lightening during storms.) DS is looking forward to a short break from it.

TTYL

 

[Kels Sem]

Hi Annie,

You can give me the money at the Novotel Yes, I'm just going to use the company I talked about before as i have read some good reviews about them.
I was dithering about the airport/hotel transfer myself and I didn't know whether or not just to get a taxi but DH has decided for me and has said that I'm to book transfers. I think I'm going to go with Suntransfers for this run as they are much cheaper for us than company we are using for the port. Suntransfers don't to the hotel/port journey.
I've read some good reports about Suntransfers on here so I'll just hope for the best.
I'm sure the hotel would be able to book at taxi for you to arrive at 5.00 to take you to the airport. There is bound to be a cab firm that they use.

Mum & Dad are coming round for a BBQ this afternoon as it was Dad's birthday yesterday.

 

[Anal Annie]

OK, so is it too early to pack yet?! I only have 3 months, 3 weeks until we head for Paris! I should start now, right?! I was playing around with some of our luggage trying to decide which pieces will be best to bring. It is really a crime how much luggage we own. I have a closet full. Suitcases, duffles, a garment bag...big ones, little ones, medium ones. At first I thought we would bring 2 duffles and 1 traditional suitcase that is sort of a medium size but which has a "suiter" in the top. We also have a garment bag that I don't think I've used since our first cruise in 2005. It was on the very BOTTOM of the pile so I took everything out & dug it out to have a look at it again 'cuz I couldn't remember how it was made inside. I think I may bring that as our 3rd piece. It will hold at least 8 hangers while the suitcase only has room for 4. This thing also has several good size compartments that I think I can pack with my packing cubes. I "tested" it by filling it with some pillows & other nonsense just to see how much crap I could stuff in it and still zip it closed... It will hold a good bit I think. I can be a real mess sometimes kids! OH, and since none of you STOPPED me I went shopping AGAIN on Friday. I went back to Kohl's 'cuz I decided that rather than rent a suit or tux for DH that I should just buy him one if I could find a good deal. WELL, I found one for 70% off so I got it for like $130!! Plus I found some pretty shirts & ties that have the same blues & hues as the flowers in the dress I'm bringing for semi formal night - so I was thinking if I can find a blue shirt for DS that we'd be kinda sorta matching to have pictures done that night!! I have not sprung THAT idea on the boys yet!! DH was so sooo sooooo excited that I bought him a new suit that he hasn't even LOOKED at it!

 

[Kels Sem]

Annie - your a scream

 

[mikki.young]

Annie - stop shopping! Remember your weight limits

Think I booked the cab for 9am - is that a bit early? What time should I tell them to be safe? They haven't said anything about extra charges for cases and I have told them how many....

 

[west&east]

Hey everybody,
We began our spring break adventures yesterday by driving up to Raleigh, North Carolina with a fun stop at the Lego store at the outlet mall. We are hanging out here today while DH works then driving up to Fredericksburg, Virginia so DH can visit his plant there tomorrow. Picking up the inlaws at the DC airport Tuesday late afternoon then starting our true DC vacation. Annie, I have no idea what we are really doing each day besides heading to the National Zoo on Wednesday because that seems to be the nicest day in the forecast. DH is hoping to get together with some of his high school buddies one night. What are you up to this week?

 

[Anal Annie]

Annie - stop shopping! Remember your weight limits

Think I booked the cab for 9am - is that a bit early? What time should I tell them to be safe? They haven't said anything about extra charges for cases and I have told them how many....

Weight. Right.
Not sure about time for our ride...maybe Jeff knows about how long it will take to get off the ship, claim our luggage & go thru Customs and get out of the terminal?! The last time we cruised out of PC we used the DCL bus back to MCO and had booked a participating airline so that DCL did our boarding check-in and they took our luggage FOR us. I think we should be done with breakfast by about 8:30-8:40...Don't know if 9:00 is a few too early or not.

Hey everybody,
We began our spring break adventures yesterday by driving up to Raleigh, North Carolina with a fun stop at the Lego store at the outlet mall. We are hanging out here today while DH works then driving up to Fredericksburg, Virginia so DH can visit his plant there tomorrow. Picking up the inlaws at the DC airport Tuesday late afternoon then starting our true DC vacation. Annie, I have no idea what we are really doing each day besides heading to the National Zoo on Wednesday because that seems to be the nicest day in the forecast. DH is hoping to get together with some of his high school buddies one night. What are you up to this week?

Hope you have a good time...Wed is supposed to be the warmest day of the week but they're calling for a 50% chance of storms in the afternoon. I haven't been to the zoo in a long time. I usually take the metro 'cuz I hate driving in the city. I get very impatient on Connecticut & Wisconsin Avenues. (Imagine that! ) We got married literally right next door to the National Zoo at an old building called the Kennedy Warren. (As you face the front entrance of the zoo it's immediately to the left.) It's an old apartment building that had this old art deco ballroom from the 1930's. Actually, our 18th anniv. is on the 25th so that's kinda funny you'll be right there this week. DH is working and DS and I have no real plans to speak of. Orthodontist at 10:45 on Wed. Haircuts on Thurs. afternoon. I am taking him shoe shopping maybe today. He only had a couple pair of tennis shoes & he outgrew the ones he had in he PE locker so I had to send in 1 of his 2 pair which leaves him with just 1 pair... BTW Georgetown is flooded today from all the rain this weekend...don't drive thru any high water!!!

 

[mikki.young]

Now when does everyone arrive in Barcelona - are any of you arriving early enough to take advantage of a city tour full day for up to 6 people for 300 euros - or half day for 200 euros?

 

[Anal Annie]

Now when does everyone arrive in Barcelona - are any of you arriving early enough to take advantage of a city tour full day for up to 6 people for 300 euros - or half day for 200 euros?

Do you arrive early?? I for one am not going to plan anything for that day. We'll just be coming off of 4 VERY hectic days in Paris and I don't want to overload. We're supposed to land around 11:15 I think. I am guestimating we'll arrive at our hotel around 1:00ish. We'll probably just check in & scout out some lunch and perhaps walk over to the Sagrada Familia (it's within walking distance from the Novotel I think). Then I think that we'd like to take advantage of the rooftop pool for a short time. Maybe we'll skip walking anywhere & just hang at the pool. Just relax and enjoy the view for a bit before we clean up for dinner. Gonna play that day by ear. There is also a shopping center across from our hotel that I'd like to check out (read: buy some liquor & beer to take on the cruise). I think that post cruise we'll probably just try to use the HOHO bus to get around. From everything I've read that is supposed to work out very well in Barcelona.

 

[Joanne Hollyoak]

Do you arrive early?? I for one am not going to plan anything for that day. We'll just be coming off of 4 VERY hectic days in Paris and I don't want to overload. We're supposed to land around 11:15 I think. I am guestimating we'll arrive at our hotel around 1:00ish. We'll probably just check in & scout out some lunch and perhaps walk over to the Sagrada Familia (it's within walking distance from the Novotel I think). Then I think that we'd like to take advantage of the rooftop pool for a short time. Maybe we'll skip walking anywhere & just hang at the pool. Just relax and enjoy the view for a bit before we clean up for dinner. Gonna play that day by ear. There is also a shopping center across from our hotel that I'd like to check out (read: buy some liquor & beer to take on the cruise). I think that post cruise we'll probably just try to use the HOHO bus to get around. From everything I've read that is supposed to work out very well in Barcelona.

Hi we arrive on the sat morning so will go straight to the Port, coming back our flight is not till 21.00pm but are thinking about Barcelona zoo as not too far, does anyone know if there is anywhere to store suitcases at the port as can't check in bags at airport that early.
Sunshine here today its lovely hopefully stay nice all easter got to write out an easter hunt for Aaron and buy more eggs.
Annie I work for Newlook which is a clothes store and get 50% discount for me and DH. I have to wear current fashion for work everyday so you can imagine my wardrobe need to create space, I have bought 2 maxi dresses this week. I do miss going shopping for bargains but don't shop anywhere else now for clothes

 

[Anal Annie]

Hi we arrive on the sat morning so will go straight to the Port, coming back our flight is not till 21.00pm but are thinking about Barcelona zoo as not too far, does anyone know if there is anywhere to store suitcases at the port as can't check in bags at airport that early.
Sunshine here today its lovely hopefully stay nice all easter got to write out an easter hunt for Aaron and buy more eggs.
Annie I work for Newlook which is a clothes store and get 50% discount for me and DH. I have to wear current fashion for work everyday so you can imagine my wardrobe need to create space, I have bought 2 maxi dresses this week. I do miss going shopping for bargains but don't shop anywhere else now for clothes

I have no idea about storing luggage for the day...maybe you could start a thread about it to ask?!

When I was growing up my Dad worked for JC Penney (a large clothing department store chain here in the US) so EVERYTHING we ever got came from JCP or from their catalog. Everything. If they didn't sell it we didn't get it!! I really do need to hold off a little bit now on my shopping. It's going to be realllly hard tho...ya'll are gonna have to smack my hands if I go out again!!


OK, now I have a question about Disneyland Paris...are their signs & stuff all in French or do they have some bilingual signage in English too?!

 

[luke]

OK, now I have a question about Disneyland Paris...are their signs & stuff all in French or do they have some bilingual signage in English too?!

What do you mean by signs? Most things are either in French and English, or at the least in French that is cognates