August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

[MinnieDiva]

I wanted to stay at the Le Meridien but I didn't think they could fit 3 in aroom and I didn't want to get 2 rooms. I also got a quote to stay there through Disney and it was like $718 but that did include transfers. I wanted to stay near Las Ramblas so I looked into the Royal Ramblas after reading many people on disboards had made reservations there it also had nice reivews on tripadvisor so hopefully it is good. One review mentioned a pre cruise package but they didn't seem to have any rooms available for that deal for our dates when I went directly to their web site

I had to call Le Meridian to get a non-smoking room king room. DD is small enough that if the request for a rollaway bed goes awry, she'll fit in with us. And yeah, WAY too expensive to go thru Disney. I got a $199 Euro rate per night and was able to do Disney transfers from hotel to port and back. From the airport, I think we're just going to get a cab. It sounds like they are plentiful and easy to obtain.

 

[jel0511]

I wanted to stay at the Le Meridien but I didn't think they could fit 3 in aroom and I didn't want to get 2 rooms. I also got a quote to stay there through Disney and it was like $718 but that did include transfers. I wanted to stay near Las Ramblas so I looked into the Royal Ramblas after reading many people on disboards had made reservations there it also had nice reivews on tripadvisor so hopefully it is good. One review mentioned a pre cruise package but they didn't seem to have any rooms available for that deal for our dates when I went directly to their web site

I had to call Le Meridian to get a non-smoking room king room. DD is small enough that if the request for a rollaway bed goes awry, she'll fit in with us. And yeah, WAY too expensive to go thru Disney. I got a $199 Euro rate per night and was able to do Disney transfers from hotel to port and back. From the airport, I think we're just going to get a cab. It sounds like they are plentiful and easy to obtain.

We had to go with 2 rooms at either place. Rivoli is half of what Le Meridien is costing, but the pictures so far make it look like a HORRIBLE place. For the night before and after we return Le Meridien is 915 EUR for us and Rivoli is 500 EUR. So based on price, Rivoli wins but I don't like sleeping in icky rooms......

 

[MinnieDiva]

We had to go with 2 rooms at either place. Rivoli is half of what Le Meridien is costing, but the pictures so far make it look like a HORRIBLE place. For the night before and after we return Le Meridien is 915 EUR for us and Rivoli is 500 EUR. So based on price, Rivoli wins but I don't like sleeping in icky
rooms......

Lori,
if you look at that site I referenced for the dining rotation, under the links section, there are several sites for larger families ( not that any of us have large families, but they do strange things in Europe.) Novotel comes to mind, and it just opened last month.

Susan, we've been lacking on the meets issue. Please feel free to start....I'm reluctant as I've never cruised and don't know the spaces or routines.

 

[MinnieDiva]

http://muchomagico.weebly.com/index.html


This is the link.

 

[mindelmouse]

Lori,
if you look at that site I referenced for the dining rotation, under the links section, there are several sites for larger families ( not that any of us have large families, but they do strange things in Europe.) Novotel comes to mind, and it just opened last month.

Susan, we've been lacking on the meets issue. Please feel free to start....I'm reluctant as I've never cruised and don't know the spaces or routines.

Since there weren't that many of us and some of us will probably meet on the plane going over, I figured a formal meet wasn't really necessary. We could probably just do something spur of the moment. There really aren't that many of us that are active here.

 

[mindelmouse]

We had to go with 2 rooms at either place. Rivoli is half of what Le Meridien is costing, but the pictures so far make it look like a HORRIBLE place. For the night before and after we return Le Meridien is 915 EUR for us and Rivoli is 500 EUR. So based on price, Rivoli wins but I don't like sleeping in icky rooms......

Lori,

you should really look into our hotel. We have a family room for a very reasonable price. The hotel is newer and I don't think we're far off the beaten path. We're not that far from the port and a ten minute walt to la sagrada familia.

 

[jel0511]

Thanks everyone, but since we'll only be in Barcelona for Tues night and right after the cruise for that night., we really want to stay on Las Ramblas. I have a ressie at the Novotel as well and it's only 100 EUR total cheaper than Rivoli. I think for such a short visit, we'd rather be somewhere central, near the hop on/off bus, etc. Thanks though!!!!!!

 

[MinnieDiva]

Since there weren't that many of us and some of us will probably meet on the plane going over, I figured a formal meet wasn't really necessary. We could probably just do something spur of the moment. There really aren't that many of us that are active here.

I'd bet we perk up soon!

 

[susiemmfan]

Check out the pictures of the Magic in Valletta.

http://www.vallettawaterfront.com

Very exciting! Only 113 more days!

 

[MinnieDiva]

The pictures going up are wonderful!

 

[jel0511]

Boy am I glad I'm not Mindy.... If I was the concierge staff would HATE ME by now... I keep changing my mind on excursions..... First if was don't do one in Malta, then do one, then don't do one...... You get the picture.... Also, in Naples as first we were going to do the one with the pizza making then my DS (who is writing a report on Italy in school) wanted to go to Pompeii, so I picked the Sorrento/Pompeii/Capri excursion... Now with some reports coming back and seeing photos, the one that Pete Werner went on, Sorrento/Pompeii with lunch on a Mozzerella farm looking good, I don't know what to do. We also going to go to the beach in Corsica with DCL, but now we feel we need a day to recover from all the touring in Italy, so we're going to venture out alone there.......

So far (at least as of today) here are our excursions:

Malta - Historical Hunt, cruise critic has a video blog of this one and it looks FUN!
Tunisa - Pottery
Naples - Sorrento/Pompeii/Capri
Rome - our private tour
Florence - our private tour
Corsica - On our own
Villefranche - Monaco/Monte Carlo/Eze

 

[MinnieDiva]

I'm trying to to get tied to any one specific tour....I'm afraid that there won't be much to pick from by the time I get to register for them. Instead of being disappointed later, just trying to keep my mind open...

 

[mindelmouse]

Boy am I glad I'm not Mindy.... If I was the concierge staff would HATE ME by now... I keep changing my mind on excursions..... First if was don't do one in Malta, then do one, then don't do one...... You get the picture.... Also, in Naples as first we were going to do the one with the pizza making then my DS (who is writing a report on Italy in school) wanted to go to Pompeii, so I picked the Sorrento/Pompeii/Capri excursion... Now with some reports coming back and seeing photos, the one that Pete Werner went on, Sorrento/Pompeii with lunch on a Mozzerella farm looking good, I don't know what to do. We also going to go to the beach in Corsica with DCL, but now we feel we need a day to recover from all the touring in Italy, so we're going to venture out alone there.......

So far (at least as of today) here are our excursions:

Malta - Historical Hunt, cruise critic has a video blog of this one and it looks FUN!
Tunisa - Pottery
Naples - Sorrento/Pompeii/Capri
Rome - our private tour
Florence - our private tour
Corsica - On our own
Villefranche - Monaco/Monte Carlo/Eze

And I haven't thought of changing mine at all....but you know what...all the stuff you're going through now, I already went through...until I see reviews of the excursions that I picked, I'm not going to worry about it...I also took some less strenous tours in case my DH's circulatory problem doesn't clear up.

I still may change things based on reviews,but I'm sure the concierge has dealt with much worse...that's their job

 

[Cliffside]

Boy am I glad I'm not Mindy.... If I was the concierge staff would HATE ME by now... I keep changing my mind on excursions..... First if was don't do one in Malta, then do one, then don't do one...... You get the picture.... Also, in Naples as first we were going to do the one with the pizza making then my DS (who is writing a report on Italy in school) wanted to go to Pompeii, so I picked the Sorrento/Pompeii/Capri excursion... Now with some reports coming back and seeing photos, the one that Pete Werner went on, Sorrento/Pompeii with lunch on a Mozzerella farm looking good, I don't know what to do. We also going to go to the beach in Corsica with DCL, but now we feel we need a day to recover from all the touring in Italy, so we're going to venture out alone there.......

So far (at least as of today) here are our excursions:

Malta - Historical Hunt, cruise critic has a video blog of this one and it looks FUN!
Tunisa - Pottery
Naples - Sorrento/Pompeii/Capri
Rome - our private tour
Florence - our private tour
Corsica - On our own
Villefranche - Monaco/Monte Carlo/Eze

Hi all



I definately know what you are talking about. I have been watchling the video blogs on both cruise crtitic and the dis and it is so exciting. But it is also making me re-think some of my choices. I was thinking about the scavenger hunt in Malta so this kind of gives me the little extra push.
And in Naples I thoiught we had decided on Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast but that rviewof Sorrento, Pompeii and the visit to the farm sounded so nice. I'm sure whatever everyone decides to do will be amazing. But it has sure been fun watching these reports.

 

[pixie08]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to come back and say hi again. Dan and I thought we would not be able to make the cruise but it turns out we will be! I am so excited and have an adrenaline from all the last minute booking lol!

 

[MinnieDiva]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to come back and say hi again. Dan and I thought we would not be able to make the cruise but it turns out we will be! I am so excited and have an adrenaline from all the last minute booking lol!

Welcome back!

 

[pixie08]

Thank you! We are still on the list on pg 3 so that is a plus!

In terms of planning we are doing pretty well. We paid for the cruise in full so that' also great. We are flying JFK to PAris and staying there for a few days. Then we are flying into Barcelona the night before and staying at the AC Diplomatic.

Our plan for the first day is to hopefully check in at the port around 11am, then head into the city for a few hours just to check out sregada familia and las ramblas. Then back to the boat by the drill.

I probably missed this but has anyone theorized about dining rotations and what you think they may be? I noticed on the DIs blog they had the second seating and the first night they were in Animators palate. So that is a clue. I guess after this first cruise we will basically know.

Also does anyone know when formal night may be? I was thinking it is going to be the first day at sea but it could be the last Thanks!

 

[jel0511]

Thank you! We are still on the list on pg 3 so that is a plus!

In terms of planning we are doing pretty well. We paid for the cruise in full so that' also great. We are flying JFK to PAris and staying there for a few days. Then we are flying into Barcelona the night before and staying at the AC Diplomatic.

Our plan for the first day is to hopefully check in at the port around 11am, then head into the city for a few hours just to check out sregada familia and las ramblas. Then back to the boat by the drill.

I probably missed this but has anyone theorized about dining rotations and what you think they may be? I noticed on the DIs blog they had the second seating and the first night they were in Animators palate. So that is a clue. I guess after this first cruise we will basically know.

Also does anyone know when formal night may be? I was thinking it is going to be the first day at sea but it could be the last Thanks!

Welcome Back!!!! When do you leave JFK? We leave on the 14th at 11:30. Maybe you're on our flight?

 

[mindelmouse]

Thank you! We are still on the list on pg 3 so that is a plus!

In terms of planning we are doing pretty well. We paid for the cruise in full so that' also great. We are flying JFK to PAris and staying there for a few days. Then we are flying into Barcelona the night before and staying at the AC Diplomatic.

Our plan for the first day is to hopefully check in at the port around 11am, then head into the city for a few hours just to check out sregada familia and las ramblas. Then back to the boat by the drill.

I probably missed this but has anyone theorized about dining rotations and what you think they may be? I noticed on the DIs blog they had the second seating and the first night they were in Animators palate. So that is a clue. I guess after this first cruise we will basically know.

Also does anyone know when formal night may be? I was thinking it is going to be the first day at sea but it could be the last Thanks!

Way back on the thread Kim posted a link to another cruise group's website that had the dining rotation. We used that to plan all our stuff...I'm hoping it's correct. Kim could you repost that link for Pixie?

 

[jel0511]

Way back on the thread Kim posted a link to another cruise group's website that had the dining rotation. We used that to plan all our stuff...I'm hoping it's correct. Kim could you repost that link for Pixie?

I saved it... here it is...

http://muchomagico.weebly.com/index.html