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

[MacG]

Hey Irene,
DW and I are have always been very adventurous when it comes to vacationing, with a nice balance of planning vs. checking things out on the way. But since we're now parents, we plan a bit more. Since the flight was so expensive, we decided to make this a 3 week trip, starting in Paris.

To give you an idea on what we're doing for the trip:

Aug 11th: Arriving in Paris
Aug 16: Overnight train from Paris to Barcelona (Elipsos)
Aug 17th: Stay overnight in Barcelona
Aug 20th: Valetta, Malta-Blue Grotto Boat Trip (Disney)
Aug 21st: Tunis-Sidi Bou Said and Carthage (Disney)
Aug 22nd: Naples-Early train to Pompeii (On our own)
Aug 23rd: Rome-Picking up a B.I.R.G. ticket (9.5 euro/person) and heading to Rome, pre-purchased timed tickets for the Vatican museums and pre-purchased an open ticket for the Colosseum.
Aug 24th: La Spezia (Take regional train to Pisa, take photos of tower and hang out)
Aug 25th: Ajaccio-No plans, just hanging out at the beach
Aug 26th: Villefranche (renting a car and driving to Monte Carlo and Cannes)

I've heard from some travelers that the Italian rail workers strike from time-to-time so here's the official website that tracks strikes: http://www.commissionegaranziasciopero.it/index.jsp

For those who aren't fluent "SCIOPERI IN TEMPO REALE" means Strikes in Real-Time. Love it.

Summer in Italy has some info too: http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp

If you or your family has food allergies, you can get form letters or PDFs of English to a variety of languages for a bunch of foods and ingredients. I'll be loading the Italian, Spanish, French & Arabic on my iPad for quick reference:

http://www.faiusa.org/?page=downloads
http://www.food-info.net/allergy.htm

If I find anything that will help our fellow travelers, I'll post on the boards...

Thanks!

Stacey, we are from Farmington. How are you guys flying?
I really need advice on tours. I am starting from zero and there is so much info... is there a good book or a website?

 

[SettinSail]

Hey Irene,
DW and I are have always been very adventurous when it comes to vacationing, with a nice balance of planning vs. checking things out on the way. But since we're now parents, we plan a bit more. Since the flight was so expensive, we decided to make this a 3 week trip, starting in Paris.

To give you an idea on what we're doing for the trip:

Aug 11th: Arriving in Paris
Aug 16: Overnight train from Paris to Barcelona (Elipsos)
Aug 17th: Stay overnight in Barcelona
Aug 20th: Valetta, Malta-Blue Grotto Boat Trip (Disney)
Aug 21st: Tunis-Sidi Bou Said and Carthage (Disney)
Aug 22nd: Naples-Early train to Pompeii (On our own)
Aug 23rd: Rome-Picking up a B.I.R.G. ticket (9.5 euro/person) and heading to Rome, pre-purchased timed tickets for the Vatican museums and pre-purchased an open ticket for the Colosseum.
Aug 24th: La Spezia (Take regional train to Pisa, take photos of tower and hang out)
Aug 25th: Ajaccio-No plans, just hanging out at the beach
Aug 26th: Villefranche (renting a car and driving to Monte Carlo and Cannes)

I've heard from some travelers that the Italian rail workers strike from time-to-time so here's the official website that tracks strikes: http://www.commissionegaranziasciopero.it/index.jsp

For those who aren't fluent "SCIOPERI IN TEMPO REALE" means Strikes in Real-Time. Love it.

Summer in Italy has some info too: http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp

If you or your family has food allergies, you can get form letters or PDFs of English to a variety of languages for a bunch of foods and ingredients. I'll be loading the Italian, Spanish, French & Arabic on my iPad for quick reference:

http://www.faiusa.org/?page=downloads
http://www.food-info.net/allergy.htm

If I find anything that will help our fellow travelers, I'll post on the boards...

Thanks!

Hi Mac, we are doing same as you in Malta, Tunis & Corsica!
Shawn

 

[MacG]

my DD(8) and DD(6) will be happy to hear about Leah and Maya

thanks!

Hi, everyone. After a few weeks of reading the forum and changing our minds, we are booked and already have room assignments.
It's me (Irene, 40 on Aug 13th)
My Husbad Ed (48 on Aug 30th)
Son Adam (15, he is not sure if he will have fun)
Daughter Leah (8)
Daughter Maya (6).

 

[SettinSail]

Hi everyone...just wanted to let everyone know I posted info on the website about the dis meet. It will take place on the first sea day (Thursday) in the Promenade lounge on Deck 3. It will be a casual open meet. It will begin at 12:15 pm and probably go until 1:00 pm (or until everyone leaves). Everyone is welcome!

If there is an art of entertaining series that day I am thinking it is going to be at 1:00 pm and Dan and I are probably going to sign up. Most likely a wine or beer tasting will be going on around that time as well. Some people may want to get groups together and go the events together if anyone is interested in attending.

Thanks for organizing Mary!

We will be there!!

Hope to meet many of you then,
Shawn

 

[irene]

Hi, Mac. Great info. I agree with being adventures. Now with the kids, feel more like chickens Trying to plan everything while kowing fully well you can't plantoo much with kids anyway, such is life.
Mary: We would love to be added to the websire, what do we need to do?

 

[MinnieDiva]

Hey Irene,
DW and I are have always been very adventurous when it comes to vacationing, with a nice balance of planning vs. checking things out on the way. But since we're now parents, we plan a bit more. Since the flight was so expensive, we decided to make this a 3 week trip, starting in Paris.

To give you an idea on what we're doing for the trip:

Aug 11th: Arriving in Paris
Aug 16: Overnight train from Paris to Barcelona (Elipsos)
Aug 17th: Stay overnight in Barcelona
Aug 20th: Valetta, Malta-Blue Grotto Boat Trip (Disney)
Aug 21st: Tunis-Sidi Bou Said and Carthage (Disney)
Aug 22nd: Naples-Early train to Pompeii (On our own)
Aug 23rd: Rome-Picking up a B.I.R.G. ticket (9.5 euro/person) and heading to Rome, pre-purchased timed tickets for the Vatican museums and pre-purchased an open ticket for the Colosseum.
Aug 24th: La Spezia (Take regional train to Pisa, take photos of tower and hang out)
Aug 25th: Ajaccio-No plans, just hanging out at the beach
Aug 26th: Villefranche (renting a car and driving to Monte Carlo and Cannes)

I've heard from some travelers that the Italian rail workers strike from time-to-time so here's the official website that tracks strikes: http://www.commissionegaranziasciopero.it/index.jsp

For those who aren't fluent "SCIOPERI IN TEMPO REALE" means Strikes in Real-Time. Love it.

Summer in Italy has some info too: http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp

If you or your family has food allergies, you can get form letters or PDFs of English to a variety of languages for a bunch of foods and ingredients. I'll be loading the Italian, Spanish, French & Arabic on my iPad for quick reference:

http://www.faiusa.org/?page=downloads
http://www.food-info.net/allergy.htm

If I find anything that will help our fellow travelers, I'll post on the boards...

Thanks!

Thanks for the links!

We're doing the same in Tunis as well...

kim

 

[K8T]

Hi

Beautiful day in the UK!

K8T - I'm not sure yet if I will be able to do it. It will be my first time and I still need to convince my mom that it will be good fun. I'll let you know soon if I can or not

No problem, there is no rush, maybe you could show her some of the FE threads, she probably thinks you a nuts postiing on here, my OH certainly does, although after meeting up with everyone on our last cruise, I think he gets the idea now!

Welcome to all of our new cruisers!

Again, if anyone wants to join the website just PM me! (I added you in Kim-macG!)

I will PM you, got a photo at home, not on work computer, only I can't upload anything at home at moment as my laptop is sick at the moment and new one not arrived. I will have a look on FB and see if there are any there I can pass over to you.

Hey Irene,
DW and I are have always been very adventurous when it comes to vacationing, with a nice balance of planning vs. checking things out on the way. But since we're now parents, we plan a bit more. Since the flight was so expensive, we decided to make this a 3 week trip, starting in Paris.

To give you an idea on what we're doing for the trip:

Aug 11th: Arriving in Paris
Aug 16: Overnight train from Paris to Barcelona (Elipsos)
Aug 17th: Stay overnight in Barcelona
Aug 20th: Valetta, Malta-Blue Grotto Boat Trip (Disney)
Aug 21st: Tunis-Sidi Bou Said and Carthage (Disney)
Aug 22nd: Naples-Early train to Pompeii (On our own)
Aug 23rd: Rome-Picking up a B.I.R.G. ticket (9.5 euro/person) and heading to Rome, pre-purchased timed tickets for the Vatican museums and pre-purchased an open ticket for the Colosseum.
Aug 24th: La Spezia (Take regional train to Pisa, take photos of tower and hang out)
Aug 25th: Ajaccio-No plans, just hanging out at the beach
Aug 26th: Villefranche (renting a car and driving to Monte Carlo and Cannes)

I've heard from some travelers that the Italian rail workers strike from time-to-time so here's the official website that tracks strikes: http://www.commissionegaranziasciopero.it/index.jsp

For those who aren't fluent "SCIOPERI IN TEMPO REALE" means Strikes in Real-Time. Love it.

Summer in Italy has some info too: http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp

If you or your family has food allergies, you can get form letters or PDFs of English to a variety of languages for a bunch of foods and ingredients. I'll be loading the Italian, Spanish, French & Arabic on my iPad for quick reference:

http://www.faiusa.org/?page=downloads
http://www.food-info.net/allergy.htm

If I find anything that will help our fellow travelers, I'll post on the boards...

Thanks!

We are very similar to you in plans, although with an almost 6 year old, things could change!

Doing our own Malta with a cab ( will arrange on the day). Not decided in Tunis yet (still researching!). Naples train, but will go to Herulanum, a few stops up from Pompeii, to go up Vesuvius. Rome train again, prebooked Colliseum. Spezia, train to the Pisa and a good climb and icecream! Ajaccio (not much there really), so market in the morning and then beach. Finally, the little train that runs between Montecarlo and Cannes, probably Montecarlo in the morning, there is a car museum and a toy museum, which will interest OH and DD, I will enjoy looking in the notoriously chic and very expensive shops

Thanks for the links, very useful. I can see all our plans could go to 'pot' in Italy, if the strike hits!

Have a great day everyone.

Kate

 

[pirateluv]

Thanks for the links!

We're doing the same in Tunis as well...

kim

Wow! It looks like we're on the same Tunis excursion as well!!!
-Joan

 

[Adsmama]

Aug 17th: Stay overnight in Barcelona, hotel is near the fountains so we might try to look at them but they are not running on tuesday
Aug 20th: Valetta, Malta-- no idea, probably just walk to town and sight see.
Aug 21st: Tunis-Sidi Bou Said and Carthage (Disney)
Aug 22nd: Naples- SITA bus to Pompei, hope to find a guide there who will tour us around, back for lunch on the ship . Might venture out in the afternoon or not - maybe go to the pool or something? OR we might take the train to pompeii, get a tour guide there, go to heraculam, go to naples, eat pizza, look around, back to the ship.
Aug 23rd: Rome- B.I.R.G. ticket -- hoping to see the colliseum, forum, pantheon, etc in the morning- maybe a tour guide if we can find one outside of the colliseum. Not sure if we will book tickets in advance. Lunch, trevi fountain, onward to the vatican. Hoping to see inside in the afternoon. Again, not sure we are going to book in advance or just wing it. Heard the lines are not as long after 2pm. Is that true?
Aug 24th: La Spezia - take train to cinque terre towns, hike some of the trails. Need to research more.
Aug 25th: Ajaccio-No plans. How close is the beach?
Aug 26th: Villefranche -- taking the little bus or train to Montecarlo. I heard it was very easy.


I am still open to suggestions or if people have tours that they want to include us in LOL. I think with a baby it's best to be flexible. I am worried if we don't book stuff in rome we won't get to see all that we want to see.

 

[SettinSail]

Wow, there are 5 families (atleast) who have booked the same Disney tour in Tunis. That makes me feel like I made a good choice there

Shawn

 

[Goofy559]

Just had a call at home from DCL that the excursion we had booked from La Spezia (the family friendly tour to Florence where the kids made their own fresco) has been cancelled Guess we will just do Pisa on our own...I'm looking at a bike tour there that sounds interesting, plus the tower climb.

Lisa

 

[jel0511]

Hi everyone -

I was playing on DCL's site today to see how booked our cruise is now that we're getting close!!! Cat's 11,10,9,8,7 and 6 are all in GTY right now. Cat 5 has 2 rooms left and cat 4 has 3. Also, main dining is all that's left for dining options. So it looks like our cruise is getting popular. Also, there is no cat 12 anymore for our sailing. I have seen it pop up time to time for the Aug 7th sailing and it's still available for the Aug 28th one. Since everyone is posting their itineraries, I'll do mine

Aug 14th - Fly to Paris from JFK
Aug 15 - 17 - Paris
Aug 17 - Fly to BCN and stay night at Le Meridien
Aug 18 - try for upgrade to cat 3
Aug 20 - Valetta Historical Hunt, excursion through DCL
Aug 21 - Pottery in Nabeul, excursion through DCL
Aug 22 - Timeless Pompeii and Flavors of Sorrento, excursion though DCL
Aug 23 - Private excursion of Rome and Vatican with DIS friends
Aug 24 - Private excursion of Pisa(climb the tower!) and Florence with DIS friends
Aug 25 - relax, maybe market then the beach
Aug 26 - Cannes, Grasse and St. Paul, DCL excursion
Aug 28 - HOHO bus in Barcelona, stay night at Le Meridien
Aug 29 - fly home to JFK

 

[mindelmouse]

Hi everyone -

I was playing on DCL's site today to see how booked our cruise is now that we're getting close!!! Cat's 11,10,9,8,7 and 6 are all in GTY right now. Cat 5 has 2 rooms left and cat 4 has 3. Also, main dining is all that's left for dining options. So it looks like our cruise is getting popular. Also, there is no cat 12 anymore for our sailing. I have seen it pop up time to time for the Aug 7th sailing and it's still available for the Aug 28th one. Since everyone is posting their itineraries, I'll do mine

Aug 14th - Fly to Paris from JFK
Aug 15 - 17 - Paris
Aug 17 - Fly to BCN and stay night at Le Meridien
Aug 18 - try for upgrade to cat 3
Aug 20 - Valetta Historical Hunt, excursion through DCL
Aug 21 - Pottery in Nabeul, excursion through DCL
Aug 22 - Timeless Pompeii and Flavors of Sorrento, excursion though DCL
Aug 23 - Private excursion of Rome and Vatican with DIS friends
Aug 24 - Private excursion of Pisa(climb the tower!) and Florence with DIS friends
Aug 25 - relax, maybe market then the beach
Aug 26 - Cannes, Grasse and St. Paul, DCL excursion
Aug 28 - HOHO bus in Barcelona, stay night at Le Meridien
Aug 29 - fly home to JFK

Well now I feel left out

Aug 16 - Fly out of Newark to Barcelona
Aug 17 - Arrive in Barcelona and stay at the Apsis Porta Marina perhaps HOHO bus in Barcelona or Chocolate factory
Aug 18 - try for upgrade to cat 2 or 1
Aug 19 - Palo Brunch, Dis Meet and Couples Choice
Aug 20 - Valletta for Kids, Excursion through DCL
Aug 21 - Bardo Museum with Kid's Activity, excursion through DCL Dinner at
Palo with DIS Friends
Aug 22 - Stunning Sorrento and Amalfi Coast
Aug 23 - Private excursion of Rome and Vatican with DIS friends
Aug 24 - Private excursion of Pisa(climb the tower!) and Florence with DIS friends
Aug 25 - Country train and snack, excursion with DCL
Aug 26 - The perfumer's apprentice in Eze, excursion through DCL
Aug 27 - High Tea at Palo
Aug 28 - HOHO bus in Barcelona, stay night at Apsis Porta Marina
Aug 29 - fly home to Newark

 

[pirateluv]

Well then, this is what we have for the 5 of us:
Aug. 20- tour Valletta on our own
Aug. 21- Sidi Bou Said and Carthage DLC tour
Aug. 22- Pompeii- half day DLC tour
Aug. 23- Classical Rome DLC tour
Aug. 24- Pisa DLC tour (and DD birthday!!!! )
Aug. 25- Ajeccio tour on our own
Aug. 26- Villerfranche- Highlights of Monaco and Monte Carlo DLC tour (not sure if we will keep this one)
Aug. 27- Palo brunch
Aug. 28- Staying in Barcelona at the HCC Mont Blanc
Aug. 29-Fly Home
We are getting SO excited!!!
-Joan

 

[GratefulDad]

Hello to all. We are a family of 4 (2Adults-Mike & Christine & 2 Children-Sara 9 & Ryan 7) from NY, and we'll be joining you all on the 8/18 Med. cruise.

We'll be staying 4 night pre. in Barcelona. We'd be interested in hooking up with anyone who is attempting to plan shore excursions during the cruise.

I guess thats about it for now. Looking forward to the trip, and possibly meeting some new friends...


Regards,
Mike & Co.

 

[3girlycruiselovers]

Welcome to all of our new cruisers!

Again, if anyone wants to join the website just PM me! (I added you in Kim-macG!)

Hello Pixie08

I joined recently so this is my fourth post. The disboards will not let me PM anyone until I reached 10 posts.

Can you PM me instead?

Basic info: Amy, Chelsea (11) and Evelyn (9)

Thanks

 

[Adsmama]

As I see that there are new peeps, we are still tossing around ideas about private tours... Still not sure whether we want to do a private tour in Rome, Naples (pompeii), La Spezia (Cinque Terre). Anyone have room or anything they are looking for? Two of us (three if you include our 6 month old- does not have stroller, only carrier).

 

[GratefulDad]

Welcome to all of our new cruisers!

Again, if anyone wants to join the website just PM me! (I added you in Kim-macG!)

Hello,
Could we be added to the website? Thank you.....


Mike

 

[mindelmouse]

Hello to all. We are a family of 4 (2Adults-Mike & Christine & 2 Children-Sara 9 & Ryan 7) from NY, and we'll be joining you all on the 8/18 Med. cruise.

We'll be staying 4 night pre. in Barcelona. We'd be interested in hooking up with anyone who is attempting to plan shore excursions during the cruise.

I guess thats about it for now. Looking forward to the trip, and possibly meeting some new friends...


Regards,
Mike & Co.

Welcome Mike

We're from NJ (but my DH and I grew up in NY) and we're traveling with our twin B/G 9 year olds. I booked mostly Disney excursions as you can see on the posts above.

 

[mindelmouse]

Hello,
Could we be added to the website? Thank you.....


Mike

I'm sure Mary would love to add you to the website...Info needed - first names and ages of all traveling, where from, main or late dining and any celebrations. If you want to see the website..look for one of Pixie08's posting and the link is on the bottom.