August 28, 2010 Pirates of the Barbary Coast - 11 nights in the Mediterranean

[eva]

Hey Eva, have you seen that ABD have linked up with our cruise? What do you think?? I haven't told Richard about it yet but I wondered if it was something you'd recommend???

Thanks for the heads up! I am on hold right now trying to get a quote on adding the ABD to the cruise. I won't do it until I get it approved through Steve. I'll let you know what I think after I hear the price.

 

[eva]

Well, I just found out that ABD is charging $2,299 per person to upgrade to the ABD portion of the cruise. I spoke first with DCL and then MS (DVC). I was told that the prices are the same whether you booked with cash or points. So I was happy to hear that we could add this with cash. But that is quite a bit of money. I read about the excursions and they sound wonderful. But I know that we were exhausted after our Viva Italia trip. They really keep you going. Plus, we hadn't planned on going back into Rome after spending 4 nights there last year. Steve and I will talk it over tonight. But I am pretty sure we will skip adding this. If you add another $1,500 or so, you could actually take a separate ABD tour and have two vacations. But I do have to admit that the ABD trips are really special. There are a lot of extras. I bet you would get lots gifts and perks. And most of the excursions will be of the signature variety. Tough decision.

 

[eva]

No go for us on the ABD portion of the cruise. We both thought that the cost was way too prohibited. If it were that amount for the both of us we would jump on it. But we can do a couple of private tours and all the shore excursions that we want for less than $2,000.

 

[CustardTart]

Wow!!! That is EXPENSIVE - even for Disney!!! I thought it must be $2300 per couple not per person!!! Who in their right mind would spend almost an extra $5k...?

Had a look at some of the excursions and, whilst I'm sure they would be brilliant, I know we'll be happier spending considerably less cash. It's just not a time to throw it around. So, not for us either. I haven't even bothered to explain it to Richard - he's been super-busy and it seemed pointless to waste his time...

Anyway, once Christmas and New Year are over, we'll make some firm excursion decisions. I just wish the £/€ exchange rate would pick up...

It's Sophie's 27th birthday today - which I am finding impossible to believe!!! It's also the start of our Christmas celebrations!!! Richard leaves work at midday and heads home to help me finish getting the house ready. Then later, we're all off for a family meal in honour of the lovely Soph at a local French restaurant... Happy day!!! xxx

 

[eva]

Wow!!! That is EXPENSIVE - even for Disney!!! I thought it must be $2300 per couple not per person!!! Who in their right mind would spend almost an extra $5k...?

Had a look at some of the excursions and, whilst I'm sure they would be brilliant, I know we'll be happier spending considerably less cash. It's just not a time to throw it around. So, not for us either. I haven't even bothered to explain it to Richard - he's been super-busy and it seemed pointless to waste his time...

Anyway, once Christmas and New Year are over, we'll make some firm excursion decisions. I just wish the £/€ exchange rate would pick up...

We feel the same. I've been looking at some private excursions in Italy. I think that is a better use of our money. There is one where you are picked up at the port in Naples and then go to Pompeii following by a tour of the Amalfi Coast. A private driver and guide in a nice Mercedes sedan sounds lovely. I know that Steve is a bit nervous about taking a tour outside of Disney. He knows their quality and the guarantee of not missing the ship. But the next port is not far away if somehow we did miss the ship. So I think it is a good time to try a private tour. I know that you and Richard had already picked a tour. But if you change your mind and want to share a private tour there, let me know.

It's Sophie's 27th birthday today - which I am finding impossible to believe!!! It's also the start of our Christmas celebrations!!! Richard leaves work at midday and heads home to help me finish getting the house ready. Then later, we're all off for a family meal in honour of the lovely Soph at a local French restaurant... Happy day!!! xxx

I know! It is tough to believe that Rachel will be 27 soon too! Sounds like you have a lovely day planned for her. Steve is only working half a day today too. I took the day off. We are going to go out for lunch and maybe some people watching. Tell Sophie Happy Birthday!

 

[eva]

Here are two one of the tours we are considering in Naples:
Pompeii & Amalfi Coast
Pompeii, Positano and Amalfi

 

[eva]

Hope Everyone Had a Very ----

Merry Christmas!​

I got a Kindle for Christmas and have already down loaded a number of travel books on the ports we will be visiting.

 

[eva]

I just received a response from the National Park Service at Cinque Terre. They provide personal tours that pick you up at La Spezia right at the port. Here is the itinerary that they just sent me:

THE CINQUE TERRE

Meet the guide at the La Spezia harbour and on foot (15 minutes) to reach to the ralway station and proceed by train to Riomaggiore. Tour of the first of the five Cinque Terre villages with its tall and colourful houses, winding laneways and small squares, its charm has been depicted many times in the paintings of Telemaco Signorini. The parish church of San Giovanni Battista ( Saint John the Baptist ) with its neo-gothic façade is one of the monuments worth seeing.

Leaving Riomaggiore and taking the suggestive VIA DELL’AMORE path which was carved out of the rocks in the 1920’s and has a panoramic view over the sea, the participants will reach the second of the Cinque Terre villages Manarola in approximately 30 minutes. This second village has a gathering of tall and narrow houses painted in bright colours overlooking a small port.

The Path continues on from Manarola and after a 45 minute walk the participants will arrive at the village of Corniglia. This is the only one of the five villages found at 100mt above sea level a factor which only adds to its particular charm.

Depart by train in the early afternoon for Vernazza: the village is situated at the mouth of the Vernazzola stream (now covered) and it is interesting to observe the medieval town structure which was built around this stream. The scenery is enhanced by the two prominent gothic towers used by the Genovese and the gothic-ligurian S. Margherita d’Antiochia church. Short rest and then continue on to the last of the five Cinque Terre villages : Monterosso al Mare.

This town has a dual appeal : the old village offers the same characteristic atmosphere of the other Cinque Terre villages whilst the residential area of Fegina is like a typical seaside resort.

Upon completion of the tour participants return by boat to La Spezia .

The price includes : professional tour guide for entire day, train tickets for the Cinque Terre, entrance ticket to the Via dell’Amore path, ticket boat from Monterosso to La Spezia
The price does not include : lunch, other entrance fees, any other extras not indicated above and included in the quoted price .

I can't believe that they only quoted us € 250,00 total for the two of us. I am going to speak with Steve tonight about booking this right away.

 

[eva]

Giving us a little bump.

Anyone joining us on this cruise?

 

[eva]

Happy New Year!

 

[eva]

Karen, When you get back you will have a number of my posts to catch up on. Hope you are having a wonderful time!

Here is a link to a thread that I asked about tenders for Med cruises. Andrew has some good info that I hadn't considered about setting up private tours at ports where we tender.

Tender Information

 

[eva]

Over the holidays I have had a chance to really start looking at all the excursions and what private tours we will be taking on the cruise. Some of the referrals I have received are advising me to book our tours over the next month or so. I am told that the good companies book up fast. I heard that some of the May Med cruisers are trying to book private tours right now and they are all booked. So I am really trying to get a better handle on what we will be doing. Here is our new and improved list of events:

Valletta, Malta - Tour On Our Own
Tunis, Tunisia - Medina and Carthage (DCL Excursion)
Naples, Italy - Private Tour of Pompeii & the Amalfi Coast
Civitavecchia, Italy - Italian Countryside and Olive Oil (DCL Excursion)
La Spezia, Italy - Private Tour of Cinque Terre
Ajaccio, Corsica - On Our Own
Villefranche, France - Nice and Eze with Wine and Cheese (DCL Excursion) OR On Our Own

Yikes! How many times have we changed this plan? But I think that we are getting more set on this now.

 

[eva]

Yikes! We were on page 4. So I thought I better give us a bump.

 

[eva]

I just received a response from the National Park Service at Cinque Terre. They provide personal tours that pick you up at La Spezia right at the port. Here is the itinerary that they just sent me:

THE CINQUE TERRE

Meet the guide at the La Spezia harbour and on foot (15 minutes) to reach to the ralway station and proceed by train to Riomaggiore. Tour of the first of the five Cinque Terre villages with its tall and colourful houses, winding laneways and small squares, its charm has been depicted many times in the paintings of Telemaco Signorini. The parish church of San Giovanni Battista ( Saint John the Baptist ) with its neo-gothic façade is one of the monuments worth seeing.

Leaving Riomaggiore and taking the suggestive VIA DELL’AMORE path which was carved out of the rocks in the 1920’s and has a panoramic view over the sea, the participants will reach the second of the Cinque Terre villages Manarola in approximately 30 minutes. This second village has a gathering of tall and narrow houses painted in bright colours overlooking a small port.

The Path continues on from Manarola and after a 45 minute walk the participants will arrive at the village of Corniglia. This is the only one of the five villages found at 100mt above sea level a factor which only adds to its particular charm.

Depart by train in the early afternoon for Vernazza: the village is situated at the mouth of the Vernazzola stream (now covered) and it is interesting to observe the medieval town structure which was built around this stream. The scenery is enhanced by the two prominent gothic towers used by the Genovese and the gothic-ligurian S. Margherita d’Antiochia church. Short rest and then continue on to the last of the five Cinque Terre villages : Monterosso al Mare.

This town has a dual appeal : the old village offers the same characteristic atmosphere of the other Cinque Terre villages whilst the residential area of Fegina is like a typical seaside resort.

Upon completion of the tour participants return by boat to La Spezia .

The price includes : professional tour guide for entire day, train tickets for the Cinque Terre, entrance ticket to the Via dell’Amore path, ticket boat from Monterosso to La Spezia
The price does not include : lunch, other entrance fees, any other extras not indicated above and included in the quoted price .

I can't believe that they only quoted us € 250,00 total for the two of us. I am going to speak with Steve tonight about booking this right away.

I just booked this tour. It sounds so wonderful. The guide will pick us up around 8:00 am and the tour lasts till about 5:00 or 5:30 pm. I hope that we aren't cutting it too close. We set sail at 7:30. Steve keeps thinking that we need to be back to port before then. But I think that 5:30 is fine. That still gives us two hours for delays.

 

[CustardTart]

Hi Eva ~ and everyone else who's sailing with us!!!

I've been back a week from the Alps but caught a horrid cough/cold whilst there and have been sicker than I remember in a long time so haven't felt like DISing too much. The brightness of the laptop screen hurt my eyes for goodness sake!! Anyway, I'm a bit better now (tho' still coughing like crazy) and starting to think SERIOUSLY about this trip!!!

I think we'll be spending the week prior to the cruise in Mijas, Southern Spain and flying to Barcelona from Malaga on the morning of our departure. Apart from that the only major change is that our son, Samuel will NOT be joining us so here's a reminder of the itinerary...

Day 1 Barcelona, Spain...
Day 2 At Sea...
Day 3 Valletta, Malta... Beach Club, Malta. $50 x 2 ...
Day 4 Tunis, Tunisia... Bardo Museum, Medina, Carthage & Sidi Bou Said. $90 x 2...
Day 5 Naples, Italy... Private tour of Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast...
Day 6 Civitavecchia... Private tour of Rome...
Day 7 At Sea.
Day 8 La Spezia, Italy... Portofino and Santa Margherita.$125 x 2.
Day 9 Ajaccio, Corsica... Independent lunch and wine tasting.
Day 10 Villefranche... Independent lunch and wine tasting.
Day 11 At Sea......
Day 12 Barcelona, Spain...

The La Spezia walking tour sounds fab, Eva!!! I'm sure that 2 hour cushion will give you plenty of time to board the Magic... I've just realised that the PM I thought I'd sent you last week is not appearing on my list so am off to try and resurrect it - if I can recall what it said...

 

[eva]

Hi Eva ~ and everyone else who's sailing with us!!!

I've been back a week from the Alps but caught a horrid cough/cold whilst there and have been sicker than I remember in a long time so haven't felt like DISing too much. The brightness of the laptop screen hurt my eyes for goodness sake!! Anyway, I'm a bit better now (tho' still coughing like crazy) and starting to think SERIOUSLY about this trip!!!

I think we'll be spending the week prior to the cruise in Mijas, Southern Spain and flying to Barcelona from Malaga on the morning of our departure. Apart from that the only major change is that our son, Samuel will NOT be joining us so here's a reminder of the itinerary...

Day 1 Barcelona, Spain...
Day 2 At Sea...
Day 3 Valletta, Malta... Beach Club, Malta. $50 x 2 ...
Day 4 Tunis, Tunisia... Bardo Museum, Medina, Carthage & Sidi Bou Said. $90 x 2...
Day 5 Naples, Italy... Private tour of Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast...
Day 6 Civitavecchia... Private tour of Rome...
Day 7 At Sea.
Day 8 La Spezia, Italy... Portofino and Santa Margherita.$125 x 2.
Day 9 Ajaccio, Corsica... Independent lunch and wine tasting.
Day 10 Villefranche... Independent lunch and wine tasting.
Day 11 At Sea......
Day 12 Barcelona, Spain...

The La Spezia walking tour sounds fab, Eva!!! I'm sure that 2 hour cushion will give you plenty of time to board the Magic... I've just realised that the PM I thought I'd sent you last week is not appearing on my list so am off to try and resurrect it - if I can recall what it said...

Karen,

Glad to hear that you are feeling better. Hope you had a great time in the Alps. Did you do any skiing?

I will start making the inquiries for the Pompeii/Amalfi tour. Are there any questions you want me to ask them?

 

[eva]

Bump!

Now that the holidays are over, maybe there will be others joining soon. Anyone?

 

[eva]

Bump!

Now that the holidays are over, maybe there will be others joining soon. Anyone?

Ditto

 

[CustardTart]

Nope... It's just us!!!

Still carrying the dregs of the cough/cold around - tomorrow will be the three week mark, for goodness sake!! It surely can't last much longer but all this means I cannot wait for our Med cruise...

 

[eva]

Nope... It's just us!!!

Still carrying the dregs of the cough/cold around - tomorrow will be the three week mark, for goodness sake!! It surely can't last much longer but all this means I cannot wait for our Med cruise...

I hope you are feeling better soon. Have you seen the doctor? My daughter is just getting over bronchitis. Hope you don't have anything like that. Take care!