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

[eva]

Hi,
My six-year-old, Tyler, and I will be joining you on the 11 night med cruise on Aug 28th. We vacation with Disney a few times a year since he was two, but this is our first cruise. He will be turning 7 the day we are in Rome. I am lookig forward to getting as much info as possible prior to the trip.

Best,
Amanda

Like Karen said --- Aboard!

 

[CustardTart]

... *BUMP* as we were on page 3!!!!!

Hope everyone's keeping well and counting down the days...

Here's a little reminder!

http://www.***********************/tickers/vltz3p9u98cwrhn3.png

 

[liberty6201]

Hi there - i have provisionally booked this cruise with my 6yo DS Jackson and my 2yo DS Ethan. I just have to get school holiday confirmation dates tomorrow then i will pay deposit - or can i pay and still get money back up to 90 days out? I am so so excited. We live in the UK and did Florida in 2008 and California in 2009. Me and my husband separated last year and i didn't think we would be able to afford a holiday but got such a good deal and we've had such a rough year i figure we deserve it!!! LOL i could talk my way into any holiday - esp Disney!!!! I fully expect to book again onboard!!

How many people will be FE? I have never done a Disney cruise so don't know too much about it but have been reading up on it and know boys would love to be little Father Christmas'!! Only thing is we will have to get off boat in Nice - 2 days early - can we still join in?

We did a TA crossing on QM2 last year and my oldest son has been asking to go back on a cruise - we all love Disney so he will be so so excited when he finds out - almost as much as me LOL

 

[liberty6201]

Amanda - what are your thoughts about the tours? Esp Rome as it will be Tyler's birthday. Are you going to do a tour most port days? I am still deciding - i want to see Pompeii and the Leaning tower of Pisa (so does my 6YO) I'd like to see Rome but not sure he would then there was a turtle farm excursion which my boys would prob like - might stay on board on some days. Can you get off the ship and just wander for an hour or so before getting back on or do you have to do a tour?
OMG i'm soooooo excited!!!

 

[eva]

Hi there - i have provisionally booked this cruise with my 6yo DS Jackson and my 2yo DS Ethan.

Well, I'll give you a provisional Aboard!

I just have to get school holiday confirmation dates tomorrow then i will pay deposit - or can i pay and still get money back up to 90 days out?

As long as you are not booking a suite you can get your money back with no problem.

How many people will be FE? I have never done a Disney cruise so don't know too much about it but have been reading up on it and know boys would love to be little Father Christmas'!! Only thing is we will have to get off boat in Nice - 2 days early - can we still join in?

No one has mentioned any FE yet. With luggage and weight restrictions for flights, I doubt if we will be participating. But others may want to join in. You might want to call or email DCL directly to ask about leaving the ship early. I'm not sure how that works. But I have heard of people doing it before.

 

[eva]

It's sure good to see some new faces on our thread. I think Karen and I were beginning to think we would be the only people on the entire ship. It is getting closer and closer to the time to book Palo, the excursions, and spa treatments. Just in case you were wondering, here are the dates depending on you CC status:

Never Cruised on DCL Before - 75 days out - 06/14/2010
Silver CC Memeber (1-4 cruises) - 90 days out - 05/30/2010
Gold CC Member (5-9 cruises) - 105 days out - 05/15/2010
Platinum CC Member (10+ cruises) - 120 days out - 04/30/2010

Only 41 days till I can make reservations. Glad I have a trip to WDW in 13 days. Or that 41 days might seem like a lifetime. I may go crazy after the cruise in September. I have absolutely no trips planned after that!

 

[Eeyore3838]

We are also getting excited to reserve our excursions. My DH and I were discussing the Italian ports at length last night. We have many of the ports down to a couple of excursions to choose from. We still have time before 5/30 comes.

Still checking flights daily - best I can come up with now is around $1000 pp. What kind of deals was everyone else able to score?

 

[madscrapper]

Hi all,

I just booked our family on this amazing cruise - couldn't pass up the great pricing.

We are 2 adults and 3 girls, 15, 14, and 11. The 15 year old is the BFF of my 14 year old. I don't know who is in more of shock: her parents for letting her go, DH and I for agreeing to take her or the girls for being to have such an adventure together.

Looking forward to planning excursions and spa treatment!

Jeannine

 

[liberty6201]

Wow Jeannine - that's so wonderful of you - those girls are going to have a blast!!!

 

[eva]

Hi all,

I just booked our family on this amazing cruise - couldn't pass up the great pricing.

We are 2 adults and 3 girls, 15, 14, and 11. The 15 year old is the BFF of my 14 year old. I don't know who is in more of shock: her parents for letting her go, DH and I for agreeing to take her or the girls for being to have such an adventure together.

Looking forward to planning excursions and spa treatment!

Jeannine

Aboard!

Great to see people joining us!

 

[eva]

We are also getting excited to reserve our excursions. My DH and I were discussing the Italian ports at length last night. We have many of the ports down to a couple of excursions to choose from. We still have time before 5/30 comes.

Still checking flights daily - best I can come up with now is around $1000 pp. What kind of deals was everyone else able to score?

Unfortunately our flights were about that price too. We flew to Italy fall of 2008 and paid about the same then. We do have to fly from the Peoria, IL area. So that can make it a bit more. But $1,000 per person 4 months out isn't too bad at all. Unless you are willing to take a chance and wait till a few weeks out, you most likely aren't going to see things much lower. And often the prices will be unbelieveably high that close. It all depends on sales. I'm not sure where you are flying from, but changing airports can really save money. We are flying out of Bloomington, IL not Peoria and ended up saving about $200 a person. But it was still around $1,000.

 

[CustardTart]

Hi there - i have provisionally booked this cruise with my 6yo DS Jackson and my 2yo DS Ethan. I just have to get school holiday confirmation dates tomorrow then i will pay deposit - or can i pay and still get money back up to 90 days out? I am so so excited. We live in the UK and did Florida in 2008 and California in 2009. Me and my husband separated last year and i didn't think we would be able to afford a holiday but got such a good deal and we've had such a rough year i figure we deserve it!!! LOL i could talk my way into any holiday - esp Disney!!!! I fully expect to book again onboard!!

How many people will be FE? I have never done a Disney cruise so don't know too much about it but have been reading up on it and know boys would love to be little Father Christmas'!! Only thing is we will have to get off boat in Nice - 2 days early - can we still join in?

We did a TA crossing on QM2 last year and my oldest son has been asking to go back on a cruise - we all love Disney so he will be so so excited when he finds out - almost as much as me LOL

aboard, guys!!!
Hope you can make it - sounds like you could do with a decent holiday!!!

As far as the FE Gift Exchange goes (or any DIS activities for that matter), like Eva says, nothing has been arranged so maybe it's time to start a little planning...? As there aren't that many of us, it should be manageable - famous last words!!!

Hi all,

I just booked our family on this amazing cruise - couldn't pass up the great pricing.

We are 2 adults and 3 girls, 15, 14, and 11. The 15 year old is the BFF of my 14 year old. I don't know who is in more of shock: her parents for letting her go, DH and I for agreeing to take her or the girls for being to have such an adventure together.

Looking forward to planning excursions and spa treatment!

Jeannine

to you all!!!

 

[madscrapper]

Thanks for such a warm welcome!

 

[Eeyore3838]

Unfortunately our flights were about that price too. We flew to Italy fall of 2008 and paid about the same then. We do have to fly from the Peoria, IL area. So that can make it a bit more. But $1,000 per person 4 months out isn't too bad at all. Unless you are willing to take a chance and wait till a few weeks out, you most likely aren't going to see things much lower. And often the prices will be unbelieveably high that close. It all depends on sales. I'm not sure where you are flying from, but changing airports can really save money. We are flying out of Bloomington, IL not Peoria and ended up saving about $200 a person. But it was still around $1,000.

We are flying out of Orlando. The rates are lower than when I started looking, so I think I will hold out a bit longer. I don't want to gamble too much thogh.

 

[CustardTart]

...I may go crazy after the cruise in September. I have absolutely no trips planned after that!

Really, Eva!!??? Wow - that's not like you!!!

BTW I keep meaning to ask, how's the new job going???

 

[eva]

Really, Eva!!??? Wow - that's not like you!!!

I know!

Well, I shouldn't say that I have absolutely nothing planned. Steve and I are going to Puerto Rico in November of 2011. But part of that is business for Steve. But we are tacking on enough days to make a whole week. We are also thinking about doing a trip to Israel in June of 2011. But that is tentative right now. There is a conference for my new position there and I think that we may be able to go. So business trips are all that we really have planned in 2011. Crazy, huh?!?

BTW I keep meaning to ask, how's the new job going???

The new job is wonderful. The people are awesome and it is different every day. It keeps me really busy. Before I know it the day is over.

How is school?

 

[eva]

Yikes! On page 3 again. Better give us a bump.

Those of you that have joined lately, how is the planning going?

 

[Eeyore3838]

We are still flight searching. Checking Kayak everyday.

We have made some preliminary determinations in excursions in several ports. The one Port we are so up in the air with is La Spezia. Florence? Pisa? Cinque Terre? Ferraris? There is a lot of transportation from the port required for the excursions at this port.

In the other ports, This is some of what we would like to do:
Naples- Pompeii half day and local pizza on our own
Rome- Jumpng Back into Eternal Rome
Villefranche- Nice an Eze with wine and cheese

 

[yow]

Hi everyone,

We've booked this cruise recently. First Disney cruise for us, after having been on Celebrity, NCL, Princess, Oceania, RCCL and Carnival. Did DCA in March and definitely got the Disney vibe going.

Been to Rome, Florence and Nice before -- other ports are new. No definite plans other than La Spezia, where we're very much looking forward to seeing the Cinque Terre again. Colleague just got back from Tunis, was impressed with Sidi Bou Said.

 

[yow]

The best flights I have seen so far from Orlando to Barcelona stop on Toronto on Air Canada. I am not sure how much layover time to give us there or if we have to do anything different if we take Air Canada for the entire trip.

Are you looking at departing on August 27 and returning September 9? The AC flights seem to go through Montreal on the way out and Toronto on the return. In Montreal you'd have to clear Canada customs and immigration before connecting to the Barcelona flight, but 2 hours should give you enough time. Flying back through Toronto you may be able to bypass Canada customs and go directly to US customs/immigration pre-clearance, though with a 6-hour layover it's not a factor (or ideal).