August 7th, 2010 Mediterranean Cruise

[LisaWalkerC21]

Hi Gang -

I just happened to take a peak at my Disney Visa today and realized that yesterday DCL posted a credit of $42.20. I wonder if that is part of the fuel surcharge?

I love surprises! (good surprises that is )
Lisa

 

[mermster]

Hi Gang -

I just happened to take a peak at my Disney Visa today and realized that yesterday DCL posted a credit of $42.20. I wonder if that is part of the fuel surcharge?

I love surprises! (good surprises that is )
Lisa

Checked my account and $42.20 credit for us too! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[jd99]

My Kids (son age 9 and Daughter age 12) are curious as to ages of other kids on here. the last cruise we did was September 2008 repositioning. Not a lot of kids since it was school time. They are both curious about kids their age this time... Not a biggee though!

FYI we arrive on the 5th and are staying at the Hotel Regina in Barcelona. Are there still families planning on the Chocolate Tour the 6th at 12:00, so we can meet up before the cruise? Cant wait to meet all of you..We are so excited. this is our last vacation the 4 of us before baby-to-be comes along (dont worry I meet the pregnancy "cut off"...we had to switch cruises last minute... a few weeks ago....just because of that!)

Happy Packing!!!!!

Hi there. We have two daughters, 9 and 11 (but nearly 12 - she'll be 12 in Sept.). THough we aren't traveling with others, we found out by chance that a family from our immediate area - and a girl my DD was on swim team with last year - are on the cruise. So my DD and she will likely be hooking up on day one and looking for other 11 and 12 year olds to join them. We'll be at the Goofy pool at 2:30 for the meet so we'll hopefully get them hooked up then.

Do all 12 year old automatically get to come and go from the kids club w/o parents OK...just curious. we have cruised since they were 4 but it appears her age now there is no where to "sign her up?"

Yes they get to check themselves in and out and no pager either for them. WE usually bring a walkie talkie and have our DD call us on it when she is going outside the club so we can keep tabs on her.

What time are you all planning to get to the dock? We have late check out at our hotel (I think others are also staying at the Hotel Arts...), and while I know we will be super excited to get on the ship, I don't want to be waiting around for hours at the dock...

If we go down at 2pm will there still be a line to get on the ship? We are all first time cruisers so I'm thinking that even if we were one of the first down at the dock (don't even know what time that should be), we would be in a later boarding group...

Thoughts??

We are planning to go as early as it makes sense. Probably leave the hotel (we are at the Hotel Arts as well) around 11:30 ish via cab and go to the port.

 

[jd99]

just switched our Rome excursion from the one with the family activity to the one where you take a train instead of bus. Kids weren't all that excited about a puppet show and this tour seems better - hits a couple extra sites including the Pantheon - and gets back to the ship a tad earlier (thanks to the train). Plus I think riding the train the kids will enjoy as part of the adventure.

 

[dustermom02]

Wow - lots of people are joining - that's great. Welcome!

Crossing things off the to-do list today!

FE Exchange gifts labeled and packed - Check

DONE

Magnets all laminated and packed - Check

NOT DONE

Tomorrow I will be finalizing my credits for my Disney Visa reward card and verifying my total onboard credits with my TA.

DONE

How's everyone doing with their preparations? Anyone excited yet?

JUST A LITTLE...

My Kids (son age 9 and Daughter age 12) are curious as to ages of other kids on here. the last cruise we did was September 2008 repositioning. Not a lot of kids since it was school time. They are both curious about kids their age this time... Not a biggee though!

My kids will be VERY excited to hear about yours!

We're also planning to see the first fountain show at Mont Juic on the 6th 9:30 I think, but that might be impossible to meet up, and we'll be at the Goofy pool at 2:30.

I'm now having a recurring dream that I'm waiting in line to get brunch at Palo's. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad bad thing though

 

[pennymike]

Am I the only one getting nervous reading about all of you who are already packed?????? Yikes! I'm going to have to at least make some piles in the spare room just so I feel like I've done something....!

Hope to be able to meet up with someone from this group even though we are 'kidless'. Any other 30/40somethings traveling w/o shorties? We are kids at heart!

Getting WAY excited! See you all soon?

 

[makaylee]

Checked my account and $42.20 credit for us too! Thanks for the heads up!

I believe it was a tax refund of around $13 PP.

 

[armyferret]

whatever it is, i am NOT complaining

 

[Melcatfish]

Hi Gang -

I just happened to take a peak at my Disney Visa today and realized that yesterday DCL posted a credit of $42.20. I wonder if that is part of the fuel surcharge?

I love surprises! (good surprises that is )
Lisa

Checked my account and $42.20 credit for us too! Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks for posting this, I got a credit on my card too

I got a total of $90 back on our 2 cruises so that paid for the Exotic Rasul!

Mel
x

 

[xsjackson]

Am I the only one getting nervous reading about all of you who are already packed?????? Yikes! I'm going to have to at least make some piles in the spare room just so I feel like I've done something....!

Hope to be able to meet up with someone from this group even though we are 'kidless'. Any other 30/40somethings traveling w/o shorties? We are kids at heart!

Getting WAY excited! See you all soon?

I am closer to 50 something but I think young. My kids are either in college or home with their dad. I am traveling as "the organizer" with my dad - who will turn 75 on Aug 5th while we are in Barcelona - and my sister and her kids. We will be partying in the evening since een her 12 yr old goes to bed early. We will be at the adult shows or down at the lounge!

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

I am closer to 50 something but I think young. My kids are either in college or home with their dad. I am traveling as "the organizer" with my dad - who will turn 75 on Aug 5th while we are in Barcelona - and my sister and her kids. We will be partying in the evening since een her 12 yr old goes to bed early. We will be at the adult shows or down at the lounge!

My husband and I will be there too...our boys enjoy the kids club...so my DH and I are looking forward to going out and having some fun too! See you in the lounge!

 

[armyferret]

I will be down one kiddo at least - DD LOVED the kids club the last time - hopefully she loves it again this time - we will just have the little dude to worry about - and for that we plan on taking shifts

 

[DeDe711]

Yes, we are staying at the Hotel Arts as well. When are you arriving at the hotel? We are staying for two nights. We will probably grab a taxi and head out late morning for the ship on Saturday. I have a feeling I will be like a little kid and anxious to get onboard

We arrive on the 4th...Hopefully, it will give us time to get over the jet lag before we get on the ship...We would definitely like to meet up with the group at the pool at 2:30...

Within our group of 19, we have: Boys - 12, 9, 7, 4, 2; Girls - 8, 7, 4, 1...

Right now, I'm struggling with clothes for my boys (12 and 9) for formal night...ugh...they both have nice cotton khakis and button downs, but now I'm thinking I should get nice slacks and dress shirts (like what I bought for their first communions)...

We booked this trip 13 months ago, and I can't believe the time has finally arrived...3 weeks and counting...

 

[vegasgo]

We done the Med in May, great trip.

A tip about internet access onboard - very slow and expensive. If you have a laptop, there is wireless access for free at the terminals in Malta and Villefranche (1 minute from the ship) and a cheap internet cafe at Naples just outside the terminal.

Villefranche is a stunning port of call, Malta also great - both easily accesible by foot.

Overall a fantastic experience. Need any more tips or info, let me know. We were on level 2 - no problems at all with noise.

 

[dustermom02]

Right now, I'm struggling with clothes for my boys (12 and 9) for formal night...ugh...they both have nice cotton khakis and button downs, but now I'm thinking I should get nice slacks and dress shirts (like what I bought for their first communions)...

My son is doing khakis and a button down - there just isn't enough room.

Hope to be able to meet up with someone from this group even though we are 'kidless'. Any other 30/40somethings traveling w/o shorties? We are kids at heart!

)

We're going to pretend to be kidless the afternoon of the wine and cheese tour!! Is anyone else signed up for that?

I am closer to 50 something but I think young. My kids are either in college or home with their dad. I am traveling as "the organizer" with my dad - who will turn 75 on Aug 5th while we are in Barcelona - and my sister and her kids. We will be partying in the evening since een her 12 yr old goes to bed early. We will be at the adult shows or down at the lounge!

Hey - I'm referred to as "the planner" for our group. I like "organizer" much better. We too will be out late too! Can't wait.

If they have an adult activity called the adult scavenger hunt - you have to go. I was laughing so hard I was crying when I saw it.

I believe it was a tax refund of around $13 PP.

Might be by category. Was 42.20 for parents in a cat 6 and 31.65 for us in a cat 12. But whatever - I'm good with it

 

[Melcatfish]

Did you and your parents book at the same time or did they book later to join you? I only ask because we are cat 12 and got $42.40 refund - I wonder if they changed the amount charged at different times hence the different refund.

Mel
x

PS We are not child free but there will certainly be quite a few times when we pretend to be as they will be in the club \ Flounders while we indulge in some of the adult only activities.

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

We're going to pretend to be kidless the afternoon of the wine and cheese tour!! Is anyone else signed up for that?

We are on the wine and cheese tour too!

 

[dustermom02]

Did you and your parents book at the same time or did they book later to join you? I only ask because we are cat 12 and got $42.40 refund - I wonder if they changed the amount charged at different times hence the different refund.

Mel
x

PS We are not child free but there will certainly be quite a few times when we pretend to be as they will be in the club \ Flounders while we indulge in some of the adult only activities.

We all booked Jan 2, 2009, I think it was. But we canceled and rebooked 2 weeks ago for the cheaper room and they kept the original. OR, I looked at the information backwards. Actually, you know, I can't tell, its all on my credit card and it doesn't say which is which. I just assumed. Could be based on less or more people. But its all good!

 

[Melcatfish]

Does anyone have any good links for info on DIY excursions?

We are planning to do all our excursions DIY, partly because of the price difference and partly so we can do short trips to just the things that interest us going at our own pace - with a toddler and a 5 year old hours on a tour bus are not appealing!!!

Mel
x

 

[makaylee]

We're almost there folks!! Yippee