August 7th, 2010 Mediterranean Cruise

[LisaWalkerC21]

No turning back now...we just paid the cruise in full!

 

[xsjackson]

Its going to happen. I have paid the trip in full, got my airfare and an inexpensive hotel recommended to me from other teachers (cheap). I have contacted the Choc factory to get a tour sometime before our cruise - anyone else want to join in on this tour? When I confirm the details I can get back to you. It either the 5th or the 6th of August.

Off to a scrapbook weekend - my first in a long time. ME time,

Susan

 

[Displaced CA Girl]

Just checking back in. It's been so helpful reading everyone's posts about hotels. Guess we'd better get on the ball and book something for the night before. We are from Western Washington, it will be me, DH, DD17 (who will have just graduated from high school) and DD15. This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise and first trip to Europe. I promise I'll visit this board more frequently now! Lisa

 

[Tinkerbell's_Shadow]

Hi! I'm Katie, Lisa's DD17 as mentioned above. In my spare time I enjoy designing cruise door magnets, and plan on starting some for this cruise shortly. I'll post some after I get them done, if you see any that you would like personalized for your family please let me know!!
-Katie

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Can't wait to see your magnets! I am finally getting my boys excited about the trip by talking to them about designing the door. They are very much into Star Wars so I have a feeling there is going to be a theme there for us...

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Its going to happen. I have paid the trip in full, got my airfare and an inexpensive hotel recommended to me from other teachers (cheap). I have contacted the Choc factory to get a tour sometime before our cruise - anyone else want to join in on this tour? When I confirm the details I can get back to you. It either the 5th or the 6th of August.

Off to a scrapbook weekend - my first in a long time. ME time,

Susan

Doesn't it feel like the trip is finally real now that you have started paying and making reservations? I felt like this trip would never get here! Can't wait to hear about the details for the Choc Factory. We have not made any plans yet for Barcelona since we may hang out with friends who live there...but we are keeping our options open!

 

[xsjackson]

Lisa (Displaced CA girl) you must be from my neck of the woods. I have an 11th grader who goes to school in Sammamish and I teach jr high in Lake Washington School District.

We are not staying anywhere fancy in Barcelona - no its just up from a hostel. Small room in the center of the action with clean sheets anf breakfast.

 

[Displaced CA Girl]

We are in your neck of the woods! Across the Sound in Bremerton! My girls go to Central Kitsap High and are really looking forward to this cruise!

 

[Lorraine]

Hooray! We just got a (paid for) upgrade to cat 3

Down side is the whole thing now has to be paid for by Sunday..

Booked so long ago, it is finally beginning to feel real.

We are from the uk - there will be me, DH and DS16

Got a busy few months so hopefully this will be here before we know it.

Lorraine

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Hooray! We just got a (paid for) upgrade to cat 3

Down side is the whole thing now has to be paid for by Sunday..

Booked so long ago, it is finally beginning to feel real.

We are from the uk - there will be me, DH and DS16

Got a busy few months so hopefully this will be here before we know it.

Lorraine

Yeah!! What did you end up upgrading from? I am hoping for a surprise upgrade, but I doubt that will be happen If you are interested in participating in the Fish Extender Exchange...just let me know

 

[Lorraine]

Yeah!! What did you end up upgrading from? I am hoping for a surprise upgrade, but I doubt that will be happen If you are interested in participating in the Fish Extender Exchange...just let me know

We were in a Cat 6 and on the waitlist for cat 3 so very pleased. With a 16 year old having the second room really helps.

Will let you know re the FEE but probably.

Lorraine

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

That's fantastic! I am glad it worked out! We are in a Category 6 right now...would love an upgrade

Curious what everyone's thoughts are on the DCL excursions that are being offered and who is planning on doing what? I know that we are doing private tours for the Italy ports, but still not firm on what to do at the other ports.

 

[jd99]

That's fantastic! I am glad it worked out! We are in a Category 6 right now...would love an upgrade

Curious what everyone's thoughts are on the DCL excursions that are being offered and who is planning on doing what? I know that we are doing private tours for the Italy ports, but still not firm on what to do at the other ports.

Because this is our first trip to the Med as a family, we are actually going to do DCL excursions in most of the ports. While in the Caribbean we have mostly gone on our own, the long trips from port to cities (esp. in Italy) has us thinking that going DCL is the way to go. And we want to experience some of the excursions with family or kid activities because we've been tossing around the idea of Adventures by Disney soon and it seems like these excursions sample that experience. The times that we have done DCL excursions in the Caribbean, we have really been impressed with how well they have done. Since this is a "sampling" trip of Italy before we go back for a full blown trip via land, we decided doing organized excursions was the way to go this time. The $$$$ for some are a bit scary but overall i thought they were priced decently for what you get - considering how much we spent for a dolphin swim in Cabo 2 years ago.

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Because this is our first trip to the Med as a family, we are actually going to do DCL excursions in most of the ports. While in the Caribbean we have mostly gone on our own, the long trips from port to cities (esp. in Italy) has us thinking that going DCL is the way to go. And we want to experience some of the excursions with family or kid activities because we've been tossing around the idea of Adventures by Disney soon and it seems like these excursions sample that experience. The times that we have done DCL excursions in the Caribbean, we have really been impressed with how well they have done. Since this is a "sampling" trip of Italy before we go back for a full blown trip via land, we decided doing organized excursions was the way to go this time. The $$$$ for some are a bit scary but overall i thought they were priced decently for what you get - considering how much we spent for a dolphin swim in Cabo 2 years ago.

I was a little apprehensive about setting up private tours for the Italy ports, but after continuing to do research, as a family, we thought this would be the best option for us. I have read many good reviews about Romeinlimo, so we will be using this company in Italy. Though, we plan on doing DCL excursions for the remaining ports, but may opt to do Corsica on our own and hit the beach. I was hoping to read reviews from other Med cruisers in the Spring before reserving the excursions, but they will not be back yet by the time we are ready to reserve excursions. Though, I do look forward to reading all the reviews from earlier cruises.

 

[Allesma]

Because this is our first trip to the Med as a family, we are actually going to do DCL excursions in most of the ports. While in the Caribbean we have mostly gone on our own, the long trips from port to cities (esp. in Italy) has us thinking that going DCL is the way to go. And we want to experience some of the excursions with family or kid activities because we've been tossing around the idea of Adventures by Disney soon and it seems like these excursions sample that experience. The times that we have done DCL excursions in the Caribbean, we have really been impressed with how well they have done. Since this is a "sampling" trip of Italy before we go back for a full blown trip via land, we decided doing organized excursions was the way to go this time. The $$$$ for some are a bit scary but overall i thought they were priced decently for what you get - considering how much we spent for a dolphin swim in Cabo 2 years ago.

We are also looking at the excursions with family or kid activities, especially the Rome excursion, the family Tunis excursion, the Herculaneum visit. Only Corsica, and la Spezia we plan to do on our own. We also think that the $$$ are high but not overprized for what they offer.

Also paid in full now, plane tickets ready and hotel in Barcelona booked so it is getting real now. I'm starting to explore the ports on the internet and we have learned a lot of our recent trip with the Wonder to the Bahama's. We have to plan a lot less and are getting used to be around without kids (both our girls (8 and 14 by the time we cruise) loved the kids clubs (so happy DD8's favorite youthclub counselor is trading ships, Hans fom Belgium and will be with us on this trip on the Magic again!). They spend almost all the time we were on the ship and awake in the clubs, which we did not expected and was a big surprise to us. They both made a couple of friends from the US and still have e-mailcontact.

I'm also figuring out what not to pack because I overpacked last time and want to minimise what we bring with us. (Only 20 kg pp and daypak). Small FEE present, not to much handy thingies for in the stateroom (we hardly saw the room anyway). Less clothes for the girls as the tend to wear favo shorts/shirts I will do a laundrytrip this time.

Really looking forward to read al your tips and comments in the next month's.


Allesma


(as English is not my native language please forgive my typo's or odd sentences )

 

[xsjackson]

Last summer we did a RCCL Eastern Med cruise and we took their excusrsions and there were people that missed the boat in Turkey, Eygpt and in Corfu. Nothing in Italy.

We will probably stick to Disney excustions and do our own thing in Barcelona.

 

[Allesma]

Useful Info issued by DCL re: Med cruises

Barcelona Port info and times

Airport to Port - 30-40 mins drive
No parking at terminal

Check-in open - around 10-10.30am (DCL brochure says 10am, email says 10.30)
Check in at terminal to be complete by 4pm, after 4pm check-in done onboard
Embarkation - begins approx 1pm
Mandatory Lifeboat drill - 5pm
Sails from barcelona - 9.30pm

Full info as received by email from DCL re: 24 April cruise here

Dining theme nights

Night 2 Formal (sea-day)
Night 7 Semi Formal (sea-day)
Night 8 Pirate (La Spezia)
Night 10 Semi Formal (Villefranche)

(from DCL -posted on the 4/24/10 thread)

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Thanks for the info! I was wondering about the formal/semi formal nights as well as pirates night.

 

[Displaced CA Girl]

Just booked our flights last night!! Makes it seem more real!! Now for a hotel...

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Just booked our flights last night!! Makes it seem more real!! Now for a hotel...

WOO HOO! That's great! There is no turning back now! What are you thinking for hotel choices?