August 7th, 2010 Mediterranean Cruise

[abayaflowers]

Thanks, they actually have a Staples here in England. I'll have to go and look for some soon. I'm getting so stessed, we have only a month to go and I haven't even decided any of our excursions or made REAL packing lists. I'm usually so much more on top of it. I barely booked our Barcelona hotel 2 nights ago! Do you know if the paper will still stick if you laminate it?

Don't get stressed! We are here to support you.

With your excursions, you can either call the Disney Cruise Vacations and they can help you out with booking it. Or book online.

Our family consists of DH, DD10, DD7, and I. Here is what we planned:

• Malta: Beach Club at the Westin Dragonara with DCL (DD7 and I). My DH and DD10 will be on the Turkish Schooner.
• Tunis: Getting off the boat and riding the camel on the port. Estimated cost €10 - €20 per ride.
• Naples: arranging private guide/car to tour pompeii. I heard taking the train is fairly easy especially if a 40 mins. walk is not problem. I know that our DD7 will stop at 15 mins. So, we have decided on the guide/car.
• Civitavecchia: arranging a prviate car and tour guide to get into Rome. We are splitting up here, too. My DD10 and I are going on a Vatican Tour to see the Sistine Chapel and the Baldacchino in addition to the Coloseum. I heard that the Roma Pass is the way to go especially to get around. It has shorter lines than the actual tour group. Also another way to get into a shorter line is purchasing the tickets at the Palantine Hill and walking back. My DH and DD7 will be touring the Colosseum, the outdoor market, park, and taking a swim at the Cavalieri Hilton Swimming Pool (there's a fee to use their pool and facilities). We plan to meet them there after our tour.
• La Spezia: arranging a private guide/car to Florence to see the Statue of David and checking out the galleries. If we have time, we will go to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Tip on Statue of David: If you purchase a ticket to see the Statue of David, the wait in line is short.
  
• Ajaccio: Still deciding how to get around quick enough. I really want to go to Cavli. I heard that it is absolutely gorgeous.
• Villefranche: The Lounge Beach and then taking the train around to Monacco, Monte Carlo with my DD's. My DH will be headed to Antibes to check out the Picasso masterpieces.

As for the hotel, we finalized our details with our hotel where we can sleep 4 people in one room (2 Queens and an extra bed). It will cost approximately $200. If you need more details just let me know!

 

[xsjackson]

Dining theme nights

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

 

[xsjackson]

We are a group of 7 - Grandpa (75+ has another birthday while we are in Barcelona), My sister and I, and her 4 kids DS12, dd10, dd8(thinks she is a boy) and ds6). Mostly the 8 and 6 year old want to say on board at the kids club. We have done this before and they loved it.

Barcelona:
- we are using Barcelonadaytours to see the city on 8/5
- we are also planning on the choc factory 8/6

Malta:
- the 5 oldest 1/2 day historical scavenger hunt

Tunisia:
- camel? good way to get the littler ones off the ship.
- the 5 oldest are seeing Carthage - 12 year old is a history nut and I am a history teacher (I wouldnt recommend this for little kids except if there was special interest) History channel is running a "engineering" show on Carthage right now.

Naples:
- I am staying on the ship with 8 and 6 yr old(been to Naples twice now 3 times in last 4 years).
-Grandpa and 10 yr old are taking tresure hunt in Herculanum and Sister and 12yr old are doing Pompeii and farm tour (I have done this before and it is great for families. It does a quick sweep of Sorrento, then Pompeii for a simple tour, then off to the countryside and mozzarella making and a lunch of fresh pasta and lemon cake.)

Rome:
- My Dad and I are boat bound.
- My sister, DS12, and DD10 are seeing Catacombs, Vatican and Colosseum.

Piza:
- Grandpa is seeing Cinque Terre - it's on his bucket list.
- My sister, 2 older kids and I are doing a 1/2 day to see Pisa.

Corsica:
- we are all off to see the Turtles! even the younger two. It's all that interested them.

Hopefully you will join us on some of our port trips - or just at the pool in Italy with me.

 

[abayaflowers]

I have heard that too - i was just going to *forget* to add my six year old - and request a crib for the baby - figure that a sofa and/or pull out is going to be in each room per the hotel website...

I did not know the policy was city wide - just figured it was a cultural kind of thing - italy was the same way this spring when we drove down there - that is strange though, i know the novotel hotel will let you have more per room...... go figure..

I finally received an email from our hotel and they confirmed in writing that we can have 4 in our room. They are putting an extra cot in the room. Funny I told them that 2 queen beds was sufficient enough. Anyways, I have it in writing. So, whew! I can put a checklist off on that one.

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Dining theme nights

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

I could be wrong, but I thought I read on someone's trip report that there only ended up being one semi-formal night. Though, I am still going to be prepared for two - just in case.

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

I have the kids now packed and off to Target in a bit to pick up all my toiletries...etc... Starting to pack is keeping me sane. My mom, niece and sister leave for Italy tonight It is hard to believe they are going there before me and I planned our trip over a year before them! So jealous!! Though, hope to get a bunch of recommendations when they return.

As for excursions, here is what we have planned:

Barcelona: In Barcelona we are leaving it up to our friends who live there to show us around, but we are planning on going to Tibidabo Park to let the kids have some fun on our first full day.

Malta: DCL Turkish Schooner excursion

Tunisia: Planning on staying close to port - no excursion planned.

Naples: Private Tour Booked

Rome: Private Tour Booked

Florence: Private Tour Booked

Corsica: Planning on staying close to port - walk to town & beach

Nice/Eze: DCL Wine and Cheese Excursion

 

[dustermom02]

...as we are a family of 4!
Kids are 9 (boy) and 12 Girl) The kids would love the chocolate factory, so thanks for that "lead". We arrive in BA the 5th in the morning, just FYI!

The Johnson's....
Pleasanton, CA

Welcome! I'm very happy to see you have a dd12. My dd12 has been moaning about not being able to find someone to hang out with on the cruise so this will be great. We should try to meet up early on. We are not planning to do the chocolate tour but we will try to see the fountains on Montjuic the evening before the cruise. Is anyone else planning to do that? It looks like there is a 9:30pm show.

 

[jd99]

Welcome! I'm very happy to see you have a dd12. My dd12 has been moaning about not being able to find someone to hang out with on the cruise so this will be great. We should try to meet up early on. We are not planning to do the chocolate tour but we will try to see the fountains on Montjuic the evening before the cruise. Is anyone else planning to do that? It looks like there is a 9:30pm show.

I have a DD11 (she'll be 12 in September) too! And one of her friends from home (also 11, nearly 12) will also be on the cruise. So that's two more. HOpefully we can have a cruisemeet on day one so that the kids can all hook up.

 

[dustermom02]

I have a DD11 (she'll be 12 in September) too! And one of her friends from home (also 11, nearly 12) will also be on the cruise. So that's two more. HOpefully we can have a cruisemeet on day one so that the kids can all hook up.

This is fantastic! The earlier the better, I think. We're catching the 11am shuttle to the port so we should be there by 11:30. If that's too early, lets check out the Navigators and pick a place the first day. Wait -I have an idea - does anyone know the hours of the secret deck on deck 7 aft? Maybe we could all meet there an hour before the lifeboat drill? It looks like the drill is 5pm so 4pm? Or whatever ends up being an hour before if I have the times wrong?

 

[abayaflowers]

This is fantastic! The earlier the better, I think. We're catching the 11am shuttle to the port so we should be there by 11:30. If that's too early, lets check out the Navigators and pick a place the first day. Wait -I have an idea - does anyone know the hours of the secret deck on deck 7 aft? Maybe we could all meet there an hour before the lifeboat drill? It looks like the drill is 5pm so 4pm? Or whatever ends up being an hour before if I have the times wrong?

We should be there at the port early, too.

The secret deck closes at night/dark. Yes, let's meet there if everyone has the time. We should be busy after we get onboard. My DH and another Dad will be checking into Palo for brunch and dinner for us at the same time. My very good friend and I are checking into the Oceaneer's Club and Lab to get the bracelet and pagers for our DD's. Then, the DD's want to swim, too. So, we might switch off in supervision and checking into the club/lab. Between our two families, we have DD11, DD10 (mine), DD8, DD7, DD5. We can meet around 3 p.m.

Here's a link to the secret deck: http://www.*******************/secret.htm

We also like ping-pong, karaoke, and dancing. So, the more the merrier. Oh! I can't forget Bingo. Two years ago, my friend's mother-in-law won the Bingo "Prize".

 

[abayaflowers]

Welcome! I'm very happy to see you have a dd12. My dd12 has been moaning about not being able to find someone to hang out with on the cruise so this will be great. We should try to meet up early on. We are not planning to do the chocolate tour but we will try to see the fountains on Montjuic the evening before the cruise. Is anyone else planning to do that? It looks like there is a 9:30pm show.

We are planning on the Magic Fountain if everyone is still up from the flight into BCN and the Chocolate factory tour.

I just researched the Font Magica de Montjuic and it is a block from our Hotel. So, Yes, we will be there for the show.

Then, we are going to head to bed and get ready for the wonderful cruise.

 

[armyferret]

Do you guys mind if we meet up with y'all on the ship too? I have a DD8 that would LOVE to meet some friends on board, right from the beginning...

 

[makaylee]

Don't get stressed! We are here to support you.

With your excursions, you can either call the Disney Cruise Vacations and they can help you out with booking it. Or book online.

Our family consists of DH, DD10, DD7, and I. Here is what we planned:

• Malta: Beach Club at the Westin Dragonara with DCL (DD7 and I). My DH and DD10 will be on the Turkish Schooner.
• Tunis: Getting off the boat and riding the camel on the port. Estimated cost €10 - €20 per ride.
• Naples: arranging private guide/car to tour pompeii. I heard taking the train is fairly easy especially if a 40 mins. walk is not problem. I know that our DD7 will stop at 15 mins. So, we have decided on the guide/car.
• Civitavecchia: arranging a prviate car and tour guide to get into Rome. We are splitting up here, too. My DD10 and I are going on a Vatican Tour to see the Sistine Chapel and the Baldacchino in addition to the Coloseum. I heard that the Roma Pass is the way to go especially to get around. It has shorter lines than the actual tour group. Also another way to get into a shorter line is purchasing the tickets at the Palantine Hill and walking back. My DH and DD7 will be touring the Colosseum, the outdoor market, park, and taking a swim at the Cavalieri Hilton Swimming Pool (there's a fee to use their pool and facilities). We plan to meet them there after our tour.
• La Spezia: arranging a private guide/car to Florence to see the Statue of David and checking out the galleries. If we have time, we will go to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Tip on Statue of David: If you purchase a ticket to see the Statue of David, the wait in line is short.
  
• Ajaccio: Still deciding how to get around quick enough. I really want to go to Cavli. I heard that it is absolutely gorgeous.
• Villefranche: The Lounge Beach and then taking the train around to Monacco, Monte Carlo with my DD's. My DH will be headed to Antibes to check out the Picasso masterpieces.

As for the hotel, we finalized our details with our hotel where we can sleep 4 people in one room (2 Queens and an extra bed). It will cost approximately $200. If you need more details just let me know!

Thank you so much for all of your info. I love this board We just barley got done paying off our Nov cruise a few months ago (airfare to the states killed us) so I think we're going to save money and do it on our own (trains and busses). We live in europe right now so we're pretty comfortable doing that. I just don't know what I want to go and see. I've been gathering info from nice people like you about what they plan on seeing and doing. I just need my final plans on paper because this is killing me!
One month to go WOOHOO!!
Thanks

 

[mermster]

Our cruise documents came in the mail today
I am SO excited I can't even stand myself!!!

Thrilled to have all our flight info, as we booked through Disney air and were dying to know when we were leaving and all that! Everything is in a nice spiral bound "notebook" with all our excursions listed and everything, much nicer than what we've received for previous cruises!
Anyway, just had to share my excitement!!!!

Also, my DD (9) would love to meet up with some of the other kids early on - so count us in on the secret deck 7 rendevous!

Time for some more dancing:

 

[jd99]

This is fantastic! The earlier the better, I think. We're catching the 11am shuttle to the port so we should be there by 11:30. If that's too early, lets check out the Navigators and pick a place the first day. Wait -I have an idea - does anyone know the hours of the secret deck on deck 7 aft? Maybe we could all meet there an hour before the lifeboat drill? It looks like the drill is 5pm so 4pm? Or whatever ends up being an hour before if I have the times wrong?

Two other thoughts:
Seems like a lot of folks' kids are thinking about swimming soon after getting on board. Perhaps we can all meet near the Mickey Pool or Goofy Pool so that the kids can swim AND get to know each other at the same time.

For past cruises we have had a formal meet-up in the Promenade Lounge at 2:30 p.m. that has worked very well. Everyone just gathers, grabs a drink and starts chatting...

Just a couple of other ideas of locations that are more central. We'll do whatever the group decides, but just in case you are looking for alternate ideas....

 

[xsjackson]

I had Disney sent everything to my sister on the east coast since my dad and I will be leaving in 29 days for her house beore the trip BUT Surprise! The cruise documents came yesterday!

I guess she better start making those Fish extenders - I got my part done - the little giftie magnets! Dad and I leave the 31st for Virginia, then the 3rd for Barcelona - its coming sooooo fast.

Now it seems like a real trip. I have all my stuff to pack on the spare bed - next step review and organize it (and iron, yeck, anything that needs it.

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Two other thoughts:
Seems like a lot of folks' kids are thinking about swimming soon after getting on board. Perhaps we can all meet near the Mickey Pool or Goofy Pool so that the kids can swim AND get to know each other at the same time.

For past cruises we have had a formal meet-up in the Promenade Lounge at 2:30 p.m. that has worked very well. Everyone just gathers, grabs a drink and starts chatting...

Just a couple of other ideas of locations that are more central. We'll do whatever the group decides, but just in case you are looking for alternate ideas....

I LOVE the idea of meeting near the pool! Though, we are the same way and will go with the flow. We are so looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

[abayaflowers]

Count us in, too! We are flexible. It's relaxation and fun time for our family once we get on the ship.

 

[Allesma]

Recieved our cruise docs too, so much fun! I prefer a pool meeting, last cruise we met at the 7 aft deck and it was pretty hot out there, and in the afternoon in August it sure will be hot!!

 

[xsjackson]

I vote for the pool. I talked to my neices and nephews yesterday and they can't wait to meet other kids. Ginny's kids are very social.