East Bound Transatlantic Magic May 8th 2022 - Let's try this again... :)

[Snowwhyt]

Hi, just read the entire thread. Wow an amazing group size this early! Currently booked for nine people but suspect it will only be three of us in the end.
Really nervous about taking this trip. I have never planned anything “across the pond.” Canada, Alaska, Mexico are not scary to plan any longer since we have gone before.
I use TripAdvisor, to find my “must hit spots” in America. Seems a shame to see the pictures of every place that I could be going and ruining the surprise. But I need an informed decision so that’s unavoidable. I’m concerned that TripAdvisor should not be my only tool for selecting sites to visit. Any recommendations?
I’m thinking Disney probably is booking the highlights so maybe just stick with their options?
Also could I be added to the breakfast?

 

[Pens Fan]

Hi, just read the entire thread. Wow an amazing group size this early! Currently booked for nine people but suspect it will only be three of us in the end.
Really nervous about taking this trip. I have never planned anything “across the pond.” Canada, Alaska, Mexico are not scary to plan any longer since we have gone before.
I use TripAdvisor, to find my “must hit spots” in America. Seems a shame to see the pictures of every place that I could be going and ruining the surprise. But I need an informed decision so that’s unavoidable. I’m concerned that TripAdvisor should not be my only tool for selecting sites to visit. Any recommendations?
I’m thinking Disney probably is booking the highlights so maybe just stick with their options?
Also could I be added to the breakfast?

It will be interesting to see if we even have the option of booking tours outside of Disney. I know that most (if not all) of the cruise lines that have restarted are requiring passengers to book excursions through them in order to leave the ship. I am very much hoping that changes in a year, but you never know. But to answer your question about where to research, I also use Trip Advisor and find it very helpful. I also highly recommend checking out the port specific forums over on Cruise Critic. They usually have lots of good info on there. And of course, when it comes to Europe you cannot beat Rick Steves' books.

Welcome to the cruise and here's hoping that the Magic actually makes it back to the US this fall so there really will be an EBTA next year !!

 

[braysmommy]

Hi, just read the entire thread. Wow an amazing group size this early! Currently booked for nine people but suspect it will only be three of us in the end.
Really nervous about taking this trip. I have never planned anything “across the pond.” Canada, Alaska, Mexico are not scary to plan any longer since we have gone before.
I use TripAdvisor, to find my “must hit spots” in America. Seems a shame to see the pictures of every place that I could be going and ruining the surprise. But I need an informed decision so that’s unavoidable. I’m concerned that TripAdvisor should not be my only tool for selecting sites to visit. Any recommendations?
I’m thinking Disney probably is booking the highlights so maybe just stick with their options?
Also could I be added to the breakfast?

I also use TripAdvisor for planning and use it for Europe as well. I usually see what top attractions/tours are for each port and book it through a private company or DIY if walkable including previous EBTA, Med and Panama Canal and always been very happy. For this cruise I have already contacted a canyoning company that is will to do a private excursion on our first port stop in the Azores.

 

[ljhayes]

Hi all! My husband and I will be joining you on the EBTA! This will be our third TA, second eastbound. We're B2Bing with the med cruise, but now that I know there's a 3 night Castaway cruise before it I might start scheming to add that one, too...

 

[INDY1919A4]

Hi all! My husband and I will be joining you on the EBTA! This will be our third TA, second eastbound. We're B2Bing with the med cruise, but now that I know there's a 3 night Castaway cruise before it I might start scheming to add that one, too...

Not to wanting to encourage others to wildly spend their money . But adding the 3 days cruise before was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. Once you do it instantly you are at peace with yourself. The TA cruise is perfect at that point. Kinda like Christopher Columbus in reverse.. But with style.

And dog gone it you know you will not miss the TA cruise when you are on it..

Now I am off to the sell some more blood... thank heavens I have a whole year to save up..

 

[mama&me]

I too have booked the 3 night Castaway sailing. Yay!
Now please let it be safe for us to sail. Mom is really looking forward to this. Especially since it falls on Mother's Day.

 

[INDY1919A4]

Now please let it be safe for us to sail.

 

[JannasMamma]

Hi, everyone! We will be joining you all for this EBTA! We did the 11 night Med cruise in 2011 and are finally back on board. DD will be 15 and doesn’t remember much about the ship, except our great servers and the kids club. I’m a little worried about shore excursion bookings. DH will be 89 and has mobility issues (scooter for anything longer than a 5-10 minute walk). I know he will be fine on the ship, but there are bound to be some cool excursions that DD and I will want to do but that are not accessible. Such are the joys of a multigenerational family.
I look forward to connecting with you are learning some of the adult activities we can join that we missed out on during our first experience. Having a teen will be so much more liberating than a preschooler!

 

[Pens Fan]

I'm so excited as we just decided to add on to this cruise as well. Though we are probably doing it a little differently than others. We had a couple of NCL Cruise Next certificates as well as a 10% off coupon for a cancelled Covid cruise burning a hole in our pockets. We'd been trying to find something to book and lo and behold the NCL Epic is sailing out of Barcelona on 5/22 for a 7 night Med cruise. So why not just extend the party for another week?

 

[braysmommy]

I'm so excited as we just decided to add on to this cruise as well. Though we are probably doing it a little differently than others. We had a couple of NCL Cruise Next certificates as well as a 10% off coupon for a cancelled Covid cruise burning a hole in our pockets. We'd been trying to find something to book and lo and behold the NCL Epic is sailing out of Barcelona on 5/22 for a 7 night Med cruise. So why not just extend the party for another week?

This sounds great!

 

[msmama]

Hi all!

Just decided to officially go ahead with this cruise (and the Med one after). It'll be me and my 14 year old (at the time). It's nice to see there will be other teenagers on the ship!

 

[Toulou]

Hi everyone!! Well, it's about time for us all to try again! Now with more money in our pockets we've decided to do a b2b 7nt Med too! Funny thing; we will be touring Greece as well...so, when I asked my boys if they wanted to travel with RCCL from BCN instead of doing a b2b with DCL (a 12nt with RCCL, same rate as 7nt DCL but includes Greece)...they both said NO! So, I guess I taught them well enough. After a full travel day it will be nice to come back to a familiar and warm place to grab some dinner and rest our heads...Disney all the way! We'll just fly into Greece...why not?! You only live once...this is something we all know! So welcome to all who is going on the 2022 EBTA...may we all have a fabulous time!!

 

[Toulou]

Hi all!

Just decided to officially go ahead with this cruise (and the Med one after). It'll be me and my 14 year old (at the time). It's nice to see there will be other teenagers on the ship!

Yes...we'll be on for the long trip with you! From reading down the entire list, it seems like there will be more than a few joining us!

 

[Toulou]

One more thing...has anyone thought about splitting the cost of a 6-8 passenger van in Italy? This way we can see all of Italy, including the Vatican. I would rather see it all and save on the rates? Just a thought.

 

[INDY1919A4]

One more thing...has anyone thought about splitting the cost of a 6-8 passenger van in Italy? This way we can see all of Italy, including the Vatican. I would rather see it all and save on the rates? Just a thought.

You know that sounds like a great idea.. But I am still wrapping my head around how you do Rome.. There are several tours offered by Disney at various prices..

We want to positivily walk through the Sistine chapel and the Coloseum at least.

When we looked at the Private vans/limos Disney offered it seemed like the vans just dropped you off in Rome hand you a Red Bus on & off pass and then picked you up several hours later to take you back to the boat.???

Others seem to be more a larger Rome bus tour..

So we took a bit of a few weeks respit for a Wild West land cruise..

But as soon as the smoke clears.. We will be looking into this further.

Will love to entertain any thoughts, suggestions, hints, wild rumors or wiseacre comments on how to take Rome..

 

[INDY1919A4]

I'm so excited as we just decided to add on to this cruise as well. Though we are probably doing it a little differently than others. We had a couple of NCL Cruise Next certificates as well as a 10% off coupon for a cancelled Covid cruise burning a hole in our pockets. We'd been trying to find something to book and lo and behold the NCL Epic is sailing out of Barcelona on 5/22 for a 7 night Med cruise. So why not just extend the party for another week?

That is so nice.. Where will the NCL cruise go ???

 

[mama&me]

Although, we are not doing the Mediterranean this time, we did it a few years back. If you don’t do the van, can I suggest RomeinLimo. Mom and I booked a car and we were able to customize our day. Our driver Stefano was very accommodating and took us everywhere we wanted plus his spots he thought we would like. I don’t think there is time to go inside both the Vatican and the Colosseum. So we chose to go inside the Vatican and splurged on a guide who knew just where to take us including shortcuts so we were able to see a lot.
Stefano did take us to the Colosseum so we could take pictures if front of it as well as all the usual Rome highlights like Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon etc. Things not included in the regular excursions we requested were Scala Santa which was a must for my mom, the Mouth of Truth from the Roman Holiday movie, the Disney store. True Disney fans should see this store. It’s really cute!
He also recommended a pizza spot.
The price of the excursion was still cheaper than the Disney excursions.

 

[Toulou]

You know that sounds like a great idea.. But I am still wrapping my head around how you do Rome.. There are several tours offered by Disney at various prices..

We want to positivily walk through the Sistine chapel and the Coloseum at least.

When we looked at the Private vans/limos Disney offered it seemed like the vans just dropped you off in Rome hand you a Red Bus on & off pass and then picked you up several hours later to take you back to the boat.???

Others seem to be more a larger Rome bus tour..

So we took a bit of a few weeks respit for a Wild West land cruise..

But as soon as the smoke clears.. We will be looking into this further.

Will love to entertain any thoughts, suggestions, hints, wild rumors or wiseacre comments on how to take Rome..

View attachment 579236

Although, we are not doing the Mediterranean this time, we did it a few years back. If you don’t do the van, can I suggest RomeinLimo. Mom and I booked a car and we were able to customize our day. Our driver Stefano was very accommodating and took us everywhere we wanted plus his spots he thought we would like. I don’t think there is time to go inside both the Vatican and the Colosseum. So we chose to go inside the Vatican and splurged on a guide who knew just where to take us including shortcuts so we were able to see a lot.
Stefano did take us to the Colosseum so we could take pictures if front of it as well as all the usual Rome highlights like Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon etc. Things not included in the regular excursions we requested were Scala Santa which was a must for my mom, the Mouth of Truth from the Roman Holiday movie, the Disney store. True Disney fans should see this store. It’s really cute!
He also recommended a pizza spot.
The price of the excursion was still cheaper than the Disney excursions.

That is what I was looking at! I am not sure if Disney will allow an outside excursion but if they do...perfect! While in Barcelona in 2019, we were able to gather a group of 8 people and did a full day trip to Montserrat monastery and around Barcelona sites...cheaper than DCL offered.

 

[Pens Fan]

That is so nice.. Where will the NCL cruise go ???

We are excited! The ports are:

Ajaccio, France
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Naples, Italy
Livorno, Italy
Cannes, France
Palma Majorca, Spain

We did a 14 night NCL cruise in the Eastern Med back in 2019 which was just fantastic. All of the Italian ports will be repeats, but we are already planning things to do that we missed last time. It's going to be a busy cruise (no sea days) so we'll have to rest up on the way across the pond to prepare!

 

[Pens Fan]

Although, we are not doing the Mediterranean this time, we did it a few years back. If you don’t do the van, can I suggest RomeinLimo. Mom and I booked a car and we were able to customize our day. Our driver Stefano was very accommodating and took us everywhere we wanted plus his spots he thought we would like. I don’t think there is time to go inside both the Vatican and the Colosseum. So we chose to go inside the Vatican and splurged on a guide who knew just where to take us including shortcuts so we were able to see a lot.
Stefano did take us to the Colosseum so we could take pictures if front of it as well as all the usual Rome highlights like Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon etc. Things not included in the regular excursions we requested were Scala Santa which was a must for my mom, the Mouth of Truth from the Roman Holiday movie, the Disney store. True Disney fans should see this store. It’s really cute!
He also recommended a pizza spot.
The price of the excursion was still cheaper than the Disney excursions.

Oh my gosh!! Stefano!! I am sitting here with the biggest smile on my face right now.

We stayed three nights in Rome prior to a cruise in 2019 and booked a day tour through Rome In Limo. Stefano was our driver and he was amazing. He took such good care of us and we had a terrific day. Then, after our cruise we had booked a transfer from Civitavecchia to Montepulciano where we spending a few nights. We had asked to stop in Orvieto for a few hours along the way, as well. We were expecting just a regular driver as they don't promise English fluent drivers for transfers (only tours). Well, imagine our delight when Stefano's smiling face was there at the pier in Civitavecchia! It was like seeing an old friend. He also returned to Montepulciano a few days later to drive us back to Rome for our flight home. He even took us on an impromptu stop at this amazing Etruscan museum. He's such a wonderful guide and an even better person.

And for anyone else that's adding on a Med cruise - yes, Rome in Limo is as good as everyone says (even better). They are great to work with and will take care of you in every way.