Is anyone cruising with me on the August 27th 2011 Meditteranean Cruise? Hellooooo?

[NHdisneylover]

NHdisneylover- what company did you use for the vatican tour? We don't want to do a Rome tour but I would be interested in the vatican tour.

We had a full tour of Rome through limo in Rome and they arranged our tour guide. I have no idea if they would arrange a guide for you if you were not using their services otherwise I think the Vatican itself has tour guide you can book as well, but I do not know the cost. Sorry I can't be more helpful

 

[sissy_ib]

Ok so based on someone on Disboards suggestion about using Limo in Rome (Thank you!)

I have been considering these two tours because they are cheaper than Rudy's Car tours. Please let me know if you would like to go in on booking these together. DH and I would really like to find some people to travel with. =D

The first price listed in Euros is for 4 people the Second price is for 6 people and the third price listed is for 8 people.

Tour 1Rome 460 500 540

Tour 2From Naples (Dock) to Naples, Pompei and Amalfi Coast ( hours) 460 500 540


The other options of Rudy's Car tours still exist they are for 8 people and cost approx 600 Euros each if we book all three with them they will give a discount of 100 euros off the total price and they are available for all three cities in Italy.

Hello,

Where do I find details about the tours as above?

Would you be interested in joining? TJFrack posted some info about the tours on the last page. I think it would be great to get one more couple for the tours. I am definitely doing the Rome tour. We will do the other two ports if we can get a third couple to split the cost.

 

[diane aggelidou]

Would you be interested in joining? TJFrack posted some info about the tours on the last page. I think it would be great to get one more couple for the tours. I am definitely doing the Rome tour. We will do the other two ports if we can get a third couple to split the cost.

BIRG ticket train available approx 5-10 euro from Civitaveecchia-Rome

Also found www.seatrain.biz NAME ROMA EXPRESS which is a new train direct from port to Rome??????????????whether the company will offer private tickets ?unknown!

 

[diane aggelidou]

A lot of stuff you have given fab!eg buying the online tickets jump the line at Vatican.I checked this out!cool!This I will do!

I just felt that if some with children,may find it cheaper and slower pace to look at alternative methods without rushing the kids or boring them! Some sights are adult orientated/some child/others all ages.
I chose Vatican for husband/Fountain for fab photos/boat/taxi/river tour for daughter.After see how tired etc and time left!

 

[diane aggelidou]

A lot of stuff you have given fab!eg buying the online tickets jump the line at Vatican.I checked this out!cool!This I will do!

I just felt that if some with children,may find it cheaper and slower pace to look at alternative methods without rushing the kids or boring them! Some sights are adult orientated/some child/others all ages.
I chose Vatican for husband/Fountain for fab photos/boat/taxi/river tour for daughter.After see how tired etc and time left!

 

[NHdisneylover]

A lot of stuff you have given fab!eg buying the online tickets jump the line at Vatican.I checked this out!cool!This I will do!

I just felt that if some with children,may find it cheaper and slower pace to look at alternative methods without rushing the kids or boring them! Some sights are adult orientated/some child/others all ages.
I chose Vatican for husband/Fountain for fab photos/boat/taxi/river tour for daughter.After see how tired etc and time left!

Oh, I absolutely think you have a good idea there and I did not mean to downplay your suggestion at all
I love the trains and the flexibility they offer in Europe. We did just what you are talking about in Pompeii. Took the train so we could stay as long or as short as the kids lasted. Rio liked it for about 2 hours and I went back with him at that point--Marika and David stayed about 6 or 7 hours. It was FANTASTIC that we could make our own schedule.

I just wanted to point out an alternate view. Especially for people who may feel this is their one and only time to see Rome and want to pack things in to the day--the A/C on the van was a huge thing to us. And we did get to see everythign we wanted--we are not even going into Rome at all this time around, just taking a bus to Tarquenia for a couple of hours.

 

[sissy_ib]

Oh, I absolutely think you have a good idea there and I did not mean to downplay your suggestion at all
I love the trains and the flexibility they offer in Europe. We did just what you are talking about in Pompeii. Took the train so we could stay as long or as short as the kids lasted. Rio liked it for about 2 hours and I went back with him at that point--Marika and David stayed about 6 or 7 hours. It was FANTASTIC that we could make our own schedule.

I just wanted to point out an alternate view. Especially for people who may feel this is their one and only time to see Rome and want to pack things in to the day--the A/C on the van was a huge thing to us. And we did get to see everythign we wanted--we are not even going into Rome at all this time around, just taking a bus to Tarquenia for a couple of hours.

I am one of those people who wants to see as much as I can!
In Rome see the Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vatican, Sistine Chapel.
I would be too nervous about time if I tried to do the city on my own so I would probably skip some things. I will feel much better having someone who knows what they are doing drive me around
Doing a private tour will be cheaper the DCL tours and you get to see more.
If you do not want to see much a tour is not a good way to go but for those who want to make many stops it makes sense.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I am one of those people who wants to see as much as I can!
In Rome see the Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vatican, Sistine Chapel.
I would be too nervous about time if I tried to do the city on my own so I would probably skip some things. I will feel much better having someone who knows what they are doing drive me around
Doing a private tour will be cheaper the DCL tours and you get to see more.
If you do not want to see much a tour is not a good way to go but for those who want to make many stops it makes sense.

The great thing about Rome is it is not really that big (considering) all that is there--so you CAN see all of what you list (and more) if you have someone to take you to all the places. I am sure you can work out a plan with any tour guide to fit in everything you really want.

We were off the ship right at 7:00 (our tour operator really stressed this, and it was a good thing--we beat the traffic into the city and we spoke to many people on DCL excursions which left at 7:30 and 8 who were in traffic for MUCH longer) and were back on board by 5:30 that night. We saw everything on your list and a few other things (can't remember what all--the Mouth of Truth was one; though we did not wait in the really long line to stick our hands in it--just looked at it and the Spanish steps were a couple). One thing technically not on our itinerary was the church right behind the Pantheon that we wandered into by chance. It was almost totally empty (one small German tour group) and was really pretty. Michaelangelo's Risen Christ--which was magnificent was there. That was a very good stroke of luck--only in a city with as much to see as Rome has can something that amazing not be one of THE top attractions.

 

[sissy_ib]

The great thing about Rome is it is not really that big (considering) all that is there--so you CAN see all of what you list (and more) if you have someone to take you to all the places. I am sure you can work out a plan with any tour guide to fit in everything you really want.

We were off the ship right at 7:00 (our tour operator really stressed this, and it was a good thing--we beat the traffic into the city and we spoke to many people on DCL excursions which left at 7:30 and 8 who were in traffic for MUCH longer) and were back on board by 5:30 that night. We saw everything on your list and a few other things (can't remember what all--the Mouth of Truth was one; though we did not wait in the really long line to stick our hands in it--just looked at it and the Spanish steps were a couple). One thing technically not on our itinerary was the church right behind the Pantheon that we wandered into by chance. It was almost totally empty (one small German tour group) and was really pretty. Michaelangelo's Risen Christ--which was magnificent was there. That was a very good stroke of luck--only in a city with as much to see as Rome has can something that amazing not be one of THE top attractions.

Oh yes I am doing a tour. I meant I would be to worried to do it by myself.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Would you be interested in joining? TJFrack posted some info about the tours on the last page. I think it would be great to get one more couple for the tours. I am definitely doing the Rome tour. We will do the other two ports if we can get a third couple to split the cost.

Hi,

Not sure yet, still trying to discuss with DH, have got the details now.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Palo ................... do they do the dinner, afternoon tea and brunch every day of the cruise or only on selected days?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Palo ................... do they do the dinner, afternoon tea and brunch every day of the cruise or only on selected days?

Dinner is offered every night. Brunch and tea are only offered on seas days (Which means only once on this cruise).

Reservations fill up fast. Platinum Castaway Members (those who have sailed over 10 times) get to reserve online first, then gold, then silver and finally new cruisers. Everyone is limited to one booking per meal (so you cannot book dinner more than one night and take away from others' chances to have one) People who REALLY want a certain night for dinner are usually online right at the moment you can reserve (which is the middle of night in the USA--and very early in the morning for us in Europe) trying to book it. It is not uncommon for brunch and tea to be booked up before silver even gets a chance to try--much less new people. HOWEVER they do hold back reservations to be booked on departure day on board so there is still a chance for everybody.

Anyway, as a new person it can be very hard to get anything other than dinner. Personally, while I think Palo is nice and we enjoy going there--it is not essential to a nice cruise at all, and I do not think it is worth being stressed if you do not get a reservation. There is always a lot more to do on board than you can possibly fit in, so I doubt anyone will miss it if they don't have it. We won't take anyone's chance at dinner or brunch away (I think we will have a tea if we can get one).

 

[NHdisneylover]

Oh yes I am doing a tour. I meant I would be to worried to do it by myself.

Sorry--I did realize you wanted a tour, but I can see where it sounded like i was tryign to convince you to take one I just meant to reassure you that you will get to see everything

 

[diane aggelidou]

BIRG ticket train available approx 5-10 euro from Civitaveecchia-Rome

Also found www.seatrain.biz NAME ROMA EXPRESS which is a new train direct from port to Rome??????????????whether the company will offer private tickets ?unknown!

I may be interested in a Florance Pisa etc tour (half day) But it would depend on cost etc. The more people you get interested,the lower the cost??????
At the moment you say 540 by 8=67 each? For us,can become expensive as have child age 6 which is same costx3, when you compare it to using public transport or other means which is 4-10 euro return with no set tour time and easily accessible for us as Italy being our neighbours,its like being at home Greece),bear in mind also that traffic in European cities can mean that train faster!
I will wait to see how it plays out!Should you get many more interested,you may be able to cut cost incredibly!If this happens,let me know!
I am also trying to find out about seatrain,prob will Tel them!I also was told by some other post cruisers that when they arrived at some ports there were bus/car transfers offering at port terminal for approx 20 euro per person return!As for going it alone,of what is said on other cruise sites,your not exactly alone as many others are doing exactly the same journey at the same time,and you here more English spoken than Italian on services!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am thinking about booking Palo for the first night of the cruise ( embarkation?). We will miss meeting our table mates and servers. Anything else missed by missing that first dinner?

How much is Palo now? I am reading conflicting prices. I read it went up to $20/pp but European cruises are still $15/pp? Anyone know?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am still trying to figure out what to do in Villefranche. There is an adults only tour of Nice and Monaco. It's $89 US dollars /pp with lunch on your own. It's 8-9hrs though. Wondering if that's too long in the heat.

 

[sissy_ib]

I am still trying to figure out what to do in Villefranche. There is an adults only tour of Nice and Monaco. It's $89 US dollars /pp with lunch on your own. It's 8-9hrs though. Wondering if that's too long in the heat.

I have not looked much at this port. None of the port excursions have really jumped out at me. This one looks like you are on a bus for a good bit so you wouldn't be out in the heat the entire time. But I agree, 9 hours is a long time to be stuck. I'm sure DF will want to see Monte Carlo so we may just head that way for the day. I'm assuming that there will be touristy shops near all the ports. Does anyone know? Places for postcards and small gifts to bring home.

 

[sissy_ib]

I don't think anyone posted these yet so I went through the trip reports and found the MED reports from last year.
This is my reading material for the next few days

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2519107
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2536667
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2546212
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2632371
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2474037
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2538555

A few are B2B reports with a transatlantic and some are the 10 and 11 days but many of the ports overlap ours.

And here is a link to the sticky with all the 2007 Med reports
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1998121
I'm not sure if I'm going to read any of those. I think it was long enough ago that a lot of the info may be outdated. I'm sure many of the port excursions have changed since then.
Thought this might help some people with planing.

 

[mkmommy]

I am still trying to figure out what to do in Villefranche. There is an adults only tour of Nice and Monaco. It's $89 US dollars /pp with lunch on your own. It's 8-9hrs though. Wondering if that's too long in the heat.

I am doing this port on my own, taking the train to Nice or Monaco, and then to Eze, not sure which one has the best connections to Eze.

I am also planning on taking the train in La Spezia to Cinque Terre. I would like to use google maps to get walking directions but does anyone know the port name or the address of the port?

 

[NHdisneylover]

In Villefranche we plan to take the train to Monaco in the morning and tour the palace and see the church Princess Grace was married in. It is an easy walk to the train station from port (we took the train to Nice last time).

We will probably head back to the ship for a late lunch and then either stay onbaord if it is hot, or head to Ephrusi de Rothschild. I think it looks lovely (we enjoy some of the nicer palace gardens here), but I have yet to figure out how to get there (other than taxi--it looks pretty close so it probably would not cost much). Had anyone ever been?

http://www.villa-ephrussi.com/en/ephrussi/