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

[NHdisneylover]

ok so I can tick you on my list as have you same on list!
ps on message clairlowe????cabin/does she replace someone or extra?details?
I still would appreciate any changes for those to notify me so I can make modifications myself!
I think I will also have a chance at promonade 3pm to check with one of you my list and improvise if necessary!

yes nightmare taxi!
cruise ships have pulled out of greece and have diverted to cyprus! So now they are trying to block airports and fuel trucks for disruption.

There are some places where taxi have opposed this violent action and are still transporting tourists to certain safe places for free/without charge! eg cyprus cruise ships/port

This euro isa never ending problem and now Spain & Italy facing exact same problems??????????
The problem is that before the euro,Greece had prosperity but now poverty!
What you all do not realize is that citizens are working but many owed from 6-36 months backpay and cannot survive unless the government does something to make employers pay or offer assistance to families!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my husband included!

There is nothing they can do but strike/hope!

As stated previously,as long as Italy & Spain remain calm,all hol ok!
If flips???????????????On Euro news,things are heating up with the citizens of these countries!

So do I understand that you feel (and others in Greece) that Greece's economic woes are BECAUSE You are on the Euro? I find that very interesting and have never heard this take (where we live the feeling tends to be that people wish Greecec were not on the Euro and is kept afloat by being so at the expense of countries like Germany and France). I find this fascinating and would love it if you could explain WHY the feeling in Greece is that being on the Euro is the cause of this issue.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Does anyone know if Dizmom has a preferred way to receive cabin # info for the FE's?

I'm not 100% sure we're "officially" on the FE list, and don't think I posted a cabin # anywhere, either.

Hi, you are on the FE list that I received from Dizmom and there is a cabin number on there for you. If you send her a private message through these boards (just click on her name and the option should come up) and include your regular email address she will be able to send you a spreadsheet, although we are all still waiting for a final and correct version to come through.

 

[diane aggelidou]

sure,when we had drackma,everything was cheaper as we were not trying to compete with bigger countries! eg the drackma 1 english pound/was worth x 3 in drackma.(1 euro/1pound) big diggerence! Inflation has risen,but wages not!
The average wage here is 500-700 euro per month (good job) and house bills alone more!!!!
whereas other european countries have higher salaries and welfare!!!!
Greece is a very small country and is taking fall first for other countries following ,but as said this week, Spain and Italy have applied for bailout too! Does this not tell you something is wrong with the euro system? A huge issue right now is other wealthy countries trying to buy Greek islands/herritage sites etc which Greeks are furrious about.
Greeks are stuck!Owed 6-36 months pay,cannot leave jobs as may not get what owed,secondly, if you leave a job,you will not get any short-term 3 month welfare either.catch 22!
I hope this explains a bit!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks for the explanation Dianne. That is a really interesting take on the situation which I have not heard before.
I'm curious, do you think other factor are to blame as well, or do you think the switch to the Euro is the major cause for the current economic woes?

I am sorry to hear that your husband is one who is not getting paid. I am glad that you must be doing pretty well otherwise and are able to take the cruise though I get panicky about money and would have cancelled the vacation (if it were early enough to not lose money) as soon as paychecks quit coming in.

 

[diane aggelidou]

On the contary! Not doing well,but as I work independantly,been able to keep food on table! Also, we have given up Christmas partially/Anniversary/Birthdays/eating out and social activities/maxed out credit cards for 16 months to enable us this cruise as was Tiffs wish!
This cruise is our belated Christmas/Tiff belated & pre Birthday and our 10th wedding anniversary all in one cruise!

 

[RoniBoBoni]

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, will you all pretend you don't know me if I wear my Drindl to dinner one night I think it is so pretty and I only get to wear it about twice a year, so I was toying with the idea of taking it for dinner once. Would that just seem pathetic to you?

Your Drindl is very pretty and I wouldn't think you were odd for wearing it, even if you hadn't posted about it. It looks so pretty to get any negative comments. Go for it!

On the photography theme....I am thinking of buying a new camera for the trip. I am looking at the canon 550d which I think is called a "rebel" in the USA. Does anyone have insight as to whether lugging a real camera around (as opposed to a small happy snapper) is too annoying?

We have a canon rebel and it is bulky, but it's great and worth the extra bulk. All of our pics come out great versus the point and shoot cameras. Which can be hit and miss.

You can rent a digital slr camera, just like the lenses if you don't want to have to pay for a brand new one. Try LensRentals.com

Joy, I did the same thing for my bag. I bought a Lowepro Passport sling bag that will double as my purse. It doesn't scream "camera bag" (at least I don't think so!). I read a trip report where someone rented a lens for the trip. I believe it was an 18 - 200mm??? That would be amazing but I'm not sure if one is available for Canon SLR's.

We rented the 18-200 mm EF-S f/3.5-5.6 IS lens from Lens Giant. We rented it for 21 days, it arrives a week prior to the trip so DH can get use to the lens prior to leaving on vacation. The 21 day rental plus damage waiver came out to just under $100, which is a steal considering this lens sells retail for over $800. So it's a good way to see if we like the lens and if it's worth buying it. I didn't want to have to lug around our 18-55 lens and the 70-300 lens. One lens and that's it.

Okay, this post has absolutely nothing to do with the cruise, but had to share my happiness and relief with all of you

On Sunday I put Rio on a plane to London (all by his little 12 year old self) to fly off to summer camp. He is staying one week with a local host family and attending a performing arts camp in Essex.

I just spoke to him on the phone and he is so happy. The other boy at the camp (his host brother) is the first boy he has ever met who loves to dance and act the way he does, he is already begging to go back every year.

It is such a relief to me to know he is happy So I just had to share

That is so awesome! I am sure it was hard for you to let your lil boy go like that, and so far away. Kudos to you cause you are a great mom and did it for him which obviously he likes it so it's all worth it! That's great!!!

Well, i've been busy sewing like mad. Just finished sewing our pirate costumes All is falling into place. We have a mini vacation this weekend, well needed, so I can get back to the grind of planning again on Monday.

Have a great weekend you all!

 

[diane aggelidou]

For some this is just a cruise,but for us a dream! We have invested everything!
We will be joining the reserve sunbed group if forced! We have been through too much too miss out based on morals! and if I see that I have no choice,then I too will do the same to beat them at their own game! I know it is incorrect,but being in hotel business for many years,your opinions will not change this sunbed issue, the only thing is if you cannot beat them,be clever and beat them at their own game or miss out! I do not intend to miss out in any way,this trip is too important and the way things are going could be our last!

Taxi issue over for now!next problem????awaiting,will not feel safe till touch down in Barcelona!

 

[diane aggelidou]

Glad to see others going full hog with costumes pirate night as ourselves!
Also,many choosing to go full glam on formal night as ourselves!

 

[diane aggelidou]

Anyone else planning to visit Hardrockcafe Barcelona??
I have reserved jump the line for Saturday 3rd sep at 8.30pm as read that on weekends very popular with families and waiting can be extensive upto 2 hrs!

Anybody been?reviews?

 

[celocey]

Glad to see others going full hog with costumes pirate night as ourselves!
Also,many choosing to go full glam on formal night as ourselves!

DH and I will play it low key for Pirate night, but we are going ALL OUT for formal night! Also, I just bought him a white, linen jacket to wear for Palo's brunch and whenever. He looks very "Miami Vice" in it. Minus the Sonny Crockett hair. Picking up my gown on Monday, finishing the FE gifts this weekend and starting to lay out my clothes for packing. OMG...it's almost here!
DH and I have heard/read lots of articles on pickpockets in Barcelona and now we are getting paranoid. Does anyone have any thoughts/experience on this subject? I'm afraid DH won't enjoy Barcelona being on high alert the whole time.
Carol

 

[NHdisneylover]

DH and I will play it low key for Pirate night, but we are going ALL OUT for formal night! Also, I just bought him a white, linen jacket to wear for Palo's brunch and whenever. He looks very "Miami Vice" in it. Minus the Sonny Crockett hair. Picking up my gown on Monday, finishing the FE gifts this weekend and starting to lay out my clothes for packing. OMG...it's almost here!
DH and I have heard/read lots of articles on pickpockets in Barcelona and now we are getting paranoid. Does anyone have any thoughts/experience on this subject? I'm afraid DH won't enjoy Barcelona being on high alert the whole time.
Carol

David keeps his wallet in his front pocket and his hand in the pocket/on the wallet at all times. This has kept our money safe through multiple trips to Barcelona, and London and many days in Paris and Rome (knock on wood that it continues ). We also just don't carry huge amounts of cash--it is safer and easier to hit an ATM when needed.

 

[dizmomof2]

I'm glad Rio is enjoying himself. We tend to worry about these things then the kids have a blast!

I am missing a few emails of FE families. I just got a pm from JeanJoe who missed the post a while back asking for your email addresses and I thought maybe some others missed that post as well.

Clairelow and BecDan, I did pm you with my email address so if you could email me I can send you the list. The other three I'm missing is dwcsk8, wmbgfiddle and disneywithkids. I am missing disneywithkids cabin number as well andI haven't seen any post from them in months. So, just in case they are lurking here:

DISNEYWITHKIDS: could you please pm me or post your cabin number and email so that I can send you the list?

If we don't get it, hopefully they will show up at the first day meet in the lounge and I'll get their cabin number and post it on my cabin door. It will all work out in the end I'm sure.

 

[dizmomof2]

David keeps his wallet in his front pocket and his hand in the pocket/on the wallet at all times. This has kept our money safe through multiple trips to Barcelona, and London and many days in Paris and Rome (knock on wood that it continues ). We also just don't carry huge amounts of cash--it is safer and easier to hit an ATM when needed.

My Dad has traveled all over the world to some very poor and scary countries, but the only place he was ever pickpocketed in was Rome. He also had his wallet in his front pocket and took his hand out for just a second and it was gone as was his friends that they were travelling with. While on the way to the police station to report the theft the friends wife had her purse unzipped but they didn't have time to steal anything as she had let go of her zipper just to grab the bar on the subway to steady herself then right back to her purse. It was amazing how fast they were!

When the got to the police station to report the theft the officer said, "Let me guess, you had your wallet in your front pocket." Whenthey agreed they had all the officers around just rolled their eyes and he was informed that the police think that the pickpockets put out to keep your wallet in your front pocket as it is a much easier pocket to pick.

Take what you want from it but we don't keep wallets in the front pocket anymore and I bought a purse and a backpack from pacsafe for the trip as I don't want to go through what they did!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We purchased those waist money pouches that are very small and go under your clothing to carry our money and ID. Have pick pockets had any success with those? I sure hope there's not some strange hand going to get under my clothes!

 

[mkmommy]

I have a neck pouch for my passport and credit cards that I used last year and had no problems and I keep a small amount of cash in my bag, so hopefully my luck will continue. I have used the waist ones in the past and find they get too sweaty, but they do work well.


Just prebooked entrance for Sagrada Familia for Aug 27, 9:00 AM, so I think that is the last thing I need to book for this trip, only 3 more weeks

 

[wmbgfiddle]

I hate to seem so stupid, but how do I PM someone? How do I get an email address for you dizmom, I will be happy to communicate if you tell me how.

 

[dizmomof2]

You do not have enough post to pm me or receive pm's. I left you a message on your visitors board. Click on you name in the top right of your screen and it will show you your messages. Email me and I will send you the FE list. Let me know if the instructions don't make sense.

 

[Halo]

...and he was informed that the police think that the pickpockets put out to keep your wallet in your front pocket as it is a much easier pocket to pick.

Notwithstanding your anecdotal story, I think that's incorrect. There's a good recent article on Frommers here on how to avoid being pickpocketed. We live in London, which like all major urban centres these days, has pickpockets - especially in the West End and in the crowded Subway system. In the case of London, it tends to be largely Eastern European gangs from Romania especially. The best way to avoid being pickpocketed is to be prepared and to be wary of the risk - whilst a good pickpocket could probably steal from most people, they will tend to go for the easiest target; just ensure that it's not you. Getting back to the Frommers article, it says: "What the Experts Say: Having your wallet in your front pocket is a good defense. It's a relatively difficult spot for someone else to fish objects out of."

 

[austraveler]

We bought a small, cross body paksafe bag that Jason will carry the money in. I am a little anxious about pickpocketing but we will just be as careful as possible and hope for the best. On a happier note I have just come home from buying my canon 550d twin lens camera! (that's a rebel t2i for the Americans) The battery is charging now so I will start learning my way around it tonight. I went with a "case logic" bag. It was a bit pricy but it has a waterproof base and the camera seems to be very well protected in a little sling. I hope I can figure out how to take photos with it now.....

 

[austraveler]

Anyone else planning to visit Hardrockcafe Barcelona??
I have reserved jump the line for Saturday 3rd sep at 8.30pm as read that on weekends very popular with families and waiting can be extensive upto 2 hrs!

Anybody been?reviews?

Jason likes to go to the hard rock cafe wherever we are in the world. As much as I hate to waste the opportunity for a spanish meal, we are going to the hard rock for dinner on the Thursday night before the cruise.