July 18, 2007 07-18-07 Med Cruise

[nzdisneymom]

Under 7 months now!!!

Happy Holidays everyone!

 

[CarolAnnC]

This will fly by now!! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to my fellow cruising buddies!

 

[DLRPfan.be]

Merry Xmas, and Happy Holidays to everyone!

 

[scottishwee35]

Hi Everybody

I would like to saying MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007


Scottishwee35

 

[DLRPfan.be]

Happy 2007, and see you all THIS SUMMER!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Guess what?!!! We're sailing the Med THIS SUMMER! No more saying "next summer" or "next year!"

We're studying up on the excursions, and tightening up the ole budget to be able to not have to scrimp when it's time to go!

 

[nzdisneymom]

While I was waiting for some stuff at work yesterday, I printed out a lot of the excursions so that DH and I can read through them at our leisure and figure out which ones we want to do so I can go ahead and plan $$ for them. Some we obviously wouldn't do (those ages 10+ because we will have a 9 y.o. with us) and some we aren't interested in (like the beach-excursions). We also have a few things we definitely want to do like going to see Pompeii, so any excursions that wouldn't take use there at that port would be out.

Anyway, it's fun to start the serious planning! Anyone else picking out excursions either through DCL or on your own?

 

[justhat]

We are but haven't even begun to narrow it down just yet. I read through all of them (well all the ones that anyone can go on as my kids have to go to) and there are so many great ones it will be hard to choose. I'm going to visit my mom next weekend so I plan to print them out and go through them with her so we can decide which ones look the best for our group.

My only fear is some of them say they're 10-12 hours and with my little ones I'm not sure how that will work.

 

[nzdisneymom]

My only fear is some of them say they're 10-12 hours and with my little ones I'm not sure how that will work.

I'm looking at that, too - I know my kids and they will do ok with one long one but not long ones multiple days in a row -- I know the trip to Rome will be our long day, so I want to do something shorter on the day before and the day after.

One thing that helps is that we have some specific things we want to see, so if the excursion doesn't include it, it's off the list. like we want to see Pompeii and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. honestly, i don't care anything about seeing the Vatican, but I do want to see the Collosseium.

And as much as I like to pretend that $$ won't matter, it really does -- even though this is a trip of a lifetime, I still can't go eye-deep in debt.

 

[justhat]

Yes, we're planning on just one or two long excursions cause I know any more than that and my kids would be crazy. As it is one or two might be too much, but I'm hoping we can get the little one to nap in the stroller to make it bearable. My big concern is that he goes to bed at 6:30 everynight and by 7pm if he's still up he's very, very unhappy about it. Right now he's fairly portable since I can wear him in a sling and let him sleep in there, but he's already 17.5 pounds and only 5 months old so in another 6 months I can just imagine how heavy he'll be!

 

[ButterbearUK]

We're looking at definitely doing an excursion in Rome- probably one of the really long ones that sees a small amount of everything. I absolutely hate travelling in buses and coaches, so am very tempted by the train one.

We're also looking at the tours to Florence and Pisa. Again, might do the really long one that takes in both. We've also been looking at the Palermo tours, but not sure if we'll do one or not.

Everywhere else we're thinking about DIY. I'd love to go to the archaeology museum in Olbia and see the roman boats, but I'm not sure if it's still open (can't find it on the web anymore!). In Marseilles and Villefranche we'll probably just check out the towns and the museums on our own.

We've all been to Pompeii and Herculaneum, and whilst I'd love to go back to Pompeii it is a long way from the port. Might be tempted to go to Herculaneum since it's a shorter tour. Last time we went we were able to visit the Suburban baths which was amazing, but they're not always open. We may just decide to go to the Naples Archaeology Museum and then head back to the ship. Lots of Roman and Greek statues, mosaics etc to look at

Milia (just over 6 months to go now! so exciting! )

 

[nzdisneymom]

I'm putting together a spreadsheet with the excursions by port that we've read and said "yes" we're interested, and also including the maybe's. I've even put in a column to do the math for how much the excursion will cost ... as that will be a factor for us, as well as time. Because Rome is one day and Florence / Pisa is the next, I think we'll end up with two very long days in a row. We've pretty much settled on doing the Florence and Pisa one that takes you both places. Still no idea for Rome. I think we'll do the Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri one for Families -- although the Timeless Pompeii one was appealing - except it didn't specify a guided tour of Pompeii which the other one did - and which we prefer.

I have my Frommer's books that I need to pull out and read to help figure out for some of the ports. I'd read that both of the French ports are relatively easy to DIY - although for my family, we're likely better off booking through the cruise line because my 10 y.o. will otherwise worry about us being late back to port and getting left behind.

 

[scottishwee35]

Hi Cindy

Sound good idea about spreadsheet for excursions. I have been looking at it but still not knowing which one yet as feel that two days Rome and Pisa/Florence might be too much for our kids as I don't want to leave them on Cruise while tours take 10 hours.

So might make up spreadsheet and see how much it cost!!

Have anyone thought about private hire driver? As I think it cost cheaper than each person in DCL?

My husband have not looking at excursions yet so we both will sit down and looking through each port. I think pick four excursions as I cannot afford to use all port.

Scottishwee35

 

[scottishwee35]

Hi

Forgot to ask another question:

We have been booking early sitting for meals and now we realise if we go to long day excursion like Rome take 10 to 10 half hours. Will we miss the meals on the Cruise at night time?

Is topsiders have evening meals?

Scottishwee35

 

[nzdisneymom]

We also have main seating - and yes, topsiders does the evening meals. I think they serve whatever is in the formal dining rooms.

Regarding two long days in a row - I am more inclined to do just Pisa for the day after Rome, but DH wants to do both -- and since a lot of the Florence / Pisa tour will also be riding on a bus, then we'll probably be ok with it as long as the day before Rome and the day after Florence / Pisa are shorter.

We sailed with Disney in Dec. 2005 so I don't quite feel the need to be in the dining rooms each night, although I will be any night that we're there and on time! I totally enjoyed that experience, although my kids preferred getting pizza and hot dogs from Deck 9. Dh didn't care either way.

I haven't checked to see if the port times have changed now that they have excursions out.

I had thought about a private hire for Naples and sharing a tour with another DCL family - but with my older DS, he'll be too anxious about us missing the ship. I don't want him worrying the whole time we're out about not getting back and the ship leaving without us

When we sailed before, we left the kids on board in Costa Maya as it was rainy and we were just staying in the port area. But for this trip, the whole point is to "see the world" (or at least a little part of it), so there won't be any staying behind (and I wouldn't want to anyway with the distance from the ship to the places we want to go).

 

[nzdisneymom]

I saw that the port times have been updated to be able to accomodate the excursions. And we've narrowed our list -- if I had to book today, here is what we would book (all through DCL - see post above about older son being afraid of being left behind).

Palermo for Kids
Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri for Families
Costa Smeralda
Jumping Back into Eternal Rome
Florence and Pisa
Maresille and the Little Train
Nice and Train Tour

If I did the math correctly, then I'll have to work 2 months to pay for it But that's ok. DS#1 has a science booklet at home to read this week about the Science of Building and in it there is a picture and info about the Colosseum and also the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This will be so cool for him to learn some more about these two architectural wonders before he actually sees them for himself!

 

[justhat]

Looks like we may end up on some of the same excursions Cindy!

We haven't gotten a chance to really narrow down every port yet, but I know the 1st 2 on your list are definites for us too.

 

[nzdisneymom]

That would be so cool. I hope as we get closer and actually book our excursions that folks will post which ones they are doing so we'll know to look out for fellow-DISers

The hardest port to figure out which excursion has been Rome. There were parts about all of them that we wanted to do, so we had to pick the one that got the most things done.

 

[scottishwee35]

Hello


It is 6 months times

Better start diet now after Xmas/New Year

I have look at excursions, still not decide I will start spreadsheet and make it up which one I want to go and some for kids well.

I better take husband to sit down and look through the excursions when he see the prices which I want to go to Rome, Pisa lol.

I had terrible weather here and it is pour of raining and cold, little snow!!

Scottishwee35

 

[Kissimmee]

Hi. My family is booked on the June 6th 10 day Med cruise. A few of us live near WDW and are planning a pre cruise Get-Together and BBQ in the Orlando area. Possibly at Fort Wilderness or my small farm and maybe combined with a group day a WDW.

I thought we might open the doors and invite Med Cruisers for all the other Med dates except those Repositioning Cruiser types .... OK, I guess you guys can come too, but only if you promise to do the cooking.

I'm thinking April but no date has been set so suggestions are welcome.

PS: I was only teasing the Repositioning Cruisers.. They still have to cook though. wink wink

Link to thread WDW BBQ for Mediterranean Cruisers