July 18, 2007 07-18-07 Med Cruise

[tinkerbell_29]

Ok just got done taking inventory of everything we had bought tolitree wise for the cruise. For some reason we have 16 rolls of travel size toilet paper but no toothpaste. Not quite sure what we were thinking but if we have a Gilligans Island senerio pop up we can burn the toilet paper to stay warm .
Lissa

 

[nzdisneymom]

Hi All-
I'm still confused about the gifts for other DISers. Do you get one of the same thing for everyone, or a variety? Do I get one for every person, or one for each family? How much $$ to spend?

It's really up to each family about whether they want to bring something or not and then again as to what to do or not. I've been tossing around ideas for what we'd like to do but haven't figured it out yet... hey - I've still got three weeks It's gotta be small enough to fit in our luggage with our travel toilet paper (hee hee).

I asked about ideas on the main board here and got some great responses.

 

[shortkathleen]

Lissa- I am cracking up at 16 rolls of toliet paper. If I run out I will know who can hook us up. Happy toothpaste shopping.

Colleen- We are paying 800E for our group of 10 for an all day tour of Rome which includes transportation from the port. We are using www.driverinrome.com They came highly recommended from the cruise critic boards.

Kathleen

 

[smilis]

Ok we are addicted to the food network in this house. Last night there was a show on with Gadia about the island of Capri. One of the places you can take an excursion to while in Naples it is also included in the one that goes to Pompei and Sorrento. This island is absolutely beautiful. It'a a really small island only about five miles across but she showed so much stuff I don't know how you could take it all in in just an hour or even a day. I wasn't really excited about this excursion until saw that show now I can't wait to see it.
Lissa

We were watching a show on the History Channel, Saturday night and it was all about Naples and the underground tunnels which centuries ago were the cistern runs for the water brought into the city. Later, during WWII they were used as bomb shelters. Very, very interesting!! Not sure it is someplace I would want to explore because they are hundreds of feet underground!

Sandy

 

[smilis]

Hi All-

We are not dressing up for Pirate's Night, but then, we probably won't make it to the Pirate's Party anyway since we've got a 2-year-old.

I think I am finally done tweaking the day excursions, now we're doing:
Palermo on our own
Pompeii & Sorrento private tour
La Cinta Beach Disney excursion
Rome & Vatican tour on our own
Lerici Castle & Dinosaur Disney tour
Marseille - Private tour of Luberon
Villefranche - Nice on our own

Is anyone else doing a private Rome tour? How much are they charging you? Any company recommendations?

I'm still confused about the gifts for other DISers. Do you get one of the same thing for everyone, or a variety? Do I get one for every person, or one for each family? How much $$ to spend?

Thanks!
Colleen

Colleen,
We are doing a private driver/tour in Rome. He will custom tailor it to what we want to see. The name of the company is "The Chariot's Line". If you contact them, the owner's name is Gianni Lancia. Tell him Sandy Milis recommended him to you. See what he can put together fo you.

I haven't picked up our DIS gifts yet, but planning on doing one per family. It sounds like there will be about 25 families represented, so to be safe I think I will bring 30 of whatever I bring.

I still need to create my door sign. I keep dropping hints to my DH for him to do it, but all he has volunteered to do is handle the magnetic strips that will attach to my creative idea.

Sandy

 

[nzdisneymom]

We were watching a show on the History Channel, Saturday night and it was all about Naples and the underground tunnels which centuries ago were the cistern runs for the water brought into the city. Later, during WWII they were used as bomb shelters. Very, very interesting!! Not sure it is someplace I would want to explore because they are hundreds of feet underground!

We watched that same show!

 

[colleenlg]

It's really up to each family about whether they want to bring something or not and then again as to what to do or not. I've been tossing around ideas for what we'd like to do but haven't figured it out yet... hey - I've still got three weeks It's gotta be small enough to fit in our luggage with our travel toilet paper (hee hee).

I asked about ideas on the main board here and got some great responses.

Great thread! Thanks! I actually picked up something the other day that I thought would be fun (represents our hometown of San Diego), but I only got 15 of them so unless I go back to that tourist attraction b4 the trip (and I doubt I will), I'm gonna have to get another 15 of something for the other half of the group.

Colleen- We are paying 800E for our group of 10 for an all day tour of Rome which includes transportation from the port. We are using www.driverinrome.com They came highly recommended from the cruise critic boards.

Kathleen

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll look into them...

Colleen,
We are doing a private driver/tour in Rome. He will custom tailor it to what we want to see. The name of the company is "The Chariot's Line". If you contact them, the owner's name is Gianni Lancia. Tell him Sandy Milis recommended him to you. See what he can put together fo you.

I haven't picked up our DIS gifts yet, but planning on doing one per family. It sounds like there will be about 25 families represented, so to be safe I think I will bring 30 of whatever I bring.

I still need to create my door sign. I keep dropping hints to my DH for him to do it, but all he has volunteered to do is handle the magnetic strips that will attach to my creative idea.

Sandy

Thanks for the tour suggestion also - I'll email them too!

Ahhh - the door sign. No idea what that's about either. Is anyone nervous about putting any info on your door about your family in case some weirdo is lurking about? Especially with what happened to that family traveling in Portugal...although I doubt no one is planning to leave two babies in a room alone together while on the ship!

 

[colleenlg]

Just curious...is anyone planning to stay in town for dinner on the nights the boat is in port late? Rome, Marseille & Villefrance?

If my daughter weren't so young I definitely would in Rome - it's so beautiful at night - especially the Trevi Fountain when it is all lit up! We're thinking of eating dinner on shore in Villefranche with DD though.

 

[DisTeach]

Just curious...is anyone planning to stay in town for dinner on the nights the boat is in port late? Rome, Marseille & Villefrance?

We were going to stick with dinner on the ship as we will be having a lot of lunches with excursions and coming back around 6pm on many of the days. What you are planning sounds fun, though!

We also picked up a little trinket for each DIS family on the trip. It'll be exciting to meet everyone!

 

[nzdisneymom]

We plan to return to the ship in time for evening meals rather than staying in the port because, as DH says, we've already paid for it. Some of our excursions include meals, so we will get some authentic, local food to try. But knowing my boys, we're better off to just try to feed them on the ship. Nathan has already declared how much pizza and soda he is planning to consume

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Ok the toilet paper was a complete accident. Ever time we were in target we would get a couple of rolls. It wasn't until yeterday that we even realized we had that much. If I hadn't thought to look who knows how much we would have ended up with. Anyone runs out let us know we will be happy to share.
We plan on eating on the shipe every night since almost all of our excursions include lunch. The only time we thought about eating off is when we are in Villfranche since we will be at that port late.
Went Sunday to get a little trinket for all the families. Couldn't get all the same thing so we went with getting something for families with kids and families with teenagers or no children in the group. Can't wait to meet everybody.
Got to go buy toothpaste.
Lissa

 

[nzdisneymom]

Lissa - I figured you were just getting travel t.p. for everyone

I have some sample toothpastes that I've collected over the last few months from the Freebies thread over on the budget board. So I'll be able to take them and then have room in my suitcase for odds and ends coming home.

I was going to go to AAA to get my Euros today, but I called and for my $100 I would only get just under 65 Euro so I decided to not get them today and will check again next week to see if they have a better deal. I did find out that I can get Euros at the ATL airport - it's the same company that provides them for AAA - but for my $100 today, I would get 68 Euro there - so I thought I would wait. I checked the exchange rate on Yahoo finance today at for my $100, it says it's worth over 71 Euro. I know there are fees associated with exchange but geez!

 

[seaulater]

Robert, Linda and Jamie we are in 6583 unless we get a free upgrade to the Walt Suite when we get to the port!

We've never had any problem with putting up our magnetic door signs and I have never been concerned about pictures on the doors or anything. I guess it has to do with comfort level. We use precautions and set definite rules still with our teenage daughter on the ship, but have never felt in any way unsafe aboard the Disney Cruise Line.

I am debating and keep changing our shore excursions. We were going to do the organized tour in Rome, but after all our friends got off the first 11 night and we had gone home after the transatlantic, they highly recommended that we bag the DCL excursion and take the train and do it on our own. I wouldn't mind an organized thing once we get there, but we are definitely taking the train back and forth.

 

[todds34]

Well we are still fine tuning our excursions here, and the more I read the reviews and reports from current cruisers, the more changes I want to make, lol.

We decided to drop Portofino and Santa Marherita and instead have reserved Sarzana and Wine Tasting for that day. It starts later, at 1 pm which will be appreciated after our busy day in Rome the previous day. It sounds lovely and will be a more laid back day for us.

By making this change, I was able to pickup a pedicure that morning in the spa, so I am thrilled! Pedicures are my luxury indulgence.

Is anyone else still making excursion changes?

Oh, and we picked up some nice trinkets for all our DIS cruiser friends! Can't wait to meet you all in person at the DIS Meet!

Yes we are still tweaking our excursions. Every time I read a review I think I might change what I have booked .

I have just come back from a Spa weekend and I had a pedicure, it was lovely, I also had a maincure which was so so and a exfoliating mud wrap treatement where I was covered in mud and wrapped in a plastic sheet and then give a foot massage and a scalp massage, this was also . So I am looking forward to the treatments I have booked onboard.

I am still thinking about what to bring as our gift because it needs to be small and light and not take up too much room in the suitcase!!!!!

Only 23 days to go

Andrea

 

[RJMOMSusan]

Hello,

When should I be on the look out for cruise documents.. I'm always one of those paranoid people that thinks THEIR stuff will get messed up..

Cute story to tell... yesterday I got a litte teary eyed when I was talking to my family about an upcoming family reunion in which a beloved uncle will no longer be with us... my DS 7 said " mom, quick think of the cruise that always makes you happy".

We also picked up our little something from home gift... can't wait to meet everyone

Susan

 

[tinkerbell_29]

What is everyone going to be using as a day bag for excursions? I have a bagallini that I carry at WDW but it does not give you the most flattering look and can be uncomfortable. I've got to find something to carry all my medical stuff in but is not to large and heavy that I can't carry it all day. Anybody got any suggestions.

Lissa

 

[misbel]

Lissa - I figured you were just getting travel t.p. for everyone

I have some sample toothpastes that I've collected over the last few months from the Freebies thread over on the budget board. So I'll be able to take them and then have room in my suitcase for odds and ends coming home.

I was going to go to AAA to get my Euros today, but I called and for my $100 I would only get just under 65 Euro so I decided to not get them today and will check again next week to see if they have a better deal. I did find out that I can get Euros at the ATL airport - it's the same company that provides them for AAA - but for my $100 today, I would get 68 Euro there - so I thought I would wait. I checked the exchange rate on Yahoo finance today at for my $100, it says it's worth over 71 Euro. I know there are fees associated with exchange but geez!

I was also going to AAA to pic up some Euros, but I would be getting only 63 euros for 100 dollars. SO we went across the street to Bank of America and ordered them (48 hours) and got 70.5 eruos for 100 dollars. Much better deal...thanks to my husband!!

 

[colleenlg]

Hello,
Cute story to tell... yesterday I got a litte teary eyed when I was talking to my family about an upcoming family reunion in which a beloved uncle will no longer be with us... my DS 7 said " mom, quick think of the cruise that always makes you happy".

Susan

I love that story!

About the little gifts, I figure it's OK if they're a bit bulky/heavy b/c then I will have more room for all of the great stuff I'm going to buy in Europe!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Great idea about Bank of America - I'll have to call our local branch tomorrow and see what they say about ordering. That's a much better exchange than 64Eu.

As for a day bag, I have a couple of options depending on how long our excursion is. One is a bag that I got from AAA for buying my WDW tickets there - it goes on the shoulder but carries easily in the front and snugs up extremely tight. Big enough for bottles of water and tylenol and camera Other than that, I don't need much to bring in a day-bag as I'll be wearing our currency / credit card / KTTW cards / copy of passports, etc.

 

[CarolAnnC]

We actually received 65 Euros for $100 U.S. Not too bad. Ordering through the bank means fees and/or shipping fees so it actually was beneficial to order through AAA.

Our bank had fees that would have actually cost us more. Bank of America, like our local bank, will only do this for customers (unless you put it on a credit card which then gives you cash advance charges, no good). They debit your account instead.

For the heck of it, I checked the Bank of America fees. Would have been $7.50 or $20 for overnight, so Euros would have been 70.5 then minus the $7.50 (for $100 US). We did better with the 65 at AAA. Now AAA varies as they stock the Euros there and give you the going rate of the day they were purchased. So the AAA in the next town over was 63 Euros versus our 65. Anyways, we don't have a Bank of America account, so that rules it out anyway.