July 20th, 2011 – 10 Night Mediterranean "Mickey's European Explorers"

[mommy_grrl]

Helen, I can't get my husband to decide on anything, but particularly Rome!!!
I need him to sit down with me asap and sort out which places we think we might want to do a private vehicle or train to. I'm thinking we won't be doing any Disney excursions - my 5yo can't do a 8 hour excursion, I don't think, so I'd like a little more control.

But try to explain to my husband that you can't do all of Rome in a day!

I think you can get yourself to Vatican City on your own, and then I would pay for a private guide to the Sistine Chapel....

 

[mommy_grrl]

K8T - any thoughts on Herculaneum vs Pompeii, and taking the train vs private tour from Naples?

Keeping in mind that my 5yo has short little legs and my 7yo is flat out impatient, of course.

Also, if any previous Med cruisers have suggestions for trips they've taken with younger ones (5 & 7) I would welcome them! We aren't going to Florence/Pisa but not sure what to do, and Rome? I've been several times but my husband hasn't and he wants to see EVERYTHING.

 

[helenreed]

Well my husband is leaving it all up to me and showing no interest at all, so no pressure then! I have never been to Rome before and while I would love to see everything, entireley agree that it cannot be done in a day! That is why I want to focus on the Vatican City, really like the idea of DCL taking care of all the hassle but the cost! Think this will probably be the only DCL excursion we do, maybe Pompeii too. My kids will be 13, 11 and 8 so hopefully will have a little more stamina, but we have to factor the heat in too. Still quite nervous about doing trips on my own, as if it goes wrong everyone will blame me! Corsica, Malta and Sicily seem quite straightforward, Pisa I think we can manage, not sure about Pompeii, kids really want to see it and I can't decide whether to just leave it as a half day and go back to the ship or to press on and do Sorrento/Capri. Very aware that this is supposed to be a holiday not a boot camp!

 

[thestewarts]

there's a couple of really helpful posts from previous cruisers who did the route last year on here. They give a lot of detail on how where and why to go and we've found them useful in making some of our plans. still need to do a little research but hopefully now have a pointer to what is and isn't possible.

 

[K8T]

Hi,
Just checking in. Still dreaming about this trip, even though we aren't going any longer. I'm living the trip vicariously through all of you.
Sigh.
Keever

Great to hear from you again Keever, we still haven't got a website sorted!!! PIF date has come and gone now, so it is really happening. Anychance things could change with you?

HA Ha got it Managed it all on my one as well

Really hectic in our house this week but got your email address so will attempt my first proper e-mail this weekend. Usually only able to reply to ones received but will try to initiate one and if unsuccessful will PM you with my E-mail address if thats OK. Does DS W. have X-box live? if so I will give you my sons "Addy", I think they call it, and they can talk through that as well.

Will also try and PM others this weekend now that I have learnedhow to do it

Andrea

#

Don't worry Andrea, by the time you get to th cruise, you will be PMing and posting links to threads and sites without any problems.

Has anyone decided what they are doing in Rome? I really want to see the Sistine Chapel but am not confident to do this on my own, worried about long lines and getting lost! Looking at DCL tour of Vatican, St. Peters and Sistine but will be $1000 for the 5 of us! Yikes! HELP!!!!!!!

Helen, I can't stress how easy it is to do Rome on your own. We have done it about three times now - maybe more. Lots of people do it, the walk from the shuttle to the ship is about 10 mins, no more, the trains are direct and there is 'safety in numbers' as you just follow the others! You decisions are which stop to get out at, sounds like St Pietro for you and if you look up to the left, you will see the statues along the top of the Vatican building in the distance. You can also book the Vatican on line, which means you don't have to queue for ages. As for getting lost, get a good map, look on the internet too, get orientated to where things are, basically Vatican one end Colleseum the other!!! It isn't in fact that big a city.

K8T - any thoughts on Herculaneum vs Pompeii, and taking the train vs private tour from Naples?

Keeping in mind that my 5yo has short little legs and my 7yo is flat out impatient, of course.

Also, if any previous Med cruisers have suggestions for trips they've taken with younger ones (5 & 7) I would welcome them! We aren't going to Florence/Pisa but not sure what to do, and Rome? I've been several times but my husband hasn't and he wants to see EVERYTHING.

We have done both, but only Heculaneum with our dd, who was about 3 the first time and 5 the second. We incorporated it with going up Vesuvius, which we had also done previously, although carried her up! There is a place that will take you up in a minibus just outside the train station in Heculaneum, there is quite a walk up from where they drop off and wait in the car park part way up Vesuvius, but dd did it OK with a bit of encouragement. She just wanted to see the Volcano!

Both Pompei and Herculaneum are doable on the train yourselves, it is getting to the train from the ship which is the hastle and cabs are reluctant to take you, as they want the bigger fares. Last time we ended up trying to find a bus, went straight past the obviousl bus station and ended up walking part of it (feeling very vulnerable) and then hopping on another bus further along. This time we are going to Capri I think.

Pompei is very large and busy. Herculaneum is very small, easier to visualise. Last year dd loved wandering in and out the houses, pretending they were real, running in and out the rooms off the streets. It is still hot there and very exposed.

As for other trips, we always, always do our own thing, can't stand being on a bus with too much hanging around - dd would hate it too, trains are much easier, or getting a cab, so we can go at our own pace is the way to go for us.

Malta is easy and cheap to get a cab. I would suggest the Blue Grotto, as it is a nice little boat trip, we went to Mdina, which is a medieval walled town, where dd played 'knights' through the street, then got dropped off in Valetta, there are some nice shops and a large square with water fountains that the kids can run in and out of.

Never been to Palermo, so can't comment on that one, I heard the town isn't the greatest place, still deciding what we are doing there!. Naples, you also have the island of Capri which is very pretty, as well as Pompei, Herculaneum and Vesuvius. Corsica, don't worry about this one, just walk into town and then to one of the beaches - no more than 15 mins easy/interesting walk.

Rome - do have a plan on what you want to see, you could actually do most of the main sights, but bear in mind the Vatican is huge, you will be walking through it for some time and the kids may find it very boring. Colleseum is worth a look definately and more interesting for kids, gladiators will be outside for photos (DCL ones!), talk about the wild animals that were inside and how they would flood the arena for ship battles. You can also fit in a couple of squares, the Trevi fountain, to throw your coin. We did all this on our last trip, we got the train, underground and the bus once, all with our dd, who was 5. Previously we walked it with a puschair and did similar things.

Villefranche is another easy one, the trains are easy to use, we went to Montecarlo last time, but are planning on Antibes this time, as we have a friend who works there on a superyacht. But don't worry about a tour there either.

Despite having done a number of 'Med' cruises, last year twice, we still tried to do to much, which is hard not to do when you are in these places. However, this time, I am determined to make it more of a break and make the most of just hanging out by the pool on a deserted ship (she says, knowing that when she gets there she can't resist it

 

[helenreed]

Hi K8T,

Thank you so much for all your helpful advice, as a WDW veteran and anorak who has a laminated spreadsheet for every trip I am finding all this very disturbing! I do not like not being an expert!!

If we hire a guide for the Vatican does that mean we will skip the lines? Do we have to pre-book the tickets and can you reccomend a good guide? Would love to save the $1000!

 

[K8T]

Hi K8T,

Thank you so much for all your helpful advice, as a WDW veteran and anorak who has a laminated spreadsheet for every trip I am finding all this very disturbing! I do not like not being an expert!!

If we hire a guide for the Vatican does that mean we will skip the lines? Do we have to pre-book the tickets and can you reccomend a good guide? Would love to save the $1000!

I am sure others will also have ideas of how best to do things, but I may be picking your brains for WDW in October, if we decide to go!

I am afraid I know nothing about hiring a guide in Rome, never done it, so wouldn't have a clue. I did read a trip report from someone who booked a guide, met them at the train station in Rome and then did a walking tour using buses and metro. They paid for their guide to enter the places. It could be worth looking through some of the Med. trip reports, or asking the question on Med on your own thread.

I do know that if you prebook tickets at the Vatican, you can skip the queues, we also did it for the Colleseum last year, it was fantastic to just walk past everyone and follow the 'prebooked tickets' line.

Have you looked at the Cruise Critic site. They have a lot of information on their on how to do ports on your own.

Kate

 

[thestewarts]

hi K8T happy to give any advice on WDW and Fla in general. We're pretty much verterans (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 I think lost count! lol)

 

[cegs27]

Regarding Rome - is anyone interested in sharing a private tour? We're still debating between the Highlights of Rome for families, the Taste of Rome excursion, and a private tour/driver around the city. It's me, my husband, and our 5 year old daughter. She's a great traveler but I'm wondering if it will be better to have more control over what we do in a private tour - although we definitely want to hit the Vatican and Colliseum (and possibly the Sistine Chapel, Forum, etc).

Also, has anyone decided what they're doing in Sicily? I think the farm excursion and the beach/boat excursions sound good.

Aside from those two days, I think we'll be doing most of the port touring on our own. Would love to hear what other people are planning...

 

[thestewarts]

It's official Spanish Airport strikes are OFF!!!! Once less thing to worry about at least

 

[K8T]

Just a post to bring the FE list up to this point:

It is on Page 22


Nana Eve. I haven't heard from you, if you would like to take part, let me know your details.

I actually bought a few FE gifts today!!! At the moment in the UK, because of the Royal Wedding, there is a lot of 'British' themed stuff around.

Anyone else who wants to join, PM me.

Kate

 

[helenreed]

OK I think we are going to attempt Rome on our own! Have read Rick Steves Italy book and we will hire a guide to take us around St. peters and the Vatican Museum, still a bit nervous though!

On another subject the friends we are travelling with have a teenage girl who will be almost 15, I am sure she would love to connect with another teenage girl her age, anyone got one?!?!

 

[MDTerp]

On another subject the friends we are travelling with have a teenage girl who will be almost 15, I am sure she would love to connect with another teenage girl her age, anyone got one?!?!

Our daughter will be 14 and usually loves to make new friends when we sail on DCL. I'll PM you, so you can pass along my contact info.

 

[helenreed]

Our daughter will be 14 and usually loves to make new friends when we sail on DCL. I'll PM you, so you can pass along my contact info.

Thanks so much, her name is Felicity, I will pass it on to her.

 

[starmaker]

Hey everyone - just discovered this forum - it's great! And so, this is my first ever post! We've been booked so long now (Nov '09) that we've just got around to thinking about it again. There's me, my husband and 11 (12 on the cruise) year old DD. Hope she can get together with some of your youngsters!
This will be our 3rd DC but first in Europe.

 

[thestewarts]

Hey everyone - just discovered this forum - it's great! And so, this is my first ever post! We've been booked so long now (Nov '09) that we've just got around to thinking about it again. There's me, my husband and 11 (12 on the cruise) year old DD. Hope she can get together with some of your youngsters!
This will be our 3rd DC but first in Europe.

Hi Starmaker. Welcome to the board. I'm sure you'll find loads of good info. on here. We're pretty late booking compared to you, only booked a couple of months ago but really looking forward to it.
In our party there's me, mrs s and my DD age 11 on the cruise. I also hope there's plenty of youngsters for our DD too, she's certainly one to make friends easily lol.

 

[DLRPfan.be]

Our daughter will be 14 and usually loves to make new friends when we sail on DCL. I'll PM you, so you can pass along my contact info.

Our DD will be just 16, and she love's The Stack: that's the place to be to make new friends, chill out, etc...

 

[starmaker]

Hi to "TheStewarts" and "Helenreed" and thanks for the welcome! Maybe our dd's could meet up in the check-in area before boarding (dependant on when we all plan to board etc) And that applies to everyone with dd's/ds's who'd like to "break the ice" before we get going!

 

[starmaker]

K8T
Hi there - can you explain the fish extenders thing - is it something to hang on the fish outside our staterooms? Thanks!

 

[helenreed]

Hi to "TheStewarts" and "Helenreed" and thanks for the welcome! Maybe our dd's could meet up in the check-in area before boarding (dependant on when we all plan to board etc) And that applies to everyone with dd's/ds's who'd like to "break the ice" before we get going!

Great idea!