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

[jdybnsn]

Hello there

JDYBNSN Helen reed
Starmaker The Stewarts

I have sent you all an email from DD hope you get it as I really don't know what I am doing. If DD doesnt hear from you we will try and send them again.

JDYBNSN Helen Reed

DS will be in touch when he comes home from school. He has a night off tonight so can do it himself. He knows what he is doing so I will try and get a lesson from him

thanks Andrea

Thanks Andrea

 

[helenreed]

I am very releived that we chose this year to do the med as Disney aren't going to be there next year!

 

[MDTerp]

I am very releived that we chose this year to do the med as Disney aren't going to be there next year!

We agree with you! Only 102 days!!!

 

[DLRPfan.be]

We agree with you! Only 102 days!!!

Same thing overhere: looks like 2012 will be without a DCL cruise: so we're looking forward to this one!

 

[helenreed]

Our port excursion and Palo booking window opens in a few days, I am thinking I am going to have to get up at 5am to book stuff, is anyone else doing this?

 

[Meg'n'walt]

Our port excursion and Palo booking window opens in a few days, I am thinking I am going to have to get up at 5am to book stuff, is anyone else doing this?

Oh, yes ! We got up at 6am to book Palos and our excursions ( we are gold now) and there weren't a lot of possibilities left for Palos

 

[helenreed]

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ernierich]

Do they keep any reservations back so that people who are only allowed to book nearer the time can do so?

I take it we can try and book Palo's etc on the day we board. Where do we go to do this?

Thanks for your help!

Ernie.

 

[K8T]

Hi

Goodness this board is quiet, I expected to come back and find lots to read!!! Great time skiing, I did my first Black Run (despite having skiied for 12 years!!!!), then again, it was nothing to shout about as I followed my six year old daughter down!!!! Next season I will be well behind.

Do they keep any reservations back so that people who are only allowed to book nearer the time can do so?

I take it we can try and book Palo's etc on the day we board. Where do we go to do this?

Thanks for your help!

Ernie.

Ernie, I am not sure they actually keep any back, but if there aren't any left on line then when you get on board, go to Rockin' Bar D, where they have the Palos and Main Restaurant Maitre D's, who can sort something out for you. We did this on our last cruise and got the day and time we wanted. Friends of ours also asked for a date, which wasn't free, but they said they would contact them if they had availability later in the cruise, which they did.

We wanted a particular server in the main dining rooms and had put in a request, but when we got on board I went to check and found that we hadn't been given him. However, they were able to sort this out there and then.

Hope everyone is well, have you noticed that the time leaving Palermo has changed and also the time in Naples? Only by an hour or so, so probably doesn't make a lot of difference.

How is the FE list doing? Anyone want to join?

Kate

 

[KatieG73]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't been on this thread in ages -work has been super busy and stressful and I just haven't had a minute.

I can't believe we are in Double Digits now!!

In preparation for Thursday when we can start to book excursions/Palo etc ( we are Silver) I called DCL to find out if they could tell when Pirate Night etc is -sorry if it's been posted before but I was told;

Formal Night - Day 2 (At Sea)
Pirate Night - Day 7 (La Spezia)
Semi Formal Night - Day 9 ( VilleFranche)

Hoping we'll be able to grab a Palo booking, we haven't done Palo before on our other cruises as we didn't want to miss dinner with our DD but as my mum and dad are coming with us this year it seems like the pefect opportunity -hopefully we'll be able to get a reservation...

Hope you are all well.

Katie

 

[cegs27]

Hi - Just wondering if anyone is interested in sharing a private tour with us in Rome. It is me, my husband, and our 5 year old, so we'd have room for another family (up to 5 people) to join us. Here is the information from the company we checked out (they got great reviews on tripadvisor):



www.stefanorometours.com




The standard tour I provide in Rome is designed to cover the city
major sites in one day. Additional off the beaten path tours can be
arranged upon request of the client.
Pick up at the pier at 08,00 AM and Return at 5:30pm.
The driver will meet you at the pier holding a sign with your name.
You will drive in a smooth motorway trough the country and see the Etruscan Landscapes.
It will take approx. one hour and ten minutes to get to Rome.
The drive will continue along Ostiense Road and arrive at the
Pyramid built for Caius Cestio .At this
stage of the tour we will be inside the ancient Roman Wall built by
Emperor Aureliano.
We will then arrive at the Circus Maximus, the large ancient stadium for
chariot races. Behind the stadium you
will see the Palatine Hill where the villas and the domus of the
emperors were built. At this point you will
be able to see the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum. We will stop
here, and you will be able to visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum on
your own if you wish. In order to avoid lengthy, and time consuming
queues you can book VIP tickets here:

http://www.ticketclic.it/database/B2c__/order.cfm?siteDefID=170&LN=1

The Colosseum charges 13,50 Euros per ticket.

After the Colosseum there will be a stop for lunch (45 minutes).

We can recommend a quick café (10 Euros pp) or a traditional Italian restaurant (15/20 Euros pp)

Now will be the time to visit the Vatican Museum.--- closed on Sundays.




Our private guided tour is 60 Euros per hour for up to 6 people (and 75 Euros for up to 8 people).
It will take at least two hours to visit the Museum, The Sistine Chapel and S.Peter's Basilica.



Entrance fee is 15 Euros per person bought at the moment of the tour, or you can book priority entrance (no line) tickets through the Vatican Museums website at 19 Euros per person.




When booking tickets on the Vatican website, please do not book the guided tour, as it is NOT a private tour and doesn’t take you to the Basilica.

We will provide the private guide, you only need to book the tickets.




So please click on this link:

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do

then click on ADMISSION TICKETS. (in Italian: biglietto d’ingresso)

Please book the 1PM or 2PM timeslot (either works)

PLEASE NOTE: they can be booked only starting 60 days prior your tour.




When booking please confirm if you would like to book a private guide and if you will book the no-line tickets.







Our next destination will be the Pantheon, once the temple of all Roman
gods, then a church and burial place for kings and artists (Raphael).
Trevi fountain will follow. Here you can toss a coin in the fountain to
ensure a return visit to Italy.
Finally, you can rest and have a seat on the Spanish Steps.
Please note that the order in which we will visit the sites may vary
pending traffic conditions or other third party act. The tour can be
altered to personalize your desires.

The fees for the tours
include tolls and parking, and are required in Euro funds.
Kindly dress appropriately in order to be able to enter a church (knees and shoulders covered).




Tour fee:

for up to three people will be 450 euros

for up to four people will be 500 Euros

for up to six people will be 550 Euros

for up to eight people will be 600 euros

(It does not include entrance fees and lunch)


Just PM me if you're interested...

Thanks!

Cathleen

 

[helenreed]

Thanks for that information that is very helpful, I dont suppose anyone can answer this question for me please? We are also silver CC members but are travelling with another family who aren't, will I be able to make a Palo reservation for the 4 of us this Thursday even though there booking window won't have opened? Thank you

 

[KatieG73]

Hi Helen,

I'm not sure as we've never booked Palo before, but am thinking it might work if your reservations are linked.

My mum and dad are coming with us and this is their first cruise but we will be doing Palo seperately so I haven't looked into this.

Katie

 

[jtw999]

In preparation for Thursday when we can start to book excursions/Palo etc ( we are Silver) I called DCL to find out if they could tell when Pirate Night etc is -sorry if it's been posted before but I was told;
Formal Night - Day 2 (At Sea)
Pirate Night - Day 7 (La Spezia)
Semi Formal Night - Day 9 ( VilleFranche)
Katie

Thank you!! This info is very helpful
I was wondering about these dates!!

 

[jtw999]

As I'm thinking of excursions, I'm also wondering about clothing to pack...

I understand that for many churches, knees and shoulders must be covered. The shoulders are easy and I'll just wear capris, but the knees might be more challenging for my husband and 3 sons on a hot Med day...

Although many males do, they will NOT wear capris!! (Blank stare from all 4 when I approached this option...) :

If they wear shorts that are longer and cover their knees while standing, do you think that will do? Maybe they could wear them as "lowriders" to cover the knee caps?

I'd hate to get to somewhere like the Vatican and be turned away because of a few inches of fabric!!


Also - on a related topic, we have planned time in London and Paris on either end of our cruise and our suitcases will be very limited in space. I really don't think we'll have room to bring too many fancy clothes for the formal and semi-formal nights. Does anyone think this will be a big deal? I promise we'll look presentable!!

 

[jdybnsn]

Thanks for that information that is very helpful, I dont suppose anyone can answer this question for me please? We are also silver CC members but are travelling with another family who aren't, will I be able to make a Palo reservation for the 4 of us this Thursday even though there booking window won't have opened? Thank you

No it won't let you do this but your best bet is to book a table for 2 and see if they will let you add people once you are on board.
I did this by accident on my last cruise - I was travelling with a friend who was not a CC memember....just before I went to Palo with her I realised to my horror that I had only booked the table for myself
However, once we arrived there, they had already added her to my reservation, as they told me that they assumed I had made a mistake in booking to dine alone (she was linked to my reservation). So I would say you have a good chance to adding to a table already booked. Just go and sort it once you get on board.

Personally I would not stress too much about booking Palo on line - on my last (8 night cruise) we chopped and changed dining times and dates several times with no problem with the Palo staff....I can only assume this wil be even easier on a 10 night cruise.

 

[thestewarts]

As I'm thinking of excursions, I'm also wondering about clothing to pack...

I understand that for many churches, knees and shoulders must be covered. The shoulders are easy and I'll just wear capris, but the knees might be more challenging for my husband and 3 sons on a hot Med day...

Although many males do, they will NOT wear capris!! (Blank stare from all 4 when I approached this option...) :

If they wear shorts that are longer and cover their knees while standing, do you think that will do? Maybe they could wear them as "lowriders" to cover the knee caps?

I'd hate to get to somewhere like the Vatican and be turned away because of a few inches of fabric!!


Also - on a related topic, we have planned time in London and Paris on either end of our cruise and our suitcases will be very limited in space. I really don't think we'll have room to bring too many fancy clothes for the formal and semi-formal nights. Does anyone think this will be a big deal? I promise we'll look presentable!!

I won't wear "capris" either. I think easiest option would be "zip off" trousers, shorts when you need them, trousers when you don't!

 

[thestewarts]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't been on this thread in ages -work has been super busy and stressful and I just haven't had a minute.

I can't believe we are in Double Digits now!!

In preparation for Thursday when we can start to book excursions/Palo etc ( we are Silver) I called DCL to find out if they could tell when Pirate Night etc is -sorry if it's been posted before but I was told;

Formal Night - Day 2 (At Sea)
Pirate Night - Day 7 (La Spezia)
Semi Formal Night - Day 9 ( VilleFranche)

Hoping we'll be able to grab a Palo booking, we haven't done Palo before on our other cruises as we didn't want to miss dinner with our DD but as my mum and dad are coming with us this year it seems like the pefect opportunity -hopefully we'll be able to get a reservation...

Hope you are all well.

Katie

Can someone tell us the dress code for "formal" and "semi formal"? Is one black tie?????

 

[jdybnsn]

Is one black tie?????

....either, neither or both if preferred !........if that makes sense !

Basically, up to you.. as its not enforced, its a choice/ preference really.

 

[designertravels]

Hello, I will introduce our selves once we are officially booked on this cruise. In regards to Palo reservations, if another reservation is linked to yours, you can book other "status" passengers with you for Palo dinner. We are gold, and have been able to book silver members to dine at our table during the gold booking window.

Jill