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

[IncredibleDad]

Hi,

Rome - I am in the process of possibly booking a private driver in Rome for 7 hours. We have 8 yr. old twin girls. The tour guide, who will stay in the van, has great dis reviews. We have room for 1 - 3 more people. I am waiting on an exact price. Please PM me if you want more info when I get it.

Jill

Hi Jill,

Unfortunately my post count isn't quite high enough yet to PM you yet. A couple of questions please for you (or anyone)

1) Can you please give me the link for the thread where people have given their reviews of the various private tours in the Med? We're looking at picking a few but would love to pick a trusted tour operator with good reviews.

2) Our family (DH, DS, DS-7 and DD-5) would be interested in joining another family for splitting the cost of a private tour for Rome for the day visiting all the regular sites as its our first time in Rome. Jill, sounds like your tour's van will only fit another 1-3. Interested in splitting a larger van? If not, anyone else interested?

Thanks everyone!

Ed

 

[mommy_grrl]

Hi,
Euros: OK. I need help here too. We were doing all the ports on our own and figuring for EVERYTHING from getting off the plane to heading back to Texas, 2100 E. (3 total days in BCN) Now we might be doing some private tours which will cost more.
Any suggestions here?????
Jill

I couldn't find the actual post on the board,but I HAD copied/pasted this into a Word file for my notes (since I keep "losing" posts). My apologies to the OP for not giving them credit - this is their recounting, but a good place to start, I thought.....


Budget planning:
330 EURO Barcelona total for 2 days - included Taxi to ship ( 30 euro), metro and train for 2 days (43 euro), all food and snacks, beer to bring on ship, Hard Rock and Starbucks cafe souvies (70 euro) and some of your cheapo souvies throughout town.FYI we ate two of our meals at Subway which was about 15 euro each time. One dinner we ate in town was 45 euro.

109 EURO total in Malta, 50+5 tip for taxi to palace, Mdina and Blue Grotto about 3 to 3 1/12 hours. 21 euro for 3 people for grotto boat ride, about 30 euro for snacks and cheap souvies.

270 EURO in Naples- 200 for cab to Positano which I do NOT recommend. The traffic is horrible and the roads are super windey, add that with your standard taxi driver and you get car sickness, both of my kiddos threw up. I had to take the ferryback with them (16 euro for 1A and 2 C) There is just not enought time to try to go to the Amalfie Coast. Next time we are sticking with the ferries to Capri and Sorrento. 13 for souvies, and the rest for pizza and gellato.

ROME we stayed on the ship as we had just visited a few months before. It is only 9 euro to take the train here though.

63 EURO in La Spezia, 22 euro for 2 A and 1 C for the day train and trail pass to Cinque Terra, 38 euro for beer, pizza and the best canoli's ever!

62 Euro in Corsica- 25 for a lunch of sandwiches at a corner cafe, 10 euro for crepes and gelato, the rest on souvies, they have really pretty costume jewelry in there outdoor market by the ship.

50 EURO in Villefranche- 9 euro for bus to and from Monaco and Nice. 30 euro for beer crepes and ice creams, 11 for cheap souvies

Our ship account (not counting $540 in tips which I paid in cash) for the 11 days was $896. $160 of that was a purse, $110 were 2 sweatshirts, $45 for laundry, $100 for beer, $150 total for 2 Palo brunches and one dinner. $150 for our photo package and the rest was other souvineers.

$45 for laundry!!!! I don't want to do that much laundry when I'm on board! (Or are the machines just that expensive?)

We have $500 in shipboard credits and I brought back USD for tips as well when I went home in April for Easter, so I just need to sort out Euros quickly since we aren't doing any Disney excursions at the moment - we might change our mind once we've done a few on our own though!!!

 

[madmum63]

Lydia has sent a private email to Emma, Georgia and Lily. Well actually I sent it after Lydia typed it so anything is possible. Not sure if they got it or not as we have not had a reply. Lydia is really getting excited about meeting up with the other 3 mousketeers and looking forward to planning what to do when they get on the Magic. Please let me know if it wasn't received and I will get my DS to try and send it when he comes home.

Thanks and not long now. Andrea

 

[thestewarts]

I couldn't find the actual post on the board,but I HAD copied/pasted this into a Word file for my notes (since I keep "losing" posts). My apologies to the OP for not giving them credit - this is their recounting, but a good place to start, I thought.....


Budget planning:
330 EURO Barcelona total for 2 days - included Taxi to ship ( 30 euro), metro and train for 2 days (43 euro), all food and snacks, beer to bring on ship, Hard Rock and Starbucks cafe souvies (70 euro) and some of your cheapo souvies throughout town.FYI we ate two of our meals at Subway which was about 15 euro each time. One dinner we ate in town was 45 euro.

109 EURO total in Malta, 50+5 tip for taxi to palace, Mdina and Blue Grotto about 3 to 3 1/12 hours. 21 euro for 3 people for grotto boat ride, about 30 euro for snacks and cheap souvies.

270 EURO in Naples- 200 for cab to Positano which I do NOT recommend. The traffic is horrible and the roads are super windey, add that with your standard taxi driver and you get car sickness, both of my kiddos threw up. I had to take the ferryback with them (16 euro for 1A and 2 C) There is just not enought time to try to go to the Amalfie Coast. Next time we are sticking with the ferries to Capri and Sorrento. 13 for souvies, and the rest for pizza and gellato.

ROME we stayed on the ship as we had just visited a few months before. It is only 9 euro to take the train here though.

63 EURO in La Spezia, 22 euro for 2 A and 1 C for the day train and trail pass to Cinque Terra, 38 euro for beer, pizza and the best canoli's ever!

62 Euro in Corsica- 25 for a lunch of sandwiches at a corner cafe, 10 euro for crepes and gelato, the rest on souvies, they have really pretty costume jewelry in there outdoor market by the ship.

50 EURO in Villefranche- 9 euro for bus to and from Monaco and Nice. 30 euro for beer crepes and ice creams, 11 for cheap souvies

Our ship account (not counting $540 in tips which I paid in cash) for the 11 days was $896. $160 of that was a purse, $110 were 2 sweatshirts, $45 for laundry, $100 for beer, $150 total for 2 Palo brunches and one dinner. $150 for our photo package and the rest was other souvineers.

$45 for laundry!!!! I don't want to do that much laundry when I'm on board! (Or are the machines just that expensive?)

We have $500 in shipboard credits and I brought back USD for tips as well when I went home in April for Easter, so I just need to sort out Euros quickly since we aren't doing any Disney excursions at the moment - we might change our mind once we've done a few on our own though!!!

Thanks for that Jenn. We just spent all afternoon trying ti figire out our excusrsions and budgets so this helped.

Alex

 

[thestewarts]

Lydia has sent a private email to Emma, Georgia and Lily. Well actually I sent it after Lydia typed it so anything is possible. Not sure if they got it or not as we have not had a reply. Lydia is really getting excited about meeting up with the other 3 mousketeers and looking forward to planning what to do when they get on the Magic. Please let me know if it wasn't received and I will get my DS to try and send it when he comes home.

Thanks and not long now. Andrea

Thanks Emma hasn't received it. Can you resend and I'll get her to reply?

Alex

 

[designertravels]

My DH has made arrangements with a local dive shop in Malta for a certified 2 tank dive. If anyone is interested in joining him, email Charlie at Cresta Dive Centre (info@crestadivecentre.com)

Cresta is a 5* star PADI diving centre located in St. Julian's.

July 22nd and they have group dives going out that day. They can come and pick you up from the ship in the morning at 8am, bring you to the dive centre, sort out paperwork/cash/equipment etc... then off for 2 great dives!! and have you back to the ship by about 2.30/3pm at the latest.

We are about a 20 minute drive from the port.

The cost for 2 dives is 75 euro. Please note that this price includes all your equipment, taxes and permits, road transport and fully qualified Instructor's leading/guiding you at all times - no hidden costs.

 

[designertravels]

Hi Jill,

Unfortunately my post count isn't quite high enough yet to PM you yet. A couple of questions please for you (or anyone)

2) Our family (DH, DS, DS-7 and DD-5) would be interested in joining another family for splitting the cost of a private tour for Rome for the day visiting all the regular sites as its our first time in Rome. Jill, sounds like your tour's van will only fit another 1-3. Interested in splitting a larger van? If not, anyone else interested?

Thanks everyone!

Ed

Hi Ed, I believe this will work out, it is an 8 passenger Mercedes van. The review is also from the Sisterville post. I am still waiting on a final quote from the guy. They may only work during the week on emails. You can also just go post saying "hello" to get up to status for PM. I will PM you my personal email so I can forward you what I have so far.
Jill

Thank you for the budget plan. That sure is detailed. It looks to be for 3 budget conscious people. My husband loves it.

Jill

 

[starmaker]

Hi Andrea, Georgia is emailing all the girls as I type this - not long to go now at all! I think they're doing pretty well with sorting out where they'll meet up before boarding and are looking forward to meeting one another! Email will be with you all in a minute...I think she's about done Georgia just got 6?! Emails from lily! Woops - tee hee!!

 

[thestewarts]

Yikes - I better start chasing Virgin (agent we booked with). If the package does not turn up would it cause a major problem (other than I will feel that we are missing out)?

Joanne, we've booked with an agent in Glasgow (Barrhead Travel) and are still chasing them for our travel docs. We've called plenty and been given different stories for the delay each time. They assured us that they have our Disney papers but that it's our Ryanair check in that's causing the delay. Have been guaranteed they'll all be ready for collection on Monday 11 July so we'll be in their shop tomorrow to collect (hopefully). Will keep you posted on how we get on. I hope you receive your paperwork from your agent too. Hope to see you on board.
Fiona

 

[helenreed]

Lydia has sent a private email to Emma, Georgia and Lily. Well actually I sent it after Lydia typed it so anything is possible. Not sure if they got it or not as we have not had a reply. Lydia is really getting excited about meeting up with the other 3 mousketeers and looking forward to planning what to do when they get on the Magic. Please let me know if it wasn't received and I will get my DS to try and send it when he comes home.

Thanks and not long now. Andrea

Hi Andrea,
Thanks for that, lily will reply tonight, she is so excited to have ready made friends!
Does anyone have a 13 year old boy or an 8 year old girl that would like to e-mail prior to the cruise?

Helen

 

[helenreed]

Hi Andrea, Georgia is emailing all the girls as I type this - not long to go now at all! I think they're doing pretty well with sorting out where they'll meet up before boarding and are looking forward to meeting one another! Email will be with you all in a minute...I think she's about done Georgia just got 6?! Emails from lily! Woops - tee hee!!

Oh sorry, we didn't think they had sent! Problem with the computer!

 

[ernierich]

What a day we've had today courtesy of formal night. Spent a small fortune on clothes that we'll probably wear once, argued almost constantly about what to wear (and for dd9 what she can't wear!) and we still haven't looked too deeply into how many Euros we should get.

I'll be sooo glad to just get on this ship and stop spending so much money!

 

[helenreed]

Lydia has sent a private email to Emma, Georgia and Lily. Well actually I sent it after Lydia typed it so anything is possible. Not sure if they got it or not as we have not had a reply. Lydia is really getting excited about meeting up with the other 3 mousketeers and looking forward to planning what to do when they get on the Magic. Please let me know if it wasn't received and I will get my DS to try and send it when he comes home.

Thanks and not long now. Andrea

Hi Andrea,
Lily has not received an e-mail, sorry.
Helen

 

[helenreed]

Ok, Lily has e-mailed Lydia, hope she got it!

 

[helenreed]

Sorry, me again, who is actually taking dinner jackets for their men? My ds and dh have them but I really don't want to take up valuable suitcase space if no-one else will be wearing them, thanks guys!

 

[mommy_grrl]

Sorry, me again, who is actually taking dinner jackets for their men? My ds and dh have them but I really don't want to take up valuable suitcase space if no-one else will be wearing them, thanks guys!

My husband is only packing a dark sports coat and two dress shirts and ties...he thought about his dinner jacket but opted to pass due to space, since he felt he'd be overdressed for the semi-formal night.

My son is pretty excited to get to wear a tie - and he doesn't even know where he's wearing it! (we told him he'd have to get dressed up for a dinner on our holiday) His suit is too small, and since he is growing like a weed (and no other reason to wear one here) I'm thinking I won't get him a new one....

 

[jdybnsn]

Sorry, me again, who is actually taking dinner jackets for their men? My ds and dh have them but I really don't want to take up valuable suitcase space if no-one else will be wearing them, thanks guys!

DH only usually wears a smart long sleeved linen shirt & tie on the basis that most men remove their jackets to eat, and he doesn't want to take up valuable packing space for the sake of a 30 second walk across the dining room !

...different I guess if you want to get photos done..... or hang around dressed up in the bar afterwards.... but that isn't DH's thing.

 

[cegs27]

Sorry, me again, who is actually taking dinner jackets for their men? My ds and dh have them but I really don't want to take up valuable suitcase space if no-one else will be wearing them, thanks guys!

My husband is renting a tux and shoes for the cruise, so we don't have to pack it - and more importantly, he doesn't have to pack an extra pair of nice shoes in the suitcase. We went back and forth about it, but I really like getting dressed up, and it's our first "real" cruise (longer than 3 nights) so I want the full experience. But, I don't think it's an issue for those who don't want to pack the fancier clothes or buy extra clothes if not necessary. I have a few "worn once" formal dresses so it's easy for me, and my daughter was a flower girl last year and her beautiful dress still fits.

My bigger concern is, what are the guys wearing for the not-formal night dinners? I'm probably wearing sundresses or capri's with nice shirts (is that ok?), but what should my husband wear? Khaki's and polo shirts? Are jeans ok with a nice shirt for the regular dinners? Are sandals ok at night or not?

 

[jdybnsn]

My personal take is, wear what makes YOU feel comfortable - you will see every level of 'dressing up' on formal /semi formal night.

From experience we have witnessed denim hotpants (it was a lady, not a man incidentally), jeans and t-shirts right up to the bow tie and dinner jacket, full length gown ....and everything in between !!!!

We can spend alot of time stressing and worrying about such things....but nobody is likely to laugh, and point..stop and stare etc. (I did not even notice the lady in the hotpants get that much attention....apart from my DH ! ).

I wouldn't encourage you to wear anything causal, or dressy, either way - its your choice - but I would encourage you not to worry about it !

 

[new_mommy]

Hi,
I am frantically packing and shopping as well. I'm not sure what a stone is, but I probably gained one! And this week had to buy a lot of clothes

Towels: you do not need to bring towels. The ship will not offer them to you to bring off board, but you can put some in your bag from the pool. I would not waste packing space on towels.

Clothing: It is quite normal to mix outfits up and wear things twice. You will not be in your evening wear long anyway.

Euros: OK. I need help here too. We were doing all the ports on our own and figuring for EVERYTHING from getting off the plane to heading back to Texas, 2100 E. (3 total days in BCN) Now we might be doing some private tours which will cost more.
Any suggestions here?????

Rome - I am in the process of possibly booking a private driver in Rome for 7 hours. We have 8 yr. old twin girls. The tour guide, who will stay in the van, has great dis reviews. We have room for 1 - 3 more people. I am waiting on an exact price. Please PM me if you want more info when I get it.

Jill

Looks like we might be too late, but I sent you a pm - we would also be interested in this private tour of Rome. We are a group of 3 - we have an 8 year old dd.