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

[K8T]

Hi guys

Updated FE List on Page 22, Post 330.

Currently 10 families taking part.

Kate

 

[ch10dad]

Who has tips and thoughts on what to do and where to go?

Any cool excursions from Med. trips past?

This is our first time as a family to the Med.

Ray

 

[ch10dad]

Soo much to catch up on. Trying to "spot read" through some of the older posts as time permits...

Is the prevailing currency the euro? Will that work for all ports? How are credit cards welcomed? We're considering getting a Cap One cc as they have no currency conversion fees.

Anyone?

Ray

 

[ch10dad]

In some areas the tourist shops will negotiate with you (in some places it is expected), what is it like in the Med ports?

Do vendors negotiate? How much "discount," if any, can one generally expect?

Ray

 

[K8T]

This thread was so far down the pages, it was in danger of disappearing altogether!!!

Who has tips and thoughts on what to do and where to go?

Any cool excursions from Med. trips past?

This is our first time as a family to the Med.

Ray

I have posted some stuff on the Med on your own thread that may be of help, although we intend to take it a bit slower this time and do less rushing around!

Soo much to catch up on. Trying to "spot read" through some of the older posts as time permits...

Is the prevailing currency the euro? Will that work for all ports? How are credit cards welcomed? We're considering getting a Cap One cc as they have no currency conversion fees.

Anyone?

Ray

No idea what a Cap One cc is!!!! However, now Tunisia is out of the running, all ports are euros, which makes it much easier.

In some areas the tourist shops will negotiate with you (in some places it is expected), what is it like in the Med ports?

Do vendors negotiate? How much "discount," if any, can one generally expect?

Ray

Worth a try and really depends on the sort of shop and what you are buying, small independents it is definately worth asking 'price for cash', or even offering to pay in $ if the rate is good. My OH got a good price on a watch in a small family run jewellers on the last cruise. You wouldn't get this with a large chain.

As for market vendors, definately, it is part of the game, particularly in Italy.

The Med ports are very different from the Carribbean ports. There usually isn't a lot there when you get off the ship. Sometimes there are small stalls selling things from the region, but most times there are no 'tourist' shops immediately on the quayside.

I am very excited tonight, not only did I book our hotel precruise last week - AC Diplomatic - but due to the good dollar rate at the moment, we have paid in full for the cruise, so we have definately got to go now. Only hope the rate doesn't continue to rise and we will have missed out!

Kate

 

[cegs27]

I haven't traveled internationally recently with a capital one credit card but last year lived overseas and in New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji there were no fees (besides actual converting the rate) for spending money in a different currency. So, definitely a good idea if you're using a credit card. (Our other ones did have fees so we didn't use them.) However I don't know the answer to whether you need Euro cash - but probably best to have a good amount just in case. Also I heard to make sure you have small amounts of Euros, for tipping cab drivers, etc, not just large bills.

 

[thestewarts]

Just signed up for July, really looking forward to it as is our 11 year old!!!!! Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[K8T]

Welcome the Stewarts!!!!

There is a lot of info. on the main boards and a Med on your own thread running at the moment.

Have you cruised DCL before, if not, any questions - however weird you think they are - do ask, someone will have an answer!!

Kate

 

[thestewarts]

Thanks K8T. First cruise so not sure and just trying to find our "sea legs" so to speak. All looks great, just wondered what sort of activities are available for the kids. The main stuff on the site seems aimed at the young or teenagers so will be interested to see what they do for the "tweens"

 

[NanaEve]

Hi. We are new to these boards. Going on the July 20 Med cruise with my 2 granchildren girl almost 12 and a boy 9. Can we participate in fish extenders? I can sew. Went on a disney cruise with other grandchildren in Feb and can't wait for this one!!

 

[NanaEve]

Is your 11 year old a girl or boy? We are taking an almost 12 girl(early Aug b'day) and a close to 10 boy (Oct. b'day). Girl is very social!!

 

[mewatson]

Just finished making our reservation for July 20. Three generations of us, can't wait! Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do on this thread.

 

[helenreed]

Is your 11 year old a girl or boy? We are taking an almost 12 girl(early Aug b'day) and a close to 10 boy (Oct. b'day). Girl is very social!!

Hi my daughter Lily will be alomest 12 too and also is very social! I am sure she would love to make an American friend

 

[MDTerp]

We're excited for the July 20 Med Cruise. It will be our 4th DCL cruise, second on the Magic. Have thoroughly enjoyed the DCL experience. Our traveling party will be me, DH and DD (14 years old). We're looking forward to meeting new friends and seeing new places!

 

[thestewarts]

nanaeve & helen. 11 year old daughter this end, also very social. looks like we're not going to see these girls if they get together.

 

[K8T]

Hi. We are new to these boards. Going on the July 20 Med cruise with my 2 granchildren girl almost 12 and a boy 9. Can we participate in fish extenders? I can sew. Went on a disney cruise with other grandchildren in Feb and can't wait for this one!!

Hi

Let me know your cabin number if you have one and names of everyone in the cabin and I will update the list. List is here
Kate

 

[mommy_grrl]

Soo much to catch up on. Trying to "spot read" through some of the older posts as time permits...

Is the prevailing currency the euro? Will that work for all ports? How are credit cards welcomed? We're considering getting a Cap One cc as they have no currency conversion fees.

Anyone?

Ray

If you get a Capital One CC, be sure to call them prior to leaving on the cruise and let them know where you are going. They have an excellent fraud department - almost too good. They will freeze the card on ANY suspicious activity and ask questions later, and you can be left trying to sort it out over time zones. (Heck, my husband spent too much at the nursery buying shrubbery, and they froze the card until they caught me at home to confirm the charges were valid.)

Since we are not going to Tunisia, the Euro should work for all ports. Credit cards are welcomed but if you plan on taking any taxis, I would have cash on hand.

 

[DLRPfan.be]

We're excited for the July 20 Med Cruise. It will be our 4th DCL cruise, second on the Magic. Have thoroughly enjoyed the DCL experience. Our traveling party will be me, DH and DD (14 years old). We're looking forward to meeting new friends and seeing new places!

Welcome ! Looking forward to meet you all. For us, it's also our 4th. DCL cruise. We've done the Med in 2007: you all will love it!

 

[mommy_grrl]

Gah. DH just caught the news...and word of the Spanish airline workers strike.
IF they don't get it resolved asap, it could potentially impact us.

I'd prefer to think positive but DH is freaked, so I'll ask....what alternative transpo is best from London to Barcelona - we're thinking Eurostar to Paris and then overnight train to Barcelona....

Is there a ferry option?

Spain's tourism has taken a beating the last two years, so they really can't afford this strike, which is why I'm optimistic that there will be some resolution by then...

 

[K8T]

Gah. DH just caught the news...and word of the Spanish airline workers strike.
IF they don't get it resolved asap, it could potentially impact us.

I'd prefer to think positive but DH is freaked, so I'll ask....what alternative transpo is best from London to Barcelona - we're thinking Eurostar to Paris and then overnight train to Barcelona....

Is there a ferry option?

Spain's tourism has taken a beating the last two years, so they really can't afford this strike, which is why I'm optimistic that there will be some resolution by then...

Don't worry too much, the Spanish are always doing this, they usually agree a deal at the last minute! They tend to do it over a holiday period too, and Easter Hols are coming!!!

Last year they did the same and we actually had a contingency of driving down, but it was all OK in the end.

I would suggest if you have to, fly to Paris or Lyon, spend a day/night then carry on down. I believe some peole did it last year, I would try a search on the boards. There is a ferry to the north coast of Spain (Santander), from Portsmouth (on the South Coast of England), but you would still need to get a train down to Barcelona, although this is a much shorter journey, you would need to get to Portsmouth on the train first.

Last time the were talking about bringing the army in to man the control towers, not quite how this would have worked, but at least there was a contingency! Plenty of time yet, keep your fingers crossed.