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

[Ridicolon]

Hi K8T,
I am ridicolon. Actually my name is Dione from Albuquerque, NM I will be traveling with my family on the ten night med cruise and would like to join the fish extender game.

We have never done the fish extenders, but have cruised with DCL. Do we bring 1 gift for the family, or gifts for each person?

Our information:

Cabin 2616
George age 74
Arlaen age 72

Cabin 2614
George age 41
Jennifer age 41
Cheyenne age 13
Heather age 12
Julia age 10

Cabin 2612 - ridicolon
Dione age 43
Rick age 46
Sophia age 12
Isabella age 10
Alexandra age 10

Thanks so much for adding us!! We look forward to it!
Dione

 

[IlliniAmy]

Hi all! I just wanted to pop in and introduce myself. My fiancé and I will be on the 7/20 sailing for our honeymoon! I may be back with a few (probably random) questions, but I thought it would be nice to make some friends who will be on our cruise, too. One thing we're discovering is that there are a couple of ports where he might be more content to sit by the pool while I go exploring, so I may be looking for some shore excursion buddies!

Anyone else out there from the Chicago area?

I'm a fairly experienced Disney cruiser, but this is my first foray onto the Disboards. My fiancé has never been on the Disney ships before so I can't wait to show him the magic of the Magic!

Oh, one question I do have right off the top regarding insurance. I purchased the Disney insurance because my (admittedly limited) research told me that no one covers pre-existing conditions. Does anyone know if there is "supplemental" travel insurance I can buy that would cover pre-existing conditions? Or am I too late since I've made my final payment?

Less than 90 days until we sail!!

~Amy

 

[designertravels]

Welcome and congratulations Amy.
Sorry, not sure on the insurance.

Jill

 

[thestewarts]

Hi all! I just wanted to pop in and introduce myself. My fiancé and I will be on the 7/20 sailing for our honeymoon! I may be back with a few (probably random) questions, but I thought it would be nice to make some friends who will be on our cruise, too. One thing we're discovering is that there are a couple of ports where he might be more content to sit by the pool while I go exploring, so I may be looking for some shore excursion buddies!

Anyone else out there from the Chicago area?

I'm a fairly experienced Disney cruiser, but this is my first foray onto the Disboards. My fiancé has never been on the Disney ships before so I can't wait to show him the magic of the Magic!

Oh, one question I do have right off the top regarding insurance. I purchased the Disney insurance because my (admittedly limited) research told me that no one covers pre-existing conditions. Does anyone know if there is "supplemental" travel insurance I can buy that would cover pre-existing conditions? Or am I too late since I've made my final payment?

Less than 90 days until we sail!!

~Amy

Amy

I'm fairly sure you're right about pre existing conditions, I don't know any insurance companies that cover them.

Congrats on the wedding......... almost 18 years to the day after us lol

 

[jdybnsn]

We have just booked to visit the Hypogeum on Malta - for anyone who does not know, its one of the oldest known prehistoric sites made by man, on the whole of the planet ! We spent a week in Malta last October but we did not get to see it as it is VERY limited admission and gets booked up weeks in advance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypogeum_of_Ħal-Saflieni

http://www.visitmalta.com/hal-saflieni-hypogeum-map

We have booked for 10am and are going to get there by bus - we feel pretty confident travelling this way from last years experiences of Malta buses (very cheap and very punctual), and the place is not too far out of Valletta city. We should be back in Valletta by lunchtime.

If anyone is into history and wants to join us there are presently still 6 tickets left for the 10am slot (only 10 people can view at one time)...and we don't mind if you need to tag along with us to get there - the bus will only cost just a $1 or so each way. Book soon if you are interested in visiting this site, as if you leave it for another few weeks they are likely to be sold out for the entire day !!!

For anyone wanting a great picture of the Magic while in port in Valletta, I can recommend getting a taxi (or better still a water taxi- you can get these from the ship dock area) to Senglea Island (its not an island anymore BTW) to the small Gardjola Gardens right opposite Valletta city (right at the tip of Senglea) - you will get a great view of Valletta and the Magic in port.

 

[joandherboys]

Hi All,

I have just come across this site and it has made me even more excited about our upcoming cruise!

We are:

Joanne
David
Henry (6)
Gabriel (3)

Very much looking forward to getting to know all of you!

Joanne

 

[cegs27]

Hi K8T:

We'd like to join the FE, if that's ok:

Cabin: will let you know when we find out!
Cegs27
Cathleen
Jon
Lilly (5)

Let me know if you need more information. Thanks!

 

[I'mallears!]

Hello, did anyone watch the wedding today?

Thia weekend i am determined to start my planning and sort ou my excursions.

Please can we be added on to the FE list

We are:-

Me
DH
DS 10

I cant remember our stateroom but will post it later. Does the list close a few weeks before the cruise so we can all sort our gifts out? Do we buy per person or per cabin? Need to get my thinking cap on!

The weather looks a bit miserable in barcelona at the moment I hope it cheers up soon.

 

[I'mallears!]

Hello, did anyone watch the wedding today?

Thia weekend i am determined to start my planning and sort ou my excursions.

Please can we be added on to the FE list

We are:-

Me
DH
DS 10

I cant remember our stateroom but will post it later. Does the list close a few weeks before the cruise so we can all sort our gifts out? Do we buy per person or per cabin? Need to get my thinking cap on!

The weather looks a bit miserable in barcelona at the moment I hope it cheers up soon.

 

[jdybnsn]

Hi everyone - especially the newcomers !

Just thought I'd share this tip for Valletta for not having to wallk up the steep steps into the town - fortunately I did a google and found someone had shared it last year, so I've just cut and pasted it here ;

To do this, go to the RIGHT after leaving the ship and the port shops (when you get off the ship, you're routed through a bunch of shops, then will end up on a street that runs parallel to the ship. Go right on that street.) Cross the street to the sidewalk. You'll see a bunch of horses with carriages. At that point, there are a number of arched doorways along the sidewalk. Keep looking in those doorways until you see a ramp that is the entrance to a parking garage. Walk in there, then follow the tunnel uphill (it's a long, steep tunnel, and cut through the rock. It's a hike, but it's out of the sun, and I promise it's shorter than walking outside!) At the top of the ramp, there is an elevator. Take it all the way up--about six floors--and presto, you're in Valletta! MUCH easier than hiking on the roadway to get up to the city.

Just to note it also brings you out very close to the bus terminal.

Please also be aware that the HOHO bus circuits are approx 3 hours long and in the Summer you will often find very few people hopping on and off allow plenty of time as you could end up waiting at stops for empty seats -bring a hat at the very least, if you intend to do the HOHO as you could get 'stranded' in the blistering heat on the top deck !

Off to Lisbon today for a short city break - all because we stopped there last year on our Disney Repro cruise.....just had to take my DH there as he missed out on coming with us last year. Great city to visit !

 

[designertravels]

Thank you for the tips. Any one want to share their plans for Valletta? It's about time I get atleast one of the stops planned!

Thanks, Jill

 

[helenreed]

Hi Jill,

We plan to just mooch about, I had also seen the tip about getting into Valetta. I really want to see the Co-Cathedral but apart from that we have no plans. I am trying to avoid all day DCL excursions because I am not sure how much my kids will be able to take, I have a horror of them moaning all the way through a 9 hour day, we would rather take it at our own pace and pop back to the ship when we feel like it! That day is also our Palo dinner and I want to dine refreshed!
Helen

 

[I'mallears!]

Well much to my families amusement today i have started sorting out my fe gifts!

I think we are just going to explore Malta on our own - we are going to do a few of the DCL excirsions. Thank you for the tips on valleta, i have printed it out.

 

[helenreed]

Anyone worried about security in light of today's news? An American ship in the Med sure makes a great target, I am re-looking at my travel insurance in case DCL plan to move the cruise or re-schedule. Personally I am not worried and it will not stop me travelling but we have booked on DVC points and I don't know where we would stand if DCL decided to re-schedule. Any thoughts anyone?

 

[madmum63]

Thanks for updating the FE list Kate - you've done a great job !

Anyone interested in doing a ladies lunch on the first day ? Along with a gift (no more than $10) swap game ? Would make this around 1.00pm to try and accommodate the people at Palo brunch (late comers for coffee or dessert welcome)......

Please post if you are interested.

Judy x

Couldn't agree more on the FE list Kate and that you actually made it really easy with the totals at the end.

With regard to the Lunch and secret mickey (well it can't be a secret santa can it?), absolutely count me in. There may be another but I will have to just check with her when the kids go back to school tomorrow. I will let you know. And if Sue does can make it, I know that she will be up for gift as well.

Great idea.

Andrea xx

 

[I'mallears!]

Hello andrea - here I am. Xx Hope you had a good week at the Winter Gardens and Elliott did well.

 

[mommy_grrl]

Kate - Just noticed that our cabin number is missing from the FE list - it's 6040. I need to get organized on the FE gifts shortly...

What is everyone doing for Palermo? We just can't seem to agree on anything, and don't know if we will book a Disney tour or go on our own.

Happily have joined up with Cathleen (Cegs27) for a private tour in Rome, and think we will do Herculaneum on our own. I'm also trying to convince the Hubs to wing it for La Spezia - I think after Rome and Naples, my kids will need a break.

Not too stressed about the other ports, think we will be fine on our own - it's just Palermo that I can't sort out!

Then again, my head is already spinning. Have my MIL coming at the end of this month, then we are moving 2 weeks after. Forcing myself to be completely unpacked by the end of July just so I can recover in time for the cruise!

 

[designertravels]

Air and hotel finally booked. We will be at the Novotel on Monday.

I'll have to pass on the Ladies meet, but looking forward to an FE meet.
(too few sea days to chill) I'll probably still be making port plans.

Jill

 

[mommy_grrl]

Hi all! I just wanted to pop in and introduce myself. My fiancé and I will be on the 7/20 sailing for our honeymoon! I may be back with a few (probably random) questions, but I thought it would be nice to make some friends who will be on our cruise, too. One thing we're discovering is that there are a couple of ports where he might be more content to sit by the pool while I go exploring, so I may be looking for some shore excursion buddies!

Anyone else out there from the Chicago area?


~Amy

Hi Amy! We're (originally) from Barrington but have been living in Wales for the past 2 years. What part of Chicago are you from?????

Congrats, btw!!!

 

[mommy_grrl]

Oops...duplicate post.