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

[Bec-n-Ken]

I am trying to post a picture. I now have 10 posts, but still can't post a picture. Anyone have suggestions or help? Thanks

I am so excited - I just had to share. I am traveling with 3 daughters, 3 nieces, grandma, and sis in law. I just finished making them all charm bracelets for the Med. Cruise. I will be giving them a different charm each night after visiting the ports. I can't figure out how to put in a pic, but here is a website that I have pictures loaded. Enjoy!!

Where did you get the charms? I would love to get some for my bracelet after we visit each port.

 

[designertravels]

Glad you're joining us Rebecca. You will love this vacation.

Jill

 

[Bec-n-Ken]

Thanks Jill! We are really looking forward to this cruise!!!

 

[K8T]

We got our air information from Disney and get to Barcelona at 8:25 on the morning of the cruise. Is there anything to do right around the port terminal to kill a few hours before boarding? If I'm looking at the map correctly, the old Olympic site is across the street; is that accessible and worth wandering around?

Hi

I don't recall seeing this and by all accounts, the area around the terminal is pretty industrial, not a lot going on. The only thing I could think is could you go to the termainal, leave your luggage and then get a cab back into Barcelona. Alternatively, you could book a car and get a quick tour around the city, the cases can stay in the car.

You could see quite a bit in a couple of hours.

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are new here and new to cruising. We have 2 teenagers but they don't live with us as they are away in college, so they won't be with us on this cruise. We are booked on the Med. cruise leaving July 20th. We are so excited! We are currently living in Belgium. I have been reading through some of the posts here over the last couple of days trying to get ideas. I love the idea of decorating our stateroom door. I hope to be able to make a few things for it but here we are limited to supplies. I may end up ordering magnet sheets online if I can't find any here. Anyway, any help with cruising would be great! Looking forward to meeting others and can't wait until the cruise!!
Thanks again,
Rebecca

I welcome to the boards, we did this same cruise last year and it was great.

Kate

 

[dd0809]

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...) :

I was going thru some older posts on the cruise meet and found this...

JTW999 I feel your pain!! I also made the mistake of mentioning "man capris" to my husband. A US Marine

 

[mommy_grrl]

I was going thru some older posts on the cruise meet and found this...

JTW999 I feel your pain!! I also made the mistake of mentioning "man capris" to my husband. A US Marine

My hubby is def NOT a Marine -- but mine had the same reaction!!!
he is waffling btw sweating thru a pair of lightweight trousers or looking like a dork in zip-off trousers.

 

[cegs27]

We just got our Disney flight information! We're flying in 2 days early, connecting from BWI through Philadelphia to Barcelona, arriving at 8:25 Monday morning. This makes it real! We have 3 hour layovers in Philadelphia there and back but the alternative was exactly one hour which makes me nervous... I don't want to arrive without my luggage!

Now I just need to get my room assignment! It's a regular GTY (not the restricted kind) so hopefully it won't be too long!

For those doing the FE - are you making the hanging things or buying them?

And based on just reading the above posts, I mentioned the "man capri's" to my husband - and he also gave me an offended blank stare. What do locals wear in all the cities? I feel like we're going to look so touristy.

And my last news is that I bought a new camera today!

Less than 2 months!

 

[dd0809]

mommy_grrl - I finally found DH 2 pair of the pants that zip off to form shorts. Most looked pretty "uncool" but these were not bad at all, they were also made out of a very thin, khaki type material. But the look on his face when I mention "man pris" was like the look of shock and betrayal!!

cegs 27 - I know you are glad to finally get you flight arrangements! Is that the US Airways flight? I bet there will be several cruiser on it.

 

[designertravels]

Well, I was excited my husband actually wanted to go shopping this weekend for some Euro pants. We found some cool "clam diggers" at Calvin Klein.

Now if i could get all these cruises off of my hips, I could wear something cute too. (probably not in time!)

Jill

 

[ernierich]

For those doing the FE - are you making the hanging things or buying them?

Less than 2 months!

We got one from e-bay for a couple of quid. It's actually rather nice.

 

[K8T]

My OH wears lightweight Chinos. Although he has bought some shorts this year, but can't say he has the legs for them!!!!! However, he would only probably wear these on the ship, not out and about.

Most local men will wear chinos, or jeans, although in the cities, they always look very smart, in well cut trousers.

I wear Capris - don't worry too much about shoulders, unless your top is really 'tiny' with 'strappy' straps, you will be OK in most churches. Those that may be more conservative - say the Vatican in Rome, will have large shawls/wraps usually in a box at the entrance, that you can wrap around your waist, or put over your shoulders. Same with shorts, the sort of tailored shorts for ladies will be fine, it is the little hot pant type ones that will cause offence!

When I went travelling in Europe back in the 1990's, I took a large silk shaw with me, this crushed down small in my pack and I could get out if I needed it. (I was a lot younger then and wore little shorts!!!).

What are 'clam Diggers'???!!!

Kate

 

[mommy_grrl]

Well, I was excited my husband actually wanted to go shopping this weekend for some Euro pants. We found some cool "clam diggers" at Calvin Klein.

Now if i could get all these cruises off of my hips, I could wear something cute too. (probably not in time!)

Jill

Still giggling at the "man capris" title. Impressed that you could get your husband in them.

Seriously, though, if anyone has any tips for dressing my husband like a European, I'd appreciate it. He's driving me mad, worried that he will look too much like a tourist.

 

[mommy_grrl]

Thanks, Kate - i think our posts crossed!!! My husband has some shorts but he's hesitant to wear them. I'll have to go look for lighter weight chinos - everything he has right now is pretty heavy.

 

[scottishwee35]

Personally, I don't think men have the same ability to plan like us women!! A sweeping statement I know, but my otherhalf always does a half job of it. I just present him with the outcome and then he gives an opinion, not that I take it!!

Pirate night, people do dress up, but I don't think they go quite 'full on' as I have seen in other photos. The children definately yes, the adults seem to be a more token dress up, stripy shirts etc., We did see one woman with the full gear on, fishnets, long boots, bodice etc. Not sure about that though, us British are 'terribly, terribly conservative'!!!!

Have you thought about Cyprus? An interesting place, not too built up (avoid Limmasol), short flight, nice weather?



A good idea about splitting into age groups to fit in with your own children, someone else suggested that too and it makes sense, as I have no idea what to buy for 'older' kids.

I made my FE, a bit basic, but does the job. I know some people have bought them on ebay and through etsy, just do a search.

I quite wish we had GTY, I have always enjoyed the excitment of hoping for an upgrade, we booked a specific room this time, as gty wasn't an option on the offer we had. We did get upgraded once, and upgraded ourselves another time at the port.

Best of luck to those waiting.

Kate

P.S Here is our FE, our Cruise Meet Thread was 'Movin' the Magic', as it was a repositioning cruise to the UK ready for the Baltic. It has since been renamed.

[/IMG]

wow that is beautiful ... and I made my own one too...

Pirates - we love to dress it up... we had the fun....

Cyprus - we like Limassol but we think we try Paphos next time....

Scottishwee35

 

[Ridicolon]

Where did you get the charms? I would love to get some for my bracelet after we visit each port.

I actually made the artwork and then a friend of mine put them on the charms. If you are interested, they are $12.00 for each charm and $20.00 for the bracelet. I think it will be a fun gift for my girls!!

 

[Bec-n-Ken]

Those of you looking for lanyards for the cruise, they have them on ebay for $5.95 each and $1.95 shipping. You can choose the design you would like. I am not able to post links here yet but can tell you that the sellers names are:

24ideal and 1mind1heart1soul

Thanks!

 

[ga9497]

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[mommy_grrl]

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Oh, I wish you hadn't deleted this as I've been WAITING for someone else to say this, just so I can show my husband. I mean, I can't hide my American accent ( any more that my son can hide his Welsh accent, lol) and really, we won't see any locals at Herculaneum!!

No me, it's more the idea of not standing out completely rather than not looking like a tourist. I don't even own shorts anymore (i wear capris and skirts) and I only ever wear trainers when I go to the gym or for a jog..

I think it is the travel clothes that make you stand out as much.

Thanks for your viewpoint, even if you deleted it...

 

[designertravels]

Hi Kate, Clam diggers are the same as long shorts, chino's, capri's. Not a term used here, I just heard a store clerk use that once.

I do not even try to avoid looking like a tourist. I'll have a camera backpack, a map and still be lost, and not speak the language. Plus the fact that a Mickey Ship is dropping us off. Our clothes are probably the least comical to the locals.

Only 3 more days of school for my kids...

Jill

 

[cegs27]

Re: looking touristy, wearing shorts, etc - We live in New York City and don't usually wear shorts here - even when it's hot - but see a lot of tourists wearing them. But, we wore them more often when we lived in the suburbs, at Disney World, at the beach, etc. I don't think anyone expects us to "fit in" as tourists in these cities... but, when we're in Naples for example, I'm going to try not to stand out too much with a Mickey Mouse shirt on and my camera and money hanging out of my bag... just for safety reasons! (But, for our farm excursion in Sicily, we probably will be wearing shorts because they'll be more appropriate and comfortable.)

But really, the only pick pocketer I'm worried about is my daughter - I checked *her purses (she's almost 5) the other day and found tons of cash in each one. And yesterday my husband took her out and somewhere along the way she ended up with a $20 bill in her hand - he said he carried no cash on him so who knows where it came from??

The odd thing about NYC is lately when I walk around I see so many tourists from Italy! Who don't speak any English, standing on the corners with big maps trying to figure out where they are... Kind of ironic because that will be me in their country soon!

By the way... for anyone touring Rome on your own, you can get tickets to the Vatican online now. We just ordered ours yesterday.