July 28, 2007 - "Rome-ancing the Mouse Cruisers" -11 days! Part 2

[MrsG]

It's just all the loose ends we are trying to hold together as the trip gets closer. Someone said they would make the numbers. I think it was Sallie. Whoever it was can just make a bunch with the letters and the numbers. If they use one pc of paper and put UK 1, for example, at each end then when you put your bag in take a number sheet, tear it in half staple or attach one to your bag and put the other half in the container with the numbers to be drawn from. When everyone is there we can start pulling numbers.

Sandra

That sounds very easy. Thanks!


Matthew,

Thanks for the info. It is very helpful!!!!! So glad you had a great cruise. We can't wait!!

Maryann

 

[AnnaS]

Hello everyone! My family and I just got back from the 07/07/07 cruise. This was our first cruise ever, so we learned a lot.

We were touring Barcelona on Thursday after we disembarked. While we were at the Sagrada Familia, we saw a Disney Cruise Shore Excursion bus. We briefly contemplated trying to blend into the crowd and get back on the ship.

I thought I would offer a couple of tidbits that might or might not be of use, FWIW.

- There were a LOT a people with lost luggage from the airlines. Some lost everything, others were only missing a bag or two. Spread your clothes out among your different suitcases. Just in case one or two don't show up, you're not completely without clothes.

- If you are not on a Disney Shore Excursion the day you sail, you may want to think twice about striking out on your own to explore Barcelona. We had considered it, and decided once we were aboard to just relax and get to know the ship. A couple of Disney Cast Members suggested that it was "safer" to stay onboard. (Safer = You Don't Miss the Ship) We explored Barcelona upon our return. (The Mandatory Lifeboat Drill was at 5:00 PM.)

- Bring US QUARTERS for the laundry rooms. The machines turned out to be very useful and not too bad as far as waiting to use one. (Plan on $3 per load. $1 for detergent, $1 for washer, & $1 for dryer) Next cruise, we will try to bring clothes that can be washed on the same temp & cycle settings to maximize what we can wash in a single load. We stopped in London for a couple of days on the way to Barcelona, so we used the laundry early on.

- PHOTO PACKAGES - DCL has a lot of photo ops with their photographers. I usually don't purchase the pictures that they take of you at WDW, but these turned out to be GREAT! They do offer packages versus buying individual pics. I highly recommend looking at the package deals. My wife originally bought two of the smaller packages, and then later upgraded for more pics. DCL refunded the smaller package price and just charged for the bigger package. So, you can start small and then upgrade without a penalty later if you find a lot of pictures that you like. The staff photographers were even out on the shore excursions. We got pictures by them in Roma and Pompeii. They even hired Gladiators to pose with in front of the Colisseum!
- Oceaneers Lab (8 & 9 year olds) - If your kids are in the Lab, the parents can give them the option to check themselves in and out. (The Club for the younger kids doesn't have this option.) We initially resisted allowing our kids to do this for safety reasons. However, we quickly became comfortable with the ship environment and the paging system to let us know what they are doing. So, after a discussion with our daughters, we did allow them the option to check in and out. Allowing them the freedom to "go get an ice cream" and come back was a great way to show trust and confidence. Just another step to their growing up. The kids usually travelled in "packs" anyway when they checked out. They all wear ID bracelets, and we were satisfied that it was "safe".

- Shore Excursion "Whispers" - These are headsets that you wear to listen to your guide. However, all "Whispers" are not created equally. Some have the headset plug in just like an iPod. Others use "tubules" to carry the sound to your earpiece. The "tubules" kept coming out and were very frustrating. If you brought a rubber band or even some scotch tape to hold the "tubule" onto the radio receiver, you will save yourself endless aggravation.

- Dinner - Late Seating worked very well for us. However, we found ourselves eating 4 meals a day! We would try to get something for our kids to eat around 6 PM to hold them over until dinner. On the day you visit Rome, dinner is delayed until 9 PM for late seating. So you can get back from your shore excursion and go straight to dinner. Disney Cast Members met each bus and advised folks to head straight to their dining hall that day.

- Charging Camera Batteries and Downloading camera cards etc. - The Magic has US Standard outlets. We brought along a short extension cord with an outlet multiplier to allow us to charge three devices at once. I devloped a routine for each evening to download my camera cards and charge batteries. I took 3821 pictures over the course of our trip! Trust me, you don't want to run out of memory space or battery life on this trip!

- Olbia Shore Excursions - Our "Day at Sea at Maddalena Island" was cancelled due to rough seas (high winds). We were actually grateful to have the day to relax instead of heading out. We did make the mistake of going into Oblia on our own for a couple of hours. (It was a waste of time except for the exercise from walking.) There is nothing that you can realistically walk to except for a City Park (Nice park though). The people that did go some of the bus excursions sounded somewhat disappointed. They said that the guides tried to "Make something out of nothing". Olbia might be a good relaxation day if you want one. By the way. the bus does not take you in to the center of town as advertised. It takes you to the Port entrance and drops you in the middle of a construction area!

- Pompeii Shore Excursion - We did they Pompeii, Sorrento & Capri for families. It was wonderful. But beware, it can get exhausting by the end of the day. We did Pompeii last and some folks were having great difficulty keeping up with all of the walking over uneven surfaces. Despite what the description might say, this was extremely tough for anyone with a stroller or wheelchair. You cannot realistically wheelchair at Pompeii. At the end, we were in the amphiteater and all of the kids immediately started climbing to the top. The tour guide was very clear that everything is at "YOUR OWN RISK". Almost inevitably, a young boy fell while jumping down the steps. We all heard the "crack" when he fell and it was thought that he broke his arm. The Disney Cast Member that accompanies the group had a first aid kit, but was not equipped for a broken arm. (The tour guides are local professionals, not Disney CMs. A CM accompanies the group though.) The family was given the option of calling for an ambulance. Fortunately, they decided to return to the ship and it turned out that the arm was not broken after all.

- If you bail out of a shore excursion early or are having difficulties, I believe that you are simply on your own. You cannot wait on the bus. The couple that was having trouble due to the physical demands was told where the bus would meet us and roughly what time. However, nobody would be able to accompany them. The CM can call for medical assistance, but must remain with the main group. Keep this in mind if you have concerns about physical demands. Make sure you have the resources with you if you need to get yourself back to the ship or need to seek medical assistance.

- Pirate Night - Make sure that you are at the deck party when it starts. The fireworks display is only 3 minutes long and you don't want to miss it (like I did ) If you have late seating for dinner, eat fast!

- VAT and Receipts - Start keeping all of your recipts from Shutters, Mickey Mates and Treasure Ketch in the envelopes provided in your staterooms from the first day! On the last night of the cruise, you take them down to the Shore Excursion desk and they process them. You get a form with instructions on how to get your VAT refund. This is only for receipts for the stores on the ship though. We misplaced one receipt for $200 until after we got home. When we got to the airport, their is a Customs desk on the ground floor in Terminal A near the bag claim exit. You present your form and receipts to get stamped. After that, you walk around the corner and they give you back your money in cash. We got 55 Euros back. You can also mail it in, but it takes 5 or 6 weeks. If you keep your receipts organized, it can be well worth it. The lines at the airport weren't bad for this process either.

Well, I could probably go on and on. Please let me know if you found it helpful. Good luck, have fun, and I wish I was going back with you all!

BTW - If anyone runs into Laura Dean from Shipboard entertainment, tell her the Crosman family from the 7/7/07 cruise says HI! We kept running into Laura in her different rolls thoughout the trip. We finally starting calling each encounter our "Laura" Siting for the day. Laura does everything from the deck parties to trivia contest, to the Golden Mickeys. She is from England, blonde and 24 years old (That is one of the trivia question).

Take care,

EPCOT_VA (Matthew)

Thank you. Thank you for all the helpful info/hints. If this trip does not come soon, I will be broke. I just ran out to buy cds, dvds, lithium batteries, carrying case for toiletries (for the men), aloe vera pills.

Now you just reminded me to get one or two rolls of quarters (totally forgot), highlighters, scotch tape (have rubberbands).

Every time I cross out two items, I add three more.

Again, thank you.

 

[Sandaneli]

Hello everyone! My family and I just got back from the 07/07/07 cruise. This was our first cruise ever, so we learned a lot.

We were touring Barcelona on Thursday after we disembarked. While we were at the Sagrada Familia, we saw a Disney Cruise Shore Excursion bus. We briefly contemplated trying to blend into the crowd and get back on the ship.

I thought I would offer a couple of tidbits that might or might not be of use, FWIW.

- There were a LOT a people with lost luggage from the airlines. Some lost everything, others were only missing a bag or two. Spread your clothes out among your different suitcases. Just in case one or two don't show up, you're not completely without clothes.

- If you are not on a Disney Shore Excursion the day you sail, you may want to think twice about striking out on your own to explore Barcelona. We had considered it, and decided once we were aboard to just relax and get to know the ship. A couple of Disney Cast Members suggested that it was "safer" to stay onboard. (Safer = You Don't Miss the Ship) We explored Barcelona upon our return. (The Mandatory Lifeboat Drill was at 5:00 PM.)

- Bring US QUARTERS for the laundry rooms. The machines turned out to be very useful and not too bad as far as waiting to use one. (Plan on $3 per load. $1 for detergent, $1 for washer, & $1 for dryer) Next cruise, we will try to bring clothes that can be washed on the same temp & cycle settings to maximize what we can wash in a single load. We stopped in London for a couple of days on the way to Barcelona, so we used the laundry early on.

- PHOTO PACKAGES - DCL has a lot of photo ops with their photographers. I usually don't purchase the pictures that they take of you at WDW, but these turned out to be GREAT! They do offer packages versus buying individual pics. I highly recommend looking at the package deals. My wife originally bought two of the smaller packages, and then later upgraded for more pics. DCL refunded the smaller package price and just charged for the bigger package. So, you can start small and then upgrade without a penalty later if you find a lot of pictures that you like. The staff photographers were even out on the shore excursions. We got pictures by them in Roma and Pompeii. They even hired Gladiators to pose with in front of the Colisseum!
- Oceaneers Lab (8 & 9 year olds) - If your kids are in the Lab, the parents can give them the option to check themselves in and out. (The Club for the younger kids doesn't have this option.) We initially resisted allowing our kids to do this for safety reasons. However, we quickly became comfortable with the ship environment and the paging system to let us know what they are doing. So, after a discussion with our daughters, we did allow them the option to check in and out. Allowing them the freedom to "go get an ice cream" and come back was a great way to show trust and confidence. Just another step to their growing up. The kids usually travelled in "packs" anyway when they checked out. They all wear ID bracelets, and we were satisfied that it was "safe".

- Shore Excursion "Whispers" - These are headsets that you wear to listen to your guide. However, all "Whispers" are not created equally. Some have the headset plug in just like an iPod. Others use "tubules" to carry the sound to your earpiece. The "tubules" kept coming out and were very frustrating. If you brought a rubber band or even some scotch tape to hold the "tubule" onto the radio receiver, you will save yourself endless aggravation.

- Dinner - Late Seating worked very well for us. However, we found ourselves eating 4 meals a day! We would try to get something for our kids to eat around 6 PM to hold them over until dinner. On the day you visit Rome, dinner is delayed until 9 PM for late seating. So you can get back from your shore excursion and go straight to dinner. Disney Cast Members met each bus and advised folks to head straight to their dining hall that day.

- Charging Camera Batteries and Downloading camera cards etc. - The Magic has US Standard outlets. We brought along a short extension cord with an outlet multiplier to allow us to charge three devices at once. I devloped a routine for each evening to download my camera cards and charge batteries. I took 3821 pictures over the course of our trip! Trust me, you don't want to run out of memory space or battery life on this trip!

- Olbia Shore Excursions - Our "Day at Sea at Maddalena Island" was cancelled due to rough seas (high winds). We were actually grateful to have the day to relax instead of heading out. We did make the mistake of going into Oblia on our own for a couple of hours. (It was a waste of time except for the exercise from walking.) There is nothing that you can realistically walk to except for a City Park (Nice park though). The people that did go some of the bus excursions sounded somewhat disappointed. They said that the guides tried to "Make something out of nothing". Olbia might be a good relaxation day if you want one. By the way. the bus does not take you in to the center of town as advertised. It takes you to the Port entrance and drops you in the middle of a construction area!

- Pompeii Shore Excursion - We did they Pompeii, Sorrento & Capri for families. It was wonderful. But beware, it can get exhausting by the end of the day. We did Pompeii last and some folks were having great difficulty keeping up with all of the walking over uneven surfaces. Despite what the description might say, this was extremely tough for anyone with a stroller or wheelchair. You cannot realistically wheelchair at Pompeii. At the end, we were in the amphiteater and all of the kids immediately started climbing to the top. The tour guide was very clear that everything is at "YOUR OWN RISK". Almost inevitably, a young boy fell while jumping down the steps. We all heard the "crack" when he fell and it was thought that he broke his arm. The Disney Cast Member that accompanies the group had a first aid kit, but was not equipped for a broken arm. (The tour guides are local professionals, not Disney CMs. A CM accompanies the group though.) The family was given the option of calling for an ambulance. Fortunately, they decided to return to the ship and it turned out that the arm was not broken after all.

- If you bail out of a shore excursion early or are having difficulties, I believe that you are simply on your own. You cannot wait on the bus. The couple that was having trouble due to the physical demands was told where the bus would meet us and roughly what time. However, nobody would be able to accompany them. The CM can call for medical assistance, but must remain with the main group. Keep this in mind if you have concerns about physical demands. Make sure you have the resources with you if you need to get yourself back to the ship or need to seek medical assistance.

- Pirate Night - Make sure that you are at the deck party when it starts. The fireworks display is only 3 minutes long and you don't want to miss it (like I did ) If you have late seating for dinner, eat fast!

- VAT and Receipts - Start keeping all of your recipts from Shutters, Mickey Mates and Treasure Ketch in the envelopes provided in your staterooms from the first day! On the last night of the cruise, you take them down to the Shore Excursion desk and they process them. You get a form with instructions on how to get your VAT refund. This is only for receipts for the stores on the ship though. We misplaced one receipt for $200 until after we got home. When we got to the airport, their is a Customs desk on the ground floor in Terminal A near the bag claim exit. You present your form and receipts to get stamped. After that, you walk around the corner and they give you back your money in cash. We got 55 Euros back. You can also mail it in, but it takes 5 or 6 weeks. If you keep your receipts organized, it can be well worth it. The lines at the airport weren't bad for this process either.

Well, I could probably go on and on. Please let me know if you found it helpful. Good luck, have fun, and I wish I was going back with you all!

BTW - If anyone runs into Laura Dean from Shipboard entertainment, tell her the Crosman family from the 7/7/07 cruise says HI! We kept running into Laura in her different rolls thoughout the trip. We finally starting calling each encounter our "Laura" Siting for the day. Laura does everything from the deck parties to trivia contest, to the Golden Mickeys. She is from England, blonde and 24 years old (That is one of the trivia question).

Take care,

EPCOT_VA (Matthew)

Thanks for the information. It was helpful. I have adde tape and rubberbands to my packing list.
Sandra

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi would someone from the USA be able to do me a favour and bring me $4 worth of quarters?

I am not really planning on washing but Dave said he might do a load of T shirts? I cant remember, would $4 be enough for 1 load and a tumble?

I have gotten 40 x $1 bills but I cant get quarters over here.

Many Thanks

Helen x

 

[EPCOT_VA]

Hi would someone from the USA be able to do me a favour and bring me $4 worth of quarters?

I am not really planning on washing but Dave said he might do a load of T shirts? I cant remember, would $4 be enough for 1 load and a tumble?

I have gotten 40 x $1 bills but I cant get quarters over here.

Many Thanks

Helen x

The laundry rooms do have dollar bill changers. So you can get quarters from them or Guest Services. The dollar bill changers do run out or malfunction periodically. But they are usually fixed quickly. It is simply easier if you already have quarters with you.

EPCOT_VA

 

[kidcoos3]

Helen, I'm sure your hair looks great!! Can't wait to see you!!

Maryann

Ditto - no red hair? But you still look like Bon Jovi, right??

Hello everyone! My family and I just got back from the 07/07/07 cruise. This was our first cruise ever, so we learned a lot.

EPCOT_VA (Matthew)

Great info! Thanks!

Every time I cross out two items, I add three more.

Again, thank you.

Same here!!

I ran out to find another pair of shorts - cause my Eddie Bauer delivery hadn't come - on my way home I checked the mail and, voila, my shorts!!

Yeah!!

 

[4kittymagic]

Hi would someone from the USA be able to do me a favour and bring me $4 worth of quarters?

I am not really planning on washing but Dave said he might do a load of T shirts? I cant remember, would $4 be enough for 1 load and a tumble?

I have gotten 40 x $1 bills but I cant get quarters over here.

Many Thanks

Helen x

On past cruise we were able to get quarters from guest services. If not I'm sure we will have some extra quarters for you to use.
Diane - 4kittymagic

 

[kidcoos3]

On past cruise we were able to get quarters from guest services. If not I'm sure we will have some extra quarters for you to use.
Diane - 4kittymagic

Yes, we'll have some - I am bringing two vials full - should have plenty to share.

I wanted to share some info I got from Epcot_VA (Thanks Matthew!):

Originally Posted by kidcoos3
Hope you don't mind a PM -
I am wondering about dress code for Italy - I know we need to cover knees and shoulders for Rome, but what about Naples? And did you go to Pisa? Is it necessary for La Sagrada Familia?
Thank you.

In Naples, we took the Capri, Sorrento & Pompeii for Families excursion. There was nothing on that excursion which required you to cover knees and shoulders, and remove hats. If you have an excursion which takes you into a church, any church, you likely need to cover your knees and shoulders.

When we docked at La Spezia, we went to Santa Marghareta and Portofino. It was absolutely fantastic. We had heard mixed reviews of the Pisa excursions, so we skipped those. Pisa was also a much longer bus ride away from the ship. I believe it was 1.5 to 2 hours each way. Our excursion was a 45 minute ride each way, and very scenic. We did have a church on ours and had to have knees and shoulders covered.

La Sagrada Familia is under major construction. You can still go in, but the interior is basically one big construction area right now. It is interesting to look at though. I went back and checked some of my photos. There were many people in shorts and bare shoulders. Perhaps since it is under construction, it is not actively being used as a church inside, therefore the knees and shoulders are not an issue right now.

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. The trip is great, but goes by quickly. Just relax and enjoy.

EPCOT_VA

 

[AnnaS]

I have been reading about many lost luggages. The pharmacist where I work is still waiting for her luggage (she came back last week from London/Paris and some other place). I am just wondering if most of these people had connecting flights.

I keep telling my sons that we should spread out our clothes, but Nooooooooooo, each one wants their own bag w/their own stuff. I think I will do this w/dh and dd.

 

[Sandaneli]

Hi would someone from the USA be able to do me a favour and bring me $4 worth of quarters?

I am not really planning on washing but Dave said he might do a load of T shirts? I cant remember, would $4 be enough for 1 load and a tumble?

I have gotten 40 x $1 bills but I cant get quarters over here.

Many Thanks

Helen x

Helen, DH insisted that we get 4 rolls of quarters, that's $40.00, weighs a lot, and will do 10 loads of laundry. I hope he likes the laundry room because I'm not sitting in there for 10+ hours. In other words, we should have lots extra.

On the other hand we may need them if the luggage situation is as dire as has been reported. do you think anyone would notice if we wore the same outfit every day?

Now that I think of it if we each took only one carryon and didn't check anything theoretically it couldn't get lost. I'll just send DH to the laundry room every night.

I'm getting carried away because DH wants to pack and I don't like packing until the last minute. We don't leave until thursday so I don't want to pack until then but since we are splitting up the suitcases we both have to pack .

Anyway, yes we will have extra quarters.

Sandra

 

[danfromca]

Hi Maryann;

The party was a blast . . . I came home and read the first chapter and the last two (OK, I just couldn't help myself! -- boy do I wish I could talk to Dan right now!). Meanwhile, my oldest daughter, who is coming home from Boston today after spending a week with my sister, was in Harvard Square last night hearing rock group Harry and the Potters (opening acts the Hungarian Horntails and Draco and the Malfoys). . .

I arrived home with the book about 12:30am. Finished reading it at 6:30am. Went to sleep. Woke up at 12:30pm. Read the last couple of hundred pages again.

I think this may be the best of all the books.

 

[danfromca]

I am really panicing - I connect through heathrow and its all over the news about the delays and flight cancellations due to the bad weather. There is no let up as well - heavy rain forecast all week -

My expectation is that I'll come in late. With 3 flights, the opportunities for missed connections and lost luggage is just too great. Unfortunately, I don't see any way to avoid it at this point. I think we'll be ok in terms of at least getting on the cruise - we should have enough buffer time for that - though I'm sure glad departure is late on Saturday.

 

[AnnaS]

Helen,

We or should I say I, will have quarters if you need any. Also planning on bringing a bunch of dollar bills.

While on the subject, if anyone here while on the ship finds they forgot something/need something, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

[AnnaS]

I arrived home with the book about 12:30am. Finished reading it at 6:30am. Went to sleep. Woke up at 12:30pm. Read the last couple of hundred pages again.

I think this may be the best of all the books.

Wow - I have not read one book in a straight sitting in years.

 

[bellelinus]

I arrived home with the book about 12:30am. Finished reading it at 6:30am. Went to sleep. Woke up at 12:30pm. Read the last couple of hundred pages again.

I think this may be the best of all the books.

I agree with you totally . . . and I can't say anything I want to without spoiling it for others! Hats off to JK Rowling, though . . .

 

[danfromca]

I agree with you totally . . . and I can't say anything I want to without spoiling it for others! Hats off to JK Rowling, though . . .

We'll talk on the cruise - I still have questions.....

 

[disneymagic316]

I have been reading about many lost luggages. The pharmacist where I work is still waiting for her luggage (she came back last week from London/Paris and some other place). I am just wondering if most of these people had connecting flights.

I keep telling my sons that we should spread out our clothes, but Nooooooooooo, each one wants their own bag w/their own stuff. I think I will do this w/dh and dd.

Anna,

No one here wants to share a suitcase,either not even Russ.

I think a ot of the people who lost luggage did have connecting flights.


Sallie- We were thinking about you today.
Good idea to number the gift bags.

Julie- great pcis of the girls.



Epcot_VA- thanks for the helpful info.

 

[danfromca]

The PDF version of the DISGuide has been updated.

To print with Adobe reader, the following should work:

1. In the print dialog, select "Print Odd Pages Only". This should print pages 1,3,5,7

2. place these sheets back in the printer, reversed (flipping the paper so that the white side will be printed on, and leaving the "bottom" of the page (when viewed horizontally) on the same side as before.

3. In the print dialog, select "Print Even Pages Only". This should print pages 2,4,6,8 on the back. Make sure the pages are ordered correctly - that the previously printed page 1 is the first that will be printed.

4. You may need to flip the pages at this point to get them in the correct order in the pamphlet.

You should then be able to fold the pages over to make a small pamphlet.

This will work best of thick paper or "presentation" paper.

Good luck!

Dan

 

[danfromca]

Anna,

No one here wants to share a suitcase,either not even Russ.

I think a ot of the people who lost luggage did have connecting flights.

I was afraid of that. I'm changing my packing strategy.

Current plan is to put everything I can't do without along with as much clothing as I can cram into the carry-on. Then anything easily replacable (toiletries, etc.) I'll be prepared to buy in Barcelona before we depart (or on the ship - with the exchange rate as it is, that might be even cheaper).

Fortunately, we have travel insurance that covers baggage loss and delay, so the financial hit won't be too bad.

I figure if I go into this assuming the baggage will be delayed/lost, it won't be as stressful. And if the baggage does show up, it will just be a pleasant surprise.

 

[alexcturner]

It's ridiculous really, this time last year was the hottest day ever recorded in the UK and now we've got floods. I'm not sure about global warming but something strange is going on.

We'll be there Monday!!! We have been dealing with rain almost everyday here also. I was hoping to get away from it.

So, I thought I would ask.
Does anyone else have to do some 'work' while on the cruise?

I'm going to have to check email etc and hopefully minimal work during the trip and I figured optimal times are around midnight (morning US time) and maybe first thing in the morning. I have to do this because I am self-employed and have to keep a pulse on my livelihood and look out for clients/colleagues if they get stuck.

In case anyone else has to do this as well -- since I can't use the cabin (others sleeping) thought we could meet up and keep each other company on the laptops and drinking coffee (alas! not Starbucks!).

Anyone know which lounge/public area would be good for this kind of work? Doesn't have to be quiet but should not be too crazy.

Roan

Hi Roan, WHat about Cove Cafe? I will not have my laptop but will need to check emails at least once a day. I could use one of the computers there and you could use your laptop and most importantly have great coffee!!

Mary Jo.....waiting to hear good news!!!