June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[WVMD]

WVMD - are you guys the ones flying in from Paris 6/16 - AM on Air France?

Have a great weekend!!

Nope - not me...... We arrive on the 15th on USAirways...

Virgil

 

[LisaTex]

OK - guess it was someone else out there.

Patricia - I think that sounds about right - I was thinking for 4 the total would be about $500 min. + any extra.

Has anyone ever done any "spa stuff" have never tried it out on the Magic. Worth it?

When is everyone getting in? DId we get a final on earliest time to check in and earliest time we can board?

We arrive from Paris at 11:50 and going straight to the port.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hay LisaTex,

My DMIL is about 67 years old too

 

[taysmom]

I would say going straight to the port would be good. I have been told that we should be able to start checking in around noon. DCL said to call back closer to the cruise date to get a better time. I have planned to be there around 11:30-12 so that we can get on, lunch and then get off and do some final barcelona exploring.
steph

 

[silver7]

We only have 3 excursions planned so far, the VIP tour of the Vatican, the Taste of Sorrento and Pompeii, and Florence & Michaelangelo.

Should we just book tea and brunch seperately, or is there a way to get a group in? What about the first day at sea for the Brunch and the Friday at sea for the tea?

Teresa

 

[WVMD]

We only have 3 excursions planned so far, the VIP tour of the Vatican, the Taste of Sorrento and Pompeii, and Florence & Michaelangelo.

Should we just book tea and brunch seperately, or is there a way to get a group in? What about the first day at sea for the Brunch and the Friday at sea for the tea?

Teresa

Which one of the VIP tours are you going to try? The VIP tour alone - or the one with the Highlights of Rome.

Virgil

 

[Worktoplay]

In regards to dress code, I've done two Disney cruises and I've seem some people very dressed up and others tastefully dressed. It's not Cunard so no one will give you dirty looks no matter what you where...IMHO. As for the kids, on formal nights I would make my younger son where collared shirt kakis. Now that he's 12 I'll probably have him wear a jacket and tie but I don't think it would be horrible for him not to, I just think he's old enough to dress the part.

Steph,

Bummer you have to work on the cruise! This cruise fell right inbetween our payroll days of the 15th and the 1st. I'm doing the 15th a day early so we can get into Barcelona a day early.

I really need to work on these excursions! The DCL website move a little too slow for my liking.

Marie

 

[jmcdonnell04]

Lisa,

We are the group flying with you from Paris on Saturday morning June 16th arriving at 11:50 am. We will be staying at the Sequia Lodge using DVC points checking in Wednesday morning. Our group is my DW, DD(11), DD(7),
myself and DMIL(75). We are signed up for Disney Transport from Barcelona Airport to the port. Your plan is of getting checked in, having lunch onboard and then leaving the ship for a quick tour of Barcelona sounds like a great idea.

John

 

[LisaTex]

Good morning all.

SIlver 7 - sounds good - do u think there is time in the "2 hours on your own" to go back and see the inside of the colliseum? That is my big hold -up on choosing for Rome. The VIP gets you into the St Peter's Basilica etc without lines, but you only do an external tour of the colliseum correct? I may have this totally screwed up - did any one else read it that way?

ALso, whatt do you guys think about being in Marseille on a SUnday? ARe places "open" in Europe on Sundays? I can't remember. I was going to do this one "on our own" but wondering if a DCL tour would be better for this reason. I'm getting to a point where I'm overthinking the whole thing

As for dress - we will be under such a luggage restriction because of my airline screw up - u guys may see us looking nice -but the same - for the formal nights.

 

[silver7]

We got the tour with the highlights of Rome.

Had a big family meeting last night to choose excursions. It was hilarious! Three laptops at the kitchen table with four people around them (Younger DS was too busy with friends to care, just wanted something "historical"), discussing each and every one. . . pros, cons, length. . . you would have thought we were doctors discussing which way to do a surgery!

We did decide on those three, and my older DS wants to plan our next trip to see the things we missed!!

I signed us up for the Brunch on the first Sea Day (that first Sunday) at 10:30, and tea for the Friday at Sea (it is at 3pm)

Doing the excursions made me realize we are going to miss at least one of our table meals, the tour gets back too late. I hope we get fed on the tour

 

[LisaTex]

Hi John - I knew you guys were out there somewhere! We are getting to Disneyland Hotel the 14th - staying 2 nights and then leaving with you that morning. I just made airport transfer res. with bs transports - who are you using?

My neice a nephew will be 8 & 10. Their mother decided not to go so will be just the 4 of us (my mom - 67).

 

[silver7]

Lisa that is how we read the tour, and the printout I have of it says:

"The stop at the Colosseum consist of a "drive-by" visit only. Guests will not exit the motor coach"

 

[jmcdonnell04]

Steph,

I agree with Marie that on our formal Disney cruise nights, you will see people dressed up fancy and most dressed very nicely. I would estimate that 25% of the gentlemen are in tuxedo's, 65% of the men in suits and 10% underdressed. Our children love to get dressed up for dinner on the cruise so I decided on our last cruise to join in on the fun and purchase a tuxedo (about $ 50 more than renting -- I had not worn a tuxedo since my wedding day). Although in the minority, I felt right at home and enjoyed formal night with my family. I also dressed in costume for Pirate night (10% of adults in costume) but had a great time. I believe the 10% that were underdressed for formal night stood out of the crowd alot more than the 10% of the adults dressed in costume for Pirate night.

 

[LisaTex]

OK that's what I thought - Just have to get it in my head - NO WAY TO SEE EVERYTHING! I have seen most of these sights in Rome a couple of times even - but the 2 things Ashton wanted to see were the Sistine Chapel and the colosseum - the 2 things that don't seem to go together on the any of the tours. I want to see the Pantheon - for one reason or another I never got around to seeing this on previous visits - SO for these reasons I think we will wind up splurging and do a private tour.

I like the "family meeting" aside from the above -the only input I get is "whatever you want to do" which may sound nice - but actually makes it a little harder

 

[LisaTex]

Agree on the dress. On our 7 day we all dressed up tux for dad and Ashton and pretty formal dresses for us girls. We had a great time and are some of the greatest pics we have as a group. I agree with the % but I didn't really see too many underdressing, but I really wasn't looking.

We have a pirate night again! - Who else is dressing for the event?

 

[jmcdonnell04]

Hi Lisa,

I was also going to use BS Transports based on the good reviews under the Disneyland Paris forum. Have you been to Paris before? This is our first trip to Europe so we are very excited.

Our plan is to go to the park on Wednesday while we get used to the timechange. On Thursday, take the train into Paris and purchase one-day ticket for the double decker buses that travel from tourist site to tourist site around the city and get off and get on the bus where ever we want. Friday, we will go back to the park. On Saturday, we will fly with our new friends from Texas to Barcelona.

John

 

[jmcdonnell04]

We will be having our family meeting tonight as well to try to choose our excursions. My DW also believes that the "whatever you want to do" is a trap that will lead to it being her fault if the excursion doesn't work out. I am the mediator caught between DMIL and DW but that is a separate story.

I want the Vatican time to include St Peter's and the Sistine Chapel. My DW wants the Colisseum (not to tour inside) but spend some time outside and the Trevi Fountain and shopping. My DMIL wants Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, Pantheon and shopping.

The Disney excursions are always missing one key component so the private tour may be the way to go.

John

 

[LisaTex]

John - sounds like a great plan!! The bus sounds like a great way to see the main sights. Of course no way to see it all - the only thing I could add is if any way to fit in Versaille (sp.) it is amazing - but - at least a half day trip. We will have been in Paris for a couple of days on the London/Paris ABD tour - our main day at the parks will be Friday also. If we don't run into you before, I guess we'll meet you on the transfer to CDG.

Yes the Rome trip is my main hold up - for the reasons mentioned above. I talked to a tour person in Rome who said you cannot do the museums "right" and do all the rest. The colloseum is amazing on the inside as well - I don't think we can just do a drive by like the DCL tour does - esp. since it is the one thing my nephew wants to see. I figure if I am going to drag him around to all the other sights - I can at least do this for him. You can buy tics ahead of time to not have to wait in line at the colloseum and at the Vatican museums - that was the advantage to the VIP DCL tour - no lines at the Vatican. Where's the icon for pulling your hair out when you need one

 

[silver7]

Which night is Pirate night, or are we still having one? Pirates of the Mediterannean?

My younger DS LOVED the tuxes on our last cruise, and wanted to wear it to semi formal night also--so yes we were one of two families that had on tuxes on the second night Watch out, we may be the James Bond family again

DH will take his and we will rent for the other two.

Part of the reason we picked the excursions we did was to let my MIL have a say, since this will probably be the only trip to Rome she will take. We can always go back in the future, but dont know if she would.

I have a call in to concierge services asking about the VIP Rome tour that is much more--wanting to know the differences between the regular tour and that one.

 

[LisaTex]

silver -7 if you find out anything new about that tour - please let me know.

i thought i read in the Med packet we were all sent that there will be a Pirates in the CARRIBEAN. I remember thinking it was funny since we would be in the MED. When does the final Pirates movie come out anyway? Maybe they are still just playing up that. I know it was that week last year that the second one opened.

yes, that is the truth - we can always hope to go back - you know how i feel about parents and poss. last trips

how has the res. process been going? smooth?