June 16, 2007 MedHead Cruisers

[Skallywag]

Hi Everyone,

Patricia if you are flying into Heathrow you would probably do better to pick a hotel there for the night. You can find them on the same site and there is a direct link to Victoria via tube.

You can get a coach link from Gatwick terminal to Heathrow my daughter does it all the time. She has to fly into Gatwick from the Channel Isles and some of her onward flights only go from Heathrow. She is away in Fiji at a wedding at the moment - can find out more informtion when she returns. She flew from Heathrow to KL and Melbourne and stayed overnight in a hotel there.
Will ask her on her return.

I do not think anyone will have a problem getting accommodation at DLP - for some reason it does not appear to be very popular and they are always doing cut price trips from England all year round. Think it is when you have seen the real Disney as many people now have this is a bit of an anti-climax so I have been told.

Still no rain in our part of England - looks more like autumn or fall with all the leaves brown and on the ground.

Only thing I am still trying to work out is the transport in Barcelona - need to get that sorted in my mind.

Have still not cancelled the Hilton Diagonal Mar room - will have to do that later today. Far too expensive saving £130.plus with the other hotel and it is a five star and they say one of the top in the world. We will wait and see but good enough I am sure for a night.

Think I will give up looking at the news - what with the middle east and now China clubbing to death 50,000 dogs it makes you so mad and upset the world is a terrible place at the moment I think.

Have a good day everyone.
Brenda

 

[Skallywag]

Hi again everyone,

Here I am working away and I expect most of you are not even up.

Found these two sites regarding transport from the UK airports to the city. They also have links for hotels - hope they are a help.

www.heathrowexpress.com

This service takes you from Heathrow into Paddington London in 15 minutes.

www.gatwickexpress.com

This services goes direct to Victoria in 30 minutes.

Brenda

 

[DVC4US]

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to post again before I was without a computer for a week. We leave for WDW tomorrow and then we go on our 7 day cruise on Saturday, August 12th. I will probably try to check in while I am on the cruise so I will catch up with everything then.

I am still trying to finalize our flight plans for next summer. Right now we are going to fly to London on the 9th of June, and then fly to Paris after the cruise and fly home on the 1st of July so I had to wait to book the whole flight. Hopefully I can get it finished today or tomorrow.

Everyone have a great day and I will check in when I can.

 

[carolmb]

MV Photon had posted this on the regular Cruise page and OurDogCisco copied it to the The Med Thread. I thought I'd copy it and move it over here.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1184080



Many veteran Mediterranean cruisers assert that their experiences have been enhanced via the use of private tour guides at several ports.

Potential advantages include:
customized itineraries
see exactly what you want
leave once you've seen enough
luxury Mercedes mini-vans
access to ancient & narrow inner-city streets, off-limits to large buses
not touring with lots of other people's children (...sorry!)
no waiting for stragglers to return to the bus
opportunity to bypass lines at popular attractions (w/ licensed guides)
While such tours may appear to be costly at 450 - 660 Euro/day, that fee covers an entire party of 6 - 8 passengers; thus, the cost per person is competitive with that of the cattle calls.

While I claim no first-hand expertise, I have spent many hours perusing the Boards at several cruise forums (e.g. – www.cruisecritic.com) to compile this list of recommended firms & guides at Disney Cruise Lines’ 2007 European ports of call, in rough order of the frequency & enthusiasm of endorsements:

Barcelona
www.pepitotours.com/private-tours-barcelona.html Jose Soler
http://wwguides.com/forums/member.php?u=243
www.gobarcelona.com/
BCNtour-taxi Armando Panedas
(34) 60-419-756 armandopanedas@vodafone.es
www.barcelonatourguides.com/ Patrick
http://www.taxiinternacional.com/en...ternacional.htm Angie

Palermo, Sicily
www.easytoursicilia.it/indexe.htm Sylvano Lunetta
www.sicily-tour.com/ Stephen Davies
www.sicilylife.com/Tours.htm

Don’t miss the Capuchin Catacombs:http://www.palermoweb.com/sottopale...cappuccini1.htm

Naples (Pompeii)
http://driveamalfi.com/ Salvatore Lucibello, Adriano, Roberto
www.drivesorrento.com/ Nello Russo
www.seesorrento.com/chi_sono_eng.html Marcello Maresca, Eugiene, Marco
www.aptours.it/Site/default.asp?Lang=EN Alberto
www.francescomarrapese.com/excursions.htm Francesco
www.pleasantravel.com/index.htm Mariano Fiorentino
www.jackthedriver.com/ Jack, Lorenzo Bianco
www.benvenutolimos.com/ Giovanni
http://www.sorrentocardrivers.com/S...ult.asp?Lang=EN Raffael
www.cuomonet.it/ Renato
http://aldotaxi.net/ Aldo
www.driverinrome.com …but avoid Guiliana
http://tourofitaly.com/
www.hiddenitalytours.com/ Mariano Fiorentino

Olbia, Sardinia


Civitavecchia (Rome)
www.limoinrome.com/home.htm Claudio Caponera , Fabrizio
www.driverinrome.com/ Daniele Melaragno, Remo (his father), Pepe, Manny
http://romeinlimo.com/ Duman & Carlo
www.romelimousineservice.com/ Max Leotta
www.romecabs.com/ Stefano Costantini
www.romeconnection.com/ Marco

Don’t miss the Scavi Tour (Vatican necropolis):http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/i...0040112_en.html

La Spezia (Florence / Pisa)
www.florencetour.com/ Paola Migliorni
www.tuscanyinmypocket.com/ Guido
www.abcwine.it/off shore.htm Carla Giomi
www.papillonservice.com/ Lisa, Roberto
www.tuscanybytaxi.it/ Ricardo
www.sunflower-tours.com/services.htm Giovanni Sirabella
www.limoinrome.com/home.htm Claudio
Alessandro Cammilli alecamma@hotmail.com
Pauline Priore paulinep@tin.it

Pre-book tickets to Ufizi and Academia Galleria:www.florenceart.it/
Dial 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) 055-294-883 during the hours of 8:30 AM -6:30 PM M-F & 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time.

Pre-book to Leaning Tower of Pisa (available 45 – 16 days in advance): www.opapisa.it/boxoffice/index.jsp

Marseilles
http://rendez-vous-provence.com/en/contact.html Olivier N’guyen
www.taxidurand.com/guide2.htm
www.provence-taxi-tourisme.com/
http://www.provence-travel.com/prov...ers/cities.html Catherine D'Antuono
http://provencesightseeing.com/
http://provencetours.free.fr/accueil_anglais.htm
Villefranche (Monte Carlo / Cannes / Nice)
www.revelation-tours.com/cruise.html Michel LeGrand, Isoline
www.dream-tours.com/layout.php?page=106&lang=us Alain, Frederic, Jean Marc
www.azur-guides-interpretes.com/ Sylvie DiCristo
www.riviera-prestige-tours.com/ Eva Devemy

P.S.- The more renowned guides are often booked up months or more ahead of time. More than a year in advance, we have already reserved our guides (the top on each list) for the 28 July 2007 11-day cruise.


I have booked tours in Naples with Drive Sorrento and Florence with Tuscany in My Pocket. Still waiting to hear back from drivers in Rome. Not sure what to do about ports in Sicily or France yet. Still trying to figure out the flights. We want to use miles but Continental has not released the reward seats yet. So now we play the waiting game. Have a great weekend.
Carol

 

[PURTYPAT1]

MV Photon had posted this on the regular Cruise page and OurDogCisco copied it to the The Med Thread. I thought I'd copy it and move it over here.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1184080

Many veteran Mediterranean cruisers assert that their experiences have been enhanced via the use of private tour guides at several ports.

Carolmb, what great information!!! Is everyone going to book there own tours, or wait for Disney?

Brenda, you have been a real "sweet heart" with all of your information. I am going to buy you a Special Disney Drink on the boat.

Today, we were out on my husband's boat in NY. Across from the Statue of Liberty we saw Celebrity Cruise ship. It seems to me, that it needs to be cleaned or painted. It wasn't sparkling like Disney. I was really disappointed.

We finally booked our airfare, just need to book London, hotel, & we are all set. (except the tours)

Have a great weekend everyone

Patricia

 

[Skallywag]

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are having a great time. The information from the ports is great have printed off and will work my way through. Having been to some of the ports before have ideas where I want to go this time. Just wonder if any of these tours appeal but you need extra people to fill the transport would be worthwhile putting on this site and perhaps all can work together and save a bit of our precious money in the bargin.

Patricia it is no problem to me and thoroughly enjoyed the searching around. Am hoping to go to Buck House for another visit this year and will sort out more information. The main attractions to visitors in London are in not too great any area but if you want to visit outside london let me know and I will research or let you know from my experience. My friend has just done the river trip from Westminster pier to Kew gardens she said it was excellent. She had hoped to go to Hampton Court but the water was too low to let the boat go up that far. If you want to see lots of sights without walking the boat is quite a good way of doing it. Starts from the othr side of the river to the London eye I believe.
Will find a site and post back.
Patricia envy you your trip out on the boat - have been to Washington but only flown into Newark airport and out again a couple of times. Everyone else could see the Statue of Liberty from the airport lounge but I am not all enough.
Brenda

 

[Skallywag]

Have just looked at the thames sites and the ones I have found so far are for cruises from Westminster pier to Greenwich - www.westminsterpier.co.uk and the other is www.riverethames.co.uk.

Will ask my friend who has just one of the cruises who she booked on line with so I can pass on more information.

Brenda

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Brenda,

I'm off to "Fire Island" Long Island with the family for a few days, I am interested in the group tours, I will email you when I get back.

Have you had rain as of yet?

Talk to you soon.

Patricia

 

[Skallywag]

Hi everyone,

It rained really hard this morning - first for a long long time here at our end of this Island. Very strange as it is a small island and the other end have had showers but none here - this happens a lot and I do not know why.

Not nearly enough but it has damped the ground down which was like a dry desert.

Just wonder if it would be worhwhile having a wish list of places people want visit. Remember I have the Italian tourist information and also have visited some of the places if I can be of any help with bits of information.

Brenda

 

[Skallywag]

Have been looking at airport/hotel/port transfers and have just booked ours.
As we are not staying at one of the Disney hotels have found the prices as follows:-

Airport to Hotel Rey Juan Carlos 85 euro plus 7% tax.
Hotel to Port 80 " " "
Back to airport 85 " " "


This is by mercedez e class for the two of us.

I know we could get a taxi cheaper but they appear to have for all bits of luggage and did not want the hassle.

This company appears to be based at both the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos and the Eurostar Hotel so perhaps the two hotels are linked in some way.

If anyone is interested the company was recommended by the hotel as being the one they use and is www.thegoldenwheels.com. Have been conversing by email to Oswaldo here and he replies in English so that is quite good.
Brenda

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hay Brenda,

I just went to the website & try to book the hotel, for two rooms that is a great price. I am trying to reserve it.

I can't find it at that price. Look what I am getting

Deluxe Room 1 queen bed 30SQM Daylight Sea or mountian view assined on arrival high Speed interenet access WI-FI/A1Q 420.00 (EUR) Daily Rate
Deluxe Room 2 twin beds 30SQM Daylight Sea or Mountain View assigned on arrival High speed internet access WI-FI/A2T 420.00 (EUR) Daily Rate
Deluxe Junior Suite 60SQM Daylight Sea or Mountain view assigned on arrival bathroom restroom high speed internet access WI-FI/A1J 630.00 (EUR) Daily Rate
Eurosuite 70SQM Corner Suite Large Windows Breathtaking views over city king bed corner shaped bathtub high speed internet access/C1S 850.00 (EUR) Daily Rate
Deluxe 2 Bedrm Suite 90SQM Daylight Sea or Mountain view 1 king and 2 twin beds 2 baths 1 restroom high speed ienternet access/D2S 875.00 (EUR) Daily Rate

my email address is if you need to send me links.
Purtypat1@aol.com

Thanks
Patricia

 

[carolmb]

Still trying to figure out the airfare. We really want to use miles but Continental still has not released any seats. I think now we are going to fly r/t from london and buy a one way ticket from barcelona to london. I found a one way ticket on British Airways for $54 USDpp. Then we will just spend the night at the airport Hilton and catch a flight home the next day. I would much rather fly non-stop to Houston than have to change planes in Newark anyway.

I hope everyone is having a great summer. School starts for us here on Thursday.

Carol

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Still trying to figure out the airfare. We really want to use miles but Continental still has not released any seats. I think now we are going to fly r/t from london and buy a one way ticket from barcelona to london. I found a one way ticket on British Airways for $54 USDpp. Then we will just spend the night at the airport Hilton and catch a flight home the next day. I would much rather fly non-stop to Houston than have to change planes in Newark anyway.

I hope everyone is having a great summer. School starts for us here on Thursday.

Carol

Hi Carol,

I can't beleive school starts tommrow, our schools starts 9/7
When do you finish school? My DD finishes June 14 2007. I am picking her up & we are off to JFK.

We booked our airfare. We are spending an extra day in London. I am very excited about this.

AA
6/14 - 6/28
JFK to LHR 6:45pm
LHR to JFK 8:00 pm
= $892.00 this includes a 10.00 booking fee, I had to do over the phone, for we have vouchers. With the vochers it comes to only,
$292.00 a ticket.

We connect in London

British Airlines
6/15 to 6/27
LHR to BCN 9:30 am
BCN to LHR 1:30 pm
=$205.50 (which includes a $10.00 on phone booking)

Phew......glad I am finished with the airfare.

Anyone else on the flight with us?

 

[carolmb]

Hi Carol,

I can't beleive school starts tommrow, our schools starts 9/7
When do you finish school? My DD finishes June 14 2007. I am picking her up & we are off to JFK.QUOTE]


School finishes for us on May 25, 2007. Next year school will not start until the end of August and I have no idea when the last day will be.
Carol

 

[silver7]

Hi All

Yeah Carol, the kids go back today! (our kids are in the same school district!)

Brenda are you ok? very worried with the latest news out of the UK.

We went ahead and booked air for the 14th, then Continental was having a sale on upgrades so we upgraded two of our tickets (the girls are being treated to first class!). I figure I will trade off with the boys--82 year olds deserve to fly first class to Europe once in their lives!

 

[Skallywag]

Hi Everyone,

Not good the news today especially as my eldest daughter is just getting on a plane from Melbourne to Singapore as I write this. Things are a bit chaotic I believe at the airports at present and will take a time to sort out. Last I heard no flights were landing at Heathrow because of the backlog and no shorhauls taking off. Will all sort itself out I am sure and I am certain it will not make our prime minister leave his holiday with Cliff Richard in Barbados anyway

Hope this is the link to the boats on the Thames I promised - my friend has just emailed to me.

http://www.touruk.co.uk/london_transport/transport_riverboat.htm

Brenda

 

[carolmb]

Teresa - What kind of sale was Continental having on upgrades? We would like to fly 1st class. I keep checking to see if they have any seats to use miles but no luck. We are thinking of just buying the coach seats and using miles to upgrade but you are waitlisted and it is no guarantee. We are planning on flying to London on June 8th. My DS looked so grown-up today starting 3rd grade. My DD starts kindergarten on Monday. She is going to a Montessorri school.

 

[silver7]

I promise I replied to this, and the replies keep disappearing!

Carol, we bought a coach class ticket, and the upgrade was something like $1500-$1800 more to first class. I was told those are usually $14,000 seats.

We are flying directly to Barcelona (via Newark) and will have a short layover there. I thought the planes would be bigger than they are. They just look like regular jets. I was imagining the old school ones from the movies with the bar on the second level

 

[Skallywag]

We were getting too far down the list - hope everyone is well and we have at last had rain - 2 days of it here watching the grass and weeds growing as I type this.
Brenda

 

[silver7]

Another hot day here in Houston

College starts for my older ds next week. Yikes he is growing up fast (notice I am not getting older, he is!)

High School started for my younger ds last week. He likes it ok so far. Our neighbors just got a foreign exchange student from Sweden. He and my younger ds are hitting it off very nicely. What an awesome learning opportunity!

Have a great day everyone