June 18, 2011 - 11 Night Mediterranean Sailing from Barcelona

[astallings]

We have a total of 11; 5 adults and 3 DD's and 3 DS's. Looks like good reviews on both Romelimostours and Romeinlimo. I emailed both companies and both were very responsive. Looking forward to the cruise. Thanks for the information.

 

[jmatias]

Looks like we have several families staying at Casp 74 pre-cruise. Maybe we can try to meet up before the cruise to introduce ourselves. Or another idea is to see who may want to book a group bus to the pier on the 18th.

In Rome we are going with Romeinlimo tours. Our family is 2 adults, and 3 kids 15, 13, and 7. If anyone is interested in joining up let us know.

Jen

 

[Calfan]

I just booked our flights this morning using miles. I am so relieved to have that done! We will be arriving in Barcelona on June 15 and will be spending a few days in Paris after the cruise. I am still looking at hotel options in Barcelona. Now that the flights are taken care of, I need to start focusing on port excursions. We are definitely considering a private tour in Naples, so thanks for the info everyone has posted on tour companies they are using or considering.

 

[JulieWent]

Hi Everyone!

It's been a long, hot week. My classroom is ready for the kids, now, though, and I can play some.

We're thinking of using LimoinRome for our private tour of Rome. AndrewUK has recommended them highly, and I've seen lots and lots of good reviews of this company on CruiseCritic and elsewhere on the web. Andrew told me that Claudio is able to set up a really nice private tour of the Vatican that I'm very interested in, and it just sounds like a nice group. I've also heard really good things about Romeinlimo and Romeslimostours. (Those names are all so similar that it's confusing!) I don't think we'll go wrong with any of them.

In Rome, I think we'd like to tour the Vatican / St. Peter's / the Sistine chapel; the Coliseum; the Pantheon; and one of the sets of catacombs (sounds silly, I know, but I have a teen-aged boy). I know that the official tours offer more, but I want to be able to take our time at some of these places and relax for a nice lunch or early dinner, so I'm hoping to see a few really wonderful things -- and the catacombs, of course -- and then just enjoy being in Rome.

We're really having a hard time with Naples / Pompeii. Both my husband and son want to see Pompeii, but I think we ought to do a less rigorous day that day -- with Rome coming up. A half day Pompeii trip would be good, but I don't want to miss anything. That's still in the works.

Still have NO idea what to do about Florence / Pisa. I would LOVE to see Florence, but I think that's going to be a heck of a day. I'm wondering if my husband and son (who both have low tolerances for art work and architecture) could do Rome one day and Florence two days later. Maybe I'll do Florence on my own. Anyone have thoughts about that day yet?

We have booked our hotels for London and Barcelona now, but I haven't bought our plane tickets. That's next, but I think I'll wait until next month's frequent flyer miles get posted. I'd love to get together with everyone who is staying at CASP74. I wonder if there would be any benefit to getting group transport to the port.

I'm looking forward to this school year starting. It's always fun to meet the kids, etc. But it's really great knowing that at the end of the year, there's a great big wonderful vacation waiting!

(Also, football season starts in only 28 days -- Can I get a War Eagle from someone out there? )

Julie

 

[Calfan]

No War Eagle from me; sorry. But I will give everyone a huge Go Bears!!! I am also a major football fan, and my team is the California Golden Bears (which explains my choice of names for this board). Kick-off is less than a month away

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I can attest that Calfan is appropriately named, LOL.

I bit the bullet and went ahead and bought airline tickets this morning. We're flying American from SFO through JFK and ended up paying $1300 plus a person. Ouch. British Air was a bit cheaper, but that meant dealing with Heathrow and customs (which I try to avoid). So we are now officially committed! I'll be buying insurance later today through squaremouth.

We also reserved a room for two nights pre-cruise at Casp 74. I was struggling trying to find something for our family of four (DS will be 14 and DD will be 11) that didn't require booking two hotel rooms. Thanks to Calfan and others on the board for the head's up on this place. It looks perfect!

Next up is tour excursions...

 

[jmatias]

Flights all booked using miles so big relief with that especially since we are a family of 5.

As the plans fall into place its getting more exciting!!!

Need to work on more port excursions now. If it was just DH and I we would do it all but with the kids in tow, especially the 7 year old want to make sure we don't get ragged doing long tours everyday.

For the kids, the ship is the best part! But want to make sure they get exposed to enough of the various ports.

Jen

 

[Calfan]

We have a room reserved at Casp74 for the 3 nights prior to the cruise. With so many of us staying there, it will be a fun opportunity to get acquainted before the ship sails. Group transportation to the port could be the way to go. Like many others, I am now turning my attention to port excursions. I emailed Romelimostours and Romeinlimo about a private tour of the Amalfi coast and both got back to me very promptly. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Hey all!

Julie, just a smalll side note - Herculaneum, from a preservation perspective, is supposed to be even more amazingly preserved than Pompeii, and is much less crowded. Plus, it's only a 30 minute drive, and a 4.5-5 hour tour. I've had friends that have been there, they say Herculaneum for sure, you'll get much more out of it than Pompeii.

I've been waffling on pulling the trigger on flights - $1232 a piece at the moment - but maybe I should just do it.....

Allison

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Bit the bullet and bought the flights, $1232 each. One stop RT Charlotte to Barcelona.

 

[Angie_Ohio]

Hi Everyone!
We just switched our 10 day Med. for this one for less $$! Gotta love that!
I am sailing with one of my 5 sons (DS16, 17 next Aug.), and my parents. We started exploring a tour of Germany since my parents were stationed there in the 60's and I was born there. When I checked the prices on the Med. cruise we all jumped.
We have all cruised Disney before so are looking forward to being back on the Magic.
I am hoping to take each of my boys on a solo trip in the future. DS 13 wants to go to Germany and Greece. DS 12 will go anywhere as long as he can play hoops on deck 10. We're going on the Dream in Dec. 2011.
I am a plannaholic so have been reading and planning since last October. We plan to do most ports on our own.
Great to meet everyone!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Hi Everyone!
We just switched our 10 day Med. for this one for less $$! !

Hey Angie! We did the same thing! We were originally on the August 10 night cruise and switched over to the 11 night when we found out Calfan and her family were on this one. Looking forward to hearing more about your plans. I'm right there with you in being a plannaholic, LOL. I'm thinking we're going to do mostly Disney Excursions, but I'm still debating on a few of the ports.

 

[shaqfu]

Hi you all...

My name is Shaq lol (maybe), I'm Italian and I have found this thread only today... I thought I could help you especially during your visit here in Italy with any informations.

I Have visited Florence Barcelona Rome Naples and could suggest you the cheapest and the fastest way to visit these cities, helping with the public transportation, tourist informations, what is worth being and what not...
etc etc...

Using "scheduled tours" can be very expensive and you will never see what you want... the way you want... for the time you want... for the money you want...

Today i gave any notes to reach Pompei "on your own..." using public transportation, but I can help you to translate italian site, to find good restaurants as you don't know the language and you can read all the italian reviews about them...

I'm just 33yo but I have travelled a lot in my life (I was twice in disneyworld (10 days at all), once in Disneyland-Anaheim (4days), once in Disneyland Paris (4 days) and had a 7 nights caribbean cruise, so I think we have lot of common interests (especially about travelling).

I have spent 4 days in Florence last week and I saw there lot of disney cruise line Guests arrived from La Spezia... That's why I started to post here in DIS, maybe I can help anyone to plan ur cruise and your excursions as I did before in another post with a friend who needed to reach Pompei

I like to save lot of money (I've visited the Disney's Character Premiere in the Premium Outlet in Florida and this just because of the informations shared in internet between the travellers) and use them for many other things.-

I'm sorry, I know my english is not really good, hope you can understand me "anyway"

Have fun planning your cruise...

At your disposal

shaq

 

[FloridaKings]

If you are flying back to the US directly after the cruise, how early is your
flight? I have seen flights that leave BCN at 10:00 a.m. and others at 11:20 a.m. on Delta. Need to get back to use that day.

Disney recommends 12:30 p.m. or later, but they want to be cautious.

Happy to be joining this group on our adventure!!

 

[Angie_Ohio]

Shaqfu
I am planning to see most places on my own (with my family of course) using public transportation and walking for most ports where possible.
My question for you is how do you see Pompei and the Amalfi coast without some help? What would you suggest?
I am traveling with my 16 year old son and my parents (70).

 

[JulieWent]

If you are flying back to the US directly after the cruise, how early is your
flight? I have seen flights that leave BCN at 10:00 a.m. and others at 11:20 a.m. on Delta. Need to get back to use that day.

Disney recommends 12:30 p.m. or later, but they want to be cautious.

Happy to be joining this group on our adventure!!

FLAKings,

I'm going to go ahead and book the 10:00 BCN to ATL flight. I have to do that or spend another night. It just seems to be one more night that I'd really rather not do. If we don't make the flight, I suppose I'll be sorry, but, we're going to try.

Julie

 

[JulieWent]

Okay, can't resist! This will be my 1000th post, and I thought I'd make it here. Welcome to all those who have joined in the past week or so. I've been busy with school starting -- getting classroom together and getting to know a new bunch. But I haven't stopped thinking about planning. I'm going to book plane tickets this weekend when I have time to sit down and concentrate, and I've been asking friends who have traveled in Italy what exactly I should do. (No definite plans yet, but I've got more thoughts. Just what I need, huh?)

Still no Auburn Tigers out there? Oh, well, I'll have to celebrate football season with CalFan. DS (who is a football fanatic extraordinare) says he thinks she'll have a great season.

Well, just wanted to drop in and get my 1000th post. Wish me luck getting my flight tickets straight.

Julie

 

[2PrincesseInTow]

If you are flying back to the US directly after the cruise, how early is your
flight? I have seen flights that leave BCN at 10:00 a.m. and others at 11:20 a.m. on Delta. Need to get back to use that day.

Disney recommends 12:30 p.m. or later, but they want to be cautious.

Happy to be joining this group on our adventure!!

I've read several trip reports that talked about early flights. They have all said an early departure was not a problem. I think one said that you are asked to show your flight intinerary. There is only one direct flight from BCN to Newark and I think it leaves at 10:25am. I'm planning for my MIL to be on it.

 

[shaqfu]

Shaqfu
My question for you is how do you see Pompei and the Amalfi coast without some help? What would you suggest?
I am traveling with my 16 year old son and my parents (70).

Hi Angie, I've written you a detailed pm with all the informations to reach Pompei and the Amalfi Coast.-

Thought could be helpful for all the guys reading the thread resume them here.

1) Better thing to me is rent a car
(especially as you are a group of 4 people).
It's quite cheap (prices start from 50 euro a day) and it give you the necessary freedom to see all the places you are willing to.
Plus: price, time, comfort, spirit of adventure, car rental are near the Port or the train station (somebody walked there from the ship as I read here in the board in many trip report)!
Minus: you don't know the road (not really a problem), you don't know where to park (you have to pay for private parking too, we can arrange to find them out)!

2) Second chance: public transportation
you can read this thread I've written yesterday about Pompeii (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2534909)

As you need to see both Pompei and Amalfi you have to consider that from Pompeii you can take buses to reach Amalfi Coast (but must be "lucky" with their schedule). Better thing wud be take the Vesuviana Train again and reach sorrento, then using the new "Metro del Mare" to reach Positano or Amalfi.
It's a hydrofoil with scheduled departures from Naples or Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast (even good to reach Amalfi directly from the Magic port of call) here you can find a video about the trip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Xbhep2EsA&feature=related)

According to the 2010 schedule there is a departure at 9:45 and arrives in Amalfi at 11:20. At 5 p.m. is fixed the departure to come back "easily" to Naples and have all the time to reach the ship.-

This "metro del mare" should start only few yards from the place where the Magic will arrive so it's quite easy to take.-

Writing the post I was looking at the schedules of this services and I tried to fix some point just to understand if it's posible combine all this services (I think it is... )

Disney Magic hours in Naples:
Wednesday Naples, Italy (Pompeii) ashore 8:30 a.m. onboard 9:00 p.m.

You must help me but I think it takes a while before you guests can leave the ship... (I'll calculate that you can leave at 9 am)

1) Reaching the train station by taxi ( must be 20 €uro the ride for 10 minutes)

2) Reaching Pompei by train (now there is one at 9:41 a.m. that arrives in Pompei at 10:16 € 2,4 p/p) Visiting Pompei...walking and using wikipedia ad Guide (priceless) Couple of hours at all must be enough. The tickets to enter the "Scavi" must be € 11,00 p/p).-

3) Reaching Sorrento by train departure fixed at 12:17 and arrival at 12:47 (€ 1,90 p/p)
Reaching Sorrento "Port" walking or by taxi (train station it's just 800 meters away from the port walking for 10 minutes you can easily reach it as you have almost 50 minutes before the "ship leave to Amalfi, any way a taxi can't cost you more than 20 euro)

Reaching Amalfi "by sea" leave at 1:35 p.m. and arrives at 2:25 (€ 11,00 p/p)
Enjoy the sea and get ready to come back...

Reaching Sorrento by sea there are two departures... I'll take the first one to be sure to reach Naples in time without hurrying up...
first one is at 5 pm and arrives in Sorrento at 6:10

second one is at 5:40 and arrives at 18:35 (the price is always € 11,00 p/p of course)

We are almost arrived as your train for Naples leaves at 6:40 and arrives at 7:33, so you can easily come back to the Magic before the 9pm. (€ 3,40 p/p)

If you take the last ship from Amalfi there are two more trains at 6:55 and at 7:26 that arrives in Naples at 8:00 or 8:15 (always consider that you have to reach the Magic before the 9 ) Sincerely I don't know how many minutes before the "On board" you have to reach the ship, but 45 minutes will be surely enough in any case.-

As you arrive remember to tip Shaqfu ahaha

The cost for 4 persons must be € 230,00 considering taxis (calculate € 40,00 less if you can walk from Sorrento "molo" to the train station)

Hope to be helpful for anyone of you

It's a pleasure for me

 

[hygienist999]

For Julie, WAR EAGLE!!!!. We will be at all the home games and DH can't wait. My DS sent in his application for Auburn last week, so hopefully this time next year he will be an Auburn Tiger.

Our flights have been booked using miles. We leave from Atlanta on Delta at 9:50pm on June 16. We do have a layover for about 1 1/2 hours in Amsterdam. Hopefully we will be able to adjust to the time. Our return flight leaves the morning after we arrive back in port. This flight will be non-stop.

I wish we could travel to London or Paris but DH is pushing it to be away from work for this long. He will have to do a bit of work while we are away as he is the CFO of the company and is the only one allowed to do certain tasks. As for me, I have a great boss and could take the extra days off with no problem.

Still looking over excursions. I think we will stick with all Disney excursions, just because its easy.