June 18, 2011 - 11 Night Mediterranean Sailing from Barcelona

[ga9497]

What is everyone planning at each port?
This is what we are thinking as of right now, may change as we finalize

Malta - just walking around Valetta and stopping at whatever interests us

Palermo - will walk around and see whatever sights we decide on

Naples - Archeological Museum, then train to Sorrento. Maybe a stop in Capri too will make that decision based on time when we are there

Rome - train to Rome, will purchase tickets to the Vatican Museum ahead of time, Trevi Fountain, St Peter's in chain church, Colosseo

La Spezia - Train to Cinque Terre, we won't be hiking but taking the train to each of the towns. Thinking of starting at the furtest point first then working our way back. Will take the walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore as it said to be an easy one

Corsica - looking at the Sweet Corscia excursion through DCL but since the shops will be closed on Sunday not sure if this is the best thing. Have sent an email to DCL excursions, waiting response. Otherwise not sure

Villefranche - bus to Monaco see the palace, do some window shopping, bus to Nice would like to stop in Molinard shop / perfume museum

 

[ga9497]

Great site with information on Palermo
http://www.seepalermo.com/

 

[2PrincesseInTow]

Is anyone else having trouble with the DCL website? I can click the tabs for Palo, spa and excursions, I wait and then it just comes back to the same screen or on spa and excursions the screen goes white.

I got into excursions for a minute and booked one thing and now it's the same old routine...... very frustrating!

 

[makaylee]

What is everyone planning at each port?
This is what we are thinking as of right now, may change as we finalize

Malta - just walking around Valetta and stopping at whatever interests us

Palermo - will walk around and see whatever sights we decide on

Naples - Archeological Museum, then train to Sorrento. Maybe a stop in Capri too will make that decision based on time when we are there

Rome - train to Rome, will purchase tickets to the Vatican Museum ahead of time, Trevi Fountain, St Peter's in chain church, Colosseo

La Spezia - Train to Cinque Terre, we won't be hiking but taking the train to each of the towns. Thinking of starting at the furtest point first then working our way back. Will take the walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore as it said to be an easy one

Corsica - looking at the Sweet Corscia excursion through DCL but since the shops will be closed on Sunday not sure if this is the best thing. Have sent an email to DCL excursions, waiting response. Otherwise not sure

Villefranche - bus to Monaco see the palace, do some window shopping, bus to Nice would like to stop in Molinard shop / perfume museum

One of the things we thought would be fun is to make sure we have something that is the "food" of the area at each port. Can't seem to find that for Malta though. A different way for the teens to remember each stop

Food
Malta - ?
Palermo - arancini and cannoli's
Naples - Pizza / Sorrento anything to do with lemons
Rome -pasta carbonara is my favorite but probably too heavy for lunch on a hot day
La Spezia - Pesto
Corsica - honey or nougat
Villefranche - squash blossoms if still in season

Of course Gelato - my favorites are Fragola and Nocciola

Malta is famous for rabbit.

 

[makaylee]

Is anyone else having trouble with the DCL website? I can click the tabs for Palo, spa and excursions, I wait and then it just comes back to the same screen or on spa and excursions the screen goes white.

I got into excursions for a minute and booked one thing and now it's the same old routine...... very frustrating!

I was able to book my Palo brunch and dinner no problem. It is the online check in that I can't get done and it is driving me crazy!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Is anyone else having trouble with the DCL website? I can click the tabs for Palo, spa and excursions, I wait and then it just comes back to the same screen or on spa and excursions the screen goes white.

I got into excursions for a minute and booked one thing and now it's the same old routine...... very frustrating!

I was having a horrible problem, too. I was able to book tea, brunch and then one excursion, and it kept coming back to that same screen. I was finally able to book the rest of my excursions about an hour later. So frustrating, but I was able to get everything I wanted.

 

[jns]

Took a while but got it sorted out in the end

No high teas at Palo

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Wow, all this talk about lack of availability is making me nervous, this is our first Disney cruise so we can't even book anything until 4/4! Were any of the excursions looking sold out? I hope we can at least get one meal at Palo!

 

[ga9497]

I was having a horrible problem, too. I was able to book tea, brunch and then one excursion, and it kept coming back to that same screen. I was finally able to book the rest of my excursions about an hour later. So frustrating, but I was able to get everything I wanted.

Glad you were able to get everything. Tea was available? When I looked yesterday afternoon it said none available

 

[ga9497]

Wow, all this talk about lack of availability is making me nervous, this is our first Disney cruise so we can't even book anything until 4/4! Were any of the excursions looking sold out? I hope we can at least get one meal at Palo!

There are always issues for some reason when people try to log on at 12:01am. Make sure you confirm each item before moving onto the next one. Don't try and book multiple items and then confirm everything at once. If you hit an error you may lose everything.

As of right now all the excursions are showing available. The only problem is that it doesn't show you how many spots are left. For example if an excursion has four spots left and you have five in your family you wouldn't be able to book it.

Palo Brunch is now showing sold out

 

[2PrincesseInTow]

Just got off the phone with DCL "internet resolution" guy. Still can't get into Palo or excursions. The good news is he's having the same problem I am but doesn't know what is causing it. Bad news is brunch is now gone. He did book us for dinner and was willing to book excursions if I wanted.

At least I know I'm not crazy.... Hopefully they get it fixed before my DSD and MIL's window opens at 75 days out.

Oh, and he reminded me that I could stand in line at Rockin D...... Woo hoo, just what wanted to avoid!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Glad you were able to get everything. Tea was available? When I looked yesterday afternoon it said none available

Yep, I logged on right at midnight/9pm and did it first. They must release a couple of tables for each group? Anyway, I was thrilled--especially since I wasn't expecting it. I was able to reserve tea, brunch and the Turkish Schooner before I started having problems. An hour later I was able to finish reserving the rest of the excursions.

 

[carolinagirls]

I went at 8am EST today and thought Mickey was going to get exhausted swimming across my screen (Your request is bening processed.....).
Finally had to go back and start again but...dinner at Palo confirmed!

 

[makaylee]

Wow, all this talk about lack of availability is making me nervous, this is our first Disney cruise so we can't even book anything until 4/4! Were any of the excursions looking sold out? I hope we can at least get one meal at Palo!

As of now, Palo dinner is wide open, brunch is sold out though.

You can always get to the port early to book there. It's always fun to start your vacation as soon as possible anyway. Your already paying for that first day, might as well get there early and get your moneys worth! .

 

[carolinagirls]

Our first cruise, we booked when we got on and got a reservation....Do it on 4/4 so you don't have to worry about it when you get to port!

 

[makaylee]

Our first cruise, we booked when we got on and got a reservation....Do it on 4/4 so you don't have to worry about it when you get to port!

Yes, you definatly want to try to do it online! I just meant that if you can't, you always have the option of getting to the port early.
Some things will sell out before the 75 day mark...brunch is already gone. If you really wanted it though, you should be able to get it on the ship if you get there early.

 

[JulieWent]

What is everyone doing in Corsica? It's the only port I'm just not sure of. We were going to do the beach getaway, but it's only open in the morning. Going to the beach at 8:00 just doesn't sound like fun to me.

What sounds good to you on Corsica?

Julie

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I kept going back and forth between Sweet Corsica and the nature hike--eventually I decided to go with the hike. I actually wish they had more outdoorsy type of excursions on this cruise, it's a fun way to see the countryside. The thing that held us back is that DD is only 11, so we'll have to leave her and her brother (14) on the ship. We're thinking about checking with Disney to see if she could go anyway--she'l be about a month away from the age restriction. I read great things about Sweet Corsica, but since we're doing Eze, wine, and Cheese the next day, I figured that would be two similar excursions back to back. I wanted to do the 4 x 4 until I saw the price. For the four of us it would have been $1400--ouch.

 

[carolinagirls]

There's also on of the world's best tortoise havens there...I am thinking the kids might like it.

 

[makaylee]

What is everyone doing in Corsica? It's the only port I'm just not sure of. We were going to do the beach getaway, but it's only open in the morning. Going to the beach at 8:00 just doesn't sound like fun to me.

What sounds good to you on Corsica?

Julie

The beach is an easy walk to do on your own, then you could get there whenever you wanted.