June 27, 2013 - Magic in the Med (Venice)

[MrsScooby]

My favorite port ... Well, that's hard to say because there was so much about each that we loved. In Helsinki, my 3rd cousin met us and we spent the day with his family. I loved Copenhagen and want to go back some time. I liked the village at the sea that we visited in Germany. It rained when we were in Oslo. St Petersburg was absolutely amazing.

Our day in Oslo was a bit rainy too. I know what you mean by hard to pick a favorite port. We went to Berlin and loved it there and really want to go back some day too.

That's what I like about crusing, getting a chance to get a taste of so many different countries and cultures

 

[emmah16]

welcome aboard
I think the DCL excursion are offically published about 4-5 months prior to sail date (maybe more) I think it varies.
Someone posted a link to a previous DCL Med cruise excursion list but I was having trouble reading it (maybe need new reading glasses, I'm getting old)

So what are you doing in Malta
I am having a hard time deciding because there are so many things I want to do there.

Well my plan is to stay in Valletta, buy some beautiful Medina glass to add to my collection Maybe have a glass of wine at the Hard Rock Cafe and admire Magic as shes docked . I plan to take it easy here as the other ports are more than likely to be more intense.Valletta is a beautiful city with so much history, just walking around the forts is nice. Malta itself is beautiful as is Gozo if you get chance to go.

 

[pacurn]

Pulled the trigger on air fare last night, as soon as DH's boss put it writing (so the cancell for work Trip Insurance will work if needed) Too bad the boss hemmed and hawed and the price went up.

Guess this is real now.

 

[lgajohnson]

Another thing checked off my list...I booked our apartment! We are staying at the Majestic Residences for 5 nights before the cruise. Our flight home leaves the day we disembark, so all of our sight seeing in Barcelona will be pre-cruise.

Anybody planning on going up to Montserrat while in Barcelona? Any tips?

We are getting closer to the nine month mark!

 

[pacurn]

Another thing checked off my list...I booked our apartment! We are staying at the Majestic Residences for 5 nights before the cruise. Our flight home leaves the day we disembark, so all of our sight seeing in Barcelona will be pre-cruise.

Anybody planning on going up to Montserrat while in Barcelona? Any tips?

We are getting closer to the nine month mark!

Congrats of booking the apartment. We've used apartments both times we've been in BCN for 3+ day and loved it.
Yes I've done Montserrat in the past before a WBTA. I used a tour company then (there were 15 of us). While we got to see the Church and touch the Madonna, we didn't get to hike or take the train to the top. The DCL tour was on a Sunday, so those folks didn't get near the Madonna. This time we are planning on the train on Wednesday and spending the day.

For anyone interested here is a rundown of what we did during a 7 day cruise (some ports overlap)

http://adamsfamilytravels.shutterfly.com/

 

[tajz90]

Congrats of booking the apartment. We've used apartments both times we've been in BCN for 3+ day and loved it.
Yes I've done Montserrat in the past before a WBTA. I used a tour company then (there were 15 of us). While we got to see the Church and touch the Madonna, we didn't get to hike or take the train to the top. The DCL tour was on a Sunday, so those folks didn't get near the Madonna. This time we are planning on the train on Wednesday and spending the day.

For anyone interested here is a rundown of what we did during a 7 day cruise (some ports overlap)

http://adamsfamilytravels.shutterfly.com/

Last time, our plan was to do Montserrat, but we had other issues and missed. This time, I plan on going. We want to go on our own. Did you see tourists there without tour groups?

 

[BeachgirlNJ]

Hi, we just booked our FIRST EVER cruise on the Magic 6/27 yesterday !! We are DVC members but have never cruised before. I am Julie, DH Brian, 2 kids dd 9 and ds 12. Talk about jumping in feet first !!

We booked a GTY cat4B and are really nervous that we are going to get the shaft, but we didn't want to miss out because the cruise is soooo booked already !

Looking forward to reading this ridiculously long thread, learning all about cruising, I just ordered Passporter's guide to DCL, and I am really interested in signing up for the Fish Extender exchange if one exists.

Any good links that all of you veterans (and there seem to be some big cruisers on this cruise, which is very reassuring) would suggest to a complete newbie, thanks in advance. Can't wait to get into the groove and SQUEEEEEEL I am so freaking excited !!

 

[Angie_Ohio]

Sadly we had to change our reservation from this cruise to the 7 night Med. But... now our friends can join us. They didn't book early like we did and the price was out of reach. Anyway... we are jumping over to the 7 day thread. I hope everyone enjoys Venice. I will see it another time. After all, I didn't think I would be going back this quickly anyway.

 

[jel0511]

Hi, we just booked our FIRST EVER cruise on the Magic 6/27 yesterday !! We are DVC members but have never cruised before. I am Julie, DH Brian, 2 kids dd 9 and ds 12. Talk about jumping in feet first !!

We booked a GTY cat4B and are really nervous that we are going to get the shaft, but we didn't want to miss out because the cruise is soooo booked already !

Looking forward to reading this ridiculously long thread, learning all about cruising, I just ordered Passporter's guide to DCL, and I am really interested in signing up for the Fish Extender exchange if one exists.

Any good links that all of you veterans (and there seem to be some big cruisers on this cruise, which is very reassuring) would suggest to a complete newbie, thanks in advance. Can't wait to get into the groove and SQUEEEEEEL I am so freaking excited !!

Welcome!!!! My DS will be 12 next year! My DD is 15. Where in NJ are you from? We're from outside Princeton our friends traveling with us are from Essex county. We sailed the Med in 2010 so ask any questions.

 

[BeachgirlNJ]

Thanks ! We are from the Red Bank area. I'm sure I will have a million questions, I am the most worried about the "GTY" aspect. That, and when/how to fly to and from Barcelona and where to stay LOL. Otherwise I guess my new hobby is learning everything I can about cruising the Magic. I assume your traveling friends have kids as well ? My BIL/SIL live in Roseland.

THanks for the welcome !

Julie
(I need to make a fancy signature)

 

[jel0511]

Thanks ! We are from the Red Bank area. I'm sure I will have a million questions, I am the most worried about the "GTY" aspect. That, and when/how to fly to and from Barcelona and where to stay LOL. Otherwise I guess my new hobby is learning everything I can about cruising the Magic. I assume your traveling friends have kids as well ? My BIL/SIL live in Roseland.

THanks for the welcome !

Julie
(I need to make a fancy signature)

OMG. I grew up in Red Bank. Graduated from RBC. Our friends have a DD who will be 13. You'll be fine with the GTY. We had one in 2010 and got a nice cabin. We are flying from PHL cheaper than EWR leaving on the 25th. DD has finals until the 24th and DS doesn't get out until the 25th. We are flying home on the 10th. Im just not comfortable trying to grab a 10:45am flight home thę day we get off, I'd rather stay that day. We did the same thing in 2010 and it was very relaxing.

 

[shoes99]

Welcome!!!! My DS will be 12 next year! My DD is 15. Where in NJ are you from? We're from outside Princeton our friends traveling with us are from Essex county. We sailed the Med in 2010 so ask any questions.

Thanks ! We are from the Red Bank area. I'm sure I will have a million questions, I am the most worried about the "GTY" aspect. That, and when/how to fly to and from Barcelona and where to stay LOL. Otherwise I guess my new hobby is learning everything I can about cruising the Magic. I assume your traveling friends have kids as well ? My BIL/SIL live in Roseland.

THanks for the welcome !

Julie
(I need to make a fancy signature)

OMG. I grew up in Red Bank. Graduated from RBC. Our friends have a DD who will be 13. You'll be fine with the GTY. We had one in 2010 and got a nice cabin. We are flying from PHL cheaper than EWR leaving on the 25th. DD has finals until the 24th and DS doesn't get out until the 25th. We are flying home on the 10th. Im just not comfortable trying to grab a 10:45am flight home thę day we get off, I'd rather stay that day. We did the same thing in 2010 and it was very relaxing.

Lots of folks from NJ on this sailing. We are in South Amboy. We are older seniors and I just added air, transfers and pre-hotel to our DCL reservation. I have until final payment date to change anything. We will do the red eye from Newark on the 25th, stay at the Renaissance and hope DCL puts us on the non-stop on the 9th from BCN to EWR.
Just got off the Magic and can't wait to get back on in 2013.

 

[MrsScooby]

Well my plan is to stay in Valletta, buy some beautiful Medina glass to add to my collection Maybe have a glass of wine at the Hard Rock Cafe and admire Magic as shes docked . I plan to take it easy here as the other ports are more than likely to be more intense.Valletta is a beautiful city with so much history, just walking around the forts is nice. Malta itself is beautiful as is Gozo if you get chance to go.

This is one of the ports that I am having alot of fun researching
We might stop off in the Hard Rock Cafe to get a hurricane glass if we have time to go with the 2 we have at home.

Pulled the trigger on air fare last night, as soon as DH's boss put it writing (so the cancell for work Trip Insurance will work if needed) Too bad the boss hemmed and hawed and the price went up.

Guess this is real now.

Congrats on getting your airfare
That to me is the hardest thing to purchase as I am always hearing about these fantastic fares but worried if I wait too long I'll get stuck with only bad options

Now the real planning can start

Another thing checked off my list...I booked our apartment! We are staying at the Majestic Residences for 5 nights before the cruise. Our flight home leaves the day we disembark, so all of our sight seeing in Barcelona will be pre-cruise.

Anybody planning on going up to Montserrat while in Barcelona? Any tips?

We are getting closer to the nine month mark!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187497-c79251/Barcelona:Spainay.Trip.To.Montserrat.html

Congrats of booking the apartment. We've used apartments both times we've been in BCN for 3+ day and loved it.
Yes I've done Montserrat in the past before a WBTA. I used a tour company then (there were 15 of us). While we got to see the Church and touch the Madonna, we didn't get to hike or take the train to the top. The DCL tour was on a Sunday, so those folks didn't get near the Madonna. This time we are planning on the train on Wednesday and spending the day.

For anyone interested here is a rundown of what we did during a 7 day cruise (some ports overlap)

http://adamsfamilytravels.shutterfly.com/

Great trip

 

[MrsScooby]

Hi, we just booked our FIRST EVER cruise on the Magic 6/27 yesterday !! We are DVC members but have never cruised before. I am Julie, DH Brian, 2 kids dd 9 and ds 12. Talk about jumping in feet first !!

We booked a GTY cat4B and are really nervous that we are going to get the shaft, but we didn't want to miss out because the cruise is soooo booked already !

Looking forward to reading this ridiculously long thread, learning all about cruising, I just ordered Passporter's guide to DCL, and I am really interested in signing up for the Fish Extender exchange if one exists.

Any good links that all of you veterans (and there seem to be some big cruisers on this cruise, which is very reassuring) would suggest to a complete newbie, thanks in advance. Can't wait to get into the groove and SQUEEEEEEL I am so freaking excited !!

:wlcome: welcome aboard
Yes, there are alot of great tips in the thread.
I was thinking we need a spot to consolidate all the great links.

I am thinking the Fish Extender organization probably won't happen until January Anyone can step in any time and get it started of course

 

[MrsScooby]

Sadly we had to change our reservation from this cruise to the 7 night Med. But... now our friends can join us. They didn't book early like we did and the price was out of reach. Anyway... we are jumping over to the 7 day thread. I hope everyone enjoys Venice. I will see it another time. After all, I didn't think I would be going back this quickly anyway.

Sorry to miss seeing you

 

[elm95376]

Hi, we just booked our FIRST EVER cruise on the Magic 6/27 yesterday !! We are DVC members but have never cruised before. I am Julie, DH Brian, 2 kids dd 9 and ds 12. Talk about jumping in feet first !!

We booked a GTY cat4B and are really nervous that we are going to get the shaft, but we didn't want to miss out because the cruise is soooo booked already !

Looking forward to reading this ridiculously long thread, learning all about cruising, I just ordered Passporter's guide to DCL, and I am really interested in signing up for the Fish Extender exchange if one exists.

Any good links that all of you veterans (and there seem to be some big cruisers on this cruise, which is very reassuring) would suggest to a complete newbie, thanks in advance. Can't wait to get into the groove and SQUEEEEEEL I am so freaking excited !!

Welcome Julie. My gd's are 9 and 15. We are getting to Barcelona the night before the cruise. I'm hoping I haven't made a mistake by not getting there sooner. This is my first time also and I have to admit I am nervous. There seems to be so much to think about and the cost can really add up quickly with all the excursions. I think we will do a DCL excursion for Rome but all the other ports we will probably try on our own to keep the costs down.

I can't wait until the excursions are out so I can decide what to do.

Janet

 

[emmah16]

Good morning everyone

I have just checked on the port adventures on the DCL website and it looks like the excursions for the Med are slowly coming out. They have listed only Gibralter at the moment and I know it's for the EBTA but hopefully the rest of the ports will not be too far off.

I have also decided to stay in Barcelona for 2 nights pre cruise so that we can explore the city even more. I'm just pricing up the Avienada Palace which we have stayed in before (very nice) and also the Grand Marina.

On our Med cruise we stayed the night before and our flight was delayed so all we got to do was the aquarium at the marina and have some dinner then called it a day as DS was tired because of the early start. When we did the WBTA last year we flew in on the departure day. Never again I was on edge all the time worrying if the flight was going to be delayed or not. Luckily it took off on time to my relief.

 

[MrsScooby]

Welcome Julie. My gd's are 9 and 15. We are getting to Barcelona the night before the cruise. I'm hoping I haven't made a mistake by not getting there sooner. This is my first time also and I have to admit I am nervous. There seems to be so much to think about and the cost can really add up quickly with all the excursions. I think we will do a DCL excursion for Rome but all the other ports we will probably try on our own to keep the costs down.

I can't wait until the excursions are out so I can decide what to do.

Janet

Janet, the tours I booked through Rome in Limo can be canceled up to a week prior to the tour without penalty. They can also be shared with other people to save on the cost. Oh and RiL is not limited to Rome, they have private tours out of La Spezia and Naples as well. There is an extra charge if you want a tour guide in addition to the driver and the cost for that is charged by the hour. There are other companies as well but this is the one I've heard the most about from other Disers and they have great reviews on Trip Advisor.

Good morning everyone

I have just checked on the port adventures on the DCL website and it looks like the excursions for the Med are slowly coming out. They have listed only Gibralter at the moment and I know it's for the EBTA but hopefully the rest of the ports will not be too far off.

I have also decided to stay in Barcelona for 2 nights pre cruise so that we can explore the city even more. I'm just pricing up the Avienada Palace which we have stayed in before (very nice) and also the Grand Marina.

On our Med cruise we stayed the night before and our flight was delayed so all we got to do was the aquarium at the marina and have some dinner then called it a day as DS was tired because of the early start. When we did the WBTA last year we flew in on the departure day. Never again I was on edge all the time worrying if the flight was going to be delayed or not. Luckily it took off on time to my relief.

We are also in for 2 nights before the cruise and booked at Praktik Rambla

Thanks for the heads up about the DCL excursions. Makes it easier to make decisions on what to do in the ports

 

[gydell]

Good morning everyone



I have also decided to stay in Barcelona for 2 nights pre cruise so that we can explore the city even more. I'm just pricing up the Avienada Palace which we have stayed in before (very nice) and also the Grand Marina.

We are now staying at the Hotel Petit Palace Boquetia. They have rooms for 4 and was recommened by my TA. Very reasonable priced too.

The Science museum is also wonderful. We stayed there almost an entire day. It is a hands on place and dgs loved it. Plan on doing it again.

Is anyone leaving from Atlanta? I have 2 of our tickets but waiting for lower prices for the other 1.

 

[MrsScooby]

We are now staying at the Hotel Petit Palace Boquetia. They have rooms for 4 and was recommened by my TA. Very reasonable priced too.

The Science museum is also wonderful. We stayed there almost an entire day. It is a hands on place and dgs loved it. Plan on doing it again.

Is anyone leaving from Atlanta? I have 2 of our tickets but waiting for lower prices for the other 1.

The prices for that hotel are great
This the hotel you are talking about?http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g187497-d1833345-Reviews-Petit_Palace_Boqueria-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

Gonna have to check with my DH when he gets home, but we might be swithcing to this one
Seriously, not stalking you LOL
But can't beat that price and location.