June 29, 2011-10 "MAGICAL" nights in the Mediterranean

[keenercam]

Now I'm wondering - if we pre-order the photo units but decide we want the CD, would they let us apply the pre-order unit price to the CD package and pay the difference?

Also, I am thinking that for the longer cruises, I'd bet they are not reducing the price of the CD because there will be so many more days of photos on that. Do you think that is a logical expectation?

 

[DCLShel]

Are you getting the CD package? We are looking to get the CD package which gives you all pictures that are taken while on the cruise. I guess it even includes pictures that were taken on excursions... According to DW, it is $400.00.

Is this what you got?

No, I did not prepurchase the CD - WAY too expensive!! I'm a serious scrapbooker and love pictures but $400?!! I don't think so! haha! I've read on another thread that the CD has the pictures only - no added borders are on the pictures. Some people like that, some don't. Besides, if you don't want the border on a certain pic, I'm sure you can request Shutters to reprint it without the border.

I preordered the 20 photo credits for $150. If that's not enough, I'll just buy more.

FYI - Shutters has a website where you can download a copyright release form to copy any pictures you purchase on the ship. I have done this several times - even going back to previous years. One slight issue - sometimes, when you copy the pics, the borders get cropped on the duplicate. To me, not a big deal since I'm saving serious $$$ over what I would have paid on the ship for a second copy of the same picture.

 

[jonida3]

Still much to do! I am thinking about buying the CD even tho we are not doing Dis excursions. I am not a scrapbooker although I would like to think I was - everything is in boxes for 'someday.' If the price lowers to $299 that would be great!

Question: we don't leave until 8:45 p.m. on the day of departure. Or should I say 20:45 using European standards! Anyone know anything to do that day besides sitting at the airport? We'll have all our luggage too so can we store it somewhere?
counting down the days!

 

[gmugirl]

Still much to do! I am thinking about buying the CD even tho we are not doing Dis excursions. I am not a scrapbooker although I would like to think I was - everything is in boxes for 'someday.' If the price lowers to $299 that would be great!

Question: we don't leave until 8:45 p.m. on the day of departure. Or should I say 20:45 using European standards! Anyone know anything to do that day besides sitting at the airport? We'll have all our luggage too so can we store it somewhere?
counting down the days!

There is luggage storage at the Barcelona Nord Bus Station and the Sants Train Station (easiest to access from the port, take the shuttle bus to the Drassanes metro and then the metro straight to the Placa Stants Metro, the train station is right there). If you want to take a taxi (perhaps less hassle), the bus station is closer.

 

[DCLShel]

I ordered my Global phone today from Verizon. It will be shipped on the 20th with delivery on the 22nd. I also received the voucher for our private tour in Naples (Pompeii, Herculaneum & Mt. Vesuvius). I'm almost finished with all my door decorations - just a couple more to print. Still working on our FE gifts but should be finished soon. I spent last night organizing my "travel bible" - ie- my folder with everything I need for the trip. Of course, it has a table of contents and each port has its own tap & pocket folder for misc items.

There are still a lot of things on my "to do" list but I'm feeling in control right now. Let's hope that continues~

 

[DorothyDamato]

I preordered a photo package for the cruise. Has anyone done this before? I've read different things on the boards. Some people like it - others don't. Is it true that you can't add to a prepurchased package? We always buy several pictures while onboard. Thought? Suggestions?

Hey Shel - Never did the snapshots before - but I did it this time, simply because last time we didnt get any because it was too expensive! I got the smallest package which is 10 pics I believe....which is plenty for us.....I want to say (if I remember correctly) that there was a conversation about how once you are on board, the pictures run at least $20 a pop. I think I paid 90 for 10 pics? So, its cheaper to preorder (which is another reason I did it). I am not a picture freak - so 10 pics is definitely enough for me.

 

[DorothyDamato]

I ordered my Global phone today from Verizon. It will be shipped on the 20th with delivery on the 22nd. I also received the voucher for our private tour in Naples (Pompeii, Herculaneum & Mt. Vesuvius). I'm almost finished with all my door decorations - just a couple more to print. Still working on our FE gifts but should be finished soon. I spent last night organizing my "travel bible" - ie- my folder with everything I need for the trip. Of course, it has a table of contents and each port has its own tap & pocket folder for misc items.

There are still a lot of things on my "to do" list but I'm feeling in control right now. Let's hope that continues~

WHAT?!!! Wow - I thought I was crazy organized. Now I am feeling like I don't have it all together. I just threw everything into a folder. What did you do - go to staples and get some kind of slim folder with up to 10 flaps? Tell me - maybe this will help me too....

 

[DorothyDamato]

i just looked at the link - i wonder if two parties can go in on something like this together? like order the 20 credits for $150 and spend $75 each as opposed to $90 for 10 credits alone?
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/gifts-and-amenities/

also - an FE exchange question... did we ever decide if we're going to deliver on certain days? I only ask because the FE i bought (off ebay) has 3 compartments and we're 5 people... so there won't be a lot of room in it for many deliveries in a day. Not that I'm complaining -- i can't wait for the goodies! But I figure you all might have the same issue. what do you think?

Hey!

Check out the list I sent out - The far right column I put a date in there for everybody to deliver FE's on different days - if that is what you want to do. I can check tomorrow when i get in to work and tell you the day I 'assigned' you. But again - you don't have to follow that date if you don't want to.

 

[TPBChick]

Question: we don't leave until 8:45 p.m. on the day of departure. Or should I say 20:45 using European standards! Anyone know anything to do that day besides sitting at the airport? We'll have all our luggage too so can we store it somewhere?
counting down the days!

Disney offers two excursions on debarkation day. One goes to Montserrat and one drives through Barcelona. After the excursions, they take you to the airport. You sign up while onboard. I am planning on signing up for the Montserrat tour. I am staying at the Renaissance Barcelona Airport Hotel. I am going to take the free shuttle from the airport to the hotel after the tour. It sounds like a fun tour and I don't need to worry about the taxi line after the cruise.

 

[jonida3]

Disney offers two excursions on debarkation day. One goes to Montserrat and one drives through Barcelona. After the excursions, they take you to the airport. You sign up while onboard. I am planning on signing up for the Montserrat tour. I am staying at the Renaissance Barcelona Airport Hotel. I am going to take the free shuttle from the airport to the hotel after the tour. It sounds like a fun tour and I don't need to worry about the taxi line after the cruise.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Montserrat sounds like a great idea and I don't have to decide now - we can wait and see how tired we are and maybe just take a ride around Barcelona. thanks! 20 days....

 

[DCLShel]

WHAT?!!! Wow - I thought I was crazy organized. Now I am feeling like I don't have it all together. I just threw everything into a folder. What did you do - go to staples and get some kind of slim folder with up to 10 flaps? Tell me - maybe this will help me too....

Actually, Dorothy, I did go to Office Max and bought numbered dividers off the clearance aisle. Then I found inserts that have pockets to put things in. I bought a three hole folder at a local close-out store for $.49 so the whole thing cost less than $5! I've organized the folder into sections: Travel Info, Barcelona, Cruise Info, Malta/Palermo, Naples, Rome, LaSpezia/Ajaccio/Villefranche, and Mousecellaneous.

Being somewhat organized helps me feel like I'm in control so I don't totally freak out - And, since I am a scrapbooker, I can put misc items I pick up on the trip in the pockets (maps, brochures) to use later when I'm working on our trip album.

 

[keenercam]

Wow! Shelley, I am so stinkin' impressed!

I did in fact buy my colored notecards, O-rings, and a hole punch this morning.

Jenn, Howard, Andrew and I will each have a set of notecards to carry that can be added to and subtracted. So far, I have the following information list to be put on the index cards:
pre-cruise hotel name and address (in case we want to split up)
helpful phrases in Catalan, French, Italian (bathroom, please, thank you, etc.)
must-see sites/locations for best gelato & pizza, etc. for each port
blank card to put on ship's agent in each port (if I don't know it ahead of time)
post-cruise hotel name and address (in case the kids go out for pizza or something)

My card set will include:
all tour information
extra copies of confirmations (shrunk to fit card)
must-shop locations, etc. for each port
lists of people for whom I want to buy gifts/souvenirs (we will miss my best friend's 50th birthday, plus we can pick up gifts for 4 or 5 other summer birthdays)
lists of all families coming to dinner Tuesday night (Family name, individual names, ages of kids, contact information, etc.)
post-cruise transfer information, etc.

I am still thinking of what else will go on note cards. I used this system for our very busy, detail-driven Disney Vow Renewal weekend and it was so fantastically helpful and useful that I cannot even begin to describe it.

 

[macassi]

I'm feeling so under-whelmed by my "stuff everything in a file folder and pray you remembered to print it all" system in the presence of you organizing divas!

I think I will make up one notecard, and on it I will put a picture of Keenercam with instructions "find this person and follow her". Then, I no longer have to worry about all the pesky details!

 

[kmc33]

I'm feeling so under-whelmed by my "stuff everything in a file folder and pray you remembered to print it all" system in the presence of you organizing divas!

This is my system too!

I think I will make up one notecard, and on it I will put a picture of Keenercam with instructions "find this person and follow her". Then, I no longer have to worry about all the pesky details!

 

[kmc33]

I saw on another thread that because our trip will be exclusively to EU ports (now that there is no Tunis stop), we will be charge 18% VAT tax for everthything onboard (8% for drinks). Just to give you a heads up.

 

[keenercam]

I'm feeling so under-whelmed by my "stuff everything in a file folder and pray you remembered to print it all" system in the presence of you organizing divas!

I think I will make up one notecard, and on it I will put a picture of Keenercam with instructions "find this person and follow her". Then, I no longer have to worry about all the pesky details!

OMG!! I am literally sitting at my desk laughing out loud. My secretary asked me if I am okay.


You guys have to understand that Dorothy did all the port-specific legwork for booking our private tours in Rome, Naples and Florence/Pisa, thereby freeing me up to enjoy preparing for and experiencing without guilt prom and graduation season and now Special Olympics summer games. She is a real dynamo. And I learn something from everyone who posts on this thread sharing their plans, ideas, suggestions. Thank you so much to everyone!

 

[DCLShel]

I think I will make up one notecard, and on it I will put a picture of Keenercam with instructions "find this person and follow her". Then, I no longer have to worry about all the pesky details!

I, also, am laughing outloud at my desk Good thing I work in an office by myself! Why didn't I think of that?!!

I saw on another thread that because our trip will be exclusively to EU ports (now that there is no Tunis stop), we will be charge 18% VAT tax for everthything onboard (8% for drinks). Just to give you a heads up.

Yikes!! I really hope this isn't true. Maybe I'll call DCL later and see what they say.

must-see sites/locations for best gelato & pizza, etc. for each port
must-shop locations, etc. for each port

Cam - I would appreciate any suggestions on the gelato, pizza & shopping locations - especially in Rome~ Any chance you would email them to me?

 

[keenercam]

Shelly - I will be glad to share what I read in Rick Steves' guidebooks as soon as I compile the lists for each port.

 

[thinkoflaura]

yes - i too want the pizza and gelato best bets... thanks!

and question - what is the ship's agent?

funny you wrote about important phrases, I was going to ask friends today how to say "Would you please take our picture?" in Italian, Spanish and French. I am determined to get family shots on this trip as opposed to being the one out of the shot taking all the pics!



by the way -- a big shout out to Dorothy and Cam for all the email updates and lists... thanks for all the organizing!

laura

 

[thinkoflaura]

in case anyone missed it - someone scanned the navigators from the May Med cruise...

here's the link.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2736907