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

[DCLShel]

Since some of you are having trouble getting excited about Palermo, here is the review I read about A Day at the Farm excursion in Palermo in case this might interest you...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1500352&highlight=palermo+farm

Kim-

Thanks for posting this link. After reading the review, I'm considering this excursion for our family. One concern is that its an 8 hour excursion. With Rome & Naples the following two days, I'm concerned it might be too much.

My other issue is the review was four years ago. I wonder how accurate it is for the current excursion. Guess we'll continue to discuss at home~

Kiley (DD) got her new passport yesterday! She was so excited! Now we're just waiting for DH's to show up~

 

[thinkoflaura]

Kim-

Thanks for posting this link. After reading the review, I'm considering this excursion for our family. One concern is that its an 8 hour excursion. With Rome & Naples the following two days, I'm concerned it might be too much.

My other issue is the review was four years ago. I wonder how accurate it is for the current excursion. Guess we'll continue to discuss at home~

Kim -- you also inspired us to consider this excursion! We were planning to do the Palermo for Kids one (where the kid does a craft and watches a marionette show), but the more I thought about all the crafts/activities she'd be doing in the kids club on the ship, the less amazing this was sounding... but this excursion seemed more authentic and one-of-a-kind...

But like Shel, we're also concerned about the duration. Except for Rome, we're aiming for most excursions to be half-day. I dunno...

 

[sinnika]

Its official! I just booked and paid for this cruise! Our family includes:
me, DW Taina, DH Ben, DD almost 16 Kaitlyn, and DS 14 Ben III. A little about us: DH is retired military and we were able to get military rates for this cruise. We have 2 connecting cat 9's on Deck 1. We live near Houston. This will be our 5th DCL cruise (3rd for DH), our last 2 cruises being the 10 night May 2010 Med cruise followed by the 7 night Barcelona to Dover repo. We are a DIY (do it yourself) planning family, and only did one DCL excursion to Tunisia. We had great experiences in all of the ports last year, using mostly public transportation (trains, buses, taxis) to tour. I'm sure I'll get lots of questions, and will be glad to answer the best I can. We are looking forward to returning to all of the ports to do the things we did not do last time!
I am going to do another post of things we did on the last cruise (I did not do a TR but did several posts after we returned.)
One great resource I used was Rick Steve's Italy book. Here's a suggestion: take it to Office Max and have them remove all the cites you won't be visiting, then have it spiral bound so it lays flat. Then read, and re-read! He's got lots of great advice and tips in his book!
I am just starting to look at airfare! Oh boy!
Looking forward to getting to know everyone in this meet!

 

[keenercam]

Welcome, Taina! So excited to hear all you have to share about your last 10 night Med cruise. I will add you to the cruise chart, if you'd like. If you want to be on it, I'll then send it to you via email with everyone else's information, too. Maybe Ben III and Kaitlyn will enjoy seeing the list of the other teens in our DIS group. In the first post there is a list of information for you to email or PM to me. My email address is keenercam@aol.com.

 

[sinnika]

Welcome, Taina! So excited to hear all you have to share about your last 10 night Med cruise. I will add you to the cruise chart, if you'd like. If you want to be on it, I'll then send it to you via email with everyone else's information, too. Maybe Ben III and Kaitlyn will enjoy seeing the list of the other teens in our DIS group. In the first post there is a list of information for you to email or PM to me. My email address is keenercam@aol.com.

Thanks for the welcome! I will send you an email!
Here is a post I made under the "Med ports on your own" thread. It has several links to posts I made. Somewhere to start!
Hope it helps with planning!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.ph...6&postcount=22

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.ph...8&postcount=19

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.ph...86&postcount=2

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.ph...8&postcount=26

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.ph...78&postcount=9

 

[sinnika]

OK, lets try this again!
I am posting the link to the original post!
Hope it works this time!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40095376&postcount=51

 

[DCLShel]

Its official! I just booked and paid for this cruise! Our family includes:
me, DW Taina, DH Ben, DD almost 16 Kaitlyn, and DS 14 Ben III.

Glad you will be joining us!

Can't wait to pick your brain - haha!

 

[DorothyDamato]

Hey Taina - Welcome! Or as us New Jerseans say, 'hey youse guys'. Man I hate that. Or how about the ever popular 'fuggedaboutit'.

Shelly - my husband gave me my first scrapbook for this trip....you are going to have to tell me how to do this!!!!!

Cam - I remember going on a Carnaval cruise in my 20's and they checked Luggage to see if you brought water/booze onboard - they wouldnt allow it. Will Disney allow you to bring water on? If so - then maybe I will cancel and do the same!!. Then I can spend more money on BOOZE or massage!!!

Next couple of weeks I want to start looking at pirate paraphenalia for party! ARGH!

BTW - am taking my daughter to Grove City college in Pittsburgh for a visit - does that count as a connection?

 

[keenercam]

Cam - I remember going on a Carnaval cruise in my 20's and they checked Luggage to see if you brought water/booze onboard - they wouldnt allow it. Will Disney allow you to bring water on? If so - then maybe I will cancel and do the same!!. Then I can spend more money on BOOZE or massage!!!

Next couple of weeks I want to start looking at pirate paraphenalia for party! ARGH!

BTW - am taking my daughter to Grove City college in Pittsburgh for a visit - does that count as a connection?

Dorothy - I am hoping that once the first Med cruisers of this year return, they will tell us if we can bring water onboard in Barcelona. But I know it has always been permitted on our DCL cruises out of Port Canaveral.

Grove City visit definitely gives you a Pittsburgh connection! One of our dear friends graduated from there and I have always had the impression of it being kind of quiet and serene. Back then, it was really well-known for its teaching degree program.

 

[sinnika]

We purchased water right in the terminal in Barcelona. Got a six pack of the large one liter bottles. Plenty of good inexpensive wine also in Barcelona. We also filled our refillables that we got as castaway members on deck 9 at the drink station to take along water when we toured. If you are doing DCL excursions, they usually provide bottled water. There were several people who gave us water at the end of the first cruise as we were staying on for the repo. They bought the case of water and never went thru half of it. By the way, not alot to do in the terminal. We arrived after 1pm, boarded about 30 min later, then went straight to our stateroom to drop off our water, wine and carry ons, then on to lunch. Exchange rate is also not great in the terminal. Best way to get Euros is with a capitol one debit card, and just use bank ATMs in the various cities. ATMs are very prevalent everywhere.

 

[thinkoflaura]

Ok Kim - thanks to you and some emails between myself and the OP of that review, we're DEFINITELY going to do the Day at the Farm excursion in Palermo. Even though it was a few years ago, she has such a vivid, warm recall of the experience, it's hard to pass it up. (Though I'm probably setting myself up for disappointment because no way it will live up to expectation now!!!) Still, it's like if someone says, "the Med cruise was the best vacation I ever had in my life..." and "this was our favorite excursion on the trip," it's quite an endorsement.

Let me know if you're going for it to.

 

[DCLShel]

Ok Kim - thanks to you and some emails between myself and the OP of that review, we're DEFINITELY going to do the Day at the Farm excursion in Palermo. Even though it was a few years ago, she has such a vivid, warm recall of the experience, it's hard to pass it up. (Though I'm probably setting myself up for disappointment because no way it will live up to expectation now!!!) Still, it's like if someone says, "the Med cruise was the best vacation I ever had in my life..." and "this was our favorite excursion on the trip," it's quite an endorsement.

Let me know if you're going for it to.

Oh man~ Should we? Shouldn't we?

Did the OP happen to say if the excursion was relaxing or were they wiped out at the end of the day?

 

[sinnika]

I got my reservation #'s today from my TA and was able to go on line and book dinner at Palo's for July 6th which also happens to be our 20th wedding anniversary! So happy to have gotten it but did not get any favorable times (an afternoon on a sea day) for the Alone Time spa treatment, one of my favorite endulgences. So I think I'll check on board and maybe even do that on a port day - still need to start planning what we will be doing.
There were no more Palo brunches but I am going to check back often to see if one opens up. For those who have never done the brunch, they are only offered on the sea days. It is my favorite meal on the ship! If anyone is interested in doing the brunch as a group, I have coordinated a group list on our last Med cruise (min 12 adults, max 14) to have brunch in Palo's private dining room. If you are interested in doing this, please pm me. As soon as I get 12 people interested in doing this, I can fax in the request.

 

[thinkoflaura]

Oh man~ Should we? Shouldn't we?

Did the OP happen to say if the excursion was relaxing or were they wiped out at the end of the day?

Shel - i will ask her!!!

 

[DCLShel]

Shel - i will ask her!!!

THANK YOU!!

 

[thinkoflaura]

Oh man~ Should we? Shouldn't we?

Did the OP happen to say if the excursion was relaxing or were they wiped out at the end of the day?

here's what Patricia (the OP) said about that:

******

"After every port excursion we were wiped out. But "A day at the Farm" was one of the more relaxing excursions, since there wasn't much walking involved. We were bused everywhere. Most of the people slept on the bus on the way back to the ship."

******
hope that helps!!!

 

[kmc33]

I am glad to hear that they didn't feel wiped out after a Day at the Farm excursion Although it's an all day excursion, it sounds more relaxing than a long day walking around seeing sights. We are definitely doing it. I reserved it online!

 

[3 girls mom]

It's been awhile! Welcome to new friends! I may not be on again until the end of April when our state testing is over (I'm a 4th grade teacher). My DH is handling all of our shore excursions, so I know we'll get back to the ship totally exhausted. I won't complain since I get a massage on our first day at sea - I didn't even ask for it, either!

Love the new thread! Thanks for taking care of it!

 

[gmugirl]

Hi Sinnika,
I apparently can't PM you yet, so anyway, if it's not too late,we would be very interested in your group brunch. We are a group of 4. Erin & Brian Fisher, Harold and Betsy Diehl. We don't have our cabin #s yet (11C, hoping soon!). You can PM back for my contact info. Thanks for the invite!

I got my reservation #'s today from my TA and was able to go on line and book dinner at Palo's for July 6th which also happens to be our 20th wedding anniversary! So happy to have gotten it but did not get any favorable times (an afternoon on a sea day) for the Alone Time spa treatment, one of my favorite endulgences. So I think I'll check on board and maybe even do that on a port day - still need to start planning what we will be doing.
There were no more Palo brunches but I am going to check back often to see if one opens up. For those who have never done the brunch, they are only offered on the sea days. It is my favorite meal on the ship! If anyone is interested in doing the brunch as a group, I have coordinated a group list on our last Med cruise (min 12 adults, max 14) to have brunch in Palo's private dining room. If you are interested in doing this, please pm me. As soon as I get 12 people interested in doing this, I can fax in the request.

 

[DCLShel]

here's what Patricia (the OP) said about that:

******

"After every port excursion we were wiped out. But "A day at the Farm" was one of the more relaxing excursions, since there wasn't much walking involved. We were bused everywhere. Most of the people slept on the bus on the way back to the ship."

******
hope that helps!!!

Thank you again! I think I'll go ahead and book it now so we don't miss out. We'll discuss it more at home and I can cancel later if necessary.