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

[kmc33]

Yes! The dress is very cute! Reversible dress -- what a great idea!!

So I could not stay up until midnight to make reservations. Woke up around 3 something am and couldn't fall back asleep thinking about Palo and shore excursions! So I got up and logged on , only to find that the system was undergoing maintenance! Went back to bed and luckily fell back asleep. This morning I was able to get in and book what I wanted.

We are going Palo for dinner the evening that we are in Malta. We booked the Day on the Farm for Palermo for Sicily and the Nice and Eze with Wine and Cheese for Villefranche. Also contemplating the Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap for the first sea day

I previously booked a private tour to go to Mdina, Rabat and the Mosta Dome in Malta. And we are going to go DIY for Civitavecchia, La Spezia (Cinque Terre) and Ajaccio. We have friends in Naples that we are hoping to meet up with, but southern Italians don't plan as far in advance as we do , so we will have to work out those details when it gets closer.

I am so excited!!

 

[keenercam]

Kim - Your plans sound fabulous!! I am so happy you were able to get what you wanted.

 

[thinkoflaura]

you all are making me so excited to book our stuff!!!

i just read on the main board about the midnight dessert buffet that happens one night. folks have been saying it's not very publicized on the ship (and written in tiny print on the navigator under other food options or something on the day it's happening). looks like good ole fashion decadent fun!

 

[kmc33]

Kim - Your plans sound fabulous!! I am so happy you were able to get what you wanted.

Thanks! I mentioned the Couple Spa Villa to DH and he didn't bite. Thought about booking the single villa but I read good reviews about the "seaweed wrap" (wonder if I will feel like a piece of sushi??) and decided to sign up for that instead. It sounded very relaxing to get wrapped up in a warm cocoon followed by a massage!!

 

[kmc33]

What's the weather like where others are??? In Pittsburgh, we are supposed to get an inch of snow tonight! Rather than two more weeks of winter, I think the groundhog meant that we should add on two more weeks of winter once spring arrives!!

 

[keenercam]

Kim - What part of Pittsburgh are you in? Howard grew up in Oakmont and then New Kensington.

It was snowing this morning for a couple of hours but no accumulation.

It hit me yesterday that we fly out 12 weeks from tomorrow. I bought a new Weight Watchers 3 month journal and it is 12 weeks, which will take me up to the Wednesday before we leave. I cannot believe it is that soon!!!! We are very excited!

This morning I heard "Mambo Number 5" and it almost brought me to tears! I have so many happy memories of Sailaway parties on the Magic and the Wonder, dancing to that song (the Disney-ized version). Oh, and "Hey, Mickey!" JOY!! Absolute JOY!!!

 

[kmc33]

Kim - What part of Pittsburgh are you in? Howard grew up in Oakmont and then New Kensington.

Cam, we live in the north hills (McCandless). My husband worked for years at PPG in Springdale which is in the vicinity of Oakmont and New Ken. What a small world!

We didn't end up with any snow accumulation. But, I think mother nature is playing April fools on us today! One minute the sun is shining and a half hour later it's snowing! It keeps alternatins!

I can't believe it's only 12 weeks until our trip! We booked on May 1st lst year and it seemed so far away. Time goes by so quickly... it will be here before we know it!

Have a good weekend!!

 

[keenercam]

Kim - It really IS a small world. Howard graduated with his Associates degree from Penn State New Kensington. He still has family in New Ken and we are out there at least once a year. Very cool!

BTW, we booked this in trip on December 3, 2009, I believe, when we were on the Magic with some friends. It seemed a lifetime away!

 

[keenercam]

I've been meaning to post the link to the place on the DCL website where you can order gifts & amenities for on the ship. It also has the information on wine packages and the Shutters (on-board photographers) packages that you can pre-buy.

Pre-ordering Gifts & Amenities, including Shutters packages

 

[DorothyDamato]

Online booking - Had to call the cruise line - and they still couldnt figure it out. Bummer. They are going to send me th forms via the mail - and they told me to try checking every once in awhile.

Cam - your dress is so cute! Style is EXACTLY like one of mine - coloring is a little different. That's the one that looks like a sack on me. I have a belt to put on it....it will do because it is COMFORTABLE. How sad that when we get older its all about comfortable and not always how it looks! Great idea about prepurchasing photo packages - I am all about paying for everything before I get on board!

Jen - sorry I spelled your DIS name wrong on the fish extender. In my head I was saying the "Z" but typed the "S"! - it's corrected!

Shelly - Wow - that is a great price for the hotel! Because I booked mine early, I paid 108 Euros and breakfast is included - but the shuttle is a true bonus since I paid 20+ Euros PER PERSON to have a shuttle take us to the airport.

Marci - We are staying at Novotel on Avenida Diagonal - 2 blocks from Sagrada Familia - I wonder if you are close? Cam and I are planning on meeting up on the 28th to tour together in Barcelona - take the Metro and pretend like we know what we are doing. Tu Habla Espanol??? Do you want to join us (Cam - I know you are like me - the more the merrier)? I think it would be so much fun!!

Kim - we had plops of snow too yesterday. I wish I could say "April fools!". The farm in Palermo sounds nice! Maybe I will check it out! I just - can't get into looking at what is in Palermo. I don't know why.

 

[keenercam]

Dorothy- I have heard they do a special shave for men at the spa. I have also heard there is a combo neck and shoulder massage with a facial, which sounds perfect to me. How about a foot massage? Especially after all those exhausting port days?

 

[DorothyDamato]

Shave sounds like it could work for him -hmmmmm will check that out! Shoulder and neck massage might work too - since I think most people tense up there - maybe I will see if I can at least reserve a slot and then go from there.

 

[keenercam]

Some things aren't on the list online but can be booked on the ship.

 

[kmc33]

Kim - we had plops of snow too yesterday. I wish I could say "April fools!". The farm in Palermo sounds nice! Maybe I will check it out! I just - can't get into looking at what is in Palermo. I don't know why.

We got a call this morning to cancel DS's soccer game. The call came early and I hadn't looked outside yet... the game was canceled due to snow! It was just a coating on the grass, but I guess enough that they decided not to have the game, which was the first one at 9 am this morning on a snowy field

As for the farm in Palermo, I read a review of someone who did it when the Magic was there in 2007. Her description sounded wonderful. I recently saw a post she made that they still talk about how much they enjoyed that day.

Dorothy, Good luck getting your computer working to check-in online!

 

[DorothyDamato]

Checked out Photo Pkg and all the other goodies. I've always wanted to do the 'Love Boat' type thing and get champagne for bon voyage party, but Cam - if I am going to splurge on my weight watchers points for an item - sounds like I should get that special bon voage drink instead of the room champage at the send off party - right?

This just kills me. I knew I wanted to order water too. Gotta have water if you are walking around in the ports - right? They are charging $35 for a 24 pkg of water! I suppose that if you bought it off the street you would be paying at least $1.50 or more for a bottle of water - right? But its so hard to purchase this when you think you can go to the local Shoprite and pick up a 24 pkg for 3-5 bucks.

 

[keenercam]

Dorothy- yes, my understanding is you pre-buy credits for the pictures.
I am planning to buy water in Barcelona-- I think it will be much less expensive.

 

[deplion]

Surprised to see so many people from the Burgh on here.

I lived in Mount Lebanon for about five years while I went to Pitt for grad school. Loved that area and try to get back to visit whenever I can.

 

[DCLShel]

I just - can't get into looking at what is in Palermo. I don't know why.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way! Just NOT excited about Palermo~

I do need to order room decorations since we're celebrating Kiley's bday onboard. I also need to make new door decorations for this cruise. I have some smaller ones from my January cruise that I can use again, too.

I think I'll pre-order a Shutter's package. We always get tons of pics while onboard (I'm a scrapbooker!).

 

[kmc33]

Surprised to see so many people from the Burgh on here.

I lived in Mount Lebanon for about five years while I went to Pitt for grad school. Loved that area and try to get back to visit whenever I can.

Wow, another Pittsburgh connection! Yay!

I too went to Pitt. In fact that is where my husband and I met.

It's a small world afterall!

 

[kmc33]

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