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

[DorothyDamato]

Magic Quest is a scavenger hunt and Match your Mate is like the newlywed game. Both involve audience participation! They are both hilarious to watch, and are only 45 min long so you can be in bed by 11:30pm. I'm usually asleep by 10:30pm at home but the clubs really are entertaining and wothe staying up for, even for a short while! Esp when you meet up with others!
Name tags are a great idea! Does anyone know how to make nametags with our Dis name that will fit in the lanyard clear pocket? There's got to be a template started by some creative Dis-er. I know most people by their Dis name!
Do you have a time for your FE meet? The lifeboat drill is usually around 4pm, then the sailaway party is after that. Actual sailaway did not happen till around 9pm on last year's med cruises.

We didnt schedule a time for the meet - just said 1/2 hour before the sailaway party. I just assumed the sailaway parties were all at the same time. Time's that were thrown out there were 3:30 and then 1/2 hour before sailaway (so people could take naps if they wanted...)

 

[MissReeRee]

Just booked our Vatican tickets and decided to use the official Vatican guide tour. There was only one time left to choose - 2pm. The earlier vatican tour is no longer showing. Here's the official Vatican ticket website: http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking
You get a voucher that you need to bring with you. Of course if you just want admission tickets, all the times are open.
Our cruise looks like its filling up too. No more military rates left, and only inside and porthole rooms showing.
So I now have one officially booked thing we are doing on this cruise! I have tentative plans for most ports, but we also like to go with the flow and see where we wind up!

I think we are going to be playing a lot of ports by ear. I have tons of info on each port but I was stressed out a bit last year with all of the things we HAD to see and do. DH and the kids are happiest relaxing (and being in the clubs)...
I was hoping that the cruise wouldn't sell out, I don't want it to be too crowded!

 

[sinnika]

I think we are going to be playing a lot of ports by ear. I have tons of info on each port but I was stressed out a bit last year with all of the things we HAD to see and do. DH and the kids are happiest relaxing (and being in the clubs)...
I was hoping that the cruise wouldn't sell out, I don't want it to be too crowded!

That sounds like my family too! My DH took lots of naps - he never made it to one show! Guess I wore him out in the ports! And DS slept at every opportunity so he could save his energy for the clubs! We have photos of him napping on a bench in Sorrento, and at dinner! But he managed to close down Ocean Quest every night!
Rebecca, our last Med cruise had 2400 passengers with 1200 kids and it didn't feel crowded. Though the repo that followed was very empty! They supposedly had only 1500 passengers booked on it, that's why they offered that incredible rate while we were on board for people who could extend their cruise! I know of 4 Dis families that did so, including us. And they let us keep our stateroom too! We almost stayed on for a 3rd cruise - the Baltic but DD had a camp to go to. We did finish out with 3 days in London though. Will be hard to top that trip!

 

[sinnika]

Hanging out at the USO in the San Antonio airport waiting for our flight to WDW. Four parks, four days. Bring on the fun!!!

 

[thinkoflaura]

Hanging out at the USO in the San Antonio airport waiting for our flight to WDW. Four parks, four days. Bring on the fun!!!

enjoy yourself!!!!

 

[macassi]

We've decided to book private transport from the port to the airport to make it easy on us -- no lines for the taxi and we should (hopefully) guarantee a van that will fit all 5 of us.

Our flight is lat that day -- after 2pm, so we want to take our time getting off the ship. How late can we stay on the ship? What time would you book the transport? I was thinking 10am might be good, since I think the "guideline" is to be off by 9am, but I'm indecisive! I don't want to hang at the airport for 3-4 hours, but I also don't want to sit around the port, watching taxis drive by while waiting for our shuttle. Any thoughts?

 

[MissReeRee]

We are risking the taxi lines... We have early breakfast that morning and are planning on being off this ship by 7:15 hopefully then straight to the airport for us!

Going to visit the kennel this weekend where we are leaving our puppy! Its got good recommendations but we've never left him before!

 

[DCLShel]

We decided to use DCL transfers to the airport. Didn't want to mess with the taxi line and wasn't sure what time to schedule a private transfer. Just went with the easy way out - Probably a little more expensive but I didn't want the stress.

Our flight is at 12:40p so we'll probably try to be off the ship by 8:30 or so.

 

[sinnika]

We've decided to book private transport from the port to the airport to make it easy on us -- no lines for the taxi and we should (hopefully) guarantee a van that will fit all 5 of us.

Our flight is lat that day -- after 2pm, so we want to take our time getting off the ship. How late can we stay on the ship? What time would you book the transport? I was thinking 10am might be good, since I think the "guideline" is to be off by 9am, but I'm indecisive! I don't want to hang at the airport for 3-4 hours, but I also don't want to sit around the port, watching taxis drive by while waiting for our shuttle. Any thoughts?

You have to be off the ship by 9am. Maybe see about having a car service give you a tour of Barcelona? When we arrived by train at 10am,we negotiated with a taxi driver to tour us around for a few hours. We got to the port around 1pm. It worked out great for us!

 

[keenercam]

We booked with Barcelona Airport Transfers to take us from the Port to our hotel near the airport. We set it up for 10 a.m. Now I am wondering if I should try to make it earlier. We are late dining, so I think that means we eat breakfast at 8:15, correct? That probably means we'll be off the ship by 9. I figure by the time we get through customs and deal with luggage, 10 is safe. Would 9:30 be better?

 

[DCLShel]

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?

 

[DCLShel]

Here's a link to a thread discussing transfers from port to airport in Barcelona- http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2676803

If you go to Page #2, there is a discussion about what time should be scheduled for pick up from the port. I don't think there's a clear consensus yet but thought you might want to keep an eye on it.

Hope it helps~

 

[keenercam]

Shelly - We are going to pre-order photos, too, though I haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks for the link re: transfers. I have read so much conflicting information that I am still not certain what time I should book. We have it for 10:00 now and I'll probably contact our TA to ask her to find out for us. We won't be in any rush to get off the ship since we don't have to catch a flight home.

 

[princesschantelle]

Hi everyone
We leave tomorrow morning for our first med trip. I will answer any questions that I cam when I get back. We are not doing any tours on this trip tho!
See you all soon

 

[johnwdw]

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?

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?

 

[thinkoflaura]

what is the advantage of pre-purchasing a photo package? cheaper?

 

[keenercam]

Hi everyone
We leave tomorrow morning for our first med trip. I will answer any questions that I cam when I get back. We are not doing any tours on this trip tho!
See you all soon

Have a great time! I hope you'll scan the navigators to share with us when you get back!

what is the advantage of pre-purchasing a photo package? cheaper?

We aren't doing the CD (especially since we are only doing one Disney excursion), but we are pre-buying a package of photo units since they will be cheaper per photo than buying on the ship.

 

[thinkoflaura]

We aren't doing the CD (especially since we are only doing one Disney excursion), but we are pre-buying a package of photo units since they will be cheaper per photo than buying on the ship.

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?

 

[deplion]

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?

We showed up on Dorothy's list as delivering on July 8th, and we told her we were fine with that. Haven't heard from anybody else about it though.

 

[deplion]

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?

I read on another thread that at least for some cruises, Shutters has lowered the CD price to $299. Still really steep, but at that price we might consider it, especially if we can get a formal picture setting.

I am hoping some of the early Med cruisers can let us know for sure when they get back.