June 8, 2011 – Mediterranean

[chris44]

We chose 6:30 for that day! Hoping to be done in time to see the late show . . .

 

[mehaul]

We chose 6:30 for that day! Hoping to be done in time to see the late show . . .

I think our cruise must be pretty empty, all the times were wide open for everything.

 

[mickymania]

I think our cruise must be pretty empty, all the times were wide open for everything.

I am sure you are right; I was able to book everything that I wanted. Hopefully it will still be that way in the morning for everyone who had to go to bed when the website was down!

 

[pxlbarrel]

Rats, I wanted High Tea reservations but there are none left. Skunked again. I think I'll have to be a Gold CC member before I can have tea at Palo. And I couldn't get Brunch for 4 either so no Palo this trip ... again. <sigh>

EDIT: And most of the excursions I wanted to actually book aren't available????? What the heck? it's like 5 am and it wasn't even operational until past 1 am? This sucks.

EDIT: Annnnnnnd, the excursions are now there again. Weirdness on the site. I need sleep.....

 

[pxlbarrel]

Regarding the airport workers who are planning strike action in Spain:

Under the plan announced Tuesday, AENA workers would strike on April 20, 21, 24, 25 and 30, on May 2, 14, 15, 19 and 20, on June 13, 23 and 30 and on July 1, 2, 3, 4, 15 and 31.

We're flying into Barcelona on British Airways/Iberia on June 7th and leaving on June 19th so we're ok in regards to the airport workers. So now I just have to worry about BA!!!

89 days till cruise day!

 

[amyren]

Ok.... we just booked Palo on Day 4 Palermo at 7:30pm.

We got 7:00 on that day. I was expecting worse times. Yay!

We chose 6:30 for that day! Hoping to be done in time to see the late show . . .

See you guys there, we have a 7pm ressie on Day 4!
I was surprised at all of the openings at Palo but disappointed that I couldn't my first choice for a spa treatment. Massage slots filled up quickly!!
So excited about this trip!!!!!

 

[mickymania]

Regarding the airport workers who are planning strike action in Spain:



We're flying into Barcelona on British Airways/Iberia on June 7th and leaving on June 19th so we're ok in regards to the airport workers. So now I just have to worry about BA!!!

89 days till cruise day!

It looks like it will be ok -- so glad our dates aren't on there. We are flying in early on the 8th since that was the only thing that would work with our frequent flyer miles. I am worried that we are cutting it too close. I wouldn't want to miss Palo brunch on the 1st day.

 

[mickymania]

Stupid question - I just finished my online check-in and it assigned me a a port check-in time of 1:00 p.m. but the disney transfers will get us there much earlier. How strict is Disney on those times?

 

[mlm71]

Hello! We are excited to have finally signed on with Disboards. This is my second post (as the first one ended up somewhere else in Disboard hide and seek). We are hoping to get in touch and possibly "meet" others who will be sailing with us on the June 8th Med cruise. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on the ports we will be visiting, especially as we would like to try to do it on our own to get the most out of our time.

Looking forward to your responses!

 

[amyren]

Hello! We are excited to have finally signed on with Disboards. This is my second post (as the first one ended up somewhere else in Disboard hide and seek). We are hoping to get in touch and possibly "meet" others who will be sailing with us on the June 8th Med cruise. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on the ports we will be visiting, especially as we would like to try to do it on our own to get the most out of our time.

Looking forward to your responses!

Welcome! Glad to have you! How many people are in your travel party? Regarding the ports, I've found this thread to be pretty helpful.http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2663068&highlight=canary+island

 

[GenieDana]

Hello! We are excited to have finally signed on with Disboards. This is my second post (as the first one ended up somewhere else in Disboard hide and seek). We are hoping to get in touch and possibly "meet" others who will be sailing with us on the June 8th Med cruise. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on the ports we will be visiting, especially as we would like to try to do it on our own to get the most out of our time.

Looking forward to your responses!

First, a fabulous Diser's Med Trip Report (with lots of pictures) you should look through:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2485312&highlight=disneyfalcon

And another website under construction:
World of Mouse Website for the 2011 Med Cruise
http://www.worldofmouse.com/disney-mediterranean-cruise-20102011.html



Tickets for the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel booking ahead of time to avoid the lines
http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking

The Vatican
http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm


Great article on how to use the train in Civitavecchia
http://www.roninrome.com/%20transportation/cruising-come-to-rome-for-the-day-2

and another
Civitavecchia to Rome by Train on your Own
http://www.rometoolkit.com/airport/civitavechia_train.htm

youtube video on taking the train from Civitavecchia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoGQcSuXu0Q&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

youtube video on using public transportation in Rome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7FZFMkR7Os&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Youtube video Rome in a day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAxOyrkOPuA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL


We use the Rick Steves guidebooks and have done the Baltic, Europe on our own following them, but here are some freebies:

Rick Steve's Audio Tours and Maps (Italy)
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/0602/italy_downloads.htm


Rick Steve's Videos:

Barcelona and Catalunya with Rick Steves
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Travels-in-Europe-with-Rick-Steves/97989/1313944998/Barcelona-and-Catalunya/videos

Caesar's Rome with Rick Steves
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Travels-in-Europe-with-Rick-Steves/97989/1282288695/Caesar-s-Rome/videos

Rome Baroque after Dark with Rick Steve's
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Travels-in-Europe-with-Rick-Steves/97989/1286692336/Rome%3A-Baroque%2C-After-Dark/videos

Florence City of Art with Rick Steves
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Travels-in-Europe-with-Rick-Steves/97989/1235848571/Florence%3A-City-of-Art/videos

Italy's Almafi Coast with Rick Steve's
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Travels-in-Europe-with-Rick-Steves/97989/1212077056/Italy-s-Amalfi-Coast/videos

Naples and Pompeii with Rick Steves
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Travels-in-Europe-with-Rick-Steves/97989/1212078394/Naples-and-Pompeii/videos

French Riviera with Rick Steves
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Travels-in-Europe-with-Rick-Steves/97989/1220149076/French-Riviera%3A-Uniquely-Chic/videos


Rick Steve's Podcasts:

Rick Steve's French Riviera
http://www.ricksteves.com/radio/archive.htm#29

Rick Steve's Barcelona
http://www.ricksteves.com/radio/archive.htm#217

Naples and the Almafi Coast
http://www.ricksteves.com/radio/archive.htm#60

Authentic Italian Cuisine
http://www.ricksteves.com/radio/archive.htm#124

Rome City Guide
http://www.ricksteves.com/radio/archive.htm#134a

Rome Beneath the Surface
http://www.ricksteves.com/radio/archive.htm#172

Below are some of my notes compiled for Rome based upon posts in the Cruise Critic boards:

How to Reach some Key Sites in Rome from Civitavecchia (by train)
(all mass transit below, excluding cabs, is included in a 5-zone BIRG ticket)​

Shuttle busses (Free) will take you from the ship to the port entrance (5 minute ride). From there it is a 10 minute walk to the train station (across the street, turn right, and walk a few blocks to the train station). If there are long lines of cruisers already there purchase your ticket at the Tabacchi (newstand) or go past the Tabacchi inside the station and buy the BIRG tickets (regional transportation) ticket. This ticket covers the round trip train fare (on regional trains only) as well as all public transit in Rome for the day). You can also buy a BIRG ticket at a coffee shop for €9.50 without having to wait. These tickets would cover the round trip train ride to Rome as well using the Rome metro and bus system all day. If you catch the 8:41 am train you will arrive at the Termini station in Central Rome at 09:52 am. The core service is broadly a twice hourly service on commuter style trains taking around 70 minutes to travel the full route.

DO NOT forget to time stamp your tickets before getting on the train. There are little yellow boxes on the platforms where you time stamp your tickets.

The BIRG ticket is half a Euro more than buying a regular train ticket and a one day Rome metro pass, but it might be worth the extra cents to get it done with one purchase. You probably wouldn't be able to buy the one day Rome metro pass (called a BIG) in Civitavecchia, so you'd need to stop and get that once you are in Rome.

Here are your options:
24 hour, 5-zone BIRG (regional train Civitavecchia-Rome, plus all transit in Rome for the day) = €9.50
One way regional train ticket, Civitavecchia to Rome (second class) = 4.50 Euro
24 hour Rome transit ticket (called a BIG) = 4 Euro
Morning trains: 7:33, 7:59, 8:41, 8:59
The 8:41 is a faster train, it makes fewer stops (7 vs. 12 for the 8:59), and it has a first class compartment.
Traveling from Civitavecchia a typical train will stop at San Pietro (40 mins), Trastevere (50 mins), Ostiense (55 mins) and finally Termini (70 mins). San Pietro is around 10 minutes walk to the Vatican and St Peter's Square. Trastevere is the interchange for a frequent airport train to Fiumicino Airport. Ostiense is an interchange with the Rome Metro which can take you direct to the Coliseum.



Coliseum / Roman Forum

From Roma Ostiense train station (cabs are generally available at this station as an alternative):

§ Follow signs through the train station to Metro station Piramide (through tunnel)
§ Take Metro Line B (the only one at this station) in the direction of Rebibbia
§ Pass one stop (Circo Massimo) and get off at the second stop, Colosseo
§ Exit the station and cross Via dei Fori Imperiali to Piazza del Colosseo

Note: To reach the Palatine ticket office prior to going to the Colosseum, do the following from Roma Ostiense:

§ Follow signs through the train station to Metro station Piramide (through tunnel)
§ Take Metro Line B (the only one at this station) in the direction of Rebibbia
§ Get off at the first stop, Circo Massimo
§ Exit station onto Viale Aventino, walk north (Circus Maximus will be on your left)
§ Cross Via dei Cerchi and contine north along Via di San Gregorio
§ The Palatine ticket office will be halfway up the street, at the traffic light, on the left side
§ From here, continue up Via di San Gregorio to the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum (total walk 0.5 miles)




Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel

From Roma San Pietro train station (cabs are not generally available at this station):

Walking:
§ Walk 1.1 miles to entrance on Viale Vaticano (at intersection of Via Tunisi)

Bus plus walking:
§ Take #64 bus (direction Termini) for three stops to Cavalleggeri/Fornaci stop (just before the bus enters the tunnel), use underpass at Via Fornaci to cross Via di Porta Cavalleggeri, cross Piazza San Pietro (basilica on left)
§ Walk 0.8 miles to entrance on Viale Vaticano (at intersection of Via Tunisi)

Train plus bus:
§ Change trains at Roma San Pietro to the FR3 (toward Cesano or Manziana - Canale Monterano) for one stop to Valle Aurelia (note that this is NOT the same stop as the Trenitalia Roma Aurelia stop)
§ Take #490 bus (direction Tiburtina) for four stops to CANDIA/MOCENIGO
§ Walk 0.1 miles (along Via Tunisi) to entrance of museums


From Roma Aurelia station (cabs are not generally available at this station):

§ Take bus #246 (direction Cornelia) six stops to DE LA SALLE
§ Enter Metro station Cornelia and take Line A (the only one at this station) toward Anagnina for three stops to Cipro
§ From Cipro station, turn right on Via Fra Albenzio to end, then right on Via Vittor Pisani to end, then left on Viale Vaticano to museums entrance (total walk 0.4 miles)




St. Peter’s Basilica

From Roma San Pietro train station (cabs are not generally available at this station):

Walking:
§ Walk 0.4 miles to Piazza San Pietro

Bus plus walking:
§ Take #64 bus (direction Termini) for three stops to Cavalleggeri/Fornaci stop (just before the bus enters the tunnel), use underpass at Via Fornaci to cross Via di Porta Cavalleggeri, cross Piazza San Pietro (basilica on left)
§ Continue along Piazza del Sant’Uffizio to Piazza San Pietro



Trevi Fountain


From Roma Termini train station (cabs are always available at this station):

§ Follow signs to Metro line A, direction Battistini
§ Exit at second stop BARBERINI – FONTANA TREVI
§ Walk 0.4 miles (Via del Tritone to Via della Stamperia)



Pantheon


From Roma Trastevere train station (cabs are generally available at this station as an alternative):

§ Exit station and cross the piazza to the street (intersection of Circonvallazione Gianicolense and Viale Trastevere), cross to the tram platform in the middle of the street
§ Take the #8 tram (direction Argentina) for eight stops until the end of the line at Largo Argentina (note that two different trams stop at Stazione Trastevere, be sure to get on #8 toward Argentina, not #3)
§ After exiting the tram, continue to walk north 0.4 miles on Via di Torre Argentina, cross Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and continue north on Via della Rotonda

 

[pxlbarrel]

After all of the research into private tours and this and that, I ended up booking us on the DCL excursions.

It came down to the fact that it was only me doing any planning and I ran out of time to plan! My mom also, don't laugh, prefers to be with a group of Disney cruisers when we're out and about. She's all about "safety in numbers".

Oh well.... at least I don't have to do anything more about them. LOL I just need to call DCL and request Sompong as our server. and then find airfare across the ocean.

 

[mehaul]

Hello! We are excited to have finally signed on with Disboards. This is my second post (as the first one ended up somewhere else in Disboard hide and seek). We are hoping to get in touch and possibly "meet" others who will be sailing with us on the June 8th Med cruise. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on the ports we will be visiting, especially as we would like to try to do it on our own to get the most out of our time.

Looking forward to your responses!

In addition GenieDana's great list Rick Steves has a new free iphone app. It allows you to download the podcasts pertinent to your trip and they're all located in one location - Rick Steves' Audio Europe 2011

 

[Tod&Copper]

For the westbound transatlantic cruise this year, the DISers are all linking their dining reservations so that we are all seated together in the same area for dinner. Are we doing that for this cruise?

 

[amyren]

For the westbound transatlantic cruise this year, the DISers are all linking their dining reservations so that we are all seated together in the same area for dinner. Are we doing that for this cruise?

That sounds cool. What do I need to do?!?! We have early seating.

 

[mickymania]

For the westbound transatlantic cruise this year, the DISers are all linking their dining reservations so that we are all seated together in the same area for dinner. Are we doing that for this cruise?

We have done that before and it was fun. If I remember correctly, you just call DCL and link the reservation numbers.

 

[goofy4u]

GenieDana,
Thank you for the very helpful information

 

[Tod&Copper]

To link dining you would need the lead name on the booking and the reservation number and DCL can link for dining.

Always best to do this post-75 day window so that everyone has booked their spa treatments and palo as, once the ressies are linked, they will become locked and no further changes can be made. In our case, I think everyone may have done their bookings by now.

If anyone is interested, we can make up a list for main dining and late dining and email the info to DCL.

 

[janey2000]

Amyren- I'd love to sit with you at dinner as think both our little girls are the same age (Georgia turns 3 in July). I'm really worried about her disturbing others at dinner! We are also first sitting. The only thing is that I don't want dinner to drag on and worry that if we are all sat on a huge table it'll be sloooooow

 

[mlm71]

Hi Amyren! Thanks for the welcome. For this trip it will be just my husband and I. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary (I can't believe that!) and my 40th birthday (I KNOW that can't be possible!) We have two daughters that we will be leaving at home, but we've taken them on two other Disney cruises so I don't feel guilty. How about you, are you traveling with family?
Thanks for the links, I can't wait to get started!