June 8, 2011 – Mediterranean

[mlm71]

First, a fabulous Diser's Med Trip Report (with lots of pictures) you should look through:

WOW! WOW! WOW! GenieDana!! Thank you sooo much for all of this info. I don't think I'll sleep tonight. My husband is sitting beside me and is already clicked on one of your links on his laptop. Wish us luck!

 

[mlm71]

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.

I don't blame you (or your mom) at all! There is something to be said for the safety and convenience of having someone you love and trust (Disney) take care of you! Unfortunately, my husband wouldn't buy a candy bar without researching it for 6 months and going to 6 different stores then online to compare prices. We could possibly still end up next to you on a DCL excursion.

 

[mickymania]

I don't blame you (or your mom) at all! There is something to be said for the safety and convenience of having someone you love and trust (Disney) take care of you! Unfortunately, my husband wouldn't buy a candy bar without researching it for 6 months and going to 6 different stores then online to compare prices. We could possibly still end up next to you on a DCL excursion.

Your husband sounds like mine. It took us a year to figure out which camera to buy for the trip.

 

[chris44]

Your husband sounds like mine. It took us a year to figure out which camera to buy for the trip.

Oh dear, this sounds kind of like me! I still haven't figured out which camera to buy. Which one did you get??? Of course, you probably got a really good one, and all I want is a point-and-shoot that's fairly simple . . .

 

[mickymania]

Oh dear, this sounds kind of like me! I still haven't figured out which camera to buy. Which one did you get??? Of course, you probably got a really good one, and all I want is a point-and-shoot that's fairly simple . . .

My husband has wanted a DSLR for a long time and we finally decided on a Canon T2i. Deciding on a camera is a personal decision and I have found that people are very passionate about their brands and features. Personally, we love Canons and I am going to buy a powershot Canon point-and-shoot as well. For me, having a wide optical zoom and image stablization are important factors. I am sure that others have opinions they could share as well. Good luck!

Wendy

 

[chris44]

My husband has wanted a DSLR for a long time and we finally decided on a Canon T2i. Deciding on a camera is a personal decision and I have found that people are very passionate about their brands and features. Personally, we love Canons and I am going to buy a powershot Canon point-and-shoot as well. For me, having a wide optical zoom and image stablization are important factors. I am sure that others have opinions they could share as well. Good luck!

Wendy

Thanks so much for the info!

Hey, did anyone besides me have trouble with the on-line checkin? After I entered our two slight segments for the airline trip over to Barcelona, and then I go back to look at it, it says that we are arriving at JFK instead of Barcelona. Our layover is at JFK, but there seems to be something wrong with Disney's software or something, because it shows the correct date and time of arrival but shows us "arriving" at JFK instead of Barcelona!

Maybe I should just make a call to DCL and see if it's anything to worry about.

 

[Zoom]

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!

I'll add you to the roll call list.

 

[Zoom]

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.

I don't blame you (or your mom) at all! There is something to be said for the safety and convenience of having someone you love and trust (Disney) take care of you! Unfortunately, my husband wouldn't buy a candy bar without researching it for 6 months and going to 6 different stores then online to compare prices. We could possibly still end up next to you on a DCL excursion.

DH and I discussed the excursions yesterday, and we ended up booking Malta and Palermo thru DCL, originally I wanted to do this on our own but DH insists to book this thru DCL, he likes the convenience, aren't all guys like that? lol... he didn't want to go thru the hassle of looking for bus, train stations or cabs.... We are also doing a private tours in Naples,La Spezia and Civitavecchia with Ssisk.

Which DCL excursions did you guys book? We booked Blue Grotto and Fishing Village in Malta (9:00am-1pm) and Mysterious Palermo.

 

[Zoom]

Oh dear, this sounds kind of like me! I still haven't figured out which camera to buy. Which one did you get??? Of course, you probably got a really good one, and all I want is a point-and-shoot that's fairly simple . . .

My husband has wanted a DSLR for a long time and we finally decided on a Canon T2i. Deciding on a camera is a personal decision and I have found that people are very passionate about their brands and features. Personally, we love Canons and I am going to buy a powershot Canon point-and-shoot as well. For me, having a wide optical zoom and image stablization are important factors. I am sure that others have opinions they could share as well. Good luck!

Wendy

Same here. We have a Canon 40D but will sell it on ebay and buy the Canon T2i . I'm also going to buy a point-and-shoot camera, we have a friend who is a professional photographer and he will let me know which one to get.

Thanks so much for the info!

Hey, did anyone besides me have trouble with the on-line checkin? After I entered our two slight segments for the airline trip over to Barcelona, and then I go back to look at it, it says that we are arriving at JFK instead of Barcelona. Our layover is at JFK, but there seems to be something wrong with Disney's software or something, because it shows the correct date and time of arrival but shows us "arriving" at JFK instead of Barcelona!

Maybe I should just make a call to DCL and see if it's anything to worry about.

I haven't done the check in yet, but will do so later today, let us know what DCL says about the computer glitch.

Our layover is at JFK also, on June 4th and will get to Barcelona on the 5th (AA)....When is your flight?

 

[mlm71]

Hi all,

I have never posted to these cruise meet ups before but thought it might be fun. Our final payment is made so I guess I can really start to think about cruise details. We booked the first week booking was available and that seems so long ago. We have 8 people in our party and have the Walt suite + a GTY cat 11 b. I spent to summer in Italy back in High School and my parents lived in Europe for awhile so I have some experience getting around. Hope to get to know a few of you.

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer, I'm officially jealous, you have the "Walt suite"! ENJOY! Post pictures after the cruise and I'll live it through you. Glad we'll at least be sailing together.

 

[mlm71]

DH and I discussed the excursions yesterday, and we ended up booking Malta and Palermo thru DCL, originally I wanted to do this on our own but DH insists to book this thru DCL, he likes the convenience, aren't all guys like that? lol... he didn't want to go thru the hassle of looking for bus, train stations or cabs.... We are also doing a private tours in Naples,La Spezia and Civitavecchia with Ssisk.

Which DCL excursions did you guys book? We booked Blue Grotto and Fishing Village in Malta (9:00am-1pm) and Mysterious Palermo.

We haven't booked any excursions yet, we're both still trying to wrap our heads around what is where and what do we really want to see/do. We're just so excited to be going, I hope we can get it together and put a plan in place, or we just might be stalking some of the veteran med cruisers.

 

[RoseW]

Thanks so much for the info!

Hey, did anyone besides me have trouble with the on-line checkin? After I entered our two slight segments for the airline trip over to Barcelona, and then I go back to look at it, it says that we are arriving at JFK instead of Barcelona. Our layover is at JFK, but there seems to be something wrong with Disney's software or something, because it shows the correct date and time of arrival but shows us "arriving" at JFK instead of Barcelona!

Maybe I should just make a call to DCL and see if it's anything to worry about.

I would call if you booked with them and get it fixed. I did not use Disney, I booked independently with Iberian Air a long time ago. RoseW

 

[amyren]

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

Maisie would LOVE the company. On our last cruise we sat with a family with 2 kids (2 & 4). The 3 kids got into the habit of brining little toys to the table to share and play with. They all did well. Keep in mind that we are traveling with my parents too but I know they would love to get to know some other people on the ship. I'll send you a private message about linking our ressies.

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!

What a great way to celebrate! I'm sure you two will have a great time!
My travel party is me (Amy), DH, DD(3) & my parents. We are all so excited!

Has everyone booked airfare?!? I just booked again. LONG story. FYI don't use airfare.com no matter how great their deals are! I basically got scammed and am in the middle of a dispute with my credit card company. I think it's all going to be okay but hate for any of you to deal with them.

 

[mlm71]

Hmmmm... apparently, the Wonder is not going to stop in Matzatlan during it's MR cruise. Somebody just posted that they changed the itinerary today because of the violence happening there. They're having a second port day in Cabo (a few days after their first day in Cabo).

It gives me hope that if DCL can do that so quickly, surely they can do something about a new port for the MED cruises.

I know this is old news, as we all are aware of the port change for our cruise, but I wanted to share with you another example of how awesome Disney is. When we took our Eastern Caribbean cruise in October 08, we couldn't tender to Grand Cayman due to the high winds, seas, etc. Another cruise line anchored off shore anyway and their passengers lost a port day, but Disney, turned and headed toward home working feveriously to book another port of call. In two hours time they had printed a new itinerary for our now "day at sea" pulling out all sorts of activities, and within another hour, they had secured a port of call in Key West, FL the next day. So while it was a bummer that we did not make it to Grand Cayman, we didn't lose a port of call, nor a day at sea, they just flipped the day at sea and changed the port last minute. I have TOTAL confidence in Disney, it's why we can't seem to book any other cruise line. I just thought I'd share that experience.

 

[mlm71]

Are we going to do a cruise meet?

Is there a cruise meet scheduled? We would be interested.

 

[mlm71]

Just wondering... how many of you guys are planning on doing a FE exchange?

Ok, I just found out about the FE exchange also. Sounds like fun, but what exactly do you get to hang on the fish? How big are the pockets? How big are the gifts? How many are signed up? Is there a deadline for depositing your gifts? Hmmm Questions, questions... sorry.

 

[mlm71]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice for travel post cruise to DLP? Is it far? Is it doable? I hate being so close and yet so far. If there is an economical way that avoids the airport, I would love to try to go for a day or two. We'll have until the 21st when we fly out of Barcelona.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Zoom]

Is there a cruise meet scheduled? We would be interested.

It has been discussed but no definite schedule yet.

Ok, I just found out about the FE exchange also. Sounds like fun, but what exactly do you get to hang on the fish? How big are the pockets? How big are the gifts? How many are signed up? Is there a deadline for depositing your gifts? Hmmm Questions, questions... sorry.

I'm not sure what exact measurements are but here's a link on ebay where you can buy them, http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...&_nkw=fish+extender&_sacat=See-All-Categories
So far there are 3 that are interested in doing FE. I will update the "ROLL CALL" and FE list later.

 

[amyren]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice for travel post cruise to DLP? Is it far? Is it doable? I hate being so close and yet so far. If there is an economical way that avoids the airport, I would love to try to go for a day or two. We'll have until the 21st when we fly out of Barcelona.
Thanks in advance for your help.

We are going to DLP before the cruise. It's a short / cheap flight. We are paying like 29 Euro one way through Easy Jet. We looked into taking a train but it's well over 12 hours and way expensive.

 

[chris44]

Zoom,

Our flight is not until June 5, arriving on June 6, so we won't see you at the airport.

But I called DCL, and the lady said our flight info shows up correctly on her screen and not to worry. She is going to report it to their web people to get it fixed.

She also confirmed that I need to bring with me on the cruise the same credit card I've submitted at on-line check-in. I thought that was the case, but I asked to make sure.