June 8, 2011 – Mediterranean

[Pengwend]

with regard to boarding how smooth have they got this now? When we sailed from Dover last year it was spot on, parked at the port (about half hour drive from home lol) wandered in, painless check in next to no queues, short wait in the lounge with character appearances etc. All clean and tidy. When we went from Barcelona before it was chaos. Partly perception I guess as you're hot and sweaty and we had to fly in and have the bus transfer. But the cruise terminal itself was a nightmare. They checked us in and then gave us a boarding time, called us to stand in a queue where a few hours later we were still stood - a nightmare with a 6 month old. The Disney staff were frantically running up and down the queue trying to locate people who should be going on excursions etc. Turned out there was some problem with the boat docking and they had to have another go at it. Why oh why they didn't tell us this I don't know and why call people up to stand in a pointless queue for hours. Anyway .... does anyone have a more recent experience and any pointers on how its likely to go?
Thanks

I'd be interested in hearing how this goes too. We haven't booked flights yet (we're in Virginia in the States), but it's because I haven't decided if it will be easier to fly in and go straight to the port or spend a night. Also, I don't know if it'll be worth the expense of spending a night...

 

[RoseW]

happy easter everyone!!!

Happy Easter to you...I got on the boards again??? Ido not know what happened!

 

[RoseW]

I'd be interested in hearing how this goes too. We haven't booked flights yet (we're in Virginia in the States), but it's because I haven't decided if it will be easier to fly in and go straight to the port or spend a night. Also, I don't know if it'll be worth the expense of spending a night...

We are flying direct to Barcelona, get in at 11:00am, go trough immigration, hop on a taxi to the port, get to the sip around 1:30pm, get to our stateroom and crash, until the boat drill...then get another nap before dinner. We fly from Orlando via Miami Iberian Air (American Air sister) to Barcelona. Our rest is after the cruise, sightseeing, for we will spend several days in Barcelona, then head home. Rose, Shelby and Andrea

 

[nvcruiser]

We're headed in to Barcelona the day before... supposedly it's a red-eye, so the plan is to sleep thru the flight and then hit the ground running in Barcelona. Basically just exhaust ourselves the day before, have a good sleep at the hotel and be ready to go once on the ship. I'm sure the jet lag will be worse after we get back, but as long as we're good to go for the cruise itself, who cares!?!

Just an update, my aunt started chemo and arranged the treatment schedule around the cruise! She's rocking the bald and is awaiting her wig/scarf/hat order. She said it'll be a daily surprise what color her hair will be! Thankfully, she's in good spirits about it and she said she wasn't missing this cruise for anything! Thanks for all the prayers on her behalf- I know that they have been heard and answered!

Jenny

 

[Zoom]

6 MORE WEEKS!!!!

 

[goofy4u]

6 MORE WEEKS!!!!

Can't come soon enough I am so ready to GO

 

[kittb]

Can't come soon enough I am so ready to GO

Eek and we have done nothing more than book the cruise and flights?! Nothing to do with trips etc. And dh is working such long hours at the moment that I can imagine we will suddenly look up and it will be the day before we fly and we won't have had any of the fun of planning!

Kit

 

[mlm71]

[/QUOTE]We are doing Paris pre cruise as MY happy birthday. My birthday is the 6th ... but I'm not turning 40 (yet ) I can't wait to spend my bday at DLP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/QUOTE]

I hope we get a chance to meet on the cruise so I can hear all about your birthday experience in DLP!

 

[amyren]

On our last cruise we also did the cruise meet at 3 PM and it worked out great The only issue was that it was kinda of noisy out by the pool but on the other hand the parents were able to talk and mingle while the kids were in the pool. It can also get crowded by the pool so a sign or something else that will identify us as a Dis group would probably be helpful.

6 weeks!!!!!
Did we ever come up with a plan for the cruise meet?!?! I'd offer a suggestion but I've never been to one . I'm up for whatever. I look forward to meeting everyone.

 

[Zoom]

6 weeks!!!!!
Did we ever come up with a plan for the cruise meet?!?! I'd offer a suggestion but I've never been to one . I'm up for whatever. I look forward to meeting everyone.

I know, can't wait!!! From my previous cruises, we had a cruise meet at the promenade lounge and by the goofy pool area.

 

[mickymania]

Hey Wendy, you're back!!! How was your trip to the French Riviera? Any tips on how to get around Monte Carlo/Monaco? I will send you a PM regarding our private tour.

It was gorgeous and I am excited to get back there. It truly is beautiful; I will try to post some pictures for those who haven't been yet. Sadly, I didn't have any time to sightsee but I did ask the hotel staff about the best way to get between places. We are going to do Monaco and Eze. The easiest way to do that is to take the train to Monaco and then a bus to Eze. There were several staff members helping me and they disagreed about how to get back to Villefranche. One said to take a cab and the other one said to take a bus. If you are going to Nice, you can get there very easily by train from Villefranche or Monaco. I also asked about seeing Nice, Monaco, and Eze in one day and they thought it was doable as long as each stop was short.

One more helpful hint. If you want to see the changing of the guard at the palace in Monaco it only happens once a day at 11:55 a.m. so you might want to make that your first stop.

Sorry that I don't have more specifics. If you have any other questions, I will try to answer.

I just LOVE that there is less than six weeks left now. For the cruise meet, we have met in the lounge on the third deck -- it worked well.

Wendy

 

[goofy4u]

It was gorgeous and I am excited to get back there. It truly is beautiful; I will try to post some pictures for those who haven't been yet. Sadly, I didn't have any time to sightsee but I did ask the hotel staff about the best way to get between places. We are going to do Monaco and Eze. The easiest way to do that is to take the train to Monaco and then a bus to Eze. There were several staff members helping me and they disagreed about how to get back to Villefranche. One said to take a cab and the other one said to take a bus. If you are going to Nice, you can get there very easily by train from Villefranche or Monaco. I also asked about seeing Nice, Monaco, and Eze in one day and they thought it was doable as long as each stop was short.

One more helpful hint. If you want to see the changing of the guard at the palace in Monaco it only happens once a day at 11:55 a.m. so you might want to make that your first stop.

Sorry that I don't have more specifics. If you have any other questions, I will try to answer.

I just LOVE that there is less than six weeks left now. For the cruise meet, we have met in the lounge on the third deck -- it worked well.

Wendy

Thanks for the advice, since we are also planning on doing Villefrance on our own this is very helpful
Originally our plan was to take the train from Villefranche to Eze Bord du Mer, catch a bus from Eze Bord du Mer to Eze Village, sightsee in Eze Village then catch a bus from Eze Village to Monaco in time to see the changing of the guard at 11:55 am.
However, now I am thinking my timeline may not be realistic, especially if we want to catch the changing of the guard. I think we may have to reverse the order and go to Monaco first and then to Eze Village as you suggested.
I would love to see Nice as well but I think that would be pushing it, especially with this being the last port. I think we will all be exhausted by then. I would be happy just making it to Monaco and Eze Village

 

[goofy4u]

6 weeks!!!!!
Did we ever come up with a plan for the cruise meet?!?! I'd offer a suggestion but I've never been to one . I'm up for whatever. I look forward to meeting everyone.

People have mentioned the promenade lounge and the area by the goofy pool. Maybe we should take a vote

I know, can't wait!!! From my previous cruises, we had a cruise meet at the promenade lounge and by the goofy pool area.

Which one did you like better?

 

[pxlbarrel]

Wow!!! My luggage tags and cruise documentation arrived today by Fed Ex!!! Woohoo

 

[RoseW]

People have mentioned the promenade lounge and the area by the goofy pool. Maybe we should take a vote



Which one did you like better?

Let's do this on the 9th. According to my map, the Promade Lounge no longer exists.
OPTIONS: Probably somewhere on deck 9...maybe at Topsiders in the very rear of the boat. Or on deck 3, if the children will be joining us, I think they serve breakfast in Parrott Cay. Some of the children will be in the Disney Clubs. We could all sit together for breakfast. If we decide to meet later in the day, maybe the Goofy Pool, but away from the crowds. I think a vote would be fine. One vote for time, another for place.
RoseW

 

[pxlbarrel]

Let's do this on the 9th. According to my map, the Promade Lounge no longer exists.
OPTIONS: Probably somewhere on deck 9...maybe at Topsiders in the very rear of the boat. Or on deck 3, if the children will be joining us, I think they serve breakfast in Parrott Cay. Some of the children will be in the Disney Clubs. We could all sit together for breakfast. If we decide to meet later in the day, maybe the Goofy Pool, but away from the crowds. I think a vote would be fine. One vote for time, another for place.
RoseW

The promenade doesn't exist anymore??? Wow...

I don't think I can do breakfast ... since that's a day at sea and all of our port days will require us to get off the boat early, it's only one of 2 days we're going to pass on the buffet for breakfast. It could, also, be somebody's character breakfast day, couldn't it?

It's getting close!!

 

[Zoom]

I don't think we can do a breakfast cruise meet, Character breakfast is scheduled on sea days. Maybe best is when we get onboard the first day, anybody know what time is the Boat Drill/Sail Away Party? Not sure if it's the typical 4-4:30pm. Maybe we can do a 3pm Cruise meet?

 

[mickymania]

I don't think we can do a breakfast cruise meet, Character breakfast is scheduled on sea days. Maybe best is when we get onboard the first day, anybody know what time is the Boat Drill/Sail Away Party? Not sure if it's the typical 4-4:30pm. Maybe we can do a 3pm Cruise meet?

I vote for 3:00!

 

[RoseW]

The promenade doesn't exist anymore??? Wow...

I don't think I can do breakfast ... since that's a day at sea and all of our port days will require us to get off the boat early, it's only one of 2 days we're going to pass on the buffet for breakfast. It could, also, be somebody's character breakfast day, couldn't it?

It's getting close!!

I meant the lounge...not the Promenade itself around Deck 4 RoseW

 

[pxlbarrel]

I meant the lounge...not the Promenade itself around Deck 4 RoseW

I actually meant the lounge too but was too lazy to write the rest down.

I just looked at the deck map on the DCL site adn the Promenade lounge is still on deck 3.