May 12, 2007 -- Taking the Magic to the Mediterranean -- 14 day Repo Cruise!

[kpros]

Ken, We are so glad you are not hood ornament on that truck! We also have lots of bicycles out here with lots of kids riding them so we are extra cautious. Alex says "Stop playing on the 405!"..

Honest - I wasn't on the 405 freeway. I'm not that crazy!

Ken

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

It is the last full day We have arrived in Barcelona. And what a day this will be.

Not only are we greeted by fireworks last night, we had a few this morning too.

I still stand by the reasoning that this is the first bingo game

Enjoy....

Debbie

 

[Kissimmee]

Hello every one
I just want to say hello from Germany to all our friends.

Maybe, I am not the first one, but J discovered this one the DCL page.
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/podcasting/landing?name=PodcastingLandingPage&episode=DCL016DCLArrivesInEuropeEpisode

have a nice day every one

juergen

Cool Video Thanks. How are you guys doing?

 

[eeyorelvr10]

Sorry to but in everybody but I am looking for some help. If anyone did anything on their own in Gibraltar I am most interested in talking to you if you would allow me too. My party and I want to do a DCL Rhonda tour but we also want to see the Rock of Gibralter. If anyone did this on your own -

1. Was it hard finding someone there.

2. Did you handle this ahead of time.

3. Did you feel safe going on your own.

4. We want to go on this tour but for only 2 hrs and that price - I would almost want to do the other tour. But its an all day tour.

If anyone would like to post or PM me in regards to their opinions I would most love to hear them. Thanks in advance -you all have been so wonderful posting your thoughts and experiences that you have all helped a lot of future repo cruisers. Thanks again.

 

[eller]

We did Gibralter on our own. It was very easy. We did not make arrangements ahead of time. We simply walked off the ship and there were taxis everywhere. We did notice that the further you walked the cheaper the price. We are a family of five and felt safe the whole time. After our tour, the taxi driver drove us and we stopped as we went up and the driver included information, the taxi driver even stopped at an ATM so that I could get money.

It was money to pay him, so there was some added insentive. We were dropped off in town, did some shopping and caught a taxi for 1 pound a peice back to the ship.

I would do it again in a minute.

Lori

 

[rufustee]

Sorry to but in everybody but I am looking for some help. If anyone did anything on their own in Gibraltar I am most interested in talking to you if you would allow me too. My party and I want to do a DCL Rhonda tour but we also want to see the Rock of Gibralter. If anyone did this on your own -

1. Was it hard finding someone there.

2. Did you handle this ahead of time.

3. Did you feel safe going on your own.

4. We want to go on this tour but for only 2 hrs and that price - I would almost want to do the other tour. But its an all day tour.

If anyone would like to post or PM me in regards to their opinions I would most love to hear them. Thanks in advance -you all have been so wonderful posting your thoughts and experiences that you have all helped a lot of future repo cruisers. Thanks again.

We did Gib on our own. We left our daughter 4 yrs old on the ship. If I were to do it again I would take her.
Answer to questions, We did the dolphin in the morning with our daughter and then in the afternoon we did Gib on own with a taxi.
1. The taxis are right there as you walk out of the terminal. So there is no problem finding a taxi for a tour. There were 8 of us in the taxi and it was approx 25 Euros per person. There was one child approx 8-10yrs old in the taxi and she paid the same price. The walk to town isn't very far but if its hot can be feel a lot longer. I believe there was a shuttle from the ship to the downtown area for 2euros per person and another 2euros back to the ship per person for the shuttle from the downtown/city area. We did the walk two times round trip and to walk to the downtown area was approx 15-20 minutes each way. Our taxi took us to the overlook by Europa point, to the Caves and to see the monkeys. Our driver also explained different sites we were seeing along the way and would slow down for us to take pictures. The taxi tour was approx 3hours and it included the tickets to the caves. If we did it again I would ask the drive if it included the tickets to the seige tunnels and how much longer it would take to do them. The tunnels from WWII.

2. No we did not arrange anything ahead of time.

3. We felt totally safe in the taxi and walking around the city by ourselves.
We took our daughter to town in the morning then back to the ship after lunch so she could play onboard.

4. I did not do the Rhonda tour.

I hope this helps you.

 

[kpros]

Sorry to but in everybody but I am looking for some help. If anyone did anything on their own in Gibraltar I am most interested in talking to you if you would allow me too. My party and I want to do a DCL Rhonda tour but we also want to see the Rock of Gibralter. If anyone did this on your own -

1. Was it hard finding someone there.

2. Did you handle this ahead of time.

3. Did you feel safe going on your own.

4. We want to go on this tour but for only 2 hrs and that price - I would almost want to do the other tour. But its an all day tour.

If anyone would like to post or PM me in regards to their opinions I would most love to hear them. Thanks in advance -you all have been so wonderful posting your thoughts and experiences that you have all helped a lot of future repo cruisers. Thanks again.

In the morning, we walked from the ship all the way out to the Lighthouse and back on our own. Walked right by the skyway tram and most of the museums. Except for the narrow roads without sidewalks, we felt totally safe. We then took a tour in the afternoon that went just about everywhere we had walked in the morning. We could have just taken the skyway up to the top of the rock on our own and saved some money.

Ken

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Karen--Shhhh. Don't tell your LDS neighbors about that rice wine!





Susie, love the blog from the family traveling Europe! I thought they looked LDS from the first pictures...sure enough, they sought out a chapel! That made me wonder if *I* have that LDS look. Maybe anyone trailing a number of kids looks a little Mormon. In that case, I surely fit the bill!

 

[charwac1]

I believe there was a shuttle from the ship to the downtown area for 2euros per person and another 2euros back to the ship per person for the shuttle from the downtown/city area.

Actually, the shuttle price is 2 euros or 2 UK or Gibraltar pounds or 2 US dollars, rider's choice. (Yes, there's a sign.) US dollars are the best choice these days.

There are three ways up the rock, walking, the cable car, or some motor vehicle, such as a taxi. If you walk from downtown towards the cable car, you'll walk past folks who do custom tours.

I (Andy) don't like heights. I'm much happier that we did a custom tour, and it was much more time-efficient than the Disney tours. However, you do have to know what you want to see. (Take the disney tour descriptions.)

 

[seaulater]

In the morning, we walked from the ship all the way out to the Lighthouse and back on our own. Walked right by the skyway tram and most of the museums. Except for the narrow roads without sidewalks, we felt totally safe. We then took a tour in the afternoon that went just about everywhere we had walked in the morning. We could have just taken the skyway up to the top of the rock on our own and saved some money.

Ken

We walked from the ship into town that morning and walked all the way through the shops, checked out the cemetary, and walked as far as the tram to the apes. We bought some great crystal in the crystal shop. The walk into the main town square took about 10 minutes.

Then we did the same tour with Ken and Shari. Ken is right, we could have saved some money. However, I really enjoyed our tour guide. Thought he was one of the best we had on the trip.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Ken and Linda, I am curious where you walked (if was up the Rock) and where your tour went. We were able to get places with out taxi (tunnels, cave, monkies) that I didn't think we could walk up to. I never considered wlking to the lighthouse, though we did get as far as the cable car, and that wasn't far at all. What museums did you walk past?

We actually did the DCl tour and the taxi tour...camera problems, missing something in the cave, PMS, a basically neurotic personlity led to THAT...anyway, the taxi tour took us further up the rock where the DCL tour, though entertaining, could not reach. We will do Taxi next time (unless I find out more on this walking thing!).

We felt very safe--even with a 5 year old and 2 year old-- and rebooked for the WB so we could take all our other kids on the adventure. It's hard to get lost in Gibralter with the Rock on one side and the boat on the other. We had no idea exactly which road to take back to the ship, but knew the general direction and did fine.It's very hard to make a wrong turn and the ship is big!

Yes, we had time for both tours, a leisurely lunch, wandering the shopping area, a very nice long visit with Elizabeth and her family in the cemetary, and a nice walk back to the boat (remember still with the two kids). Of all the excursion days, this was the most easy going for us and we felt like we'd seen all we wanted.

 

[kpros]

Ken and Linda, I am curious where you walked (if was up the Rock) and where your tour went. We were able to get places with out taxi (tunnels, cave, monkies) that I didn't think we could walk up to. I never considered wlking to the lighthouse, though we did get as far as the cable car, and that wasn't far at all. What museums did you walk past?

Well, Shari and I kind of took the low road out to the lighthouse - including walking through 3 tunnels. Then took the high road back to the ship. The low road stayed close to the waterfront, walked by the USA war memorial, 100 ton cannon, and lots of construction. The high road went more in the housing areas, past the Rock Hotel, and came out in the downtown area by the skyway terminal. We then walked back to the ship from the downtown area. The DCL tour drove the same route and ended up at the skyway terminal for the trip up the rock.

Ken

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Ah, now I see! Yep, you should've just gone up the skyway! I found Gibralter to be a learning experience, though. You almost need to go back to apply all you've learned!!! (or post here to help others not make the same mistakes!) We should've skipped the DCL tour, too. Oh well. Experience is experience. How long did it take you to walk to the lighthouse? Did you walk down the rock from the top or did you take the skyway?

 

[kpros]

Ah, now I see! Yep, you should've just gone up the skyway! I found Gibralter to be a learning experience, though. You almost need to go back to apply all you've learned!!! (or post here to help others not make the same mistakes!) We should've skipped the DCL tour, too. Oh well. Experience is experience. How long did it take you to walk to the lighthouse? Did you walk down the rock from the top or did you take the skyway?

As I recall, it took about 3 hours for the walk. We got back to the ship in time to grab something to eat and then get on the DCL afternoon tour. The tour bus picked us up at the midway skyway stop and took us to the big siege caves and then back to the ship.

Ken

 

[eeyorelvr10]

OMG! You guys are fantastic. I have been hearing that this is a nice easygoing port. So with this I think we shall go on our own and find somethings to do.

I feel better now that I'll be able to devote a little time to this trip. Thanks you guys once again. You are all awesome!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Deanna, eeyorelvr10 (and others) we walked to the cable car (taking in the chaging of the gaurds and cemetary along the way) and road the cable car up the hill. But we walked ALL OVER up top and walked to the caves, etc. from there. The only danger we felt was from the taxi driving along the same narrow roadway when we were on the rock (and they did slow down, not really dangerous more like annoying). We feel we saw more (climbed LOTS of little trails on that rock) than we would have with a taxi tour. But, taxis (as others have said) were readily available had we wanted one. We climbed so many little trails, etc we were actually up on the rock (and winding our way down, we walked half way down and took the cable car from the mid stop) for about 4 1/2 hours. By then the kids were pretty worn out so all of us but my FiL headed back to the ship--he took the low road Ken describes and saw the 100 ton gun, etc. This is a VERY easy port to do on your own--with basically no advance planning.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Hadley, we saw you in Gibralter (remember, Scott was *lost* in the Burger King Bathroom?!) I remember you telling me about the Taxis on the Rock. That's why I was sticking with the taxi plan, except that I had this thought that it might be nice to just "sit" on top for awhile and enjoy the view --impossible with the taxis. They stick to a strict 2 hour max schedule. With so many kids, though, I still worry about safety. Hadley, did you see the tunnels and cave?

Oh, Hadley, I just remembered--I'll look for the charm, okay? I've never looked for them before, but Nanaguide wants me to look fo one on the ship. I may have a new calling in life--*charm-seeker*!!!! I'll have a lot of little eyes to help me look, too!

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Laura, no need to thank us--asking us questions about our wonderful cruise only helps us to relive it!

Thanks Ken! 3 hours is very doable. I love to walk around and see things up close.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hadley, we saw you in Gibralter (remember, Scott was *lost* in the Burger King Bathroom?!) I remember you telling me about the Taxis on the Rock. That's why I was sticking with the taxi plan, except that I had this thought that it might be nice to just "sit" on top for awhile and enjoy the view --impossible with the taxis. They stick to a strict 2 hour max schedule. With so many kids, though, I still worry about safety. Hadley, did you see the tunnels and cave?

Oh, Hadley, I just remembered--I'll look for the charm, okay? I've never looked for them before, but Nanaguide wants me to look fo one on the ship. I may have a new calling in life--*charm-seeker*!!!! I'll have a lot of little eyes to help me look, too!

You are so sweet. DO NOT go out of your way.

With the little bitty ones, the walking on hte path with the taxis would scare me (too much chance a kid will dart out). With your older girls I think you'd be fine (or are the boys going again too?). Actaully what scared me was my FiL took off on virtually every little path up an the ridge followed by a very excited 8 year old. There were lots of steep drop offs up on those paths. I spent the entire time totally on edge trying to be sure Rio did not fall to his death This could be totally avoided by sticking to main routes as any sensible family would do. Yes we did see tunnels and St. Michale's cave (wow).

Of course I remember seeing you in Gibraltar (you were looking for Trafalgar Cemetary and were almost there).

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

It is the last day!!!

And what a trip it was. We came a long way baby....

So one month ago, some of us were headed home, others continued their holiday in parts of Europe and even more stayed on the ship and continued on through the Med.

A wonderful trip with a great group of people. Hope you enjoyed the pictures

Debbie