May 26, 2007 (5/26/07) "First Magical Med Cruise!!" (The M&M's!)

[icunurse_celeste]

I'll be Ken today- Welcome to another day closer to the cruise...

 

[kpros]

OK - I'll be Celeste today.

Hi everyone, Ken sent me this list to post:

"Dear Celeste - would you please post this name badge/lanyard list:
Thanks, Ken"

baileysgm - Carolyn, Keith, Elisabeth, Bailey
charwac1 – Charlene, Andy
Coalchick - Karen, Doug, Jordan
CONNIEOSCI - Connie, Frank
CubCatsK&D – Kim, Deb
dd3rover - Dan, Sheryl, Nancy, Kaitlin, Brian, Michael
DebWills – Deb, Linda
disneyfamilyforever – Mike, Cathy, Allsion, Megan, Kelly ?
DisneySpirit – Tom, Lynn, Shane, Laurie
figment52 – Sandy, Sharon
first timers - Alex, Carolyn
garylpn – Gary, Karen ?
Hygiene99 – Peter, Jenn
icunurse_celeste – Celeste, Jennie
jeanneg – Jeanne, John
Jeisur – Laurie, David, Breighton, JoAnne, Howard
konslerg - Gloria, Gary
kpros/spros – Ken, Shari
LegalBriefs - Ron, Monica
littleowensmommy - Kathy, Ted, Owen, Amy
Ltl Mermaid - ?
meb51 – Marie, Steve, Beverly, Dora, Katie, Will
milestogo – Kelly, Jonathan, Zoe
misseulalie - Jennifer, Rachid, Sophia, Lena, Hajja, Fatma
NejTheLion – Jen, Debbi, Barry
padalyn - Cayla, Barbara, Stacey, Bev
plantman - Peter, Joe, Delores
poconoboatniks – Ellen, Bob, Kate, Brett, Bob, Helen, Linda, Colleen
renegade7 – Johanna, Gary ?
ronunc – Ron, Becky
Schiffy - Mark, Carol
Smetheringham - ?
sunshine state kim – Kim, Todd, Savannah, Carter
sweetsue – Sue, Barbara, Christina
TikiGirl - Leslie, Ed
Winotracy/AskAGeek – Tracy, Bill
wrabitdad – Bob, Dale

Ken said to tell everyone that what you see is what you get on the name badges, so if something is wrong, please let him know. And he still hasn't heard from those with the question marks after their listing.

Ken - I mean Celeste

 

[jeanneg]

OK, I've narrowed it down to this:

PALERMO: Either "Sights of Palermo" or "Palermo and Ballero Market"....both are 1/2 day excursions

NAPLES: Either "Hidden Treasures of Herculaneum" or "Magnificent Naples"....both 1/2 excursions

OLBIA: "Moon Valley"....1/2 day excursion

CIVITAVECCHIA: nothing at the moment

LA SPEZIA: "Sarzana Wine Tasting"....1/2 day excursion

MARSEILLE: "Avignon/Les Baux".....Full day

VILLAFRANCHE: "Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze"....Full day


Anybody else interested in any of these?

 

[Hygiene99]

Hi Jeanne Jenn here!!
Since I am in charge of the excursions I get to post!
Here is what I have so far....
Palermo... we were looking at Ballero Market as well.
Naples.... Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri, all day excursion.
Olbia.... no plans yet, thought the Train to Gallura looked interesting
Civitavecchia... Ultimate Rome Experience
La Spezia....Portofino and Santa Margherita
Marseille....Chateau Neuf Du Pape and Avignon
Villefrance.... not sure yet, the one you have sounds great though! Peter wants to see the Casino.
I am gettting so excited about this. I can't wait to see everyone!!

 

[Hygiene99]

I'll be Ken today- Welcome to another day closer to the cruise...

Ken, I thought you may enjoy this Hope

Celeste, have you even seen the movie Coach Carter?

 

[jeanneg]

Jenn, those look like good choices! For anyone who is considering an excursion to Pompeii, I would definitely recommend it....it is definitely an amazing experience.

 

[Hygiene99]

We have never been to Europe, so I am trying to pick excursions that will give us the most bang for our buck!! Lots of places in one day! We will be tired, but we will be educated, that is my motto!!

 

[milestogo]

Well, thank goodness I have you guys! I've looked at these excursions until I'm blue in the face - it has become a third job!!! And I totally missed the Ballaro market

We are looking for food, food and more food stuff. This looks like a simple and fun thing to do and we can get food! I will now make change number 558 on my excursion list

 

[kpros]

Ken, I thought you may enjoy this Hope

Celeste, have you even seen the movie Coach Carter?

Hi Peter

I haven't seen "Coach Carter" but I did see "Remember the Titans" again the other day. Same kind of thing. I will have to rent Coach Carter.

Ken (the real one)

 

[jeanneg]

We are looking for food, food and more food stuff.

Then be sure to check out "Magnificent Naples".....first we get real pizza......then we get CHOCOLATE pizza! Sounds good to me!

 

[winotracy]

Peter, no your TA doesn't do your excursions, your wife does. Jeanne, I think your new TA might have some plans up her sleeve

As for excursions, here's what we are planning --

Palermo - Palermo & Ballero Market
Naples - Leisurely Sorrento
Olbia - don't know yet. I like the train, but it's so pricey.
Civiavecchia - Ultimate Rome Experience
La Spezia - Wine Tasting & Sarzana
Marseille - Chateau Neuf du Pap & Avignon
Villefranche - Nice and Eze with Wine & Cheese

We are getting the food and wine tours of the Mediterranean!!

Oh and I hope LegalBriefs doesn't invite anyone to the Roy who will destroy the room for future cruisers

 

[padalyn]

Just a little bump - I got buried in the older pages!!

 

[jeanneg]

Oh and I hope LegalBriefs doesn't invite anyone to the Roy who will destroy the room for future cruisers

Does that mean what I think it does? How did you swing that one, Tracy?

I'm torn between 2 tours in Palermo, both same duration and price. I would really love to visit the Ballero Market but if you read between the lines that one sounds like it's pretty much a bus tour with a 45 minute cathedral stop and then 60 minutes at the market. Sights of Palermo, on the other hand, is almost a complete walking tour. After spending so much time on the ship, I think I will really feel the need to get out and walk. The first one is listed as a "mild" activity, the second is "moderate".....lord knows, I'm going to have to do something to work off all we'll be eating!

 

[misseulalie]

Here's what we have so far...

Palermo: Palermo for Kids
Naples: Timeless Pompeii and Flavors of Sorrento
Olbia: Aggius and the ethnographic Museum
Rome : Narrowed it down to three; Highlights of Rome (but negative is the bus ride). Jumping back to Eternal Rome (negative is no Sistine Chapel). and Rome on your own (negative is will we fit all the sights in we want to see?)

La Spezia: Portofino and Santa Margherita or VIP Piza.
Maresaille: Maresaille and the little train (we got kids, remember!)
Villefranche: Make your own perfume and evening at the casino.

Jennifer

 

[misseulalie]

Ok new friends, I need some advice...

I have a cat. 12 GTY'ed booked for the transatlantic and a Cat. 11 booked for this cruise. I just got off the phone with a CM who told me they try to keep the guest in the same room for both cruises. So if I'm booked for a cat. 11 for this cruise, I will only be upgraded to a Cat. 11 for the Transatlantic. (since we are 4 people we will automatically be upgraded). So our chances for a cat. 9 or 10 upgrade would be very slim.

So, should we spend an extra $800 to move up to a Cat. 10 for this cruise on the good chance our transatlantic will be upgraded to at least a 10?
Or just leave it alone???


(We were orignially booked on the June 6th 10 day, but when we counted our hotel and other expenses, we figure we could downgrade to an inside cabin and pay the same price for two cruises.)

Thanks for any help!!
Jennifer

 

[misseulalie]

Duplicate post, sorry!

 

[jeanneg]

I don't think you can ever count on getting an upgrade. If you really would prefer the better category, $800 for 4 people over 2 weeks isn't really that much money. Only you can tell if it would have value for you. I guess it depends on how much time you spend in your stateroom, etc., but if you want it I would purchase the upgrade not rely on chance.

 

[misseulalie]

I don't think you can ever count on getting an upgrade. If you really would prefer the better category, $800 for 4 people over 2 weeks isn't really that much money. Only you can tell if it would have value for you. I guess it depends on how much time you spend in your stateroom, etc., but if you want it I would purchase the upgrade not rely on chance.

I would typically agree, but since there is 4 of us in a Cat. 12, we are automatically upgraded since cat. 12's only fit 3 people.
Plus, it is actually $800 for 6 people, my inlaws are joining us.

 

[kpros]

I need to do this before Celeste beats me to it -

Good morning everyone, another day closer to the cruise!

Ken

 

[Hygiene99]

I would typically agree, but since there is 4 of us in a Cat. 12, we are automatically upgraded since cat. 12's only fit 3 people.
Plus, it is actually $800 for 6 people, my inlaws are joining us.

We say leave it alone.. money could be spent other places..

Upgrade at the port?
the repo is not even close to full..
I Think?

Even if they did open it up to Cm's and Florida Res. (I think they have)??
How many at this point could get one way airfare at an affordable price?
Just my .02
Peter