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

[Hygiene99]

What a cute Cocker Spaniel

 

[figment52]

What a cute Cocker Spaniel

I just noticed your tag - I guess we'll be cruising together again next May-

I have avoided that thread so far - it has over 7000 posts and we are over a year away !!!!!!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

What a cute Cocker Spaniel

Thanks Hygiene99,

Your two cockers are very cute too! I see that they are healthy eaters like my Sadie. My vet say, "you know, she could stand to lose some weight".

Bahaa, she doesn't know that Sadie doesn't think she's a dog, she thinks she's human like the rest of us....

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I just thought I'd give an FYI...

I noticed on the CC webpage that pillows were available. Here was Disney's reply.

You can request to have a Hypo-Allergenic, White Goose Down or
Therapeutic Memory foam pillow placed in your stateroom prior to your
arrival at no additional cost. This will save me from bringing my pillow from home. Although my pillow has been to Alaska, Europe, Mexico, Panama, etc; it will give me that much more room to buy souveniers.

I also asked about the bed and bath items http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/myCruise/castawayClub/landingClubHome it looks like they are complimentary too.

 

[CubCatsK&D]

wow, I don't come around here for a couple weeks (work, work, and more work), and wouldn't ya know it, the wine tasting has morphed into a toga party! I LOVE it! I had actually been wondering a while back whether there would be a goofy enough crowd on this ship to think of something like that--didn't need to worry, I see

Well since Kim and I are first-time cruisers, our task this week is to decide on our excursions and when we want to go to Palo, and book those ASAP on Monday (3/12). Hope you all left us some good stuff!

We're really looking forward to this cruise, since it is our first trip to Europe together and the longest vacation we've had yet.

Anybody else a first-timer jumping right into things? Seems almost all of you are DCL veterans (which is great for us newbies, BTW).

 

[poconoboatniks]

Good Morning Everyone

DCL Public Relations Director left a message on our answering machine yesterday. A newspaper writer was looking for a family who is booked on a Med. cruise to interview. I spoke with the writer this morning about our upcoming trip. She is doing some articles about cruising with kids in Europe and is booked on the 6/15/07 trip with her niece. I told her about our thread and the disboards. I don't know which newspapers carry her column. I think the title of her column is Taking the Kids. My dh was hoping that the call meant his call for Palo brunch ressies was being answered.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Good Morning Everyone

DCL Public Relations Director left a message on our answering machine yesterday. A newspaper writer was looking for a family who is booked on a Med. cruise to interview. I spoke with the writer this morning about our upcoming trip. She is doing some articles about cruising with kids in Europe and is booked on the 6/15/07 trip with her niece. I told her about our thread and the disboards. I don't know which newspapers carry her column. I think the title of her column is Taking the Kids. My dh was hoping that the call meant his call for Palo brunch ressies was being answered.

Pocono,

Can you link us when the article comes out? Question though...Is Palo worth it? There is not a ton of info on the DCL website about it. I'd like to know from someone that has been there. thanks!

 

[Jeisur]

Pocono,

Can you link us when the article comes out? Question though...Is Palo worth it? There is not a ton of info on the DCL website about it. I'd like to know from someone that has been there. thanks!

Palo brunch is TOTALLY worth it. As is any trip to Palo. The food is fantastic and the service is key Disney!

DH and I enjoyed the break from the wee-one and a VERY yummy buffet brunch. There was so much to eat on the buffet that we never TOUCHEd the lines for the main courses!

Definatly a must... if you can get in. We had no issues last cruise booking once we were onboard. There is a VEYR limited number of spaces open for brunch before the cruise.

Our only complaint was that some ding-dong from some show called "Daily Buzz" was onboard making a new video or something. Their camera crews just happened to be at BOTH of our Palo dinings plus blocking my view for the Golden Mickeys! GRRRRRRRR! They hogged too much space at the buffet and people were making a long treck around to get to the deserts... a well worth trip!

ENJOY! Hope you get to dine there!

-Laurie

PS: Nothing wrong with asking for 2 deserts!

 

[kpros]

Pocono,

Can you link us when the article comes out? Question though...Is Palo worth it? There is not a ton of info on the DCL website about it. I'd like to know from someone that has been there. thanks!

We always try and do Palo for dinner and brunch each cruise. It's a nice change from the main dinning rooms. Because of the size of your group, you may want to use Palo as a nice quiet dinner spot for just you and your husband.

Ken

 

[figment52]

I just received an email from travelocity that Europe flights are on sale. A flight for me would have been about $250 cheaper today than 3 weeks ago - they all seem to be British Airways with a connecting flight in London (makes sense) to Iberia. Reasonable times too. HTH someone.

sorry - Detroit would have been my departing city

Some fares offered did require an airport change- some only a plane change. I did not check layover times in London.

 

[poconoboatniks]

Legal Briefs introduced dh to the Stollen Bread with strawberry preserves and whipped cream. We had been to Palo before, but dh had never tried the Stollen Bread. I looked everywhere for a recipe or place to order the Stollen at Christmas, but could not find it. I like Brunch more than dinner. DH wants to do as many dinners or brunches as possible. We love Marco, Florencia and Ciao.

Pocono

Figment, Watch the airports in London. Those cheap fares usually involve arriving at Heathrow and departing Gatwick and vise versa on the way home.

 

[figment52]

Figment, Watch the airports in London. Those cheap fares usually involve arriving at Heathrow and departing Gatwick and vise versa on the way home.

Those that required an airport change were very clearly stated on the initial flight listings - they either stated "plane change in one color" or "in red stated airport change". The majority offered were plane change.

 

[sweetsue]

Good Morning Everyone

DCL Public Relations Director left a message on our answering machine yesterday. A newspaper writer was looking for a family who is booked on a Med. cruise to interview. I spoke with the writer this morning about our upcoming trip. She is doing some articles about cruising with kids in Europe and is booked on the 6/15/07 trip with her niece. I told her about our thread and the disboards. I don't know which newspapers carry her column. I think the title of her column is Taking the Kids. My dh was hoping that the call meant his call for Palo brunch ressies was being answered.

AWESOME! That sounds like fun. I wonder if she is related to the "take the kids" book series. I have the Paris one.

Sue

 

[sweetsue]

Hi Everyone,


We started shopping this past weekend. This trip requires a different packing strategy. I think we're going to leave most of the tropical stuff home and concentrate on the touristy stuff. We checked the weather channel for avg. hi and low temps in May and June. The avg temps look like it will be comfortable, but not too hot or humid. I always pack too much!

Poconoboatniks

Here's the average hi/lo for the specific days in question at each of the ports along with sunrise/sunset:

Barcelona (5/22 - 5/26) - 70/55 (sunrise on 5/26 6:24 AM, sunset 9:13 PM)
Palermo, Italy (5/28) - 73/63 (sunrise 5:48 AM, sunset 8:22 PM)
Naples, Italy (5/29) - 75/56 (sunrise 5:35 AM, sunset 8:25 PM)
Olbia, Sardinia (5/30) - 76/57 (sunrise 6:00 AM, sunset 8:42 PM)
Civitavecchia, Italy (5/31) - 71/60 (sunrise 5:40 AM, sunset 8:41 PM)
Rome, Italy (5/31) - 75/57 (sunrise 5:40 AM, sunset 8:38 PM)
La Spezia, Italy (6/2) - 74/56 (sunrise 5:40 AM, sunset 8:57 PM)
Marseille, France (6/3) - 75/58 (sunrise 6:00 AM, sunset 9:14 PM)
Nice, France (6/4) - 71/60 (sunrise 5:52 AM, sunset 9:08 PM)


HTH!

Sue

(who thinks the weather is a bit on the chilly side - might have to bring a JACKET!)

 

[sweetsue]

Pocono,

Can you link us when the article comes out? Question though...Is Palo worth it? There is not a ton of info on the DCL website about it. I'd like to know from someone that has been there. thanks!

DEFINITELY!

As long as you don't mind dressing a bit nicely and lingering over an excellent meal!

We prefer the dinners although we do go for brunch too!

Sue

 

[littleowensmommy]

Hello Everyone!

We were away for a few days and I've just now finished catching up on this thread. My we've been busy!

I just got an email confirmation from the Vatican for a Scavi Tour for 31 May at 1:45pm. We have a private tour guide and driver booked for our day in Rome but we had been considering canceling and doing the Exclusive VIP Visit of the Vatican and Highlights of Rome tour instead. I put in a request for the Scavi Tour back in December and was waiting to see if it came through. I'm currently double booked so I'll be dropping the DCL excursion. Our tour guide will watch the kids while we do this tour as no one under 15 is allowed admission.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Hello Everyone!

We were away for a few days and I've just now finished catching up on this thread. My we've been busy!

I just got an email confirmation from the Vatican for a Scavi Tour for 31 May at 1:45pm. We have a private tour guide and driver booked for our day in Rome but we had been considering canceling and doing the Exclusive VIP Visit of the Vatican and Highlights of Rome tour instead. I put in a request for the Scavi Tour back in December and was waiting to see if it came through. I'm currently double booked so I'll be dropping the DCL excursion. Our tour guide will watch the kids while we do this tour as no one under 15 is allowed admission.

Any good links for Rome would be appreciated. We're hung up on trying to get a hotel/apartment in Barcelona.

 

[poconoboatniks]

AWESOME! That sounds like fun. I wonder if she is related to the "take the kids" book series. I have the Paris one.

Sue,

I think that it may be the same person. I checked Amazon and the author's last name sounds like the woman I spoke with this morning.

Pocono

 

[konslerg]

Remember back when a number of us were up at 3 AM booking shore excursions? The ONE excursion I really wanted was the mucho expensive "Behind the Scenes" Vatican tour, but it never even showed up on my list of shore excursions, so I booked the VIP Vatican and Rome Highlights tour instead. I was disappointed, but, oh well, it must have already been "sold out" to the concierge guests who could book at 105 days.

...but I e-mailed Disney anyway and asked if there was a waiting list for the
"Behind the Scenes" tour. The answer was the standard, "No waiting list, but check when you get onboard to see if there have been any cancellations."

So today I was a bit bored at work and decided to pull up my shore excursion information. Imagine how surprised I was to find that I no longer had the VIP Vatican and Highlights tour booked ...but I DID have the VIP "Behind the Scenes" tour booked.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy as a clam with the change ...but wouldn't you have thought Disney would have e-mailed me when they unilaterally made the change to my shore excursions? What if I had decided I really wanted to save the $$$ and wanted to KEEP the "Highlights" tour? What if I hadn't checked, had gotten on the ship none the wiser and realized then that my tour had been changed and I didn't want it changed? Like I said, I'm happy with the change, but it sure seems this is another example of very poor communications on Disney's part for these Med cruises.

 

[kpros]

Like I said, I'm happy with the change, but it sure seems this is another example of very poor communications on Disney's part for these Med cruises.

DCL does move in mysterious ways sometimes.

Ken