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

[Hygiene99]

Hi Peter,
I got all the pics in www.imagestation . Now what??? And Help!

Short Version

How to post a photograph





Sent you a Private Message.

Peter

 

[milestogo]

I'm looking to buy:
An Italian purse
An Italian tie
We will have just missed the Formula One races in Barcelona and Monaco, so I'm hoping to get some item from the races.
Food and cooking items esp. Olive Oil, dried pasta.
Italian and French versions of Harry Potter for my DS who will be taking care of the cat!
Food, Food, Food... I love food, cooking, cooking utencils (you'd never guess how small I am when you see me for all the food) - my problem is I want to try food everywhere in each city, but I love the food on the ship and don't want to miss meals on the ship either! Yes, I will be working out a lot.

 

[littleowensmommy]

Also starting to research doing private tours - especially of Rome. I know that there are companies that will give private tours and you can supposedly see much more than you can with a tour arranged by the cruise line. I know that there are advantages and disadvantages arranging this type of tour. Is anyone else thinking they might want to explore this type of option?

Marie

I've already booked our private tour of Rome. Our tour guide is an American but has lived in Italy since 1989. She does tours regularly and is a licensed tour guide in Rome, but also teaches art history and writes for a Catholic magazine, Inside the Vatican. She will handle all arrangements for us including van, itinerary, tickets, etc.

 

[meb51]

I've already booked our private tour of Rome. Our tour guide is an American but has lived in Italy since 1989. She does tours regularly and is a licensed tour guide in Rome, but also teaches art history and writes for a Catholic magazine, Inside the Vatican. She will handle all arrangements for us including van, itinerary, tickets, etc.

That sounds wonderful! I am really envious. Was this someone you already knew or did you go through some type of agency?

Marie

 

[littleowensmommy]

I found her here on the DIS Boards. Her friend posted about her a couple of months ago after the Med itineraries were announced. She evidently gave Katie Couric a tour while the Today Show was in Italy for the Winter Olympics. It is on the MSNBC website listed under "Video: Katie's Tour of Milan: Decoding the Mystery". She will meet us at the ship with a van and driver. She has also given us guidance on what to wear and not wear inside churches. DH will have to wear long pants, etc. I really want my kids to see Rome and the Vatican. I couldn't imagine doing a group tour with them since it will be such a long day with alot of 'hurry up and wait'. We hope to optimize our time by avoiding waiting in lines for tickets/entry.

 

[milestogo]

That sounds very smart. It's too bad we don't have more time in Rome.

 

[meb51]

I found her here on the DIS Boards. Her friend posted about her a couple of months ago after the Med itineraries were announced. She evidently gave Katie Couric a tour while the Today Show was in Italy for the Winter Olympics. It is on the MSNBC website listed under "Video: Katie's Tour of Milan: Decoding the Mystery". She will meet us at the ship with a van and driver. She has also given us guidance on what to wear and not wear inside churches. DH will have to wear long pants, etc. I really want my kids to see Rome and the Vatican. I couldn't imagine doing a group tour with them since it will be such a long day with alot of 'hurry up and wait'. We hope to optimize our time by avoiding waiting in lines for tickets/entry.

How awesome! You were so smart to quickly take advantage of the opportunity. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to arrange something that is similar. I read in the paper a few months ago that arranging a private tour such as the one you have allows you to bypass really long lines and saves a bunch of time.

Marie

 

[konslerg]

I've already booked our private tour of Rome. Our tour guide is an American but has lived in Italy since 1989. She does tours regularly and is a licensed tour guide in Rome, but also teaches art history and writes for a Catholic magazine, Inside the Vatican. She will handle all arrangements for us including van, itinerary, tickets, etc.

We've also already booked our tour of Rome with a private guide. I'm not sure ours has as good a credentials as yours but he came highly recommended on the European boards at CruiseCritic.com.

Once Disney announces the shore excursions and the cost, then Iwe'll make the decision to keep our private tour or go with the DCL excursion, but I really think it probably makes more sense to do it privately. Our guide has offered to buy tickets for places like the Vatican in advance and have someone stand in line for us until we get there ...and will arrange for a private tour guide for the Vatican museum.

Hard to believe that one year from today (6/4), Rome will be behind us and we'll be in Monte Carlo ;-)

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

Hey all! I have been reading this post since its inception, but felt compelled to ask a question. I too am going to be on the first Med cruise next may w/ DCL and cannot wait . I have been having dreams about what that cruise might be like I have never been to Europe!! Anyhow...we booked air with Disney but have now heard so many bad things about it we may cancel. We have done 3 other DCL cruises and always booked air on our own but decided to add air as it was an int'l flight. Do you all have any insight/reasons for booking air one way or the other ?? Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

[Bareacuda]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid207/peb8c3fa8d8d784056fa5298f88331c6c/eeb300b6.jpg

Here's a shot of the 6 of us... wet and very happy we survived the race.
No matter which way you count... I'm in seat 3... the red head. :wave2:
Ready for the races again in Ventura,CA.. on the 10th of June.

 

[jeanneg]

I don't see a photo!

 

[konslerg]

>>snipped<<...we booked air with Disney but have now heard so many bad things about it we may cancel. We have done 3 other DCL cruises and always booked air on our own but decided to add air as it was an int'l flight. Do you all have any insight/reasons for booking air one way or the other ?? Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

We plan to book our own air. Our Travel Agenbt told us that, when you book with Disney, you won't know your exact flight times and the airline until about 3 months before departure.

I'm too anal not to know when/where I'm going to be flying. Besides that, from Miami there are no direct flights and I've decided I'd rather change planes in the States than in London, Paris or Madrid. So, I'm planning on booking Continental from Miami to Newark and then overnight from Newark to Barcelona. That way, hopefully we can just sleep throught the longest part of the flight (8 hours) which I am not looking forward to ;-)

Plus, the flight will arrive early in the morning, giving us more time to tour Barcelona.

 

[milestogo]

We cancelled our flights with DCL too. They were too uncertain and too expensive. We don't want to fly with a 4 year old on a random flight to who knows where. So far, we've found several different options that are far cheaper. Now we have to decide where to go and what to do.

What type of car seat are any of you bringing along? Our normal car seat is big and bulky. Is there an options to bring along for the plane and the bus tours on the excursions?

 

[Hygiene99]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid207/peb8c3fa8d8d784056fa5298f88331c6c/eeb300b6.jpg [COLOR=Red]HERE[/COLOR]

Here's a shot of the 6 of us... wet and very happy we survived the race.
No matter which way you count... I'm in seat 3... the red head. :wave2:
Ready for the races again in Ventura,CA.. on the 10th of June.[/QUOTE]
Just add [COLOR=Red][/COLOR] to the end and you will have it.

jeanneg said : I don't see a photo!

Learning stages !!

 

[jeanneg]

My hero! (Great shot, by the way!)

 

[Hygiene99]

Do Not Click Here

 

[kpros]

Bump to page one

Hey all you world travelers, I've got a question for you about Disneyland Paris. We are thinking about spending 3 days there after the cruise and would like a recommendation on which hotel to stay in. We are looking at the Sequoia Lodge (stay on points).

Any info is appreciated.
Ken

 

[jeanneg]

Bump to page one

Hey all you world travelers, I've got a question for you about Disneyland Paris. We are thinking about spending 3 days there after the cruise and would like a recommendation on which hotel to stay in. We are looking at the Sequoia Lodge (stay on points).

Any info is appreciated.
Ken

I realize it's the most expensive, but if you can swing it, the Disneyland Paris Hotel is gorgeous and the most convenient. It's actually located at the entrance to the park and guests of the hotel go through their own private entrance. The second floor overlooks Main Street and you can view the fireworks from one of the lounges. You may even be able to watch the parades from there, but I'm not 100% sure. It's a bit of a schlep, but you can also walk from the New York Hotel. I think you need buses for most of the others. Wherever you stay, be prepared to spend big bucks for food....the prices at DP are nothing short of obscene! Also, 3 days is probably way too much time. MGM is very small and will not occupy a whole day; the MK is smaller than in the US and you can do it all in a day. If you need to spend 3 days there, take the train into Paris and do some real sightseeing. I've been to DP twice (the first year it opened and '02) and both times it was a disappointment. In my opinion, they are a little lacking in the "magic" department.

 

[kpros]

Also, 3 days is probably way too much time. MGM is very small and will not occupy a whole day; the MK is smaller than in the US and you can do it all in a day. If you need to spend 3 days there, take the train into Paris and do some real sightseeing.

That's the plan. Actually, it will be 3 nights, 2 days. One for DP and one for Paris.

Thanks for the input!
Ken

 

[milestogo]

Do Not Click Here

That was a fun post! I'm registered to win my fantasy!! I wondered what would be next following the 50th.