May 26, 2010--5/26/2010 10 Night Mediterranean

[sinnika]

Welcome NHdisneylover! Come join us on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?customize&gid=277870927901#/group.php?gid=277870927901
You can catch up with alot of the planning there too! And we also have a webpage: http://muchomagico.weebly.com/
And there's also a teen facebook page for your teen. So glad you joined us!
Have you done the Med cruise before?

 

[jocjarmom]

Hello All. We just changed our weat bound TA to this cruise today. We booked the TA before moving to Germany. We are very sad to no longer be cruising with my best friend, but this is a great deal and we can (gasp!) drive to port and not have to spend thousands on airfare so it is the right decision to make (plus the German schools will not let us take our children out in September whereas this cruise falls over their 2 week spring break: school goes until July 30th here!).

Anyway, I have only read the first 5 pages of this thread and then this last one--but I will try to get the rest read tongight after the kids go to bed. In the meantime let me intorduce us:
We are Hadley, David, Marika (DD13) and Rio (DS11). This will be our 8th Disney cruise. We took the Magic to the Med in May 2007 but this is our first cruise around the med.
We are booked in two gty 12 cabins and have late dining.

We love doing fish extenders and absolutely want to participate. Also, has anyone started working on lanyards for our group (smaller than castaway club lanyards customized for the group and with DIS specific name tages which many DIS groups order to be able to identify each other easily).



Everyone is different. We much prefer late dining. We like that the dining rooms tend to be a bit quieter (fewer young kids) and the meal is less rushed (they do not have to get you out before the next group). We also like not having to rush back after port and we like seeing the show before dinner so we can talk about the show while we eat.

Defintely, have Marika join the Teens Facebook group. Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?t...870927901#!/group.php?gid=441392345275&ref=ts

For a little while there, they were chatting up a storm. But they took a break from it over the weekend. It's fun seeing them make new friends before the trip.

 

[marlower]

My daughter will be turning 13 in April and she will be so excited to have another 13 year old girl on the cruise! She is not on facebook but occasionally she will check in using my account. Definitely check out the website and FB pages as others have suggested! If you would like, fill out the roll call form on the website and we will get you added to the website roll call!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Wow everyone--thanks for the great welcome

Okay, Marika and I have just quickly scanned through all of the posts. This seems like a great group of people. I am thrilled we are joining in it.
None of us are on facebook--I guess we better figure that out, huh? Marika is really wanting to meet other teens but not sure she is up to figuring out aother internet forum. I swear I must have the only teen out there who doesn't like social networking sites Heidi, maybe Marika and your DD can connect via email?

I see that Heather is on the lanyards!!! Go Heather!!!

I see a few people are going to Disneyland in conjunction with the cruise. If anyone is interested, I wrote a review (with photos) of our trip there last year (actaully it was the same weekend in May that is the weekend before this trip!) for our little website (see link in signature--my apoloies for all the tons of typos--I update it generally late at night while half asleep). It is a very amatuerish websote though so do't anyone go in expecting much

We spent 3 days in Barcelona after the 2007 TA. I had been as a teen, but it was the first time I had gone with kids (they were 9 and 11 then). We had a wonderful time (and we had my inlaws along too--so three generations). We stayed in an apartment--as others have noted, a MUCH more reasonable option for groups bigger than 3 most of the time (and you can cook if yo uwant and their is usually a washing machine). If anyone is curios, what the kids enjoyed most (in no particular order) were:
*Sagrada Familia (absolutely do the English language tour--not pricey and very worth it)
*Parque Guell
*Pueblo Espanola

At Peublo Espanola ou can get a scavenger hunt backpack (in English) for a small fee (I think it was 5 Euros). It had supplies and clues to do a scanveger hunt around the whole area and was really fun.

This time we will drive in (about an 11 hour drive). We have the entire two weeks off so we have extra days before the cruise. We are thinking of stopping for a couple of days in MontPillier France (right on the sea) to play at the beach (if it is warm enough--where is the crossing fingers smiley?!) and then a night or two in Barcelona as well.

Taina--thanks for your nice PM. Marika is probably emailing yoru son as I type Will you get to spend some time in Denmark when he heads to Sweden next year? We spent a week on Zealand this summer and LOVED it. We think the Danes do the best palaces and castles of any we have ever seen--and the little Viking town of Rosthkilde was so charming I could have spent a week right there and been happy. Anyway, conratulations to Ben for being selected to attend the World Jamboree.

Allright--I have to make lunches for tomorrow (it is already 8 pm here), PM Heather our info, look for another fish extender online (since we have two staterooms), do my German homework and try to figure out facebook, so I had better end this post

 

[sinnika]

Taina--thanks for your nice PM. Marika is probably emailing yoru son as I type Will you get to spend some time in Denmark when he heads to Sweden next year? We spent a week on Zealand this summer and LOVED it. We think the Danes do the best palaces and castles of any we have ever seen--and the little Viking town of Rosthkilde was so charming I could have spent a week right there and been happy. Anyway, conratulations to Ben for being selected to attend the World Jamboree.

Ben will be thrilled to hear from her. When he goes to World Jamboree next summer, the plan is for the family to leave a few weeks before he has to check into camp and we will be visiting Finland and Russia (St Petersburg) and then drop him off and fly out of Copenhagen as that seems to be the closest airport to the camp. We were originally on the Baltics cruise for July 2010 but as it turns out this will be much better as we can visit family in Finland and have a longer stay in St Petersburg. You'll have to fill me in on Denmark. We've never been there and hear it is beautiful!

 

[speakupjc]

Yeah! I just read that we have enough for a second Brunch at Palos. I am so excited!!!!! I don't know if it will help or not but we are in suite and if necessary would be willing to contact the concierge and see if it would help us get our brunch slots. Just let me know if you want me to do this.

 

[colmom]

For Lakerz5-

Did u find flights from Denver yet? I am still looking and not sure how long to wait!

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[MKJEcruisers]

Welcome NHdisneylover!!!

I see that you are from Heidelberg. I have an aunt that lives there and we will be traveling on to Munich and then to Heidelberg after the cruise.
Welcome to the boards! I look forward to meeting you.

 

[NHdisneylover]

For Lakerz5-

Did u find flights from Denver yet? I am still looking and not sure how long to wait!

Anyone have any suggestions?

In 2007 it was significantly cheaper for my in laws to fly Southwest into Manchester, NH, spend the night at an airport hotel and take a shuttle to Boston and fly out of Logan on Swiss Air. You may look into doing something like that. Prices tend to be less if you fly out of an Eastcoast city.

Have you tried searching on a European fare finder? Sometimes they pull up airlines which do not tend to market to Americans and don't come up on the American sites (like Martin Air or Aer Lingus).

I did check Denver for my in laws this weekend (we were hoping they could join us, alas no luck) and was not able to get better than about $1100 per person.

Obviously there is no crystal ball to predict but my best guess (from past experience looking at Transatlantic flihts) is that the prices will come down about 60 days out. Personally I would hold off and keep checking the best 3 or so seach engines daily. Be ready to ounce when you see a price you can live with--it is a lot like playing the stock market.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Welcome NHdisneylover!!!

I see that you are from Heidelberg. I have an aunt that lives there and we will be traveling on to Munich and then to Heidelberg after the cruise.
Welcome to the boards! I look forward to meeting you.

Oh how fun! Maybe we can have a pastry together in Heidelberg (if your aunt is willing to share you a bit). Is your aunt german or millitary or just working for a german company like my husband?

 

[MKJEcruisers]

Oh how fun! Maybe we can have a pastry together in Heidelberg (if your aunt is willing to share you a bit). Is your aunt german or millitary or just working for a german company like my husband?

She's actually a civillian working for the US military.

 

[sinnika]

Here is what the secret deck on 7 aft looks like:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2373125&highlight=secret+deck+7
I will check with DCL closer to the cruise to see if we need to reserve it or not for the first sea day Dismeet and optional gift exchange. We have a discussion of the meet and gift exchange on facebook.

 

[lakerz5]

For Lakerz5-

Did u find flights from Denver yet? I am still looking and not sure how long to wait!

Anyone have any suggestions?

Oh yes...the flight to Barcelona...lol. We just took a quicky trip to CA for my niece's wedding. I think we were actually only in CA for 36 hours tops. Now that the wedding trip is over..I have to seriously look at flights. I am trying through the United website since you can search Star Alliance flights that code share and get the miles, but right before we took off Friday night to CA..those flights were edging up from $1200 per person to $1300 per person

We all have our limits you know...

So now we are looking into flying out of DIA on Sunday instead of Monday and the flights are looking back in the $1100 to $1200 range which I know is insane. i tell my CA relatives that they could probably fly to Africa for what we will have to pay to fly out of DIA.

On a nice note, I did pester some people in security on Friday night and found out there is a place to buy Euro's with a 1% exchange rate at the airport. I even stood in line much to my family's dismay to make sure it was possible...so even if our "in the boonies banks" don't sell Euros, I am not completely stuck..someone had mentioned AAA which we belong to. An office opened in our town and closed 2 months later...no people

Let me know what you find out also..I do check Orbitz quite often

 

[sinnika]

I just finished watching a very interesting pbs video on Secrets of the Dead:
Herculaneum and wanted to share the link:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1215284329/chapter/1/

Makes me want to visit this site too in addition to Pompeii.

 

[jocjarmom]

I just finished watching a very interesting pbs video on Secrets of the Dead:
Herculaneum and wanted to share the link:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1215284329/chapter/1/

Makes me want to visit this site too in addition to Pompeii.

First you tell us about a Secret Deck, now you tell us about Secrets of the Dead. What's next??? LOL

Actually, I really want to go to Herculaneum, but my family has never been to Pompeii and I was overruled.

 

[sinnika]

First you tell us about a Secret Deck, now you tell us about Secrets of the Dead. What's next??? LOL

Actually, I really want to go to Herculaneum, but my family has never been to Pompeii and I was overruled.

Can't tell you, otherwise it wouldn't be a secret!
I wish DCL had an excursion that had both Heruclaneum and Pompeii. And the Archeological museum in Naples looks like it holds many of the "secret treasures" from Pompeii. Are you planning to do the DCL Pompeii excursion?

 

[jules4172]

We're looking at some group tours in Naples, Rome and Florence. Group rates are usually less expensive the more people in your group. We have 2 young ones ages 3 and 6 when we sail. We're debating to take them on the tours or leave them at the Oceaneer Club. Not sure if they can handle the long days at some of these ports. DH and myself would really love to see some of the sights at above mentioned cities since this is out 1st time to Europe. Not sure how to book considering kids might be an "iffy." Has anyone travel with kids this young and on DCL and what's your experience/take on booking tours in this kind of situation? Our main concern is what happens if one of the kids get sick or something and how can they (DCL) contact us when we're on shore. Help!

 

[marlower]

Can't tell you, otherwise it wouldn't be a secret!
I wish DCL had an excursion that had both Heruclaneum and Pompeii. And the Archeological museum in Naples looks like it holds many of the "secret treasures" from Pompeii. Are you planning to do the DCL Pompeii excursion?

We have a good friend that has visited Italy at least 30 times and he is a super planner. The one thing he really emphasized was to do the Archeological Museum in Naples. He said it will all many more artifacts from Pompeii than Pompeii itself.

Did I already mention that you can download tours by Rick Steves for free--Podcasts actually from iTunes?? I downloaded several and look forward to using them for some of our tours.

 

[sinnika]

We have a good friend that has visited Italy at least 30 times and he is a super planner. The one thing he really emphasized was to do the Archeological Museum in Naples. He said it will all many more artifacts from Pompeii than Pompeii itself.

Did I already mention that you can download tours by Rick Steves for free--Podcasts actually from iTunes?? I downloaded several and look forward to using them for some of our tours.

Yes, I saw that. I also contacted the tour guide listed in Rick Steve's Italy 2010 book, Gaetano Manfredi. He takes advance bookings only and his charge is 200 euro for a 2 hour tour for up to 9 people. He only had 1pm open though. I was hoping to tour in the am before it gets too hot, as there is really no shade in Pompeii. DD and DH are very sun sensitive. So I think I'll download the podcast, but also hope to find a guide when we get there in the am. Then visit Herulaneum on the way back, and if time, tour the Archeological museum in Naples. Also FYI, if you are doing public transportation and visiting both sites, it would be worth buying a Campania ArteCard. The 27 euro three day Tutta la Regione pass offers free entry to two sights of your choice, and free public transportation including the regional Circumvesuviana trains that go to Pompeii and near Herucaneum. Their website is www.campaniartecard.it

 

[jocjarmom]

Can't tell you, otherwise it wouldn't be a secret!
I wish DCL had an excursion that had both Heruclaneum and Pompeii. And the Archeological museum in Naples looks like it holds many of the "secret treasures" from Pompeii. Are you planning to do the DCL Pompeii excursion?

My family and I will be doing all private tours.

In Naples, we have hired a guide who will take 10 of us to Pompeii, arrange in advance for a guide, then will take 7 in our group to Sorrento and drop them off (to shop and then take the hydrofoil back to the ship), and the other 3 of us (my mom, daughter and me) will go on an all-day tour of the Amalfi Coast. Can...not...WAIT!