May 28, 2011 - 11 Night Mediterranean Sailing from Barcelona

[flower91882]

Just booked this one while we were on the 7/18 Baltic Cruise!

Thanks for creating the website, it looks like it's going to be a big help!

For most of the Baltic ports we just hopped off the boat and walked around the cities. It looks like in quite a few of these ports, that's not going to be possible if we really want to see anything, so more excursions are going to be necessary. The excursion and tour links are going to be a huge help.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Also booked this on the 7/18 Baltic cruise.

Kevin (me) and Kate with our sons Gavin (6 when sailing) and Liam (1).

My parents, Scrapycruisers, will be coming as well.

We did a fair amount on our own in the Baltic but plan on taking more excursions or private tours in the Med. Looking forward to it!

 

[disneymom13176]

We are interested in getting a private tour for Rome and Pompeii. When should we book? It seems so early right now. On another note, I think I have my brother and his family ready to change cruises from the Alaskan to the Med! It wouldl be fun for my kids to have their cousins with them! Hope everyone is having a good week. School starts here this week.

Mary

I am hoping to have our private tours booked before Christmas. I'm a planner and not having everything done makes me nervous. I'm sure it can be done much closer but I'm not sure my nerves could handle that. If you are doing 2;1 in Rome and 1 in Naples for Pompeii you should fine a company that offers tours in both ports and ask for a discount. A few of the ones I have talked with knocked off 50 eur per trip which was nice.

 

[kaceyisme]

We are definitely doing private tours for all ports (except probably Florence, which we'll do with DCL due to the distance and time issues).

We're a group of four, and I'm looking for another four people to share tours with. I've just started researching, and I have some contacts for tours that my parents used. If anyone's interested in doing some private tours together, let me know!

 

[kaceyisme]

I am hoping to have our private tours booked before Christmas. I'm a planner and not having everything done makes me nervous. I'm sure it can be done much closer but I'm not sure my nerves could handle that. If you are doing 2;1 in Rome and 1 in Naples for Pompeii you should fine a company that offers tours in both ports and ask for a discount. A few of the ones I have talked with knocked off 50 eur per trip which was nice.

Which companies have you been in touch with?

 

[Marymom]

I am hoping to have our private tours booked before Christmas. I'm a planner and not having everything done makes me nervous. I'm sure it can be done much closer but I'm not sure my nerves could handle that. If you are doing 2;1 in Rome and 1 in Naples for Pompeii you should fine a company that offers tours in both ports and ask for a discount. A few of the ones I have talked with knocked off 50 eur per trip which was nice.

Thanks for the tip! I will try to use the same company for a discount. I am going with the Naples and Rome tour. My son would rather do Herculeam?(I'm not sure about the spelling) instead of Pompeii. Has anyone done both and could give me a perspective?

Mary

 

[scrapycruiser]

Cousin Orville and us are using Romecabs w/ Stefano in Rome & Naples, and received a small discount. We used him in 2007 in Rome while on the DCL Magic and were impressed with the attention he showed to our Grandson ( he even bought him a 3-D book at the Colisseum ). He had a vast knowledge of Roman history. And when he took us to a resturant for lunch he gave us a cell phone to call him when we were done.

Still looking for a private guide in Villefranche.

We'll go to the beach in Corsica and the other ports we'll do DCL tours. Have almost decided on the tours. ?? about LeSpezia. In 2007 we did the Florence on your own. I highly recommend this. Florence is "compact" and easy to get around ! We did purchase tickets on line to see David (Michaelangelo ) at the Accadamia Museum.Coming back we sat in the back of the bus on the bench seat and my Grandson was able to stretch out and take a nap ! We by-passed a LONG line !! This time we'll go to either Portifino or Cinque Terre.

 

[kaceyisme]

Cousin Orville and us are using Romecabs w/ Stefano in Rome & Naples, and received a small discount. We used him in 2007 in Rome while on the DCL Magic and were impressed with the attention he showed to our Grandson ( he even bought him a 3-D book at the Colisseum ). He had a vast knowledge of Roman history. And when he took us to a resturant for lunch he gave us a cell phone to call him when we were done.

Still looking for a private guide in Villefranche.

We'll go to the beach in Corsica and the other ports we'll do DCL tours. Have almost decided on the tours. ?? about LeSpezia. In 2007 we did the Florence on your own. I highly recommend this. Florence is "compact" and easy to get around ! We did purchase tickets on line to see David (Michaelangelo ) at the Accadamia Museum.Coming back we sat in the back of the bus on the bench seat and my Grandson was able to stretch out and take a nap ! We by-passed a LONG line !! This time we'll go to either Portifino or Cinque Terre.

I have been in touch with Stefano also. How many people are you? We are four. I would like to find four others to share. I have someone in Villefranche if you would like to share. Their price is 490€ for eight people so if you have four, we are a perfect fit!

 

[scrapycruiser]

I have been in touch with Stefano also. How many people are you? We are four. I would like to find four others to share. I have someone in Villefranche if you would like to share. Their price is 490€ for eight people so if you have four, we are a perfect fit!

Rome: My son,wife and 2 Grandchildren will be with Stefano, however, DH & myself might join them. So for now we wouldn't be interested, but thanks anyway. You will really enjoy Stefano !

Villefrance : There will be 6 of us there, so, again, we wouldn't be interested.

Thanks for thinking of us ! Looking forward to these next several months flying by !

 

[kaceyisme]

Rome: My son,wife and 2 Grandchildren will be with Stefano, however, DH & myself might join them. So for now we wouldn't be interested, but thanks anyway. You will really enjoy Stefano !

Villefrance : There will be 6 of us there, so, again, we wouldn't be interested.

Thanks for thinking of us ! Looking forward to these next several months flying by !

Thanks for the reply.

Any parties of two or four who are looking to join us for private tours in Rome or Villefranche, I have booked tours and would love to share. I will be booking other ports soon so would love to share in those too. I will post when I book them. Thanks!

 

[bearette]

I am looking into booking this cruise. Starting the planning to see if it will work out.. .I am looking at a few days in Barcelona after the cruise is finished. Is it better to just stay around there for a few days or go someplace else?

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Kaceyisme, If you use a private touring company and leave the port first thing and have your driver take you straight to the Vatican you should be fine. I would buy your tickets online at the Vatican's website or have your tour company buy your tickets for you. That will save a lot of time. We got there after 1100 and the line was long, and our driver was able to get us cut into the front of the line because we already had our tickets. The place was SUPER crowded. I would do it first thing in the morning, it will be your best bet.

Thanks for the info and the heads up Amy. That is one of the downsides of being in port for one day. Hopefully if we are able to get to Rome early enough, we will have enougth time to see the Vatican. It is especially important to my mother in law, as she will be 81, and would dearly love to see the Vatican.

Amy, Private tours were great this year when we took them. The only Disney tours we took were in Malta and Tunis. We met others through the Disboards and shared the cost. It worked well and we made new friends. I've listed many private companys on the website, I'm sure there are more, but those listed are the ones that everyone on the cruise I took used. If you have others, please send me the information and I will add them to the site so others can check them out also.

Thanks for the information about the festival, now I really have to look into that also.

Also, in case you were like me and not sure if you could afford a private tour or not. I have discovered for my family of 5 a private tour is less expensive than a tour through Disney. Plus, we get to see what we want to see. Something to think about and consider if you are traveling in a larger group.

Amy

Mary, I don't know when you can book on Disney's site, I think it is 90 days out, but for the private tours you could book anytime I'm sure. They don't ask for payment until you show up, you take the tour and when they drop you off. We didn't pay for any of our tours until the end of the day.

We are interested in getting a private tour for Rome and Pompeii. When should we book? It seems so early right now. On another note, I think I have my brother and his family ready to change cruises from the Alaskan to the Med! It wouldl be fun for my kids to have their cousins with them! Hope everyone is having a good week. School starts here this week.

Mary

Kevin, I would definately look into private tours with such a large family. It is much cheaper than the Disney excursions.

Also booked this on the 7/18 Baltic cruise.

Kevin (me) and Kate with our sons Gavin (6 when sailing) and Liam (1).

My parents, Scrapycruisers, will be coming as well.

We did a fair amount on our own in the Baltic but plan on taking more excursions or private tours in the Med. Looking forward to it!

Amy, most of the tour companys listed on the website tour in all of the Italy ports. I'm sure that they will give discounts. I only booked one excursion through them this year, we piggy backed with others that booked several others.

I am hoping to have our private tours booked before Christmas. I'm a planner and not having everything done makes me nervous. I'm sure it can be done much closer but I'm not sure my nerves could handle that. If you are doing 2;1 in Rome and 1 in Naples for Pompeii you should fine a company that offers tours in both ports and ask for a discount. A few of the ones I have talked with knocked off 50 eur per trip which was nice.

Sorry to all that I haven't updated anything. For some reason I have not received an email notifications that anyone has posted to this thread. I will get it update this week. Along with the website.

WELCOME to all that have joined. We took this cruise this past May, and we had a really good time. If anyone has questions I will try to answer them. It was our first cruise, but we enjoyed every minute of it and can't wait to take this again.

Cindy

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Is anyone interested in doing FE? Let me know and I will start a list also for this. It will go on the website.

Cindy

 

[kaceyisme]

Kaceyisme, If you use a private touring company and leave the port first thing and have your driver take you straight to the Vatican you should be fine. I would buy your tickets online at the Vatican's website or have your tour company buy your tickets for you. That will save a lot of time. We got there after 1100 and the line was long, and our driver was able to get us cut into the front of the line because we already had our tickets. The place was SUPER crowded. I would do it first thing in the morning, it will be your best bet.Cindy

Thanks Cindy - great advice! I will definitely tell the guide to do this!

 

[kaceyisme]

I have booked private tours in the following ports:

Civitavecchia (Romecabs -Stefano)
Naples (Pleasantravel)
Villefranche (Med Tour)

I have 8 person vans booked, and we are a party of four. I have room in each tour for four more people. If anyone wants to share these tours, please let me know, and I will tell you the details. All of these tours will be paid in Euros to the drivers the day of the tour. They have indicated that the will accept Euros or Euro Traveler's Checks. My parents used all of these tour companies in the past, and they were very happy with all of them.

I will probably also be reserving an 8 person van in La Spezia, but the contact I have won't book until November. As of now, we'll probably be doing DCL tours in Corsica, Tunis and Malta. If anyone has any tours booked in these places, I'd be interested in hearing the details. Thanks!

Karen

 

[flower91882]

I have booked private tours in the following ports:

Civitavecchia (Romecabs -Stefano)
Naples (Pleasantravel)
Villefranche (Med Tour)

I have 8 person vans booked, and we are a party of four. I have room in each tour for four more people. If anyone wants to share these tours, please let me know, and I will tell you the details. All of these tours will be paid in Euros to the drivers the day of the tour. They have indicated that the will accept Euros or Euro Traveler's Checks. My parents used all of these tour companies in the past, and they were very happy with all of them.

I will probably also be reserving an 8 person van in La Spezia, but the contact I have won't book until November. As of now, we'll probably be doing DCL tours in Corsica, Tunis and Malta. If anyone has any tours booked in these places, I'd be interested in hearing the details. Thanks!

Karen

Hey Karen, can you perhaps give more details on what your tours are going to include?

Thanks!

 

[kaceyisme]

Hey Karen, can you perhaps give more details on what your tours are going to include?

Thanks!

I'll PM you the details.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Cindy
How was the beach in Corsica ? Clean ? Chairs & Umbrellas ? Food & drinks ?
Crowded ? Lots of nudity ? We're thinking of going there on our own.

On your cruise did you hear any comments on DCL's tours to Cinque Terre OR Portifino & Santa Margarita ?

FE... I would be interested if it were just 1 gift per cabin. Traveling overseas you really have to watch your luggage weight. ( Actually, you really have to watch your own weight traveling overseas ).

The last cruise I did the FE, we did 1 gift per stateroom; then if you had kids
they would do their FE in addition to the stateroom gift.

I emailed Sylvie for Villefranche 2 weeks ago, but haven't heard back. Got a quote from Revalation . Thought he was too high. 6 people, 600 Euros.

Three years ago we paid 400 Euros for the same tour, but I've lost the web address for Dream Tours. Anyone heard of them ?

 

[kaceyisme]

Cindy
How was the beach in Corsica ? Clean ? Chairs & Umbrellas ? Food & drinks ?
Crowded ? Lots of nudity ? We're thinking of going there on our own.

On your cruise did you hear any comments on DCL's tours to Cinque Terre OR Portifino & Santa Margarita ?

FE... I would be interested if it were just 1 gift per cabin. Traveling overseas you really have to watch your luggage weight. ( Actually, you really have to watch your own weight traveling overseas ).

The last cruise I did the FE, we did 1 gift per stateroom; then if you had kids
they would do their FE in addition to the stateroom gift.

I emailed Sylvie for Villefranche 2 weeks ago, but haven't heard back. Got a quote from Revalation . Thought he was too high. 6 people, 600 Euros.

Three years ago we paid 400 Euros for the same tour, but I've lost the web address for Dream Tours. Anyone heard of them ?

I'm going with Med Tour for Villefranche. They got back to me within 24 hours. The website is med-tour.com and their e-mail is medtours@orange.fr

They are charging 490 Euro for a full day tour for an 8 person van.

Here's the website for Dream Tours:

http://www.dream-tours.com/excursion/PORT-DE-VILLEFRANCHE/port_de_villefrancheus.php

They seem more expensive though.

 

[DopeyFan1966]

We walked to the beach in Corsica, we were going to do the one DCL offered but it was cancelled (not enough people). It was small, clean, hardly anyone there when we got there, started to get crowded when we left. I didn't see any nudity. No chairs, umbrellas, food, or anything else. You are on your own at the beach. It is only about a 5 minute walk away though. You could take stuff with you from the boat.

I didn't hear anything about Cinque Terra or Portifino & Santa Margarita. But, you could do Cinque Terra on your own right from the port for a lot less than DCL charges. That is what we are going to do next year.

FEs would be one per party (if the party had 2 staterooms, it would still be 1 FE) it is too hard to do this traveling overseas. Plus, on the last cruise we had 36 or so and we split it into 2 groups so it made it a lot easier to take 18 FEs rather than 36.

Hope this helps.

Cindy

Cindy
How was the beach in Corsica ? Clean ? Chairs & Umbrellas ? Food & drinks ?
Crowded ? Lots of nudity ? We're thinking of going there on our own.

On your cruise did you hear any comments on DCL's tours to Cinque Terre OR Portifino & Santa Margarita ?

FE... I would be interested if it were just 1 gift per cabin. Traveling overseas you really have to watch your luggage weight. ( Actually, you really have to watch your own weight traveling overseas ).

The last cruise I did the FE, we did 1 gift per stateroom; then if you had kids
they would do their FE in addition to the stateroom gift.

I emailed Sylvie for Villefranche 2 weeks ago, but haven't heard back. Got a quote from Revalation . Thought he was too high. 6 people, 600 Euros.

Three years ago we paid 400 Euros for the same tour, but I've lost the web address for Dream Tours. Anyone heard of them ?