May 28, 2011 - 11 Night Mediterranean Sailing from Barcelona

[DopeyFan1966]

We booked the Euro Park Hotel which we selected from Trip Advisor's top 10 hotels, appears to be good value for money and not in a bad location.

We are staying at the Marriot by the airport. I know that it is not in the Barcelona area, but we have already seen Barcelona. And, for 125 Euro we get a room for the three of us, breakfast, and a shuttle to the port. We do have to pay an extr 58 Euro for our daughter (I think, not sure if they charge for children). But, it is still cheaper than the Disney transfer.

 

[annichan]

Today has been a very important milestone for DH and myself cruisewise: Both our bosses have today granted our requests for the necessary time off in May and June, so now we are absolutely, definitely going!!!
So let the planning commence ... but to be honest, I have already been doing little else last week.

Do you all already have ideas what to do for shore excursions? We have worked out a first draft of a schedule, but that may all still change (probably more than once!) until cruisetime:


Malta: We will explore Valletta on our own and maybe even hop on a bus to Mdina, I have been to Malta before for a weeks' holiday so I'm looking forward to showing DH around

Tunis: probably will take the DCL excursion of Carthage and Sidi Bou Said

Naples: We are thinking of going to Capri on our own and just spending the day there. Once again, I have been there on longer holidays (as a little kid), and I remember finding it so beautiful I absolutely want to show it all to DH

Civitavecchia: very unsure about this one. We might do the "Rome on your own" DCL excursion as that means we will never miss the boat even if the bus breaks down, or we might go much cheaper and just take a train to Rome. Then again, we might actually just stay on board the Magic . Strange, I know, especially since we haven't been to Rome, but we are thinking about taking a weekend trip there someday which would not be too expensive. So the Magic is really a bigger and more exclusive attraction to us than Rome is.

La Spezia: Same thing holds true about Florence as I said before about Rome. I would love to do the DCL Cinque Terre boat tour, though- However, I have read here on the DIS that apparently that books up really quickly so we might not even get it. Not sure what to do if we don't - take a train to the Cinque Terre, or again just stay on board?

Ajaccio: This is another place I visited as a little kid and have the fondest memories of. Would love to do the DCL Les Calanches excursion, having heard that it is a very relaxing day even though it's so long, and that you drive past loads of really beautiful scenery.

Villefranche: Another difficult one. We are sort of leaning towards the DCL excursion going to Monte Carlo / Monaco and Eze, but still very much undecided.

How about you guys, does anybody have any tips for me or any other good ideas?

Have a great weekend everybody,

Annika

 

[annichan]

Oh and by the way, here is a picture of me since I saw that some of you have pictures posted on the website for this cruise:

 

[Halo]

For Rome tours we have used this company, Real Rome Tours, before. You can read our review on them here on TA.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Oh and by the way, here is a picture of me since I saw that some of you have pictures posted on the website for this cruise:

I enjoyed reading about your plans ! It's fun to see what everybody is doing.

My only suggestion is to consider taking a taxi in Tunis. I read a trip report from a Diser who went to the Med last summer. Apparently, Tunis has really got their act together at the port. When you walk off the ship and go through the pier, there is a taxi stand where you can arrange your tour. Just tell them where you want to go and they'll tell you the fare. You pay right there and then they take you to your taxi. This family that was giving the report said they only paid 60Euros + 10% tip.

I read another report that said if you go with DCL to Sidi Bou Said, they drop you off at the bottom of this steep hill. By the time you climb to the top you only have a few minutes until you have to head back. They didn't have time for a snack or time to shop !!

Our plans, subject to change :

Malta...Blue Grotto & Fishermens Village, DCL

Tunis... Sidi Bou Said, Medina, the Mosque, Taxi

Naples... Amalfi Coast, Stefano RomeTours

Civitavecchia.... Rome Countryside, Stefano Rome Tours

LaSpezia.......... Cinque Terre, on our own

Ajaccio........... Beach..relax! , on our own

Villefranche.... Naples, Cannes, St Paul de Vence, Antibes, Revelation Tours

 

[DopeyFan1966]

I enjoyed reading about your plans ! It's fun to see what everybody is doing.

My only suggestion is to consider taking a taxi in Tunis. I read a trip report from a Diser who went to the Med last summer. Apparently, Tunis has really got their act together at the port. When you walk off the ship and go through the pier, there is a taxi stand where you can arrange your tour. Just tell them where you want to go and they'll tell you the fare. You pay right there and then they take you to your taxi. This family that was giving the report said they only paid 60Euros + 10% tip.

I read another report that said if you go with DCL to Sidi Bou Said, they drop you off at the bottom of this steep hill. By the time you climb to the top you only have a few minutes until you have to head back. They didn't have time for a snack or time to shop !!

Our plans, subject to change :

Malta...Blue Grotto & Fishermens Village, DCL

Tunis... Sidi Bou Said, Medina, the Mosque, Taxi

Naples... Amalfi Coast, Stefano RomeTours

Civitavecchia.... Rome Countryside, Stefano Rome Tours

LaSpezia.......... Cinque Terre, on our own

Ajaccio........... Beach..relax! , on our own

Villefranche.... Naples, Cannes, St Paul de Vence, Antibes, Revelation Tours

We are doing the Blue Grotto, but I think we might do it on our own (haven't decided yet)

Tunis ... we are going to take a taxi to the American Cemetary and to Carthage

Naples.... on our own to Herculanium

Rome.... haven't decided yet

LaSpezia....Cinque Terre on our own

Ajaccio.... walking down to the beach on our own

Villefranche....I think we are staying on the boat.

We did this cruise earlier this year, saw a lot, now we want to enjoy the ship. All could change if my mother-in-law decides to join us.

 

[Vicky29]

Hi All,

My name is Vicky - we just booked for this cruise and can't wait We did it three times last year, once in May and then twice in August - having previously never cruised before and can't wait for the ship to come back to Europe.

I'll be travelling with my daughter - Elizabeth (age 3) and my mum - Janet, and we'll definately be making the most of the ship rather than doing lots of sightseeing, trying to get Elizabeth away from the characters is always a bit of a mission.

Is there a fish extender list? If there is we'd love to be added to it.

Thanks
Vicky

 

[Halo]

Hi Vicky,

We'll be following in your footsteps from last year - we have just booked another week in August in addition to this one, as they have a special price at the moment. (27th Aug) And we want to make the most of the ship too

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Hi All,

My name is Vicky - we just booked for this cruise and can't wait We did it three times last year, once in May and then twice in August - having previously never cruised before and can't wait for the ship to come back to Europe.

I'll be travelling with my daughter - Elizabeth (age 3) and my mum - Janet, and we'll definately be making the most of the ship rather than doing lots of sightseeing, trying to get Elizabeth away from the characters is always a bit of a mission.

Is there a fish extender list? If there is we'd love to be added to it.

Thanks
Vicky

There is a list. I will add you. You can view the roll call and the FE list by clicking on the link in my signature.

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving weekend!!!!!!

 

[annichan]

Hi everybody,

I haven't written in a long time and just wanted to post something again. This thread does seem very quiet, but then again like I said I wasn't helping it either .

How is everybody, I hope everybody's Christmas preparations are going along well? We have lots of snow where I live, so it's easy to get into the Christmas spirit.

We still haven't finally decided on which excursions to take, but then again we still have until the end of February to decide. I fully understand those of you who say they will mostly stay on the ship, making the most of it - we might yet end up doing just the same and scrapping 80% of our excursions, joining you at the pool instead .

After all, from where we live it is so easy and hassle-free to spend a weekend in say, Rome or Florence, but who knows when we will manage to get back on a DCL cruise ...?

Have a great day everybody,

Annika

 

[htmlkid]

So we are looking for input on the following excursions we are considering:

Malta: Highlights of Malta
Tunis: Bardo Museum, Medina, Carthage & Sidi Bou Said
Naples: Mt. Vesuvius Hike and Pompeii or Timeless Pompeii & Flavor of Sorrento
Rome: Classical Rome

Thats it so far, we are also looking for suggestions on the other stops as well as any comments on these.

Other then that, I see the prices of the cruise has jumped a little, I would assume that would be do to good bookings????

Surprised there are not alot more people joining the fish extenders. Speaking of FE, I was looking at some of them on Ebay... anyone have suggestions for anywhere else to get one????

Thanks in advance for any help.... Cant wait for the cruise.... Less then 6 months.... Whoo Hoo!!!!!!!

 

[DopeyFan1966]

So we are looking for input on the following excursions we are considering:

Malta: Highlights of Malta
Tunis: Bardo Museum, Medina, Carthage & Sidi Bou Said
Naples: Mt. Vesuvius Hike and Pompeii or Timeless Pompeii & Flavor of Sorrento
Rome: Classical Rome

Thats it so far, we are also looking for suggestions on the other stops as well as any comments on these.

Other then that, I see the prices of the cruise has jumped a little, I would assume that would be do to good bookings????

Surprised there are not alot more people joining the fish extenders. Speaking of FE, I was looking at some of them on Ebay... anyone have suggestions for anywhere else to get one????

Thanks in advance for any help.... Cant wait for the cruise.... Less then 6 months.... Whoo Hoo!!!!!!!

We did the Bardo Museum, Medina, Carthage & Sidi Bou Said tour this year. It wasn't bad. We really liked the Bardo museum and Carthage. Wish we had more time at Carthage. Medina is okay, watch out for those rug salesmen...when you get to Sidi Bou Said they park near the bottom of the hill and by the time you get to the top to see anything you have to start heading down again so you don't miss the bus.

We did a private tour in Rome, which I think is a much better deal than the Disney excursion.

We did the Jeep excursion in Malta, it was okay, but not if you have a week bladder. I think we will try and do the Blue Grottos this time (but on our own). We also did private tours in Naples, Pompeii is awesome, wish we had more time there (you could spend the whole day in Pompeii and not see it all). In LeSpezia we did the Lerici excursion (very disappointed), we are going to Cinque Terre this time on our own. In Corsica we just walked down to the beach and that is what we are going to do this time. And, last but not least we did a private tour in Villefranche this year, but for this cruise I think we are staying on the boat. We might take the tender in to shop at the port, but we aren't going anywhere. Eze is amazing, but now the area is one of those "been there, done that" kind of thing.


I don't know where else to buy FEs, I bought my from Ebay.

Hope this helps.

Cindy

 

[kcashner]

Hi! I don't think I've checked in here yet, so guess it's time to stop by and introduce myself. I'm Kathryn, and I'm a DCL addict. We started with the maiden voyage of the Magic, and never stopped.

My 20 year old DD and I will be doing the TA and B2B with this sailing. I LOVE the longer sailings, and have done 3 previous DCL cruises of 14 nights or more as well as many 7 nighters. I've sailed in or out of Barcelona 3 times also (both TAs in 2010 and the Dover to BCN repo), and flew once in and twice out of BCN, so if I can help with any questions, fire away.

I was able to pull up the roll call, but not post to it...

We really haven't decided on any excursions yet. DD's last final is tomorrow and I've been trying to not bother her with any decisions till the semester is over. I did the HOHO bus in Barcelona this year; it was about 22 Euros and was a great way to see the city since I had only one day. A 2 day pass was 29 Euros, kid passes less.

So...nice to meet you!

 

[kaceyisme]

Hi Kathryn! Your name is familiar, I'm wondering if we ever cruised together before? Welcome to the group!

 

[Halo]

There was an interesting documentary on Pompei on BBC TV in the UK this week. It is adult in theme so be warned. You should be able to find it on-line if you Google ""Pompei: Life and Death in a Roman Town" +torrent". The female presenter is a suitably eccentric Classics Professor from Cambridge University. Very informative, and good viewing.

 

[kelvinwyng]

We (Iris & Kelvin) will be on this cruise, our first cruise, and we will be in the 2nd seating. We are so excited!

 

[annichan]

Hi! I don't think I've checked in here yet, so guess it's time to stop by and introduce myself. I'm Kathryn, and I'm a DCL addict. We started with the maiden voyage of the Magic, and never stopped.

My 20 year old DD and I will be doing the TA and B2B with this sailing. I LOVE the longer sailings, and have done 3 previous DCL cruises of 14 nights or more as well as many 7 nighters. I've sailed in or out of Barcelona 3 times also (both TAs in 2010 and the Dover to BCN repo), and flew once in and twice out of BCN, so if I can help with any questions, fire away.

I was able to pull up the roll call, but not post to it...

We really haven't decided on any excursions yet. DD's last final is tomorrow and I've been trying to not bother her with any decisions till the semester is over. I did the HOHO bus in Barcelona this year; it was about 22 Euros and was a great way to see the city since I had only one day. A 2 day pass was 29 Euros, kid passes less.

So...nice to meet you!

Hi Kathryn,

nice to meet you too! How great that you have done cruises of 14 nights and even more, I really hope to be able to try that sometime. Our first and only cruise so far was 7 days (a Western Caribbean on the Magic this October), and I am totally addicted and can't wait to try something longer. I am sure I will come up with lots of Barcelona-specific questions (embarkation and such) as soon as the cruise draws nearer, so it is great to hear that you won't mind if I ask them all

Best regards from snow-covered Germany
Annika

 

[annichan]

We (Iris & Kelvin) will be on this cruise, our first cruise, and we are so excited!

Welcome Iris & Kelvin, it is nice to see more and more people booking this cruise and coming to this thread! I hope you will enjoy and love your first cruise as much as we did our first, this October. I'm sure you will!
So you come all the way from Hongkong to the Mediterranean? You've got a long flight ahead of you then to get to Barcelona, I guess. How many hours' flight is it?

Best regards
Annika

 

[kelvinwyng]

Welcome Iris & Kelvin, it is nice to see more and more people booking this cruise and coming to this thread! I hope you will enjoy and love your first cruise as much as we did our first, this October. I'm sure you will!
So you come all the way from Hongkong to the Mediterranean? You've got a long flight ahead of you then to get to Barcelona, I guess. How many hours' flight is it?

Best regards
Annika

Hi! Annika,

It is a long flight. It takes 12-13 hours. We'll fly to Milan and stay 2 days then fly to Barcelona on 27 May.