May 28, 2011 - 11 Night Mediterranean Sailing from Barcelona

[DopeyFan1966]

Welcome to our cruise forum. Hope you enjoy reading everything that everyone has posted. If you have any questions there probably is someone here that can answer your question(s).

I've created a website for everyone to go to and look up information. We are also voting on our cruise logo. You can click on the link in my signature to get to the website. On the home page under the cruise schedule is two pictures to vote on. Please vote on the one you like the most and use the "contact me" link under the two photos.

On 1 April, I will announce the winner. Then Glenn (htmlkid) has volunteered to print the design on to iron transfers and bring them on the cruise. Then you can take the iron and your chosen shirt to the laundry room and iron them on to your shirts.

Cindy

 

[Joan1]

Another topic! We're wondering about cell phone options, as we need to keep in touch with family back home during the trip.

Last summer, while on a trip to England & Ireland, we got a pay-as-you-go SIM card for our iPhone for about $4 + $20 top-up, and that gave us free unlimited internet for 3 months (!), and access to cheap long distance calling (~5c / min). (Still have about $15 on that account...)

Does anyone have any experience with carriers in Spain and/or Italy, and that may have similar deals?

Thanks in advance!

Would love to know the answer to this

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Would love to know the answer to this

Here is something someone posted earlier:

Internet Abroad
I just found this company http://www.cellularabroad.com/italyRmifi.php and if any would like to split the cost let me know We could call them about the 1st of APR to reserve the device.

I would be renting it for a total of 17 days ($109+$39) but if someone was just going on the cruise and coming back with out any stop overs, we could reduce the cost to only 12-13 days ($99 + $39) of rental. we would have unlimited internet the whole time we are in Italy only. This would allow 5 devices to connect to the device wirelessly at one time and share the internet connection. by just looking at a wireless data plan from att you are looking at $100 for 100MB .

I've added a link for this to the website.

This is the only information that I have had. We didn't use a phone last year or pay for internet, we just went without for the whole time.

Cindy

 

[DopeyFan1966]

The website is still pretty bare of photos. If anyone would like to have their photos posted to the website send it to my email.

So far the winner by quite a few votes is the logo with the Mickey ears. I know we have until the end of next week, but I think it will be the winner, but we will have to wait and see.

I can't believe that there is only 65 more days until the cruise starts (63 days until my vacation begins)

I really can't wait, it can't get here soon enough. Not only have I met a lot of nice people here, someone I work with will be coming on the cruise and my roommate from the hospital and her family are coming now. This is really going to be a great cruise.

Cindy

 

[Joan1]

If it isn't an imposition would anyone on this sailing be willing to post the navigators or at least information about shows held, which night they were held and any other information you think would be useful to those of us boarding after you?

We will be on the June 18th sailing

Thank you

 

[disneymom13176]

Hello!

For any of you that use Verizon as your carrier, you may be in luck with your cell phone while on this cruise. I called on Friday and was told that I can rent a blackberry for 30 days, only have to pay shipping one way which is $19.99. I can activate their Global Data Plan for them time I am gone at a rate of $2.13 per day. That will allow me to have unlimited data and discounted phone calls. I can email and use apps all I want in all locations and on the ship. Discount per minute rates $.99 a minute in Spain, Italy, Corisca, and France. $1.49 in Malta and $2.49 from the ship. Text messages are $.50 for all sent message from everywhere and $.05 for incoming text messages.

I was really shocked to find it could be done and that it was not too much. Very happy to have my email so I can have some communication with everyone back home.

I thought I would pass this information along.

Amy

 

[Mog's Mom]

Hey, here's a different question.

On past Caribbean cruises, DD has loved (submitted to?) getting her hair beaded and corn-rowed. The folks who provide this on the Magic are only on the cruise for a few days. (I wonder where they go...)

Can one of you returning Med cruisers let us know if this service is available on the Med?

 

[disneymom13176]

I can't tell you how excited I am starting to get about the trip! For months I have been overwhelmed with the planning and all of the details that I wasn't even sure I was going to enjoy the trip once it got here. Finally, I can see light and I am actually getting excited.

I booked our Colosseum tickets last night and that made it feel very real!

I almost have all of FE gifts planned and prepared. It dawned on me that I would not be having those items on the way home, so it would be space for the goodies we purchase on the trip. It's like found luggage space!

I just thought I would share my excitement! I hope you are also getting excited about the trip!

Amy

 

[DopeyFan1966]

TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL THE CUT OFF FOR THE FE AND TO VOTE ON OUR CRUISE LOGO.

So far we have 19 or 20 families doing the FE and the voting is very heavy on the side of the logo with the Mickey Ears.


60 more days!!!!!!!!!


I can't wait. I've got a lot of last minute stuff to do. I know 60 days doesn't sound like last minute, but for me it really is. I'm sooooo far behind the curve it disappoints me.



Cindy

 

[calihannah]

Out of curiosity, Cindy, what needs to be done between now and then? Trying to make sure I'm not forgetting something obvious!

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Out of curiosity, Cindy, what needs to be done between now and then? Trying to make sure I'm not forgetting something obvious!

Just make sure you have scheduled your excursions, got your FEs planned and started (if you are participating). Start thinking about having your mail held till you return. Start thinking about what you are bringing (last year we brought waaaaaaaaay too much). I have a suitcase out now, and every time I see or think of something that I need I will put it in the suitcase (that is if I'm not currently using it, like sunscreen). Then a few days before, I will go through the suitcase and make sure I have everything and get rid of things that I really won't need.

I'm a real over planner. But, if I don't over plan, then I will think we missed out on something. I never have enough time to plan.

Cindy

 

[Boomerang4]

Hi All,

Cindy thanks for plugging us in to the website. Finally got my DISboards logon. I just spent maybe 3 hours reading all the back posts. wow! We can't always book as early as we'd like due to schedules, but we're onboard now, so to speak.

A few questions that maybe someone out there could help us with:

We booked a restricted guarantee cabin type. Does anyone have any experience with this and about when did they assign the cabin?

Has anyone used the spa? Any recommendations as to treatments?

How do you reserve beauty treatments like a haircut, or blowout?

Any thoughts on the gym?

Any 4, 5, 6, or 7 year olds who want to start a correspondence a few weeks before? My sons DS1 (5) and DS2 (nearly 4) would be thrilled to get an email from a future friend.

Thanks guys, lots of questions, I know, but this is our first cruise and our first Disney experience as a family. We're very excited, and not a little curious. For example, what is the formal evening like? Is it formal even for those on rotation in the Caribbean restaurant? Is it a cocktail party or an event? It all just sounds like fun.

Oh, and we're doing FE's, early seating, and at the Casa Camper Hotel near Ramblas prior to the cruise. We've booked a few of the DCL tours.

Meg

 

[scrapycruiser]

Hi !!

Getting very excited about our Med cruise coming up !
We did the Med cruise w/ Disney in 2007. This time our
son & DIL and 2 Grandsons are coming along.
Gavin is 6 1/2 and Liam is 1 1/2

We're doing the FE. Just got through making them, so hope you like them !

Does anyone know , when you have a private guide, do you include them at lunch ? And, if so, I assume you pay for their lunch ???

We have changed our minds several times w/ port activities, but this is what we ended up with :

Malta....DCL Blue Grotto & Fishing Village ( with our son & family)
Palermo... Village of Cefalu ( with son & family )
We did this in 2007 and loved it !! I highly recommend it.
Did not care for Palermo...dirty, lots of traffic, not pedestrian
friendly.
If you've seen the movie "Cinema Paradisimo" . It was filmed in
Cefalu
Naples......Priv tour , RomeCabs, Amalfi Coast ( Positano,Ravello,Amalfi)
Rome....... DCL tour " Orvieto tour
La Spezia... Cinque Terre on our own ( w/ son & family )
Corsica....... DCL's beach break tour
Villefranche... Priv Tour w/ Revelation Tours ( w/ son & family )
St Paul de Vence, Nice, Antibes

Can't wait !!!!!!!

 

[turbojsf]

Please add us to your list. We will be first time Disney cruisers and are so glad we found this board for the cruise!
Marchelle
Art -DH
Taryn -DD 12
DJ -DS 9

What types of gifts do people typically exchange as FE's? THANKS!

 

[calihannah]

Just make sure you have scheduled your excursions, got your FEs planned and started (if you are participating). Start thinking about having your mail held till you return. Start thinking about what you are bringing (last year we brought waaaaaaaaay too much). I have a suitcase out now, and every time I see or think of something that I need I will put it in the suitcase (that is if I'm not currently using it, like sunscreen). Then a few days before, I will go through the suitcase and make sure I have everything and get rid of things that I really won't need.

I'm a real over planner. But, if I don't over plan, then I will think we missed out on something. I never have enough time to plan.

Cindy

Thanks!! I actually love the planning part -- a huge component of the fun for me!

Good points all around -- thanks again for sharing

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Hi All,

Cindy thanks for plugging us in to the website. Finally got my DISboards logon. I just spent maybe 3 hours reading all the back posts. wow! We can't always book as early as we'd like due to schedules, but we're onboard now, so to speak.

A few questions that maybe someone out there could help us with:

We booked a restricted guarantee cabin type. Does anyone have any experience with this and about when did they assign the cabin?

Has anyone used the spa? Any recommendations as to treatments?

How do you reserve beauty treatments like a haircut, or blowout?

Any thoughts on the gym?

Any 4, 5, 6, or 7 year olds who want to start a correspondence a few weeks before? My sons DS1 (5) and DS2 (nearly 4) would be thrilled to get an email from a future friend.

Thanks guys, lots of questions, I know, but this is our first cruise and our first Disney experience as a family. We're very excited, and not a little curious. For example, what is the formal evening like? Is it formal even for those on rotation in the Caribbean restaurant? Is it a cocktail party or an event? It all just sounds like fun.

Oh, and we're doing FE's, early seating, and at the Casa Camper Hotel near Ramblas prior to the cruise. We've booked a few of the DCL tours.

Meg

Never had a restricted gty, but we had a regular gty and they issued our stateroom number about 30 days out.

We only used the salon last year, you can call from your stateroom or just go there and set up appointments for hair, nails, pedicures, etc.

We will be using the spa this year for a couple treatments. My boss used the gym last year and he really liked it.

The formal is just that formal. But not everyone dresses formally, they should but they don't. My husband wore a suit and tie and my daughter and I both dressed up really nice and got our hair done. It will be formal night for all on the same night regardless of the restaurant that you are eating in. No big event or cocktail party, just everyone gets dressed up real fancy. Lots of photo opportunities during this night to get pictures of just the family or with characters (dressed to the nines of course).

See you there.

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Hi !!

Getting very excited about our Med cruise coming up !
We did the Med cruise w/ Disney in 2007. This time our
son & DIL and 2 Grandsons are coming along.
Gavin is 6 1/2 and Liam is 1 1/2

We're doing the FE. Just got through making them, so hope you like them !

Does anyone know , when you have a private guide, do you include them at lunch ? And, if so, I assume you pay for their lunch ???

We have changed our minds several times w/ port activities, but this is what we ended up with :

Malta....DCL Blue Grotto & Fishing Village ( with our son & family)
Palermo... Village of Cefalu ( with son & family )
We did this in 2007 and loved it !! I highly recommend it.
Did not care for Palermo...dirty, lots of traffic, not pedestrian
friendly.
If you've seen the movie "Cinema Paradisimo" . It was filmed in
Cefalu
Naples......Priv tour , RomeCabs, Amalfi Coast ( Positano,Ravello,Amalfi)
Rome....... DCL tour " Orvieto tour
La Spezia... Cinque Terre on our own ( w/ son & family )
Corsica....... DCL's beach break tour
Villefranche... Priv Tour w/ Revelation Tours ( w/ son & family )
St Paul de Vence, Nice, Antibes

Can't wait !!!!!!!

Our guide took us to a restaurant and left and told us what time he would return.

Your tours sound great, we signed up for the beach break also in Corsica. Last year it was canceled because of lack of participation, hopefully it won't be canceled this year.

Cindy

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Unless a bunch of you vote today for the one with the porthole, the winner is the logo with the Mickey Ears.

If you would like to order an iron-on transfer from Glenn (htmlkid) please PM me and I will let him know how many you want. He will make a large one (8.5 x 11 inches) for adults and a smaller one for children.

Unfortunately he didn't realize the cost of printing the transfers and the cost of the transfer paper. So he apologizes in advance, but he will need $5.00 per transfer to cover the costs.

He has also informed me that the t-shirt you put this on will have to be 100% cotton.

59 days, everyone......

 

[LaEsmralda]

Every morning when I have my breakfast, I look at all the replies on this thread and I get more and more excited about this cruise. We just stuck with DCL for all the excursions and this is the rundown of our time:

-Malta- (We were just recently here so...)I am staying on the ship and doing the Absolute Spa Ritual while DD is at the Club/Lab and DH is doing the Gozo Experience.
-Palermo- We are all doing the Boat Ride to Zingaro Park.
-Naples- DH is doing the Mt. Vesuvius Hike and Pompeii, while I am getting a Mani and Pedi and DD is at the Club/Lab.
-Rome- We are doing the Vatican/Coliseum/Catacombs tour.
-Pisa- We are doing the Easy Pisa tour and DH and I are doing the Palo dinner that night.
-Corsica- We all are doing the Sweet Corsica tour.
-France- We are doing the Value package Nice/Monaco tour.

While at sea, I might partake in some of the salon things, like getting my hair done. Hopefully we will meet some of you on the excursions or at the Palo Dinner.

 

[DopeyFan1966]

While at sea, I might partake in some of the salon things, like getting my hair done. Hopefully we will meet some of you on the excursions or at the Palo Dinner.

Don't forget the meet and greet at 1400 (2pm) in the Promenade Lounge on embarkation day. That will be a good place to meet everyone.

Cindy