May 28, 2011 - 11 Night Mediterranean Sailing from Barcelona

[DopeyFan1966]

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!

Did you want to be added to the FE list also, or jus Roll Call?

FEs are all different kinds of things: candy, pencils, note pads, stickers, magnets, pins, pens, etc. I even got sunscreen samples last year.

Cindy

 

[LaEsmralda]

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

Oh yeah, I forgot about that! Thanks Cindy for reminding me. Hopefully we will be boarded by then. Our plane arrives at 1145 and our port arrival time is between 1430 and 1500. So who knows.

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that! Thanks Cindy for reminding me. Hopefully we will be boarded by then. Our plane arrives at 1145 and our port arrival time is between 1430 and 1500. So who knows.

It starts at 1400, but I'm sure some of us will still be there by the time you arrive. If not we will find everyone eventually.

Cindy

 

[DopeyFan1966]

I think I'm going to make a generic name tag for all the adults. It will be able to fit in a lanyard pouch/id pouch.

I'll make one with a simple disboard logo and your disboard name and your first name. No one has to let me know if they want one, I will just print them and bring them. If you want it you can get it from me and if you don't want it I will throw them away.

They will not have any other information on them, not last names, no room numbers, etc. Just first name and Disboard name.

This way if you have it in your lanyard and you didn't make it to the meet and greet on day one others will know who you are and you will be able to pick us out from the crowd.

Cindy

 

[calihannah]

I think I'm going to make a generic name tag for all the adults. It will be able to fit in a lanyard pouch/id pouch.

That's so kind of you! Do many people wear ID lanyards on board, with their KTTW etc?

 

[DopeyFan1966]

That's so kind of you! Do many people wear ID lanyards on board, with their KTTW etc?

They did last year, don't know if anyone will this year. But, it really is no big deal for me to make them, actually they are already done. Except for a few people that haven't provided me with their names.

If everyone would send me pictures to put on the website we wouldn't have to wonder what each other look like when we get on the cruise. That isn't meant to pressure anyone or to sound rude. If you don't want to send a picture, that is perfectly okay, no one will hold it against you.

I'm getting more and more excited everyday.

Cindy

 

[annichan]

I haven't posted much lately as I have been so busy at work, but nevertheless I am getting more and more excited about the cruise by the day!

I still have to design and print my door magnets, I will use most of those I used on our last cruise but I still want to add some new ones. We won't be participating in the Fish Exchange so no preparation work for me there, but I still need to decide on what to pack, and research Barcelona a bit for the half-day we will be spending there prior to the cruise, and maybe buy something nice for Formal Night, and research how we will get to the Hypogeum in Malta on our own, and lots of little odds and ends. Wow, I love the preparation almost as much as the actual cruise!

Oh and by the way, welcome to all the new arrivals to our thread, I am looking forward to meeting all of you at 2 pm on embarkation day!

Best regards from Germany (where spring seems to be coming at last!),

Annika

 

[jettybean]

FYI: We are sailing the transatlantic prior to the med. GTY cabins started getting room assignments today for the TA portion. Since that cruise begins 14 days prior to this one, I would guess we will start getting assignments in a couple of weeks!!

 

[DopeyFan1966]

We won't be participating in the Fish Exchange so no preparation work for me there, but I still need to decide on what to pack, and research Barcelona a bit for the half-day we will be spending there prior to the cruise, and maybe buy something nice for Formal Night, and research how we will get to the Hypogeum in Malta on our own, and lots of little odds and ends. Annika

FYI: We are sailing the transatlantic prior to the med. GTY cabins started getting room assignments today for the TA portion. Since that cruise begins 14 days prior to this one, I would guess we will start getting assignments in a couple of weeks!!

Annika, you can catch a cab to the Hypogeum. We are going to hire a cab for a few hours and go to Blue Grottos and then the Hypogeum. Their fares are: 3,50 Euro (Initial Fare); 1,40 Euro (per km for first 8 km); 1,00 Euro (per km thereafter); 4,20 Euro (waiting charge, prorated). They Hypogeum is only 5 km from the port. According to most websites, agree on a fare before you get in the cab. So I guess you might be able to agree on a flat rate and they won't use the meter, don't really know what it means.

Jettybean, THAT IS GREAT NEWS...I really can't wait to find out what cabin we are in. It makes it that much more real.

Cindy

 

[kcashner]

Got my cabin assignment for the TA and the Med. Booked 11C, got 9B for both, and get to stay in the same cabin. DD will be happy--she always wants "at least a window."

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Okay everyone. The FE list is closed. I might have one more name to add, wasn't sure if they wanted to be added to the FEs or not, but I'm waiting on their response. If they actually did want to join then I think we have 20.

Is 20 too many? Do you want to break it down into two groups of 10 or leave it at 20? Let me know what you all think.


THE WINNING DESIGN FOR OUR CRUISE LOGO IS: The logo with the Mickey Ears.

If you want an iron-on of the logo, please PM me or htmlkid and let us know. He will print them and bring them to the cruise. He will need $5.00 per transfer to cover cost of ink and iron-on paper. He will need to know how many you want in adult size and how many you want in children size. You can pay him for your iron-on on the ship when we get there.

Getting close, real close.

Cindy

 

[LaEsmralda]

Annika, .....They Hypogeum is only 5 km from the port. According to most websites, agree on a fare before you get in the cab. So I guess you might be able to agree on a flat rate and they won't use the meter, don't really know what it means.
Cindy

I was just in Malta in February and they don't use a meter. You need to tell the taxi driver where you want to go and then he will tell you how much and if you want to bargain you can, I guess. If you like the driver you have, they all usually carry business cards with their name and number, so you can keep that with you or tell him when to come back and get you.

 

[kcashner]

20 is a perfect number for a FE group. Anything between about 15 and 30 is good. Below 15 works but isn't as much fun. Above 30 is just way too much effort (running all over the ship to deliver), etc. SO, 20 is totally perfect.

NEW TOPIC

Early on, I talked about a book exchange. I've seen this done in several different ways; the easiest is to have one person hang a bag outside their stateroom. If you have a book that you are finished with, drop it in the bag. If you see one that you'd like to read, take it. At the end of the cruise, all books remaining in the bag will be donated to the crew library. I will volunteer to have the bag outside my room.

It probably won't be as popular on this port intensive cruise as on the TAs, but it still gives us a bit more variety in addition to what is in the Cove Cafe and allows us to get a new "airplane reading" book for the way home.

I have seen it done in other ways, but this one is the most flexible and the least work! If no one objects, I'll just assume this is a "GO" otherwise, if there are issues, let me know.

 

[annichan]

Annika, you can catch a cab to the Hypogeum. We are going to hire a cab for a few hours and go to Blue Grottos and then the Hypogeum. Their fares are: 3,50 Euro (Initial Fare); 1,40 Euro (per km for first 8 km); 1,00 Euro (per km thereafter); 4,20 Euro (waiting charge, prorated). They Hypogeum is only 5 km from the port. According to most websites, agree on a fare before you get in the cab. So I guess you might be able to agree on a flat rate and they won't use the meter, don't really know what it means.


Cindy

I was just in Malta in February and they don't use a meter. You need to tell the taxi driver where you want to go and then he will tell you how much and if you want to bargain you can, I guess. If you like the driver you have, they all usually carry business cards with their name and number, so you can keep that with you or tell him when to come back and get you.

Thank you both for the good advice - I am pretty sure now that we'll be taking a cab.

We might even follow your lead, Cindy, and also do the Blue Grotto beforehand. What a pity you are not on the same Hypogeum time slot as we are, otherwise we could have hijacked your cab

 

[annichan]

Early on, I talked about a book exchange. I've seen this done in several different ways; the easiest is to have one person hang a bag outside their stateroom. If you have a book that you are finished with, drop it in the bag. If you see one that you'd like to read, take it. At the end of the cruise, all books remaining in the bag will be donated to the crew library. I will volunteer to have the bag outside my room.

It probably won't be as popular on this port intensive cruise as on the TAs, but it still gives us a bit more variety in addition to what is in the Cove Cafe and allows us to get a new "airplane reading" book for the way home.

I have seen it done in other ways, but this one is the most flexible and the least work! If no one objects, I'll just assume this is a "GO" otherwise, if there are issues, let me know.

That is a great idea, I love it!

Note to self: Only bring English-language books on the cruise this time.
(Although that will probably mean it takes me more than 11 nights to finish one anyway )

 

[kaceyisme]

Annika, you can catch a cab to the Hypogeum. We are going to hire a cab for a few hours and go to Blue Grottos and then the Hypogeum.
Cindy

Thank you both for the good advice - I am pretty sure now that we'll be taking a cab. We might even follow your lead, Cindy, and also do the Blue Grotto beforehand. What a pity you are not on the same Hypogeum time slot as we are, otherwise we could have hijacked your cab

Annika, I know we don't have the same Hypogeum time because we talked about already.

Cindy, what time are your tickets for? We have 11:00 AM.

 

[LaEsmralda]

Early on, I talked about a book exchange. I've seen this done in several different ways; the easiest is to have one person hang a bag outside their stateroom. If you have a book that you are finished with, drop it in the bag. If you see one that you'd like to read, take it. At the end of the cruise, all books remaining in the bag will be donated to the crew library. I will volunteer to have the bag outside my room.

It probably won't be as popular on this port intensive cruise as on the TAs, but it still gives us a bit more variety in addition to what is in the Cove Cafe and allows us to get a new "airplane reading" book for the way home.

I have seen it done in other ways, but this one is the most flexible and the least work! If no one objects, I'll just assume this is a "GO" otherwise, if there are issues, let me know.

Love, love, love this idea! Yay for books!

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Annika, I know we don't have the same Hypogeum time because we talked about already.

Cindy, what time are your tickets for? We have 11:00 AM.

We are going to the Hypogeum at 1400. We want to get to the Blue Grottos first thing in the morning, they say that is time that they are the prettiest.

Then when we get back to the port we are going to go to St Johns Co-Cathedral. (a must see if you have the chance)

Cindy

 

[nhmomofson]

We are going to the Hypogeum at 1400. We want to get to the Blue Grottos first thing in the morning, they say that is time that they are the prettiest.

Then when we get back to the port we are going to go to St Johns Co-Cathedral. (a must see if you have the chance)

Cindy

I just bought tickets for us 14:00 at the Hypogeum and I am planning the rest of our day. I think that Malta is going to be a beautiful stop. I am getting more and more excited as the days go by.

 

[LaEsmralda]

I just bought tickets for us 14:00 at the Hypogeum and I am planning the rest of our day. I think that Malta is going to be a beautiful stop. I am getting more and more excited as the days go by.

It is very beautiful there. Mdina is amazing and there is a craft village right outside of the city that you can buy their blown glass, silver filigree and jewelry. You can check out the website here, www.vallettaglass.com
Marsaxlokk fishing village is very nice too, all the brightly colored fishing boats and the outdoor market they have too. Also, if you can make it up to Popeye's Village, where the 1980s movie, Popeye, starring Robin Williams was made. They made that village just for that movie, it is pretty cool up there.