May 5, 2010 Magic of Barcelona

[sabrecmc]

I think we're going to do the Carthage and Sidi Bou Said trip in Tunis. I did some research on the Medina, which I'd thought about doing, and just don't think I really want to take my daughter there. Sidi Bou Said, on the other hand, looks beautiful. Here's hoping, anyway! I don't think Disney will take us somewhere that I would truly be uncomfortable, but that excursion sounds like the best for us. I really want to see Tunisia. So different than what I'm used to. I'm really glad to have the opportunity, but also have to think of my mom and daughter. Otherwise, I'd probably be like, "Take me to the rugs!"

 

[downtick]

I have been to the medina in fez and marrakesh, interesting to say the least...but i have been there, done that, no thanks again...if i get off the boat, will be for sidi bou said as well..you do not want to get lost inside of a medina!

 

[sabrecmc]

you do not want to get lost inside of a medina!

She went to buy a rug and was never heard from again!

 

[downtick]

they tried to sell me a rug in fez...they took us upstairs to their display room..there was an open door on one of the sides, i peaked inside and there was a little girl, couldn't have been more than 10 years old weaving rugs..she called me over to her and held her hand out..i gave her some dinars and went upon my way..i bet most of the rugs for sale there are made by children, i saw this all over Morocco. so sad! When they tell you the rugs are made by hands, you can believe that..that is probably one of the only honest things coming out of their mouths..however, they do not tell you they are made by childrens' hands.

 

[sabrecmc]

I can imagine that's the case quite often, downtick, whether we buy the rug here at a showroom or at a market in North Africa. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised to find that's true for a lot of products we buy. Not that I really plan on lugging a rug home! Though, it would almost be worth it just to see the airline employee's face when I ask to check it.

 

[downtick]

I almost bought a silk rug in turkey once..was small...i didn't trust the seller though and he wanted 3k for it.

 

[whatsthatnoise]

we have never been to any part of Africa. so will be planning to go on an excursion. Sidi Bou Said looks interesting. Debating between the two excursions - Sidi Bou Said + Carthage (or + Medina + Bardo).

Closest i have come to sales people in a similar(??) cultural environment was in Istanbul, and i didnt mind it. A firm NO, purposeful walk and talking between wife and I seemed to be enough. But some timeshare sales people in Canary Islands did get on my nerves.

Tara, for information on Rome (and other italian cities), the website slowtrav.com is highly recommended. I like Rick Steves and there are free short youtube clips available on many of the sites. Trip reports, recommendations on restaurants etc from there helped me quite a lot for my last trip. Must see/ not so hot is truly a personal preference. Looking back at the visit, the things that i remember most are the freshly made, cheap, but out of the world pizza somewhere, being amazed by the Pantheon, underwhelmed by Colosseum, amazing coffee, pasta, seafood, wondering why only Trevi fountain is famous while all of them look excellent, spanish steps that was full of smokers, kicking myself for not reserving a ticket at the Vatican and missing it out, and laying in the bathtub back in the room wondering at what point in the day someone had smashed my legs.

As they say, Rome was not built in a day and cannot be seen in a day either. Whatever you plan, i would definitely recommend keeping aside an hr or two for just strolling/ people watching/ sipping coffee etc.

 

[downtick]

we have never been to any part of Africa. so will be planning to go on an excursion. Sidi Bou Said looks interesting. Debating between the two excursions - Sidi Bou Said + Carthage (or + Medina + Bardo).

Closest i have come to sales people in a similar(??) cultural environment was in Istanbul, and i didnt mind it. A firm NO, purposeful walk and talking between wife and I seemed to be enough. But some timeshare sales people in Canary Islands did get on my nerves.

I have been to Istanbul too, that is like the Beverly center compared to Tangier. Istanbul I found the people to be very friendly, even the pushy sales people backed down with a firm NO...Tangier was just relentless..we cut our trip short 3 days and left back to Spain on the first ferry we could grab, just wasn't what we expected.

 

[whatsthatnoise]

I have been to Istanbul too, that is like the Beverly center compared to Tangier. Istanbul I found the people to be very friendly, even the pushy sales people backed down with a firm NO...Tangier was just relentless..we cut our trip short 3 days and left back to Spain on the first ferry we could grab, just wasn't what we expected.

Good input. Now all i need to do is to get my wife to read it and convince her to skip shopping

 

[orojean]

Sorry if I am not posting correctly. I am new to this.

My family will be on the cruise as well. I have a 7 year old daughter and a soon to be 6 year old son! First time to Europe for them. Hope to get lots of learning in. They will be missing two weeks of school as well.

I have been reading through a lot of past posts, but any suggestions for off shore excursions vs. planning your own.

Thanks
Suzanne

 

[Goofy Mum]

Sorry if I am not posting correctly. I am new to this.

My family will be on the cruise as well. I have a 7 year old daughter and a soon to be 6 year old son! First time to Europe for them. Hope to get lots of learning in. They will be missing two weeks of school as well.

I have been reading through a lot of past posts, but any suggestions for off shore excursions vs. planning your own.

Thanks
Suzanne

Welcome Suzanne.
My son will be nearly 6 when we cruise also. His birthday is June 6
Alot of us have facebook accounts and we have a group started on there for our cruise. Tara's posted some valuable info on excursions and I posted some stuff on airfare. If you're on facebook please feel free to add me. I'm Rickishaneandrews

 

[standardgirl]

Hi All! We are going on our second Disney cruise! I am 25 and will be traveling with my mom on this 10-night cruise, so excited and can't wait! We made the reservation while on the Bahama cruise last year, so got the 20% off deal plus $400 OBC for the room, all worked out nicely with our secret ocean view room at inside room price

We are still trying to decide on whether to take the Adventures by Disney offer. It's 2,399 USD per person which is definitely on the high side. But it seems to be a rather decent itinerary. If you assume a $200 per person per day cost of shore excursion plus $30 for lunch, then that's $230 x 7 = $1,610 a person, plus gratuities, wine tasting/dinning at Palo, and all onboard and onshore photos (we spent lots of money on photos on our last cruise), I am starting to think that 2,399 isn't a bad deal? Any more experienced cruisers with some other thoughts/comments?

Also, I saw someone mentioned that the excursions are posted on the main forum, but somehow I couldn't find it? any link? THANKS and see you all on board!

 

[lmhall2000]

Welcome to Disboards StandardGirl! What a great Mom/Daughter trip!! I'm not sure about excursions listed...they should be on the Disney site when you sign in your ressie number....I go to cruisecritic's site for reviews of the ports we'll hit..that has helped determine what I'd want to do.

I hope someone on here will let us non CC members know when the 75 mark is...I'd like to plan something although we're probably not using any of Disney's excursions, hoping to book Palo one day. Heard it went up to $20 pp..so still a good deal I hope, we'll only do it once so not sure if brunch or dinner would be best??

Getting close, gotta go get on that treadmill to make my legs ready for all that walking!!!!!

Tara

 

[everafter1]

I think if you look at the DCL site under "My cruise plans" it tells you the earliest day you can start booking activities like Palo, spa, excursions, ect. I'm a CC member, but when I looked at the site it said CC members could start booking on Feb 4th, I think. I believe it's under either "My cruise plans" or "My reservation" I can't remember exactly where I saw it.

 

[laydee314]

Hello Everyone! Just found the forum and joined the facebook group. Excited about the cruise - traveling with hubby, 7-yr, 5-yr and 2yr old children and my mother.
Although reading over the forum, I'm totally bummed. I booked too early and paid way too much. What is Cat 12 actually (which rooms)? Gonna have to talk to my TA.

 

[mcpaket]

Hi laydee314
It's my first disney cruise too. Nice to hear from someone with a 2 year old-my kids are 2 & 4.
Could you let me know how to join the facebook group?


Does anyone have any advice re Rome with a 2 & 4 year old! I would love to visit but am thinking it'll probably be impossible with the kids. Both are good during travel but the organised excursions seem too long to put them through. Thought about putting them in the clubs but think I'd spend the day worrying. Not sure whether to stay on the boat & visit Rome another time without the kids. Any suggestions??

 

[lmhall2000]

Hi laydee314
It's my first disney cruise too. Nice to hear from someone with a 2 year old-my kids are 2 & 4.
Could you let me know how to join the facebook group?


Does anyone have any advice re Rome with a 2 & 4 year old! I would love to visit but am thinking it'll probably be impossible with the kids. Both are good during travel but the organised excursions seem too long to put them through. Thought about putting them in the clubs but think I'd spend the day worrying. Not sure whether to stay on the boat & visit Rome another time without the kids. Any suggestions??

I think they would love the train ride into Rome (when my son was 4 that was the world to him!) Also Dorling Kindersley has a book at Barnes & Noble called Top 10 Rome....there is a section on top 10 things for kids...but if it were me, I'd take the train into Rome and find some nice gardens/parks for them to run around in and wear themselves out...my kids LOVE parks and if you wear them out there, you can push them in strollers to see some of the sites you liked....hth!!

Tara

 

[lmhall2000]

Hello Everyone! Just found the forum and joined the facebook group. Excited about the cruise - traveling with hubby, 7-yr, 5-yr and 2yr old children and my mother.
Although reading over the forum, I'm totally bummed. I booked too early and paid way too much. What is Cat 12 actually (which rooms)? Gonna have to talk to my TA.

WELCOME ABOARD!! Well, if you booked cat 12, you won't have them, they only fit 3 people..so most likely you'll get 'bumped up' and with you booking so early, you'll most likely get a nice bump up to category 9, or even 7 or higher (well, lower in numbers I guess)...

Welcome and have a GREAT trip! Well, you have 5 in your party...most likely you'll get connecting rooms at a higher cat...here's some pixie dust for you!!

Tara

 

[laydee314]

Hi laydee314
It's my first disney cruise too. Nice to hear from someone with a 2 year old-my kids are 2 & 4.
Could you let me know how to join the facebook group?


Does anyone have any advice re Rome with a 2 & 4 year old! I would love to visit but am thinking it'll probably be impossible with the kids. Both are good during travel but the organised excursions seem too long to put them through. Thought about putting them in the clubs but think I'd spend the day worrying. Not sure whether to stay on the boat & visit Rome another time without the kids. Any suggestions??

Hi!
I believe the facebook group is:
Disney 10-day Mediterranean Cruise May 5-15 2010
or that's the one I joined anyway.

 

[sabrecmc]

Welcome new people!!!! So glad to see some other cruisers joining our little group. My daughter will be almost 4.5 at the time of the cruise. It will be me, her and my mom. We are doing the Rome day, probably the Family excursion. That will be a long day and tough on her, but the days around it should be much lighter and let her catch up on her nap time. She can go a day without a nap, but not two!

I can't wait for Feb. 4th. Does anyone know the show schedule? I don't want to book Palo on a night of one of the shows I want to see. I can skip the random shows, but not Villians, Twice Charmed and Disney Dreams. I may have to break down and call and ask.