May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[sayhello]

I am researching excursions in Ajaccio and nothing seems to be tickling my fancy. I would be most interested in maybe a beach day, but am concerned that the weather wouldn't quite be warm enough. A) What is the water temp there and B)What would some alternate suggestions be on excursions?

According to this site:

http://www.zoover.co.uk/france/corsica/ajaccio/weather

the average water temperature in Ajaccio in May is 17 degeres C, or 63 degrees F.

Sayhello

 

[Jeff Spencer]

LDSsinglegirls,

I'm thinking right now that we're going to just visit the port ourselves and perhaps do the bus/train tour. We'll be there on a Sunday, and since Corsica is French, many things will be closed. I also noticed the Musee Fesch is closed for renovation until late June. The Musee Napoleon is closed on the weekends too.

The petit train:

http://www.petit-train-ajaccio.com/index.htm

Open Top Bus:

http://www.ajacciovision.fr/

I haven't made our airline ressies yet but I've been looking at the 11 am departing flights.

 

[LDSsinglegirls]

Thanks Jeff. The open bus tour looks pretty darn nifty. Might try and go that direction. Appreciate ya!

 

[nanaguide]

My husband is booked on the 11 a.m. flight on US Airways. He hates airports, flying, etc. so I try to make it as easy as possible. It is a 9 hour flight back here to Orlando with a change of planes in Philadelphia. We will walk our suitcases off the ship before 8 a.m. and just hope it all works out well. If it doesn't - we'll deal with it. I'm flying out that afternoon to London.

 

[leelee9878]

I just booked my airfare the other day after checking daily for price drops. I ended up paying $748 which was the best I could find, for the best times. I am flying from Newark on Continental (1 stop) and a direct flight home on the 26th, the return flight is at 10:45, I know we will be rushed but we are prepared for it!

The cruise finally seems like it is really happening now that I have airfare!

 

[leelee9878]

I have booked some excursions for the 3 ports in Italy and have some room left if anyone wants to join.

This is a link for his reviews on Tripadvisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...ome_Lazio.html

This is the email I received from him:

In Civitavecchia you will have me or my partner and driving one hour ,we will arrive in the centre of Rome.
On the city we will drive you to visit many different sites such as
The Palatine
the Circus max
the Colosseum
the Roman forum
the Wedding Cake
The Pantheon
The Trevi fountain
The roman city walls
San Peter Basilica and more if we can.
The car is full licenced to drive everywere and anityme you will be beside the sites with me as your driving/guide,without walking too much.(I have a diploma in art and I'm full licenced to accompany you everywere-when the parking spot is avaible of course).
We will start the tour visiting the most ancient sites and we will end the tour visiting the most modern.
So we will tour the city concerning the time,talking about the monuments and at the end of the tour,you will know this city,its monuments,its history,its legends.
After lunch time, we will go to the Vatican museum to visit the Sistine chapel and San Peter Basilica.
Me or my partner will guide you inside (you save 120.00-150.00 euros of the guide).
After this I will drive you back to the dock.
Rates are entrance fees on the sites not included.
The service is 9 hours in total, it is on deluxe van full air conditioned and it will start at 8.00 am at the dock and it will end at 5-5.30 pm at the dock.
THIS TOUR IS NOW FULL

In Tuscany, from La Spezia port, you can have me or my associate Daniele.After your pick up,we will drive from La Spezia dock for 25 minuts and we will arrive in Pisa where you can visit the leaning tower and the square.
After we will drive 45 minuts to Florence.
On Florence we will drive you to visit the
the Duomo
The Giotto's tower
the Ponte Vecchio,
The Palazzo della signoria and if you wish,I can reserve for you the entrance on the Accademia museum to see the famous Michelangelo's David..
After we will drive you on the top of a hill to have a beautiful view of Florence.
At this point we will drive you back to the dock.
During the tour you willl have the time for your lunch and for your shopping.
I HAVE 1 SPOT LEFT

In Naples you will have me or my associate Roberto.
From the dock of Naples we will drive to Positano (a beautiful fisherman's town on the ocean) and you will have one hour to visit the pedastrian area.
After Positano we will drive you to visit Sorrento (a wonderful town up the sea) and you will have time to visit the town and for your shopping.
After the shopping you can have your meal on a wonderful not fancy restaurant with a beautiful view of the coast.
At this point we will drive you to Pompeii to visit the ruins of the Roman town (if you wish you can have a guide - I can reserve one for you, because only the local guide can tour the site-cost is euros 100.00 for all of you).
After we will drive you back to the dock.
I HAVE 1 SPOT LEFT

Booking the 3 ports rates are:

Livorno euros 500.00 (8 people, roughly $94 USD pp)
Civitavecchia euros 600.00 (7 people, roughly $129 USD pp)
Naples euros 500.00 (8 people roughly $94 USD pp)

Please let me know if anyone is interested in joining us!

Lisa

 

[jedijill]

I just booked my airfare the other day after checking daily for price drops. I ended up paying $748 which was the best I could find, for the best times. I am flying from Newark on Continental (1 stop) and a direct flight home on the 26th, the return flight is at 10:45, I know we will be rushed but we are prepared for it!

The cruise finally seems like it is really happening now that I have airfare!

Wish I lived closer to a big airport (sometimes!)...it gets more expensive when you have to connect. Oh well, seeing the mountains everyday makes up for it.

Jill in CO

 

[sayhello]

Wish I lived closer to a big airport (sometimes!)...it gets more expensive when you have to connect. Oh well, seeing the mountains everyday makes up for it.

Jill in CO

Hmmmm. I have to pay more to connect, *AND* I don't have any mountains. That's not fair!

Sayhello

 

[jedijill]

Hmmmm. I have to pay more to connect, *AND* I don't have any mountains. That's not fair!

Sayhello

I used to live in Kansas City so I know the feeling. I moved about a year and a half ago and couldn't be happier.

Jill in CO

 

[jedijill]

Are you guys taking Disney transportation to the airport from the port or going to find your own way?

Jill

 

[Jeff Spencer]

We're taking a cab. There were plenty there at the terminal when we disembarked.

 

[sayhello]

I used to live in Kansas City so I know the feeling. I moved about a year and a half ago and couldn't be happier.

Jill in CO

Ah, I'm in Ohio.... Used to live in Southern California, so I had the ocean *and* (sometimes) the mountains. I do miss that. Lots I *don't* miss, but Ohio is mighty flat.

Sayhello

 

[ebony]

Are you guys taking Disney transportation to the airport from the port or going to find your own way?

Jill

We have booked the Disney airport transfers $59 each return, seemed the best option for us. We are flying into Barcelona the day before and staying at the Marriott close to the airport.
We have been told that the earlier coaches, from the airport on the previous med cruises, did a short tour of Barcelona before arriving at the port.

 

[abird]

We're taking a cab. There were plenty there at the terminal when we disembarked.

Jeff, approx. how much would a cab for 4 cost from pier to airport? Anne

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Anne,

Can't say. We arrived a day early and left a day after the cruise in 2007 so our taxi trips were from airport to hotel, hotel to pier, pier to hotel and hotel to airport.

Tonight is the night for us Silver Cruisers. 12:01 AM Eastern time for reservations! Woo hoo!

 

[jedijill]

Anne,

Can't say. We arrived a day early and left a day after the cruise in 2007 so our taxi trips were from airport to hotel, hotel to pier, pier to hotel and hotel to airport.

Tonight is the night for us Silver Cruisers. 12:01 AM Eastern time for reservations! Woo hoo!

Thanks for the reminder Jeff! I feel like I'm behind the curve here since I just booked Friday. I did hit the bookstore this afternoon and picked up a couple of guidebooks. Need to quit watching the Olympics and start planning!

I did book my airfare today so I can quit worrying about that.

Jill in CO

 

[Jeff Spencer]

I'm doing both...sitting here with my laptop researching ports, watching speedskating and skiing.

I'm still trying to figure out what we're going to do in Tunis. I'm thinking about Carthage but I'm also thinking it's kind of hard to top the Roman ruins in Rome. I would like to visit the American WW2 Cemetery near there though. The Souks sound like just a bunch of hard-sell merchants. What are others doing here?

 

[sayhello]

And I only have 23 hours until they can't cancel my ABD anymore! I'm really optimistic that if they were going to cancel it, they would have by now. Keep your fingers & toes crossed for us!

This is my first DCL cruise, so I won't be able to make reservations until March 1st. All I really want is brunch at Palo on the last sea day, as it's my Birthday. I'll take other Palo ressies if I can get them, but I'm really hoping for the brunch!

Sayhello

 

[jedijill]

I'm doing both...sitting here with my laptop researching ports, watching speedskating and skiing.

I'm still trying to figure out what we're going to do in Tunis. I'm thinking about Carthage but I'm also thinking it's kind of hard to top the Roman ruins in Rome. I would like to visit the American WW2 Cemetery near there though. The Souks sound like just a bunch of hard-sell merchants. What are others doing here?

Jeff,

I think I'm going to the Tunis and Carthage tour through DCL in Tunis. I have a friend who said that Carthage is really interesting and I'm interested in wandering around Tunis by myself.

If anyone wants all the DCL excursions in Word docs let me know. My TA typed them all up and its much easier to read than the DCL site.

Jill

 

[jedijill]

And I only have 23 hours until they can't cancel my ABD anymore! I'm really optimistic that if they were going to cancel it, they would have by now. Keep your fingers & toes crossed for us!

This is my first DCL cruise, so I won't be able to make reservations until March 1st. All I really want is brunch at Palo on the last sea day, as it's my Birthday. I'll take other Palo ressies if I can get them, but I'm really hoping for the brunch!

Sayhello

Which ABD are you doing? I've been meaning to ask. The ABD trips look interesting.

Also, I'll be booking the brunch as well (YUMMY!!) and if you can't get in you are always welcome to crash my ressie. (2 is as easy as 1!)

Jill