May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[rashdecision]

My husband and I are new divers (certified just last year). I was thinking of diving in Corsica since there appears to be less to do there than in the other ports. I could be very wrong as I haven't done all my port research yet...I've only found one dive place in Ajaccio, does anybody have any experience with this?

On another note, we received our info packet yesterday! [/QUOTE
From what I can gather from scubaboard (similar format to this and cruise critic and free), Malta is the way to go if you want to dive. It should be warmer than corsica. The water temperature is my achillies heel here. I am used to the caribbean and south pacific water temperatures. Every photo I have seen of a diver in the med is gowned in full body wet suits, hood, and gloves (ie its friggin cold). The average water temp that I have found was about 65-70 C in the month of may for malta. Brrrrrr. If you are interested in diving corsica, I would jump over to www.scubaboard.com and see the comments. I think I finally talked my wife into cutting me loose from the family vacation to dive Malta but I could switch to Corsica if there is a group wanting to do it.

 

[dawne577]

My DH and I think that Disney has the best wine tasting of any of the other 4 lines we've sailed. On one of our RCCL cruises it felt like a cattle call and you could tell that it was a sales pitch of their wine dinner package. Disneys' is very intimate. So yes we'll also be signing up for them. Please help refresh my memory, we can do that on embarkation day?

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Great to see there are other wine drinkers here. Cheers!

dawne577: I'm almost 100% sure you can book the wine tastings on Embarkation day. I know in 2007 they had 3 tastings (French, Italian, Spanish) on the three sea days and expect they'll do the same in 2010.

rashdecision: We're right there with you! Susan and I love tasting wine, cooking with wine, pairing different foods with wine...yes, wine fanatics would describe us.

Welsh Girl: Tell Mark, unless he likes to drink alone, he's welcome to join us.

MPS516: Look forward to seeing you and Donna there.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

My husband and I are new divers (certified just last year). I was thinking of diving in Corsica since there appears to be less to do there than in the other ports. I could be very wrong as I haven't done all my port research yet...I've only found one dive place in Ajaccio, does anybody have any experience with this?

I've not been diving anywhere in Europe or the Med. Like rashdecision, I'm generally a warm water diver. I did find several dive shops in Ajaccio though. Here are the links:

http://www.eragnole.com/gb_index.html

http://www.plongee-en-corse.fr/en/accueil.html

http://jpvigno.perso.neuf.fr/fr_index_plongee_corse.htm

http://www.odyssee-plongee.fr/fr/index.html

 

[jedijill]

Hi everybody!

I just booked this cruise this morning.

I'm so excited and can't wait to start planning.

Jill in CO

 

[jojo6617]

Welcome on board jedijill

OMG only 91 days to go, I really need to start planning some trips I would love to share a tour of Malta and any others if anyone has any space, there are three of us including a 12 year old child.

Regards Joanne

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Welcome jedijill. Is that a long-haired doxie in your signature?

 

[MPS516]

Welcome on board jedijill

OMG only 91 days to go, I really need to start planning some trips I would love to share a tour of Malta and any others if anyone has any space, there are three of us including a 12 year old child.

Regards Joanne

We have book tours in these 3 ports.

NAPLES
The ruins of Pompeii, part of an ancient Roman city destroyed and buried by the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

Herculaneum is an ancient residential town of Greek origins, destroyed and buried in ashes, together with Pompeii, by the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 A.D. that also offers a variety of beautiful scenery and invaluable arts.

View the crater of Vesuvius, 1281 meters above sea level, by walking for approximately 45 minutes up the steep mount, as the road for vehicles terminates half way up this climb.

La Spezia
The first stop will be in the Piazzale Michelangelo, before arriving in Florence, to admire one of the most superb views of the city. The Monuments to Michelangelo (1875) with a bronze reproduction of the four statues depicting Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk, dominated by the statue of David, that stand proudly in this wide terrace. The famous Statue of David by Michelangelo, as well as other important Italian works of art.

Piazza del Duomo is the site of the principal places of religious interest: the Baptistery, a Romanesque building, built between 11th-12th century, with beautiful bronze doors (14th-15th century by A. Pisano and L. Ghiberti) and mosaics; the Giotto Bell Tower, built in 14th century; and the Duomo which is one of the world’s largest Cathedrals that boasts many works in various media by famous artists.

The Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), church of Santa Croce (13th century, Gothic), containing the tombs of Michelangelo, Galilei, Alfieri, Machiavelli, Foscolo and other great men. Take lunch in a fine local restaurant and, depending on time, experience the shopping malls of Florence in leisurely time.

The town of Pisa. The Leaning Tower, the "Field of Miracles", the cathedral, the “Campo Santo” cemetery, the Baptistery, and the cathedral museum.


Civitavecchia
Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Church; Colosseum; Roman Forum St. Paul outside the wall; Pantheon; Christian Catacombs; Spanish Steps (Piazza Spagna) and Barcaccia Fountain

We have room for 3 or 4 more wishing to share

 

[MPS516]

Hi everybody!

I just booked this cruise this morning.

I'm so excited and can't wait to start planning.

Jill in CO

Hi Jill,

I have two friends on the Fire Department there in Aurora. We booked almost a year ago and have been waiting for May to get here. Our girls are really starting to tallk about the trip and it is consuming way to many of our conversations.

Mike

 

[jedijill]

Welcome jedijill. Is that a long-haired doxie in your signature?

It sure is. That's my Bailey.

Jill

 

[jedijill]

Hi Jill,

I have two friends on the Fire Department there in Aurora. We booked almost a year ago and have been waiting for May to get here. Our girls are really starting to tallk about the trip and it is consuming way to many of our conversations.

Mike

Thanks. I had been wanting to book this for awhile but some unexpected funds came so I decided to jump on the Cat 12 deal.

Jill in CO

 

[jedijill]

Welcome on board jedijill

OMG only 91 days to go, I really need to start planning some trips I would love to share a tour of Malta and any others if anyone has any space, there are three of us including a 12 year old child.

Regards Joanne

Thanks!

I've been to everywhere except Corsica, Malta, and Tunisia so I'm excited to see those ports. I think I will probably just try to do the other ports on my own.

Jill

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Here's our long-haired dachshund Oliver.

 

[sayhello]

Here's our long-haired dachshund Oliver.

Awwwwwwwwww! What a beauty!

Sayhello

 

[jedijill]

Here's our long-haired dachshund Oliver.

Bailey says that Oliver is quite handsome and dashing. She would like to know if he is single.

Dachies are the best dogs!

Jill in CO

 

[jedijill]

So are you guys flying home on the 26th? What time is your flight out of Barcelona? I'm finding 11:00 flights...wondering if that is to early.

Jill in CO

 

[sayhello]

So are you guys flying home on the 26th? What time is your flight out of Barcelona? I'm finding 11:00 flights...wondering if that is to early.

Jill in CO

I was tempted by the 11:00am flight, but I just don't want to do that to myself. Too stressful. If the ship takes extra long to clear customs (or docks late!) or you get stuck in rush hour traffic, you'd be cutting it awfully close. They are recommending 3 hours ahead of time for international flights going back to the USA. I decided to just be gentle on myself, and book an afternoon flight, so I can sleep in a bit, have a nice last breakfast, and leave at the chime of 9am.

Sayhello

 

[jedijill]

I was tempted by the 11:00am flight, but I just don't want to do that to myself. Too stressful. If the ship takes extra long to clear customs (or docks late!) or you get stuck in rush hour traffic, you'd be cutting it awfully close. They are recommending 3 hours ahead of time for international flights going back to the USA. I decided to just be gentle on myself, and book an afternoon flight, so I can sleep in a bit, have a nice last breakfast, and leave at the chime of 9am.

Sayhello

Which airline are you on if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks!

Jill

 

[LDSsinglegirls]

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?

 

[sayhello]

Which airline are you on if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks!

Jill

Iberia.

But I'm not flying directly back to the US. I'm going to visit family in Israel first, and then flying home from there.

Sayhello