May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread

[DopeyFan1966]

Got some concerns about the private tours listed on "Magic"al May Med Memories. I've been looking at the private tours others have scheduled because I'm thinking about doing one from LeSpezia, but all the ones company's listed say the driver will pick you up at the port in Livorno and I can't find anything about LeSpezia.

Did you guys contact them and arrange for pick up at LeSpezia or am I missing something on the websites?

Thanks,

Cindy

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Got some concerns about the private tours listed on "Magic"al May Med Memories. I've been looking at the private tours others have scheduled because I'm thinking about doing one from LeSpezia, but all the ones company's listed say the driver will pick you up at the port in Livorno and I can't find anything about LeSpezia.

Did you guys contact them and arrange for pick up at LeSpezia or am I missing something on the websites?

Hi Cindy,

Yes, for me I confirmed with Rudy's Touring Service that they did pick up from La Spezia before booking with them.

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Hi Cindy,

Yes, for me I confirmed with Rudy's Touring Service that they did pick up from La Spezia before booking with them.

Thanks, I'll look into that one also.

Cindy

 

[Pinmeister]

Hi Cindy,

Yes, for me I confirmed with Rudy's Touring Service that they did pick up from La Spezia before booking with them.

Same with us Cindy. We had booked Rudy for the other ports in Italy so we asked if he would pick us up in La Spezia also. You also can usually get a discount for booking more than one tour. Good luck

 

[disneycruisegal]

Thanks, I'll look into that one also.

Cindy

Hi Cindy, don't waste your time emailing Rudy's. I tried 2 days ago to book our days in Rome and La Spezia...he's fully booked. Bummer. I just ended up going with all around rome.net

 

[disneycruisegal]

I have a question for everyone...how much should we tip our driver/guides for shore excursion? I've heard 10 to 20%, but is that based on the total cost of the tours? That seems really high to me since some of the tour prices are high. Please let me know what you're planning on bringing over for tips.

Thanks,

Lissa

 

[moneyhappy]

It looks it we have room on our private tours in Italy for 3 people. The information about the tours are listed below. If you are interested PM me.


Hello moneyhappy (Tammy),
We are very interested in joining the 3 private tours of Italy with DGS that you are organizing for the Disney Magic Med Cruise.
We are in stateroom #2511. We are off tomorrow on a transatlantic cruise (RCCL) to Barcelona. Could we please get in touch with you on the ship to finalize the details? Thanks.
Lewis & Kathy

Hello Lewis & Kathy,

Sorry, I was out all day yesterday. I have three slots available for Rome (Civitavecchia). Naples is full and La Spezia only has one slot available.

Cost for the Rome is 500 euros or 6 people would be 83.33 euros per person. This does not include lunch, tip and tickets for the Coliseum 12.00 euro per person.

If you would like to join us for Rome. Let me know my email address in moneyhappy@comcast.net


ahilman (Ashley) has 5 slots available for Naples you may want to contact her about it. Here is some information on her tour http://5-15-10-medcruisers.weebly.com/private-tour-openings.html

Hope you get this in time,
Tammy

 

[moneyhappy]

Got some concerns about the private tours listed on "Magic"al May Med Memories. I've been looking at the private tours others have scheduled because I'm thinking about doing one from LeSpezia, but all the ones company's listed say the driver will pick you up at the port in Livorno and I can't find anything about LeSpezia.

Did you guys contact them and arrange for pick up at LeSpezia or am I missing something on the websites?

Thanks,

Cindy

It cost us 50 euros more to have them pick us up at La Spezia. There private tours are originally out of Livorno

 

[Jeff Spencer]

I have a question for everyone...how much should we tip our driver/guides for shore excursion? I've heard 10 to 20%, but is that based on the total cost of the tours? That seems really high to me since some of the tour prices are high. Please let me know what you're planning on bringing over for tips.

Thanks,

Lissa

Are you talking about driver/guides for private tours or DCL tours?

 

[moneyhappy]

I have a question for everyone...how much should we tip our driver/guides for shore excursion? I've heard 10 to 20%, but is that based on the total cost of the tours? That seems really high to me since some of the tour prices are high. Please let me know what you're planning on bringing over for tips.

Thanks,

Lissa

I budgeted 10% of the total cost of the tour (for our portion) but will give a little more if the tour was great. Maybe I did not budget enough?

 

[Jeff Spencer]

I budgeted 10% of the total cost of the tour (for our portion) but will give a little more if the tour was great. Maybe I did not budget enough?

If we're talking private tours here, a tip of 10% of the total cost of the tour, split between the entire tour group, is plenty. Drivers/tour guides for private tours in Europe are professional, salaried workers with health benefits and vacations. Think of them as a school teacher, nurse, postal worker, department store clerk here in the States...do you tip them? A tip for them really is a tip...expression of gratitude for excellent service above and beyond the call.

 

[jedijill]

If we're talking private tours here, a tip of 10% of the total cost of the tour, split between the entire tour group, is plenty. Drivers/tour guides for private tours in Europe are professional, salaried workers with health benefits and vacations. Think of them as a school teacher, nurse, postal worker, department store clerk here in the States...do you tip them? A tip for them really is a tip...expression of gratitude for excellent service above and beyond the call.

Good point Jeff. The tipping culture in Europe is much different the the US. I just round up to the nearest Euro as tips in taxis and at restaurants.

Jill

 

[jedijill]

How formal are people dressing for formal night? I'm trying to decide what to bring. I'm not a big formal person but don't want to look like a slug.

Jill

 

[*~PiXiEpAl5~*]

Thanks Pinmeister, I was looking for something to do in Barcelona. My family thinks that is a great idea. I will definetly check it out today.
Kia

 

[sayhello]

Good point Jeff. The tipping culture in Europe is much different the the US. I just round up to the nearest Euro as tips in taxis and at restaurants.

Jill

That's good to know, as I plan on taking taxis in Barcelona, and they're quite expensive to begin with!

How formal are people dressing for formal night? I'm trying to decide what to bring. I'm not a big formal person but don't want to look like a slug.

Jill

I am not dressing formal. I don't *own* anything formal. I'll be wearing nice pants with a fancy top.

Sayhello

 

[rashdecision]

How formal are people dressing for formal night? I'm trying to decide what to bring. I'm not a big formal person but don't want to look like a slug.

Jill

I am actually one of those guys that does bring a tux for formal night but we usually pick the formal night to do palo and let the kids do the kids club. I own a tux but rarely have an opportunity to wear it and my wife is absolutely beautiful in formal attire so I jump all over the chance to play dress up. I also have no problems with anyone else's attire as long as it is respectable (t shirts or sandals show a lack of class).

 

[DopeyFan1966]

How formal are people dressing for formal night? I'm trying to decide what to bring. I'm not a big formal person but don't want to look like a slug.

Jill

I asked this question wwwaaaaayyyyy back in this thread somewhere and the consensus was that everyone dresses differently, from tuxes to suits. My husband has a nice dark suit and I'm dressing in a really nice dress. We want to have fun with this and we even bought our daughter a really nice dress for this also.

Just don't wear tshirt and tank tops and I think you'll be fine.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

How formal are people dressing for formal night? I'm trying to decide what to bring. I'm not a big formal person but don't want to look like a slug.

Slug.

I've always worn my tux on formal night. Like Pinmeister, I own one and don't have much occasion to wear it otherwise; however, with the lanyards and FE gifts, the tux will be the first thing left at home if we run out of room.

 

[Pinmeister]

Slug.

I've always worn my tux on formal night. Like Pinmeister, I own one and don't have much occasion to wear it otherwise; however, with the lanyards and FE gifts, the tux will be the first thing left at home if we run out of room.

Hey Jeff, I think you mean Rashdecision but Frank does have a tux and I can guarantee he won't be packing it. A jacket and tie will be a miracle
I'm going to have a hard time getting everything into 2 suitcases. Frank's shoes are so big that they take up half a suitcase. The good thing is that I can pack 2 pairs of my shoes inside 1 pair of his.

Jill, I'm sure you will look nice whatever you wear. I am certainly going to feel like a "slug" after all that food.

Nancy

 

[kehonuamemano]

How formal are people dressing for formal night? I'm trying to decide what to bring. I'm not a big formal person but don't want to look like a slug.

Jill

I'm wearing the dress in my avatar pic...it's cotton so nothing too fancy. My husband is wearing a suit and tie and our daughter is wearing her belle costume.