Mediterranean Excursions

[funnybunny921]

As Andrew noted a couple of pages back, we decided to book private excursions at most of our European ports of call. My August 2006 thread about private guide options in the Med can be reviewed here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1184080

how many people are there in your group?

I have found it hard with just me and my husband to get a "good price" on these tours. I feel like though disney doesn't give me the freedom it is cheaper than hiring a private guide for 2 people.

 

[dflst]

Anyone having a hard time on deciding on a tour for the Rome port. I got to get rid of that idea that I'm gonna see it all.

I was looking at the Ultimate Rome Experience or Exlcusive VIP Visit of the Vatican & Highlights of Rome. There is a huge price difference between the two obviously. But I was wondering how important is it to see the inside of the Colosseum...

Ultimate Rome Experience

St. Peter's Basilica (inside portion can be cancelled if line too long
Renaissance Rome
External City
Trevi Fountain
Lunch
Then, 2 hours of Rome on your own
Tour is 10 to 10.5 hours

Private VIP Visit of the Vatican & Hightlights of Rome

Aurelian Walls
Pyramid of Caius Cestius
Circus Maximus
Piazza Venezia
Roman Forum
Lunch
Tour of Basilica & St Peter's Square
Private Tour of Sistine Chapel
Visit Pope's private collections
Tour 11.5 to 12 hours...

What tour would you pick and why? I've never been to Rome so I want to get the most out of this port. Can you do anything on your own in 2 hours or would it just be walking around shopping time. I'm not really interested in shopping at these ports. I'm more for sights.

I think this decision would depend on a couple of things. For example, how would you do with a couple of hours own-your-own in an area with Italian as the native tongue? Are there things you want to see?

Also, the more things your see, the less time you will spend at each site. If you are the type of person who would want to spend a more than a glance at a major site, you might be disappointed in having only a few minutes to see something. On the other hand, if this is going to be your only time in Rome and you don't plant to return, it might be preferable to see as many of the major sites as you can. There is a lot to see, do, and eat in Rome and one day isn't a lot of time to do it.

Finally, don't buy anything from any street vendor within 3 blocks of the Vatican....this includes food. I tried to order order a small Pizza and was taken aback by the street vendor who was about to smear Hunt's ketchup on a bun and call it Pizza. A policeman intervened and told me to avoid everything nearby, take in the sites, and eat elsewhere.

Also, there are some excellent gelati places (ice cream) about 2 blocks walking out of the entrance of the Pantheon and slightly to the right. The pistachio was incredible and my daughters will never forget it.

 

[dflst]

For those of you who are planning on taking the Disney excursions, which ones are you going to book? We have never been to Europe before, and don't speak any languages besides English. I like the idea of not having to worry about making it back to the ship on time, especially in the ports like Florence and Rome that are so far away from the port.

The Florence Michelangelo tour looks interesting to us, and so does the Exclusive VIP Visit of the Vatican & Highlights of Rome.

I was also looking at the Nice and Monte Carlo tour, but there are so many choices it is hard to decide. Also, we will have our 16 YO son with us, so we won't be able to enter the Casino.

I am not sure about the other ports yet.

Your thoughts?

Sharon

If you son likes to look at Ferraris and Lamborghinis, there will be dozens parked in the square between the Monte Carlo casino and the Hotel de Paris. He can walk around and look at them while you are inside the casino.

 

[misseulalie]

I can't remember what other thread I posted this on, so if it's a repeat, sorry!

I'm down to two excursions for Rome; "Jumping back to Eternal Rome" and "Highlights of Rome and and Vatican Museums". The difference is that The ""Jumping Back is using the train, so it is only a 60 minute ride instead of 90 minutes. But there is no Sistine Chapel. The "Highlights" is by motorcoach so it is 90 minutes but it has the Sistine chapel.

Of course there is always "Rome on your own", but will I see as much as a tour can do???

Any help, guys???

 

[misseulalie]

Does anyone know about the lunch situation on this tour?
"Exclusive VIP Visit of the Vatican & Highlights of Rome"

It says "Lunch is included". But no other info. Is it like cheese sandwiches and water on the bus ride over to Rome?

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Does anyone know about the lunch situation on this tour?
"Exclusive VIP Visit of the Vatican & Highlights of Rome"

It says "Lunch is included". But no other info. Is it like cheese sandwiches and water on the bus ride over to Rome?

LOL think the cheese will be on Italian bread?

"Exclusive VIP Visit of the Vatican & Highlights of Rome" is the tour that I choose for our family.

 

[sharonrs50]

Does anyone know about the lunch situation on this tour?
"Exclusive VIP Visit of the Vatican & Highlights of Rome"

It says "Lunch is included". But no other info. Is it like cheese sandwiches and water on the bus ride over to Rome?

In the text of that tour, it says the following:

"Afterward, enjoy an authentic Italian lunch at a local restaurant"

*******************************
I'm down to two excursions for Rome; "Jumping back to Eternal Rome" and "Highlights of Rome and and Vatican Museums". The difference is that The ""Jumping Back is using the train, so it is only a 60 minute ride instead of 90 minutes. But there is no Sistine Chapel. The "Highlights" is by motorcoach so it is 90 minutes but it has the Sistine chapel.

Of course there is always "Rome on your own", but will I see as much as a tour can do???

When I read about those two tours, I liked the idea of taking the train, but I really want to see the Sistine Chapel. If you need help deciding whether or not you want to see it, google "Sistine Chapel", and take a look at some of the pictures of it. I am new, so can't post links yet. Isn't it spectacular?

I personally don't think we would see as much on our own as with a guide, so we are taking the tour with no free time. I am okay seeing a little of everything, because I am in that situation where I don't know if I will ever have the chance to come back to Rome. If we do ever come back, we will have a better idea of what to see next time in more detail.

Sharon

 

[kyla]

Also, there are some excellent gelati places (ice cream) about 2 blocks walking out of the entrance of the Pantheon and slightly to the right. The pistachio was incredible and my daughters will never forget it.

I must know where this is.

 

[kyla]

I can't remember what other thread I posted this on, so if it's a repeat, sorry!

I'm down to two excursions for Rome; "Jumping back to Eternal Rome" and "Highlights of Rome and and Vatican Museums". The difference is that The ""Jumping Back is using the train, so it is only a 60 minute ride instead of 90 minutes. But there is no Sistine Chapel. The "Highlights" is by motorcoach so it is 90 minutes but it has the Sistine chapel.

Of course there is always "Rome on your own", but will I see as much as a tour can do???

Any help, guys???

It was between these 3 tours for me as well. I ended up going with a private tour but would have chosen the Jumping Back tour mainly because it hit the most sites I wanted to see. Highlights was a close second but fully expect down time waiting in lines, and I really wanted to see the Collosseum, Pantheon and Trevi fountain. I read in some reviews that the pictures you see on the vatican site are much better than what you will see in person with all the crowds, etc for the Sistine chapel. So that made my decision. Rome on your own was a very attractive option but you should read up on Rick Steve's Rome if you want to do that. He provides a detail writeup of what, when and where to go. The thing that scared me away from that were the thieves and pickpockets. My brother describes Rome as being very flakey and full of pickpockets. So I feel safer on a tour especially one that expects payment at the end. So I don't think they are going to let the local pickpockets get near us, or I could hope they wouldn't.

As for the Italian traditional lunch on the Disney tours. I'm holding my breath. On the Panama Canal cruise, we were promised a traditional Mexican lunch in Acapulco and got hamburgers.

 

[woody73]

. . . Also, there are some excellent gelati places (ice cream) about 2 blocks walking out of the entrance of the Pantheon and slightly to the right. The pistachio was incredible and my daughters will never forget it.

I must know where this is.

Last March, we spent a week in Rome. We tried many gelaterias, and our favorite is Giolitti (Address: Via Uffici del Vicario 40. It's two blocks north of the Pantheon, as described above. Tel: 06 699 1243. Hours: 7am - 2am.) Enjoy!

Woody

 

[misseulalie]

It was between these 3 tours for me as well. I ended up going with a private tour but would have chosen the Jumping Back tour mainly because it hit the most sites I wanted to see. Highlights was a close second but fully expect down time waiting in lines, and I really wanted to see the Collosseum, Pantheon and Trevi fountain. I read in some reviews that the pictures you see on the vatican site are much better than what you will see in person with all the crowds, etc for the Sistine chapel. So that made my decision. Rome on your own was a very attractive option but you should read up on Rick Steve's Rome if you want to do that. He provides a detail writeup of what, when and where to go. The thing that scared me away from that were the thieves and pickpockets. My brother describes Rome as being very flakey and full of pickpockets. So I feel safer on a tour especially one that expects payment at the end. So I don't think they are going to let the local pickpockets get near us, or I could hope they wouldn't.

As for the Italian traditional lunch on the Disney tours. I'm holding my breath. On the Panama Canal cruise, we were promised a traditional Mexican lunch in Acapulco and got hamburgers.

Thanks for the info, since we are leaving the kids on the ship, we really need to do a DCL excursion.

 

[funnybunny921]

I can't remember what other thread I posted this on, so if it's a repeat, sorry!

I'm down to two excursions for Rome; "Jumping back to Eternal Rome" and "Highlights of Rome and and Vatican Museums". The difference is that The ""Jumping Back is using the train, so it is only a 60 minute ride instead of 90 minutes. But there is no Sistine Chapel. The "Highlights" is by motorcoach so it is 90 minutes but it has the Sistine chapel.

Of course there is always "Rome on your own", but will I see as much as a tour can do???

Any help, guys???

We are trying to decide (if they were both available) the VIP or Highlights. one includes free time one doesn't. obviously the VIP one is much more expensive, but you will see everything, where as the Highlights they can skip the Basilica if it is too busy. I am not really interested in the cars but to have the sistine chapel less busy etc would be wonderful.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We are trying to decide (if they were both available) the VIP or Highlights. one includes free time one doesn't. obviously the VIP one is much more expensive, but you will see everything, where as the Highlights they can skip the Basilica if it is too busy. I am not really interested in the cars but to have the sistine chapel less busy etc would be wonderful.

Its difficult but if you can do the VIP to see more!

 

[funnybunny921]

Its difficult but if you can do the VIP to see more!

I think we might rank this as our first choice, but since we can't do anything until 75 days it might be totally booked, and the Highlights tour doesn't have a "due to limited availablity" notice on it.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I think we might rank this as our first choice, but since we can't do anything until 75 days it might be totally booked, and the Highlights tour doesn't have a "due to limited availablity" notice on it.

Understand.


DOES ANYONE HAVE THE PRE CRUISE MED INFO PACK FROM DCL AS YET?

 

[MJGirl]

Not yet Andrew ... But I heard it should be out soon (March sometime) .. PS .. what cruise are you on? I'm on the 7/7/7 cruise. I'll be joining you in Panama!

 

[Doingitagain]

Understand.


DOES ANYONE HAVE THE PRE CRUISE MED INFO PACK FROM DCL AS YET?

I received my packet two days ago. I am on the June 27 sailing.

 

[misseulalie]

That's wierd, I haven't received anything and I'm on the Repo cruise and on the May 26th sailing.

anyone on the repo get it?

 

[taysmom]

I got mine 2 weeks ago and I'm on the june 16th. Strange how the mail works.
Steph

 

[funnybunny921]

it it just the fluff packet with all the pics and short descriptions? I got that about 2 weeks ago .... the packet is nice and it really gets you excited but the website pages for each excursion have more info.