SERIOUSLY - has our family the 'Magic" to ourselves on 6th August 2011 Med cruise???

[MrsMac]

I'm in! Just booked this cruise for my family to celebrate my husband's homecoming from deployment. It will be me, my husband, my 15 yr old daughter and my 4 year old daughter who thinks she's the little mermaid. My oldest is really looking forward to meeting other teens to hang out with, and if she meets an English person and gets to listen to them talk she just might die of happiness. We're American, but live in Germany right now. We've never cruised Disney before, but have talked about it forever. DH and I have cruised twice before, and the kids once before. Getting so excited, I can't wait!!!

Nice to "meet" you all,
Sonja

Hi Sonja

Firstly thanks a million to your husband for dedicating his life to keeping the rest of us safe - we are indebted to you.
Americans based in Germany - I am sure you miss your home comforts - I hope the Disney Magic remind you a bit of home. I love all things american and for me Disney is the most iconic American company. Can't wait to meet you. My eldest girl who is 11 will be too young for your 15 year old to want to hang out with but if you have read all the previous posts you will have picked up that she loves Americans the way yours loves British kids!!! The girls are going to have such a ball making new friends.

I will gladly add your name to the FE list. There are 4 families so far - FloridaMom3461 (Randi), Newfoundland Sailor (Heather), myself MrsMac (Jude) and yourselves. I am keeping a list and we can exchange it nearer the time, when we think everyone interested has signed up!!!

Oh I am getting sooo excited!! Have you read up on the theory behind the FE exchange? I ask because you mentioned this is your first Disney Cruise. Apart from last summers Disney Cruise I've not cruised since my honeymoon in '96 so I am genuinely not sure if there are similar things going on other cruise lines.

Anyway, hope to hear more from you on this thread - keep posting

Nite

Jude

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

I checked the reservations this morning, and we have 139 days to go!!! We are getting excited, the reservation is now paid in full and I just received our FE that my mum had been working hard on for us.

The trip is still a few months out but every shop I go into I keep thinking...oh, that will be great for our trip. If I don't watch it, I'll end up with too many full suitcases at the beginning of the trip and no room left to bring anything home. I did luck out though...this week while travelling with business...I was at the local mall and their Disney Store was closing out...everything was 50% off - I found some great little treasures!

I have been keeping my eye on the excursions, and I noticed that there was never anything posted for the Palma stop. Well this morning there is a slough of them. I never hear anything posted on the the other boards about Palma.....anyone have any suggestions?

~Heather~

 

[cannp123165]

I have been keeping my eye on the excursions, and I noticed that there was never anything posted for the Palma stop. Well this morning there is a slough of them. I never hear anything posted on the the other boards about Palma.....anyone have any suggestions?

I think we are planning to just walk into the town by ourselves for the day, instead of doing an excursion. I have got some books out of the library this morning, so hoping to plan some more of our trip. We have decided to do Rome by ourselves as it works out a lot cheaper, so need to plan that day!

 

[FloridaSam]

I think we are planning to just walk into the town by ourselves for the day, instead of doing an excursion. I have got some books out of the library this morning, so hoping to plan some more of our trip. We have decided to do Rome by ourselves as it works out a lot cheaper, so need to plan that day!

We planning the same for Palma - probably a stroll to the Hard Rock cafe and early back to enjoy the ship.

We're looking to do all the ports ourselves rather than pay Disney excursion prices and we can do our own pace then!

 

[FloridaMom3461]

Happy Sunday everyone. Does anyone have an idea which nights will be formal and semi-formal nights? I'm starting my planning and wanted to plan for Palo on at least one of these.
thanks all,
Randi

 

[redsonja76]

How formal are you all planning to get for the formal night? I could do LBD or floor length gown, I just don't know which to bring.

 

[FloridaMom3461]

How formal are you all planning to get for the formal night? I could do LBD or floor length gown, I just don't know which to bring.

I'm planning on bringing one floor length gown and one cocktail type dress. I like to get dressed up on formal night so we can get family photos. It seems the only really nice family pics we've got are from cruises.

Randi

 

[MrsMac]

I checked the reservations this morning, and we have 139 days to go!!! We are getting excited, the reservation is now paid in full and I just received our FE that my mum had been working hard on for us.

The trip is still a few months out but every shop I go into I keep thinking...oh, that will be great for our trip. If I don't watch it, I'll end up with too many full suitcases at the beginning of the trip and no room left to bring anything home. I did luck out though...this week while travelling with business...I was at the local mall and their Disney Store was closing out...everything was 50% off - I found some great little treasures!

I have been keeping my eye on the excursions, and I noticed that there was never anything posted for the Palma stop. Well this morning there is a slough of them. I never hear anything posted on the the other boards about Palma.....anyone have any suggestions?

~Heather~

Hey Heather

139 days to go, or should that be 138 by now - I haven't logged in for a few days......... isn't it brilliant.

You sound like you have been busy buying for your FE's. I have ideas for mine but not actually bought/made anything yet, will have to get my skates on!

As for the excursions in Palma - I will definitely be checking them out. My husband and I went on a cruise for our honeymoon in 1996 (yip long time ago!!) It stopped in Palma and Ian and I just walked along the seafront from the port - its was a lovely stroll - there were a lot of lovely privately owned yachts to admire. There were also lovely restaurants and we did some souvenir shopping. I will definitely check out the excursions, just not sure whether we will plan to do any. Let me know what you end up doing!

Happy planning

Jude

 

[MrsMac]

I think we are planning to just walk into the town by ourselves for the day, instead of doing an excursion. I have got some books out of the library this morning, so hoping to plan some more of our trip. We have decided to do Rome by ourselves as it works out a lot cheaper, so need to plan that day!

Hey there
Another UK cruiser - welcome aboard. How many cruises have you done and who are you travelling with? It's brilliant fun planning - its as big a part of the holiday as they actual event in my mind.......... would love to know what you have planned for Rome. I just can't decide whether to go ashore or not - I know the port is quite a journey from Rome and I am just not convinced my 6 year old twins would sit at peace on the coach!!

Looking forward to you posting again.

Jude

PS we have started an FE if you are interested let me know

 

[MrsMac]

I'm planning on bringing one floor length gown and one cocktail type dress. I like to get dressed up on formal night so we can get family photos. It seems the only really nice family pics we've got are from cruises.

Randi

I'm with you on this one Randi
The girls and I had a heap of photos taken on last years cruise - actually - mostly of them and I stood into a few. I had saved up and didn't hesitate to buy the photo CD. I know some people are not into photos but I am a total addict - I kid you not, I have thousands of photos of my laptop. I am in the process of scanning in ones taken before we owned our first digital camera and its taking forever!! Anyway, like you said, the professional photographers do a great job and its such a great opportunity to have a lovely photo taken with no sitting fee and no squabbles from the kids at having to get dressed up. I am currently on Slimming World, trying to get some serious weight shifted before we cruise..........How much I lose will totally dictate the length of dress I wear!!

Enjoy shopping for whatever you decide on!

Jude

 

[Rob79]

We planning the same for Palma - probably a stroll to the Hard Rock cafe and early back to enjoy the ship.

We're looking to do all the ports ourselves rather than pay Disney excursion prices and we can do our own pace then!

We're planning to do Villefranche on our own. When we cruised RCCL last time, my husband and I took the train into Nice and it was easy. I'm thinking about just booking the bus ride into Florence and then going it alone -- although it might be tough to get into crowded museums as individuals (without a tour).... Haven't checked out the new Palma excursions yet but may do that one walking on our own too.

 

[Rob79]

Hey there
Another UK cruiser - welcome aboard. How many cruises have you done and who are you travelling with? It's brilliant fun planning - its as big a part of the holiday as they actual event in my mind.......... would love to know what you have planned for Rome. I just can't decide whether to go ashore or not - I know the port is quite a journey from Rome and I am just not convinced my 6 year old twins would sit at peace on the coach!!

Looking forward to you posting again.

Jude

PS we have started an FE if you are interested let me know

Jude- with you on the Rome excursions. I remember the bus ride was really looooong (especially a day after doing the same to Florence), the lines were long for everything and the Sistine Chapel was crowded ... and that was off season, late October when it was cool and rainy. So we're thinking maybe the olive oil one -- it's short, get outside a bit, my daughter is very much a foodie (future chef!), so it seems like a possibility.

 

[cannp123165]

Hey there
Another UK cruiser - welcome aboard. How many cruises have you done and who are you travelling with? It's brilliant fun planning - its as big a part of the holiday as they actual event in my mind.......... would love to know what you have planned for Rome. I just can't decide whether to go ashore or not - I know the port is quite a journey from Rome and I am just not convinced my 6 year old twins would sit at peace on the coach!!

Looking forward to you posting again.

Jude

PS we have started an FE if you are interested let me know

This is our first cruise (of any sort!)!! I am so excited for the whole cruising experience! I introduced myself a few pages ago but haven't got around to posting much!!! It is me (21 at time of the cruise), my brother (19) and my Mum.

For Rome we are planning to get the train there ourselves, but not sure exactly what we are going to do there, except the obvious sites. We are considering booking to go inside the Colloseum.

What is everyone doing for La Spezia? As we have been to Pisa before we were considering Cinque Terre, which we would visit ourselves by train.

 

[redsonja76]

The museums in Florence are closed on Monday, which is the day we'll be there. Poor planning on the cruiselines part if you ask me.

I think we'll be doing all the excursions on our own, DCL is just charging way to stinkin much for us to pay them to do what we can do ourselves.

 

[Rob79]

Oh I forgot that they close certain days!! Wonder what is best available to do?

 

[MrsMac]

Hey folks

Has anyone made progress planning any more excursions on their own?? I had great intentions of reading up on some of the other threads but I'm not sure where the last few days have gone! I've had one of the girls with a tummy bug and I feel like I have been washing bedding continually!!

I need to get my skates on and organise my FE's.........

The girls don't know yet - not sure whether those of you travelling with wee ones have told them! We moved house last October and I have told the girls we didn't have the money to cruise this year so they are not expecting it at all!! Last year I only told them 3 weeks before we set off - really not sure when I will tell them but I am enjoying planning in secret at the minute!!!

I'm going to use a days leave to head into Belfast and do some shopping for shorts, T shirts etc over Easter, without the girls of course!!!

Right, love to hear how everyone else is getting on.

Night for now

MrsMac

 

[redsonja76]

Shoot, I haven't even started planning SE's yet!!! I'm so behind the times. With my husband deployed and my daughters driving me crazy, I'm too tired to do much of anything. Plus I'm planning a weekend trip to England this weekend, and Paris (with a stop at Disney of course) for spring break, so I'm quickly running out of money! Just made the last payment for this cruise, so I'm tapped out for a couple more paydays before I can do any SE planning. I have a couple of questions for you all:

1. Is there a pirate night on this sailing? If so, my dh will be the only one (I'm betting) with a real peg leg, so keep a look out for us!

2. Will you fly into Barcelona the day of sailing or will you go early? Is it a hassle to fly Ryan Air into the other airport and have to Bus down? Can I train down? Or is it better to fly a different airline straight into Barcelona and take a cab?

3. My brain is totally fried so I've completely forgotten anything else I'm wanting to ask!!!!!

 

[cannp123165]

1. Is there a pirate night on this sailing? If so, my dh will be the only one (I'm betting) with a real peg leg, so keep a look out for us!

2. Will you fly into Barcelona the day of sailing or will you go early? Is it a hassle to fly Ryan Air into the other airport and have to Bus down? Can I train down? Or is it better to fly a different airline straight into Barcelona and take a cab?

I think there is a pirate night on our cruise! I am really looking forward to it!

We are planning on flying with Ryanair. The bus transfer from Girona is quite cheap and for us it is more convenient to fly from our local airport at home, even if we do have to take a bus into Barcelona.

 

[FloridaSam]

We've done nothing yet. Definately will book our own excursions but not sure who with yet!

We're arriving the night before and then fly back how the Wednesday following our arrival back Barcelona.

Sam

 

[FloridaMom3461]

I've been researching (some may say obsessing) about excursions for the past few weeks including reading reviews and info online and reading books from the library. Tentatively, our plans include:

Villefranche - explore on our own

La Spezia, Italy - considering a tour with "Arianna and Friends" tour company Tuscany area

Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome) - private tour with "Rome In Limo"

Naples, Italy (Pompeii) - private tour with "Rome in Limo"

Palma, Spain - Drach Caves & Porto Cristo – Disney Excursion

As far as I can tell, but no confirmation, Pirate Night is Day 5 when we are in Naples.

Since we are coming from USA, we are spending one night before the cruise in Barcelona and plan to explore it on our own.

Happy Planning everyone.
Randi