"Seven Seven 07" 20070707-11 Night Mediterranean Cruise

[MMM010710]

Sacramento!! Not sure who's more excited, me or her. It's been great teaching her about every where we're going to get to see. Any thoughts from anyone on Florence? Is it worth trying to see Pisa and Florence?

 

[din]

Sacramento!! Not sure who's more excited, me or her. It's been great teaching her about every where we're going to get to see. Any thoughts from anyone on Florence? Is it worth trying to see Pisa and Florence?

Welcome!!! We were in the same situation. We ended up using Disney tour only because looking at the map it does not look like you can do both on your own unless you have a private tour arranged. We booked the Florance/Pisa but I wished it was not a guided tour for Florence but more of your own time like Pisa. It would be nice to visit the Academia and then go on to Pisa.

We looked at a private tour and the recomended itineary was great! Time for Academia and even going up the leaning tower. They would make arrangements for ticket. I wish they respond to the follow up emails!! about payments

 

[din]

Think we are doing Rome on our own. Was able to book the Monte Carlo, Monaco and Eze trip. Saw the travel channel tour of Eze and it looks wonderful.

denise; I have a map of a bus routes from Monte Carlo and Nice to Eze, in english. Got it from a nice person on cruise critic boards. We are targeting for that too. I belive if I read correctly is that bus leaves from near the grand casino in Monte Carlo.

 

[denise]

So you are doing it on your own? I booked thru Disney because it was easier.
This is almost a full time job....planning everything out. Also planning the three weeks prior in Greece. Have two of the planned but 3rd we don't even know where we are staying yet! MyDH says not to worry He says it will work out.
Just got a travel book for Italy. Have 2 different ones for Greece, one for islands one for mainland. I'm going to need a suitcase for the travel books and maps.

 

[cohartman]

So you are doing it on your own? I booked thru Disney because it was easier.
This is almost a full time job....planning everything out. Also planning the three weeks prior in Greece. Have two of the planned but 3rd we don't even know where we are staying yet! MyDH says not to worry He says it will work out.
Just got a travel book for Italy. Have 2 different ones for Greece, one for islands one for mainland. I'm going to need a suitcase for the travel books and maps.

I am a new fan of others taking care to the details. The DCL was the first time with the excursions when we did that cruise, just came back from another trip where much of it was planned by the tour operator. We did go off tour and it was great, but when we wanted to see specific things, I think that it took a lot of the stress away, especially in a tight window of time.

For the last few ports, I really have no idea what I want to see and I am sure it is all beautiful. For the Italian stops, since we want to see the Vatican (rome) and Pompeii (naples), I thought it was easiest to let someone take me there.

For the Rome stop, it is a big city and a long drive there from the port. I have a friend that missed the departure from a port in Greece and spent two days trying to catch up (in the same outfit, with limited money!) to her ship!

 

[cohartman]

After a little more research, I realized that every cruise will be in Marseille on a Sunday. Also, Marseille shops are not open on Sunday.

I am curious about the excursions that offer "shopping time."

Any insights from the group?

 

[CarolAnnC]

Our cruise (July 18) will be in Marseille on Wednesday July 25.

 

[cohartman]

Oh, I was thinking that all of the cruises left on Sats. Well anyway, the July 7th one lands in Marseille on SUnday the 15th. Too bad we miss Bastille Day by a day!

 

[buck4568]

Another thing some might overlook but may not concern themselves with is the cost of the conversion from US dollars to Euros.

Using DCL excursions your going to be paying in US dollars since your booking it through DCL. If you do a private tour your going to pay Euros. So, if a private tour costs lets say 400 Euro for a comparable tour with DCL, the private tour will cost $144.00 or so more because you had to spend $544 US dollars to get 400 Euro. Plus, any fees you paid for the the exchange.

As of today the exchange rate is 0.734970 cents. So, one dollar gets you .73 euro My foreign friends are telling me that it may get worse so you might want to buy some euros now.

 

[DadofLostBoys]

I received an email from Cafe Press stating that one of their servers went down, which in turn messed up our t-shirt shop. Not sure when it will be back up, but hopefully by the end of the week.

The T-shirt shop is back. Has anyone that ordered one received theirs? Wondering how they look. You can PM if you wish.

 

[Dylcal]

The T-shirt shop is back. Has anyone that ordered one received theirs? Wondering how they look. You can PM if you wish.

We received ours on Friday. They look really nice.

Sheryl

 

[APinCA]

Hi Sheryl,
Which colors did you order? We're trying to decide.

Kathy

 

[Monstro]

"Hanover"Danielle, Derek, Keegan (DSthen10) Brennan (DS6), MIL Joyce; late dining; rooms 6082 and 6083; from PA and MD; Coming in 7/7 and leaving 7/18/07; 4th DCL trip for us, 1st for MIL

"MJGirl" Mary Jane , Kirstyn (DD 16); Late dining; Cabin 5522; from Ontario (hour NW of Toronto); Arriving 6/29 in London; Arriving 7/6 Barcelona; Heading home 7/21 after DLP; first DCl for both of us!

"cohartman" Carol, Craig and Kate (DD 10); late dining; cabin 7566; from Walnut Creek, CA (Northern); arriving BCN on 7/7 9am after 2 days in London; departing 7/20 back to SFO; second DCL for us.

"APinCA" Kathy, Vance, and Kaylie DD11; late dining; cabin 6313; from Los Angeles area; arriving BCN 7/5 (Renaissance Airport); departing 7/24 after 4 nights Paris (Santa Fe); 2 nights London (Renaissance); 2nd trip on the Magic

"OurDogCisco" Tina, John, Courtney (10) & Katlyn (6); early dining; cabin ????; from Sacramento; arriving BCN 7/6 (Renaissance Airport); departing 7/19; 3rd DCL Cruise for us

"Shercara" Sherri, Phil, Nick (18) & Jake (12); late dining; cabin 2612; from New Jersey; arriving BCN 7/5 (rented apt); departing 7/18 back home to NJ; 3rd DCL Magic Cruise for us

"denise" Denise, Jimmy and Eleni (17); late dining; cabin 7014; from Roseville, CA (northern CA); arriving July 5th from Greece (3 weeks in Greece before) staying at Renaissance Barcelona by Marriott; departing July 19, staying at Renaissance again, via Iberia to Madrid then to JFK overnight in JFK departing July 20, 1015am to Sacramento, CA.; 5th DCL Magic for us.

"DadofLostBoys" John, Karen, Alex (14), Kyle (11) & Max (7); late dining; cabin 2-Cat 10s; from PA; arriving London 7/4 (Hilton Metropole); arriving BCN 7/6 (Barceló Atenea Mar); departing 7/18 back home to PA; 2nd DCL Magic Cruise

"EPCOT_VA" Matthew, Beth, Megan (9) and Sarah (7); late dining; Cabin 7552; Northern Virginia (Bristow); arriving London 7/4; arriving BCN 7/7 @ 1015 AM; Staying at Royal Ramblas upon return 7/18; departing 7/9 for London & Washington DC. 1st Cruise for us!

"Deb T." Deb, Jeff, Emily (24), Craig (turning 23 July 15); late dining; Cabin 8044 (but on waitlist for Cat3); Cary, NC; arriving BCN 7/6; staying at Renaissance Barcelona by Marriott; departing 7/18; 5th DCL cruise!

"Dylcal", Sheryl, Dylan (13); late dining; Cabin 7628(2nd cruise in this Cabin); Odenton, Maryland;ariving BCN 7/7; Paris after cruise;staying at Disney Hotel New York; 5th DCL cruise!

"din", Din, Nancy, Daniel (15), Derek (12); late dining; 2-Cat 9 Deck 2; Pleasanton, Northern CA; leaving SFO July 3rd 6AM - arriving Barcelona July 4th; departing July 18th - broke but hopefully happy; 4th DCL!

"monstro" Jeff, Ana, Nicole (14), and Caroline (12); Late dining; 2- cat 11's Deck 6 (6609 & 6611); Draper, Utah; Leaving SLC on July 4th - arriving Barcelona July 5th; Staying @ Renaissance Airport. Looks like there will be a precruise meet at our hotel. Lucky #7 Disney cruise on 7/7/07

 

[EPCOT_VA]

Standing by to book shore excursions.

Any others from the 75 day crowd out there tonight? MJGirl?

EPCOT_VA

 

[OurDogCisco]

Standing by to book shore excursions.

Any others from the 75 day crowd out there tonight? MJGirl?

EPCOT_VA

Good Luck... Let us know how it turns out!

 

[EPCOT_VA]

T-41 minutes and counting...

Do you get a confirmation with each tour? Or do you need to submit the whole list before you know if you got it or not?

How does the process work? The site won't even let you look at it until 75 days comes.

EPCOT_VA

 

[MJGirl]

Standing by to book shore excursions.

Any others from the 75 day crowd out there tonight? MJGirl?

EPCOT_VA

Hi Epcot .. Yea I'm here ... Tired but here ...

Not really sure how the process works. I know that only available tours will show up, and once you've booked one, none will show up for that excursion.

 

[MJGirl]

So how is Vegas? (If I recall correctly you are there visiting Mom and Dad??

At least you are not up at 3 am like some of us!

 

[MJGirl]

20 minutes to go ...

 

[EPCOT_VA]

I've been working on my Dad's computer. I keep having to reboot because I am installing 78 critical windows updates!

I guess he hasn't been keeping up with those Windows Updates like I asked him to.

Almost there! T-6 minutes.

EPCOT_VA