Hi ... I just got a note from my TA that
DCL has cancelled the Gothic City Walk tour due to "Tour Operator Issues"
. I hope they open up more Chocolate Museums! Maybe I can do a quick tour on my own after checking in, or maybe I can just enjoy the magic!!!!
ETA - Just got the phone with DCL and the Chocolate Museum and Aquarium and Park Guell tours in Barcelona have also been cancelled.
That really stinks. I'm wondering if, once they start tours, they will drop any other tours or tour operators.
I saw from another post on the main DCL board:
Disney Cruise Line Adds Pizzazz with New Shows, Parties,
Excursions and Activities for First Mediterranean Sailings
CELEBRATION, Fla. -- When the Disney Magic crosses the "pond" for its first-ever Mediterranean sailings, deck parties will pop, new shows will "wow," on-board activities, including food and beverage, will feature European flair, and port excursions will be studded with special Disney touches.
New deck parties will create a carnival-like atmosphere while lavishly produced Broadway-style shows bring original stories and special effects to the ship's opulent Walt Disney Theatre. Activities for children 3-17 will range from crêpe-making en route to Marseilles to mosaic-designing on the way to Barcelona. Excursions at all the ports will feature special extras exclusive to the
Disney cruise experience, such as scavenger and treasure hunts for children.
"It was important to add new surprises for our guests during our first-ever European adventure," says Jim Urry, director of entertainment for Disney Cruise Line. "We looked for creative ways to showcase the international flavor of our destinations through onboard and excursion activities allowing the entire family to become immersed in the Mediterranean experience."
Entertainment
Disney Cruise Line guests will enjoy three new theater productions and several festive deck parties debuting just for guests who embark on the summer's 10- and 11-night cruises to ports in Spain, Italy and France. Shows in the Walt Disney Theatre include:
"Disney Dreams . . . An Enchanted Classic" (55 minutes) -- This enhancement of one of the ship's most popular stage shows tells the story of a young girl who learns about the power of dreams. Technical advancements, laser and pyrotechnic effects, plus the first-ever appearance of Timon and Pumbaa on a Disney cruise ship, add fresh fun to the performance.
"When Mickey Dreams" (50 minutes) -- Mickey Mouse's dreams come to life in this musical spectacle guided by a cast of Cirque-like "dream seekers." The show's unique, artistic nature will thrill guests, while a nightmare visit by the notorious villain Maleficent serves up a few chills.
"Disney's The Art of the Story" (50 minutes) -- This celebration of storytelling's magic features more than 20 performers, Disney characters from Mulan to Tarzan and a variety of production numbers from classic Disney films including "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King."
"On the Nose" (50 minutes) -- Everyone in the audience can win prizes grand and small during this original game show based on Disney trivia. Dubbed "On the Nose" because every question -- from Disney film trivia to theme-park factoids -- has a number-type answer, the show gives points to audience teams that get the answer "on the nose."
Meanwhile, up on deck, guests will enjoy several new high-energy deck parties:
Sail-Away Party -- New music, performers and Disney characters add up to a festive new deck party infused with the excitement of each Mediterranean sailing and other exciting journeys to exotic ports of call.
Mouse2O -- Hula hoops, bubbles and beach-party dances kick off this afternoon deck party for guests of all ages. Refreshments are served, and guests have a cameo on the big outdoor screen, where Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters keep the party rolling with regular appearances and songs.
Party Paradiso -- Disney Cruise Line celebrates its summer in the Mediterranean with a unique deck party held one night each cruise. With the help of special effects designed to light up the night, Disney characters and performers help keep the spirit of fun and adventure alive as guests prepare to explore new horizons.
In addition, guests will find other activities with a Mediterranean flair. For instance, throughout the voyage, guests will be able to catch European-themed films in several venues throughout the ship. Families might enjoy watching "The Chronicles of Narnia" or "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" on the jumbo screen while lounging by the Goofy pool. Guests might enjoy some time out of the sun watching "Casino Royale" or "Moulin Rouge" in the plush Buena Vista Theatre or even "Casablanca" or "Under the Tuscan Sun" on their stateroom television.
Youth Activities
Disney Cruise Line has taken extra care to make sure that the Mediterranean cruises are fun for the entire family. Up to 70 new activities for kids 3-17 have been planned for the Mediterranean, including:
Crêpe-making on the way to Marseilles, France
Puppet-crafting en route to Palermo, Sicily
Pizza-baking before reaching Naples, Italy
Mosaic tile-making while sailing toward Barcelona, Spain
Youth counselors will weave the cultures of the ship's destinations into many of the children's activities. On the sports deck, games will include soccer, pentanque -- a European ball game created in the early 1900s -- and gladiator training for older children.
Food and Beverage
Inspired by the spices and flavors of the region, the chefs aboard Disney Cruise Line have prepared a great line of regional specialties, offering guests a chance to discover local tastes of the Mediterranean. Each night, the executive chef will hand-pick a selection of dishes influenced by the regions visited during the voyage, such as cannelloni in Italy or bouillabaisse in France. The chefs in Palo, Disney's Italian-influenced, adults-only restaurant, are inspired by the restaurant's return to its roots, and will prepare regional specialties each evening.
Adult guests will also be able to enjoy the tastes of the Mediterranean with an enhanced wine list featuring labels from some local vineyards. Disney sommeliers have tastefully chosen regional wines to accompany the unique menu offerings. A new Wine and Dine menu will have a special focus on "Old World" wines while still offering a great variety of wines from the rest of the world. In addition, wines from Spain, Italy and France will be used to enhance the popular wine seminars on the ship.
Shore Excursions
Disney Cruise Line offers shore excursions designed with the entire family in mind -- and the Mediterranean cruises will be no different.
The Lucca Treasure Hunt in the ancient city of Lucca near the port of La Spezia, Italy, offers riddles and clues to treasure found at various stations located near the main sights and monuments of Lucca.
During a visit to the port of Civitavecchia, the Narnia tour delivers guests to the medieval Italian village Narni, where author C.S. Lewis was inspired to pen his timeless masterpiece, The Chronicles of Narnia.
In Palermo, children of all ages will love the Palermo for Kids tour which includes a city tour complete with stops at the Ceramic's Laboratory, where kids can paint clay and create their own souvenir, and the Little Theatre, where everyone will enjoy a 30-minute marionette show.
For more sophisticated tastes, Disney Cruise Line offers a tour of Rome and Vatican that includes an exclusive private tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. For thrill seekers, the Ferrari Adventure at Villa Peyrano provides guests 21 years of age and older an opportunity to sit behind the wheel and drive the famed Italian sports car.
Guests interested in booking a Mediterranean cruise to Europe with Disney Cruise Line should call 888/DCL-2500, visit disneycruise.com or contact their
travel agent
I thnk I would get lots of weird looks with the dog bag.
- or just lurking! 
on June 20th, but before that there is a visit to his new college in NH (8 hr round trip), awards ceremony (same night as the last American Idol !), he has 3 senior class trips, prom, senior weekend at the shore, project graduation - so much! Then he will spend a week at the college, from June 23 - 29th at a Conf. "The Presidency & the Press" where they have invited all of the Presidential Candidates to attend! We pick him up on the 29th, and we leave for BCN on July 4th!! Whew!! I can not wait for the first day at sea!!!
, as well as our upcoming 25th Anniversary on this trip! 
Welcome aboard Lyn 
