The Med Thread - All Sailings - Mediterranean

[Belle2002]

Most Canadian Dollar credit cards charge the going US exchange rate on the date of the transaction plus about 2.5%.
So for us, even if we charge things on the ship we have to pay the 2.5% fee on every credit card purchase anyway.
I'm guessing that the same would be true for purchases charged in Euros.

Wow, what bank are you with?? I have used my canadian credit cards tons of times on US$ transactions and have NEVER been charged a transaction fee, just that days rate of exchange. I recently made a credit card purchase on product sent from the UK and was only charged the rate of exchage on the british pound. I have a PC mastercard, AMEX and used to have TD GM visa, I also have a family member with CIBC Visa and no extra charges there either.

 

[milestogo]

Hi All,
I have been agonizing over the excursions!

Is anyone attempting to do Rome on your own?

Is anyone going with an alternate shore excursion company or tour company? I'm curious as to what else is available?

Are there any cities we absolutely should not do on our own?

Is the port close to Las Ramblas? walking distance?

Is the town walking distance from the port to Monaco/Monte Carlo?

 

[mom_rules]

Well, looks like things have changed-I have Amex, RBC Avion Platinum, GM TD Visa, National Mastercard-they all charge 2.5%.

You might want to double check your statements-it's not a separate charge-they blend it in with your exchange rate.

 

[milestogo]

Does anyone know?

What is the rule about car seats on the excursions? and the transport from port to airport? cabs?

I have a 4 year old 40 pounds.

The plane says they don't need them, but getting back and forth to the airports etc. ????????????????????

 

[DadofLostBoys]

cool. Was it hard to do? did you choos the east side, or the west side + suburbs or did you not do the name your price?

TIA!!

Hi FB,

I don't remember exactly my process. I think I started $90 for 4* East. Stayed away from West. It took me a evening or two of trying. Finally snagged it at US$99/night.

There is a website (www.biddingfortravel.com) that has great info about using priceline. I don't actual post there, I just browse to find bidding hints.


Good Luck.

-John

 

[Ruth B]

Hi All,
I have been agonizing over the excursions!

Is anyone attempting to do Rome on your own?

Hi, yes i'm thinking of doing Rome on my own. There is meant to be a shuttle from the port to train station, or you could get a cab an its about 12 euro. It take about 1-1 h 20 depending on what stop you get off at. Have a look at this link- its really helpful

http://www.europeportreviews.com/Rome2.htm

 

[bellelinus]

Hi All,
I have been agonizing over the excursions!

Is anyone attempting to do Rome on your own?

Is anyone going with an alternate shore excursion company or tour company? I'm curious as to what else is available?

Are there any cities we absolutely should not do on our own?

Is the port close to Las Ramblas? walking distance?

Is the town walking distance from the port to Monaco/Monte Carlo?

I fully intend to do Rome on my own (with my three daughters) by using the train . . . RuthB's link is one I have already read and printed out for using the train.

Villefranche is not walking distance to Monaco, but there is easy bus and train service to Monaco from there.

Las Ramblas is walking distance from the port in Barcelona, if you don't mind walking a bit. You could also take a taxi easily.

I'm not sure at this point that I will be doing ANY DCL excursions . . . for example, it is easy to get from Naples to Pompeii, Sorrento, etc., via the train or to Capri via a ferry.

 

[disneylover5]

I fully intend to do Rome on my own (with my three daughters) by using the train . . . RuthB's link is one I have already read and printed out for using the train.

Villefranche is not walking distance to Monaco, but there is easy bus and train service to Monaco from there.

Las Ramblas is walking distance from the port in Barcelona, if you don't mind walking a bit. You could also take a taxi easily.

I'm not sure at this point that I will be doing ANY DCL excursions . . . for example, it is easy to get from Naples to Pompeii, Sorrento, etc., via the train or to Capri via a ferry.

I like your spirit.....I want to adopt it!!

 

[MJGirl]

Wow, what bank are you with?? I have used my canadian credit cards tons of times on US$ transactions and have NEVER been charged a transaction fee, just that days rate of exchange. I recently made a credit card purchase on product sent from the UK and was only charged the rate of exchage on the british pound. I have a PC mastercard, AMEX and used to have TD GM visa, I also have a family member with CIBC Visa and no extra charges there either.

Hi Belle ... I too have a PC Mastercard and an AMEX Airmiles card. I have spoken to both of them, and yes they do charge a 2.5% exchange fee. You don't see it as it is mixed in with the US dollar exchange. Also, as I believe I mentioned earlier on this thread, you should probably call them and let them know when you will be travelling. You don't want to be in Europe and have your payment denied due to abnormal spending? They attach a memo on your account stating you will be in Europe at said times, so that charges out of your normal habits do not cause them to freeze your account.

Take care!

 

[Kissimmee]

I'm starting to look for flights etc. Any Guidance on what fares people have found?

 

[smillingjack]

There are many ways to go from Orlando. We choose a less expensive route which I am now sorry that I did. Probably the best is a more expensive route using USAir. Our fare when booked four months ago was about $1250 per person. We are going on British Air from Orlando. The return trip is really poor. Flight does not leave Barcelona until late at night and there is an 11 hour layover at Gatwick prior to return to Orlando.

As I posted in an earlier message, it would be nice to meet other families from the FL area thus we can network.

Good luck,
Smillingjack

 

[misseulalie]

I was watching a travel show on Rome, and the woman said a lot of the tourist sites are 30 minutes apart from each other, so you would have to get taxis and hope there isn't a lot of traffic. I am want to do Rome by ourselves but worry about being able to get to the sites.

I also notice that none of the Rome excursions visit the Spanish steps; or is it implied that we will see them?

Is there any way to know exactly what we will see? Will CM's know if we will visit the Steps or the Grottos in the Vatican?

On another topic, I have a 4 year old and do not plan to bring a carseat. No one uses them in Europe and the cars/buses won't let people use them. Now, I'm not sure about DCL's excursion buses...

 

[milestogo]

I noticed the spanish steps were missing too. We wanted to see the catacombs and the ruins (all things really old), but because so many of the excursions are so long 10-11 hours it looks difficult to do multiple excursions. I would like to do a round the city bus tour that shows us the overview of everything, then go out on our own (mostly to eat!) Has anyone seen anything like this?

 

[justhat]

Regarding the 4yo and the carseat, my daughter will be 3.5yo and about 30 lbs. and we will not be bringing her carseat. I know the buses won't take them for excursions and we're using the DCL transfers so can't use it then either. We could use it on the plane but I think she'll be okay in a regular seat.

What are those of you with kids under 2 doing for the flight, seat wise? There's no way I would consider holding my son for the flight (he'll be 11 months) so we're buying him a seat. But I know that on a couple of flights with my daughter as a baby a FA told us that since she had a seat she had to be seated in her carseat anytime the fasten seatbelt light was on. That's fine, but I'm thinking that on the overseas flight my son (who LOVES to sleep) would be more comfortable sleeping in a regular seat than his carseat. But will they make him sit in the carseat? Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[misseulalie]

I brought my 13 month old to Morocco and we bought her a seat. We didn't bring her car seat. It was much easier to have her sit in her own seat and she could lay down and we put her feet in my lap.

 

[misseulalie]

I think I have found a way to explain what I want to see in Rome... Does anyone know if any of the excursions go here.....


CRYPT: MAP OF TOMBS OF JOHN PAUL II & OTHER 20th C POPES

The vast underground graveyard or crypt beneath St Peter's Basilica is known as the Vatican Grottoes
It houses the tombs of scores of popes; others are buried in the basilica; most of the rest lie in other Rome churches
John Paul II's burial place is where John XXIII lay before he was moved to a chapel in 2001 after his beatification
John Paul II lies in a cypress wood coffin, which was put into a sealed zinc coffin and covered by an oak casket
Unlike some of his predecessors, his tomb will have a simple stone with his name and dates rather than an ornate sarcophagus
Some European royals are also buried in the underground cemetery, including Queen Cristina of Sweden

 

[Coalchick]

I have a five year old daughter and I had not thought through the car seat issue until you mentioned it. I am not planning on bringing a car seat either. My understanding is that the use of car seats are exempt on "bus" or public type transportation. I am so glad there are others are there that are bringing young children!

 

[Ruth B]

[
On another topic, I have a 4 year old and do not plan to bring a carseat. No one uses them in Europe and the cars/buses won't let people use them. Now, I'm not sure about DCL's excursion buses...[/QUOTE]

People do use them!, my experinece of europe ith a child is that in cab buses they are not availbe but in private hire cars you can ask for one( i always have) and used them in Greece, spain, france- can't see why italy would be different!

 

[misseulalie]

[
On another topic, I have a 4 year old and do not plan to bring a carseat. No one uses them in Europe and the cars/buses won't let people use them. Now, I'm not sure about DCL's excursion buses...

People do use them!, my experinece of europe ith a child is that in cab buses they are not availbe but in private hire cars you can ask for one( i always have) and used them in Greece, spain, france- can't see why italy would be different![/QUOTE]


True, private cars should let you use them, but the average taxi or bus in Europe will not have seat belts for you to use, and they discourage car seats because they take up too much space. (It's hard to cram 4 or 5 people in the backseat with a huge carseat in the middle!!!)

 

[justhat]

Then there's the issue of what to do with the carseat once you get to your tourist destination. I know I won't want to carry either of my carseats around.