The Med Thread - All Sailings - Mediterranean

[profdsny]

I should clarify 'domestic.' Obviously we are travelling to another country, Switzerland, but it's still in the EU, so hopefully check in will be easier.

 

[mom_rules]

We're flying from BCN to Germany-also domestic. They advised 60-90 min check in.

 

[misseulalie]

It still sounds risky. Since the airport is 30 minutes away, you would have to get off by 8:30 at the latest. That doesn't include waiting for your bags, finding a taxi, hopeing there's no traffic, check-in. etc...
If you can do, then go for it, but it really sounds like your cutting it close...

 

[RJAYL]

Boy

We have a 12:35 Air France to Paris to Boston!

Sounds like we can sleep in late leave the Ship at 10Am & still have plenty of time!

 

[mom_rules]

It still sounds risky. Since the airport is 30 minutes away, you would have to get off by 8:30 at the latest. That doesn't include waiting for your bags, finding a taxi, hopeing there's no traffic, check-in. etc...
If you can do, then go for it, but it really sounds like your cutting it close...

We also have to go through customs right?

 

[profdsny]

We also have to go through customs right?

I'm not so sure. I can't recall ever going through customs on the way out. As far as any of the other things that you might have to do going back into Spain, I suspect that will be done on the ship. And, again coming from an EU country to an EU country, I don't think there is an issue.

 

[justhat]

I wasn't going to say anything cause I don't want to sound like a know it all, but.... We went on a Caribbean cruise on Princess Cruise Line over NYE 2004/2005. It sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale and went to a couple of little Caribbean islands. When we arrived back to the port in FL on 1/1 everyone was waiting in the atrium by the exit doors to disembark the ship. And there we stood, waiting, and waiting. We booked a flight after the time Princess approved (I forget now, but I think te cutoff was 10am and our flight was 10:40am) and we missed the flight. So did many, many other cruisers with flights between 10 and 11 or so.

The problem was that there were a few international cruisers who had not handed in customs forms, or something like that. Well NO ONE was allowed to disembark until they found these 4 passengers (separate 4 people, not 1 party), and that took forever. They had customs agents board the ship and everything. The mob of people waiting in the atrium with their carryons quickly turned angry as people realized they would miss their flights. We had booked airport transfers with Princess but figured there was no way we'd have time to wait for a bus to load so we planned to get a taxi. Unfortunately about a million other people had the same idea, so by the time we found all of our luggage (and we got a porter to help too, but it still took quite some time as they were not even all together) the taxi line was way, way long so we headed over to the Princess buses. They got us on a bus and off to the airport pretty fast since we told them when our flight was, but we still missed the flight. And we had checked in online so all we had to do was check bags, but we were there within the minimum time to do that so no luck. And every flight out of that airport was booked till 1/5!!! So we called about every airline in the world, found a Southwest flight leaving the next morning out of Orlando, got in a rental car and drove the 3+ hours to that airport and got a hotel room.

Now I'm sure my story is a fluke, but based on that experience we will not book a flight with a borderline departure time after a cruise. It's just not worth the worry and then the hassle involved if you miss the flight.

 

[mom_rules]

We're doing the transatlantic-I'm pretty sure (also being Cdn) that I have to surrender my passport in Florida and have to go through customs in Barcelona when I disembark.

 

[MrsG]

I'm also guessing we'll have to go through customs when we disembark in Barcelona.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Sounds like we can sleep in late leave the Ship at 10Am & still have plenty of time!

Don't you wish.... They are gonna kick you off the boat to prepare for the next set of passengers. Don't be surprise if you have to be off by 8:30 or 9 am. This is definitely not a sleeping in day..

 

[scottishwee35]

Hi

My mother in law and my friend told me that they think it is no good idea to bring our kids to day in Rome as 10 hours trip.

As I was planning to take them with us to Rome with DCL excursion but mil pointed out that she felt it is too long day for kids and she feel that kids will spoilt our day. She think kids should stay at the cruise with the club.

My mother in law pointed out that last year in April, we were on 3 days wonder cruise that mil and I cannot take my son out of the club as he loved it and stay all day/night. I had to drag him out the club in midnight!!

mil said what the point to worry if leave them on the cruise as same last year we leave him all day same things.

I feel like bad mother if I leave our two kids on the Cruise while we go to Rome for the day.

I say what happen if accident, she said dcl will contact us when we are on excursion?

Please advise me.

Worry mum!

Scottishwee35

 

[justhat]

Well I briefly thought about that with my daughter, ScottishWee, but I decided to bring her on the excursions with us, however long. She'll be almost 3.5yo at the time of our cruise. My thought is that, with Rome especially, the ship is so far from the excursions that there's no way I could get back quickly if I needed to. I also don't know how long it would take DCL to track me down in my excursion, therefore adding more time to the situation. If my daughter were much older, say 10, then I'd feel a lot better about leaving her on the ship, but right now she's too young.

I'm sure she won't be thrilled about all parts of the excursions, but I'm sure there will be times for her to nap or rest (like a long bus ride or whatever) and I'll bring along some small toys to keep her otherwise entertained. Also, we're only planning on 2 long excursions since both of my kids will be coming with us (the little one doesn't have a choice cause he'll only be 11 months and I don't think Flounder's is definitely open every time we're in port). I figure even if they are very long days for them, it's only 2 and the rest we're planning much shorter stuff and nothing at all for sea days so they'll survive.

 

[misseulalie]

I'm planning to leave my DD's 4 and 6 on the ship while we are in Rome. My girls have to be yanked out of the club because they love it so much, and about the distance; I thought about it and figured that even at home if my girls are in school, and there's an accident, it could take me an hour to get to them if I'm at work or travelling around the city. Plus, the ship has a doctor if there's a problem.

I guess maybe I'm putting a lot of trust into DCL, but I'm almost more worried about losing my girls while exploring Rome. Especially my 4 year old. She likes to wander off...

 

[OurDogCisco]

Well, my kids want to see Rome.

Anyways, if they wanted to stay on board, I would let them stay. Honestly, I don't know what could happen that they would need emergency attention. There is a doctor onboard so I wouldn't be too worried. They don't get to go swimming so no fears there. I just really can't see what would happen that is different from normal everyday life. Anyways, I wouldn't worry about it. Ask them what they want to do too....

 

[RJAYL]

Well, my kids want to see Rome.

Anyways, if they wanted to stay on board, I would let them stay. Honestly, I don't know what could happen that they would need emergency attention. There is a doctor onboard so I wouldn't be too worried. They don't get to go swimming so no fears there. I just really can't see what would happen that is different from normal everyday life. Anyways, I wouldn't worry about it. Ask them what they want to do too....

Thats the spirit Rome is 1 of the few ports I intend to drag the whole tribe with me!

Just to get a family photo in front of the Colaseum!

Oh by the way we will have breakfast delivered to the room & sleep in on disembarkation day!

I have done it before, Membership has its perks!

 

[din]

Oh by the way we will have breakfast delivered to the room & sleep in on disembarkation day!

Do you have one of those higher cat? If I recall correctly room services for breakfast is not available on disembarkation day. Did it change from Dec 2005?

 

[OurDogCisco]

I have done it before, Membership has its perks!

Membership??? What membership? Educate me? Are you staying in a category 1, 2 or 3?

 

[MrsJobba1]

I have done it before, Membership has its perks!

I was wondering that too???


What membership?

 

[justhat]

In my case I'm not afraid that my daughter will need medical attention while I'm gone, just that if she decides she's done with the club and I'm in Rome another 6 hours then what? If I use the club while I'm onboard then and she wants to leave then they can page me and I'll go get her, but when I'm an hour away that's not really possible. Or if some injury did occur and she needed to go to the medical center, I'm sure she'd be scared without me there too. So that's what made my decision, not that I think DCL would be incompetent in any way.

I'm interested to know how you can eat in your room on the last day too. We were in a Cat 3 on our last Disney cruise and they still booted us out to eat breakfast in AP, not our room.

 

[taysmom]

I plan on "dragging" my DD9 to the far away ports rome and florence. For the same fears..what if something happens and I am far away! But I am overprotective anyways... I am considering leaving her on the ship for some of the shorter distance ports, especially monte carlo as I really want to see the casino. Plus, I am looking at this trip as our "one in a lifetime" and she's 9 so she should remember most. I don't think we'll get back to italy before she's an adult as there are so many other places to visit. I want her to see everything regardless of whether she is bored! I have been prepping her that even though the art will get old, just remember that we will be back with mickey each night. Since thats for her she should do the excursions for me. She says she understands, but she's 9, I am sure I'll hear the whining there! . I just don't think you can cancel booked excursions if you change your mind...anyone have any insight on this?
Steph