The Med Thread - All Sailings - Mediterranean

[Coalchick]

We purchased the Rick Steves travel books for Italy and France. They are pretty good, but we don't have much perspective as we have not been there before.

 

[bellelinus]

We purchased the Rick Steves travel books for Italy and France. They are pretty good, but we don't have much perspective as we have not been there before.

The Rick Steves books are good -- he has a definite perspective and is very useful for those who want to explore an area on their own and experience travel more like natives than as tourists (if such a thing is possible!).

 

[DadofLostBoys]

I wish there was a hotel review for families traveling with more than two members. I don't want to have to get two rooms but it's hard to tell if a hotel will fit 3-5 people unless you call them. Can't handle that many overseas phone calls.

micluvr

We did and got 2 rooms for US$90/room/night at Barcelo Atenea Mar. We did the same for precruise stay in London for US$80/room/night for 2 nights at Hilton Metropole.

There are 5 of us (2 Adults, 3 boys) and we wanted to make sure we had enough room.

John

 

[woody73]

Before we decided to switch cruises, we booked this one: Aparthotel Napols. It was like a hotel/apartment. It held 4 people and had a mini kitchen.

We stayed at the Aparthotel Las Dunas near Cadiz, Spain. Very basic accomodations.

Woody

 

[woody73]

My brother travels frequently to Europe and his advise was that in general the rooms are smaller and does not fit more than two at best. . .

In many older European hotels, the rooms and bathrooms are very small. We've been to hotels in France and Spain where the closets would hold only four hangers.

Woody

 

[DenverVal]

The Rick Steves books are good -- he has a definite perspective and is very useful for those who want to explore an area on their own and experience travel more like natives than as tourists (if such a thing is possible!).

The information is very helpful, but the maps are awful. They are basic sketches, and I'm a very to-scale kinda gal.

 

[Doingitagain]

In many older European hotels, the rooms and bathrooms are very small. We've been to hotels in France and Spain where the closets would hold only four hangers.

Woody

And don't forget that not all hotels have air conditioning, and we will be there in the summer...

 

[bellelinus]

The information is very helpful, but the maps are awful. They are basic sketches, and I'm a very to-scale kinda gal.

True . . . the maps I like the best are the Streetwise series (Streetwise Barcelona, Rome, etc., etc.).

 

[funnybunny921]

i might have just missed this....

...But does anyone know when the cruise check in time will be? I know it says our boat departs at 9pm... i am trying to plan if we can do just one museum or two that day.... if we can't check in until noon i think it will only be one... but if we can check in in the morning then maybe two.... what time do you think the all abord will be if the departure is at 9pm?

 

[bellelinus]

i might have just missed this....

...But does anyone know when the cruise check in time will be? I know it says our boat departs at 9pm... i am trying to plan if we can do just one museum or two that day.... if we can't check in until noon i think it will only be one... but if we can check in in the morning then maybe two.... what time do you think the all abord will be if the departure is at 9pm?

I can't remember where I saw this, but someone had posted that we would be able to check our luggage by noon and then wander Barcelona and come back at some much later time before the sail away . . . then someone else wondered when the muster drill would be, which I thought was an excellent question! I guess all this information is not really clear yet.

 

[din]

I can't remember where I saw this, but someone had posted that we would be able to check our luggage by noon and then wander Barcelona and come back at some much later time before the sail away . . . then someone else wondered when the muster drill would be, which I thought was an excellent question! I guess all this information is not really clear yet.

There is discussion on the crusie board about the muster drill and check in time... Med Formal night....

 

[mom_rules]

A currency question- We will need US dollars, Euros for most countries but what I can't seem to get a straight answer on is the Pounds for Gibraltar-are these regular british pound sterling or does Gibraltar have their own pound?

 

[bellelinus]

There is discussion on the crusie board about the muster drill and check in time... Med Formal night....

Yes! That was where I saw it . . .

 

[bellelinus]

A currency question- We will need US dollars, Euros for most countries but what I can't seem to get a straight answer on is the Pounds for Gibraltar-are these regular british pound sterling or does Gibraltar have their own pound?

They issue a Gilbraltar pound, which is at par with the British pound, but I think I read that the regular British pounds are also widely used and accepted (but not the reverse -- you can't use the Gilbraltar pounds in the UK).

 

[michellebriana]

A currency question- We will need US dollars, Euros for most countries but what I can't seem to get a straight answer on is the Pounds for Gibraltar-are these regular british pound sterling or does Gibraltar have their own pound?

I was just there in May. They accept Euros and regulat british pounds there.

 

[mom_rules]

What will most people do-take some british pound sterling or wait to see if they exchange to Gibraltar pounds on the ship?

 

[funnybunny921]

Yes! That was where I saw it . . .

prompted by that (since the person who called was on an 11 night and I was wondering if the formal night would be different) I called DCL. I was told for the 10 night cruise there would be a formal night on our second night and a semi-formal on our ninth night. The woman I spoke with said anything else is TBA and that the check in time is the same, 1pm, and the on board time would be 8pm because we need to be on board 1 hour prior to leaving.

I have no idea if this information is reliable. I almost want to call again and see if i get different info. I was hoping we could board earlier than 1pm esp since the Disney excursions start leaving at 1:45pm. do you think they can get everyone that needs to on the boat and then off of a 1:45 tour?

 

[taysmom]

I have asked this over and over and the answer from dcl remains the same. Which is funny...cause I never get the same answer twice!~
The check in will begin as early as possible after the debarkation of the current guests but not before noon. If you check in, you must then board the ship and disembark as you would at any port. CM's have said the whole process could take up to an hour. Of course, they would have better information after the first/second cruise. They were just estimating. So if you have the June cruises or later, call after the may repo/1st one is done and double check. I plan to call right before we leave to make sure there are no changes as we are arriving early to spend time in barcelona.
Good luck all...it's almost here!
S

 

[bellelinus]

Luckily we don't leave until August 8 so we will have plenty of time to hear what others were and weren't able to do on embarkation day. Since we will have already been in Barcelona for a few days, it might be fun for us to check in, leave our things on the ship, and head over to the beaches at Barceloneta for the afternoon. These cruises are certainly going to be different!

 

[misseulalie]

I was told by CM that check in would be just like any other DCL cruise, by 1pm, everyone can board but it will probably be earlier like 11am or 12pm.

I also read that Euros are widely accepted in Gilbraltar.

I will probably get around $100 Euros before we leave. Just to have them...