Who's in for GREECE and TURKEY, June 15 2003????

[4boons]

Hi, Bill:

That's great! I bring out my Red Raider gear everytime a Longhorn, A&M, OSU, or any college games in the Texas & Oklahoma region play in TV.

Looking forward to meeting everyone on the cruise.

To all:

Yeah!

I have to be careful. I did all my work at Texas Tech and Laura did her graduate work at Texas A&M. During football season we fly a flag that is 1/2 TTU and 1/2 A&M.

Now that Katie has been accepted to Kansas State, Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma I don't know what I am going to do.

Bill

 

[MinnieDiva]

Hi, Kim:

I grew up in San Jose. I attended Trace Elementary School, and Hoover Jr. HIgh School. I also graduated from Presentation High School.

My grandfather's farm was bought out by the state so that they can build Independence High School.

What a small world!

Hi, Bill:

That's great! I bring out my Red Raider gear everytime a Longhorn, A&M, OSU, or any college games in the Texas & Oklahoma region play in TV.

Looking forward to meeting everyone on the cruise.

To all:

I started my list and my Turkish friend told me that taking a Dolmus, a mini-bus, is the least expensive way to travel along the coast. She is so excited for my family. They are thinking about going, too!

Yeah!

WOW! What a small world! Presentation and Independence both just down the road a ways. By any chance do you know Antipasto's Deli on McKee? My must-go to spot every time I go home. Calamari sandwiches every Friday!

 

[abayaflowers]

I read on another posting that a couple of families have already booked great hotels. My DH would like to stay in another part of the town in Barcelona. We stayed at Fira Hotel Barcelona, where we paid $150 a night. Was a great bargain and the room was huge. Our family liked it, because it was quiet and slept well.

So, I checked on Casa Camper, and the high-end Marriott's hotel... Well, it was beyond our nightly budget. I can't imagine spending almost $500 a night to stay pre- and post-cruise. Since we have 4 in our family, Casa Camper is requiring two rooms.

If anyone can send me some ideas for pre- and post-cruise. One of our main requirements are easy access to food. Transporation is a 2nd must. We used the taxi two years ago. Then, we also purchased a Hop-on & Hop-off bus pass.

Great way to see the city quickly.

Thanks for helping me plan out our pre- & post-cruise itinerary.

 

[mindelmouse]

I read on another posting that a couple of families have already booked great hotels. My DH would like to stay in another part of the town in Barcelona. We stayed at Fira Hotel Barcelona, where we paid $150 a night. Was a great bargain and the room was huge. Our family liked it, because it was quiet and slept well.

So, I checked on Casa Camper, and the high-end Marriott's hotel... Well, it was beyond our nightly budget. I can't imagine spending almost $500 a night to stay pre- and post-cruise. Since we have 4 in our family, Casa Camper is requiring two rooms.

If anyone can send me some ideas for pre- and post-cruise. One of our main requirements are easy access to food. Transporation is a 2nd must. We used the taxi two years ago. Then, we also purchased a Hop-on & Hop-off bus pass.

Great way to see the city quickly.

Thanks for helping me plan out our pre- & post-cruise itinerary.

We stayed at the Porta Marina. It was right by metro station and at the time there was a restaurant in the hotel and a bar down the street, but there was a lot of construction going on around it, so I don't know what's there now. It was about 6 blocks from the beach in an up and coming area. The price was about 150 and the rooms were huge (slept 4). We stayed there pre and post cruise. Don't know where we'll stay this time, since we may want to be more centrally located, however, you couldn't beat the price there and it was a nice hotel.

 

[DL1957]

No way... are you really from San Carlos, CA? So, am I. I grew up on Tamarack two house down from St Charles and Brittain Acres. I live in Sacramento and have been here since college. I haven't been home in years since nobody I know really lives there any more. What a small world? What street did you live on? I went to Brittain Acres, Central Middle School and Sequoia HS. San Carlos HS closed the year I started high school. My brother went there 3 years and finished his senior year at Sequoia.

Ok this is a small world. DH graduated from SCH in 1969 so a bit older than you. I went to St Charles School. My godfather lived on Elizabeth near Tamarack my husband was on Cordilleras. We lived on Greenwood until 11 years ago when we moved to Williamsburg VA! I still stay in San Carlos when I go home for at least opening day of baseball. Sue

 

[joius24]

Okay....Jumpin in! Hi Everyone

Two Cruisers, booked our favorite inside sideways cabin on the day Gold could.... I did not transfer my June fantasy/magic b2b ...will just be selling my furniture to pay off this one off but who needs a dining table when you are dining on Disney!

It will be myself (Joi) and my DS ( Evan-17 at time of cruise).

We have not done a Med. but did the EBTA two years ago, it will be nice to see Barcelona again...didn't have enough time to do Guell Park... will make sure we see it pre-post cruise this time. (of course we found time to go to the chocolate museum ) The HOHO was great in Barcelona, cheap and easy.

I have never booked flights though Dis. and have always done better in price.
Excited to go back to Italy! I am a Renaissance Art lover for sure!

but... hate the amount of crime in Rome...will use precautions for sure. Last time I was in Italy a girl that was about 10 years old tried to pick my pocket as her little brother distracted me, the parents watched from a doorway nearby... scary and sad.

Sooooo Anyhow! I am psyched for this cruise! Love the ports and it WILL happen (being paid off by departure).... it always does!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Joi, welcome to the group.

Here's a post from the main board about Barcelona hotels.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2870617

I had asked about where folks stayed and in the first post, there's a compiiled list - thought I'd share it here in case anyone was interested. We are leaning towards arriving on the 13th and doing an apartment for two nights.

We did the HOHO bus in 2007 and it is a great way to get around and see the city; we plan to do that again as we didn't have the opportunity to go the entire way around nor to get off and actually visit some of the sites.

 

[MJGirl]

Looks like California will be well represented on this cruise!

Marianne

Looks like the other CA (Canada) is also well represented!! 5 of us from Ontario!

Just popping in to say Hi ... Looks like the spreadsheet is working out good! Hope there are no problems with editting!

 

[Lynn G]

Wyoming will be represented as well as it is ever represented on these cruises - all 2 of us!

Be sure you leave time in your pre-cruise plans to see Barcelona if you've not been there before. We made the mistake of not allowing time to see Barcelona before so we missed it as a port of call. We were so used to sailing from Port Canaveral which to us is just a departure point whereas Barcelona was more than that. Or stay later at the end to see the city before heading for home.

We second this suggestion - Barcelona is a great city!

Welcome to all the new folks joining us!

 

[pxlbarrel]

If you have a choice of seeing Barcelona pre cruise or post cruise, I would recommend seeing it pre cruise. Last year's plan was to do one day of sightseeing in Barcelona after we got off the ship but if there's one thing the Med cruise wasn't, it was restful. We were so tired from going out on excursions almost every day that we were exhausted. My parents ended up just staying at the Barcelona hotel all day while my brother and I took the HOHO around Barcelona. We sat up top and baked in the June sun and I started to fall asleep. We decided, after a while of getting sunstroke, that we would end our tour of Barcelona at the Sagrada Família.

We managed to to take the HOHO bus to Sagrada Família (took forever once we had made our decision). The line to get in was so so long that we just walked around the outside and visited the gift shop. Afterwards, we were so tired, we decided to just take a taxi back to the hotel rather than take the HOHO bus. (Our driver didn't know where the Hilton Diagonal Mar was btw...and neither did his GPS. Luckily, he drove in the general direction and then spotted the hotel's Hilton sign... then drove towards it. Geesh.)

If we had done the HOHO before the cruise, I think we would have had more energy to withstand the sun and the bus.... AND more importantly, had we encountered the long line at the Sagrada Família, we could have planned to return before leaving Barcelona. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to do that because we did it post cruise.

 

[canadakath]

I finally was able to book this cruise. It's me, DH, DS (9), DS (6) (at time of cruise). I was really surprised how expensive this one is. I guess we were really spoiled with the mega discount Disney put out for the Med cruise back in May 2010. Here's to hoping they will do something like that again. In the meantime, I can save up and hope that DH agrees on doing the trip.

Yay! My boys will be very excited to hear there are more on board! The 9 year olds seem to be well represented, but I'm happy to see another 6 year old!

I'm a little worried about how my youngest will do in the ports - he has always hated to walk! My oldest is the Energizer bunny and could go forever - especially if motivated by gelato or chocolate along the way! I am hoping that they will make it through the first few ports, then we'll maybe leave them in the kid's club for one or two. Hard to say what he will be like a year from now...

 

[rossjen2]

Hi Everyone,
We are excited to take part in our first DCL trip (but 4th cruise overall but first with Disney). It will also be my husband and son's (4 at cruise time) first trip to Europe - and my son's first cruise ever!!!

We are currently booked in a 11-GTY with *hopes* that the rates go down at some point so we can afford a nicer room. I just couldn't justify the $5,000 more for the veranda at this point

I look forward to learning DCL tips and port excursion ideas from everyone over the next 16 months!

 

[DL1957]

Hi Everyone,
We are excited to take part in our first DCL trip (but 4th cruise overall but first with Disney). It will also be my husband and son's (4 at cruise time) first trip to Europe - and my son's first cruise ever!!!

We are currently booked in a 11-GTY with *hopes* that the rates go down at some point so we can afford a nicer room. I just couldn't justify the $5,000 more for the veranda at this point

I look forward to learning DCL tips and port excursion ideas from everyone over the next 16 months!

Welcome soon you will be hooked to DCL! Even if you do not upgrade all of the staterooms are nice and you don't spend much time in them anyway especially on a cruise like this one. When we are in port you will be off the ship sun up to sun down! Sue

 

[rossjen2]

Welcome soon you will be hooked to DCL! Even if you do not upgrade all of the staterooms are nice and you don't spend much time in them anyway especially on a cruise like this one. When we are in port you will be off the ship sun up to sun down! Sue

Thanks Sue! That is good to hear - And yes, that is why we choose to go with the cheapest room, for now We figured on our typical vacations, we spend very little time in the room anyways - and it was the difference between going on the trip or not - so I can deal with it.

 

[seaulater]

Wyoming will be represented as well as it is ever represented on these cruises - all 2 of us!

Yes, you and Scott will be Wyoming's official representatives and Jamie and I will handle Utah!

 

[MinnieDiva]

Hi Everyone,
We are excited to take part in our first DCL trip (but 4th cruise overall but first with Disney). It will also be my husband and son's (4 at cruise time) first trip to Europe - and my son's first cruise ever!!!
I look forward to learning DCL tips and port excursion ideas from everyone over the next 16 months!

 

[MJGirl]

I just remembered that when I went on my Med Cruise in 2007, I attempted to blog it. It was my first attempt, but I hope it helps. Here is the link

I also tried to blog my Panama cruise and my Baltic cruise. The internet on the ship wasn't too blog friendly, so I didn't get far

Didn't blog for Alaska, and probably won't on this cruise. Just find the internet too expensive and too slow on the ship.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I just remembered that when I went on my Med Cruise in 2007, I attempted to blog it. It was my first attempt, but I hope it helps. Here is the link

I also tried to blog my Panama cruise and my Baltic cruise. The internet on the ship wasn't too blog friendly, so I didn't get far

Didn't blog for Alaska, and probably won't on this cruise. Just find the internet too expensive and too slow on the ship.

Last day of the itinerary but Malta has some free wifi spots at the Port. There's a British pub that has free wifi...and you can pick up another free wifi at other places in the port. LOL I went around with my iPhone trying to pick them up on our way back to the ship. On our 2011 cruise, Malta was our first stop.

Tis a pity that the excursion buses didn't have free wifi on them.

 

[abayaflowers]

Yes, you and Scott will be Wyoming's official representatives and Jamie and I will handle Utah!

That's awesome! So far, we have a great representation from all states. We have never met anyone of Nebraska or South & North Dakota on our previous cruises.

My most memorable memories of Wyoming was when DH and I stopped in Afton, Wyoming. He had to have the best berry pie. We still talk about our trek from Salt Lake City through Idaho Falls. Then, we visited Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Afton, and Park City. We did it all in three days.

Thanks to everyone's ideas for hotels. I am going to work on it this weekend.

By the way, if you are taking Spanair or Halvan Airlines, they have completely closed and no longer in operation as of yesterday. I just read it. It stranDed over 7000 people.

 

[abayaflowers]

I'm a little worried about how my youngest will do in the ports - he has always hated to walk! I am hoping that they will make it through the first few ports, then we'll maybe leave them in the kid's club for one or two. Hard to say what he will be like a year from now...

For my DD7 who hates to walk in weather that is hot and humid, my DH and I split up for shore excursions in Rome. So, DH took DD7 on a hop-on hop-off (HOHO) bus. They were air-conditioned. Absolutely made the trip to Rome absolutely wonderful experience for her. Also, we made a game of everytime that she could make it to the next area e.g. Roman Colosseum, we found a gelateria to congratulate her.

Just an idea!