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

[MinnieDiva]

We haven't gone anywhere yet. Just thinking about it. I really want Dcl to offer great discounts so we can sail with them and all of you. We'll see.

Maybe...there still seems to be a lot of availability, but it'll be interesting to see what happens a year from now. Here's hoping!!

 

[Zandy595]

Are Greece and Turkey safe areas?

No, it's horribly dangerous and YOU should not go there.

This is a spammer trying to sell their religious books.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Are Greece and Turkey safe areas?

No, it's horribly dangerous and YOU should not go there.

This is a spammer trying to sell their religious books.

Are you sure? This poster has a grand total of four posts and none have been about selling anything.

- Dreams

 

[Zandy595]

Are you sure? This poster has a grand total of four posts and none have been about selling anything.

- Dreams

They had 7 posts this morning and one of them had the title of the book they were selling. It's gone now...

 

[justhat]

Sad to say we decided to jump ship... I'm 99% sure we'll be sailing with RCCL and NCL after I confirm with our travel insurance we can change cruises. I was trying to find something that minimize travel time as I didn't want to go to multiple airports. I was able to find two cruises that sailed out of Rome that hit the Italian ports and the Greek ports (most of the ports are similar to Disney's but not exact). Both cruises are 7 nights each and we have a 3 night break inbetween to visit Rome a little more extensively. We really enjoyed the Rome port on our last Disney cruise and wish we had more time there. So, this kinda just worked out for us. I was really surprised that the NCL cruise is with one of their newer ships that has rock climbing wall, tons of speciality restaurants, Blue Man Group Show, the slide for everyone including adults, etc... We are really excited about the cruises. I'm a little scared of RCCL as the ship rooms aren't as visually appealing as Disney's or NCL's Epic (frankly of the pictures I seen online the rooms look like prison cells--the coloring is very muted) but I was able to get balcony on both ships for $2000 less than our oceanview room on Disney. I wasn't really comparing prices because other cruiselines definitely have extra charges. It will be interesting to see if they really come out cheaper than Disney. Don't worry we aren't dropping Disney Cruises out of our lineup forever. We are going on the Turkey cruise on the Fantasy in November. We own DVC so Disney is always on our mind. Anyways, hopefully, you all have a wonderful trip!!!

I think you'll love them. We did RCCL in 2009 and my kids were younger (older 2 were 3 and 5.5yo), but they loved the amenities on the ship, and they sound very similar to what you are describing on NCL. If we didn't have young ones and want the all day, all the time childcare, we'd follow you in a heartbeat!

Is there a Facebook page for this group? My 6/8/13 cruise has one and the Fantasy Maiden Voyage group did, and I was way better at keeping up.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I picked up the Rome DK Eyewitness Travel guide at the library this weekend. While I was looking for a link for posting this, I came across their site -
http://traveldk.com/rome Looks like it might be an informative site to read. They have Malta, Athens, Florence, and Barcelona as well.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I picked up the Rome DK Eyewitness Travel guide at the library this weekend. While I was looking for a link for posting this, I came across their site -
http://traveldk.com/rome Looks like it might be an informative site to read. They have Malta, Athens, Florence, and Barcelona as well.

Oooooooo....thank you!!!

 

[MinnieDiva]

I copied and pasted this from the main board. Wow. A bit pricey.

Med with Greece itinerary ABD add-on

adult $$3149, child $2989

Gratuities NOT included this time, photos still are.

Adventure Highlights:
Take a private tour of Rome's most famous landmarks, including the Coliseum, Forum,
Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, as well as the Vatican City Museum and Sistine Chapel.
Visit Panathinaiko, the historic venue where the modern Olympics were first held with
Junior Adventurers able to join in a mini marathon just for fun.
Enjoy lunch in the heart of Ephesus where you'll get to try Turkish coffee.
A chef will teach you how to prepare some classic Greek favorites in a cooking
class with an idyllic setting on the island of Mykonos.
Enjoy swimming off the coast of Malta.

 

[mindelmouse]

I copied and pasted this from the main board. Wow. A bit pricey.

Med with Greece itinerary ABD add-on

adult $$3149, child $2989

Gratuities NOT included this time, photos still are.

Adventure Highlights:
Take a private tour of Rome's most famous landmarks, including the Coliseum, Forum,
Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, as well as the Vatican City Museum and Sistine Chapel.
Visit Panathinaiko, the historic venue where the modern Olympics were first held with
Junior Adventurers able to join in a mini marathon just for fun.
Enjoy lunch in the heart of Ephesus where you'll get to try Turkish coffee.
A chef will teach you how to prepare some classic Greek favorites in a cooking
class with an idyllic setting on the island of Mykonos.
Enjoy swimming off the coast of Malta.

Never saw it before however if you remember last time we did the med...we looked into the ABD add ons and they were outlandishly expensive...

 

[nzdisneymom]

I copied and pasted this from the main board. Wow. A bit pricey.

Med with Greece itinerary ABD add-on

adult $$3149, child $2989

Gratuities NOT included this time, photos still are.

Adventure Highlights:
Take a private tour of Rome's most famous landmarks, including the Coliseum, Forum,
Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, as well as the Vatican City Museum and Sistine Chapel.
Visit Panathinaiko, the historic venue where the modern Olympics were first held with
Junior Adventurers able to join in a mini marathon just for fun.
Enjoy lunch in the heart of Ephesus where you'll get to try Turkish coffee.
A chef will teach you how to prepare some classic Greek favorites in a cooking
class with an idyllic setting on the island of Mykonos.
Enjoy swimming off the coast of Malta.

Thanks for posting this - they sound interesting but we'll be passing.
Speaking of Rome, though, we're thinking already about what we might want to do on our day in Rome - we saw the Colosseum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon - those were all our MUST sees when we were there in 2007. But because we tossed our coins into the Trevi, we get to go back. I was thinking Forum and Spanish Steps and.... I hope that we'll be able to find a DCL excursion that will be for those who've been to the main highlights before and let us see more of Rome. Otherwise we'll be looking at booking something privately, although I'm more nervous about doing that for Rome than other locations. We had such a rush to not miss the train last time even with a DCL excursion.

 

[mehaul]

Thanks for posting this - they sound interesting but we'll be passing.
Speaking of Rome, though, we're thinking already about what we might want to do on our day in Rome - we saw the Colosseum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon - those were all our MUST sees when we were there in 2007. But because we tossed our coins into the Trevi, we get to go back. I was thinking Forum and Spanish Steps and.... I hope that we'll be able to find a DCL excursion that will be for those who've been to the main highlights before and let us see more of Rome. Otherwise we'll be looking at booking something privately, although I'm more nervous about doing that for Rome than other locations. We had such a rush to not miss the train last time even with a DCL excursion.

The forum is a MUST see, but skip the Spanish Steps - it's just a staircase.
The "Mouth of Truth" is a quick stop for the Roman Holiday fans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocca_della_Verità

 

[nzdisneymom]

While it's still too early to book our flights, I'm checking each week for as far out as possible to see what the rates are going for. Right now, if we were to go in February and come back in March leaving the same day of the week and coming back the same day of the week as what we'll actually do next June / July, we could fly for $981 each round trip. I know the rates will go up as the season changes to April, May and June flights.

 

[gailg3horses]

I was so excited at the thought of the abd add on, but now that I see it, the activities don't seem that special or like things I couldn't do on my own. And the price

So my question is, about how much would you think is a realistic amount to budget for excursions?

 

[gailg3horses]

Ok another question. Is it worth it to go to Florence even though we won't be able to see the David on this cruise? I've always wanted to go with my mother Florence, but with things being closed I'm wondering if it might be better to do something else that day.

 

[canadakath]

I was so excited at the thought of the abd add on, but now that I see it, the activities don't seem that special or like things I couldn't do on my own. And the price

Right there with you! I was really hoping to "go all out" and do the ABD add-on, but there is no way I can justify $12,000 for my family of four, especially when I know we would miss at least one port day (my kids are dying to see the Leaning Tower and Florence would hold no interest for them).

I checked out Limo in Rome tours for pricing, and their 9 hour Rome tour would be about 600 euro for the 4 of us in a private van, including being picked up at the port and entrance to the Coliseum and Vatican. That could be even cheaper if we found a family to share a van with. The idea of a private tour appeals to me so we can break/stop when the kids need to. I have been to Rome before so it's for them and DH.

I would also like to do a private or premier type tour in Athens - smaller group size appeals to me. From my research so far on this board (LOVE reading others' trip reports!) I feel pretty confident I can organize the other ports activities on my own.

I know ABD is supposed to be very special, but I just don't see how the price tag reflects the activities - there is nothing on sea days other than the animators class, and a lot of "time on your own" in the ports. I can't even come close to talking myself into it being worth it

 

[MinnieDiva]

Ok another question. Is it worth it to go to Florence even though we won't be able to see the David on this cruise? I've always wanted to go with my mother Florence, but with things being closed I'm wondering if it might be better to do something else that day.

I guess it depends if there is stuff open that you want to see (like the Duomo) that is open. And if the drive to see those things is worth the time. For us, it's not. I think we're leaning toward Pisa (get it, leaning??) and Lucca.

 

[gailg3horses]

I guess it depends if there is stuff open that you want to see (like the Duomo) that is open. And if the drive to see those things is worth the time. For us, it's not. I think we're leaning toward Pisa (get it, leaning??) and Lucca.

I get it

I think the draw for me would definetly be the David although the famous ponte vecchio looks cool too (except mom and i would want to buy some expensive jewelry so thats not good). As far as pisa with bad knees, is the climb up the tower doable?

 

[mindelmouse]

Ok another question. Is it worth it to go to Florence even though we won't be able to see the David on this cruise? I've always wanted to go with my mother Florence, but with things being closed I'm wondering if it might be better to do something else that day.

We went to FLorence and Pisa on our last Med cruise and I thought Florence was beautiful. I'm glad I saw it and I got some great pictures. We didn't do any of the museums while there but liked it anyway. In my opinion it's worth seeing.

 

[mindelmouse]

I guess it depends if there is stuff open that you want to see (like the Duomo) that is open. And if the drive to see those things is worth the time. For us, it's not. I think we're leaning toward Pisa (get it, leaning??) and Lucca.

We're okay with that since we saw Florence last time...did Pisa too..but Jim didn't get to climb the tower. We need to make the ressies to climb in advance (Lori did it for us last time)..I believe it was 4 or 6 months out.

 

[pxlbarrel]

We went to Florence last year on a DCL excursion that was, by far, the worse tour I've ever taken. The tour guide didn't care where we were in relation to her so one time she turned around and 2/3 of the group were about 2 blocks behind her. Those little radio ear thingies don't work when you're that far so nobody heard anything she said. I was just slightly behind her (and way out of breath) but she said something like, "Oh, where is everybody?" then continued on as if everybody was right behind her. Didn't slow down, didn't repeat anything she was saying. She was absolutely awful. We were so busy trying to catch up that we didn't see anything!!

As for the ABD ... I'm going to look at my DCL bill for last year and see how much I spent on the DCL excursions. I have a feeling we'll be going the private tour route too.