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

[mehaul]

Getting dirty really is the essence of travel vs tourism,

Couldn't have said it better. Can I pat you on the back one more time?

 

[mindelmouse]

I think half the fun of the trip is the planning. Just ask minniediva and mindelmouse. Using ABD is the antiseptic way of doing the trip/ journey. I think u have to get your hands a little dirty to enjoy the adventure.

Scott H quotes it best - the only difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude.

Thanks for the nod, but I can't take much planning credit...I just piggybacked on other people's planning...this time I'm letting Kim do it

 

[disneyfan888]

Hi everyone!
I have been reading and I'm a bit worried about the price of excursions. I read something about 12,000 and almost had a heart attack We have been on the Disney cruise before, but its our first med Disney cruise. For those of you that have gone, how much are the excursions? Can someone give examples of what they did and costs? I would really appreciate it. What is the price form the port to Rome and Florence? We have gone to Italy and know how to move about in the city of Rome, so if excursions are too pricey directly with Disney we can might just go about ourselves. But what about the other ports? Also for those of you who have been on this cruise before, on the Florence day; has anyone been able to go to both Florence and Pisa. We went to Florence on our last trip, but were unable to go to the Uffizi museum which I really want to do and we did not do the leaning tower, so now I am torn on what we will do that day. Is it possible to do both?

Also, we are planning on staying in Barcelona for a couple of days before the cruise and Paris when we return. Any recommendations for hotels? Has anyone used the eurotrain from Spain to France? Is it expensive? We don't know if we should go by plain or take a train. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance!

 

[mindelmouse]

Hi everyone!
I have been reading and I'm a bit worried about the price of excursions. I read something about 12,000 and almost had a heart attack We have been on the Disney cruise before, but its our first med Disney cruise. For those of you that have gone, how much are the excursions? Can someone give examples of what they did and costs? I would really appreciate it. What is the price form the port to Rome and Florence? We have gone to Italy and know how to move about in the city of Rome, so if excursions are too pricey directly with Disney we can might just go about ourselves. But what about the other ports? Also for those of you who have been on this cruise before, on the Florence day; has anyone been able to go to both Florence and Pisa. We went to Florence on our last trip, but were unable to go to the Uffizi museum which I really want to do and we did not do the leaning tower, so now I am torn on what we will do that day. Is it possible to do both?

Also, we are planning on staying in Barcelona for a couple of days before the cruise and Paris when we return. Any recommendations for hotels? Has anyone used the eurotrain from Spain to France? Is it expensive? We don't know if we should go by plain or take a train. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance!

My friend wrote a pre trip report and basically a trip report of our med cruise in 2010...between the two of us there is a lot of useful information...here's the link

Greece 2013 Pre-Trip Report with a lot of 2010 reminiscing:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2871334

 

[pxlbarrel]

I'm looking at my guest account summary from the Magic last year.

Here are our DCL excursion costs. Remember that if you arrange for private tours, it will be cheaper. Prices are per person. All but Discovering Florence was good. Discovering Florence was horrible or at least our tour guide was. (And we made note of it in our comment card)

Discovering Florence $179
Highlights of Malta - Adults Only $125
Pompeii, Sorreto and Capri - $259
The Best of Rome - Adults Only $335
Monaca, Monte Carlo and Eze - $169

Next year's cruise doesn't go to Corsica or Palermo so I haven't included them here. All of the above included lunch.

One thing to think about if you take the Rome excursions from DCL or probably any tour company, the tour guides always take you to the most expensive gift shop at the Vatican. I think they must get a kickback or something. Do yourself a favour and walk further down the street and there are other gift shops. Give yourself a choice.

 

[gailg3horses]

Hi everyone!
I have been reading and I'm a bit worried about the price of excursions. I read something about 12,000 and almost had a heart attack We have been on the Disney cruise before, but its our first med Disney cruise. For those of you that have gone, how much are the excursions? Can someone give examples of what they did and costs? I would really appreciate it. What is the price form the port to Rome and Florence? We have gone to Italy and know how to move about in the city of Rome, so if excursions are too pricey directly with Disney we can might just go about ourselves. But what about the other ports? Also for those of you who have been on this cruise before, on the Florence day; has anyone been able to go to both Florence and Pisa. We went to Florence on our last trip, but were unable to go to the Uffizi museum which I really want to do and we did not do the leaning tower, so now I am torn on what we will do that day. Is it possible to do both?

Also, we are planning on staying in Barcelona for a couple of days before the cruise and Paris when we return. Any recommendations for hotels? Has anyone used the eurotrain from Spain to France? Is it expensive? We don't know if we should go by plain or take a train. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance!

The 12k comment was in regards to the adventures by disney add on. It looks like the disney excursions can be done for alot less than that and on your own/private excursions for even less. I'm not panicking yet.

 

[canadakath]

Does anyone know if the age limit is strictly followed for the Leaning Tower? Their ticket website says it is for 8 and up only, but youngest DS will be turning 7 on the cruise and really wants to climb the tower. If we do it on our own (no Disney excursion) will they check his age?

Thanks!

 

[mehaul]

Does anyone know if the age limit is strictly followed for the Leaning Tower? Their ticket website says it is for 8 and up only, but youngest DS will be turning 7 on the cruise and really wants to climb the tower. If we do it on our own (no Disney excursion) will they check his age?

Thanks!

Our youngest daughter was 7 last year when we climbed "on our own". No one is checking ages. Don't worry about it

 

[burma]

ok so I know we are far away from this trip but can anyone that has done the med tell me where to being my research ....

 

[mindelmouse]

ok so I know we are far away from this trip but can anyone that has done the med tell me where to being my research ....

I used trip advisor...it helped alot

 

[DL1957]

Does anyone know if the age limit is strictly followed for the Leaning Tower? Their ticket website says it is for 8 and up only, but youngest DS will be turning 7 on the cruise and really wants to climb the tower. If we do it on our own (no Disney excursion) will they check his age?

Thanks!

We were on our own in the early '90s and DN was allowed to go because she was 9 however her 7 year old brother was stopped. Looks like it depends upon who is checking. Our visit was a long time ago actually before they closed and made more stable. When DH and DN went to the top there was only one piece of railing up there. I am sure someone here could give you a better update of how it is now. European countries do not have the same requirements as in the states since people there don't seem to sue as much!

 

[mehaul]

We were on our own in the early '90s and DN was allowed to go because she was 9 however her 7 year old brother was stopped. Looks like it depends upon who is checking. Our visit was a long time ago actually before they closed and made more stable. When DH and DN went to the top there was only one piece of railing up there. I am sure someone here could give you a better update of how it is now. European countries do not have the same requirements as in the states since people there don't seem to sue as much!

There is no one "checking". Also there is nothing to check
Kids don't carry any ID's to check. We told the 7 year old to say she was 8 in case anyone asked - no one asked.

The railing up top is fine, unless you're 6'3" like DH.

 

[MinnieDiva]

I think half the fun of the trip is the planning. Just ask minniediva and mindelmouse. Using ABD is the antiseptic way of doing the trip/ journey. I think u have to get your hands a little dirty to enjoy the adventure.

Scott H quotes it best - the only difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude.

LOVE the planning

Getting dirty really is the essence of travel vs tourism,

AWESOME quote!

Thanks for the nod, but I can't take much planning credit...I just piggybacked on other people's planning...this time I'm letting Kim do it

In between telling me "I can't think about that right now!". Have I told you I'm about to book something?

ok so I know we are far away from this trip but can anyone that has done the med tell me where to being my research ....

Read everything you can! If you look at my link below, I've posted a bunch of planning threads that another cruiser graciously allowed me to copy and paste.

 

[2PrincesseInTow]

ok so I know we are far away from this trip but can anyone that has done the med tell me where to being my research ....

Cruise Critic boards ports section is also a great resource.

 

[mindelmouse]

LOVE the planning



In between telling me "I can't think about that right now!". Have I told you I'm about to book something?

Hey in my defense I have two cruises that I'm going on first and secondly, I still haven't gotten the ok at work to take that much time off....don't want to broach it until I have to buy airfare and then there's no turning back.

What are you booking?

 

[2PrincesseInTow]

Well...... I just booked an Alaska cruise for July. They just offered an IGT rate that I couldn't pass up. We'll be crossing our fingers to be able to upgrade at the port. The itinerary isn't the greatest with very short port times in three of the four ports but DH and I have been there and this will be a good intro for the DD's.

So now I can take a break from Med planning and do some quick planning for Alaska! Ok, I'm addicted

 

[MinnieDiva]

Hey in my defense I have two cruises that I'm going on first and secondly, I still haven't gotten the ok at work to take that much time off....don't want to broach it until I have to buy airfare and then there's no turning back.

What are you booking?

Mwahahahhahahahaha!

Well...... I just booked an Alaska cruise for July. They just offered an IGT rate that I couldn't pass up. We'll be crossing our fingers to be able to upgrade at the port. The itinerary isn't the greatest with very short port times in three of the four ports but DH and I have been there and this will be a good intro for the DD's.

So now I can take a break from Med planning and do some quick planning for Alaska! Ok, I'm addicted

Congrats and have fun! And is there any such thing as quick planning? We had such fun in AK last year!!

 

[long_time_cruiser]

Hello everyone!

My husband and I just booked this cruise - yay! It will be our second time in the Med (did the first Med cruise in 2007), and we are VERY excited to see Greece, Turkey, and Malta. Only about 13 1/2 months to go!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Hello everyone!

My husband and I just booked this cruise - yay! It will be our second time in the Med (did the first Med cruise in 2007), and we are VERY excited to see Greece, Turkey, and Malta. Only about 13 1/2 months to go!

Welcome! Your user name sounds familiar to me - I'm wondering if we did the Baltic together - the one to Helsinki?

 

[DL1957]

Hello everyone!

My husband and I just booked this cruise - yay! It will be our second time in the Med (did the first Med cruise in 2007), and we are VERY excited to see Greece, Turkey, and Malta. Only about 13 1/2 months to go!

Welcome! We also were on the May 2007 Med cruise!