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

[DL1957]

I just checked to see when we could start making shore excursion reservations and it's March 2nd for us, so I put it on the calendar for March 1st so I won't forget. I love that's a Friday night / Saturday morning so staying up late to book won't be such a hardship. For our Venice cruise, we'll be up late Wednesday night / Thursday morning.

I am jealous we book Thur/Friday if we were still gold we will be the Fri/Sat that you have. If this wasn't a first for some of the ports I would wait until the am however I want to make sure we get the excurisons and days for Palos we want. Sue

 

[CJCPixieDust]

I would not let the museum closure stop you from going to Florence. There is plenty to soak in without seeing "the David". It's one of my favorite cities.

Thanks for the advice! It seems so far away from the port and we are still trying to decide private tour vs. Disney excursion (if we could even get the one we want). Although, most days at home, I drive 2 hours and since we'll already be in Italy, it seems to make sense to go to Florence.

 

[rossjen2]

I posted this on the FB page, but for those of you not there:

Guess what I got today???


Dining rotations! Nothing fancy...see below, they just rotate:

1. LAP
2. APL
3. PLA

And they confirmed that the 1st sea day (right after Rome) is Formal night, Pirate night is Mykonos, and Semi-formal is the night after pirate night.

I was also told...nothing official on when the stinking excursions would be posted, no idea on the cost of the photo CD, and there will be Tuxedos available to rent.

What do folks think about the LAP dining rotation? I understand that the PLA one gets you in Lumieres on the formal night…however, I didn't like the idea of our first Animators night on the same night as La Spezia. We have the main dining and it looks like we have a late all aboard time in La Spezia. Since we are going to be exploring Cinque Terra on our own, I would hate to rush back to so we don’t miss our first Animators show. We are DCL-newbies, but I think I read somewhere that the first time you dine at Animators is when they do the color change, etc. Our son will be 4 and I was thinking he would enjoy that. The LAP would mean we would still get Lumieres on the semiformal night… thanks - jen

 

[mindelmouse]

What do folks think about the LAP dining rotation? I understand that the PLA one gets you in Lumieres on the formal night…however, I didn't like the idea of our first Animators night on the same night as La Spezia. We have the main dining and it looks like we have a late all aboard time in La Spezia. Since we are going to be exploring Cinque Terra on our own, I would hate to rush back to so we don’t miss our first Animators show. We are DCL-newbies, but I think I read somewhere that the first time you dine at Animators is when they do the color change, etc. Our son will be 4 and I was thinking he would enjoy that. The LAP would mean we would still get Lumieres on the semiformal night… thanks - jen

I think your son would love the animators show. We should make sure they are doing it that night. Sometimes if there is a late boarding time in a port they change the show nights. Thats a good question to ask though. We have 12 nights so its a little easier to move things around

 

[nzdisneymom]

What do folks think about the LAP dining rotation? I understand that the PLA one gets you in Lumieres on the formal night…however, I didn't like the idea of our first Animators night on the same night as La Spezia. We have the main dining and it looks like we have a late all aboard time in La Spezia. Since we are going to be exploring Cinque Terra on our own, I would hate to rush back to so we don’t miss our first Animators show. We are DCL-newbies, but I think I read somewhere that the first time you dine at Animators is when they do the color change, etc. Our son will be 4 and I was thinking he would enjoy that. The LAP would mean we would still get Lumieres on the semiformal night… thanks - jen

Since we're not planning to go to formal night, we don't have a preference for our rotation. But I did want to say that in our experience, DCL has pushed back the start tmie for main dining when we've left port later in the day (like after 6 p.m.) That doesn't mean they will this time, but they do seem to want to accommodate guests! I will also say that we've had a rotation where our first time in Animators was NOT the night they do their color change.

So we already know when formal night, semi-formal night, and pirate night are, and we know the last night will likely be the Til We Meet Again menu. So that gives us 8 other nights to figure out

We are also doing Cinque Terre on our own from La Spezia.

 

[rossjen2]

I think your son would love the animators show. We should make sure they are doing it that night. Sometimes if there is a late boarding time in a port they change the show nights. Thats a good question to ask though. We have 12 nights so its a little easier to move things around

Good point, I didn't think about that they might change the evenings around.

I just called DCL. I don’t think I got the most knowledgeable CM - although, it was sort of complicated to explain what I was asking so it could definitely have been my fault as well. He basically told me that the Animators show was the same every evening on the classic ships so it wouldn't matter which night we dined at Animators, the special effects would be the same. I feel like that isn't what I have read on the DIS boards but having never been, I don’t know. Thinking maybe I should have had my TA call….oh well.

Anyway, I requested the LAP rotation just so I don’t have to worry about potentially missing the Animators show. While I am sort of bummed we’d have formal night in Animators as well with the LAP rotation, I think my family will be happier seeing the Animators show vs eating in the fancier restaurant on formal night.

On a different topic, does anyone have experience with the Blue Grotto/Fishing village port adventure in Malta? It looks reasonably priced when compared to going there on our own. I was sort of surprised that DCL doesn't offer any port adventures with snorkeling/beaches in Malta. It sounds like Malta is know for having some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Med.

thanks, jen

 

[mindelmouse]

Good point, I didn't think about that they might change the evenings around.

I just called DCL. I don’t think I got the most knowledgeable CM - although, it was sort of complicated to explain what I was asking so it could definitely have been my fault as well. He basically told me that the Animators show was the same every evening on the classic ships so it wouldn't matter which night we dined at Animators, the special effects would be the same. I feel like that isn't what I have read on the DIS boards but having never been, I don’t know. Thinking maybe I should have had my TA call….oh well.

Anyway, I requested the LAP rotation just so I don’t have to worry about potentially missing the Animators show. While I am sort of bummed we’d have formal night in Animators as well with the LAP rotation, I think my family will be happier seeing the Animators show vs eating in the fancier restaurant on formal night.

On a different topic, does anyone have experience with the Blue Grotto/Fishing village port adventure in Malta? It looks reasonably priced when compared to going there on our own. I was sort of surprised that DCL doesn't offer any port adventures with snorkeling/beaches in Malta. It sounds like Malta is know for having some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Med.

thanks, jen

You're correct, it doesn't sold like the understood your question. While they always have the same decor and lighting in Animators, there is always one designated "show" night. I will try and call when I get home from work and see if they know yet. They may not have determined the night yet. I know Disney had a lot of new customer service reps of late and not all them have been giving correct information.

 

[CJCPixieDust]

Good point, I didn't think about that they might change the evenings around.

I just called DCL. I don’t think I got the most knowledgeable CM - although, it was sort of complicated to explain what I was asking so it could definitely have been my fault as well. He basically told me that the Animators show was the same every evening on the classic ships so it wouldn't matter which night we dined at Animators, the special effects would be the same. I feel like that isn't what I have read on the DIS boards but having never been, I don’t know. Thinking maybe I should have had my TA call….oh well.

Anyway, I requested the LAP rotation just so I don’t have to worry about potentially missing the Animators show. While I am sort of bummed we’d have formal night in Animators as well with the LAP rotation, I think my family will be happier seeing the Animators show vs eating in the fancier restaurant on formal night.

On a different topic, does anyone have experience with the Blue Grotto/Fishing village port adventure in Malta? It looks reasonably priced when compared to going there on our own. I was sort of surprised that DCL doesn't offer any port adventures with snorkeling/beaches in Malta. It sounds like Malta is know for having some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Med.

thanks, jen

Hi Jen- I almost requested LAP to have formal night in Animators! Animators is my favorite- with or without the show. I think it's actually kind of cool to have formal night in the "black & white" of Animators. However, since I requested that in the past, I requested rotation 3 and aimed for Lumiere's for formal night. You can't go wrong either way. We also don't know when the full Animators show is- would be cool if it was more than once. You're going to have an amazing time- there is nothing like DCL!

 

[colemame]

Can someone help me out with the FE gifts? I know the general idea of them but I was wondering if on this cruise we are going to have any guidelines for it? Or is it do what you want type of deal? I am very excited about doing this my boys will go nuts over it and love the idea of having a small part in making it fun for other families as well. Any thoughts are welcome!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Can someone help me out with the FE gifts? I know the general idea of them but I was wondering if on this cruise we are going to have any guidelines for it? Or is it do what you want type of deal? I am very excited about doing this my boys will go nuts over it and love the idea of having a small part in making it fun for other families as well. Any thoughts are welcome!

We haven't really discussed it, but I'm planning on a "do what you want" type of deal We will be bringing something for each family that signs up for the FE.

I also just emailed our TA to see if she'd check with DCL about the theme nights for dining - so if I get a reply back before I'm offline for the day, I'll post it. I want to know so I'll know which nights I can get my creme brulee cheesecake!

 

[Meum]

Thanks Cindy, DH is working on our FE that gives the dates/ports time in/out for the ship. It will be a luggage tag so folks can attach it to their day bag. It has been handy in on past cruise. Lots of work so we hope everyone likes them! Also please do not duplicate our idea for this trip or DH will be mad at me for sharing!

what a cool idea! wow, i guess i better start thinking about what i'm going to do

see ya, marianne

 

[MJGirl]

If I recall from our Baltic cruise .... On the really late ports dining is normal. In Berlin, my daughter and I had our waiter to ourselves, everyone else was still in Berlin. Also,in St. Petersburg, we missed dinner both nights. We missed a special Scandinavian meal, but that was it!

 

[Meum]

If I recall from our Baltic cruise .... On the really late ports dining is normal. In Berlin, my daughter and I had our waiter to ourselves, everyone else was still in Berlin. Also,in St. Petersburg, we missed dinner both nights. We missed a special Scandinavian meal, but that was it!

but didn't you also miss our company i thought they did something different when we were in st. petersberg. i just looked back at the navigators from that trip (they are just waiting to go into a scrapbook) and the day we arrived in st. petersburg our dinners were an hour earlier than normal. but i have no idea why other than that i agree with mjgirl that they were all normal.

see ya, marianne

 

[MJGirl]

but didn't you also miss our company i thought they did something different when we were in st. petersberg. i just looked back at the navigators from that trip (they are just waiting to go into a scrapbook) and the day we arrived in st. petersburg our dinners were an hour earlier than normal. but i have no idea why other than that i agree with mjgirl that they were all normal.

see ya, marianne

Of course I missed my table mates! Missed them so much that I'm willing to cruise with them again! Thankfully they are willing to cruise with me to!

 

[Meum]

Of course I missed my table mates! Missed them so much that I'm willing to cruise with them again! Thankfully they are willing to cruise with me to!

it's going to be so fun to be together again!!! are we going to be at a large table again???? looking through all my stuff from the baltic cruise was so weird, made it feel like we were just there


see ya, marianne

 

[mindelmouse]

I realized that I forgot to post the doc with the detailed information on who we are traveling with that can be used for FE's that we have on the FB page.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Arsx9GXwkTXAdFpVUjFKVXR6WllkcUItX1NJMlJzaGc#gid=0

 

[mindelmouse]

Just got off the phone with DCL. They told me if I called back Monday, their port adventures team would be in and I could get a better idea when the Greece and Turkey excursions would be up. They gave me the standard answer that they were finalizing details.

Secondly, I asked if they knew which night was "show" night in Animators. They said, what we already knew that it was traditionally the first night you are in the restaurant and if the particular cruise would change that, they would not be notified shoreside. That is determined by the ship based on itinerary.

I know not all that much help, but I'll try and call Monday if we still have no excursions posted.

 

[Lynn G]

Well I just checked. Still no Greece or Turkey shore excursions posted. They are killing me. Anyone have any info on when they will post? Just curious about why those three. I am very excited about this cruise. My wife and I have been to Europe back in 2000, but now we have kids and we are taking them on the cruise.

We decided to make the most of it since we will be in Europe. We are going to fly over on June 6 into London, then travel to Paris, and then to BCN. We will be in BCN a day prior and a day after the cruise. Hope that gives us plenty of time for BCN.

I have used the Londons Walks tours in London and they are great. They have a Paris Walks tour group in Paris. Has anyone used them? What tour groups have you used in Paris? I saw someone had posted a group in a previous post to mine also.

We just got back from London and did 2 of the "London Walks" tours - they were great!

HOHO bus in Barcelona is very good, different routes go to most of the tourist spots, and there is narration about what you are passing. It is done much better than in some other cities we have tried them in.

 

[rossjen2]

Hi Jen- I almost requested LAP to have formal night in Animators! Animators is my favorite- with or without the show. I think it's actually kind of cool to have formal night in the "black & white" of Animators. However, since I requested that in the past, I requested rotation 3 and aimed for Lumiere's for formal night. You can't go wrong either way. We also don't know when the full Animators show is- would be cool if it was more than once. You're going to have an amazing time- there is nothing like DCL!

Good advice! I never thought about the black & white theme... I am happy now with the request for the LAP rotation. I really appreciate everyone's help and advice!
-jen

 

[colemame]

Today we booked our flight to Spain.... seems "REAL" now Next step...... looking into the best shore adventures for our family!!!!!!