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

[890537]

Afternoon all!

I need some assistance with who to call at DCL to address an issue. I remember someone posting here about working with DCL to change the low end age on one of the Malta tours and am now going to need to do the same. I had been working with my travel agent and am not sure that she's really called Disney or cares to pursue beyond Disney said no, oh how disappointing. My daughter will be 5 July 4 (about one week after the end of our cruise). There is an excursion or two that has a kids activity that we'd really like to do but the age starts at 5. So any suggestions or advice for working with Disney on this? Thanks so much!!!

Pam

 

[burma]

Pam I would call. Don't take no keep pushing forward with the age of your child I don't think it will be too hard to get what you need.

 

[mindelmouse]

Afternoon all!

I need some assistance with who to call at DCL to address an issue. I remember someone posting here about working with DCL to change the low end age on one of the Malta tours and am now going to need to do the same. I had been working with my travel agent and am not sure that she's really called Disney or cares to pursue beyond Disney said no, oh how disappointing. My daughter will be 5 July 4 (about one week after the end of our cruise). There is an excursion or two that has a kids activity that we'd really like to do but the age starts at 5. So any suggestions or advice for working with Disney on this? Thanks so much!!!

Pam

Pam,

Call DCL yourself. There's not much a TA can do once DCL says no. Sometimes you have more luck in person. So perhaps if you get nowhere on the phone with them, try at the excursion desk in person. Perhaps when they see your daughter and how mature she is for her age, they will bend the rules. I think for booking it through the computer, they can't over ride the age limits and that is what you are running into.

 

[Deb in IA]

I can't believe it's just one more day until we can book our excursions. Getting so excited!

We are planning:
Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze
Acropolis Sightseeing and Archaeological Museum
Ephesus, Miletus, and Didyma
Malta by Private Vehicle with Driver and Guide - Van

ONE DAY MORE!

Now that DS will be 18 at the time of the cruise, we are going to do the "Adult Only" excursions.

Not that we don't like kids, but it only takes one whining, crying, tantrumming child to really ruin an excursion. And I'm not blaming the kids either - I'm sure they are tired and sleep-deprived.

Anyway, here is what we are hoping to book:

Villefranche:
1. Value Package Nice and Monaco - Adults Only
2. Highlights of Monaco and Monte Carlo - Adults Only
3. Monaco Monte Carlo and Eze - Adults only

Civitavecchia:
1. Jumping Back into Eternal Rome - Adults Only
2. The Best of Rome - Adult Only Departure

La Spezia:
1. Florence and Pisa - Adult Only Departure
2. Piza - Climb the Tower

Piraeus:
1. Athens Acropolis and Sightseeing - Adult Only Departure
2. Athens Sightseeing, Acropolis and New Acropolis Museum with Lunch - Adult Only Departure


Kusadasi:
1. Best of Ephesus - Adult Only Departure
2. Ephesus and Terrace Houses - Adult Only Departure

Mykonos:
1. Delos Island - Adult Only Departure
2. Island Drive and Ano Mera Village - Adult Only Departure

Malta:
1. Highlights of Malta - Adult Only Departure
2. Blue Grotto Boat Trip and Fishing Village - Adult Only Departure

 

[MoonDaughter23]

We are doing the family one - our boys are 15 and turning 17 on that very day I just realized!)

Sorry turning 17? or 16? Either way another cool way to spend a birthday!

Cool then if we book it, we'll be on together. If we do, then it looks like we're doing 5 cities on our own (including Barcelona) and 3 with DCL. (Although my mom likes the idea of having reserved beach loungers in Mykonos so that may change things again).

Of those who have been to Malta on your own, how easy or difficult is it to get around Valletta? My daughter wants the "Valletta - The City of the Knights" PA, but I'm wondering if we can see all that ourselves.

 

[mindelmouse]

Sorry turning 17? or 16? Either way another cool way to spend a birthday!

Cool then if we book it, we'll be on together. If we do, then it looks like we're doing 5 cities on our own (including Barcelona) and 3 with DCL. (Although my mom likes the idea of having reserved beach loungers in Mykonos so that may change things again).

Of those who have been to Malta on your own, how easy or difficult is it to get around Valletta? My daughter wants the "Valletta - The City of the Knights" PA, but I'm wondering if we can see all that ourselves.

We were on a tour in Valletta last time but it pretty much a waste of time. You can easily do the town on your own and actually walk there from the ship if you don't mind going uphill.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Afternoon all!

I need some assistance with who to call at DCL to address an issue. I remember someone posting here about working with DCL to change the low end age on one of the Malta tours and am now going to need to do the same. I had been working with my travel agent and am not sure that she's really called Disney or cares to pursue beyond Disney said no, oh how disappointing. My daughter will be 5 July 4 (about one week after the end of our cruise). There is an excursion or two that has a kids activity that we'd really like to do but the age starts at 5. So any suggestions or advice for working with Disney on this? Thanks so much!!!

Pam

Pam, I think it was justhat who was able to get them to adjust the age for a tour. I agree with the rest - call DCL yourself about the excursion. The issue you'll first get through is convincing them to talk to you even though your reservation is through a TA - tell them you have some questions about excursions and have your reservation number ready because they'll want that before they even talk to you - plus they will make a note in your folio that you've talked to them. And if they can't give you a good answer, ask for a supervisor and ask them what you should do to see about getting a change / exception for your excursion. Good luck.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Rick Steves in Florence is on PBS tonight. Love that it's in HD, too

 

[nzdisneymom]

Sorry turning 17? or 16? Either way another cool way to spend a birthday!

Cool then if we book it, we'll be on together. If we do, then it looks like we're doing 5 cities on our own (including Barcelona) and 3 with DCL. (Although my mom likes the idea of having reserved beach loungers in Mykonos so that may change things again).

Of those who have been to Malta on your own, how easy or difficult is it to get around Valletta? My daughter wants the "Valletta - The City of the Knights" PA, but I'm wondering if we can see all that ourselves.

Sorry, that was confusing... We have two sons, one is 15 and the other is 16 and will turn 17 that day

 

[890537]

Pam I would call. Don't take no keep pushing forward with the age of your child I don't think it will be too hard to get what you need.

Thanks! I'm on it first thing tomorrow. We can book tomorrow night so I'd like to get it straightened out. Should have follow up more with my TA since I asked her to check a few weeks ago.

 

[890537]

Pam, I think it was justhat who was able to get them to adjust the age for a tour. I agree with the rest - call DCL yourself about the excursion. The issue you'll first get through is convincing them to talk to you even though your reservation is through a TA - tell them you have some questions about excursions and have your reservation number ready because they'll want that before they even talk to you - plus they will make a note in your folio that you've talked to them. And if they can't give you a good answer, ask for a supervisor and ask them what you should do to see about getting a change / exception for your excursion. Good luck.

Thanks!!

 

[890537]

Pam,

Call DCL yourself. There's not much a TA can do once DCL says no. Sometimes you have more luck in person. So perhaps if you get nowhere on the phone with them, try at the excursion desk in person. Perhaps when they see your daughter and how mature she is for her age, they will bend the rules. I think for booking it through the computer, they can't over ride the age limits and that is what you are running into.

Thanks! i'm on it! Should have done it weeks ago - I just trusted my TA and now sort of have doubts that she even called.

 

[890537]

I can't believe it's just one more day until we can book our excursions. Getting so excited!

We are planning:
Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze
Acropolis Sightseeing and Archaeological Museum
Ephesus, Miletus, and Didyma
Malta by Private Vehicle with Driver and Guide - Van

Yes really exciting!! This is our first time as gold and I'd have to admit I'm more excited about the prospect of Palo brunch than the tours. We're not doing that many Disney ones. Primarily ones with a kid focus/interest since we have a 4yo. We're planning:
VillaFrance on our own
La Spezia - either private driver to do Cinque Terra, Lucca and Pisa or on our own Pisa/Cinque Terra
Rome - private tour
Acropolis Sightseeing and Family Archaeological Excavation
Ephesus, Didyma and Miletus with Lunch
Mykonos on our own
Blue Grotto and The Valletta Historical Hunt (I think these are at the same time range so might mean Blue Grotto on our own.

 

[890537]

Has anyone done the Blue Grotto in Malta on their own? My mom wants to do this but my daughter really wants to do the family historical hunt. They both start in the morning so we couldn't do both. I had read in TripAdvisor that you can do Blue Grotto on your own (it's fairly inexpensive) having never been to Malta, I'm not sure how easy it would be.

Thanks

Pam

 

[MoonDaughter23]

We were on a tour in Valletta last time but it pretty much a waste of time. You can easily do the town on your own and actually walk there from the ship if you don't mind going uphill.

Up hill is not a problem. Thanks I'll look into it.

Sorry, that was confusing... We have two sons, one is 15 and the other is 16 and will turn 17 that day

Gotcha.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Yes really exciting!! This is our first time as gold and I'd have to admit I'm more excited about the prospect of Palo brunch than the tours. We're not doing that many Disney ones. Primarily ones with a kid focus/interest since we have a 4yo. We're planning:
VillaFrance on our own
La Spezia - either private driver to do Cinque Terra, Lucca and Pisa or on our own Pisa/Cinque Terra
Rome - private tour
Acropolis Sightseeing and Family Archaeological Excavation
Ephesus, Didyma and Miletus with Lunch
Mykonos on our own
Blue Grotto and The Valletta Historical Hunt (I think these are at the same time range so might mean Blue Grotto on our own.

Palo Brunch is nice. I did it on the baltic cruise with some other DISers - we got the private dining room as we had enough who wanted to do it. It was nice for some of us who were either traveling alone or had spouses who didn't want to do it. It was really fun to get to know each other a bit more.

We are also planning Ephesus, Miletus, and Didyma through DCL. We are doing Cinque Terre on our own, Rome in Limo for Rome, and Mykonos on our own.

 

[mindelmouse]

Palo Brunch is nice. I did it on the baltic cruise with some other DISers - we got the private dining room as we had enough who wanted to do it. It was nice for some of us who were either traveling alone or had spouses who didn't want to do it. It was really fun to get to know each other a bit more.

We are also planning Ephesus, Miletus, and Didyma through DCL. We are doing Cinque Terre on our own, Rome in Limo for Rome, and Mykonos on our own.

We love Palo brunch. Its the only time they serve my favorite dish at Palo ( next to the souffle) chicken parm over parmesan risotto.

We're doing mostly private tours. We are hoping to get the Delos tour and Nice and Monaco excursion as well as Palo dinner and brunch and perhaps a spa appt

 

[Deb in IA]

Yes really exciting!! This is our first time as gold and I'd have to admit I'm more excited about the prospect of Palo brunch than the tours. We're not doing that many Disney ones. Primarily ones with a kid focus/interest since we have a 4yo. We're planning:
VillaFrance on our own
La Spezia - either private driver to do Cinque Terra, Lucca and Pisa or on our own Pisa/Cinque Terra
Rome - private tour
Acropolis Sightseeing and Family Archaeological Excavation
Ephesus, Didyma and Miletus with Lunch
Mykonos on our own
Blue Grotto and The Valletta Historical Hunt (I think these are at the same time range so might mean Blue Grotto on our own.

I'm a bit confused.

I don't think you have to be Gold to book a brunch - I know that we have done it a lot as Silvers on other DCL cruises?

Oh, and we are looking forward to DS FINALLY joining us for the Palo Brunch and Dinners - he always had to go off on his own before, but he will be 18 in May!

 

[mindelmouse]

I'm a bit confused.

I don't think you have to be Gold to book a brunch - I know that we have done it a lot as Silvers on other DCL cruises?

Oh, and we are looking forward to DS FINALLY joining us for the Palo Brunch and Dinners - he always had to go off on his own before, but he will be 18 in May!

You are right. You dont have to be gold to book brunch. Anyone can book it.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think they're referring to the fact that after the plats and gold book, there may not be a lot of slots left for booking brunch ahead of time. That may be true, although this cruise has four sea days and more opportunities than some cruises.