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Old 06-04-2014, 12:21 AM   #1
Mom21
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Question Med Cruise 7/14/2014 Any tips appreciated!

My daughter and I are departing from Venice (arriving a few days early) for the Disney Med cruise. We end in Barcelona( staying for a few days again).

We have cruised on Disney 3 times, all out of PC.

We would really appreciate any tips on....


1.How to pack for a 12 night cruise with the challenge of staying in Venice for a few nights ahead of the cruise...

2. Any major differences between the 7 night vs the 12 night that we should be ready for?

3. Best time to show up and how to navigate the Venice cruise port. We are staying on Murano, rather then Venice proper.

4. Ideas for transportation from the cruise port in Barcelona to a non-Disney hotel.

Thanks so much for any tips!!
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Old 06-04-2014, 12:32 AM   #2
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I can only address your 4th question, having done the med cruise in 2011 from Barcelona ( we didn't visit Venice ). In case you have not already selected a hotel, the Hotel Constanza was in my Passporter and I could not have been happier with it. We stayed there before and after our cruise.
When we returned from the cruise the only transport available was taxi and the line was very long. I think we waited around an hour maybe more. Now we hadn't rushed off the ship as we didn't anticipate that.if you have a hotel ressie it may be worth checking with them to see if they offer a shuttle.
We also had spent most of our cash in ports and didn't have enough for the cab and he wouldn't take a credit card. So make sure you keep some cash reserved for the cab. He did stop at an ATM for us after I made the motion of pushing buttons and said "euros!" He was the ONLY person we met in Barcelona who did not speak English ( or at least behaved that way ... Hmmm).


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Old 06-04-2014, 01:44 AM   #3
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Hi and welcome to the boards! We'll wave at you as we come off, as we're on the 7/5 cruise out of and back to Venice.

1.How to pack for a 12 night cruise with the challenge of staying in Venice for a few nights ahead of the cruise...
Firstly, plan on laundry while you're away. We're doing just over two weeks in total and we're planning to take nine days' worth of clothes with us. We know that will fit in the cases we can take, as we took a similar amount with us for our vacation last month. Think carefully about every single item you're taking and whether you really will wear it. Also think about whether you can wear things in different ways - i.e. will a nice pair of trousers with different tops perhaps do for a couple of nights on the cruise? That sort of thing...

2. Any major differences between the 7 night vs the 12 night that we should be ready for?
Hmmm.... well very different ports obviously! I can't think of anything. We did the inaugural 11 night Med cruise back in 2007 and we've done seven night cruises and really apart from the fact it's longer and it's different ports, I can't think of anything. Obviously things like tips and photo packages cost more because it's a longer cruise...

3. Best time to show up and how to navigate the Venice cruise port. We are staying on Murano, rather then Venice proper.
I would allow plenty of time to commute from Murano, although the last time we were in Venice (2001) the vaporetto boats were very efficient and ran to time. The timetables are all available online, as I've had a look at that, which will help you plan how long it will take. You should have a time to check-in at the port already booked, which gives you a time to arrive. As for the port itself, as we're only going there on 5 July ourselves for the first time, I can't help with that right now. From everything I've read, it seems pretty straightforward. You get yourself to Piazzale Roma and then you can take the People Mover (€1.30 each) or there are often shuttle buses. Whether Disney will run one, I don't know.

4. Ideas for transportation from the cruise port in Barcelona to a non-Disney hotel.
I'd get a taxi. We got a taxi from the port back to the airport when we disembarked and, although there was a line, it wasn't that bad, and moved very quickly. I don't remember the price, as it was back in 2007, but it certainly wasn't that expensive, as I don't remember being shocked by it.

Hope that helps.
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Old 06-13-2014, 12:18 PM   #4
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As for question 4: Yes, definitely get a taxi. It is by far the easiest option!
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Old 06-14-2014, 08:59 AM   #5
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I'd plan to do laundry at the ship and plan to mix and match. When I travel I try to choose clothes that can be interchangeable creating new outfits. Also I pack scarfs and other accessories for dressing up at night. A more fancy outfit for formal night that can be use with comfortable dressy shoes (I avoid heels at all costs when traveling). We try to pack clothes that we know we like and consider the number of days carefully not to overpack. At home we limit one luggage per person (usually small for shorter vacations and median for longer ones). That is important when you're taking time sightseeing and commute from a place to another.

You'll love Venice, it is beautiful and charming - as you'll be arriving earlier you'll have a good idea of how long it takes from where you're staying in Murano to Venice by Vaporetto - they've a timetable and when we went there it seemed that they follow it pretty closely. But I'd also consider a water taxi if you've a lot of luggage. Venice is a great place to "get lost"walking in narrow alleys and small bridges.

From Barcelona a taxi might be a better option for you from the port to the hotel. They've a hop on hop off tourist bus that runs to all major attractions!! Don't forget to buy tickets to Sagrada Familia beforehand once the lines there were huge!!!! Park Guell is also a must see !!!
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Old 06-14-2014, 08:39 PM   #6
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Our 11 night Disney Med cruise in 2007 was a lot more relaxing than the 7 night one we did last summer. The 7 night cruise didn't have a lot of down time, while the longer Med and Baltic cruises gave us 3 sea days that were definately needed. On the longer cruise you will actually be able to relax a bit and enjoy the Magic. The 7 day cruise went by so fast....
We have never had to wait more than about 10 minutes for a taxi at the port to our Barcelona hotel. I would recommend taking your time exiting the ship. I think the longer lines are for those people who disembark right away and need to get to the airport, etc. We don't rush to exit our stateroom or eat breakfast and find that the lines are much shorter at the exits and taxi stations.
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Old 06-20-2014, 02:19 PM   #7
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We are on the Magic the week before you. I have 2 daughters, who like to wear a dress to dinner. So to keep the suitcases small our plan is to change before dinner and what we wear to dinner we wear the next day in port. I have enough clothes to get me to the ship (we are leaving a week early) then I will do laundry ASAP when I get on the ship and before we disembark. I also bought a travel clothesline.

I found a time table for the vaporetto online. I think you will want line 3 and it runs to the Piazzele Roma.
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Old 06-20-2014, 03:28 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by jeneric997 View Post
We are on the Magic the week before you. I have 2 daughters, who like to wear a dress to dinner. So to keep the suitcases small our plan is to change before dinner and what we wear to dinner we wear the next day in port. I have enough clothes to get me to the ship (we are leaving a week early) then I will do laundry ASAP when I get on the ship and before we disembark. I also bought a travel clothesline.

I found a time table for the vaporetto online. I think you will want line 3 and it runs to the Piazzele Roma.
Hi and welcome to the boards!

If you're on the 5 July sailing out of Venice, maybe we'll see you on board, as we're on that too!
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