Comments Needed on Med Cruise

Shari2 · July 13, 2013

Hope you have a fabulous cruise, Naomi...I am thinking of a Med cruise sometime next year, so I'm interested in everyone's ideas also.

Jan115 · July 14, 2013

Kevin - we had great snow in Vermont this year (last year I did not use the snow shoes at all - cold, but no snow). I actually got to snowshoe just about every day this season. There is a little mountain behind my building that the University of Vermont conservation students keep up the trails. I can do the inner loop trail of about 1.5 miles in my 30 minute lunch break. Everybody kind of laughs at me when they see me all geared up and ready to go, but I don't care. It's great exercise and I love the fresh air. I also have family in the Lake Placid / Saranac Lake, NY area so I go over there a couple of times a season too. That's why I think I could do the Mt. Vesuvius hike (it said 1000 feet of strenuous activity), but I want to be realistic about my ability...I'm certainly no marathon runner...but I think I'm fairly fit.
Naomi

Naomi - My daughter lived in Vermont for five years when she was attending Champlain College. Burlington is a beautiful city! In fact, my husband's cousin is the swim coach at UVM. I miss my drives back and forth, but my daughter goes back up to visit friends on occasion and in fact is attending a wedding up there in September. She loves Burlington, too - unfortunately, she couldn't find a job so had to return home.

jacketwatch · July 14, 2013

Hello. Let me offer my 2 cents as we have done a few med cruises. First of all our very 1st cruise was the western med and we actually managed to do all the ports on our own and it was surprisingly easy. As you have 8 people have you thought to do all your tours with perhaps the exception being Toulon as I like your idea of starting off slow.

The advantages of private tours are several inc. price, privacy and the ability to tailor it to your needs. You can google for private tours or simply hook up at the pier as there will be operators there and as this is Sept. or low season I would think you can get a good price. Its just that I think it would be nice for the 8 of you to be by yourselves and not with say 25 others and not restricted to that itinerary.

Also can you fly in a day early? I am sure you can and this will give you some time to relax, get over jet lag and this may be a more relaxed way to begin but of course it's up to you. Our 1st two cruises began with us getting in the same day of embarkation but since then we always go in early. No worries and even if RCI has to get U there in the event of a delay that's a tough way to start.

I do like your idea of taking it easy for some ports as going all out for all of them is too much, especially Rome. Be rested for this one as it will be a long day. This is why I was so happy we hired a cab for Rome as we decided to head back early as when we went it was August, pretty warm and we got tired so we could cut it short whereas on a ships tour we would have been there for 3-4 hrs. more.

I am sure you will enjoy this whatever you decide to do.

Cheers, Larry

Jan115 · July 14, 2013

Good advice, Larry - especially the time needed in Rome - which is why we're flying in a few days early. :-)

jacketwatch · July 14, 2013

Good advice, Larry - especially the time needed in Rome - which is why we're flying in a few days early. :-)

Great idea. There is so much to see in Rome and a lot of walking but hey that'll do to work off the gelato. :D.

coloradocruisers · July 15, 2013

Naomi - the tour guide we used has a Mercedes Mini Van and can only take a maximum of 6 passengers. It was ideal and so comfortable. He is highly reputable and if you are interested please let me know. I will give you all his details. He also tours in Florence and Tuscany. He is fantastic!!!!!
.

Jackie, would you mind sending that info to me as well? I printed your previous post. Rose also sent me some good contacts a few weeks ago. All of this will really help with our planning.

coloradocruisers · July 15, 2013

Kevin - There is a little mountain behind my building that the University of Vermont conservation students keep up the trails. I can do the inner loop trail of about 1.5 miles in my 30 minute lunch break.

Well, that sounds convenient. :smile:

taocat · July 15, 2013

Kevin - we had great snow in Vermont this year (last year I did not use the snow shoes at all - cold, but no snow). I actually got to snowshoe just about every day this season. There is a little mountain behind my building that the University of Vermont conservation students keep up the trails. I can do the inner loop trail of about 1.5 miles in my 30 minute lunch break. Everybody kind of laughs at me when they see me all geared up and ready to go, but I don't care. It's great exercise and I love the fresh air. I also have family in the Lake Placid / Saranac Lake, NY area so I go over there a couple of times a season too. That's why I think I could do the Mt. Vesuvius hike (it said 1000 feet of strenuous activity), but I want to be realistic about my ability...I'm certainly no marathon runner...but I think I'm fairly fit.
Naomi

Naomi - My daughter lived in Vermont for five years when she was attending Champlain College. Burlington is a beautiful city! In fact, my husband's cousin is the swim coach at UVM. I miss my drives back and forth, but my daughter goes back up to visit friends on occasion and in fact is attending a wedding up there in September. She loves Burlington, too - unfortunately, she couldn't find a job so had to return home.

My youngest daughter also graduated Champlain College. It was a perfect college fit for her. There have been a lot of articles in the VT papers in recent years that all our young adults are leaving the states to find jobs because they just can't find one here. My oldest daughter had to move out of state for 3 years until she could find a job back here...a little sad. Whenever anyone asks how my family is - I say, they all are healthy and they all have jobs...I consider that a blessing!

taocat · July 15, 2013

Hello. Let me offer my 2 cents as we have done a few med cruises. First of all our very 1st cruise was the western med and we actually managed to do all the ports on our own and it was surprisingly easy. As you have 8 people have you thought to do all your tours with perhaps the exception being Toulon as I like your idea of starting off slow.
The advantages of private tours are several inc. price, privacy and the ability to tailor it to your needs. You can google for private tours or simply hook up at the pier as there will be operators there and as this is Sept. or low season I would think you can get a good price. Its just that I think it would be nice for the 8 of you to be by yourselves and not with say 25 others and not restricted to that itinerary.

Also can you fly in a day early? I am sure you can and this will give you some time to relax, get over jet lag and this may be a more relaxed way to begin but of course it's up to you. Our 1st two cruises began with us getting in the same day of embarkation but since then we always go in early. No worries and even if RCI has to get U there in the event of a delay that's a tough way to start.

I do like your idea of taking it easy for some ports as going all out for all of them is too much, especially Rome. Be rested for this one as it will be a long day. This is why I was so happy we hired a cab for Rome as we decided to head back early as when we went it was August, pretty warm and we got tired so we could cut it short whereas on a ships tour we would have been there for 3-4 hrs. more.

I am sure you will enjoy this whatever you decide to do.

Cheers, Larry

Hi Larry,

Your 2 cents is definitely worth more than that...you provided great info to think about.

Two of the couples that are going with us are related to each other and they kind of stated that they don't want to be attached at the hip to each other and want to do their own thing. So we kind of all agreed to meet up during dinners only (with the exception of Rome) and talk about our experiences. It's their vacation too, so we were fine with that.

I really do love the idea of the more private tours...I'll have to reflect on that and feel out my tolerance level. I usually book the RCI excusions for the security purpose of having the guarantee that the ship will wait for us if something happens. I'm petrified of missing the boat...I've seen it happen on just about every cruise I've taken.

I would LOVE to fly in a day or two earlier to see a little more of Barcelona and get used to the time zone differences, but unfortunately this was decided by my husband's work schedule. Another reason why we chose the RCI ChoiceAir program, just in case our flights were delayed, they are supposed to get us to the next port to meet up with the ship at no extra charge.

As you can see, I plan for all these crazy things, and then I hope for the best!! My hopes are to do all the planning to the best of my abilities before hand, and then just relax and go with the flow once I get there. That way I can be in the moment and just enjoy the trip.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post.

Naomi