Anyone going to the Mediterranean in 2009 - Page 5 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

*Lars* · 02-27-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty

it's an old roman city, some stuff there to look at . also one of the homes of the spanish navy, there's a very old submarine in one of the squares near the port. apart from that plenty of shops and tapas bars, it's quite laid back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulShut

Yes Spain

HI

Smitty described Cartagena very well.

I found some more info on this web site:
Cartagena, cities, towns and touristic destinations in Spain.

JulShut · 03-01-2009, 11:50 PM

Thank you so much thats a great website. I've got some reading to do

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Lars*

HI

Smitty described Cartagena very well.

I found some more info on this web site:
Cartagena, cities, towns and touristic destinations in Spain.

*Lars* · 03-02-2009, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulShut

Thank you so much thats a great website. I've got some reading to do

You`re welcome.

What other places are you visiting???

JulShut · 03-04-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Lars*

You`re welcome.

What other places are you visiting???

Malaga, Cartagena, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples/Capri, Corsica (Ajaccio), Gibraltar then back to Southampton.

*Lars* · 03-05-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulShut

Malaga, Cartagena, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples/Capri, Corsica (Ajaccio), Gibraltar then back to Southampton.

All the ports you are going to visit are the cream of the crop.
Do you have tours planned in all the ports???
What are you going to see and do??

JulShut · 03-06-2009, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Lars*

All the ports you are going to visit are the cream of the crop.
Do you have tours planned in all the ports???
What are you going to see and do??

I haven't planned anything as yet. Still researching. The only place that I'll do a ship's shore tour is Rome - due to the distance. I've picked the "Easy Rome" excursion which is basically just sitting on the airconditioned coach. Obviously its too far out to actually book yet.

It's just me & my Mum on this holiday. My Dad died in December 2007. I took Mum on a cruise (Sun Princess) in January 2008 and it helped her cope with everything. (They'd been married for 53 years). My kids (teenagers) came with us and we all enjoyed it so much and I think it helped us all through a horrible time. When we got back I promised Mum that I'd take her back to England to see her sister and her nieces and nephews and somehow we kinda found ourselves booking a Med cruise in the middle of our trip

.

As Mum is in her 70's with a few health issues (don't tell her I told you that) we can't do anything too strenuous and if its particularly hot we may only walk around the port then get back on the ship!

I think in Barcelona we'll go on the Hop on Hop Off bus. I did that in London in 2000 and that was great and we may go on the Hydofoil in Naples/Capri.

Nothings written in stone yet but I keep reading others experiences which is just so helpful.

Julie

*Lars* · 03-06-2009, 10:28 AM

Julie, I am sorry to hear about your father. What a lovely thing to do to take your mom cruising. I love it when vacation plans escalate to include somthing else also.

You are doing the right thing when choosing the hop on hop off bus in Barcelona. I do like that form of sigthseeing. Its so very easy and convinient.
Capri is stunning. Make sure you alow extra time getting back to Naples with the hydrofoil.
The weather in August will be around 30C, but since you are living in Australia I guess you are used to high temeratures??!!

Have you found our Trip Report section yet?? There are lots of usefull information there. Our Europe forum is being re-done so all the information there are easier to find now.
Ofcoure, if you have any questions I will try to answer them

JulShut · 03-07-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Lars*

Julie, I am sorry to hear about your father. What a lovely thing to do to take your mom cruising. I love it when vacation plans escalate to include somthing else also.

You are doing the right thing when choosing the hop on hop off bus in Barcelona. I do like that form of sigthseeing. Its so very easy and convinient.
Capri is stunning. Make sure you alow extra time getting back to Naples with the hydrofoil.
The weather in August will be around 30C, but since you are living in Australia I guess you are used to high temeratures??!!

Have you found our Trip Report section yet?? There are lots of usefull information there. Our Europe forum is being re-done so all the information there are easier to find now.
Ofcoure, if you have any questions I will try to answer them

Thanks Lars. I had a quick look at the Trip Report but I think I'll need a few hours to read it properly and take notes. I've bought a plastic file with pockets for each port. I'm determined to be more organised this time as some of the shore tours we went on in New Zealand were boring and a complete waste of money. We could of done much better ourselves. It was hard trying to balance the needs of three generations in the one tour! In the end the kids did their own thing entirely which worked out much better so I only have to please Mum this time.

I will treat this as a kind of "taster" for me. I'll come back and explore places myself in a few years. Never know I may even convince my husband to holiday! The last time I managed to drag him away was 2000

But I doubt it lol.

*Lars* · 03-08-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulShut

Thanks Lars. I had a quick look at the Trip Report but I think I'll need a few hours to read it properly and take notes. I've bought a plastic file with pockets for each port. I'm determined to be more organised this time as some of the shore tours we went on in New Zealand were boring and a complete waste of money. We could of done much better ourselves. It was hard trying to balance the needs of three generations in the one tour! In the end the kids did their own thing entirely which worked out much better so I only have to please Mum this time.

I will treat this as a kind of "taster" for me. I'll come back and explore places myself in a few years. Never know I may even convince my husband to holiday! The last time I managed to drag him away was 2000

But I doubt it lol.

Most of the sigths and cities can be done on your own with a bit of planning.
Your pocket plastic file sounds like a very good idea

You will notice when you are here in the Med that you will need to return as it is so much to see and discover.

JulShut · 03-09-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Lars*

Most of the sigths and cities can be done on your own with a bit of planning.
Your pocket plastic file sounds like a very good idea

You will notice when you are here in the Med that you will need to return as it is so much to see and discover.

A bit like Australia then. I have cousins in England who's friend thought they could drive around Oz in a couple of days

We're about a five hour flight from the east coast.

Much of what I've read about Barcelona warns of pick pockets and thiefs. Is it really that bad. ( It seems to me you need to be careful wherever you go) Would I need a money belt?