Trip Report Our 19-Day Mediterranean Adventure – Greece, Turkey and the Search for Free Wifi

Finally, right? It seems like I’ve been waiting forever to start this, but really we’ve only been back three weeks! And in that time I’ve lived in a hotel for two weeks and driven across the country from Washington DC to our new home in...wait for it...Las Vegas! For some reason I have chosen now, surrounded by boxes that need to be unpacked, as the time to start my trip report. Stalling maybe? :D So here it goes!

What: A massive 19 day (13 days on the cruise with 6 more including travel time and extra days in Europe) trip extravaganza. A 12 night Mediterranean cruise with a day in London beforehand and a few days in London and Barcelona afterwards. So yes. This is going to be a long stinking trip report. Oh, and I took 5239 pictures. On my camera! That doesn’t even count the Instagram/iphone photos you’ll see scattered throughout the report.

Great day in the morning.

Why: Because cruises are awesome mostly. But also because I was able to do a last-minute 11 night Med cruise back in April of 2010 with my daughter and some other family and friends, so this was a makeup cruise for my son and husband. It worked nicely as a graduation trip/present. :)

When: June 13-July 1, 2013

I booked this cruise the day it came out, back in January of 2012.

As time got closer we realized it was going to get crazy. My daughter was going to have to miss the last day of school, my son was graduating from high school the Saturday before the trip, we had a house full of family that whole weekend and a big graduation party on Sunday, he then left and was coming home one day early from his senior trip to make it on time, and we were moving across the country to Las Vegas so our household goods were all moved the day before we left. Then the kids were traveling with their youth group to Scotland 3 days after the cruise ended, so it really didn’t make sense for us to come all the way back home and we needed to stay in Europe for three more days before we dropped them off in London Heathrow. Got all that? Yes. Like I said, a little crazy.

Totally worth it though. :)

Who: Us! Here we are a few days before we left! This picture is a celebration of the whole Whiting family – but mostly Chase. The high school graduate. Also appearing in this photo are myself-Tammy, hubby-Stephen, and daughter – Ally.



My parents! My parents were on our last Med cruise, and have been in several of my trip reports. They had quite the trip in store for them. Here they are in Monaco:



My in-laws! My in-laws were also on my last Med cruise, as well as a few other cruises with us, so they may look familiar if you've ever read one of my reports. Here they are in Palo:



My brother-in-law! Scott has appeared in a few trip cruise trip reports as well. He’s the oldest of three boys with my hubby falling in the middle. Here he is in Mykonos:

 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So how come the Sistine Chaple doesn't allow photography or knees?



Eeeek!! They are so cute!!

That question made me laugh! No bare shoulders or knees for modesty in the Vatican. I assume photography is to preserve it? But that really only holds true for flash photography. Maybe they tried no flash and had too many people that accidentally used a flash.
 

gsrjedi

Well-Known Member
From my understanding they don't allow photos of the Sistine Chapel because NHK paid for the restoration in the 70's I think and in that deal they own the rights to the image of the Sistine Chapel and I think they want to prevent unauthorized copies.

I saw a lady composing a shot for a bit of time and take a photo and the guard was behind her the whole time and as soon as she took it, he tapped her on the shoulder and said "No photos.", but didn't make her delete it or anything. I snuck a couple photos, also got photos of Michelangelo's David in Florence & St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, both of which are no photo places.

Most places who don't allow photography are because the flash of millions of visitors can affect it.
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Aw, sad! Is that why they stopped allowing photography at the shows on DCL?

They say that was for the safety of the performers.

From my understanding they don't allow photos of the Sistine Chapel because NHK paid for the restoration in the 70's I think and in that deal they own the rights to the image of the Sistine Chapel and I think they want to prevent unauthorized copies.

I saw a lady composing a shot for a bit of time and take a photo and the guard was behind her the whole time and as soon as she took it, he tapped her on the shoulder and said "No photos.", but didn't make her delete it or anything. I snuck a couple photos, also got photos of Michelangelo's David in Florence & St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, both of which are no photo places.

Most places who don't allow photography are because the flash of millions of visitors can affect it.

The rights may be it, gsrjedi. I assumed it was the flash of millions of visitors.
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 7: Sea Day

Oh my word, after 3 fairly intensive port days, it was soooo nice to sleep in! There was a DVC member’s meeting at 9:00, but I told Stephen to go on without me if I wasn’t up and ready.

I wasn’t. :)

He went and got some nice gifts, but didn’t buy any points. No surprise there.

Then he went to one of the educational lectures onboard about the ports we were visiting. I somehow didn’t make it to any of those…

We had planned on going to the Castaway Club member reception that morning but I needed a little something to eat first. I went up to Topsiders and grabbed something:



Mesa saw me up there and was very worried that I was alone. He stayed and talked for a little while.

I walked around for a few minutes after. It looks like everyone was sleeping in this morning.




http://tammywhiting.smugmug.com/Tra...30308_c7xHdL#!i=2721676381&k=SJndHvb&lb=1&s=A

http://tammywhiting.smugmug.com/Tra...30308_c7xHdL#!i=2721676381&k=SJndHvb&lb=1&s=A
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Look how smooth the water was:



The princess palooza was happening in the lobby:





I met Stephen in time for the reception and Dad came as well. He said Mom seemed a little better, but still wasn’t coming out yet. Sadness. :(

Look who was at the reception!



At our reception the Assistant Cruise Director sang Unchained Melody! I was shocked! I’ve never seen one do that before! He was awesome too.

Here’s Captain Robert!

 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
This was the non-alcoholic concoction they served. It was delish.



Someone at the reception had been on 60 cruises. Six. Zero. :geek:

We stayed to the very end because they always give out these little beauties.



Today we were supposed to turn our passports in for a few days so the Greek customs agents could stamp them. I was excited about getting a Greek stamp so I was good with that. We turned ours in and decided on Lumiere’s for lunch.



Well look who emerged from her room for lunch! Yay!



Chase didn’t wake up until 1:00 today! He missed lunch with us, obviously. :)
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I had red meat. A little too red, but that’s okay.



Stephen had a Panini:



I went to the computers after lunch to price out a cruise to rebook. The computers in the lounge have free internet for the Disney Cruise site. They’re not stupid!

Here are the normal prices for internet:



Chase went to find some food and we went to the animation class where we learned to draw Mickey and Buzz. Our instructor made me laugh when she referenced learning to draw Buzz the night before.

She learned Buzz last night?:eek:

I’ve been reading some trip reports lately about how younger kids are frustrated when they’re trying to draw in these classes. That’s funny to me because that’s exactly how Ally used to be. She used to get so stressed out if her picture wasn’t perfect. The animation classes weren't always fun! We actually laughed when we reminded her of that during this class.



This was my Mickey:



Stephen’s:



Ally:


 

Crush Dude!

Back from WDW!Counting down to DLP in November!
I had red meat. A little too red, but that’s okay.



Stephen had a Panini:



I went to the computers after lunch to price out a cruise to rebook. The computers in the lounge have free internet for the Disney Cruise site. They’re not stupid!

Here are the normal prices for internet:



Chase went to find some food and we went to the animation class where we learned to draw Mickey and Buzz. Our instructor made me laugh when she referenced learning to draw Buzz the night before.

She learned Buzz last night?:eek:

I’ve been reading some trip reports lately about how younger kids are frustrated when they’re trying to draw in these classes. That’s funny to me because that’s exactly how Ally used to be. She used to get so stressed out if her picture wasn’t perfect. The animation classes weren't always fun! We actually laughed when we reminded her of that during this class.



This was my Mickey:



Stephen’s:



Ally:


Great tip about the DCL site
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
My Buzz was struggling. I blame our instructor who just learned last night!!



I was filling out my re-booking form too!


After animation we decided it was time for some shuffleboard! No wait. Ice cream then shuffleboard.

The adult pool was packed! These people should have gone swimming this morning!



We played several games, and I must say, I was a beast. I beat everyone. :D



We were traveling through the Strait of Messina during this time frame so the scenery was gorgeous while we played.



I don’t have any pictures of myself playing so you’ll have to take my word for it:

 
Last edited:

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Stephen was probably contemplating how I could have beaten him in shuffleboard. :D



After reveling in my shuffleboard dominance, we went to get ready for formal night. We met in the lobby for pictures.









Yay! Mom was out again! She doesn’t look bad, right?



It got better before it got worse for Mom.

 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Dinner was in Animators tonight.





Hey, Ally! New profile picture for you! :)





Mom was okay, but not hungry. She just wanted a plain baked potato. That went against Plamen’s every fiber. He couldn’t just bring her a plain potato. When he brought it out and it has other stuff with it, she actually cried.

Lol!

Not a sad cry, just a I-don’t-know-why-I’m-so-emotional-over-a-baked-potato cry. We all cracked up, even her. She said it was her antibiotics.

Suuuure. :)
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Dinner!











Look, I had a steak! I'm sure no one would have guessed!



Someone had turkey:



Dessert!





Mesa brought Ally hot chocolate and she was happy.



We decided to go watch Iron Man 3 instead of Twice Charmed tonight. I really liked it!

After that it was bed time! We had to rest up for another sea day the next day!
 

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