Disney Journeys

Touring Tunis

As we proceeded through the Immigration building, we were inundated with men trying to push flowers on us. If a lady took a flower, she was expected to pay for it. I had read about this pushy practice so my husband stood near me and I kept my hands occupied with my passport, etc. If it had been more welcoming than unnerving, I would have gladly accepted and paid for one. Instead of a friendly welcoming gesture, it's a very uninviting way to start the tour.They truly do swarm you so be forewarned.

We boarded our tour bus for the ride to Carthage. On the way, we were told that the pictures seen throughout the city were of their President. While he was over 60, the pictures of him were of a young man. I guess when you are a "president", you get to stay young on your propaganda. Just sayin'.

The sites were so different. It was very exciting to be in Tunisia!

Interestingly, we learned that most of the schools are public and is compulsory until age 16. Most widely spoken is a Tunisian Arabic dialect. French is their second language. English is their third language and is taught beginning in 7th Grade. This made me regret (yet again) not being able to speak another language.

At Carthage's peak, this port would have held 200 ships.

The palace of President Zine el-Abidine Ben. (He has now fled the country.)

Our tour guide:

Punic Harbor, Port of Carthage:

After this brief stop to look at the harbor, we proceeded to Carthage:

It was quite surreal walking through this UNESCO World Heritage site that is thought to be 3,000 years old.This ancient city was founded by Phoenician colonists from Tyre (now Lebanon). Under Queen Dido's leadership, Carthage became a  wealthy city with great power. During a lecture aboard the ship, Michael and I learned that the city was first destroyed in the Third Punic War in 146 B.C. During the Roman Empire, the city was rebuilt.

As a famous Roman Empire historic site, Carthage is mostly ruins. Yet, we could imagine the city as it was when Carthage dominated the seas with Carthaginians showing off their expert ship-building skills.

We had a few sprinkles of rain as we walked these 3,000 years old paths.

African Adventure

Sailing aboard a Disney ship is certainly magical. There's something especially awe-inspiring and certainly exotic about waking up in Africa. As we slept, the ship docked in Tunis, Tunisia on the continent of Africa. Wow.

While the dock isn't breathtaking, there are immediate signs that we are about to disembark in a "whole new world". First, there are camels. And signs in Arabic. And everything looks different. We are excited to step on this continent!

On the previous evening, we returned to our stateroom to find an informational sheet and "landing cards".

1. Tunisia doesn't practice daylight savings time, therefore the time in Tunisia would be one hour earlier than ship time. We were instructed to leave our clocks on ship's time to avoid returning late.

2. Once ashore in Tunis, we would pass through an immigration control area where we would need to present our landing cards and passports to the immigration officers on duty. We had to retain one half of the landing card while ashore and return it to an immigration officer when returning to the ship.

3. We learned that the dress code in Tunisia is mostly conservative. As a predominantly Muslim country, we were advised to respect local customs with appropriate attire. As in Europe, visits to cathedrals or mosques required that shoulders and knees be covered.

4. We were "warned" about the practices of local vendors that might seem pushy to Americans. And how to politely decline entering any shop that was of no interest to us.

All ashore was approximately 8:30 a.m. We met our tour group in the Walt Disney Theatre for our exploration of Carthage and Sidi Bou Said. I'll note here that this is the only port in which we took a Disney Cruise Line tour/Port Adventure. Our family likes to venture on our own and in doing so, we also saved a lot of money. In Tunisia though, we felt safer staying in a group. It worked out well and was a good decision for us.The tour cost $45 for ages 10 and up and $29 for ages 3-9.

The official tour description:

Take an approximate 20-minute drive to Carthage, ruins of Punic and Roman empires where you can see baths, dwellings, temples, shrines and the amazing naval port of the Carthaginians. Upon arrival, enjoy a 90-minute guided walking tour including Punic Ports, the Antonin Baths, the Tophet and the Theater. Drive 15 minutes to the Moorish Village of Sidi Bou Said, perched on the cliffs overlooking the bay of Tunis. With its immaculate white and blue houses, the village has preserved its quiet charm for many centuries. Walk from the coach parking lot to the village on the hilll. Visit the Museum of Dar El Annabi followed by 60 minutes of free time to explore on your own. Drive 20 minutes back to the pier.

The tour was to last 4.5 - 5 hours.

Upon disembarking the Disney Magic, we stepped on land and with smiles looked at each to announce "we are in Africa". It was extremely overwhelming. I again mentioned to my family how grateful I was for this dream vacation.

Walking towards the Immigration building, we were treated to these sights:

Note that Disney Cruise Line is substituting Palermo for Tunis in this summer's cruise itinerary. This change is due to the recent political and social unrest in Tunis which resulted in a travel alert by the U.S. State Department.

Sailing from Malta to Tunisia

After a fun afternoon

visiting Valletta, Malta,

we had a relaxing evening

aboard the Disney Magic.

There was a magic show by Jason Bishop which included bringing the kids in the audience up on stage:

Dinner was at Animator's Palate:

After dinner, Nicolas lounged in a port hole:

Then we went shopping:

And finally, we got ready for the ship to rock us to sleep as we headed for the continent of Africa!

Malta Memories

Malta truly is a gem. The port at Valletta was not only clean but stunning, people were very hospitable and sights were easily accessible on our own. Languages spoken are Maltese and English.

During a stop at a McDonald's for a refreshment (and to use the free Wifi) Michael had to point at the menu, however when Nicolas bought a small toy car in a shop, the shopkeeper did speak English.

On our walk towards St. John's Co-Cathedral, we enjoyed the architecture of this city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Auberge de Castille now houses the office of the Prime Minister. This inn was built by the Knights of St. John as one of their residences. It sits at the highest point in the walled city of Valletta.

The Castille Hotel, a beautiful limestone building, sits in the heart of this charming city offering 38 rooms to Mediterranean travelers:

I could have spent a week here looking at the architecture and shopping.

We toured St. John's Co-Cathedral. Visitors will want to make sure their knees and shoulders are covered. We wore pants. And narrow heels are not allowed due to the delicate inlaid marble floor. Built in the 16th century by the Knights of Malta, marble tombstones inlaid in the floor mark the resting place of 364 knights. The Co-Cathedral also serves as the final resting place of the Grand Master, Jean Parisot de la Valletta.

With our entrance fee of 6 Euros per adult (children under 12 are free), we were given a self-guided audio tour. Flash photography is forbidden thus a tour of the building via the above link would be worth your time. The building is amazing although Nicolas found it a tad bit creepy walking atop the marble tombstones. In Europe, it was much easier to locate others with the name Nicolas (spelled without the h):

Until our trip to Europe, Nicolas only knew Nicolas Cage (the actor) with the same spelling as his name. Why Nicolas? It's the only boy name we could agree on and yet we wanted it to be a little bit different. Oh, back to Malta.

After our tour, we stopped for a beverage before walking back to the ship. It was a wonderful first port of call on our Mediterranean voyage!

Mickey Salutes the U.S. Military

Thank you for your service to our country. Your sacrifices are appreciated by our family as we enjoy many freedoms including being free to travel.

In honor of Veteran's Day, Shades of Green, the WDW Armed Forces Recreation Center, is offering a discount starting at $329 for a 3 night/4 day room package.

One of the wonderful ways that WDW recognizes members of the Armed Services and veterans is during the daily Flag Retreat Ceremony. This patriotic ceremony is held at 5 p.m. in the Magic Kingdom's Town Square. To secure a spot, please call 407-824-2222 and ask for the Magic Kingdom's City Hall. You'll need to know the date(s) that the veteran in your traveling party will be at the Magic Kingdom. If your first date is unavailable, be flexible. Veterans may also stop at City Hall first thing in the morning and inquire about availability for the ceremony. Remember that the Vet and anyone visiting the Magic Kingdom that day will still need a valid Magic Your Way ticket to enter the park.

Disney offers active and retired U.S. military personnel discounted tickets.

Look for information on room and cruise discounts here.

Memories of Malta

After lunch, we went ashore to explore the capital city of Malta, Valletta. Built in the second half of the 16th century by the Knights of Malta, Valletta is rich in historical sights.

Our plans were to walk into the walled city from the Grand Harbour. Forwarned of the steep climb, we were prepared for a hike with comfortable shoes. I would highly recommend however that your family invest in a beautiful ride via horse and carriage. In hindsight, we should have done so as well. The walk/hike did allow us to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

After exiting the Disney Magic:

Quaint cafes and shops line the harbor:

The Disney Magic:

Carriages waiting to escort guests to the walled city:

On our beautiful walk:

Nicolas takes a break on our steep climb. Since our plans were to visit St. John's Co-Cathedral, we wore appropriate attire that covered our shoulders and knees. In addition, you'll want comfortable walking shoes and please note that flash photography is forbidden. In case you can't leave home without your stilleto or narrow heels, they are also prohibited due to the delicate inlaid marble floor.

While Nicolas took a short rest from the climb, Michael looked at a nearby monument:

Our shipboard home floats majestically in the harbour:

On our walk/climb, we were rewarded with spectacular views:

Valletta was easily explored on our own. Next, we continue our walk to St. John's.

 

Majestic Malta

The Grand Harbour of Valletta, Malta is a natural, deep sea port. We had read that it is one of the most spectacular ports in the world, thus we were up on deck early to witness Malta's magnificence.

While we were indeed awake, we certainly weren't presentable as you can see from Nic's well-slumbered bed head:

The city of Valletta is a UNESCO world heritage site and our excitement grew as the ship sailed closer to Malta. It was very windy up on deck but we didn't want to miss this once in a lifetime experience.

This hidden mickey is a welcoming sight:

Almost five centuries ago, the Knights of St. John built the city which now stands proudly as a living museum.

The Baroque architecture is breathtaking:

Awe-inspiring line of fortifications:

Valletta is the smallest capital in the European Union:

Modern civilization slips away:

Contemporary cruise ship sails by castles and limestone battlements:

Malta has 7,000 years of fascinating history.

Sailing into Malta was every bit as beautiful as we had anticipated. It was almost like sailing back in time. Standing up on the deck with Michael and Nicolas was a memory that I'll never forget.

After our arrival, we returned to our stateroom. Since it was still very early, Nicolas and I decided to rest while Michael got ready and then went ashore to check on some work emails. Free wi-fi at the local cafes located right off of the ship.

Yes, I crawled back in bed and read my book! It's vacation after all!

Later, we all went ashore to see Valletta.

Next, join us as we step off the ship into a contemporary culture that was first inhabited in 5000 B.C.

When You Wish Upon A Star

I'd like to thank the wonderful Cast Members at the WDW Moms Panel for inviting me to return as a panelist in 2011. I look forward to helping guests create magical vacations!

My journey began in 2008 and it's been a memorable one.

During this past year, I've missed the creative process of research and writing.

Soon, I'll be sharing more of my Disney cruise in the Mediterranean as well as some of my Disney memories. I hope to inspire families to travel to a Disney destination!

Let the memories begin!

Day at Sea in the Med!

There's lots happening aboard the Disney Magic during a Day at Sea. After our champagne brunch at Palo on Thursday, May 27, we stopped to admire the Princess Gathering in the Lobby Atrium.

At the Oceaneer Lab, we expected to find Nicolas playing a video game by now, impressively he was still playing chess with a new friend.

Time continued to slow down as we sailed the Mediterranean. We enjoyed the afternoon with a nap, browsing through the stores and attending a Guest Lecturer on Tunis. We missed the lecture on Valletta, Malta. Joseph G. Mayers described Tunis as the "Gateway to Africa". This was an adults-only lecture where we learned about the souks, Islamic treasures and the ancient city of Carthage.

After a wonderful day of entertainment and respite, we changed our attire from shipboard casual to formal. Formal night allows families to dress up and feel the luxurious side of cruising.

Our family went to the Walt Disney Theatre to see the 6:30 p.m. "Twice Charmed" show. It's the Cinderella with a twist. Fantastic! 

Nicolas returned to the Oceaneer Lab for the 7:30 p.m. Wonderful World of Magic program to see some of the "best known magic tricks and even some of the secrets".

Michael and I headed to Rockin' Bar D for the 7:45 p.m. family cabaret.

I had a banana daiquiri and Michael enjoyed a beer while watching the musical comedy of Smooth-E. Hilarious!

We had portraits taken on our way to dinner:

Tonight's menu was a Prince and Princess Dinner served in Lumiere's. 

I really enjoy Disney Cruise Line's rotational dining. Guests rotate each night to one of the 3 main sit-down restaurants and your servers rotate with you! Our assigned rotation worked very well as we were in the most formal of the restaurants on this evening.

The servers are extremely attentive to your children:

After a walk in the ocean breeze, some more Oceaneer Lab time for Nicolas and an order of room service cookies, we fell asleep once again in our cozy cabin. The next morning, we would arrive the impressive harbor of Valletta, Malta. We intended to be up on deck to enjoy the spectacular views.

Seafaring Solace

There are certain places that bring solace to one's soul. For me, it can be the warmth of friendship around a campfire. The cozy solitude of a mountain cabin. The Grand Floridian's lobby. A walk in an ocean breeze.

A day at sea on a luxurious cruise ship is just one of those places. 

As we left Spain behind us and sailed toward our first port of Malta, time slowed. Way down. We had a 10-day schedule of foreign ports and exotic excursions ahead of us. The excitement was intoxicating.

It was Thursday, May 27 and we were aboard a magical ship in the Mediterranean. After a great night's rest courtesy of the gentle rocking motion of a ship on a calm sea, we woke to a promising day. Our first expectation of fantastic food was met almost immediately when Michael and I visited Palo (the adults only restaurant) for brunch.

        I consider brunch at Palo to be a must while aboard the Disney Magic. Palo is located Deck 10 Aft and provides a 270-degree view of ocean splendor. Palo requires advance reservations and only serves guests over 18. The Northern Italian cuisine is as memorable as the view, while the exhibition kitchen evokes an exclusive experience.

The name Palo is taken from the poles of the Venice canals. And in this restaurant, the Venetian glass sparkles!

Palo is also the perfect place to enjoy romance because there is little chance that your child will have you paged while they are occupied in the Oceaneer Lab with fantastical games and activities. 

Upon arriving Palo on the Disney Magic, you may be greeted by Pietro. Pietro always says our surname, LaPaglia, in the true Italian pronunciation. I look forward to that authentic welcome on every cruise. Pietro led us to a beautiful table by the window.

After placing our order for Chicken Parmesan (the best I've ever had), we toured the mouth-watering buffet tables offering pastries, International cheeses, desserts, seafood and more.

Did I mention that this is a champagne brunch? 

I do believe that chocolate has magical powers too:

Upon exiting dragging ourselves out of Palo, we thanked Pietro for the wonderful table and slowly strolled toward the Oceaneer Lab to check on our son before attending a lecture on Valetta, Malta.