Med Cruise Expenses

As of today, we're also booked with Rome in Limo for transfer from the airport to the port. The driver will pick us up at the airport then stop by the Rome Hilton to pick up the other 2 couples that are sharing this ride with us. No deposit was required but it is guaranteed on my business Capital One Mastercard. Payment in Euros will be due when we arrive at the port. I'm waiting to hear back on whether or not these same couples will share a ride back to the airport with us.

I also received confirmation and an itinerary from Italy Limousine Luxury Car Service: "first to the pasta making factory that make the pasta the old way by hand /then Mozerella
( MARIO knows some really great local resturants where we go to eat they do not have internet sites as they work mainly with us locals but real italian cuisine like our gradmothers used to prepare and cook then onto Pompeii then onto Positano (if there is time ravello ) need se how mach time in pompii etc ". Well, typos aside, this excursion sounds like a lot of fun...

Here are the expenses thus far for our Med cruise:

Cost of cruise for 2 adults, Celebrity, Galaxy, concierge class, cabin 1102 booked in January 2008 (8 months prior to departure): $5146.74

Cost of air for 2 adults, United airlines, coach class, round trip OKC/Rome booked in January 2008: $2916.30

Rome to Civitavecchia transport, Rome in Limo, 6 adults sharing: $28.33 Euros per person = $87.87

Messina wine tour through Celebrity: $94 per person = $188.00

Athens private tour, Spiros taxi service, 8 adults sharing: $56.25 Euros per person = $174.44

Ephesus private tour, Ekol travel, 8 adults sharing: $65 per person = $130.00

Naples private tour, Italy Limousine Luxury Car Service, 6 adults sharing: 63.33 Euros per person = $196.33

Cruise gratuity: $11 per person, per day = $220.00

Private tour gratuities: $3 per person/half day or $5 per person/full day = $42.00

2 Mobal GSM phones: $373.00 (-$60 call credit) = $313.00

Total (not including meals, souvenirs, etc): $9414.68

I probably shouldn't count this as a Med cruise expense but I did just invest in a new ultra compact digital camera today to replace my Fuji Finepix A820 which has been driving me bananas for the last year or so. I just purchased a Panasonic Lumix TZ5 for $264.90 and free shipping. 9.1 megapixels with 10X optical zoom and a 3" LCD, intelligent auto mode, HD output, digital red eye correction, face detection, and optical image stabilization. Woo hoo! Can't wait to get my hands on this new camera and try it out on our Santa Fe backpacking trip!

A few more links that I've been reading planning for this trip:

6 most popular ways to call home while travelling

8 top tips for travel packing and luggage

79 travel tips