Sharing a recap of our 7-night Mediterranean cruise (Italy and Greece) on the Disney Dream! This isn’t sponsored (I want, lol), however I’m excited to share our expertise.
They’ve a helpful little trick while you’re on board a Disney cruise line ship: you will have the choice to e-book a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This manner, while you get off the ship, it’s barely much less miserable as a result of you already know you’ll be on one other one quickly. We received off the Disney Dream in Rome a couple of weeks in the past, and already, we will’t look ahead to our subsequent Disney cruise.
This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve accomplished Alaska, Bahamas/Caribbean, and Mexico), first one in Europe, and it was our favourite one (to date! – this was written earlier than our current Disney cruise from Barcelona). It was a mixture of the locations plus the bigger ship, which was a literal Dream stuffed with Disney magic.
(We additionally received to take pleasure in Rome on both aspect of our cruise! You’ll be able to examine our Rome adventures right here.)
7-night Disney Dream European cruise
We arrived on the Civitavecchia port by way of a personal automobile that the resort booked for us, and it was the quickest and most seamless boarding expertise. By 1:30pm, we had been on the pool, watching the kiddos swim and ingesting cocktails with pals. (A professional tip from considered one of our good pals: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and verify every part else. Your room received’t be prepared but, so you may head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy it will likely be for the complete journey and after a few hours, your room will probably be prepared with your entire baggage ready for you outdoors the door.)
We had lunch from Cabanas (the buffet) and ate it by the pool, checked out our room, after which received modified for the Muster Drill, Sail-A-Wave occasion and dinner.
On Disney cruises, you’re on a eating rotation. You get the early (6pm) or late (8pm) seating, and alternate eating places every night. You’ll be able to decide out of your extra formal eating to have a fast chew or room service as an alternative, however it doesn’t matter what, your desk will probably be ready for you. You even have the identical server and assistant server every night time. We had the early seating, and dined at the entire main eating places. The menus had been all similar to earlier cruises and was the beautifully-plated Disney fare we love. 🙂
You can even order no matter you need. You’ll be able to decide from their 4-course menu, or for those who’d like, order two appetizers, two entrees, and so forth. In a Disney Cruise Fb group, a suggestion was to ask the server to ask the cooks in the event that they’d thoughts making a family-style meal from their dwelling nation. They stated they’ve had the very best Indian meals and curries of their lives this manner, together with naan and rice. We haven’t tried this but – I really feel dangerous that we’d be inconveniencing them – however I’ve been interested by making an attempt it.
Our favourite is Animator’s Palate, which they’ve on the entire ships we’ve seen (Dream, Surprise, and Magic). You draw an individual in your placemat, and throughout the meal, they’ve a *present* by which all of animations come to life on massive screens all through the restaurant, dancing to the music, and added to well-known Disney scenes and Disney characters.
On this explicit cruise, we stopped in at a number of ports of name for wonderful shore excursions: Naples, Mykonos, Santorini, and Chania, and we had deliberate excursions in Naples and Mykonos. The remainder of the time we having fun with exploring the ports on our personal and residing our greatest cruise lives on the ship.
Tour 1: Positano, Sorrento, and Pompeii
This was a couple of 10-hour tour, which was undoubtedly a protracted one for the kiddos, however so value it. Additionally, within the center, we had been handled to an epic 4-course meal with wine pairings, overlooking the ocean. It was the most effective port adventures.
Positano
Positano is considered one of my favourite locations in the complete world, so in fact, I couldn’t wait to indicate the women. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the possibility to get a chocolate croissant and occasional, put our ft within the ocean (it was so heat and beautiful), and do some little bit of buying. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every received attire from there and so they’re so beautiful and distinctive.) It was in all probability a great factor that we had been on restricted time, as a result of I needed to purchase every part. 😉
Sorrento
After Positano, we had been again on the bus for an extended cease in Sorrento. It was my first time right here in one other considered one of Italy’s lovely historic cities, and whereas it had the Positano really feel, it was a bit extra bustling, particularly on the primary road. We shopped and walked round, grabbed a gelato, after which met with our tour group for an Italian meal that I’ll always remember. The entire household liked it.
That is the place we had the well-known zucchini pasta, together with hen, salad, bread, and a chocolate hazelnut mousse dessert.
The meal was paired with glowing wine, white wine, purple wine, and a dessert wine. Just about everybody in our tour group snoozed for the complete experience to Pompeii.
Pompeii
Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the assorted features of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and so forth. By this level, the children had been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized loads throughout the guided tour, and from right here, it was solely 45 minutes again to the cruise ship.
Tour 2: Tremendous Paradise Seashore Day in Mykonos
This was our favourite tour, one of many highlights of the journeys.. Tremendous Paradise Seashore is a personal seaside membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seaside with vivid, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extraordinary winds that may have an effect on Mykonos. When you’re on this or one other one of many Greek isles cruises, it’s well worth the cease.
The humorous factor was that our Naples tour was so time-specific – we knew precisely after we wanted to be again on the bus or at a sure assembly point- and for this seaside tour, the information was like, “Eh. Have enjoyable and I’ll let you already know when we have to prepare to go away.” 
We ended up being there for about 3 hours, which was the right period of time. All of us swam, the women performed within the sand and waves, and we proceeded to order half of the issues on the menu.
A sandwich was included with our tour, however I’m petty certain our Greek pals would disown us if we ate a turkey sandwich of their homeland.
Earlier than we left, they gave us a listing of every part to order whereas we had been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down every part phonetically so we’d be capable to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I believe we made them proud; we tried virtually every part they steered between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unimaginable. So recent, vibrant, and scrumptious. I extremely, extremely advocate the pastitsio, which is sort of a spaghetti lasagna with tacky foam on prime.
(We additionally had grilled octopus, salad, cooked garlicky greens, stuffed grape leaves, beef patties, and little doughnuts)
Santorini:
In Santorini, we didn’t find yourself doing a lot. It’s on my journey itineraries, the place you may see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, but it surely was so scorching, and the children had been melting. It’s form of an uncommon port, too. You are taking a smaller tender boat to the bottom of the port, the place you are taking a cable automobile up the steep hill to the city of Fira (numerous buying and eating places). You can even stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which will not be sensible for babies or these with mobility difficulties. Our plan was to take the cable automobile UP, however stroll down the steps on the finish of the day.
The cable automobile line tends to be extraordinarily lengthy, with out a lot shade. The road was simply 200+ after we received there and shifting very slowly. The women had been sporting their neck followers and we had been consistently pouring water on them, and so they had been too scorching, so we ended up heading again. We’ll must catch the pure wonders of this island on one other go to.
When you’re stopping in Santorini in mid-June or July, I’d advocate reserving an tour with motor coach switch so that you don’t must cope with the cable automobile line. Or carry numerous water + an umbrella, or courageous the steps!
(I had an iced tea on the cafe on the backside of the port. I discussed this in a earlier submit, however the iced tea in Greece is INSANE. Whether or not it’s brewed in-house, or in a can, it’s actually one thing particular. Many flavors are infused with lemongrass, ginger, or fruit, like cherry, and evenly candy and refreshing. Who knew I’d dream about Greece iced tea eternally and ever??)
The proprietor additionally introduced us pictures of ouza with our invoice, ice lotions for everybody, and despatched us again to the ship with a large piece of baklava to-go.
Chania:
In Chania, we ended up exploring on our personal, which was supreme. We adopted a tour information group into Outdated City, which was lined with small retailers, kiosks, eating places, and a stunning view of the bay.
We purchased souvenirs and jewellery, and had one other legendary lunch + extra of the very best concept tea.
(The sardines had been SO zesty and flavorful)
Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions
On the ship, we loved the entire standard Disney cruise choices: the reside reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – films, character greetings, Bingo, fitness center, child’s membership, swimming, infinite ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and the entire great eating places.
The most effective half was that we traveled with pals. The women had built-in buddies, and so did the adults 😉 It undoubtedly makes the expertise much more enjoyable!
Disney actually goes above and past in the case of visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. When you guys have any questions concerning the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know! I’ve received tons of different nice suggestions like a hassle-free debarkation (departure) to make your Disney fantasy come to life on the excessive seas.
(the very best cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)
So, inform me, pals: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever accomplished a Disney cruise??
Making an attempt to determine which one we must always do subsequent!! We’d nonetheless like to see Spain, Iceland, Athens, Florence, Norway, England, Eire, France…the listing goes on! So many potential unimaginable voyages (to not point out so many inland potentialities like Germany or Northern Europe).
xo
Gina
*The entire attire on this submit are from Nuuly! I’ve had hit or miss experiences with them, however the attire for this journey had been all nice
