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 if you’re on board a Disney cruise line ship: you could have the choice to e book a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This fashion, if you get off the ship, it’s barely much less miserable as a result of you recognize you’ll be on one other one quickly. We acquired off the Disney Dream in Rome just a few weeks in the past, and already, we are able to’t await our subsequent Disney cruise.
This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve completed Alaska, Bahamas/Caribbean, and Mexico), first one in Europe, and it was our favourite one (thus far! – this was written earlier than our latest Disney cruise from Barcelona). It was a mixture of the locations plus the bigger ship, which was a literal Dream filled with Disney magic.
(We additionally acquired to take pleasure in Rome on both aspect of our cruise! You may examine our Rome adventures right here.)
7-night Disney Dream European cruise
We arrived on the Civitavecchia port through 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 consuming cocktails with pals. (A professional tip from one in every of our good pals: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and test all the things else. Your room received’t be prepared but, so you’ll be able to head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy it is going to be for all the journey and after a few hours, your room might 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 acquired modified for the Muster Drill, Sail-A-Wave social gathering 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 may choose out of your extra formal eating to have a fast chunk or room service as an alternative, however it doesn’t matter what, your desk might be ready for you. You even have the identical server and assistant server every evening. We had the early seating, and dined at all the main eating places. The menus had been all similar to earlier cruises and was the beautifully-plated Disney fare we love. 🙂
You may as well order no matter you need. You may choose from their 4-course menu, or should you’d like, order two appetizers, two entrees, and so on. 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 residence nation. They mentioned they’ve had one of the best Indian meals and curries of their lives this fashion, 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 in attempting it.
Our favourite is Animator’s Palate, which they’ve on all the ships we’ve seen (Dream, Marvel, and Magic). You draw an individual in your placemat, and throughout the meal, they’ve a *present* through 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 specific cruise, we stopped in at a number of ports of name for superb 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 positively a protracted one for the kiddos, however so price 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 one in every of my favourite locations in all the world, so in fact, I couldn’t wait to indicate the women. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the prospect to get a chocolate croissant and occasional, put our toes within the ocean (it was so heat and wonderful), and do some little bit of buying. (Extremely suggest Luisa Positano! Liv and I every acquired attire from there and so they’re so beautiful and distinctive.) It was in all probability factor that we had been on restricted time, as a result of I needed to purchase all the things. 😉
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 one in every of Italy’s lovely historic cities, and whereas it had the Positano really feel, it was a bit extra bustling, particularly on the principle avenue. 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 beloved 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, pink wine, and a dessert wine. Just about everybody in our tour group snoozed for all the trip to Pompeii.
Pompeii
Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the assorted elements of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and so on. By this level, the children had been fairly drained, however they rallied! We discovered so much throughout the guided tour, and from right here, it was solely 45 minutes again to the cruise ship.
Tour 2: Tremendous Paradise Seaside Day in Mykonos
This was our favourite tour, one of many highlights of the journeys.. Tremendous Paradise Seaside is a personal seashore membership, with stress-free loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seashore with brilliant, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extraordinary winds that may have an effect on Mykonos. In case you’re on this or one other one of many Greek isles cruises, it’s definitely 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 seashore tour, the information was like, “Eh. Have enjoyable and I’ll let you recognize when we have to prepare to depart.” 
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.
(My fave Vuori swimsuit)
A sandwich was included with our tour, however I’m petty positive 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 all the things to order whereas we had been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down all the things phonetically so we’d be capable to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I believe we made them proud; we tried virtually all the things they urged between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unimaginable. So recent, vibrant, and scrumptious. I extremely, extremely suggest 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’ll be able to 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 type of an uncommon port, too. You’re taking a smaller tender boat to the bottom of the port, the place you’re taking a cable automobile up the steep hill to the city of Fira (numerous buying and eating places). You may as well stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which will not be sensible for young children 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 acquired there and shifting very slowly. The ladies had been carrying their neck followers and we had been always pouring water on them, and so they had been too scorching, so we ended up heading again. We’ll need to catch the pure wonders of this island on one other go to.
In case you’re stopping in Santorini in mid-June or July, I’d suggest reserving an tour with motor coach switch so that you don’t need to cope with the cable automobile line. Or convey 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 put up, 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 calmly candy and refreshing. Who knew I’d dream about Greece iced tea ceaselessly and ever??)
The proprietor additionally introduced us photographs of ouza with our invoice, ice lotions for everybody, and despatched us again to the ship with an enormous piece of baklava to-go.
Chania:
In Chania, we ended up exploring on our personal, which was perfect. We adopted a tour information group into Previous City, which was lined with small retailers, kiosks, eating places, and a beautiful view of the bay.
We purchased souvenirs and jewellery, and had one other legendary lunch + extra of one of the best thought tea.
(The sardines had been SO zesty and flavorful)
Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions
On the ship, we loved all the typical Disney cruise choices: the stay exhibits – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, fitness center, child’s membership, swimming, countless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the fantastic eating places.
The very best half was that we traveled with pals. The ladies had built-in buddies, and so did the adults 😉 It positively makes the expertise much more enjoyable!
Disney actually goes above and past relating to visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. In case you guys have any questions in regards to the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know! I’ve acquired tons of different nice ideas like a hassle-free debarkation (departure) to make your Disney fantasy come to life on the excessive seas.
(one of the best cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)
So, inform me, pals: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever completed a Disney cruise??
Making an attempt to determine which one we should always do subsequent!! We’d nonetheless like to see Spain, Iceland, Athens, Florence, Norway, England, Eire, France…the record goes on! So many potential unimaginable voyages (to not point out so many inland potentialities like Germany or Northern Europe).
xo
Gina
*All the attire on this put up are from Nuuly! I’ve had hit or miss experiences with them, however the attire for this journey had been all nice
