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 am excited to share our expertise.
They’ve a useful little trick while you’re on board a Disney cruise: you’ve gotten 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 is barely much less miserable as a result of you understand you will be on one other one quickly. We bought off the Disney Dream in Rome a number of weeks in the past, and already, we will not look forward to our subsequent Disney cruise.
This was Disney cruise #4 (we have achieved Alaska, Bahamas, and Mexico), and it was our favourite one. It was a mixture of the locations plus the bigger ship, which was a literal dream.
(We additionally bought to take pleasure in Rome on both aspect of our cruise! You possibly can examine our Rome adventures right here.)
7-night Disney Dream European cruise
We arrived on the Civitavecchia port through a non-public 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 youngsters swim and ingesting cocktails with mates. (A professional tip from certainly one of our good mates: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and test all the things else. Your room will not be prepared but, so you possibly can head straight to the pool. It is the least busy will probably be for your entire journey and after a few hours, your room will probably be prepared with your entire baggage ready for you exterior the door.)
We had lunch from Cabanas (the buffet) and ate it by the pool, checked out our room, after which bought modified for the Muster Drill, Sail-A-Wave get together and dinner.
On Disney cruises, you are on a eating rotation. You get the early (6pm) or late (8pm) seating, and alternate eating places every night. You possibly can 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 possibly can choose from their 4-course menu, or if you would 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 one of the best Indian meals and curries of their lives this fashion, together with naan and rice. We have not tried this but – I really feel unhealthy that we might be inconveniencing them – however I have been interested in making an attempt it.
Our favourite is Animator’s Palate, which they’ve on the entire ships we have seen (Dream, Marvel, and Magic). You draw an individual in your placemat, and through the meal, they’ve a *present* during which the entire animations come to life on massive screens all through the restaurant, dancing to the music, and added to well-known Disney scenes.
On this explicit cruise, we stopped in Naples, Mykonos, Santorini, and Chania, and we had deliberate excursions in Naples and Mykonos. The remainder of the time we take pleasure in 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 youngsters, however so price it. Additionally, within the center, we had been handled to an epic 4-course meal with wine pairings, overlooking the ocean.
Positano
Positano is certainly one of my favourite locations in your entire world, so in fact, I could not 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 ft within the ocean (it was so heat and wonderful), and perform a little little bit of purchasing. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every bought clothes from there they usually’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 all the things. 😉
Sorrento
After Positano, we had been again on the bus for an extended cease in Sorrento. It was my first time in Sorrento and whereas it had the Positano really feel, it was a bit extra bustling, particularly on the primary avenue. We shopped and walked round, grabbed a gelato, after which met with our tour group for an Italian meal that I will always remember.
That is the place we had the well-known zucchini pasta, together with rooster, 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 your entire journey 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 forth. By this level, the youngsters had been fairly drained, however they rallied! We discovered lots through 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. Tremendous Paradise Seaside is a non-public seaside membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seaside with vibrant, turquoise waters. It is also partially blocked from the extraordinary winds that may have an effect on Mykonos.
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 level – and for this seaside tour, the information was like, “Eh. Have enjoyable and I will let you understand when we have to prepare to go away.” 
We ended up being there for about 3 hours, which was the proper 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 go well with)
A sandwich was included with our tour, however I am petty positive our Greek mates would disown us if we ate a turkey sandwich of their homeland.
Earlier than we left, they gave us an inventory of all the things to order whereas we had been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down all the things phonetically so we would be able to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I feel we made them proud; we tried nearly all the things they prompt between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unbelievable. So contemporary, vibrant, and scrumptious. I extremely, extremely advocate the pastitsio, which is sort of a spaghetti lasagna with tacky foam on high.
(We additionally had grilled octopus, salad, cooked garlicky greens, stuffed grape leaves, beef patties, and little doughnuts)
Santorini:
In Santorini, we did not find yourself doing a lot. It is the place you possibly can see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, but it surely was so sizzling, and the youngsters had been melting. It is form of an uncommon port, too. You’re 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 (a lot of purchasing and eating places). You can even stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which is probably not real looking 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 bought there and transferring very slowly. The women had been sporting their neck followers and we had been consistently pouring water on them, they usually had been too sizzling, so we ended up heading again.
For those who’re stopping in Santorini in mid-June or July, I might advocate reserving an tour with motor coach switch so you do not have to take care of the cable automobile line. Or deliver a lot of 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 is brewed in-house, or in a can, it is really one thing particular. Many flavors are infused with lemongrass, ginger, or fruit, like cherry, and frivolously candy and refreshing. Who knew I might dream about Greece iced tea eternally 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 superb. 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 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 the entire traditional Disney cruise choices: the reside reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, fitness center, child’s membership, swimming, infinite ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and the entire great eating places.
One of the best half was that we traveled with mates. 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 with regards to visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. For those who guys have any questions in regards to the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know!
(one of the best cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)
So, inform me, mates: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever achieved a Disney cruise??
Attempting to determine which one we must always do subsequent!!
xo
Gina
*All the clothes on this submit are from Nuuly! I’ve had hit or miss experiences with them, however the clothes for this journey had been all nice
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