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 once you’re on board a Disney cruise: you could have the choice to e-book a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This manner, once you get off the ship, it’s barely much less miserable as a result of you realize 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 performed 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 acquired to get pleasure from Rome on both facet of our cruise! You can read about our Rome adventures here.)
7-night Disney Dream European cruise
We arrived on the Civitavecchia port by way of a personal automotive that the lodge booked fo us, and it was the quickest and most seamless boarding expertise. By 1:30pm, we have been on the pool, watching the kiddos swim and ingesting cocktails with buddies. (A professional tip from one in every of our good buddies: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and examine all the things 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 whole journey and after a few hours, your room shall be prepared with all your 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 acquired 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 a substitute, however it doesn’t matter what, your desk shall 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 have 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’ll be able to decide 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 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 unhealthy that we’d be inconveniencing them – however I’ve been interested in attempting 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 in the course of the meal, they’ve a *present* by which all of animations come to life on giant 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 having fun with exploring the ports on our personal and dwelling 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 value it. Additionally, within the center, we have been handled to an epic 4-course meal with wine pairings, overlooking the ocean.
Positano
Positano is one in every of my favourite locations in the whole world, so after all, I couldn’t wait to point out the ladies. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the possibility to get a chocolate croissant and low, put our ft within the ocean (it was so heat and wonderful), and do some little bit of procuring. (Extremely suggest Luisa Positano! Liv and I every acquired attire from there and so they’re so attractive and distinctive.) It was most likely an excellent factor that we have been on restricted time, as a result of I wished to purchase all the things. 😉
Sorrento
After Positano, we have 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 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.
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 the whole journey to Pompeii.
Pompeii
Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the varied facets of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and so on. By this level, the youngsters have been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized rather a lot in the course of 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 personal seashore membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seashore with brilliant, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extreme 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 point- and for this seashore tour, the information was like, “Eh. Have enjoyable and I’ll let you realize when we have to prepare to depart.” 
We ended up being there for about 3 hours, which was the proper period of time. All of us swam, the ladies 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 buddies 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 have been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down all the things phonetically so we’d be capable of pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I believe we made them proud; we tried nearly all the things they recommended between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unimaginable. So contemporary, vibrant, and scrumptious. I extremely, extremely suggest 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 didn’t find yourself doing a lot. It’s the place you may see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, however it was so sizzling, and the youngsters have been melting. It’s 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 automotive up the steep hill to the city of Fira (plenty of procuring and eating places). You may as well stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which is probably not sensible for babies or these with mobility difficulties. Our plan was to take the cable automotive UP, however stroll down the steps on the finish of the day.
The cable automotive line tends to be extraordinarily lengthy, with out a lot shade. The road was simply 200+ after we acquired there and transferring very slowly. The women have been sporting their neck fans and we have been always pouring water on them, and so they have been too sizzling, so we ended up heading again.
For those who’re stopping in Santorini in mid-June or July, I’d suggest reserving an tour with motor coach switch so that you don’t should take care of the cable automotive line. Or carry plenty 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’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 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 Previous 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 have been SO zesty and flavorful)
Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions
On the ship, we loved the entire standard Disney cruise choices: the dwell reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – films, character greetings, Bingo, health club, child’s membership, swimming, limitless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and the entire great eating places.
The perfect half was that we traveled with buddies. The women had built-in buddies, and so did the adults 😉 It positively makes the expertise much more enjoyable!
Disney actually goes above and past in relation 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!
(the very best cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)
So, inform me, buddies: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever performed a Disney cruise??
Making an attempt to determine which one we must always do subsequent!!
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 have been all nice
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