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: you’ve the choice to ebook a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This manner, if you get off the ship, it’s barely much less miserable as a result of you understand you’ll be on one other one quickly. We obtained off the Disney Dream in Rome just a few weeks in the past, and already, we will’t look forward to our subsequent Disney cruise.
This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve finished 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 obtained to take pleasure in Rome on both facet 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 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 mates. (A professional tip from certainly one of our good mates: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and test every thing else. Your room received’t be prepared but, so you’ll be able to head straight to the pool. It’s 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 outdoors the door.)
We had lunch from Cabanas (the buffet) and ate it by the pool, checked out our room, after which obtained 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 possibly can decide out of your extra formal eating to have a fast chunk or room service as a substitute, 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 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 possibly can decide from their 4-course menu, or for those who’d like, order two appetizers, two entrees, and many others. 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 haven’t tried this but – I really feel unhealthy 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, Marvel, and Magic). You draw an individual in your placemat, and through the meal, they’ve a *present* during 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 residing our greatest cruise lives on the ship.
Tour 1: Positano, Sorrento, and Pompeii
This was a few 10-hour tour, which was positively an extended one for the kiddos, however so price it. Additionally, within the center, we have 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 after all, I couldn’t wait to point out the women. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the possibility to get a chocolate croissant and low, put our toes within the ocean (it was so heat and beautiful), and do some little bit of buying. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every obtained clothes from there they usually’re so beautiful and distinctive.) It was in all probability a very good factor that we have been on restricted time, as a result of I needed to purchase every thing. 😉
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 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.
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 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 many others. By this level, the youngsters have been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized lots through 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. Tremendous Paradise Seashore is a non-public seaside membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seaside with shiny, turquoise waters. It’s additionally 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 once 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 understand 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.
(My fave Vuori go well with)
A sandwich was included with our tour, however I’m petty certain our Greek mates would disown us if we ate a turkey sandwich of their homeland.
Earlier than we left, they gave us a listing of every thing to order whereas we have been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down every thing phonetically so we’d be capable to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I feel we made them proud; we tried virtually every thing they recommended 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 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’ll be able to see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, however it was so scorching, and the youngsters have been melting. It’s type of an uncommon port, too. You are 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 (a lot of buying and eating places). You may as well stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which might 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+ once we obtained there and transferring very slowly. The women have been sporting their neck followers and we have been continually pouring water on them, they usually have been too scorching, so we ended up heading again.
Should 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 should take care of the cable automobile line. Or carry 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’s brewed in-house, or in a can, it’s really one thing particular. Many flavors are infused with lemongrass, ginger, or fruit, like cherry, and flippantly candy and refreshing. Who knew I’d dream about Greece iced tea without end 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 ideally suited. 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 have been SO zesty and flavorful)
Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions
On the ship, we loved the entire normal Disney cruise choices: the stay reveals – 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 the entire great eating places.
The perfect half was that we traveled with mates. 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 the case of visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. Should you 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 finished 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 have been all nice
