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’ve got the choice to ebook a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This fashion, once 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 acquired off the Disney Dream in Rome a couple of weeks in the past, and already, we will’t await 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 mix of the locations plus the bigger ship, which was a literal Dream.
(We additionally acquired to get pleasure from 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 by way of a personal 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 pals. (A professional tip from one in all our good pals: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and examine the whole lot else. Your room received’t be prepared but, so you possibly can head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy it is going to be for your entire journey and after a few hours, your room can 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 possibly can 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 can be ready for you. You even have the identical server and assistant server every night time. We had the early seating, and dined at all the main eating places. The menus have been all similar to earlier cruises and was the beautifully-plated Disney fare we love. 🙂
You too can order no matter you need. You possibly can choose from their 4-course menu, or if you happen to’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 house nation. They mentioned they’ve had the most effective 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 inquisitive about attempting it.
Our favourite is Animator’s Palate, which they’ve on all the 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* wherein all of animations come to life on massive screens all through the restaurant, dancing to the music, and added to well-known Disney scenes.
On this specific 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 couple of 10-hour tour, which was undoubtedly 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 one in all my favourite locations in your entire world, so in fact, I couldn’t wait to indicate 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 beautiful), and do some little bit of buying. (Extremely suggest Luisa Positano! Liv and I every acquired clothes from there and so they’re so attractive and distinctive.) It was most likely factor that we have been on restricted time, as a result of I wished to purchase the whole lot. 😉
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 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 so forth. By this level, the youngsters have been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized quite a bit 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 Seashore Day in Mykonos
This was our favourite tour. Tremendous Paradise Seashore is a personal seashore membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seashore with vibrant, 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 understand 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 pals would disown us if we ate a turkey sandwich of their homeland.
Earlier than we left, they gave us a listing of the whole lot to order whereas we have been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down the whole lot phonetically so we’d be capable to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I believe we made them proud; we tried virtually the whole lot 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 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 possibly can 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 automobile up the steep hill to the city of Fira (numerous buying and eating places). You too can stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which will not be lifelike 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 transferring very slowly. The ladies have been carrying their neck followers and we have been always pouring water on them, and so they have been too sizzling, so we ended up heading again.
In the event 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 take care of the cable automobile line. Or deliver 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 publish, 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 evenly candy and refreshing. Who knew I’d dream about Greece iced tea endlessly 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 splendid. 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 the most effective thought tea.
(The sardines have been SO zesty and flavorful)
Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions
On the ship, we loved all the standard Disney cruise choices: the dwell exhibits – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, health club, child’s membership, swimming, countless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the great eating places.
The perfect half was that we traveled with pals. The ladies 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. In the event you guys have any questions in regards to the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know!
(the most effective cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)
So, inform me, pals: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever finished a Disney cruise??
Making an attempt to determine which one we should always do subsequent!!
xo
Gina
*The entire clothes on this publish are from Nuuly! I’ve had hit or miss experiences with them, however the clothes for this journey have been all nice