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 useful little trick once you’re on board a Disney cruise: you may 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 recognize 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 are able to’t await our subsequent Disney cruise.
This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve executed 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 obtained to get pleasure from Rome on both aspect of our cruise! You’ll be able to examine our Rome adventures right here.)
7-night Disney Dream European cruise
We arrived on the Civitavecchia port by way of a non-public automobile that the lodge booked fo 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 ingesting cocktails with pals. (A professional tip from one among our good pals: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and verify all the pieces 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 the complete journey and after a few hours, your room will likely be prepared with your whole 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 celebration 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 choose 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 likely 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 can too 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 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 mentioned they’ve had the perfect 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 inquisitive about 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* wherein 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 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 one among my favourite locations in the complete world, so in fact, I couldn’t wait to indicate the ladies. 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 beautiful), and perform a little little bit of purchasing. (Extremely suggest Luisa Positano! Liv and I every obtained attire from there and so they’re so beautiful and distinctive.) It was in all probability a superb factor that we had been on restricted time, as a result of I needed to purchase all the pieces. 😉
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’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, crimson wine, and a dessert wine. Just about everybody in our tour group snoozed for the complete experience to Pompeii.
Pompeii
Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the assorted features 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 realized 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. Tremendous Paradise Seaside is a non-public 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 once 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 go away.” 
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 positive our Greek pals would disown us if we ate a turkey sandwich of their homeland.
Earlier than we left, they gave us an inventory of all the pieces to order whereas we had been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down all the pieces 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 pieces they recommended between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unbelievable. So contemporary, 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 the place you possibly can see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, however it was so scorching, and the youngsters had been melting. It’s sort of an uncommon port, too. You are 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 (plenty of purchasing and eating places). You can too stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which might not be reasonable 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 shifting very slowly. The ladies had been carrying their neck followers and we had been consistently pouring water on them, and so they had been too scorching, so we ended up heading again.
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 must cope with the cable automobile 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 put up, 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 frivolously candy and refreshing. Who knew I’d dream about Greece iced tea eternally and ever??)
The proprietor additionally introduced us pictures 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 ultimate. We adopted a tour information group into Outdated 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 perfect concept tea.
(The sardines had been SO zesty and flavorful)
Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions
On the ship, we loved all the ordinary Disney cruise choices: the dwell exhibits – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – films, character greetings, Bingo, health club, child’s membership, swimming, countless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the great eating places.
One of the 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 in terms of visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. In case you guys have any questions concerning the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know!
(the perfect cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)
So, inform me, pals: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever executed a Disney cruise??
Making an attempt to determine which one we must always do subsequent!!
xo
Gina
*The entire 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
