7-night Disney Dream Italy and Greece Mediterranean cruise

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 line ship: you have got the choice to e-book a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This fashion, if 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 acquired off the Disney Dream in Rome a number of weeks in the past, and already, we will’t anticipate our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve achieved Alaska, Bahamas/Caribbean, and Mexico), first one in Europe, and it was our favourite one (up to now! – this was written earlier than our current Disney cruise from Barcelona). It was a mix of the locations plus the bigger ship, which was a literal Dream stuffed with Disney magic.

(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 non-public automotive that the lodge booked for 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 consuming cocktails with associates. (A professional tip from one in all our good associates: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and examine every little thing else. Your room gained’t be prepared but, so you’ll be able to head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy will probably be for all the journey and after a few hours, your room might 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 acquired modified for the Muster Drill, Sail-A-Wave get together 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 might be ready for you. You even have the identical server and assistant server every evening. 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 too can order no matter you need. You possibly can 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 dwelling nation. They mentioned 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 dangerous that we’d be inconveniencing them – however I’ve been interested by 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* 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 and Disney characters.

On this explicit cruise, we stopped in at a number of ports of name for wonderful shore excursions: 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 few 10-hour tour, which was undoubtedly an extended 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. It was top-of-the-line port adventures.

Positano

Positano is one in all my favourite locations in all the 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 occasional, put our toes within the ocean (it was so heat and wonderful), and do some little bit of buying. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every acquired attire from there they usually’re so attractive and distinctive.) It was in all probability a superb factor that we have been on restricted time, as a result of I wished to purchase every little thing. 😉

Sorrento

After Positano, we have been again on the bus for an extended cease in Sorrento. It was my first time right here in one other one in all Italy’s lovely historic cities, 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. The complete household beloved it.

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 all the journey to Pompeii.

Pompeii

Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the varied features of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and so on. By this level, the children have been fairly drained, however they rallied! We discovered 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, one of many highlights of the journeys.. Tremendous Paradise Seashore is a non-public seaside membership, with stress-free loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seaside with vibrant, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extraordinary winds that may have an effect on Mykonos. For those who’re on this or one other one of many Greek isles cruises, it’s well worth the cease.

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 recognize when we have to prepare to depart.”

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 suit)

A sandwich was included with our tour, however I’m petty positive our Greek associates would disown us if we ate a turkey sandwich of their homeland.

Earlier than we left, they gave us a listing of every little thing to order whereas we have been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down every little thing phonetically so we’d be capable to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I believe we made them proud; we tried nearly every little thing they instructed 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 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 on my journey itineraries, the place you’ll be able to see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, nevertheless it was so sizzling, and the children have 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’re taking a cable automotive 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 is probably not life like 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+ once we acquired there and transferring very slowly. The ladies have been sporting their neck fans and we have been consistently pouring water on them, they usually have been too sizzling, so we ended up heading again.  We’ll need to catch the pure wonders of this island on one other go to.

For those who’re stopping in Santorini in mid-June or July, I’d advocate reserving an tour with motor coach switch so that you don’t need to take care of the cable automotive line. Or convey 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 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 frivolously candy and refreshing. Who knew I’d dream about Greece iced tea without end 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 an enormous piece of baklava to-go.

Chania:

In Chania, we ended up exploring on our personal, which was very best. 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 concept 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 reside reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, gymnasium, child’s membership, swimming, infinite ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and the entire fantastic eating places.

The most effective half was that we traveled with associates. 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 relating to visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. For those who guys have any questions concerning the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know! I’ve acquired tons of different nice ideas like a hassle-free debarkation (departure) to make your Disney fantasy come to life on the excessive seas.

(one of the best cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)

So, inform me, associates: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever achieved a Disney cruise??

Attempting to determine which one we should always do subsequent!! We’d nonetheless like to see Spain, Iceland, Athens, Florence, Norway, England, Eire, France…the listing goes on! So many potential unbelievable voyages (to not point out so many inland prospects like Germany or Northern Europe).

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