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 useful little trick whenever you’re on board a Disney cruise line ship: you’ve the choice to e-book a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This manner, whenever you get off the ship, it’s barely much less miserable as a result of you already know 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 look forward to our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve finished Alaska, Bahamas/Caribbean, and Mexico), first one in Europe, and it was our favourite one (thus far! – this was written earlier than our latest 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 aspect of our cruise! You can read about our Rome adventures here.)

7-night Disney Dream European cruise

We arrived on the Civitavecchia port through a personal automobile that the resort 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 ingesting cocktails with associates. (A professional tip from one in every of our good associates: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and verify all the things 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 the whole journey and after a few hours, your room might 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 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 decide 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 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 can even order no matter you need. You possibly can decide from their 4-course menu, or when 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 house 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 in 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* by which 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 specific cruise, we stopped in at a number of ports of name for superb 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 couple of 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 among the best port adventures.

Positano

Positano is one in every of my favourite locations in the whole 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 low, put our ft within the ocean (it was so heat and wonderful), and do some little bit of purchasing. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every acquired attire from there they usually’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 right here in one other one in every of Italy’s stunning 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 entire 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 the whole experience to Pompeii.

Pompeii

Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the assorted facets of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and so forth. By this level, the children have been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized lots throughout 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 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 extraordinary winds that may have an effect on Mykonos. If you happen to’re on this or one other one of many Greek isles cruises, it’s definitely worth the cease.

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 already know 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.

(My fave Vuori suit)

A sandwich was included with our tour, however I’m petty certain 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 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 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, but it surely was so scorching, and the children have been melting. It’s form 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 (a lot of purchasing and eating places). You can even stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which might not be practical 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+ after we acquired there and transferring very slowly. The women have been sporting their neck fans and we have been continually pouring water on them, they usually have been too scorching, so we ended up heading again.  We’ll should catch the pure wonders of this island on one other go to.

If you happen to’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 deliver 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 actually 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 endlessly 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 superb. 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 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 all the typical Disney cruise choices: the dwell reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, health club, child’s membership, swimming, limitless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the great eating places.

The perfect half was that we traveled with associates. The women had built-in buddies, and so did the adults 😉 It undoubtedly makes the expertise much more enjoyable!

Disney actually goes above and past in relation to visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. If you happen to guys have any questions in regards to the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know! I’ve acquired tons of different nice suggestions 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 finished a Disney cruise??

Attempting to determine which one we must 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

*All the 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