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 while you’re on board a Disney cruise line ship: you’ve got the choice to guide a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This fashion, while 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 look ahead to our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve carried out 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 mixture of the locations plus the bigger ship, which was a literal Dream stuffed with Disney magic.

(We additionally acquired to take pleasure in 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 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 all our good associates: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and examine all the things else. Your room received’t be prepared but, so you may head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy it will likely be for your complete journey and after a few hours, your room can 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 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’ll be able to decide 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 can 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 can too order no matter you need. You’ll be able to choose from their 4-course menu, or when you’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 the most effective Indian meals and curries of their lives this manner, 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 the entire ships we’ve seen (Dream, Marvel, 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 giant 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 residing our greatest cruise lives on the ship.

Tour 1: Positano, Sorrento, and Pompeii

This was a couple of 10-hour tour, which was positively 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 the most effective port adventures.

Positano

Positano is one in all my favourite locations in your complete world, so after all, I couldn’t wait to point out the ladies. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the prospect to get a chocolate croissant and low, put our toes within the ocean (it was so heat and wonderful), and perform a little little bit of buying. (Extremely suggest Luisa Positano! Liv and I every acquired attire from there they usually’re so attractive and distinctive.) It was in all probability an excellent factor that we have been on restricted time, as a result of I needed 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 all Italy’s lovely historic cities, 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. The complete household cherished 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 your complete trip to Pompeii.

Pompeii

Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historical metropolis, along with the assorted facets 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 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 personal seaside membership, with stress-free loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seaside with vivid, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extreme winds that may have an effect on Mykonos. When you’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 after 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 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 have the ability to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I believe we made them proud; we tried virtually all the things they prompt between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unbelievable. 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 on my journey itineraries, the place you may see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, nevertheless it was so scorching, and the youngsters have been melting. It’s type of an uncommon port, too. You’re 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 number of buying 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+ after we acquired there and transferring very slowly. The ladies have been sporting their neck fans and we have been always pouring water on them, they usually have been too scorching, so we ended up heading again.  We’ll need to catch the pure wonders of this island on one other go to.

When 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 a number 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 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 Previous City, which was lined with small outlets, kiosks, eating places, and a stunning 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 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, infinite ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and the entire fantastic eating places.

The very best half was that we traveled with associates. 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 the case of visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. When you 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.

(the most effective cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)

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