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 while you’re on board a Disney cruise line ship: you may have 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 realize you’ll be on one other one quickly. We obtained off the Disney Dream in Rome a couple of weeks in the past, and already, we are able to’t look forward to our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve completed Alaska, Bahamas/Caribbean, and Mexico), first one in Europe, and it was our favourite one (thus far! – 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 obtained 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 through a personal automobile that the lodge booked for 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 consuming cocktails with mates. (A professional tip from one in all our good mates: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and test every thing else. Your room gained’t be prepared but, so you possibly can head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy it will likely 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 may 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 will likely 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 had been all similar to earlier cruises and was the beautifully-plated Disney fare we love. 🙂

You too can order no matter you need. You may decide 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 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, Surprise, and Magic). You draw an individual in your placemat, and through the meal, they’ve a *present* during 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 residing our greatest cruise lives on the ship.

Tour 1: Positano, Sorrento, and Pompeii

This was a few 10-hour tour, which was undoubtedly a protracted one for the kiddos, however so value it. Additionally, within the center, we had been handled to an epic 4-course meal with wine pairings, overlooking the ocean. It was among the finest port adventures.

Positano

Positano is one in all my favourite locations in the 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 possibility to get a chocolate croissant and low, put our toes within the ocean (it was so heat and beautiful), and do some little bit of buying. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every obtained clothes from there and so they’re so beautiful and distinctive.) It was most likely a very good factor that we had been on restricted time, as a result of I wished to purchase every thing. 😉

Sorrento

After Positano, we had 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 principle 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 liked 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, purple 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 facets of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and many others. By this level, the children had been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized loads through 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, one of many highlights of the journeys.. Tremendous Paradise Seaside 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. For those who’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 realize 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.

(My fave Vuori suit)

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

Earlier than we left, they gave us an inventory of every thing to order whereas we had been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down every thing phonetically so we’d be capable of pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I feel we made them proud; we tried nearly every thing 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 advocate 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 possibly can see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, but it surely was so sizzling, and the children had been melting. It’s type 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 automobile up the steep hill to the city of Fira (a number of buying and eating places). You too can stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which might not be practical 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 obtained there and transferring very slowly. The ladies had been carrying their neck fans and we had been always pouring water on them, and so they had been too sizzling, so we ended up heading again.  We’ll should 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 should cope with the cable automobile line. Or carry 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 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 perpetually 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 excellent. We adopted a tour information group into Outdated City, which was lined with small outlets, 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 traditional Disney cruise choices: the stay exhibits – 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 most effective half was that we traveled with mates. 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. For those who guys have any questions concerning the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know! I’ve obtained tons of different nice ideas like a hassle-free debarkation (departure) to make your Disney fantasy come to life on the excessive seas.

(the perfect cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)

So, inform me, mates: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever completed 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 record goes on! So many potential unbelievable voyages (to not point out so many inland potentialities like Germany or Northern Europe).

xo

Gina

*All the clothes on this put up are from Nuuly! I’ve had hit or miss experiences with them, however the clothes for this journey had been all nice