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 may have the choice to ebook a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This fashion, whenever you get off the ship, it’s barely much less miserable as a result of 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 are able to’t await our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve executed 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 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 automotive 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 ingesting cocktails with pals. (A professional tip from certainly one of our good pals: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and verify all the things else. Your room gained’t be prepared but, so you possibly can head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy will probably be for all the 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 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’ll be able to decide out of your extra formal eating to have a fast chunk or room service as a substitute, however it doesn’t matter what, your desk can 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. 🙂

It’s also possible to order no matter you need. You’ll be able to choose 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 house nation. They mentioned they’ve had the most effective Indian meals and curries of their lives this fashion, 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 interested by 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 through the meal, they’ve a *present* by which 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 specific 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 price it. Additionally, within the center, we had been handled to an epic 4-course meal with wine pairings, overlooking the ocean. It was probably the greatest port adventures.

Positano

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

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 certainly one 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 complete household cherished it.

That is the place we had the well-known zucchini pasta, together with hen, 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 all the journey 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 on. By this level, the children had been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized rather a lot through 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 stress-free loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seashore with shiny, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extreme winds that may have an effect on Mykonos. In the event you’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 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 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 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 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 things to order whereas we had been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down all the things phonetically so we’d be capable to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I feel we made them proud; we tried virtually all the things they recommended between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unimaginable. So recent, 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 on my journey itineraries, the place you possibly can see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, nevertheless it was so scorching, and the children 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 automotive up the steep hill to the city of Fira (plenty of purchasing and eating places). It’s also possible to stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which is probably not lifelike for young children 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 had been carrying their neck fans and we had been continually pouring water on them, they usually had been too scorching, so we ended up heading again.  We’ll should catch the pure wonders of this island on one other go to.

In the event 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 should cope with the cable automotive 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 publish, 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 calmly candy and refreshing. Who knew I’d dream about Greece iced tea eternally and ever??)

The proprietor additionally introduced us photographs 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 excellent. 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 the most effective thought tea.

(The sardines had been SO zesty and flavorful)

Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions

On the ship, we loved all the typical Disney cruise choices: the dwell exhibits – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, health club, child’s membership, swimming, countless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the fantastic eating places.

The very best half was that we traveled with pals. 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 terms of visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. In the event you guys have any questions in regards to 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.

(the most effective 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??

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 unimaginable voyages (to not point out so many inland prospects like Germany or Northern Europe).

xo

Gina

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