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 might have the choice to e book 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 realize you’ll be on one other one quickly. We acquired off the Disney Dream in Rome just a few weeks in the past, and already, we will’t look ahead to our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve accomplished 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 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 through a non-public automotive that the resort 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 associates. (A professional tip from considered one of 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 it is going to be for your 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 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 chew or room service as a substitute, 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 may as well order no matter you need. You’ll be able to choose from their 4-course menu, or in the event 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 stated they’ve had the perfect 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 inquisitive about making an attempt 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 in the course of 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 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 couple of 10-hour tour, which was positively a protracted 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 top-of-the-line port adventures.

Positano

Positano is considered one of my favourite locations in your complete world, so in fact, I couldn’t wait to indicate the women. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the possibility to get a chocolate croissant and occasional, put our ft within the ocean (it was so heat and beautiful), and do some little bit of procuring. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every acquired clothes from there and so they’re so attractive and distinctive.) It was in all probability factor that we had been on restricted time, as a result of I needed to purchase every little 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 considered one of Italy’s lovely historic cities, and whereas it had the Positano really feel, it was a bit extra bustling, particularly on the principle 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, purple 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 historic metropolis, along with the assorted facets of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and so on. By this level, the youngsters had been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized rather a lot 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 Seaside Day in Mykonos

This was our favourite tour, one of many highlights of the journeys.. Tremendous Paradise Seaside is a non-public seashore membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seashore with brilliant, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extraordinary winds that may have an effect on Mykonos. In case 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 seashore tour, the information was like, “Eh. Have enjoyable and I’ll let you realize 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 an inventory of every little thing to order whereas we had 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 feel we made them proud; we tried nearly every little thing they recommended between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unimaginable. 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, however it was so sizzling, and the youngsters had been melting. It’s sort 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 automotive up the steep hill to the city of Fira (numerous procuring and eating places). You may as well 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 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+ after we acquired there and transferring very slowly. The ladies had been sporting their neck fans and we had been continually pouring water on them, and so they had 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.

In case you’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 carry 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 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 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 Outdated City, which was lined with small retailers, 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 regular Disney cruise choices: the stay reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, gymnasium, child’s membership, swimming, countless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the fantastic eating places.

One of the 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 relation to visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. In case you 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.

(the perfect cruise ship magnets are on Etsy!)

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

xo

Gina

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