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 manner, while 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 just a few 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 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 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 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 non-public 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 consuming cocktails with mates. (A professional tip from one in all our good mates: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and test all the pieces else. Your room gained’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 will probably be prepared with your whole 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 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 choose 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 will probably 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 may decide from their 4-course menu, or for those who’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 residence 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 unhealthy 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, Surprise, and Magic). You draw an individual in your placemat, and in the course of 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 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 few 10-hour tour, which was undoubtedly a protracted one for the kiddos, however so price 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 finest port adventures.

Positano

Positano is one in all my favourite locations in your complete world, so after all, I couldn’t wait to indicate the ladies. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the possibility to get a chocolate croissant and occasional, put our toes within the ocean (it was so heat and beautiful), and perform a little little bit of purchasing. (Extremely suggest Luisa Positano! Liv and I every acquired clothes from there they usually’re so attractive and distinctive.) It was in all probability a superb factor that we have been on restricted time, as a result of I wished to purchase all the pieces. 😉

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 stunning 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, crimson wine, and a dessert wine. Just about everybody in our tour group snoozed for your complete experience to Pompeii.

Pompeii

Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historical metropolis, along with the assorted features 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 loads 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 non-public seaside membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seaside with brilliant, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extraordinary winds that may have an effect on Mykonos. Should 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 seaside tour, the information was like, “Eh. Have enjoyable and I’ll let 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 certain 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 all the pieces to order whereas we have been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down all the pieces phonetically so we’d be capable of pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I feel we made them proud; we tried nearly all the pieces they steered between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unbelievable. So contemporary, 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 may see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, however it was so sizzling, and the children have 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 automobile up the steep hill to the city of Fira (plenty of purchasing and eating places). You can even stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which will not be lifelike 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+ once we acquired there and transferring very slowly. The ladies have been sporting their neck fans and we have been continually pouring water on them, they usually have 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.

Should 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 convey 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 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 evenly 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 a large piece of baklava to-go.

Chania:

In Chania, we ended up exploring on our personal, which was preferrred. We adopted a tour information group into Outdated 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 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 standard Disney cruise choices: the reside reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – films, character greetings, Bingo, health club, child’s membership, swimming, limitless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the great eating places.

One of the best 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 relating to visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. Should you guys have any questions concerning 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, mates: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever carried out a Disney cruise??

Making an attempt 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 submit are from Nuuly! I’ve had hit or miss experiences with them, however the clothes for this journey have been all nice