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 if you’re on board a Disney cruise line ship: you might have the choice to ebook a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This fashion, if you get off the ship, it’s barely much less miserable as a result of you understand you’ll be on one other one quickly. We obtained off the Disney Dream in Rome just a few weeks in the past, and already, we are able to’t watch for our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve performed Alaska, Bahamas/Caribbean, and Mexico), first one in Europe, and it was our favourite one (to this point! – 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 filled with Disney magic.

(We additionally obtained to get pleasure from 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 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 pals. (A professional tip from certainly one of our good pals: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and test every little thing else. Your room gained’t be prepared but, so you may head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy it is going to be for the complete journey and after a few hours, your room can be prepared with your entire 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 get together 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 choose 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 night time. 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 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 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 house nation. They stated 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 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, Surprise, 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 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 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 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 among the finest port adventures.

Positano

Positano is certainly one of my favourite locations in the complete world, so after all, 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 perform a little little bit of purchasing. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every obtained attire from there they usually’re so attractive and distinctive.) It was most likely an excellent factor that we have been on restricted time, as a result of I needed to purchase every little thing. 😉

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 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 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, pink wine, and a dessert wine. Just about everybody in our tour group snoozed for the complete journey to Pompeii.

Pompeii

Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the assorted points of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and many others. By this level, the children have 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 non-public seaside membership, with stress-free 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. For those who’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 understand 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 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 pals 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 have 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 believe we made them proud; we tried nearly every little thing they prompt between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unimaginable. 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 may see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, nevertheless it was so sizzling, and the children have been melting. It’s form 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 lot of purchasing and eating places). You may as well stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which is probably not sensible 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 obtained there and shifting very slowly. The ladies have been sporting their neck fans and we have been consistently pouring water on them, they usually have 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 take care of the cable automobile line. Or convey a lot 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 actually 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 endlessly 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 best. 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 ordinary Disney cruise choices: the stay exhibits – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – films, character greetings, Bingo, gymnasium, child’s membership, swimming, countless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and the entire great eating places.

The perfect half was that we traveled with pals. 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 on the subject of visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. For those who guys have any questions in regards to the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know! I’ve obtained 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, pals: are you a cruise fan or not-so-much? Have you ever performed 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 listing goes on! So many potential unimaginable voyages (to not point out so many inland potentialities like Germany or Northern Europe).

xo

Gina

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