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 will have the choice to guide a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This manner, if you get off the ship, it’s barely much less miserable as a result of you already know you’ll be on one other one quickly. We received off the Disney Dream in Rome just a few weeks in the past, and already, we are able to’t look ahead to 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 (to date! – 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 filled with Disney magic.

(We additionally received 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 personal automotive that the lodge 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 ingesting cocktails with buddies. (A professional tip from one in every of our good buddies: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and examine all the things 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 entire journey and after a few hours, your room will probably 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 received 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 chew 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 evening. 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 choose 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 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 inquisitive about 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 throughout the meal, they’ve a *present* wherein 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 residing our greatest cruise lives on the ship.

Tour 1: Positano, Sorrento, and Pompeii

This was a few 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 best port adventures.

Positano

Positano is one in every of my favourite locations in your entire world, so after all, I couldn’t wait to indicate the women. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the prospect to get a chocolate croissant and occasional, put our ft within the ocean (it was so heat and wonderful), and perform a little little bit of buying. (Extremely advocate Luisa Positano! Liv and I every received clothes from there and so they’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 needed to purchase all the things. 😉

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 every of Italy’s lovely 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 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 your entire trip to Pompeii.

Pompeii

Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the assorted elements of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and so forth. By this level, the youngsters have been fairly drained, however they rallied! We realized so much throughout 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 seaside membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seaside with shiny, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extreme 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 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 you already know 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 buddies would disown us if we ate a turkey sandwich of their homeland.

Earlier than we left, they gave us a listing of all the things to order whereas we have 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 believe we made them proud; we tried nearly all the things they advised 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 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 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 are taking a cable automotive up the steep hill to the city of Fira (a number of buying and eating places). You can even stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which will not be sensible 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 received there and shifting very slowly. The ladies have been sporting their neck fans and we have been consistently pouring water on them, and so they have been too sizzling, so we ended up heading again.  We’ll must 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 must cope with the cable automotive line. Or convey 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 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 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 an enormous 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 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 most effective thought tea.

(The sardines have been SO zesty and flavorful)

Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions

On the ship, we loved all the ordinary Disney cruise choices: the dwell reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, gymnasium, child’s membership, swimming, infinite ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the great eating places.

The most effective half was that we traveled with buddies. 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 received 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, buddies: 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 checklist goes on! So many potential unbelievable voyages (to not point out so many inland prospects 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