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 whenever you’re on board a Disney cruise: you will have the choice to e-book a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This manner, whenever 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 look ahead to our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve finished Alaska, Bahamas, and Mexico), and it was our favourite one. It was a mix of the locations plus the bigger ship, which was a literal Dream.

(We additionally obtained to get pleasure from 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 automobile that the resort booked fo 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 one among our good pals: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and verify all the pieces else. Your room received’t be prepared but, so you’ll be able to head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy will probably be for all the journey and after a few hours, your room will likely 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 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 possibly can 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 the entire main eating places. The menus have been all similar to earlier cruises and was the beautifully-plated Disney fare we love. 🙂

You too can order no matter you need. You possibly can decide from their 4-course menu, or when you’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 stated 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 inquisitive about making an attempt it.

Our favourite is Animator’s Palate, which they’ve on the entire 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.

On this explicit cruise, we stopped in 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 value it. Additionally, within the center, we have been handled to an epic 4-course meal with wine pairings, overlooking the ocean.

Positano

Positano is one among my favourite locations in all the 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 low, put our ft within the ocean (it was so heat and beautiful), and perform a little little bit of procuring. (Extremely suggest Luisa Positano! Liv and I every obtained clothes from there and so they’re so beautiful and distinctive.) It was most likely an excellent 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 in Sorrento and whereas it had the Positano really feel, it was a bit extra bustling, particularly on the primary 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.

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 historical metropolis, along with the varied points 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. Tremendous Paradise Seashore is a non-public seashore membership, with enjoyable loungers, umbrellas, a full menu, and a peaceable seashore with vivid, turquoise waters. It’s additionally partially blocked from the extreme winds that may have an effect on Mykonos.

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 you understand when we have to prepare to go away.”

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 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 all the pieces to order whereas we have been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down all the pieces 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 pieces they prompt 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 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 the place you’ll be able to see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, but it surely was so scorching, 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 (numerous procuring and eating places). You too can stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which will not be practical 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+ once we obtained there and shifting very slowly. The ladies have been carrying their neck fans and we have been always pouring water on them, and so they have been too scorching, so we ended up heading again.

If you happen to’re stopping in Santorini in mid-June or July, I’d suggest reserving an tour with motor coach switch so that you don’t must take care of the cable automobile line. Or deliver 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 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 flippantly 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 very best. 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 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 the entire typical Disney cruise choices: the dwell reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, gymnasium, child’s membership, swimming, limitless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and the entire fantastic eating places.

The perfect 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 relation to visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. If you happen to guys have any questions concerning the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know!