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 might 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 realize you’ll be on one other one quickly. We obtained off the Disney Dream in Rome a couple of weeks in the past, and already, we will’t look forward to our subsequent Disney cruise.

This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve performed 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 ingesting cocktails with associates. (A professional tip from one in every of our good associates: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and verify every part else. Your room received’t be prepared but, so you possibly can head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy it will likely be for your entire journey and after a few hours, your room shall be prepared with your entire 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 obtained modified for the Muster Drill, Sail-A-Wave social gathering 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 chunk or room service as an alternative, however it doesn’t matter what, your desk shall 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 too can order no matter you need. You possibly can 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 dwelling 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 by 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 through 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.

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 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.

Positano

Positano is one in every of my favourite locations in your entire world, so in fact, I couldn’t wait to point out the ladies. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the prospect 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 purchasing. (Extremely suggest Luisa Positano! Liv and I every obtained clothes from there and so they’re so beautiful and distinctive.) It was most likely factor that we have been on restricted time, as a result of I needed to purchase every part. 😉

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 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.

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 your entire trip to Pompeii.

Pompeii

Pompeii was SO cool. It was fascinating to see such a well-preserved historic metropolis, along with the varied facets of life in Pompeii, just like the bakery, bathhouses, and so on. By this level, the youngsters have been fairly drained, however they rallied! We discovered loads through 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. Tremendous Paradise Seaside 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 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 seaside 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 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 associates would disown us if we ate a turkey sandwich of their homeland.

Earlier than we left, they gave us a listing of every part to order whereas we have been in Greece. The Pilot wrote down every part phonetically so we’d have the ability to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I feel we made them proud; we tried virtually every part they prompt between our time in Mykonos and Chania. The meals was out of this world unbelievable. So recent, 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 the place you possibly can see the well-known white buildings with the blue domes in Oia, but it surely was so sizzling, and the youngsters 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 are taking a cable automobile up the steep hill to the city of Fira (plenty of purchasing and eating places). You too can stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which will not be reasonable 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 obtained there and transferring very slowly. The women 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.

For those who’re stopping in Santorini in mid-June or July, I’d suggest reserving an tour with motor coach switch so that you don’t should cope with the cable automobile line. Or carry 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 publish, 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 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 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 concept tea.

(The sardines have been SO zesty and flavorful)

Disney Cruise Dream eating and actions

On the ship, we loved all the traditional Disney cruise choices: the stay reveals – Magnificence and the Beast was phenomenal – motion pictures, character greetings, Bingo, health club, child’s membership, swimming, countless ice cream cones and Mickey bars, whiskey tastings, and all the fantastic eating places.

The perfect half was that we traveled with associates. The women had built-in buddies, and so did the adults 😉 It undoubtedly makes the expertise much more enjoyable!

Disney actually goes above and past in the case of visitor expertise, cleanliness, and meals high quality. For those who guys have any questions concerning the Disney cruise expertise, please let me know!