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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 once you’re on board a Disney cruise: you may have the choice to guide a placeholder for a future cruise at a slight low cost. This fashion, once 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 bought off the Disney Dream in Rome a number of weeks in the past, and already, we will’t anticipate our subsequent Disney cruise.
This was Disney cruise #4 (we’ve carried out 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 bought to take pleasure in Rome on both facet of our cruise! You may examine our Rome adventures right here.)
7-night Disney Dream European cruise
We arrived on the Civitavecchia port by way of a personal automobile that the lodge 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 in every of our good pals: pack your swim gear in a tote bag and test all the things else. Your room gained’t be prepared but, so you possibly can head straight to the pool. It’s the least busy will probably be for the whole journey and after a few hours, your room will probably 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 bought 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 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 may as well order no matter you need. You may 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 manner, 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, Surprise, 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.
On this specific 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 couple of 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.
Positano
Positano is one in every of my favourite locations in the whole world, so in fact, I couldn’t wait to indicate the ladies. I solely want that we had extra time there! We had the prospect to get a chocolate croissant and low, put our toes 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 bought attire from there they usually’re so attractive and distinctive.) It was in all probability 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 in Sorrento 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.
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 the whole 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 on. By this level, the children have been fairly drained, however they rallied! We discovered rather a lot throughout 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 personal 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 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 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.
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 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 have the ability to pronounce it, like, “Gotta lotta booty yo.” I feel we made them proud; we tried nearly all the things they instructed 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 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, however it was so scorching, 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 are taking a cable automobile up the steep hill to the city of Fira (a lot of buying and eating places). You may as well stroll up stairs to the highest, however there are 400+, which will not be life like 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+ after we bought there and transferring very slowly. The ladies have been carrying their neck followers and we have been always pouring water on them, they usually have been too scorching, so we ended up heading again.
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 deliver 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 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 without end 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 supreme. 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 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 standard Disney cruise choices: the dwell exhibits – 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 very best 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 relating to 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!
(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 carried out a Disney cruise??
Attempting to determine which one we should always do subsequent!!
xo
Gina
*All the 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
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