Disney Cruise Line’s Enchanting Disney Dream

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Exploring Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream

Experience a world of entertainment that surpasses traditional cruise expectations, with beloved Disney characters enriching the journey. The atmosphere caters inclusively to diverse family configurations, coupled with an impressive variety of dining options and thoughtful excursions designed to enhance guest interactions with each destination visited.

Last year marked significant milestones for my family—my mother celebrated her 80th birthday, my sister turned 50, and our nephew reached 16. Our aspirations for a large family celebration were compromised by conflicting schedules and responsibilities. However, when the chance to tour the Mediterranean presented itself, I eagerly planned a special mother-daughter getaway.

More than two decades ago, our first cruise was in the Caribbean, and I had also recently enjoyed a trip with my nephew aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship. While the brand is renowned for its family-friendly approach, I found myself questioning whether the Disney Dream would cater to our adult preferences as well.

Fortunately, those concerns were unfounded.

Upon boarding, we immediately felt at home. After settling into our cabin, we embarked on a tour of the Disney Dream. We discovered pools, a water coaster, shops, theaters, restaurants, and bars. Notably, the ship was less populated with children than anticipated, as our cruise was a special event for Disney Vacation Club Members. The timing of our mid-May voyage contributed to a smaller group, resulting in a quieter atmosphere aboard a ship capable of accommodating a much larger number of passengers.

While Disney Vacation Club has partnered with Disney Cruise Line for over 20 years, these member-specific sailings still receive limited attention. Our trip marked the inaugural member cruise to be held in Europe. Disney executives indicated they are exploring new itineraries, including a 2025 member cruise scheduled aboard the Disney Dream, which will be the first to dock in Cozumel, Mexico, as part of a five-day Western Caribbean itinerary.

To set the Disney Vacation Club Member cruises apart from standard offerings, Disney Cruise Line and Club officials implement enhanced entertainment and exclusive performances. For instance, during our trip, we attended a preview of “Young Woman and the Sea,” and experienced performances from Disney Legends and Broadway stars such as Paige O’Hara, Susan Egan, Ashley Brown, Michael James Scott, Kissy Simmons, and Josh Strickland.

In addition to these unique experiences, we availed ourselves of the extensive entertainment that the ship and its offerings have to provide. While we missed the presence of our nephew, we thoroughly enjoyed our time as adults. Below is my comprehensive review of Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream.

Accommodations

The cabins on the Disney Dream are tailored for family convenience, featuring practical layouts. Certain larger staterooms offer a split bathroom design, with one area dedicated to a toilet and sink while another includes a tub-shower combination and an additional sink.

There are a total of 10 room types organized into four categories. The smallest options include inside and ocean view cabins ranging from 169 to 241 square feet, while rooms with private verandas span from 246 to 306 square feet in the Concierge category.

The Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah offers a separate bedroom and two bathrooms within 622 square feet, whereas the Concierge Royal Suites with Verandah maintain the same design in more than double the space, at 1,781 square feet, accommodating up to five guests.

At the pinnacle of luxury is the 2,030-square-foot Duplex Concierge Dream Tower Suite that can host up to eight and features two main bedrooms, a children’s room with bunk beds, and four and a half bathrooms.

Dining Venues and Beverage Options

Cabanas serves as the primary buffet-style dining venue for breakfast and lunch on the Disney Dream. It’s a casual setting, yet it presents a wide array of choices, including salads, burgers, pizza, diverse vegetarian options, seafood, and robust entrée dishes. Notably, my mother favored the chocolate soft-serve ice cream.

The dining experience on Disney Cruise Line is distinctive in that guests rotate through three themed restaurants along with their assigned waitstaff, making stops at Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, and Royal Palace.

Additional dining options include Flo’s Café, featuring pizza and grill items inspired by “Cars,” and sweets at Vanellope’s Sweets & Treats. For morning refreshments, Vista Café offers coffee and pastries, while Bon Voyage in the Atrium serves coffee and juices.

Two specialty restaurants designated for adults onboard include Palo, which serves Northern Italian cuisine during dinner and brunch on most sea days, and Remy, offering French dining for dinner alongside a Champagne brunch and a five-course dessert experience.

Throughout the ship, the culinary team excels at accommodating dietary restrictions. For instance, my sister, who is dairy intolerant, received the next night’s menu every evening so she could select her dishes in advance, allowing the chefs adequate time to make necessary adjustments.

The Disney Dream also offers numerous locations for beverages. D Lounge stands out as a family-friendly space featuring karaoke, trivia, and dance events. Adults have dedicated options including Pub 687, a sports bar ambiance; the District Lounge, a piano bar; Pink Wine and Champagne Bar; and Evolution, a lively dance club with entertainment. Cove Café serves as an adults-only coffee and tea bar during the day, transforming into a lounge by night with cocktails, wine, and light snacks available.

Cruise Destinations

The Disney Dream embarks on cruises varying from three to 13 days and travels through regions such as the Caribbean and Europe—including exciting stops in Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom—while also offering repositioning voyages across the Atlantic.

The ship also hosts themed sailing events throughout the year, featuring experiences like Marvel Day at Sea, Halloween on the High Seas, and Very Merrytime.

Shore Excursions

Disney Cruise Line structures its excursions under the banner of Port Adventures, which encompass a range of experiences from iconic tours spotlighting prominent attractions in a locale to culinary explorations and more active adventures. We participated in two excursions during our cruise, the first being a visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa followed by a walking tour of Florence.

As it was my sister’s inaugural visit to Italy, we also engaged in an all-day “Best of Rome” tour, covering highlights such as the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and the Forum; we ventured inside the Colosseum and also stopped by Vatican City.

At select destinations, Disney Cruise Line provides adults-only Port Adventures as well.

Amenities and Entertainment Options

Boredom is simply not an option aboard the Disney Dream. Guests can engage with Broadway-style adaptations of beloved Disney stories, view the latest films in the onboard theater, hear live music, mingle with characters, and enjoy vibrant deck parties and fireworks displays.

The ship features various boutiques and shops, along with pools and unique attractions such as AquaDuck, a water coaster traversing the ship, and a sports deck equipped with miniature golf, basketball, and shuffleboard facilities.

Although we did not travel with children, the Disney Dream includes dedicated spaces for younger guests. “It’s a small world” nursery welcomes infants and toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years, while Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab cater to children aged 3 to 10. Tweens have a designated area in Edge, while teenagers can enjoy their space in Vibe, with combined areas available in The Hideaway. All children’s facilities are supervised by trained Disney staff.

Couples and adults can access various amenities, including a fitness center, Senses Spa, the Quiet Cove Pool, and inviting outdoor spaces like Satellite Falls and the Sun Deck.

Family-Focused Features

It is evident that Disney Dream—and more generally, the Disney Cruise Line experience—is well-optimized for families. Every detail is thoughtfully crafted to ensure families feel comfortable and welcome. What truly impressed me, as part of a family traveling adult-only this time, was our sense of inclusion and welcome throughout the journey.

Accessibility Features

Disney Cruise Line has instituted comprehensive accessibility measures for guests aboard Disney Dream. Most decks can be accessed via elevators, and accessible staterooms are equipped with 32-inch-wide doorways, emergency call buttons, ramped thresholds in bathrooms, open bed frames, roll-in showers, and grab bars.

Select Port Adventures are specifically designed with accessibility in mind, offering suitable vehicles, easily traversable pathways, and minimal stair requirements. For further information on accessibility initiatives, you can review Disney Cruise Line’s detailed accessibility resources on their website.

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