After several very full days exploring Spain, our first sea day arrived at exactly the right time. There were no alarms, no motorcoaches waiting for us and no historic sites to tour. We had an entire day aboard the Disney Dream with absolutely nowhere we needed to be. In short, it was a dream.
One thing I’ve learned after so many Disney cruises is that I don’t need to fill a sea day with activities to feel like I’m getting the most out of it. In fact, on a port intensive European itinerary like this one, I think the slower days are part of what makes the trip work so well.
Spain with Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line
Day 1: Arriving in Barcelona & Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Gothic Quarter, Park Güell & La Sagrada Família
Day 3: Montserrat, Flamenco & Viva Espana!
Day 4: Farewell Barcelona, Hello Disney Dream
Day 5: Cartagena
Day 6: Malaga & Granada
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: Santiago de Compostela
Day 9: Betanzos and A Coruña
Day 10 & 11: At Sea
A Morning at Senses Spa
My day started with a massage at Senses Spa, which might be my favorite possible way to begin a sea day.
After days of walking, touring and trying to absorb as much of Spain as we possibly could, an hour at the spa felt GLORIOUS. There is something particularly wonderful about getting a massage while your hotel is quietly carrying you across the sea to your next destination.
By the time I left Senses, I had absolutely no ambition to accomplish anything else for the foreseeable future.
An Afternoon of Absolutely Nothing
I spent most of the afternoon reading, and it was every bit as lovely as it sounds. We also played a few rounds of cards as a family. Whit worked out, hung with friends and watched a movie.
I think it can be tempting on a Disney cruise to look at the Navigator and feel like you should be doing something all the time. There are activities happening from morning until night, and you certainly could fill every minute if that’s how your family likes to vacation. But by this point, this was my 21st Disney cruise, and I knew that some of my favorite days onboard were the ones when I didn’t try to do everything.
Dinner at Remy
That evening, we traded our very casual sea day for something completely different: dinner at Remy. Remy is the adults only fine dining restaurant aboard the Disney Dream, and dinner there is an experience rather than simply a meal. The service is incredibly attentive, the courses are beautifully presented and the entire evening moves at a wonderfully leisurely pace.
Our timing that night made it even more special. As we settled in for dinner, the sun began to set over the water. The sea outside the windows glittered in the evening light while course after course arrived at our table, and it was one of those moments when I remember looking around and thinking that there was nowhere else I would rather be.
The food was divine, the sunset was spectacular and we had nowhere to rush off to afterward.
The Sea Days Matter Too
After experiencing two Disney European itineraries, the best part is not simply the destinations, it’s also the balance. A Disney cruise through Europe gave us the opportunity to have huge travel days filled with history, culture and places we had dreamed about seeing, but it also gave us days like this one. We didn’t have to pack another suitcase, change hotels or figure out transportation to the next city. While we rested, the Disney Dream kept moving. By the time we went to bed, we were rested, very well fed and ready for whatever was waiting for us when we woke up the next morning.
Planning a Disney Cruise in Europe?
By the time we took this trip, I had sailed with Disney Cruise Line 21 times, on every Disney ship at least twice and in Concierge on every ship. I’ve sailed Disney itineraries in the Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, and those experiences have taught me that there really isn’t one “best” Disney cruise.
The best cruise is the one that’s right for your family.
That is where firsthand experience matters. When my clients ask me about ships, itineraries, staterooms, Concierge, adult dining, Port Adventures or how to balance busy touring days with time to actually enjoy the ship, my recommendations come from having experienced these things myself.
My planning services are complimentary when you book your Disney cruise with me, and I’ll help you look at the entire vacation rather than simply choosing a sailing.
If a Disney cruise in Europe is on your family’s bucket list, I’d love to help you find the ship, itinerary and stateroom that are the right fit for you.
Up next: Santiago de Compostela and a day that turned out to be even more special than we expected.
