Live (depends on internet!) Disney Dream Transatlantic, May 7-20, 2023. Miami to Barcelona! 🛳️

[Mparker12]

Thank you for these updates! We are leaving from B’ham, AL on Thursday to board on the Dream Saturday and these are so informative! 

[Cruise Kay]

you're going to love it!

 

This is our final sea day. Because of that, there are a few extra seminars in today's activities pushing services at the spa. Things like complementary facial rejuvenation sessions, complementary footprint analysis, stuff that will lead you to buy their products. That's totally understandable. But I'm not planning on going to any of those.

 

plenty of port stops coming up over the next few days!
 

Yesterday the Azores was picture perfect. I mean what an incredible place. I booked an excursion through Disney for a bus tour around the island overlooking Sete Cidades. It lasted about three hours. It was gorgeous and a great way to see the island. So much better than just walking around port. It was Sunday so most shops were closed and there wasn't much to do right at port.
 

At the end of our bus tour we had the option of going into a nice hotel right across from the ship and having a wine and cheese reception. I skipped that and went straight back to the ship. I spent the afternoon by the pool and enjoying the amazing sparkling blue water. This is a busy port and there was a lot going on. My tour was a success and based on the comments in my cruise group Facebook group, everybody loved the tours they booked as well. There were some whale and dolphin watching tours available and apparently they were quite successful and very exciting. People saw sperm whales, dolphins, turtles, and humped back whales.

 

We are four hours ahead of home and I just can't get with the time change so far, so I'm not sleeping well and staying up way too late and then sleeping till about eight or nine ship time.

 

when we dock in Barcelona, I am meeting my son and then getting on a Royal Caribbean ship the next day to do a week in the Mediterranean. I have been so wrapped up in this cruise I haven't even had time to think about that cruise or get excited properly. But I am! We have several fun excursions planned. Over the next few days I need to do laundry and get myself ready. 
 

there are a ton of people staying on board for the cruise following this one around the Mediterranean. A new friend I made on ship told me that she tried to book that cruise yesterday and was told it was sold out.

 

Some screenshots of today's activity, tonight's menu in my dining room, some optional "tastings," and some pictures from yesterday. Internet is crawling today. 

Edited May 15, 2023 by Cruise Kay

[G2G]

Thank you so much for your posts, they are so informative, I particularly like the menu snapshots. I can’t wait to board on the 27th. 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Love these!!! I'm sure the Azores was very happy to see a ship able to dock!! Most of the earlier crossings had to skip them due to weather!

[Cruise Kay]

it was a brisk windy day today and our final day at sea. Lots of port stops coming up and then we are off the ship on Saturday. I had a great day and there were many activities to choose from. This evening's show was the big Broadway style beauty and the beast. It was wonderful! I attended both showings so I skipped dinner in the main dining room for that and it was worth it. 

 

It probably goes without saying, but I'll just let you know. People start lining up for that show almost an hour ahead of time and they don't open the doors until about 15 minutes before show time. So if you want to come to the theater 10 or 15 minutes before the show starts you will be at the end of an extremely long line, I'm talking hundreds of people, and you will sit in the back. Not that it matters, the show is easy to see from wherever you sit, I'm just saying--if you are a large group you can't walk in at the last minute and expect to find chairs all together. And they say you're not allowed to save chairs so you can't just send one person ahead to save a bunch. Plan ahead!

 

another special thing they did today was have a "costume workshop" at the theater. It was an hour long informal presentation by the costume designer and her team. They brought out a table of wigs and a couple of costumes and talked about all of the thought and effort and process put into making all the various costumes. At the end they had some performers come out in really amazing beautiful costumes and let us look at them and talked about them a little bit. 

 

The performers were on stage, this was not a thing where you could get up close to them, and we were not allowed to take pictures. But it was so interesting. If they offer it again I recommend.

Bruce Kimbrell is on board and has given some presentations and gave one today. He has worked at the parks forever, and now he is a historian on the parks that does presentations about different things regarding Disney World. Super fascinating and he's an amazing speaker. Great slideshow as well. If he's on board, definitely go to his lectures.

 

there was a towel folding class today, origami, lots of live music and such.
 

Around midnight the ship started rocking and bumping quite a bit and it's still going almost 2 hours later. We must be in some rough water!

 

I'm going to hold off posting any screenshots tonight since Internet is dragging so bad. It took forever just to load this page. Tomorrow is Lisbon!

Edited May 16, 2023 by Cruise Kay

[Cruise Kay]

We are in Cadiz, Spain today. It's a cold windy day and I'm feeling a little rundown so I'm gonna stay on the ship. Plenty of activities today. Here's a screenshot of some of the activities, and some of the menu offered in the main dining room for lunch.

[Cruise Kay]

Malaga today. There is a free cruise port shuttle into the city center. From there you can walk to the historic cathedral or you can just walk around town. The architecture is interesting and there are tons of shops and places to eat.
tomorrow is the last full day already!

[Cruise Kay]

Final day of the cruise! I rested up and watch movies outside all day, pack my bags and I'm ready to go. Thanks for sailing along with me! Look what was in my State room when I got here tonight… They gave us all this limited edition print. They did this on the last transAtlantic as well. It's beautiful. Final screenshot of tonight's dinner menu and a few activities. Tonight was the show "believe." It was very good. Golden Mickey's was the best by far though. 
 

I appreciate everyone who took the time to read and I hope this was helpful.

[nextcruiseis]

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Glad you were able to enjoy it despite the ear infection. I hope you are spending a few days exploring beautiful Barcelona and its surroundings. 

[G2G]

Thank you sooooo much for your taking us with you on your transatlantic journey. It has been so informative and I cant wait to board next Saturday. Have a fabulous cruise around the Med with your son.