
I went on my first Disney cruise with classy champagne bars, watercoasters and West End-style shows
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'IT'S Cinderella!' a young girl exclaims, rushing past.
Nostalgia floods over me when I turn around to find the fairytale princess floating towards us in her dazzling blue ballgown complete with shimmering tiara.
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I may be in my late twenties but I can't help feeling giddy with excitement over meeting one of my childhood icons
Credit: Alice Penwill
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Aladdin is one of the West End-style productions in the onboard theatre on the ship
Credit: Steven Diaz Photo LLC
I may be in my late twenties but I can't help feeling giddy with excitement over meeting one of my childhood icons.
And this magic happens everyday on a Disney Cruise.
I was on board the Disney Fantasy sailing across the Med as the ship embarked on its first ever season in Europe.
It's easy to see why they named her Fantasy.
As I explored the 14-deck vessel, I still had to pinch myself as I regularly came face-to-face with other childhood heroines I'd grown up watching, such as Jasmine and Mulan.
Many kids relished the opportunity to don their favourite princess costumes every day.
However, I wasn't expecting the cruise to be such a big hit with the adults, too.
In fact, there are so many adult-only areas around the ship where parents, couples or solo travellers can kick back and relax, away from the excited giggles.
The spa is a haven away from the action with heated loungers and rainforest showers as well as a Jacuzzi that looked out over the endless ocean.
For a sophisticated evening, classy champagne bar Ooh La La serves elegant tipples like the Elderbubble, a champagne and elderflower concoction topped with a raspberry.
An All-New Adventure Is On The Horizon
Or there's the Irish-inspired, O'Gills, and lively club-bar, while The Tube serves drinks late into the night.
Aside from the watering holes, there are two adult-exclusive restaurants too — Remy, which dishes up fancy French plates in a glam setting, and Italian-style Palo which serves traditional dishes but with a modern twist.
For a properly-personalised experience, though, check out the three main restaurants: Royal Court, Animator's Palate and Enchanted Garden, which serve three-course dinners as part of the 'rotational dining'.
This gives guests the same waiting staff every night who will get to know likes and dislikes and suggest dishes accordingly.
I had the lovely Sheree from the Philippines who made sure everyone was thoroughly fed, and Adroy from India who gave our table puzzles every night to keep us entertained.
When it comes to on board activities, the list is as long as Rapunzel's hair, with everything from Disney trivia quizzes to crafts, silent discos, and character meet-and-greets.
It would take weeks do them all.
Luckily, on day one I'd met a passenger who was on her fourth Disney cruise and was happy to share all of her tops tips.
It's from her that I learned about the onboard tradition of 'pixie dusting'.
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The stunning adults-only Cove pool is one of the areas where parents can get some respite
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The impressive 14-deck Disney Fantasy cruise liner lives up to it's name
Experienced guests spread the Disney love by leaving little goodie bags filled with either soft toys, door magnets or smaller knick-knacks on fish extenders attached to neighbouring cabin doors.
They don't expect anything in return. It's simply a gesture of goodwill.
The magic continued up on the top deck where many of my days were spent flopped on a sunbed, soaking up rays and tucking into ice cream, all while watching Disney favourites on the outdoor screen where films are played on rotation from morning til night.
To cool off, there are three small pools, one of which is adults-only, and the famous AquaDuck — a 765-foot long water coaster, which features on several ships in the fleet.
Or you can head inside to watch one of the West End-style productions in the onboard theatre.
I saw amazing shows like Aladdin and Frozen as well as Disney's Believe, a musical exclusive to Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream which didn't leave a dry eye in the room.
If that's not enough Disney for you, guests can get stuck into themed evenings, including a formal night where fans waltzed around in glittering ballgowns, as well as pirate night.
Although, to my relief, you won't be judged if dress-up isn't your thing.
I was having so much fun on board, I'd almost forgotten that we would soon be docking in a new destination.
My trip started in Barcelona and we'd had an action-packed day at sea before arriving at the first stop, Civitavecchia, a quiet costal town an hour away from Italy's bustling Rome.
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A stop off in Italy allowed Alice to see the famous landmark of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Credit: Alice Penwill
Then it was on to the port of Livorno where I joined an excursion into Pisa.
Soon, I was standing outside of the famous Leaning Tower, snapping away with my hands held up, replicating the famous leaning pose.
Despite being the most recognisable view, the tower still didn't compare to the one at the next stop, Genoa.
From D'Albertis Castle, a fortress carved into the hillside, I was able to look out over pastel-toned buildings, backed by rugged mountains, with the sea in the distance.
Those who have the energy can climb their way to the top on foot but I chose to take the funicular.
Our final stop was Toulon in France's Provence region, a haven for wine lovers and the perfect place to toast our Disney adventure.
If Disneyland is the happiest place in the world, then the Disney Fantasy must be the happiest place on the Mediterranean Sea.
GO: DISNEY FANTASY
SAILING THERE: From late July to September, the Disney Fantasy will sail from Southampton on three to eight-night sailings around Europe.
In summer 2026, the Disney Dream returns to Europe for Mediterranean cruises.
A three-night cruise on board Disney Fantasy costs from £243pp per night based on two adults and two kids sharing a cabin in August.
For more information, see disneycruise.disney.go.com/en-gb.
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It seems to be a staple in Melania's closet, too, as she has been seen wearing it multiple times over the past few years She also wore the bag in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London At the time, the couple were headed off to Mar-a-Lago, where they stayed when their days in The White House were over. She also wore the bag in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London. She paired it with her favorite Celine trench coat, but it was the bag, which has gold detail on it, that really made a statement. Floral Dolce & Gabbana jacket: $51,500 In 2017, Melania pulled out all the stops as she donned a dramatic coat by Dolce & Gabbana that was covered in silk, 3D floral appliques. Oh, and did we mention that it cost $51,500? According to Business Insider, just purchasing the jacket cost a deposit of $25,750. She wore the colorful jacket while visiting Sicily, Italy, during the 2017 G7 Summit, which convenes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. She wore the colorful jacket while visiting Sicily, Italy, during the 2017 G7 Summit, which convenes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States Melania sported the fancy coat, which featured bold red, purple, green, white and blue florals when sightseeing around the city with the other spouses of world leaders. The jacket also featured bedazzled, embroidered flowers on it. She paired the coat with a matching clutch bag that had the same exact florals sewn onto it. At the time, the expensive jacket sparked a lot of controversy, as many pointed out that it was worth more than the monthly salary of many Americans. J. Mendel gown she wore to a 2018 visit to Great Britain: $6,990 During husband Donald Trump's official visit to Britain in 2018, Melania donned a Grecian-style, lemon yellow $6,990 gown by designer to a state dinner at Blenheim Palace. The whimsical gown featured a long, off-the-shoulder cape, and knotted detailing at the waist. It appeared to be made of chiffon, and Melania matched the look with a pair of yellow Manolo Blahnik heels. Per Today, she chose the color yellow in honor of Queen Elizabeth, whose favorite color was reportedly yellow. Of course, she accessorized with her $4 million engagement ring and a pair of sparkling diamond studs in her ears. LEAST EXPENSIVE Controversial 'I really don't care, do u?' jacket from Zara: $39.99 In 2018, Melania made headlines and sparked outrage across the world as she donned a $39 jacket from Zara that read, 'I really don't care, do u?' on its back while on her way to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border. The jacket was a military-green, army-style jacket, and the crass words were spray painted on the back in white. The first lady's surprise visit to a children's shelter - where a handful of the 55 children it houses had been taken from their parents - was intended to underline her compassion for children, and came after she lobbied Trump to end separations. But instead, it was overshadowed by the former model's choice of jacket. At the time, her husband claimed that the message was really one that was for the 'fake news media.' In 2018, Melania made headlines and sparked outrage across the world as she donned a $39 jacket from Zara that read, 'I really don't care, do u?' on its back while on her way to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border ''I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO YOU?' written on the back of Melania's jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares,' he tweeted at the time. However, in her 2024 self-titled memoir, Melania, claimed it that the jacket was meant to protest against 'anonymously sourced reporting.' 'I was determined… not to let the media's false narratives affect my mission to help the children and families at the border,' she wrote. 'In fact, I decided to let them know that their criticism would never stop me from doing what I feel is right. To make the point, I wore a particular jacket as I boarded the plane, a jacket that quickly became famous,' she added. Melania recounts how when the plane door closed, her press secretary's inbox was 'flooded with urgent emails from top-tier media outlets regarding the jacket.' 'It's a message for the media,' I said, 'to let them know I was unconcerned with their opinions of me' [but] she told me I couldn't say that. 'Why not? It is the truth.'' Melania wrote about their exchange. 'I disagreed with her insistence that I couldn't say that,' the First Lady wrote. 'Ignoring my comments, she told a CNN reporter she was friendly with that it was simply a jacket, a fashion choice with no underlying message.' The mom-of-one wrote that the frenzy over the jacket 'overshadowed the importance of the children, the border, and the policy change.' She called it 'just another example of the media's irresponsible behavior.' Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers: $50 Although Melania owns her fair share of designer heels, when it's time to get comfy, she's been proven to be a fan of Converse shoes, which typically range from around $50 to $100, depending on the style. She's been known to wear low-top Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, which typically are priced anywhere from $50 to $60. The First Lady appears to own the sneakers in all different colors, too - white, gray and black. Most recently, she sported a pair of gray Chuck Taylors when she accompanied her husband to Texas to visit devastation from the flash floods. She matched the shoes with a pair of army-green pants and light khaki coat by Dolce and Gabbana. In 2017, she wore her white pair of low-top Converse as she visited those who had been impacted by Hurricane Irma. She paired the shoes with a casual, green button-up shirt and white skinny jeans. FLOTUS hat: $20 In 2017, Melania stepped out in perhaps the least expensive item she's ever worn - a black baseball cap that simply read, 'FLOTUS' on it, short for First Lady of the United States, of course. At the time, she was stepping off of Air Force One with her husband, and paired the hat with a pair of aviator sunglasses and crisp white button down. It's unclear exactly where she bought her hat, but there are now tons of websites that sell extremely similar versions, some for even less than $20. You could even customize your own for $12 on Amazon.