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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