I leave for my next Disney Cruise Line adventure in just a few days, and this one feels especially exciting. Mom, my bestie, her parents, and I are sailing on the Disney Dream’s 13-night westbound transatlantic cruise from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale beginning September 14, 2026.
There are new ports, nine glorious sea days, time in London before we sail, and—maybe best of all—a reunion with friends we met on last year’s South Pacific cruise. Here is what we have planned so far.
The itinerary at a glance
The Disney Dream leaves Southampton on September 14 and arrives in Fort Lauderdale on September 27. Along the way, we will visit:
- Vigo, Spain
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Funchal, Madeira
- Nine days at sea
That balance is one of the biggest reasons I am excited about this itinerary. We get three very different ports, but we also have plenty of time to settle into the ship and enjoy the crossing. I genuinely love a sea day, so nine of them sounds wonderful to me.
Two days in London before the cruise
Mom and I are flying in early so we can spend two days in London before heading to Southampton. I shared our full London itinerary in How We’re Spending Two Days in London Before Our Disney Dream Transatlantic Cruise.
On embarkation morning, we will take a private transfer from London to the port with friends. For a travel day involving luggage and a firm all-aboard time, having the transportation arranged in advance is one less thing to think about.
Our plans for Vigo
In Vigo, we booked Disney Cruise Line’s Santiago de Compostela with Light Snack Port Adventure.
The excursion is scheduled for approximately six to six and a half hours and includes a guided visit to Santiago de Compostela, including the cathedral and historic plazas, followed by a light snack.
My bestie and her parents are joining us, along with several other friends from our South Pacific cruise. I am looking forward to seeing a place that is completely new to me while sharing the day with people we already love traveling with.
A self-guided food day in Lisbon
For Lisbon, we are keeping the plan more flexible. Mom and I are planning a self-guided food tour with two friends from the South Pacific cruise.
I love the idea of exploring at our own pace and letting food shape the day. Rather than committing to a large organized excursion, we can choose the stops that sound best to us and leave room for discoveries along the way.
Our route and exact food stops are still being finalized, so this is one part of the trip that is planned in spirit but not locked down minute by minute.
A private mountain safari in Madeira
In Madeira, Mom and I booked a Private Mountain Safari with four friends from last year’s South Pacific cruise.
The private tour lasts about four and a half hours and uses a Land Rover to explore Madeira’s coastline, mountains, villages, vineyards, and valleys. The planned highlights include Nuns Valley, Eucalyptus Park, and the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos.
This sounds like such a fun way to see more of the island than we could cover on foot, and the private format means the six of us will be able to experience it together as our own group.
What we have planned onboard
We already have several special plans for our time on the Disney Dream.
First, we are planning dinner at Palo with my bestie, her parents, Mom, and me. It will be her parents’ first time dining at Palo, and we are so excited for them to experience it with us. Palo is always a lovely way to make an evening feel extra special, and I am looking forward to sharing it with them.
We are also hoping to have a private Palo dinner with a larger group of our South Pacific cruise friends. That dinner has not been confirmed yet. Apparently, we may not know until about a week before the cruise, which is crazy to me—but I am hopeful it will come together.
I also booked two Senses Spa appointments for myself:
- A 50-minute massage
- A 50-minute facial
Between exploring new ports, catching up with friends, and enjoying all those sea days, a little dedicated spa time sounds perfect.
Getting home after the cruise
When the Disney Dream arrives in Fort Lauderdale, we will all be heading in different directions. I have a Blacklane transfer booked to take me to Miami International Airport. My bestie and her parents are flying out of Fort Lauderdale, while Mom’s boyfriend will pick her up and take her to Disney World.
It may not be the most exciting part of the trip plan, but end-of-cruise transportation is exactly the kind of detail I like to have settled in advance. We will all be able to leave the ship knowing where we are going and how we are getting there.
What I am most excited about
I am absolutely excited to see Vigo, Lisbon, and Madeira for the first time. Each port day has a completely different feel: a guided cultural excursion, a flexible food-focused day, and a private mountain adventure.
But this cruise is also going to be a reunion. Mom, my bestie, her parents, and I will be traveling together, and we will also be sailing with so many other friends from last year’s South Pacific cruise. I cannot wait to spend time with everyone again.
And then there are the nine sea days. I know that many people wonder what they would possibly do with that much time onboard, but I love a sea day. There is something wonderful about having nowhere else to be—especially on a Disney ship, surrounded by good friends.
Not every detail is final yet. We still need to settle our exact Lisbon food stops, and we are waiting to hear about the private Palo dinner. I will update this post if those plans are confirmed before we leave.
If you love Disney cruising as much as I do—or you are planning your first sailing—you can find all of my ship reviews, planning tips, cruise opinions, and past adventures on my All Things Disney Cruise Line page.
Have you taken a transatlantic cruise—or would nine sea days be your dream itinerary or far too many? Tell me in the comments.
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