Rise and shine ladies! I was awake since 5:30, I think it was from excitement but I’m not sure. Today is the day we waited for, a lot of new things going to happen as this is embarkation day! First stop was the Starbucks in the terminal for some drink, croissant and to change some 20$ bills into 1$ bills for the tips on board. 

At 8:30am we all ready to go and we left our three suitcases with the cruise line bag tag in the hotel room while we left with just 2 bags and a stroller. 9:00am sharp we were inline for the bus to the terminal in Port Canaveral.

In the bus we chattted with a family going on the Disney Dream with Make-a-Wish, one of the most special organizations for sick kids. The family was never on a plane, never so far south in their own country. And on top of that they did not know what to expect at all…I had goosebumps all over me the entire ride. 

At the terminal we expected craziness but we were really early and there were no lines. Robert checked us in and everything went smooth. We got boarding group 3 which is so much as almost right after they start boarding. 

When we walked away from the check in desk we walked in a photographer which told us to wait a couple minutes. And there Mickey came towards us. Emily went from sitting on my arm and looking all over to jumping up and down and screaming “Kickey” all through the terminal. And was she lucky she was the first one to get a picture with him, give him a high five, cuddle him and give him a kiss on his nose! 

After another 40 minutes of exploring the terminal and Emily pointing out every single Mickey shaped figure on walls, clothing, floors, windows, etc. It was time to board the Dream! “We welcome the Rotmensen Family and Princess Sofia” as Emily walked in with her doll in her hands smiling because all these people were clapping just for her…(and a couple 100 others).

On board the first stop was Cabanas for lunch. It’s a buffet and the food was DELICIOUS! I don’t know what I ate but Emily stole all of my fried rice, ate French fries, chicken tenders and more. 

After lunch we started to walk around the ship and it’s huge. We already checked out the It’s a small world nursery, most kids cry when they are brought there Emily cried when we left… but the hula hoops in the kids club made up for it, 

After playing for a while our room was ready. It was more spacious as we had imagined for a room on a ship. For the interested people this is room 9610 on the Disney Dream. 

Since our suitcases and the ordered crib were not in the room yet Emily slept on the “our bed”. She slept for 2 hours and we left right after for the mandatory safety drill. Don’t worry it’s quite simple if something goes wrong get your life vests go to your lifeboat, L from Lilo. Get in and your safe. 

Time for the sail away party. Deck 11 and 12 were crowded but we found a nice spot near the railing on the starboard side where we could wave at the people and the port webcam. Maybe people have spotted us on the deck? (Thanks Carla!)

An hour in the sun was abit warm and thus we decided to start explore more of the ship. First thing was floor number 4 where we met Goofy! 

Emily was happy and the next stop was the Emchanted Garden a restaurant. There are 5 restaurants on board from which 3 are assigned in a rotation schedulefor dinner. Our schedule is Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace, Royal Palace and Animator’s Palate. 

Delicious! Danielle had a cucumber roll as starter, the sea bass as main and a chocolate tart. Emily had oven baked salmon with rice and Mickey ice cream bar. And I went with ahi tuna with advocado as starter, sea scallops with couscous (actually Emily ate all of the couscous) and as dessert a orange yoghurt cheesecake. We also ordered the classic wine package which means one bottle of wine to share every night! 

After dinner we explored the shops and the rest of the ship, Emily got a Captain Mickey Mouse plush which she showed to everyone we met telling it was “Kickey”. 

Around 8:00pm we got back in our room, and that’s where we received the first surprise in our room, a crab as towel art. 

We also ordered warm whole milk through room service and at 8:45 Emily went to bed. It was not so easy to put her to bed better as the night we arrived. We enjoyed the verandah together before we went to bed for our first night of sleep on board of a ship.