Magic - trip report in photos and video

Hi everyone! We were on the Magic March 25-April 1, during the spring break insanity. We loved it and hated it for several reasons. I am not doing a full trip report for that reason.... just thought I would share some of our photos and videos.

The embarkation....yikes, Port Canaveral had 5 ships leaving that day. They were all huge, too. Thousands and thousands of people everywhere. Our hotel shuttle got us there early, so we just had to sit and wait to get on the ship. We then headed up to the Lido for lunch..and I couldn't wait to hit the Tandoor. It is such a treat to have good Indian food at lunch and most ships don't have this place.

Looking at the Sunshine in port

Tandoor lunch

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Muster drill was fast and indoors. Love that.

Sailaway Party.....Dr E is a blast. Really fun.

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Day 2.....Sea Day

Beautiful day to start, it was sunny and smooth. By afternoon a big storm hit us, and the seas got rocky. It was no more rocky than we have had on another cruise when the ship rocked due to cross-winds.

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Day 3......Amber Cove

We didn't have an excursion planned for today, just to hang out at port. Let me say... this port is gorgeous! The green hills and lush vegetation are a gorgeous backdrop. We bought umbrella by the pool ($20) which is big enough to cover 2+ chairs, and DH decided he had to do the zipline ($20). Lines for drinks by pool can get long. Music was good. We only spent a few hours, then went back to ship for lunch, returning to port to shop (not great shopping to us, not enough locally made crafts, too much jewelry crap).

Pool was getting crowded by the time we went back to the ship.

Huge kids play area and pool

After shopping for nothing... we got back on ship and DH did the Skycourse/ropes course. What a blast.

lunch on the ship.... buffet had Jerk Chicken, rice and beans....yum....score!

As we enjoy every cruise....we went on the hunt for the Ship Coin. We found it, and I won't tell you where.....you need to find it yourself, but this is a hint.

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The Skycourse wasn't busy as most people were still in port....

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Our video:

Keep it up! I leave in 46 days!

We were on the same cruise! I even saw myself and my husband in one of your pics! I'm curious what you hated about it. We thought it was the best cruise we had ever been on - in spite of the crazy rocking that we experienced those first 24 hours.

We were on the same cruise! I even saw myself and my husband in one of your pics! I'm curious what you hated about it. We thought it was the best cruise we had ever been on - in spite of the crazy rocking that we experienced those first 24 hours.

We hated the crowds everywhere, and there were just too many kids onboard. We realized it was spring break, but didn't really think it would be that bad. The Lido food areas were like a combat zone, with kids running around, food all over the floors, lines lines and more lines. It was just very chaotic, to us, compared to our other cruises. In the Playlist shows at night, also, some parents brought their kids and let them play instead of watch the show. They were crawling up and down rows under your feet, up the aisles, throwing stuffed toys and hitting people. Sorry, just blame their parents for all that. I realize that the parents were on vacation too, but it just seemed to us that they were taking the week off parenting. For us....this is just our opinion..... it wasn't badly behaving kids, it was the sheer NUMBER of kids. There was no area of the ship that seemed calm all week.

I don't mean to complain. The Crew were amazing and had to deal with all this, and the messes. I am sure it is hard for them to deal with it week after week in March and early April....I just felt bad for the crew. On the Lido we watched them cleaning up spilled food constantly, and the ice cream machines never got a rest, the ice cream never had a chance to firm up as there was a line of kids in front of every one of them all day long. There were only 1-2 ice machines working the first two days, also, no doubt from all the people.

We had a great cruise, it just wasn't our favorite due to the crowds and number of kids...everywhere.

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Amber Cove night we had reservations at the steakhouse for 6pm. Let me say, we loved it. This was our first time doing the steakhouse, and probably won't be our last. I am not a big red meat person, but my DH is. He was dying to try the steakhouse and we finally splurged.

My favorite thing was the atmosphere. It was quiet, unlike the main dining rooms. Waitstaff was there, waiting on you instead of running constantly. Dinner does take over an hour, so be prepared to sit and relax.

First they bring out a little gift from the Chef, a chicken morsel with a sauce, in a tiny dish. It was delish.

Appetizers and salads. Let me just say, everything was HUGE. I got the shrimp coctail which had a wonderful avocado salsa on top, as well as a cup of regular sauce on the side. DH got the spinach salad and tuna tartare. All excellent.

For main course, I got the filet with a baked potato, he got the cowboy steak with wasabi mashed potatoes .

yum..... both were delicious and tender.

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Desserts.... chocolate sampler and the cheesecake. We got one of each and shared. Chocolate sampler was so RICH and amazing. Cheesecake was a bit odd texture, not our favorite but still good.

Of the chocolate sampler...we both thought the mango ice cream with sponge cake was the best. But all 4 little samples were different and amazingly good.

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I think if we go to the Steakhouse on another cruise, we will both try a different main course. He wants the lamb chops and I would like to try the chicken or fish. Either way, the chocolate sampler is going to happen!

....tomorrow, St Thomas....

We hated the crowds everywhere, and there were just too many kids onboard. We realized it was spring break, but didn't really think it would be that bad. The Lido food areas were like a combat zone, with kids running around, food all over the floors, lines lines and more lines. It was just very chaotic, to us, compared to our other cruises. In the Playlist shows at night, also, some parents brought their kids and let them play instead of watch the show. They were crawling up and down rows under your feet, up the aisles, throwing stuffed toys and hitting people. Sorry, just blame their parents for all that. I realize that the parents were on vacation too, but it just seemed to us that they were taking the week off parenting. For us....this is just our opinion..... it wasn't badly behaving kids, it was the sheer NUMBER of kids. There was no area of the ship that seemed calm all week.

 

I don't mean to complain. The Crew were amazing and had to deal with all this, and the messes. I am sure it is hard for them to deal with it week after week in March and early April....I just felt bad for the crew. On the Lido we watched them cleaning up spilled food constantly, and the ice cream machines never got a rest, the ice cream never had a chance to firm up as there was a line of kids in front of every one of them all day long. There were only 1-2 ice machines working the first two days, also, no doubt from all the people.

 

We had a great cruise, it just wasn't our favorite due to the crowds and number of kids...everywhere.

Isn't it crazy how an experience can be so different for people on the exact same ship? We actually thought there were less kids on this cruise than any other we have taken. We never saw spilled food or experienced ice machines out of order, and never saw kids running around during the shows. We did try to get coffee several times, but it was brewing, so we just had to go to the next coffee machine to get a cup. I think the different experiences must depend on which deck your room is, where you sit on the lido deck and in the theatre, when you go to breakfast and lunch, etc. Isn't that weird? You should have been with us on the cruise and you could have avoided all of that! So sorry you had such a different experience. Sure am enjoying your photos! Thanks for the review!

Following, I'm going on the magic in less than 3 weeks!

Isn't it crazy how an experience can be so different for people on the exact same ship? We actually thought there were less kids on this cruise than any other we have taken. We never saw spilled food or experienced ice machines out of order, and never saw kids running around during the shows. We did try to get coffee several times, but it was brewing, so we just had to go to the next coffee machine to get a cup. I think the different experiences must depend on which deck your room is, where you sit on the lido deck and in the theatre, when you go to breakfast and lunch, etc. Isn't that weird? You should have been with us on the cruise and you could have avoided all of that! So sorry you had such a different experience. Sure am enjoying your photos! Thanks for the review!

Yes, it could be that we were there on Lido at the wrong times, but it was insane there every time we went. We usually get to breakfast and lunch right when they open (we are early risers at home and continue on our vacations). We carry water bottles with us, and fill them with ice and water several times a day. It seemed the ice machines just coudn't keep up with so many people and they had to bring up buckets (watched this twice) from somewhere, guessing the galley.

The theatre issues happened two different shows, the last one I was the person with kids crawling under my feet and gettiing hit with stuff thrown by the kids. The dad, sitting next to me, would say sorry but that was after it happened. Wish he had left them at the kids club, they never watched a second of the show.

There was a group of 4-5 teen boys sitting in a walkway outside one of the kid venues. They would say something to each person as they walked by them, and then all laugh. When we walked down the hall, one guy said "want a candy bar?" and then threw a little bar at me, hitting the wall across from me. Scared the crap out of me. They all laughed when I jumped. Rude little jerks. He then said, "oops, sorry, thought you wanted it." They all laughed again. As we came back down the hall, I saw them doing something similar to another couple. I guess they were bored and looking for fun.

Most of the cruise went very very well. We love the Magic and the crew. It is just that Spring Break is not for us.

okay.... back to the report.

Day 3.... St Thomas

we weren't arriving at port until 11am, and 2 other ships were there before us. Yuck. We booked a snorkeling tour through Carnival, turtle cove and Honeymoon beach break.

Snorkel boat crew was fantastic, fun and funny. We did see a few turtles, not much as far as coral and other fish....except at the end we found a school of a dozen squid.

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after the snorkeling.... we moved the boat to Honeymoon beach, not the one on St Johns, this is on the main island. Lots of other small and big boats there, including the Tiki boat.

Beautiful beach, with a couple of bars and a food shack selling lots of food. Only problem was that with our ship arriving so late, and 3 ships in port, there were people everywhere. Crowded, to say the least.

food looked good, but there was a long line to order so we didn't bother.

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more of the menu....

After about an hour, we got back onboard the catamaran, and back to the port.

Yes, it could be that we were there on Lido at the wrong times, but it was insane there every time we went. We usually get to breakfast and lunch right when they open (we are early risers at home and continue on our vacations). We carry water bottles with us, and fill them with ice and water several times a day. It seemed the ice machines just coudn't keep up with so many people and they had to bring up buckets (watched this twice) from somewhere, guessing the galley.

The theatre issues happened two different shows, the last one I was the person with kids crawling under my feet and gettiing hit with stuff thrown by the kids. The dad, sitting next to me, would say sorry but that was after it happened. Wish he had left them at the kids club, they never watched a second of the show.

There was a group of 4-5 teen boys sitting in a walkway outside one of the kid venues. They would say something to each person as they walked by them, and then all laugh. When we walked down the hall, one guy said "want a candy bar?" and then threw a little bar at me, hitting the wall across from me. Scared the crap out of me. They all laughed when I jumped. Rude little jerks. He then said, "oops, sorry, thought you wanted it." They all laughed again. As we came back down the hall, I saw them doing something similar to another couple. I guess they were bored and looking for fun.

 

Most of the cruise went very very well. We love the Magic and the crew. It is just that Spring Break is not for us.

Oh my gosh, that is horrible! I am so glad that I didn't run into those boys because the high school teacher in me would have gone off on them and taken them straight to guest services. Wow, I am so sorry that you had to deal with that.

Thanks for sharing all the pics!

Great pictures!

Oh my gosh, that is horrible! I am so glad that I didn't run into those boys because the high school teacher in me would have gone off on them and taken them straight to guest services. Wow, I am so sorry that you had to deal with that.

We must think alike, as being a teacher for many years it would be hard to ignore that kind of rude behavior. It's just as bad when they congregate in the stairways and block the stairs by sitting all over the place. Even my adult children don't like sailing during those crowded times of the year [emoji33]

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First of all, thanks for the review. We will be on the Magic in early September. I have a six year old grandchild. The kids, during Summer and Breaks can drive me crazy too. And like you, it is not the children. It is the parents who let them run wild.

I will say that we sailed on the Eurodam over the Spring Holidays. We had a casino discount, not a freebie, but one we appreciated, so we were able to take them...Daughter and family with us.

I don't think I saw five children on the Ship. The pool was lightly used. My SIL took my grandchild up every day, and they stayed for a couple of hours. He said a few kids came every day, and they all played together. All well behaved.

Ship was lovely. Food was good. Staff was very nice. BUT not a lot to do if you don't swim. I am thrilled to be going back on Carnival. I saw a copy of the Fun Times for the Magic and counted SEVEN TRIVIA games. I love it.

I know Princess and HAL are the Carnival LIne two, and we do sail all three, but Carnival is my favorite. EXCEPT during times when School is not in session. And PRINCESS has a lot of children on Holidays. Holland America does not.

I know I sound like an old witch and I am not. And actually, young girls coming into the Lido Buffet , about as naked as one can get and not be nude, and most not having the figures to get away with it........irritates me more.

We did see one young man on a Carnival Ship, at the Ice Cream place, His face under the ice cream dispenser , running the ice cream into his mouth. He was having a heck of a time. I avoided that machine for the rest of the cruise.

We have cruised during spring break one time, back in 2009, never, never again! It was horrible even on a smaller ship than the Magic. Same kind of stuff going on then with the food on the floor left by unsupervised kids, food left on the stairway. in hallway areas, where are the parents??? This is the key, many parents go about their vacation and leave the kids unsupervised because they are on a ship (somewhat contained I guess). We feel bad for the staff as well, it is rude to say the least.

We have not experienced the kids in the theatre but I would have said something to the dad had he been sitting next to me. Again, I dont know if these parents are just clueless or of that trend that dont say no to the kids these days but I would not have put up with that for long.

One of the nicest things about having a balcony or suite is the nice, quiet, calm balcony!!! Think about it for next time even if it is not spring break. ;)