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LAMBIE'S review of Nana's MAGIC Halloween cruise


LambKnuckles
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Cruise Review, with photos: Carnival MAGIC, 10-27-13 through 11-3-13

Cabin: 10201 -- FULLY ACCESSIBLE handicapped cabin on the Lido Deck bow. Obstructed View / 4J cabin

Cabin Steward: Slamet

MDR Dining Table: 470, Northern Lights, early seating

MDR Servers: 'Yotsa', Oliver, and Agung

Maitre D': Metin "007"

Overall rating -- OUTSTANDING!!!

 

I'm a Platinum cruiser, but this is my first time on the MAGIC. I didn't go to any of the evening shows, nor so I have costume photos -- BUT I invite anyone on this cruise to add their photos of anything they captured!!!

 

Nana (aged 88) and I went on this cruise and it was my "HER CHOICE" cruise!!! Whatever she wanted, we did!!! She's in a wheelchair 100% of the time, and has early stage Alzheimer's/Dementia, and I wasn't going to leave her alone in the cabin, if she chose to retire early, we BOTH stayed in the cabin -- so life in this review will end about 9pm and will start at sunrise each and every morning!!

 

We had a BLAST!!! And it was very comfortable and safe for her on this cruise!! I had her wear her Sign and Sail card 100% of the time, just in case she wandered and someone needed to know who she was and where she belonged! But, we stayed together. :)

 

Cruise Schedule:

Day 1 and 2: Sea Days

Day 3: Jamaica

Day 4: Caymans

Day 5: Cozumel

Day 6: Sea Day

Day 7: Debark in Galveston

 

No excursions -- but PLEASE post any comments or photos, if you were there, and want to share with everyone!!!

 

Never did the ropes course, but LOVED the Waterworks! And the Serenity Deck!!!

 

Cabin 10201:

As you walk in...

 

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As you step past the bathroom door... notice the ceiling has the fourth bed... the upper. This cabin sleeps up to four.

 

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Turn around and look back at the door. Notice the light switch right by the door, and next to it is where you MUST put your rom key -- so your cabin lights will work. Altho' we discovered that you can use a gift card, a business card, or something that will fit in there...

 

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Opposite the bathroom door, is the "hooks" for your stuff... There are four hooks, two regular ones, and two accessible ones.

 

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The back of the bathroom door also has duplicate "hooks" -- one accessible and one regular. Also, the extra mirror, outside the bathroom has a small shelf. I called this the "brushing station," but the height of the mirror is only for regular, not accessible.

 

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The cabin was ready for us, as we boarded. We went straight there.

 

Then we went to the buffets for lunch. I didn't know about Tandoori, or I would have gone straight there. We were quite happy to eat at GOOD EATS buffet! We both found yummy foods and things that were sugar free for Nana, for dessert!

 

Here she is in her AGGIES cap, looking out at Galveston... waiting for me to bring her some lunch. Little Lambie is looking KEWL in his Carnival outfit and shades, too!

 

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Then we head back to the cabin, to unpack! All of our suitcases had arrived by now.

 

There was no announcement about where to go for Muster Drill / Safety Drill for those in with special needs -- what we learned was we just go to the regular area for all A4 muster stations, and once there we found a special area for us to group. It was actually very INCONVENIENT!!! It was a hallway, too small for the number of us, with no seats for those who have canes or other special needs. So if you didn't have a wheelchair, you stood, or sat on the floor, and then had help getting up.

 

After Muster, we went back up to the cabin, and then out the not-so "secret door" to the bow, for sail away...

 

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Look directly up from our deck...

 

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Looking directky down to Deck 9... I almost had a heart attack while these parents lifted and posed there "precious babies" on a railing for a photo. (How can someone be so reckless?? Or maybe, I'm just cautious...)

 

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Now looking to the starboard side...

 

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And to the port side...

 

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Now for a tour of the bathroom. An essential part of a FULLY ACCESSIBLE cabin. It has a roll in entry. Other cabins can have up to a four inch step up into the bathroom, and a lip on the shower stall floor. And, it is a small foot-print or floor size, but the fully accessible have enough space for a wheelchair to do a 360.

 

Also, a built in shower seat, a sliding bar to raise and lower the height of the shower head, as well as being a hand held shower, and a mirror that raises and lowers to the need of its user. The only request we would have asked for, is a HIGHER toilet seat. It was too low for Nana to easily get off to stand and transfer back into her chair.

 

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And you can see there is no lip on this shower, instead a grate that becomes the drain. Only once did the shower overflow this drain. We were "anchored" off Georgetown, Grand Cayman, and Nana was in for a longer shower, since she had a sore throat and wanted the steam and heat.

 

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Great start to the review--can't wait to read the rest!! Thanks for posting!:)

 

Really scary those children on the railing! Even if it's not all the way down to the ocean below, falling to even the next deck below could be disatrous!:eek: Ugh!

 

Hopefully there's a wide ledge or something just a few inches below them that's just not visible from this vantage point. Hopefully.

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OK... Now we're out of the channel and the cruise has begun!

 

Let me give you some additional details about Sunday...

 

We got to terminal at about 9:15am. We had heard that some guests had received letters that asked them to arrive later, since boarding would be delayed due to Immigrations. I had not received this email, so we left central Texas about 4am. I had pre-arranged parking at Park and Cruise across from the terminal. I love this parking. It's close and it's easy!! Booking on line gives a small price break, and since it had rained ALL THE WAY down on us... I was grateful I had everything pre-arranged!!

 

Park and Cruise does not have a shuttle, it's a short walk. But with Nana in a wheelchair and still having luggage and carry ons, I went to the terminal to drop Nana and the suitcases off at the curb. The porters were already taking check ins -- so we delivered three suitcases and Nana, and I went across to park the van. It was pouring rain, but she was under cover and I jusy had to walk across the street from Park and Cruise.

 

By 9:30am we were sitting in the "pre-"waiting room. This is in the terminal, downstairs, just inside the door. We waited by the Special needs line and around 10:00am, they ushered us in to the security check-in.

 

In Galveston, this checkin is downstairs. You show your boarding pass and passport (or id) and then they scan your carry ons and you walk through the "portal." (One reason they do limit the size of your carry ons, is the scanning machines. Your carry ons have to fit through the scanners. Also, have your computers, iPads, Kindles, etc separated and in the grey "buckets" so they can go through separately. Yes, you do get to keep your shoes on!!! It's similar, but not exactly like the airport. If you have carry on wine or sodas, they'll check them here, too! But you are allowed a bottle of wine or champagne, and a 12 pack of sodas.

 

Once through security, it's upstairs, where we checked in at VIP. If you're not yet Platinum or Diamond -- the line for check in is standing and proceeding as available, but VIP is seating and then going up to the desk for both keys (sign and sail cards), photos taken, and checkin. There was coffee, decaf, hot water for tea, and lemonade. However -- on this cruise -- and maybe many cruises -- the VIP was overflowing...

 

We waited and waited and waited. Normally, boarding begins arouund 11 -- or 11:30 at the latest. But noon passed and we were still waiting in the VIP. FINALLY... yippee, they call us and we're off! The walk to the boarding is through the other waiting areas... the Casino guest, the regular guest arranged in areas in order of their check ins. It was a crowded morning and with the wheelchair, a bit difficult. The aisles were full of people standing and carry ons. NOT a pretty or organized sight. I remember thinking this must be how Moses felt leading his people through the wilderness. With grumbling and twists and turns. The other groups we had to walk through, because of the quantity of people waiting -- by this time -- was like the Red Sea -- but not parting for the chosen VIPs... However -- there was no one with weapons chasing us!

 

It gets to be a small, small world, when we began meeting other cruisers we knew in the lounge. Many I knew were cruising since we had been in contact before the cruise -- but a familiar face and voice came over to me. It was a co-worker from another office. And Walking through the terminal to board, I saw another family -- who surprised us by not telling us they were coming along!!!

 

With the photos having already been taken, it was just the long criss-cross up the covered gangway, to the ship... YES!!!! My feet were on board!!! HURRAY!!!! It's finally true!!! I booked this cruise over a year ago!!! And NOW, I'm on board.

 

... Now, we're out of the channel, and I've unpacked the suitcases, and it's early seating dinner. On the first night is much more casual. They understand not everyone has had time to get their suitcase or unpack, so many arrive in the MDR with the same clothes they boarded in. We decided to do the same. Jeans and shirts and a shawl carried -- just in case the MDR is cooler than is comfortable. (It was perfect and the shawl wasn't necessary!)

 

Dinner is arriving, as you can see, and YUMMY!!! Our table mates are friends from Austin, Roger and Matt, and out server is Yotsathaporn... "Yotsa" is what he uses... THANK HEAVENS! And Oliver is his team helper. We have another server, Agung, of the water, tea, bread, and whatever.

 

Ceasar Salad

 

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Guacamole and chips

 

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Chilled Soup

 

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Salmon Appetizer

 

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Great start to the review--can't wait to read the rest!! Thanks for posting!:)

 

Really scary those children on the railing! Even if it's not all the way down to the ocean below, falling to even the next deck below could be disatrous!:eek: Ugh!

 

Hopefully there's a wide ledge or something just a few inches below them that's just not visible from this vantage point. Hopefully.

 

Thank you!!!

 

I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking this was foolish!! My heart stopped when I saw them...

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Fantastic review so far. We're heading off on this itinerary very soon. I can't wait to read more about it (can you finish it by Friday the 15th please? hhahahaha!!)

 

I hope and pray you have a BLAST!!! I enjoyed it all!!! The ports are great -- even if I didn't do any excursions!!

 

I do have photos of the ship. They will be coming. I wasn't as impressed with the décor of the atrium -- but, it is bright and cheerful!!! Promise to ask me any questions you have if I haven't finished my the 15th... I plan to tho'!!! ;) :confused: :o

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Can't wait to read the rest. Subscribing. I love the magic. You would have loved the magic show. The magician they hired is fantastic. Best carnival show I have seen.

 

I really was sorry I missed this one!!! I'll be back on this ship in September of '14 -- but we never know when they'll change the shows!!

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lambieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

 

Goooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv!!!!

 

We missed you on this cruise!!! but I know you'll have fun on your birthday cruise!!! :cool:

 

I hope to get this review done, soon, but with the photos I took -- and my schedule -- who knows!! :rolleyes: :confused:

 

Thanks for reading this!!

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cant wait to read more:)

 

I know your hometown. I have family in Sacramento and Arcada. I lved in the Bay Area thru High School. How great to see Redding represented!!! I'd love to hear some of your west coast cruises!!! I've only cruised out of Seattle on that coast!!!

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Loving your review. Hoping to take my Mom one day too. We had family surprise us on our Triumph cruise 2 weeks ago. We had tried to get them to book, but they said no, they couldn't since they are going in January... I was people watching in the terminal & freaked out when I saw them!!

 

Can't wait for more. We will be on the Magic for the 3rd time in April.

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Can't wait to read more, but it will have to wait a week since we are heading out today for another Elation cruise. Always love your reviews! We were on the Magic in January and loved it. I remember you trying out your new camera that you got, can't wait to see your sunrise pictures!

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I know your hometown. I have family in Sacramento and Arcada. I lved in the Bay Area thru High School. How great to see Redding represented!!! I'd love to hear some of your west coast cruises!!! I've only cruised out of Seattle on that coast!!!

 

Nice to hear not many people on hear know of redding . The only cruise I have been on was out of Long Beach on the Splendor and We loved it ! We did 2 days in Cabo and 1 day in Peurta Vallarta . It was A lot of fun . Most prefer cabo I think... But we loved P.V. don't get me wrong Cabo was Great fun P.V was more authentic Mexico ..loved the ship and actually met several people from up here in Chico Ca that we remain friends with . I plan on Sailing the Miracle after the 2.0 upgrade doing the overnight in P.V and 1 day in Cabo ...:)

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Waking on Monday morning, the FunTimes told me that sunrise would be at 7:08am -- I love the fact they add this to the cover of the FunTimes! Checking my watch, I saw I had time to wake a bit, and get out to the bow to capture some photos. (And being a seasoned cruiser, I also knew that I had to give my camera time to adjust to the Caribbean humidity, after being in the cabin all night. The lenses fog up, and you just have to wait for them to acclimate or you'll have that "fog" in your pictures, and you won't have a sharp focus.)

 

Since our cabin is on the bow, and I only had about 20 steps to walk till I would be outside, I decided I would go outside in their bathrobe -- I just love the fact that we get to use the bathrobes while cruising!!! So, I put my sign and sail card around my neck, tucked it under the bathrobe, grabbed my camera, and off I went.

 

The door to the deck is hard to open. The wind is strong!!! On Deck 10, the door takes you out to the side, and that's where the wind is strongest -- or seems to be -- as it whips around the bow and starts down the sides. I have to lean forward to walk to the center. I laugh and start thinking, this is how it must feel to reporters when they stand in storms areas hanging onto signs and trees. I'm totally safe, as the TV already told me the force of the wind is not strong enough to blow me away --

 

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I feel safer when I tuck myself into the corner of the railing and bulkhead, almost directly center of the ship. What a wonderful feeling to feel the wind, a bit of spray, and I KNOW that I am sailing!!! The rock of the ship is pleasant, and I gaze out at the horizon -- NOTHING is in my way to see the sunrise!!!

 

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I just wait for more colors and light and enjoy the feeling of the wind and the sea!!!

 

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From the cabin window, I see Nana can see the sunrise, too!

 

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By now, my stomach is grumbling and off we go to the Lido buffets to get a snack to hold us until the Sea Day Brunch opens in the MDR. Maybe just some toast and pastries and coffee!!!

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Not the full meals...

 

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