ncmtnmamma

I just got off the Magic on Sunday, January 9. We were luggage zone 5. Our number was called about 8:40. We walked out, went to our luggage area, it was there. We grabbed and we pulled out of the garage bu 9:00.

It was easy smooth and SO glad not to pull the luggage in the cattle chute!

Hi All! This may be a silly question, but I've read plenty of mentions of the milkshake machines. But, when I talk with friends who have sailed Carnival many times, they have no idea what I'm talking about. This will be our first cruise with Carnival.

Are there really milkshake machines and where are they located?

As a first time Carnival cruiser, is there a cafe or coffee shop on the Magic?

Can anyone say with the three day window, how is that counted? Is it actual day to day or business days? We have a cruise scheduled that leaves on a Monday. I'm worried that it will be hard to do a test and get results on time if labs are super busy on the weekends.

We were on the same cruise and had a wonderful time. We had select dining in the MDR, but much to my dismay, it isn't quite as "select" as I would like... because we were a group of five, the first night, the Maitre 'D pushed us to join another table. This is fine as we don't mind visiting with others, but, We did not realize they would slow the service of the group already seated to match our service.

Our group always enjoy time together and especially around a dinner table. My husband really enjoys good food and company, thus eats exceptionally slow. Also my father in law eats particularly slowly. As we were enjoying ourselves with our entree, out table partners excused themselves as if they were done. The server rushed over and ask if they would like dessert and on of the men commented loudly, well, we would have, but we only have so much time... I guess the need to get to their state room or the casino or something. Anyway, after that we book our own table at the same time each evening. Our server, Igede and his assitant, Edy could not have done ANYTHING more to ensure our enjoyment and our complete comfort. I am short and found the chairs to be quite uncomfortable, as if I sat back, by feet wouldn't touch the floor, and if I sat back, I felt like I was laying down. Our server actually brought me a pillow to put behind my back to see if it helped (and it did) and it was there waiting each evening when we got to our table.

The Maitre 'D, Artur, was really the only downside to the staff we encountered the entire cruise. He was really rather dismissive and didn't look you in the eye. He was quite interested in his conversations with his assistant and getting all the details of her new romance! He did become attentive the final two evenings (I think he was looking for tips) Our table service team and sommelier got very generous extra gratuities.

Found the pool music to be fun. But no chairs.

We do love to do excursions and on other cruises have done both through X and private. This time we did all X at the first four islands. We do disagree on Falmouth, but we ended up nearly an hour and a half from there on our excursion and it was totally nature based, so we weren't really disappointed by the town itself. Our guide was exceptional and we learned a great deal about the locals. We did not do the common falls, but another, more remote one. As one other poster had mentioned that X charged higher prices when booking excursions onboard, we did not find this to me the case.

I do agree with you whole heartedly about Labadee and the prices. I felt totally "nickel and dime" to death! And we had the same experience with the lounge chairs.

All in all, we had a wonderful vacation, great service and wonderful memories.

Much more, but I realized I was going overboard on your post! Thanks for posting.

We were on the same cruise and had a wonderful time. We had select dining in the MDR, but much to my dismay, it isn't quite as "select" as I would like... because we were a group of five, the first night, the Maitre 'D pushed us to join another table. This is fine as we don't mind visiting with others, but, We did not realize they would slow the service of the group already seated to match our service.

Our group always enjoy time together and especially around a dinner table. My husband really enjoys good food and company, thus eats exceptionally slow. Also my father in law eats particularly slowly. As we were enjoying ourselves with our entree, out table partners excused themselves as if they were done. The server rushed over and ask if they would like dessert and on of the men commented loudly, well, we would have, but we only have so much time... I guess the need to get to their state room or the casino or something. Anyway, after that we book our own table at the same time each evening. Our server, Igede and his assitant, Edy could not have done ANYTHING more to ensure our enjoyment and our complete comfort. I am short and found the chairs to be quite uncomfortable, as if I sat back, by feet wouldn't touch the floor, and if I sat back, I felt like I was laying down. Our server actually brought me a pillow to put behind my back to see if it helped (and it did) and it was there waiting each evening when we got to our table.

The Maitre 'D, Artur, was really the only downside to the staff we encountered the entire cruise. He was really rather dismissive and didn't look you in the eye. He was quite interested in his conversations with his assistant and getting all the details of her new romance! He did become attentive the final two evenings (I think he was looking for tips) Our table service team and sommelier got very generous extra gratuities.

Found the pool music to be fun. But no chairs.

We do love to do excursions and on other cruises have done both through X and private. This time we did all X at the first four islands. We do disagree on Falmouth, but we ended up nearly an hour and a half from there on our excursion and it was totally nature based, so we weren't really disappointed by the town itself. Our guide was exceptional and we learned a great deal about the locals. We did not do the common falls, but another, more remote one. As one other poster had mentioned that X charged higher prices when booking excursions onboard, we did not find this to me the case.

I do agree with you whole heartedly about Labadee and the prices. I felt totally "nickel and dime" to death! And we had the same experience with the lounge chairs.

All in all, we had a wonderful vacation, great service and wonderful memories.

Much more, but I realized I was going overboard on your post! Thanks for posting.

When they had the earthquake a few years ago the ship was used to bring supplies.

Thanks! That would be great!

I am wondering with the devastation in Haiti, will the Reflection Western Caribbean with a stop at Labadee be likely to still stop? I understand the economy could certainly use the business, but it the Cholera continues to be a problem, would they change ports or just skip a port?

It is an awful situation for the people of Haiti.

My kids will be 11, 15, and 18 and have cruised three times before, but not with Celebrity. We are looking at a June Alaska cruise and I'm sure there will be many families on board, but I was wondering what to expect as far as kids go in general. Will they be everywhere, crowding pools and whirlpools and running amuck? (Like I experienced on a RC cruise a few years ago where there were large youth sports teams and they all liked to stay together so you had to plan your day around them.) I am hoping for a slightly more peaceful experience... LOL

 

Any thoughts?

We also did a Alaska on the Solstice in June of 2015 with two 11 year old boys and a four year old. The kids had a great time. I thought there was a good balance of all age groups and many of the kids on board behaved better and adhered to the dress code more closely than my adults! Our weather was on average in the 80's - in fact I can home with a tan. Co-workers kept saying, I thought you went to Alaska!

Take the kids, enjoy yourself and ignore any negative nellies!

Wow,I have to say this is one of the best reviews and pics of Alaska that I have read and seen. Loving it,I am so looking forward to our cruise to Alaska next May on the Solstice. I have only heard excellent reviews about Brett Nixon so i hope he will still be there next May. Looking forward to the rest. Thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough review with wonderful pics.

The review is wonderful! I wondered when you would mention Brent Nixon! We saw him on our first Alaskan Cruise and everyone loved him! We were a family group of 17. Even my 10 year old son and nephew asked to go to everyone of his presentations (after we made them go to the first one)!

Definitely make time for he and his wife (she often does presentations as well) whenever you can!

Enjoy!

I think it totally depends on your kids and you. Are you able to enjoy yourselves and not look for the downside?

I've done Celebrity cruises with two 11 year old boys and while there were plenty of activities through the kids club, they were quite happy to make their own way and had a terrific time. In fact, when we talked about booking another cruise on a different cruise line more "kid" oriented, that idea was rejected. This time it will be with our son who is now 13.

There were plenty of things that kids could get involved in at all ages, but kids have to be willing to engage with others. The pools were great, the arcade was fine, there is art all over the ship to explore, basketball court, shuffle board...

And I also found the the shows were wonderful. Were they Broadway or Vegas? No, 'cause guess what? We weren't on Broadway or in Vegas! The people were quite talented for the most part and we enjoyed the show.

If your kids need to be entertained to engage, then maybe a Disney Cruise or one of the others lines that offer water parks and such on board would be better.

We found Celebrity to work for us and haven't found a reason to try another one...

We booked this itinerary for DEC last year while on the Solstice in Alaska. After reading some of the comments here and watching the youtube video posted, I am now excited again about our decision!

December can't get here fast enough!

Thanks!

 

We think friends of ours may book the room above us so at least we will know who to shout at if it is noisy! Look forward to reading any comments you may make on return.

 

I have tried to find a video on YouTube of a reflection Royal suite without success. I don't know if anyone has a link....

Here is the title of a Royal Suite Tour on Reflexion that is on youtube.

Celebrity Reflection Royal Suite Tour in 1080p

Link is: https://youtu.be/8CYPeDSAepY:D

We are leaving Saturday on Reflection cabin 7292. It is a angled aft cabin.

We have stayed on an angled balcony cabin before and found the balcony much bigger and really liked that. It was facing forward and we found that it was quite windy all the time.

As for seeing into other cabins, well, we don't really care and never looked so I cannot tell you if you can see into other cabins or not.

We have 5 couples on this cruise and we are all on the hump adjoining cabins....we cannot wait to open the partitions and have one big huge balcony... :)

Enjoy! We did it in June with 7 cabins. We really had a nice time!

Thanks for such a comprehensive and well-written review!

 

Norris

Thank you for the well written, comprehensive and well balanced, mostly positive review! I really enjoyed the more positive tone you used throughout the review versus a lot of the grumbling I read!

I'm am from right across the border from you in PA. Looking forward to our Reflection - WC cruise later this year.

Here are seven of the daily newsletters from the 30 Jan 2016 Reflection sailing to the Western Caribbean. Even though I'm super organized, I somehow do not have a copy of the daily from Friday, Feb 5, which was the day that we ported at Nassau. If I find it, I'll come back to this post and include a link.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B419SU5y7sC0SEMtZ012N0J5cHM/view?usp=sharing

Thank you for sharing! Was losing my interest in our cruise booked for this year and seeing these newsletters really brought back my enthusiasm!:)

Well, I am one for change, I believe change is good... but I am disappointed in this one. I may be in the minority, but I love(d) Bistro on 5. Our experiences have been a lovely, from the food to the servers and the pace of the service.

It is a quiet, slower place to relax out of the louder, busier places that exist.

My husband and I like sushi well enough, but since it was already available in the Buffet and was good along with LOVELY presentation at Silk Harvest, seems like adding a sushi specific restaurant may be redundant. Time will tell.

I imagine oddly enough that regardless of the comments here, that Celebrity has done their research and has based their decision on patron suggestions as well, no just a crazy whim... perhaps we'll all be pleasantly surprised.

Wonderful review! We too loved out Alaskan cruise and can't think about traveling any other way!

Magno was also our cabin steward and you are correct. He is absolutely wonderful!

Keep on cruisin'!

Thank you for the nice review, we board the Solstice on Friday with our 19 member family for a reunion cruise. Good to know that the Solstice is still part of the program.

 

Ed

Have a great time! Our family of 17 will be taking your place the following week!

Thanks for your post. I'm looking forward to you upcoming posts a we board the Solstice in 10 days for our Alaskan Adventure. We will have two 11 year old boys with us.

Also appreciate the tone you set with your review. Very nice!:)

I'm on that sailing as well and have the same fear!

Same cruise here and hoping Molecular is in place through this last sailing in June!

We are on the June 26th Solstice out of Seattle if you have not yet found someone to deliver, let me know and we can try to help out.

I've read link after link about tendering and seen good and bad. We've decided to adopt the attitude that we are on vacation and time doesn't matter. We've booked a late afternoon whale watch cruise with a delightful operator.

We plan to get our tender tickets, have a nice slow lunch while we wait and when they call us, they call us.

I'm at a point in my life where it is more important to relax and enjoy then be first and frustrated!

Hope you all enjoy!:D

Thanks for posting! So excited as we are headed to the Solstice next month! Thanks for your time and wonderful reviews!

Ok, I've Googled this and Googled that and can't seem to find the schedule you are referencing. Can anyone include the link? thanks

In case you haven't found it yet, here is the link to the docking. You probably have your answer, but I've just looked at this board and I'm moving on without reading further comments.

http://claalaska.com/wp-content/uplo...Ships-2015.pdf