Ken076

Old San Juan: The ship docks right outside OSJ – you can walk OSJ or take the free Trolley. We did the Inside the Walls tour. The tour guide Naomi was enthusiastic and super informative and very proud of her country. It was HOT, there was quite a bit of uphill, steps/ramps, but there were frequent rest stops. Many, many historical tidbits. A number of our tour “dropped-out”, with no problem – Naomi notified the ship via cell phone.

ST THOMAS: It was raining just as we exited the ship and the crew had Panchos at the gangway for only $2. There’s shopping just a short distance from the pier.

We did the St John Catamaran and Snorkeling Champagne excursion ($99pp). A twenty minute bus to the Marina and 45 minute cruise to St John Caneel Bay where the Catamaran anchored offshore for snorkelers and “dingy’d” others to the beach. The Catamaran was clean and the crew was enthusiastic and helpful. The snorkel site was average. There was cheese and bread snack, and Champagne and Rum Punch on the sail back.

GRAND TURK: We decided to try Island Trams island tour, $25pp in open trams. Tickets are sold just off the Pier; they didn’t mention that the trams were a bit awkward to enter and exit –AND- as the company is not "affiliated" with the Port and cannot enter port to pick-up or drop-off , there’s about half mile, unescorted walk In the sun to board the tram OUTSIDE the port gates. The tour was about 1.5 hours and was pretty informative; Cockburn town and Market Place -- not much to it.

You enter Margaritaville just after the pier – free loungers umbrellas and music. There are plenty of independents with loungers /umbrellas, probably $10/$20 down the beach.

AMBER COVE was nicer and larger than we expected. There are Jewelry/trinkets shops, a large pool and winding river and music. With two ships, there were still a lot of empty loungers.

There’s a zip line from the hilltop to near the ocean. NO BEACH.

Inside Lido Cabin 10230:

There were 2 ceiling height hanger closets and 1 shelved cabinet. Shampoo and bath gel dispensers in shower plus round bar soap. No sample bags.

There’s a card reader on the wall as you enter; you must insert S&S card to turn lighting on – the card stays in reader to keep the lighting enabled. There's also a switch conveniently above the bed.

There are two 120 volt outlets and one 230 volt outlet on dressing desk, three desk drawers plus partial top drawer with small hairdryer. We plugged-in a cheapo 4 outlet non-surge-protected power strip.

The Cooler was empty on arrival.

Our VIFP Water Bottles and Free Drink Coupon were delivered the first nite.

The Steward asked what turndown service we wanted and Provided Ice and wine glasses.

There was NO noise from Lido in Lido cabin hallways.

Embarkation at Carnival Cruise Terminal CT6. We Arrived by car a few minutes before our 11:00AM Check-in. The entrance to CT6 luggage drop-off was VERY congested and very slow (there’s a cross street ACROSS the entrance), only 6 or 7 diagonal slots to pull into for unloading. The Parking garage across from the Terminal was uncrowded and we parked on ground level. Short walk to entrance, where they WERE checking boarding passes for check-in time. Checked-in took less than 5 minutes, and we were onboard at Guys by noon. Cabins were ready by 1:30.

There was Calypso steel drum music on the Lido (one musician with recorded accompaniment).

Pre-Cruise Dinner: Milliken's Reef Restaurant less than 5 minutes, on the channel. Excellent menu, food and service, an outside band and bar, and a channel view.

Pre-Cruise Night: Holiday Inn Vacation Resort at Cape Canaveral.

Quick check-in, super-nice Villa with sitting area with TV, a separated sleeping area with TV, Kitchenette with microwave and coffeemaker, sink, and small fridge. Kids indoor McDonald's-like play area, mini golf, tennis and basketball on top of the parking garage, large pool, large winding river and kids waterpark. Clean facility, very friendly and helpful staff, maybe 5 minutes to the cruise terminal and to the restaurants on the channel.

Carnival Magic Eastern Itinerary 28 Jan - 04 Feb Funtimes (DropBox Link)

https://db.tt/KEBFCw8qfG

Review and Photos to follow.

Ken

Ditto to coevan above, other than a couple bucks to the excursion driver who apparently isn't always included in the tip pool. The world is divided into two camps as to whether you should/should-not carry passports off the ship. Ken

No comparison - Oasis (or Allure) hands-down. Ken

Shouldn't be a problem for cookies and packaged snacks. Usually the issue is with taking un-packaged foods OFF the ship. Ken

I'm scanning the Funtimes as .pdf's when we get back, as one multi-page .pdf per day.

Looks like you can "Attach" .pdf's to posts, but the allowed file size is probably too small for 4+ pages.

Looks like PhotoBucket and DropBox are the way to go.

Thanks, Ken

We'll be doing Magic Eastern at the end of this month. Planning ahead...What's the best way to "post" .pdf's of the FunTimes? Thanks, Ken

Getting very excited for cruise (only two weeks away). I have a few questions regarding the comedy club:

 

1. What are the show times?

2. How far before show starts would you recommend getting there?

3. Also how good are the comedians? We have gone to the comedy club in the past on Carnival, but it has been a while.

 

Thanks.

We're on the 28 Jan Magic Eastern. No guarantees, but looks like:

Sat: late Comedy Show

Sun: 7:30 8:30 9:30 10:30* "Flick" in the Theatre

Mon: 7:30 8:30 9:30 10:30* Serenity Mega Party

Tue: Karaoke in the aft lounge Mardi Gras Lobby "Country Road" Theatre

Wed: Karaoke in Aft Lounge, late comedy show "88 Keys" Theatre

Thur: 7:30 8:30 9:30 10:30* 80's Rock & Glow Party

Fri: 7:30 8:30 9:30 10:30* "America Rocks" Theatre

* The two comedians alternate each hour

Ken

you will have to call up carnival or read up on the policy. if you have cancel anytime coverage, you might get a refund

 

https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/vacation-protection.aspx

Check the Link for your coverage. There's probably some interpretation here, so you'll have to contact the Insurer at their 800 number ASAP for their interpretation and you have to notify them as soon as you decide to cancel. You cannot cancel (or get insurance benefits, if you try to cancel after the cruise departs.

"... Carnival Cruise Line will ... refund to you IN CASH ... should you or your traveling companion need to cancel or interrupt your cruise vacation for ...

sickness, injury or death to yourself, a traveling companion, or members of either of your immediate families which is diagnosed and treated by a physician at the time your cruise vacation is terminated..."

At the worst, if you have to invoke the "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage, you'll get a 75% future cruise credit.

Ken

If you're able to scan and post the FunTimes it would really be appreciated!! Ken

It still hasn't come up for Jax on my 1/28 cruise.

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Forums mobile app

If you've already checked-in, just to be sure, go to:

MY CRUISE MANAGER|TO DO LIST|ON-LINE CHECK-IN (EDIT)|My Check-in Time

Check-in selection appeared for our 28 Jan 2017 Magic Port Canaveral cruise came-up yesterday, with of course no notification.

Ken

OASIS hands down!

Does anyone have recent (November or December 2016) Magic Eastern FunTimes to share? Thanks, Ken

It doesnt work that way. you will lost 50pp but 200pp will be held for a future trip - not to be used as a deposit

 

>

If you call and Cancel current cruise and Book a new cruise in the same call, the credit CAN be applied to the new deposit. Ken

You can have the future credit transferred to the person whose Credit Card the cruise was booked on, if that helps. Ken