Just off the Magic - February 11-18th sailing - any questions?

I was on this same cruise and I didn't find the staff rude at all.

I was in the casino a lot. Very smokey. I didn't notice in the atrium but I did at the computers on the other entrance. Plus it was really cold at the poker tables so dress warm if you play that. Slot area wasn't as cold for some reason.

Didn't do the BBQ place- both times we went the lines were long.

I thought the steak house was great and the Italian place so-so. We got comped at both places through the casino and was glad I didn't pay at the Italian place. Ditto about the bad singing.

My steward was great but really seemed to appreciate only having to clean once a day.

MSR took a while but I don't like to be rushed so I didn't notice much difference there. I thought the food was good there but for some reason the Onion Soup was really watery. I was with a group of seven diverse eaters and they all seemed happy.

If you want Serenity loungers be sure to get there early. It filled fast and stayed full both sea days.

We liked St Thomas the best too- just grabbed a tour off the ship and had a blast. PR did the Bacardi tour though the ship- it was fun and informative. DR did the "Give Back" excursion though the ship- total ripoff- felt like the "orphanage" (the girls aren't orphans at all. GRR) was a big shake down for money and gifts. EXTREMELY disappointed in this- not as portrayed in the least. GT did the VIP private house though the ship- was nice- but 60 ppl isn't "private" to me and food/drinks were nothing special.

I agree about America Rocks show- awesome! Flick was a bummer with tech difficulties- I would try again for sure. All in all, the shows have really stepped it up in my opinion.

No comedy for us either.

Highly recommend the Chef's Table. I've done 20 cruises and this is a foodie dream. You're seated in the middle of the action in the galley and the whole dinner is an orchestrated extravaganza. Let them know if you don't like a particular food and they will accommodate you. My friends don't like veal or lamb and they were substituted for steak and shrimp. Eight courses of totally unique food and wine/champagne included. This is NOT American Table- be prepared for sensational presentation of food not normally seen on a cruise ship. Just incredible and so delicious. Definitely the highlight of the cruise.

I won the Blackjack tourney and am playing in the Grand Final cruise on the Breeze in April- first thing I booked after my cabin was to do the Chef Dinner again.

Magic looks great.

We had a balcony suite which was nice but nothing spectacular. Jacuzzi bath didn't work and not sure if it ever got fixed. Not that much bigger in cabin although the balcony having a lounger in addition to the two chairs was nice.

Don't look to get on the ship until close to noon. We were trying to get on as close to 11 as possible because we were surprising the family and having to wait until noon (as a Platinum) was torture. Luckily, the traffic delayed the family and we pulled off the surprise. Apparently, this new rule went into effect Feb 1st in Port Canaveral- not sure if it's fleet wide or not.

Chef's Table...is there a cost to dine? Is it through advance reservation? Thanks.

There is also the free trolley in SAN Juan. We have done that twice. Goes right to ElMorro.

 

 

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Hi! Re free trolley --- where do you it on outside of the cruise port terminal? Does it make a loop back to the terminal? Thanks.

Don't look to get on the ship until close to noon. We were trying to get on as close to 11 as possible because we were surprising the family and having to wait until noon (as a Platinum) was torture. Luckily, the traffic delayed the family and we pulled off the surprise. Apparently, this new rule went into effect Feb 1st in Port Canaveral- not sure if it's fleet wide or not.

I hadn't heard about this before. Did the staff at check-in tell you this was a new rule?

Chef's table is $75 pp. You can sign up before or on the ship. They take only about 16 people.

I cruised the Magic in September and it was awesome. Have a friend that booked for a family reunion Winter 2017. The Cruise director was really great, and the staff was plentiful. Why all the cuts? Does Carnival just not care?

Who was the cruise director on your cruise?

I have went with RCCL the past 2 years and they are the same way. Understaffed and lack of employee morale. Very different than what I was used to on Carnival in the past. Sad

Chef's Table...is there a cost to dine? Is it through advance reservation? Thanks.

The cost on the Magic was $95/person (now) and is the same on the advance reservation I just did for the Breeze in April.

My Carnival agent sent email to get me on the list for Steakhouse and Chef Table but you can do it through website too.

I hadn't heard about this before. Did the staff at check-in tell you this was a new rule?

Yes, we were hoping to get on board as platinum at 11 am. They took us upstairs to wait with Diamond guests but said we had to wait until noon. I asked about this since we really wanted to hide from our family and surprise them- the guy in charge then announced that this had gone into effect on Feb 1st at Port Canaveral.

We made it on board without being seen but we were sweating it.

By 11:30 almost all the seats upstairs for VIP were full. People were not happy about no advance notice.

My husband turns Platinum this cruise and I'm still one cruise behind him at Gold. Will our son and I be able to sit in the VIP section and board with him as he is Platinum and we are not? TIA

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Good morning!

 

We just returned from our Magic sailing to the Eastern Caribbean on Saturday.

 

I really meant to post before now but we left all 6 kids home for this trip so I've been catching up with them, plus I have 1 who has strep and 1 with the flu - ugh!

 

Anyway, I hope to start a review soon but thought I'd put this out there if anyone had any questions before I get started.

 

Ask away!

Yes, how was the food? I am worried sick about the American Table menu. Is it really as bad as everyone says? We enjoy eating in the MDR, but my picky eaters might force us to eat pizza or the buffet every night.

Hi, we are booked on the Magic for a Caribbean cruise in August, we have been allocated room 6438 and the reviews state that this is one of the worst rooms on the ship as its over the disco and the restaurants.i asked to be moved but was told that it would incur an extra £500 this cruise is a present for my mum to celebrate her 80th birthday. I can already see that carnival have no regard for their clients even in their twiglight years. I'm absolutely not looking forward to cruising with them. I feel I've chosen the wrong cruise line & now that payments are being made to them they are not bothered.

You have a stateroom directly above you and the Steakhouse under you. You should not be bothered by any noise.

Yes, how was the food? I am worried sick about the American Table menu. Is it really as bad as everyone says? We enjoy eating in the MDR, but my picky eaters might force us to eat pizza or the buffet every night.

I personally wasn't a fan of the American Table menu. It does still have a lot of what was on the old menu, but to me there weren't as many good choices as before and I was a little let down. The food to me lacked flavor as well - I did have a cold but many others were complaining that they thought the food wasn't quite as good as it has been in the past.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't inedible by any means - just not up to par with some cruises we have taken before. Don't stress over it though - you are going to be on vacation on a big ship and there will be plenty to eat - trust me!

Have fun!

I did a review if you want to check it out - here is the link - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2464635