Carnival Magic!!! Cheers and tears....

[Grits53]

Wrong analogy Luanne....and I am not speaking about your posts, but SOME posts. A better analogy would be.......

 

You have a 1991 car

And you have a 2002 car. Both will drive to say, Atlanta. Both are reliable and you really love those cars.

 

But......you whine and whine and whine and FINALLY get a brand spanking new 2011 model car AND a used-but-newer 1999 model car also. NOW you can go to Atlanta in STYLE baby!!!! Whoo hooo! Stylin' and profilin' here, baby!!!!

 

But.....all of a sudden you realize to get the brand spanking new 2011 model car and the used but newer 1999 model car you are going to have to give up your 2002 and 1991 model cars. Now you really start pitching a fit...."Those we MY cars, damm*t, I don't WANT to have to give them up to get the new ones! I want the new ones AND the old ones!!! AND I want you to make sure that at least one of those cars can drive to Philly, damm*t because quite frankly, I am SICK of Atlanta."

 

You can see how that would come across to someone who didn't even have a car, I'm sure.

 

Good job! I like it!

[okwriter]

I said the same thing in each of the surveys I have been sent from the players club. Now I understand why the survey asked if I would gamble on the ship if it were non-smoking. They asked this a number of times throughout the survey. So I don't know what the outcome was but it appears they were testing the waters with their gamblers.

 

So in the nice open post your thoughts here blank section of the survey, I made sure they understood, if I can't smoke in the casino, I don't play and I probably will think twice before crusing that ship.

 

Yeah, yeah, I get the whole smoke bothers my nose story from the non-smokers but can't I have just one thing? And not some corner of the place with 4 machines that no one wants to play. ;)

 

I asked my PVP how the non-smoking casino was working for Carnival. He said "not very well" because the people who gamble are mostly the ones who smoke and order drinks. Just like trying a non-smoking cruise ship, he suspected a non-smoking casino won't last long.

[Luanne21]

Wrong analogy Luanne....and I am not speaking about your posts, but SOME posts. A better analogy would be.......

 

You have a 1991 car

And you have a 2002 car. Both will drive to say, Atlanta. Both are reliable and you really love those cars.

 

But......you whine and whine and whine and FINALLY get a brand spanking new 2011 model car AND a used-but-newer 1999 model car also. NOW you can go to Atlanta in STYLE baby!!!! Whoo hooo! Stylin' and profilin' here, baby!!!!

 

But.....all of a sudden you realize to get the brand spanking new 2011 model car and the used but newer 1999 model car you are going to have to give up your 2002 and 1991 model cars. Now you really start pitching a fit...."Those were MY cars, damm*t, I don't WANT to have to give them up to get the new ones! I want the new ones AND the old ones!!! AND I want you to make sure that at least one of those cars can drive to Philly, damm*t because quite frankly, I am SICK of Atlanta."

 

You can see how that would come across to someone who didn't even have a car, I'm sure.

 

 

I agree on most of what you said. I have no problem with the Conquest going back to NO or the Ecstasy. I was talking about having a new ship, but can only go the same old places.

 

Funny you should use Atlanta as your example. I grew up there, but because the military tells us where we can live, I have not been back in a long time.

 

You know all of this talk might be for nothing. NO is still below sea level, and it is still in the path of hurricanes, and so is Galveston, so who knows what it will be like when all of this takes place.

 

Bottom line is we would love to have different ports. I don't think any of us doesn't realize how lucky we are to have cruise ships, but in my case, I have been to these ports so many times, they are starting to know me by name.:)

[tallyho8]

From what I read, none of the other cruise lines want ships in Houston or Galveston. Princess tried it and left after a year. It's too much competition with the two Carnival ships supposedly. Not sure why NOLA is different. Anyone know? Maybe NOLA attracts more people just because it's New Orleans?

 

I believe the reason is because New Orleans is always in the top 20 American destinations that tourists visit and usually in the top ten. Galveston is not even in the top 50.

 

Many people get a 2 week vacation and want to go on a cruise for a week and spend the extra time in the city they want to visit. This is more often New Orleans than Galveston.

 

Since New Orleans attracts 2 million more visitors a year than Galveston it is no wonder that they are easily able to attract 50 to 100 thousand more cruise passengers a year.

 

I am willing to bet that Galveston has a much larger percentage of local cruisers who are from within 100 miles than New Orleans does. The locals just come to cruise then go home after. The far-away visitors come to stay a while and spend the bucks.

 

The far-away cruisers spend a lot on airfare and vacationing in the city and don't have as much left to cruise on so cruises are cheaper in New Orleans. The locals who cruise in Galveston don't have to spend money on air fare or hotels so they don't mind paying more for the cruise.

 

You may not agree with me but my opinion is worth what you paid for it. :)

[toad455]

I'm guessing the Ecstasy will be going into some kind of dry or wet dock during that 19 day span??

[DreadPirateRobert]

I still am wondering what ports you thought they were going to add:confused:

I had hoped the Magic might be doing longer cruises. That, combined with higher speeds could have put parts of the eastern Caribbean within reach.

The Conquest makes it to Key West an the Bahamas on a 7 day.

What ever happened to Belize?

[DreadPirateRobert]

I'm guessing the Ecstasy will be going into some kind of dry or wet dock during that 19 day span??

Ecstacy just came out of a drydock/ refit with upgrades less than a year ago.

[jimbo5544]

I had hoped the Magic might be doing longer cruises. That, combined with higher speeds could have put parts of the eastern Caribbean within reach.

The Conquest makes it to Key West an the Bahamas on a 7 day.

What ever happened to Belize?

It does make one wonder why Carnival has not jumped into the longer cruise (in terms of days) market. Belize is probably my least favorite port (although I am going there in August on the Dream), but it is different.

[jimbo5544]

I was SHOCKED by the difference. We "jumped ship" from the Voyager to the Conquest this year because the Voyager prices were so high...I saved about $1,500 in March on Carnival compared to RCCL. Now it looks like I'll be jumping again. That kind of money pays for a lot of extras! The $2,300 difference was for a GS on both ships. An OS on Magic is still $1,100 more than the Mariner GS.:eek:

I guess they thought that since Galveston has demanded high cruises prices, they would see what a new ship would add to that. After reading your post I went in and did a couple quotes for various weeks on the Magic and all were high. We will see how that works for them:confused:

[bobar]

most people who sail out of galveston drive to the port and carnival knows that,therefore no airfare plus cruise so they can charge a little more for the cruise and in comparing all the time it is truly only a little more...not enough to pay airfare to florida and a cruise and still come out ahead,although once in awhile we do that anyway.....it is thrilling to have 2 great ships coming to galveston.she deserves it...i love the triumph.was just on her again in april...

i wish the would use her to do 8 and 6 day cruises like the freedom or 9 and 5 like ncls uses the pearl in the caribbean..would allow for some different ports instead of the same old 3..:cool:

[jimbo5544]

most people who sail out of galveston drive to the port and carnival knows that,therefore no airfare plus cruise so they can charge a little more for the cruise and in comparing all the time it is truly only a little more...not enough to pay airfare to florida and a cruise and still come out ahead,although once in awhile we do that anyway.....it is thrilling to have 2 great ships coming to galveston.she deserves it...i love the triumph.was just on her again in april...

i wish the would use her to do 8 and 6 day cruises like the freedom or 9 and 5 like ncls uses the pearl in the caribbean..would allow for some different ports instead of the same old 3..:cool:

Actually 9 and 5 would make for an interesting selection of ports of call.

[Bobba22]

Hi All,

I was actually hoping that the Magic would do different ports also, but out of NO.

Many of the different itineraries would require longer cruises, and Princess, a part of the Carnival Corp. alreay does 10-14 day Caribbean cruises. I think Carnival limits its cruises to 7-8 days so as to keep the price lower and not to have to compete with the Princess itineraries. Just a thought.

BOB :confused:

[BallFour4]

After reading the entire thread here are my comments so far:

 

Costa Maya - limited (and unprotected) dock space and chances of missing the port due to wind and waves. It does remain a really nice place to go, so bet the schedule is loaded with more than one cruise line

 

Roatan- some volatility from the mainland and a slightly larger gamble for cruise passenger safety. For a few first time cruisers it's a little primative.

 

Jamaica - like a fruitcake, some love it some hate it.

 

Calica - limited ship space and a crowded schedule for the gravel pit. The Celebration sailed there along with Cozumel for lots of trips. Fun day at Xcaret.

 

Galveston infrastructure - an incredible number of moderate priced hotels on the island and even more within a 20 mile radius. The port is more than adequate to handle a ship this size.

Other cruise lines bailed - Not the whole truth. Celebrity was here for a short term contract and like Princess they enjoyed a good run. No one expected them to commit to a long term deal.

 

RCCL had the Rhapsody full time and the Splendour part time. The overseas market pulled other ships as well as the Rhapsody and after a short absence the Voyager made a grand apperance.

 

Costs of travel - Would I take a brand new ship for the additional cost of $150 (as one post quoted) sure! But I am a ship guy first and port guy second.

 

We "lost" the Conquest - not hardly. Katrina took her from New Orleans. Common sense is taking her back. New Orleans also had a Fantasy class ship in the past.

 

Travel to and from the airports - Ever sailed from Port Canaveral? The ride from Orlando might compare. Fly to Hobby, several transfer options are there.

 

Watch what happens on Seawall Blvd. The second renaissance is underway for construction. Not since hurricane Alicia in 1983 have any of us seen this. The Galvez, San Luis and other hotels have recently completed or have major renovations in the works.

 

Carnival loaned the Port of Galveston millions of dollars for terminal construction, bank on the fact they wanted to see something for the dollar.

 

What they got was a round the clock turn around after Ike and the sailings returned after just a few weeks.

 

Will the ships sail full? I'd wager they will. A huge number of people live within a 4-6 hour drive from here. The airport transportation will improve driven by necessity.

 

For those that think New Orleans is 4 "more" hours away, you'd better Google it. It's a 6 hour journey from the Houston market, worth the trip? You bet. Worth the cost savings? You decide!

 

Just opinions...

 

 

.

 

 

[Texaslandshark]

RCL Mariner out of Galveston is doing Belize, Roatan and Costa Maya - so it is possible to get to these ports on a 7 night cruise.

Right..too bad they don't do it year 'round.

[islahopper]

I would like to sail on the Magic, but Galveston is not a option coming from the east coast. To bad, I really enjoyed the Dream and was looking foward to the Magic, maybe someday. Folks Galveston will love the Magic, congrats.

[LisaH]

A non-smoking casino? :eek: Seriously? :eek:

 

I hadn't heard that about Dream!

 

How's that workin' for 'em, I wonder? :confused:

 

On our last RCCL cruise, they did two nights of non smoking in the casino and they were the two most crowded nights.

[spencercoop]

I've never been to Calica before. Do cruise ships still go there? Did Carnival used to go there? I believe it's just south of Tulum, am I right?

 

I wasn't sure if Costa Maya was too far or not. It's not that much further than Cozumel. They could just speed up the ship a little bit, right?:D

 

The Elation goes to Calica out of Mobile.

[toad455]

Ecstacy just came out of a drydock/ refit with upgrades less than a year ago.

 

so I'd like to know what it'll be doing from Sept. 9 - 21, 2011 since there's no cruises scheduled for her.

[spencercoop]

Here is from John's blog today.

 

And the Carnival Triumph will be doing 4 and 5 day cruises which will give us the possibility to have fantastic 9 and 10 day cruises from Galveston………..but ssshhh……..that’s just between me and you and I will wait for our super spy PA 007′s to give me news on that.

[toad455]

Here is from John's blog today.

 

 

ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

[arush5268d]

Aaaaaahhhhhh. Nice!

[firefly333]

On our last RCCL cruise, they did two nights of non smoking in the casino and they were the two most crowded nights.

 

RCL also now doesnt allow smoking in the cabins, so smokers have to get balconys or the rest came over to Carnival.

[duchessuta]

Here is from John's blog today.

 

 

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D:eek::D:eek::D:eek:

 

You just made by day!!

[Cindy]

Here is from John's blog today.

 

Now we're talking!:D

[Grits53]

Here is from John's blog today.

 

Things that make you go.....hmmmmm.....

The question is, does he mean B2B's or actual 9 or 10 day cruises?