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

[LemurCat]

I've always wanted to go to Galveston, actually, especially after I read Isaac's Storm. Granted, the town was effectively wiped out by the titular storm, but still, it would be kinda cool to see if there's anything left.

 

(And by the way, Gulf Port has a casino.)

 

(And Bayonne is a hop-skit-and-a-jump from NYC on public transit.)

[Cruiser1547228475]

Galveston has the Carnival Magic!!! and the Carnival Triumph.

 

Very sadly, we lose the Conquest and the Ecstasy to NOLA.

 

I'm thrilled that Galveston has been blessed with such an important new vessel but VERY sad that we're losing our favorite ships...

 

 

 

Hay Mach ,what happen to your other topic ?

Did you have a change of heart ;)

[SmudgeCat]

I am so excited that NoLa is getting Conquest and Ecstasy!! All you awesome Galveston folk have made me drool wanting to cruise on both of those ships, and I think I'm much more likely to get my DH to cruise out of NoLa (one of our fave cities). Luckily, we're already looking at an August cruise on Triumph next year for our 2 year anniversary, so best of both worlds!

 

Congrats to **both** ports!!!!!! :p :p

[Vanessa L]

Yeah, I get that you're thrilled. It's the "BUT" that you keep using that speaks volume though. I doubt it's your intention, nor the intention of the rest of the Texas Cruising Community, but it just comes off as ... peevish (at least to me ... I could be projecting my own annoyance onto others). I dunno, perhaps it's a grass-is-always-greener situation, but I'd kill for a new ship up here, or any of the ports you folks are so sick of. I'm not sure you all would look kindly on the trade though.

 

You're not projecting anything LC.....the fact that the TCC wants the Magic AND the Ecstasy AND the Conquest AND new and improved itineraries for every ship is speaking the loudest.

 

You aren't imagining anything. It's all there in black and white.

[Traveler353]

While I am mildly disappointed that she did not come to New Orleans I am still looking forward to cruising on the Magic. 7 hour drive, I can handle that. Much shorter than driving down to the Florida ports. And it is good that New Orleans is going to have two new Carnival ships. Apparently two ships that are well liked by most of the current passengers that cruise them.

 

Cat: We now have 11 Casinos down here and permits/approvals have been completed for at least two more. If nothing else we have plenty of casinos (maybe too many), Asian and Mexican restaurants and pancake places.

[LemurCat]

Cat: We now have 11 Casinos down here and permits/approvals have been completed for at least two more. If nothing else we have plenty of casinos (maybe too many), Asian and Mexican restaurants and pancake places.

 

See? All my criteria for a vacation spot. Do you guys have open container laws too?

 

(Ironically enough, I almost did, at one point end up taking a vacation in Biloxi ... back when the Seawolves were still around.)

[jimbo5544]

The Grand Princess also did those ports out of Galveston. We sailed on the Grand three years in a row from Galveston, and had three different itineraries.

I am still trying to figure out where else they can go from Galveston. Cindy, what were the different itins that you did on Princess?

[Fairhope]

You aren't imagining anything. It's all there in black and white.

 

And sea green.

[Cruiser1547228475]

I wont be cruising on the Magic or traveling to Galveston

 

Just to far to drive and to expensive to fly , plus I learned my lesson on the Dream.

You pay more for the cruise out of Galveston.

Just more people with a larger sewage capacity.

[jimbo5544]

I wont be cruising on the Magic or traveling to Galveston

 

Just to far to drive and to expensive to fly , plus I learned my lesson on the Dream.

You pay more for the cruise out of Galveston.

Just more people with a larger sewage capacity.

So I take it you liked your Dream cruise:cool:

[nybumpkin]

I'm genuinely happy for those who live close enough to Galveston to drive to port...

as for the rest of us, does anyone WANT to fly to Galveston to get on a ship?????

Count me out on that one.

We did...and I wish we had planned time to look around before our cruise. I would have liked to have spent some time along the seawall and along the port area. As it was, our flight arrived late Saturday night and we spent the night in Houston. For us, flying from NY to Florida is much easier, but I'm glad we made this trip.

 

As for pricing, we cruise during the week of President's Day since our kids (New York) have the entire week off. Cruises out of Florida tend to be expensive that week. Our cruise on Conquest in February was less expensive than a comparable 7-day cruise out of Florida that week.

[WhiteNunsOnDope]

Agree casino should be 100% smoking. Cigars n pipes should be allowed.

 

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. ;)

[SoonerOne]

I am not a glass half empty type... I'm honest.

 

For several years Carnival has been promising new ports... new ships for Galveston. We got the ships but the same ports.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a ports guy... I'd just as soon have a seven day CTN but it's ports the ports that sell itineraries. I can't help but believe that new ports and at least one additional ship in Galveston would have been the best move...

 

:)

 

I am with you Mach....while I am SO pleased to have new ships, I am not pleased about the same ole ports...come on Carnival, listen to us, we need some new ports!

[sjn911]

I would love to go out of Nola, Galveston, Mobile etc. Oddly, for me flying to Florida or Hawaii (know not a Carnival port..just making a point) can even be less costly and time consuming than these ports...but I would love to see Texas/Louisiana/Alabama Coastal areas..

 

Flying from many places makes no sense...:)

[TheTravelista]

I'm genuinely happy for those who live close enough to Galveston to drive to port...

as for the rest of us, does anyone WANT to fly to Galveston to get on a ship?????

Count me out on that one.

 

Cruising out of FL ports...:)

Cruising out of CA ports...:)

Cruising out of NY :)

out of NOLA :D

 

even out of Boston :)

 

But Galveston is right there with Gulf Port, MS and Bayonne in my opinion...when you have to fly to port and do so at least one day before, you kinda like to go someplace a bit interesting.

 

So now, we have a bigger version of the same ship (only a bit more crowded)

Going to the same ports

from Galveston.

 

Can someone please tell me what the draw is here???? :confused:

I guess, like RCI out of Bayonne, this is just meant to be a ship/port that draws people from the area.....

 

Add me to that list.

 

I'm from NYC and I won't be flying to Galveston. Sorry. I don't even sail out of NY or Bayonne or Baltimore or any of those North East ports. The ships are never to my liking. I like newest and biggest. So every time I cruise, I'm forced to fly, which is fine with me. Usually to Florida or San Juan. I considered flying to California for Splendor but Texas? No thanks. And definitely not with that stale itinerary.

 

I have a feeling that the Magic will be filled with mostly Southern cruisers. I'm sure Carnival had a good reason for placing her there. They are able to charge top dollar and people will pay. Especially since most don't have to add airfare. I truly hope it works out for all involved but I still think its an odd decision. Guess there are more Texas cruisers spending big bucks than I ever imagined.

[toad455]

sorry Carnival, but you screwed this up. The best you could put together for the Magic was the same old boring Jamaica-Grand Cayman-Cozumel snoozer. And then you move the Conquest to NOLA to basically do the same itin(the Conquest is only doing the Belize-Roaton-Cozumel itin. once). Again, you screwed up Carnival.

[pokergirl34]

I think it's great for Galveston but I think Carnival missed the mark with those same 'ole itineraries. Bummer.

 

Maybe Conquest will get something more exciting.

[duchessuta]

I just priced two cruises...one RCI and one CCL for the same week in January 2012. I was very surprised to see that RCI was cheaper!! The RCI cruise is the one that goes to Roatan and Belize (which I have not yet done) and the CCL cruise is the Jamaica, Cayman, Cozumel one.

 

Looks like I'll get to experiment with another line...

[glrounds]

. . . does anyone WANT to fly to Galveston to get on a ship?????

Count me out on that one.

 

Cruising out of FL ports...:)

Cruising out of CA ports...:)

Cruising out of NY :)

out of NOLA :D

 

even out of Boston

 

But Galveston is right there with Gulf Port, MS and Bayonne in my opinion...when you have to fly to port and do so at least one day before, you kinda like to go someplace a bit interesting.

 

So now, we have a bigger version of the same ship (only a bit more crowded)

Going to the same ports

from Galveston.

 

Can someone please tell me what the draw is here????

I guess, like RCI out of Bayonne, this is just meant to be a ship/port that draws people from the area.....

 

I think you're right, halos. I think I can speak for the West Coast, particularly Los Angles (Long Beach). We're devastated here by the economy, particularly housing which traditionally brings a country or a state OUT of a recession. More people and BUSINESSES have left California in the last 4 years than came here. RCI has pulled out of the West Coast market (LA, Phoenix, Vegas, Frisco, SD) COMPLETELY (Jan 2011) because of the heavy discounting necessary to fill their ships. Until RCI leaves the SPLENDOR will have that same problem. New York and Miami have very similar economic problems. Since airfare pricing and restrictions are a major factor in determining where one will cruise out of, placing so many ships along the Gulf area near the center of the country (not as hard hit by the recession) looked like a good idea to Carnival. :) Many will be able to drive to the ships this way.

 

Flying to Galveston for me will be doubly tough as there aren't any RED EYE flights, so I'll have to go a day early and get a hotel room and most of the return flights leave in the morning, so the same for the end of the cruise. Knocks me off the list for sure.:(

[James in SA]

Huh? Maybe this has been addressed already, but from that announcement it appears that Magic is only in Galveston for the November through April (winter) season, and Triumph will be there all year long.

 

Will Triumph be the only ship in Galveston during the summer season???

[tallyho8]

Most cruise lines do not list their cruises past April 2012. But Magic is expected to stay in Galveston.

[James in SA]

Most cruise lines do not list their cruises past April 2012. But Magic is expected to stay in Galveston.

 

They stated that magic would be there for the November 2011 through April 2012 season... and then stated that Triumph would be in Galveston year-round. They did not state that Magic was going to be in Galveston year round.

 

In the case of RCI's Voyager, it is in Galveston Nov - April and spends the summer months in Europe. You can see why one might question the wording of that announcement.

 

Magic is spending summer 2012 in Europe and will winter in Galveston. Is it going back to Europe again in the summer of 2012?

[Ratt]

I'm very happy that the Magic is coming to Galveston. So happy that we just booked her for April 2012. :D.

 

We got of Ecstasy this past Monday after a wonderful 4 night to Cozumel, so hearing about her leaving is bitter sweet. She is a wonderful ship and her crew are the best.

 

It's only another 4 hours to NOLA, so we can still sail on her without much trouble.

 

I understand people want different itineraries, as the same places over and over get old, but I would bet that from Carnivals perspective most Galveston cruisers either haven't been to those ports or would like to go back.

 

We were on the "swine flu" cruise last year on Ecstasy that was supposed to be a 5 night to Progresso and Cozumel, but was changed to a 7 night to Jamaica and Grand Cayman. While we're not big fans of Jamaica (I've met a lot of people that are), we love Grand Cayman and Cozumel, and are really looking forward to going back.

[spencercoop]

They stated that magic would be there for the November 2011 through April 2012 season... and then stated that Triumph would be in Galveston year-round. They did not state that Magic was going to be in Galveston year round.

 

In the case of RCI's Voyager, it is in Galveston Nov - April and spends the summer months in Europe. You can see why one might question the wording of that announcement.

 

Magic is spending summer 2012 in Europe and will winter in Galveston. Is it going back to Europe again in the summer of 2012?

 

I don't think the Magic will be going back to Europe after her 2011 season. I think it is a safe bet that the Magic will year round out of Galveston.

[James in SA]

I don't think the Magic will be going back to Europe after her 2011 season. I think it is a safe bet that the Magic will year round out of Galveston.

 

Maybe they just don't want to commit that far in advance, and schedules are not out yet anyway.

 

It would make no sense to leave Galveston with only Triumph during the busy summer months.

 

Now... if they could just find an alternative to Progreso for Triumph. Unless you are going to see Uxmal or Chichen Itza, there is NOTHING to get off the ship for there. The place is a dump with murky brown water at the beaches.