Carnival Magic - 12 Days in Med review....

[TheCaveman]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheCaveman]

 

 

 

I was here.

 

 

[TheCaveman]

 

Our lunch....

 

 

 

[Eileen2]

Well done. Venice is one of my fav, places and years ago we stayed at the Carlton and so that particular photo brought back good memories. Looking forward to reading more:)

[TheCaveman]

Anyway, after lunch we walked back towards St. Marc’s square, we bought three masks, No 1 because DG wanted one, No 2 because we knew there will be a Venetian Masks Party on the ship that evening, No 3 because they were quite cheap. – that was the GF reasoning, not mine.

Mine cost 18 euro, and the other two 10 each.

Once we bought masks we wanted to take gondola ride.

We were advised before on trip advisor and by John Heald in his Port talk that gondola ride should cost around 80 euro PER RIDE not per person or couple. In each gondola is a space for 6 people.

But, as it was the GF birthday, and, we are in Venice, we decided we will take a ride alone.

So, we approached them, and, they quoted us €150

Hmmm, We wanted to take a gondola ride, but not that much…

So, we decide, we will get an other couple, and “share the ride”

Well, lets just say, once we found another couple, and we “agreed” to share the ride, they wanted €200 for the ride.

Now, as this was in the “budget” for the day, I did not mind that cost. But, the GF refused, as, these people, just rob the tourists.

I know, if we really wanted to, we could have walked around, negotiated some, and eventually found an affordable option, but, as we were on vacation, we did not want to stress, and decided to just leave it. We are less than 2 hours via plane away from Venice, and, we will return in the off season, when it is not 100’F

Do we regret not doing it, well, not really, as it was sooooooooo hot.

And, the GF decided that she would rather come back and do it, and, as you all know, woman is always correct.

After that we decided to got back to the ship and surprise, instead of taking water bus to the bus station as before, we accidentally we got tickets on some express bus, which goes straight to the cruise port. And cost only 1 euro more than the other one we took in the morning. Bus stopped right beside Magic, which was very convenient.

 

 

 

Did I mention, it was HOT, and loads of people....

[TheCaveman]

 

We were in the "express" water taxi now. I just wish we knew about it going into Venice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see from these pictures, and, actually from any on this cruise, I think, for 12 days, we did not see a single cloud in the sky...

[TheCaveman]

 

 

 

 

[TheCaveman]

 

 

 

 

[TheCaveman]

Once back on board, as it was the GF birthday, I said she can go to Spa, and get massage or whatever she wanted.

But, as it was really hot, she was not feeling like it, and just wanted to relax by the pool.

So I went for one instead. It was really good, thanks to Kristina. She was brutal….

We spent the rest of the day doing nothing by the pool.

This night we have reservation in a steakhouse, as it was GF birthday.

So we got dressed and head over to the steakhouse.. We got like 5 or 6 courses, which DG loved, but was too much food for us. I was a bit disappointed. Maybe I was expecting too much, since reading so many good reviews about.

 

 

 

 

 

My Bread Bun

 

 

 

TarTar pre-starter

 

 

GF got some kind of soup

[TheCaveman]

 

GF starter, I think it was the crabcake

 

 

I had the Lobster Bisque - Normally I love this, but, there were 1 ingrediant, that I just could not place, therefore, did not enjoy it as much as i should, or could....

 

 

 

 

Than they brought the GF her salad

 

 

 

 

And mine

[TheCaveman]

After this, before the main arrived, they brought over the streak knife.

Now, there is no sense of scale on this picture, but, it was the biggest knife I ever handled, It can back up for a machete, on those Mexican cruises.

 

 

 

 

Gf had the Lamb....

[TheCaveman]

After weiing up all the options, I decided to go for the NY Strip Steak

 

 

 

 

cooked to perfection....

 

 

 

GF were enjoying her meal, nom nom nom

 

 

I made my steak dissapear.

[TheCaveman]

I went to Cherry on top, and got the GF a Birthday Cake, a few days before.

 

I asked them to delivered it between the Main and Desert.

 

 

 

Although she does not really like chockolate cake, I ordered one anyway...

 

But, we did not eat it during the meal, as desset was comming, and we took it as "take away", and had it later in the room

[TheCaveman]

 

 

 

We both had the Chocolate Sampler. IT was good....

 

After dinner, we rolled to our room. As had a drink or 2, whilst we waited for the WIN show.

[pghsteelerfan]

 

Well, we walked past the girl who could not stop speaking during the show, and I snapped her picture.

 

Now, as I don’t want to offend, or point fingers, lets just say she is in this picture….

 

 

And, as she saw us, looking at her, and, I assume she knew who we were…

 

I would give anything to know what she was thinking….

 

 

 

 

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!! Thank you for the laugh! :)

 

I also want to let you know that I'm really enjoying your review and all of your beautiful pictures! We've only cruised to the Caribbean and once the Mexican Riviera, so it's so nice to see your pictures. I'd be interested in the same itinerary you went on - it looks amazing. I also wanted to comment on the pictures you posted of the mother cat and her kittens several pages back - I really enjoyed those. We have 2 cats and one is all black, so the picture of the mother cat looks like him now and the kitten looked exactly like he did 2 years ago. I'm looking forward to the rest of your review & thank you for taking the time to do this review.

[TheCaveman]

 

 

This is 1 show only, not to be missed.

 

It was on at 22:45. It / they went through a lot os sport shows, and the "contestant" could win stuff.

 

I do believe, every show per sailing will be diffrent, and this pitucular one was great.

 

After the show, we went to the Lido deck, for the 12:00 Venetian Masquerade Sailaway party....

[TheCaveman]

 

 

Gf in her mask

 

 

And, me in mine.

[TheCaveman]

At midnight, the party started, they were playing classic music and actually a lot of people turn out wearing there masks.

They were looking for 4 couples who both were wearing masks for something..

They picked us….

Thing was that ladies went upstairs and stood on the balcony like Julia, and guys stood downstairs like Romeo and has to read or sing some part from Sheaksphere.( Pre Selected song / verse )

Wasn’t too hard, girls didn’t had to do anything….and we won another ship on the stick just for taking part.

That means, we came last…. As, from my mask, it was covering my mouth, so, I am not sure anybody heard me declare my love for my Juliet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheCaveman]

They asked all people with a mask, to “form ” a line, kind of a conga line, and a lot of people joined, and eventually we, as in they, took a group picture of all the people in there mask. I would guess, at least 500 people were in masks.

1 o’clock at night we were sailing away from Venice. It was cool, as Venice looked like in a deep sleep, but on our ship music was playing hard and loud and people were having fun. I don’t know how they allow us to sail right in the main canal, in the same main canal that we took the bus earlier during the day, with the Music THAT loud....

It was a great day….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today was another long hot day, and, now, the end was near....

 

 

We planned this cruise for so long, and, now, only 3 sea days remained...

 

 

Not that we were complaining....

 

 

Now, as we went to bed, I had this song stuck in my head. As you know, when that happens,you just cant get rid of it....

 

 

So, I will ask you all, please, open this youtube link, and listen to Mr Sinatra, and you will know what i felt like, that was my mood that evening as i went to bed....

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E2hYDIFDIU

 

 

 

 

Today, ther were no big-screen movie.

But, movie in the cabins were:

Casino Royale

The Karate Kid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheCaveman]

So, we had 3 sea days left, than we have to get off, and, spend 2 days in Barcelona.

 

So,

 

Sea Day 2 - Elegant Night, and meeting John Heald, again

Sea Day 3 - Past Guest Party

Sea Day 4 - Farewell Party - Load of free drinks, no people

 

I will post the remainder tomorrow / Sunday

[wordsneeded]

I wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying your review! :) My new husband and I are sailing in 15 days on the Magic, and you've been able to give me a real taste of what we are going to expect! Can't wait to read the rest... Thank you!

[TheCaveman]

I wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying your review! :) My new husband and I are sailing in 15 days on the Magic, and you've been able to give me a real taste of what we are going to expect! Can't wait to read the rest... Thank you!

 

You will love it.... The Girlfriend and I are working on a Summary Page, that will sum up our cruise.

 

We will post it when done. But, we enjoyed 99% of the stuff that was on offer. And, as the summer vacation is mainly over in Europe, there will be a lot less kids onboard.

 

As, one thing, i could not understand, is that there is no Adult Only pool on the Magic.

 

Yes, that is correcy. A Ship that carries over 4600 people, and, of those 75% are adults, there is a very big serenity area, but, only with hot tubs. Now, when we were on her, it was like 100'F and, the last thing we wanted was to go into a hot tub, we wanted to go cool off in the pool.

 

But, the poold were full of kids, and, not to mention, pee. :eek:

 

And, no, I am not joking, as i peed in there as well, just to make sure.... a lot... :D - Hmm, am I joking or not, not sure myself... :rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

Anyway, the pool at the Lido deck, got "dirty" by the afternoon, that, it took us a few days to realise, there are like "paintings" on the bottom of the pool. One was of a tortise.

 

But, in the afternoon, you could not see it anymore, well, you could not see the bottom of the pool at all.

 

And, considering, that the adults are paying for the cruise, atleast Carnival could have arranges for a small pool to be in the Serenity area.

 

Well, that is just my 2 cents....

[KrystalWaters]

I've been following your review since the beginning. I love it! Definitely one of the bests I have read so far.

I definitely want one those Venetian Masks! They were beautiful, especially the blue one (my fav color!):D

I do like to ask you a question: What kind of camera are you using? I may have missed it if you stated before:o but please do tell! Thanks

[nikita]

Your review is simply fabulous!! Your wit is amazing. I'm laughing out loud here - my pets think I'm crazy! Thanks so much for taking the time to share it with us!

[Prairie_Gal]

Love your review! We are going to some of the same ports next year on the Breeze. We are really looking forward to it.