Why The Carnival Magic Is My Favorite Ship (With Pictures)

[Spaniel Lover]

That's the end of my review of our back-to-back cruises on the Carnival Magic. I hope you enjoyed it!

If you have questions, now's the time...

[cruiser fanatic]

I was on the 8/19 sailing and I agree with most of your observations keep the review coming.

Edited September 15, 2012 by nrrice

[Scott34787]

 

Photos are near-professional level.

 

I take that back - almost every picture is professional-level.

 

What kind of camera did you use?

[navybaby1113]

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this review. I love the layout and the pictures were gorgeous!

[Spaniel Lover]

Most of the still photos, and the above-the-water videos, were shot with a Canon Digital Rebel T2i camera with an 18-135mm image-stabilized lens.

 

The underwater photos and videos, and a very small number of the other still photos, were shot with a Panasonic DMC-TS3... which is a waterproof pocket-sized camera.

 

That Canon Digital Rebel camera is definitely the way to go if you're looking to take professional quality photos. I've actually written a web page which talks all about what makes the Digital Rebel so great, and which showcases some of the best photos I've ever taken with it. You can see it on this page of my web site.

[kjunea]

excellent review! One of the most enjoyable I've seen! Now I want to go on the Magic!

[Scott34787]

Most of the still photos, and the above-the-water videos, were shot with a Canon Digital Rebel T2i camera with an 18-135mm image-stabilized lens.

 

Holy schnikes! That lens is bigger than Dad's :)

 

The results clearly make the schlepping worth it, though!

 

[misstopgun]

Great pictures and great review. I have yet to sail the Magic because I don't care to visit Jamacia but maybe this spring. I can always stay on the ship in that port.

 

I agree the colors in the room are mach more subdued and calming. I did notice you talked about going off times to avoid the crowds. Are crowds really a problem as they were on the Dream?

 

The only ship I have been on with the 2.0 upgrades in the Liberty. They discontinued smoking on the Lido deck all together. Is it the same on the Magic?

 

Thanks for taking the time to share your vacation with us.

[jgr8fulbear]

loved the review and totally agree that the food was sub par. I did, however, very much enjoy cucina, also loved the tandori, I still crave the fish. Beautiful pictures too, love the one of the boy in the water park waiting for his unsuspecting adult to walk under

[Topo Gigio]

Great review.

 

If not mistaken the Spa cabins have a different decor than the regular ones!

[cruisinconi]

Love the review---just wish it was longer! I read everything I can about the Magic and really appreciate the pictures you've shared with us. The videos are next. We leave next Sunday for our turn! A question from the dh, do the tv's have built in dvd players?

[oncruisecontrol]

Is anyone from Carnival reading this? If so, I do have a few suggestions for you!

• The 24-hour pizza bar is a great idea, too. Now all you have to do is throw out your pizza recipe and come up with a better one. The crust you use isn't bad... I think it's the cheese and the sauce that are the problems. Put some focus groups together and try out some new recipes on them. Just make sure the focus groups are representative of who your typical customers are!

  
  

 

Sadly, I think the "cheeze":eek: that they use is actually shredded imitation cheese. Definitely does not melt smoothly (poor texture), nor does it taste good. Carnival needs to use whole milk (or at least part-skim) mozzarella.

[Jifner]

thanks so much for a picture-intensive review. We are sailing on her a week from tomorrow and your review is making me even more excited to cruise!

[Spaniel Lover]

To answer a few of the questions that have been posted...

The televisions do not have DVD players built in to them.

Smoking is allowed on the port side of the Lido deck. I'm so excited to hear that it's been outlawed entirely on the Lido deck of the Carnival Liberty! I really need to cruise on the Liberty some time!

Regarding the picture that was posted of my camera with the big long zoom lens... I didn't take that particular lens with me on this cruise. It's kind of heavy, so I left it at home. It really comes in handy on the cruises out of Los Angeles and San Diego, since you see a lot more wildlife in the water than you do on a Caribbean cruise. On this particular cruise, I used a smaller lens on the camera:

Edited September 16, 2012 by Spaniel Lover
Fixed a text formatting problem

[davids68girl]

Thanks so much for your review! We're going on the Magic in January and I loved seeing all the pics!

[Zolor23]

I was on the Legend from August 26th-Sep 2nd, and saw the outdoor hot tubs that hung over the side of the ship, the ropes course, and the waterworks while in port at Cozumel. You just made me even more jealous than I was at that time. I swear I have to get on that ship soon!

[cruzzette]

WOW, such a great review and your pictures are great, thanks for sharing

 

Now I' rethinking sailing the Magic instead of the Liberty next July :confused:

[Carguylee]

Thanks for the great review and pictures. Makes me really want to go on Magic!

[isaiahsnana]

We are doing the Key West sailing on the Magic in January. Your pictoral has made me even more excited than ever!! Thanks for your great pictures and information.

[jonbgd]

Thanks for the review.....The photos are great....Now if I could only talk our freinds into doing this ship next March ;):p:D

[copper6606]

WOW- BEST written review ever! Thanks so much for taking us on your Journey and all effort you put into it!:D

[txskier]

You are spot on!!!

Some of the areas you mentioned I thought about as we wandered the ship, but since we didn't use that area, I forgot about the points you made.

We could see the improvements from the Conquest to the Magic and why they designed it that way!!

 

thanks

[ncjeff]

That's the end of my review of our back-to-back cruises on the Carnival Magic. I hope you enjoyed it!

 

If you have questions, now's the time...

 

Thanks so much for the wonderfull review.

I too agree on the Pizza situation, there are plenty of vendors out there that they can consult with. If GUY can work on the Burgers...well imagine the possibilties with the vendors all ready out there!

I did not see much written on the food quality/selections on the MDR. Pardon if they are forthcoming.

Do you happen to know what time the Casino opened after leaving the port?

Again, thank you for a great review.

[marylp]

I still can't decide if I am more impressed with the Magic or this review!! Wow! Very organized, beautifully formatted, lovely pictures, well written etc etc...geez I'd like to hire you!! Can't wait to be on the Magic in Jan.

[renee1222]

My kids, who have never cruised, are drooling over the pictures in your review! They are trying to plan a Magic cruise for next year, after our youngest turns 2. Carnival should hire you for marketing purposes! Great job!