A MAGICAL Bahamian Cruise Review - with Photos!

[MustardMan]

Very nice review! I enjoyed it!

 

FYI, I am a balcony snob! I have only been on one cruise that I had one but I will have them from now on! I had an inside stateroom on my Royal Caribbean cruise (talk about snobs, but I digress.....:eek::D) and I will have a balcony from now on!

[LambKnuckles]

Thank you!!! I'll admit I am not much good at the technical stuff myself, but all these photos were taken with my iPhone. I then uploaded to my computer (when I synced the phone) and used Google's Picasa program to resize them. (I bet if you google Picasa you'll get to the download). When you resize the photos it will export them to their own folder, so then I just uploaded that folder to photobucket! From there you can copy the IMG code for each pic and just paste the IMG link into the review!

 

And IE has issues with LOTS of websites, so maybe download Firefox or Chrome as another browser to use? I usually have everything in Firefox.

 

Hope that helps! :)

 

THANK YOU!!!!

You reminded me I used to use Firefox before I bought this new computer!!!

 

THANK YOU!!!

 

Now let me get on to reading some more of your review -- and looking at the wonderful photos!!! From an iPhone -- WOW!!!

Edited July 8, 2014 by LambKnuckles

[LambKnuckles]

Final Thoughts:

 

I was really happy with the Carnival Magic. I had read some reviews that made it sound like she must be too big, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. Don't get me wrong, she's definitely a big girl (but aren't we all?) :p

 

There are tons of little nooks all around the ship, so you actually can feel like you can get away from the other 5,000 people onboard if you need to. That is no small feat to make a ship like the Magic feel that way. I like her décor also, as it seems a little more understated than other ships.

 

I thought the Serenity area was a total bust. Usually I love hanging out there because it's quiet and I can find a nice shady spot to read in. But the Magic's location is just terrible. It's very difficult to get to, and there is zero shade up there. They did a good job of blocking the wind up front, but with no shade it's almost unbearable. I walked through it twice, once early on and then later to be sure I wasn't missing out - I wasn't.

 

One other odd thing I saw were the dogs on board. There was an older couple that had two dogs with them. Maybe some kind of chihuahua? Something small like that. The dogs had on vests like they were service dogs. :confused::confused: Seriously? I don't want to judge, but it sure did seem awful strange. And I really want to know where those dogs took their potty breaks. :eek:

 

I never did manage to try the seaday brunch or the seaside bbq (just forgot/missed it every sea day) but heard good things about both.

 

I am sad that the Magic doesn’t have Guys burgers or Blue Iguana Cantina. On other reviews those places look sooooo good! We haven’t sailed on a 2.0 yet – maybe next time! I thought the food was good all around the ship though.

 

The Magic was the newest ship I’ve been on and I’m convinced Carnival still knows how to serve up an awesome cruiser experience! I feel like Carnival produces a great product and is definitely the best buy. I can’t wait to plan our next cruise and start the countdown!

 

Oh, and if anyone is interested I do have all the fun times. They are such a burden to scan so I haven't scanned them yet but I will if anyone needs to see them.

 

Thank you all so much for following along! Please ask any questions you have. I’ll be happy to help if I can!

 

Hopefully we’ll see each other on a funship soon! Happy Cruising! :D

 

GREAT REVIEW and LOVED the photos!!!

 

I agree about missing Guy's -- but the Tandoori is the BEST and I love that!!!

 

Plus I love the walk around outside deck -- Deck 5!!! That's great!!!

 

I agree with your comment about Serenity Deck... But when I was there is was REALLY WINDY!!! I have LONG hair and it went EVERYWHERE!!! And it seems to be crowded, often!! But I did get lucky and get a hammock once, and that's perfect for me!!!

 

As for the dogs... my DD has a small Corgi that is a service dog, to sense asthma attacks and also comfort for her anxiety... but it's NOT allowed on Carnival, we asked! They said it had to be a service dog that would see, hear, pick-up and fetch, or a service like that. It couldn't be just a "sensing dog." We didn't challenge it, since she hasn't had many severe attacks lately -- but we just might from now on.

 

And for their potty-place. They put a fake grass box -- that some people use in apartments on their patios -- of if the dog is pee-pee pad trained, you can use them.

 

Again -- WONDERFUL REVIEW!!!

[jtxo]

GREAT REVIEW and LOVED the photos!!!

 

I agree about missing Guy's -- but the Tandoori is the BEST and I love that!!!

 

Plus I love the walk around outside deck -- Deck 5!!! That's great!!!

 

I agree with your comment about Serenity Deck... But when I was there is was REALLY WINDY!!! I have LONG hair and it went EVERYWHERE!!! And it seems to be crowded, often!! But I did get lucky and get a hammock once, and that's perfect for me!!!

 

As for the dogs... my DD has a small Corgi that is a service dog, to sense asthma attacks and also comfort for her anxiety... but it's NOT allowed on Carnival, we asked! They said it had to be a service dog that would see, hear, pick-up and fetch, or a service like that. It couldn't be just a "sensing dog." We didn't challenge it, since she hasn't had many severe attacks lately -- but we just might from now on.

 

And for their potty-place. They put a fake grass box -- that some people use in apartments on their patios -- of if the dog is pee-pee pad trained, you can use them.

 

Again -- WONDERFUL REVIEW!!!

 

I knew there were service dogs for that kind of thing - and it must be what these dogs were too as they definitely weren't seeing or hearing or picking up, every time we saw them one if not both were being carried around. Maybe Carnival changed their stance on the sensing dogs? Interesting info, and thank you for your kind words!

[Badfinger]

That is so neat! It almost makes me want to do this iten again just to see it! I can't believe I missed actually seeing the jet.

 

Oh no - don't start a trend with the platinum comment - you'll really get me in trouble!! :eek:

 

I missed the crew questions show - when/where is that? If nothing else, I bet it is funny to hear the things some people will complain about!

 

That show was in the main theatre on the last day IIRC. I think it was in the morning, say 10:00 or so. The CD, Hotel Director, etc were all up front fielding questions from anyone who wanted to ask. And they asked about most anything. The Nave Jet, Casino Profit, demographics of the employees, left over food, etc. etc. I thought it was interesting. Might have been 75 people attending. I am sure it was listed in the fun times.

[Badfinger]

Final Thoughts:[/size

 

I never did manage to try the seaday brunch or the seaside bbq (just forgot/missed it every sea day) but heard good things about both.

 

I am sad that the Magic doesn’t have Guys burgers or Blue Iguana Cantina. On other reviews those places look sooooo good! We haven’t sailed on a 2.0 yet – maybe next time! I thought the food was good all around the ship though. ]

 

 

We ate in the MDR as much as possible, as we are just not buffet people. We would go the brunch as soon as it opened for breakfast, and then go again just before it closed for lunch. I guess that would be 0830 and 1300. However, I was walking by the Seaside BBQ and could not resist sampling some of the food. I would recommend it.

 

As for Guys, yeah not on this ship, but the cheeseburgers from the grill next to the main pool are excellent. I cannot imagine Guy's being any better. The cynic in me thinks they just put up a Guys sign, remove all the non-burger options, and offer a bunch of different toppings for the burger. Probably the same beef patty and bun.

 

I also had the Mexican counter by the aft pool make me up a burrito one afternoon. It looked really good...as good as the places here around San Antonio. Unfortunately my son ate it....but that is another story. Again, hard to imagine the Blue Iguana could do better...but it sounds more fun.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Badfinger

[Flytko]

Great Review, I just love the Magic, but we are trying the Navigator next year for a big family/friend get together. Our friend who set it up is a Royal Caribbean fanatic lol, but a new and exciting experience indeed. Only 2 more Carnival Cruises until we hit our gold!!!!

[Badfinger]

Great Review, I just love the Magic, but we are trying the Navigator next year for a big family/friend get together. Our friend who set it up is a Royal Caribbean fanatic lol, but a new and exciting experience indeed. Only 2 more Carnival Cruises until we hit our gold!!!!

 

We sailed the Magic last year on the Key West Itinerary. The year before was the Triumph to Cozumel and Progresso.

 

This year we had book RC NOS to Cozumel, Cayman, Jamaica. But the more I thought about it and did some research, I really like the Magic Itinerary to Cozumel, Roatan and Belize better. Chose the ports of the adventure of a new ship. We were limited to that same week. Initially and surprisingly RC was about $400 cheaper than Carnival, and that was for 1 Balcony and 1 interior room. But as almost expected, Carnival came through with some price reductions after we switched so now it is a couple hundred cheaper on Carnival and we are in Spa rooms.

 

I posted here and in the RC forum asking for opinions from anyone who has sailed both ships with a family, but got no responses.

 

I will have to remember to watch for your after trip review to get a first hand comparisons of the two ships.

[LambKnuckles]

jtxo --

 

THANK YOU!!! The Firefox tip worked!!! I can post photos again!!! YIPPEE!!!!

[watermelonqueen99]

I really enjoyed your review! The Magic will always hold a special place in my heart, she was our first ship. :)

[erewhon]

Thank you for your review and sharing all your photos.

[MimiKiwi]

Thanks for posting a great review and pictures! I will be on the Magic in April, the same itinerary and have been reading your review almost every day!:)