Carnival MAGIC 9/7 - 9/14 Lambie's Review with photos

[LambKnuckles]

Thank you all for the comments! I do love writing reviews -- but let me warn you here and now... I love Sunrises, too!!! SO just fly through those, if they're not your cup of tea!

 

Let's start with the first Sea Day's morning of Sunrises!!!

 

Having the 4J cabin, our cabin is only steps away from the "Secret Door" on Deck 10 -- I like to call it the not-so-secret-door, since there really is nothing secret about it. It's there for public use, and it's easily accessible to all -- just not where most people expect to find a door leading outside.

 

If you look on the deck plan, usually a couple decks below the bridge and a couple decks above, go all the way forward, and you'll see the "Observation Deck." This is the deck in front of our window, and either to the sides, in the cabin areas, or on one side to the front, there continues a hallway to a door. THAT'S THE "SECRET DOOR."

 

That's the door I would go out each and every morning. Being just steps from the cabin door, and being not in a common area, not many use it or see it, so going out, I'm likely to run into a person or two -- but not many! I don't mind going out there in my bathrobe... it's like having my own private balcony, or semi-private one, that I paid an interior price for! I do book EARLY, since there aren't many of these cabins -- but they're great!

 

SO wandering out to the deck...

 

It's still rather dark.

 

 

As it starts to brighten

 

 

 

I've had others say this cloud topper looks like a Chinese horse -- and I first saw it as a rooster crowing in the morning...

 

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

the rest...

 

 

 

 

Can you see the cloud sedges crisping as the sun makes it way behind them?

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

 

 

I don't know what you see... but I see a Happy Buddha dancing on the sun! ...This is the mind of the writer you're reading. You can't blame me!!! You are choosing to read this review. (And I love you and thank you for doing that!!!)

 

 

And after talking with another sunrise person on the deck, I looked in the sky, opposite the sun and this was the most interesting cloud,,, growing taller and taller...

 

[LambKnuckles]

Wow a wonderful review! I loved your writing and all of the great pictures. :D

 

Thank you! I'll get more done after church...

 

As always a wonderful review.

 

Thank you for reading my reviews...

[LambKnuckles]

Enjoyed your photos and reviews! We will be on Magic in Dec, sailing out to Key West and Bahamas. It will be the first time for us to be on Magic so it's great to be able to see what she has to offer from your photos!

 

Have blast on that itinerary!!! As I said in another post, I love Key West and Nassau. I did a self-guided walking tour in both ports, that I found in a Frommer's Guide to those cities! Not too strenuous, but very interesting. I know they are known for their beaches and history... and tourism has given them many things to see, but I didn't book an excursion.

 

Cant wait to read more!!

 

Thank you!!! I should have more time this afternoon. Monday, our first sea day, was a party for the group I sailed with. A group who just met posting and Monday was the day to finally meet in person and party!!!

[LambKnuckles]

Great review! Can't wait to read more and more and more!!!

 

Thank you!!

 

Enjoying your review and photo's.

 

Thank you! I pray I don't bore you with sunrises... I have LOTS of those. I parsed them down to just a few for each morning...

[LambKnuckles]

Enjoying your review and pictures. Thanks for sharing the recap of the Love and Marriage show. Sounds like you saw a good one.

 

Thank you! Skip did a great job hosting that one!! I hope you have the opportunity to sail with him!! He schedules it for 10pm or later -- so he can have fun! I know many CDs schedule theirs in the afternoons. This would not work for Skip's personality and humor!!

 

Love your review so far! We are sailing on Magic for Christmas and can't wait!

 

Lisa

 

Christmas on board! OH, how I envy you!! What a treat!!!

 

I sailed on the Ecstasy the first week of December, and saw them putting up the decorations! They have wonderful scenes and decor!!! You'll need to send a card out to all your friends, on the Twelfth Day of Christmas (since Christmas Season lasts till January 6th) with y'all standing in front of some of the decorations!!! They be so envious of you!!!

 

Have a BLAST, and I hope Santa still finds you and brings you all your Joys and Desires!!!!

[LambKnuckles]

Thank you for taking the time to do a review. I leave on the Magic 3 weeks from tomorrow. :D

 

You're Nana is freaking adorable!

 

Gina

 

Thank you!! You'll get a feeling for the ship -- or just re-excite your memories if you've cruised on the MAGIC before! I don't know if you'll have the same itinerary -- But some of this won't match your cruise if not! However, the food and the ship are the same!!!

 

Great review & photos! Thanks for sharing!:)

 

Thank you and you're most welcome!!! I'll be back after church to get more done!!!

[GrummanTiger]

I love to see the sun rise! I'm up early every day just to watch the world wake up! Great pictures! Thank you.

 

GT

[coltsmama]

Great review and I LOVE the sunrise pics! I think that's my favorite part of cruising, watching the sun come up :)

[rob6465]

Lambieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

[lgbteacher]

 

 

I don't know what you see... but I see a Happy Buddha dancing on the sun! ...This is the mind of the writer you're reading. You can't blame me!!! You are choosing to read this review. (And I love you and thank you for doing that!!!)

 

 

And after talking with another sunrise person on the deck, I looked in the sky, opposite the sun and this was the most interesting cloud,,, growing taller and taller...

 

 

 

Beautiful sunrise! I like this deck for the sunrises and the sunsets as well. We always try to get a 4j. One question. What was the platnium gift on the Magic? We sail her in 3 weeks. Keep up the awesome review.

[Rudyard]

Loving it so far :) Thanks for posting. Magic is on my short list of ships I'd like to sail on in the next couple of years.

 

You could never bore me with sunrise pics. After my first sunrise at sea I was hooked. I seldom sleep past sunrise so will usually grab a cup of coffee and head up on deck to watch it.

[DMH15]

I too am a fan of sunrise pix. I have one framed on the wall next to my bed. I took it on my transatlantic cruise. I get to relive it over and over.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LambKnuckles]

Now that we've seen the sunrise, Let's get on with Monday... Wingie is a sun-goddess, so she gets her swim suit on and cover up and heads straight to Lido buffet for breakfast! Then to the Lido pool for sun and fun all day.

 

This gives Nana and me time to get dressed, and head down to MDR, Southern Lights, Deck 3, for breakfast. The aft Dining Room has the sit-down breakfast, order by menu. On Sea Days, it's call Sea Day Brunch and opens at 8:30 and closes at 1:00pm -- hence the name, Brunch.

 

 

We get down there about 9AM and there's a bit of a line. They haven't opened the starboard side yet -- but seat us over there, since there were no handicapped/wheelchair spots on the main floor or port side.

 

 

It does start to fill up a bit after we're seated... and LOOK!!! There's Batman, without costume with some other folks!!! I know what Batman eats for breakfast, now, Eggs Benedict, just like Nana does!!!

 

 

Our two servers, Gusti and I Made, are EXCELLENT!!! I got up to cut Nana's Eggs Benedict and immediately I Made offered and took the knife and fork from my hands. "You sit down and eat your french toast while it's hot." This was such a treat, I tipped them each with cash I carry for just such an occasion!!!

 

 

I enjoy being served, since it's hard to carry two plates along the Lido buffets -- and I hate to leave Nana alone on the public decks. (She sometimes wanders in her power chair!)

 

Once we finished, we made it back to the cabin after walking around a bit. MAGIC is a ship that does NOT have a front to back Deck 3. The Galley divides this and to get forward, you have to go up to another deck, so we went up to Promenade, Deck 5, and walked forward. We stopped and chatted with some folks and enjoyed the view, then up the Mid ship elevators toDeck 10, to see if we can find Wingie... THERE she is!!!

 

 

There are LOTS of folks around the Lido pool, already -- about 10:45...

 

[LambKnuckles]

 

 

 

I love to look at Door Decorations, too!! Here's one...

 

 

Now, back in the cabin, The TV tells us just where we are!!!

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

It's always time to eat aboard a ship... and I think it's been about 2 hours since breakfast... So I head down to the Deli to get Nana a Ruben!! This is her cruise lunch-treat!!!

 

 

And, when I head back to the cabin, I see they've delivered my Platinum sweets...

 

 

Once you're Platinum, they send you a plate of chocolate strawberries and some other treats. Since only I am Platinum, It's one share -- but there are plenty to share with Wingie and Nana!!!

 

I leave Nana to eat her lunch and a strawberry... and head over to our group table to get a name tag, get lei-ed, and meet some posters in person. After our Group Welcome table -- we all head down to the Red Frog Pub for a gathering (and Birthday celebration) of MAJOR proportion!!!

 

Here are only a few of the photos!!!

 

 

 

 

Edited September 21, 2014 by LambKnuckles

[LambKnuckles]

 

 

 

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

 

 

 

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

We pretty much, overflowed out of the Red Frog!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

After about 90 minutes of party and FUN FUN FUN, I headed back to check on Nana. Wingie had come down to join us at the party -- so I knew Nana had been alone about as long as I trust her to be.

 

(She has Alzheimer's and in a wheelchair. I think cruising is the BEST way to share a vacation with her. She can have some time alone, and so can I, but she gets to see ports... Enjoy the sun and fun... Eat to her heart's and her diabetic diet's content -- with a few cheats!!! And make memories for me to hold forever!!! She will be 90 in February, and I hope to take her for a birthday cruise! I also have a cruise for next September booked for us. I always keep her S&S card around her neck on a lanyard, and her name and cabin # on her wheelchair -- in case she wanders and doesn't know where she is!!)

 

On the way back, I take Deck 4 for a bit of new scenery... and see our table, already set for dinner! Tonight is Elegant Evening and the Captain's Celebration...

 

 

We got ready for the evenings festivities... meeting the Captain:

 

 

 

A fuzzy photo of Skip with us...

 

 

Nana wandering off after a disagreement with Wingie...

 

 

Bringing her back, and she's still not happy with Wingie... She says she's too bossy!

 

[LambKnuckles]

So I start telling her some silly stories...

 

 

 

...and before we know it, it's time to head down to dinner -- Here are our table mates, waiting for us!

 

 

And our whole table!

 

 

And back to the cabin before the Production Show... Grooveline.

 

Here's the towel animal who greeted us and my Platinum gift.

 

 

It's a coffee mug and small bag of ground coffee and some tea. I will admit, I was hoping for the toiletries bag... but not yet, it'll be next they said, after these are gone.

[LambKnuckles]

Let me post the Super moon photos, too!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my favorite... Super Pac man moon!!!

 

[LambKnuckles]

I love to see the sun rise! I'm up early every day just to watch the world wake up! Great pictures! Thank you.

 

GT

 

Thank you!!!

 

Great review and I LOVE the sunrise pics! I think that's my favorite part of cruising, watching the sun come up :)

 

Thank you!!

 

It's great to know others love the sunrises as much as I do! It's my alone time, my time to regroup and meditate in quiet. It's majestic!! The colors and wonder.

 

I know the mechanics of the earth rotating and the sun coming into view, and the prism and bending of light to make colors... BUT the BEAUTY and AWE and WONDER of it appearing and unfolding in front of my eyes... It's MAGICAL!!!

[willyguy]

Great review love every minutes of it.