Carnival Magic Questions

[ZAL's Nan]

Hi all

First time cruising with Carnival, and have a few questions.

1) If you purchase a drink package, does everyone in the cabin have to get one? are there choices of what kind of packages you can get like on Royal?

 

2) is bottled water included with any package?

 

3) For elegant nights, is a suit required or can we just dress in smart casual clothing?

 

Any other tips/tricks for cruising with Carnival would be appreciated

 

Thanks

[loxley]

Everyone in the cabin over 21 must buy.

 

There are only two options. Buy it or don't.

 

No bottled water, but unlimited soda is included.

 

No suit required. Mainly just no shorts.

[ZAL's Nan]

Thanks

[LambKnuckles]

Included in the unlimited soda is Club Soda... If you can handle bubbles, maybe that could be your water. HOWEVER, it's in cans.

[djbjdper]

I have heard that you cannot bring your own bottled water onboard. Does anyone know if that is true? Only drink mainly water these days and don't want to get back in to the soda habit again. Guess I could go only alcohol for the week! lol

[love-lee]

It's true. You can no longer bring your own water. But you can now order a case of 12 for $2.99 from the fun shops and have it delivered to your room. No more lugging it threw security! Yay! We ordered 5 cases for our upcoming cruise.

[djbjdper]

Thanks! That's good to know. I will make sure to get some ordered.

[blubonnet]

1.) There are only two drink packages I'm aware of, a. Bottomless Bubbles, and b. Cheers. If you're looking for alcoholic beverages only Cheers will apply.

 

• If you're sailing out of Texas (before the Magic moves) you cannot purchase the Cheers package until the second day of your cruise.
  
• Anyone in your stateroom over 21 must purchase the Cheers package.
  
• The Cheers package cost $49.95 a day and you're limited to 15 drinks a day
  
• But you do get 25% off the cost of bottled water.
  

 

2.) There isn't a water package. I just purchased water through The Fun Shops for a family cruise in July. I purchased 6 cases each made up of 12 bottles of 16.9 oz, the total cost was around $18.

 

• We're no longer allowed to bring bottles on-board.
  
• The cost pre-cruise of bottled water is $ 2.99 for 12 bottles. The cost jumps to $4.99 once on board plus a 15% gratuity.
  

3.) No suit is required. Slacks and a button-down, or nice polo seem to work well enough. Sometimes we just go to the Lido buffet (I know and miss out on lobster? Yes.) no dressing up required.

 

 

Other tips- make sure to check out the sliders, and such on Deck 5 (outside) on your first full sea day, and set an alarm in Cozumel.

 

 

Enjoy your vacation!

[ZAL's Nan]

Thanks

[kathy370]

Be sure to try the Italian restaurant. I like it even more than the steak house.

[DrMOz]

It's true. You can no longer bring your own water. But you can now order a case of 12 for $2.99 from the fun shops and have it delivered to your room. No more lugging it threw security! Yay! We ordered 5 cases for our upcoming cruise.

 

That sounds great thanks

[DrMOz]

Do you have to order the water pre-cruise? I am alittle confused

[sailor_jimc]

Do you have to order the water pre-cruise? I am alittle confused

 

Easiest to order before you cruise.. Just go to Carnival's website and order from their Bon Voyage department.

 

But you should also be able to order it (or order more if you need it) while on board for the same prices. I have never ordered from Bon Voyage while on the ship but I know it can be done.

[skittl1321]

 

But you should also be able to order it (or order more if you need it) while on board for the same prices.

 

Maybe I am misremembering, but I thought the announcement was that onboard it was slightly more expensive.

[DrMOz]

Thanks I will get this done which will save us valuable space in our luggage. My travel agent told us that every adult could bring one bottle of wine onboard with them, but they have a fee to uncork the bottle?

[stargate fan]

Hi all

Any other tips/tricks for cruising with Carnival would be appreciated

 

Thanks

 

Hi backatcha!

 

The Red Frog Pub is a great place to hang and listen to music at night. We had a wonderful musician on Magic last February. Sadly' date=' he retired from ship life and has moved on to be a land performer.

 

All the way aft on starboard side is Tandoor buffet which serves delicious Indian food. I chose that venue for every lunch on Dream, Breeze, and Magic. Yum!!!

 

The Sea Day brunch, which runs from 8:30 to 1:30 on sea days and is included in the fare, is a must-try. Where else can someone have steak, salmon, tomato soup, mac & cheese for breakfast? When I ordered eggs Benedict with smoked salmon (so delicious), I asked for the eggs poached easy and the Hollandaise sauce on the side. I got fresher food that wasn't sitting under a heat lamp.

 

I get a coffee mug for the soft serve ice cream. It's easier to hold than those little ice cream cups that are available at the machines. Ice cream is available 24 hours. So is pizza.

 

Speaking of pizza, there are a few varieties that are standard-made. I have taken veggies from the salad bar and asked to have them put on my pizza.

 

I'm sure people can add more tips.

Have a great cruise.[/color']

[SaveFarris]

Maybe I am misremembering, but I thought the announcement was that onboard it was slightly more expensive.

 

There are a couple of places where, if you buy it in port (Galveston, for instance), you have to pay an additional couple bucks in taxes. Once you hit international waters, the tax goes away.

 

Don't have the list of taxable ports offhand, but I'm sure someone will chime in.

[stargate fan]

Thanks I will get this done which will save us valuable space in our luggage. My travel agent told us that every adult could bring one bottle of wine onboard with them, but they have a fee to uncork the bottle?

 

On Conquest in February, we brought two bottles of wine in our carry-on. One was a screw-top and the other had a cork. When we brought them to dinner, we were charged $15 to open the corked bottle, which cost us only $10, but not for the screw-top. In the past, we packed a corkscrew, opened the bottles in our cabin, and brought glasses of wine to dinner. I think we'll do that again.

[Hawaiifrank]

Maybe I am misremembering, but I thought the announcement was that onboard it was slightly more expensive.

 

You're correct. $2.99 pre-cruise and $4.99 while onboard.

 

Or you could just bring a cup or water bottle. Ship's water is fine to drink, filtered and sanitized just like bottled water. Sometimes it is warm from the cold tap so ask for some ice if you need it cold.

Edited June 24, 2015 by Hawaiifrank

[skittl1321]

There are a couple of places where, if you buy it in port (Galveston, for instance), you have to pay an additional couple bucks in taxes. Once you hit international waters, the tax goes away.

 

Don't have the list of taxable ports offhand, but I'm sure someone will chime in.

 

You have to pay that tax whether you buy it on the ship or have it delivered though.

[skittl1321]

Thanks I will get this done which will save us valuable space in our luggage. My travel agent told us that every adult could bring one bottle of wine onboard with them, but they have a fee to uncork the bottle?

 

If you open it in your room, there is no charge. Your steward can bring you a corkscrew, but we always bring our own just in case.

[Shers Works]

Yes, policies changed....even with security checks they know people sneak in alcolhol in the water bottles and luggage so all that changes. NO screw top water or screw top soft drinks. The 12 pack waters are 2.99 on line through the gift shop charged to your cc or debit plus tax before sail. IF you WAIT until that day of sail or AFTER sail....I do not recall, it's a 4.99 PLUS gratuity fee per 12 pack....that is still less than $1 a bottle. Cheap! All the ports sell it for $1 a bottle I think Honduras is where I pd $2 for one. Anyway considering they sold it for 3.50, that quite cheaper. Cans are still approved for other drinks. Everyone brings in wine by the glass to their table....could have been served to you in the CASINO. They do not know, the BARS....they do not know...yes, $15 to uncork in the restaurant. Bring Sutterhome or something else delightful that unscrews. You'll love Magic! Sailed May 2015 and April 2014 Enjoy! Yes, alchol cards, if one person in the stateroom wants one...everyone over 21 has to buy....the soft drink cards are the same, I believe. Have fun!

[Bimmie Girl]

Hi all

First time cruising with Carnival' date=' and have a few questions.

1) If you purchase a drink package, does everyone in the cabin have to get one? are there choices of what kind of packages you can get like on Royal?

 

2) is bottled water included with any package?

 

3) For elegant nights, is a suit required or can we just dress in smart casual clothing?

 

Any other tips/tricks for cruising with Carnival would be appreciated

 

Thanks[/quote']

 

can pre purchase water on line one week prior to cruising for $2.99/12pk, or buy when on board for $6

 

Deck 5 has outdoor BBQ on sea days at noon and it is terrific. Deck 5 is also how you can get from one end of the ship to the other as decks have atrium area in the middle of them that cut you off. Deck 5 also goes all around on the outside of ship. Magic is a terrific ship, one of our favorites. Enjoy your cruise.

[hawaiibound24]

Yes, policies changed....even with security checks they know people sneak in alcolhol in the water bottles and luggage so all that changes. NO screw top water or screw top soft drinks. The 12 pack waters are 2.99 on line through the gift shop charged to your cc or debit plus tax before sail. IF you WAIT until that day of sail or AFTER sail....I do not recall, it's a 4.99 PLUS gratuity fee per 12 pack....that is still less than $1 a bottle. Cheap! All the ports sell it for $1 a bottle I think Honduras is where I pd $2 for one. Anyway considering they sold it for 3.50, that quite cheaper. Cans are still approved for other drinks. Everyone brings in wine by the glass to their table....could have been served to you in the CASINO. They do not know, the BARS....they do not know...yes, $15 to uncork in the restaurant. Bring Sutterhome or something else delightful that unscrews. You'll love Magic! Sailed May 2015 and April 2014 Enjoy! Yes, alchol cards, if one person in the stateroom wants one...everyone over 21 has to buy....the soft drink cards are the same, I believe. Have fun!

 

 

I don't believe they require everyone in the cabin to purchase a soft drink card.

[TXGalAJ]

There's a mandatory gratuity/service charge on the drink package so the total will be about $350 for 6 days (since you can't buy it on day one in Texas).

 

If you like Chipotle stop by the burrito bar and have them make you a custom burrito. There's also a chocolate buffet during the afternoon on one of the sea days.