My View: Carnival Magic November 2016...A picture heavy report

[mrsstege]

As I read back, I see this question is already answered!! I also tried to reply in the original spot, and failed miserable, hence the 2 posts back to back. You'll have to forgive me, I'm a newbie at this!! Thank you so much for posting this review!! We leave April 1st on a Western Caribbean cruise on the Magic and are super excited!! This will be our second family cruise (first was the Sunshine with the same itinerary as yours!) and have 2 others booked......yes we are hooked!! Looking forward to the rest of the amazing review and photos!!

 

 

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[firespud]

Enjoying your review, especially the pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post this. We are sailing on the Magic February 25th, but doing a different itinerary. Looking forward to reading about the entertainment, especially the live bands on the ship.

[swalton85]

thanks for this review! just booked the Magic last night :)

[Florings]

Enjoying your review and all the pictures! We are sailing the Magic in September, too. And it seems a long way from now - but, yes, time has a way of flying by! It will be here before we know it.

 

In the meantime, this is great!

[bnorris10]

Red Frog Pub:

 

Forgot to mention: We tried the "get to know your ship" activity on the first day. It was really lame and just a walk around deck 5. The reason I mention it, is that I read the Fun Times wrong. The tour starts here at the pub. In stead, my mom and I went to the Red Frog Rum Bar on the pool deck. When we did not see anyone getting a group together, I re-checked the Fun Times... We sprinted down to the pub, and got there just in time!

 

 

Does the jukebox actually work and if so do you know the cost? I imagine it would take our card or do we need some quarters?

[bnorris10]

 

 

I wish they did that for the milkshakes - I might have to ask them if I can substitute LOL

[APDMOM]

PERFECT timing on a really nice review! I have never sailed Carnival and came to the boards earlier today to get some recommendations on the 3 ships that sail out of Port Canaveral as that is a pretty quick and easy drive for us. Magic got the majority of the votes, so I am anxiously following your review :)

 

Nice! I see you are booked on Escape. I wrote a review with some tips for that ship also. It is linked in my signature. If you cannot see it, I can oost the link here for you.

 

Thanks for following along :)

[APDMOM]

As I read back, I see this question is already answered!! I also tried to reply in the original spot, and failed miserable, hence the 2 posts back to back. You'll have to forgive me, I'm a newbie at this!! Thank you so much for posting this review!! We leave April 1st on a Western Caribbean cruise on the Magic and are super excited!! This will be our second family cruise (first was the Sunshine with the same itinerary as yours!) and have 2 others booked......yes we are hooked!! Looking forward to the rest of the amazing review and photos!!

 

 

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No worries :) The boards are very helpful, but there is a bit of a learning curve.

 

Our addiction started with Carnival Fascination and it caused us to move back to Florida from Ohio - too much snow up there, and too expensive to fly to feed our cruise addiction. :D

[APDMOM]

Does the jukebox actually work and if so do you know the cost? I imagine it would take our card or do we need some quarters?

 

I never checked... Add that to my growing list of reasons to cruise.

 

Reason #739: see if the jukebox on Magic really works.

 

Sounds like a good enough reason for me to cruise. :D

 

Hopefully someone else will be able to answer your question.

[APDMOM]

I wish they did that for the milkshakes - I might have to ask them if I can substitute LOL

 

You could try... they may be included since it is at the same coffee bar. :)

 

PS: I just looked closely at the picture again, and it says it is valid for all beverages sold there, except bottled water/ bottled beverages. Go for it!

Edited January 10, 2017 by APDMOM
PS

[I Am The Average American]

Vibe Nightclub:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thank you for the picture their very pretty.

[APDMOM]

I got home a bit late today, so Aruba will have to wait until after I feed my family dinner. Hang in there!

[APDMOM]

Thank you for the picture their very pretty.

 

Thanks! And welcome to Cruise Critic!

[Hokie375]

I'm following along. Thank you for the great review so far [emoji106]🏻[emoji108]🏻

 

 

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[APDMOM]

I'm following along. Thank you for the great review so far [emoji106]🏻[emoji108]🏻

 

 

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Thanks for following :)

[APDMOM]

My View: Day 5: Oranjestad, Aruba

 

It does not look orange to me [emoji846]

 

 

 

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[APDMOM]

We had a nice early arrival this time, and DH & DS took advantage of the "empty" ship to enjoy Carnival Waterworks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[APDMOM]

On our first visit to Aruba, we walked down the road to a beach to enjoy the clear water. I was an easy walk, and since all beaches in Aruba are public, we used the beach in front of Bushiri Beach hotel. Once you get off the ship, walk through the port, turn left, keep walking past the harbor square arena, and you will see the hotel on the left.

 

A picture of the hotel beach, as zoomed in on my camera from the ship:

 

 

I must say, it looks like the beach suffered some erosion since our first visit. These are pictures from that first visit:

 

 

 

 

 

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[APDMOM]

This time, DH and DS stayed on the ship, while I accompanied my parents to explore the shopping on the island. I am not a shopper, but enjoyed seeing the "stad" (city) side of Oranjestad.

 

 

 

Why does "Orange City" have blue horses? Maybe a flag thing...

 

 

 

 

 

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[APDMOM]

A few more views of Aruba:

 

 

 

 

 

This can be found just past the Renaissance Mall, Resort and Casino. It is in front of the government building:

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited January 11, 2017 by APDMOM
tip

[portlandpete]

Love your review so thank you!! We were on Magic and loved it so much we booked another cruise on it. Your photos are beautiful! So nice that you get to cruise with your parents.

[APDMOM]

We ended the day with a Dive-in Movie (Finding Dory):

 

 

 

End of day view: Aruba...

 

 

Since we are Rubik's cube crazy, we surprised our son with a new challenge in the megaminx [emoji846]

 

 

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Edited January 11, 2017 by APDMOM

[APDMOM]

Love your review so thank you!! We were on Magic and loved it so much we booked another cruise on it. Your photos are beautiful! So nice that you get to cruise with your parents.

 

Thank you, portlandpete.

 

Yes, we are very thankful that they are able to travel with us! They live in Namibia, and it is not an easy flight. It usually takes them about 36 hours in airports and airplanes to get to our house... I think they deserve a cruise every time they make that trip! :)

 

Oh, look at that! Cruise excuse #740!

[APDMOM]

Unfortunately, that is all I can post for tonight, my CC friends. I will be back tomorrow, hopefully after a much less busy day. :)

[kat001971]

What a fantastic time! We did the same ports on the Valor last summer. Looking forward to or trip on the Magic in April. We have a different port schedule but looks like the DNs (7 and 12) and DD (17) will love the sea days!

 

 

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