Just off the Carnival Magic...few thoughts...

[Piper934]

Let me know if you have any questions on the ship or the ports.  Cruise went to Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan and Cozumel.

 

Few thoughts...

* Yes, the internet is as bad as everyone says it is. Verizon Travel pass is such a great alternative when in port.

* Did private tours in both Belize and Roatan, felt safe at all times.  Highly recommend Manawakie Park in Roatan to see Sloths and Monkeys.

* Overall experience, service, food, entertainment was good, not great.  Overall an enjoyable cruise but not a lot of Wow moments.

* Ship did have some smell in the halls as many others report previously.

* Pig and Anchor decent food, main point here is 2 lines, don't stand in the long one, go to the other side.

* Disappointed that the Sports Court closes everyday from 5:30-10:30, right above Cucina. 

* Guys and Blue Iguana are always great!

* Lito my room steward was amazing!!

* Did a Junior Suite for the 1st time (room 9205), it was amazing!!  We usually travel 3 in a standard room.  Benefits aren't over the top but space and layout was priceless. 9205 is very front and easy access to the "hidden" public space on that deck.

* Priority boarding was easy, dropped off by Uber at 10:37 out front, eating at Pig and Anchor 30 minutes later.  Debark was the same, carry off started at 7:00AM and dropped off out front of airport with in 30 minutes.

* Comedy much more spacious then Pride and Sunshine, no issues getting seating.  Comics were great!

* Not a great ship for watching sporting events, no sports bar so they have just Casino TV's(too smoky) and a couple in Red Frog Pub.  They did have NCAA football Chamionship on pool screen.

 

Leave it at that for now.  Try to answer any questions if anyone has any.

 

 

[thesmiths]

Looking forward to going on her in a few months.

 

How about quiet areas for sea days outside?

We're aft.

 

Thank you !

 

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2019 by thesmiths

[Joebucks]

Thanks for the update. I was never aHUGE sports guy, but once I went to ships without a sports bar, I found myself missing it. My next cruise will be one with the "Casino" sports bar. I'm curious to see how it is. 

[Piper934]

15 minutes ago, thesmiths said:

Looking forward to going on her in a few months.

 

How about quiet areas for sea days outside?

We're aft.

 

Thank you !

 

 

 

 

Of course the topic I don't know much about if looking for sun and outdoors, we typically don't hang outside too much on Seadays.  Usually doing trivia, games, etc.  Also did do the Spa package that includes steam rooms, Tepidarium & Laconium  , thalassotheapy pool. That is indoors, very quiet and very relaxing area.

Edited January 15, 2019 by Piper934

[Piper934]

7 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

Thanks for the update. I was never aHUGE sports guy, but once I went to ships without a sports bar, I found myself missing it. My next cruise will be one with the "Casino" sports bar. I'm curious to see how it is. 

It's not a bad spot if you don't mind the smoke.  There are seats right at the bar and some seating around it that you can see the TVs.  Typically not too crowded unless during a main event like the NFL Playoffs last weekend.

[RecoveryDude]

I’ll be on the Magic in a couple weeks on January 27th!!  Can’t wait!!!  How was the cruise director??

[Piper934]

31 minutes ago, RecoveryDude said:

I’ll be on the Magic in a couple weeks on January 27th!!  Can’t wait!!!  How was the cruise director??

The Cruise Director is MarQ.  He was good, very visible and present, good sense of humor.  Not as high energy as my all time favorites Emma and Mikey but a steady, solid job.

 

Fun Squad might be a little new.  2 of the team are leaving this week and next.  They were training a brand new girl last week.  They were good overall as well.

[PhillyFan33579]

2 hours ago, thesmiths said:

Looking forward to going on her in a few months.

 

How about quiet areas for sea days outside?

We're aft.

 

Thank you !

 

 

 

 

 

Usually the quietest area outside on the ship is deck 5. There are lots of lounge chairs available, and the area has never been crowded, with the possible exception of the hot tubs, on sea days when we have cruised on Magic. 

[thesmiths]

41 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

Usually the quietest area outside on the ship is deck 5. There are lots of lounge chairs available, and the area has never been crowded, with the possible exception of the hot tubs, on sea days when we have cruised on Magic. 

 

Great thank you !

 

 

 

 

 

[brookeq]

We go on the magic in March.  Which nights were your formal nights?   We are trying to plan a night at the steakhouse. 

 

We are also looking into going to manawakie park with ronys tours.  Trying to decide if we want to do west bay beach after or a snorkel tour.  

[grandmarnnurse]

5 hours ago, Piper934 said:

Let me know if you have any questions on the ship or the ports.  Cruise went to Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan and Cozumel.

 

Few thoughts...

* Yes, the internet is as bad as everyone says it is. Verizon Travel pass is such a great alternative when in port.

* Did private tours in both Belize and Roatan, felt safe at all times.  Highly recommend Manawakie Park in Roatan to see Sloths and Monkeys.

* Overall experience, service, food, entertainment was good, not great.  Overall an enjoyable cruise but not a lot of Wow moments.

* Ship did have some smell in the halls as many others report previously.

* Pig and Anchor decent food, main point here is 2 lines, don't stand in the long one, go to the other side.

* Disappointed that the Sports Court closes everyday from 5:30-10:30, right above Cucina. 

* Guys and Blue Iguana are always great!

* Lito my room steward was amazing!!

* Did a Junior Suite for the 1st time (room 9205), it was amazing!!  We usually travel 3 in a standard room.  Benefits aren't over the top but space and layout was priceless. 9205 is very front and easy access to the "hidden" public space on that deck.

* Priority boarding was easy, dropped off by Uber at 10:37 out front, eating at Pig and Anchor 30 minutes later.  Debark was the same, carry off started at 7:00AM and dropped off out front of airport with in 30 minutes.

* Comedy much more spacious then Pride and Sunshine, no issues getting seating.  Comics were great!

* Not a great ship for watching sporting events, no sports bar so they have just Casino TV's(too smoky) and a couple in Red Frog Pub.  They did have NCAA football Chamionship on pool screen.

 

Leave it at that for now.  Try to answer any questions if anyone has any.

 

 

I have this ship booked for my 50th Anniversary cruise during Easter week 2020, so I’m sure it will be crowded. My concern is your report of “smells in the hallways”. Was this persistent, or just on occasion? I have several family members that I convinced to sail this cruise, some that have only cruised RCCL and NCL, and I don’t want them disappointed. I chose this ship for its itinerary, and it was just a bit older than the Breeze. Reviews and pics looked great, so keeping my fingers crossed. 🤞

Edited January 15, 2019 by grandmarnnurse

[Butterbean1000]

I was on the Magic early last year.  I was not very mobile, I was pre-surgical and had to use a knee scooter and i felt restricted.  That was not the fault of the ship or the crew, just me not feeling comfortable.  It was the first time for me being on this class of ship and I loved it.  We are scheduled on the Breeze later this year and I am so excited.  We especially enjoyed the Cloud 9 spa.  

[grandmarnnurse]

1 minute ago, Butterbean1000 said:

I was on the Magic early last year.  I was not very mobile, I was pre-surgical and had to use a knee scooter and i felt restricted.  That was not the fault of the ship or the crew, just me not feeling comfortable.  It was the first time for me being on this class of ship and I loved it.  We are scheduled on the Breeze later this year and I am so excited.  We especially enjoyed the Cloud 9 spa.  

I am on the Breeze this March.

[ScubaDuck]

Thanks for the info! As for the following excerpt: 

 

Disappointed that the Sports Court closes everyday from 5:30-10:30, right above Cucina. 

 

Does that mean it reopens at 10:30? 

Does the Sport Court being closed also mean the pool table is "closed" as well?

[gotscrapz]

Sailed the Magic July 2016 with Dr E and it was amazing!!!! But last year the Vista and she's my new favorite! 

[Piper934]

4 hours ago, grandmarnnurse said:

I have this ship booked for my 50th Anniversary cruise during Easter week 2020, so I’m sure it will be crowded. My concern is your report of “smells in the hallways”. Was this persistent, or just on occasion? I have several family members that I convinced to sail this cruise, some that have only cruised RCCL and NCL, and I don’t want them disappointed. I chose this ship for its itinerary, and it was just a bit older than the Breeze. Reviews and pics looked great, so keeping my fingers crossed. 🤞

It was not persistent.  I had no smell near my room on deck 9 forward but definitely can catch the smell as you walk about.  Not enough to creep me out much but other reviews I read sounded much worse. 

 

Cruise was sold out and never felt too crowded, might be fuller with families over Easter.  Only time I felt crowded and too long of lines was breakfast on Lido.  Partly because bacon police slow things down quite a bit, it's right in corner so moves slow. 

[Piper934]

5 hours ago, brookeq said:

We go on the magic in March.  Which nights were your formal nights?   We are trying to plan a night at the steakhouse. 

 

We are also looking into going to manawakie park with ronys tours.  Trying to decide if we want to do west bay beach after or a snorkel tour.  

Formal nights was Day 2 the first sea day and Day 5 after Belize if you are doing in the same order as the Jan 6th sailing.

 

Our tour was with Rony as well, A++. Definitely do Manawakie, it was amazing.  We drove through West Bay just to sight see, went to Cameo Factory, Chocolate place, orphanage, etc.  They will customize it anyway you want if do private tour and stay as little or as much wherever you plan to go.

[Piper934]

14 hours ago, ScubaDuck said:

Thanks for the info! As for the following excerpt: 

 

Disappointed that the Sports Court closes everyday from 5:30-10:30, right above Cucina. 

 

Does that mean it reopens at 10:30? 

Does the Sport Court being closed also mean the pool table is "closed" as well?

Worker shows up right at 5:30 and kicks everyone off. Yes, it reopens, however the first night right at that time the kids club had it reserved for Dodgeball.  We never went back after 10:30 after that.

 

Rest of the area is open to the public and should be a go.  

[ScubaDuck]

So what is with the closing? do they use the space for other activities?

[Piper934]

2 hours ago, ScubaDuck said:

So what is with the closing? do they use the space for other activities?

It's right above the Italian Restaurant so if games are going on the running and dribbling would be heard below.

[cindik]

We are also on deck 9 in December, where is this secret deck?

[Piper934]

It is all the way forward.  Door to access the deck is on the side with the even numbers, right next to 9202.

 

Deck is quiet and no one out there.  You can see forward and off both sides of the ship.  Great for sail away, sunsets, watching pier runners, etc.  Their is another deck on 10 as well, can access directly or take stairs up from 9.

[jamestown478]

On ‎1‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 12:22 PM, RecoveryDude said:

I’ll be on the Magic in a couple weeks on January 27th!!  Can’t wait!!!  How was the cruise director??

I will be on your sailing as well. I can't wait!

[cindik]

On 1/16/2019 at 10:46 PM, Piper934 said:

It is all the way forward.  Door to access the deck is on the side with the even numbers, right next to 9202.

 

Deck is quiet and no one out there.  You can see forward and off both sides of the ship.  Great for sail away, sunsets, watching pier runners, etc.  Their is another deck on 10 as well, can access directly or take stairs up from 9.

Thanks, that is just down the hall from our room!

[BENHANDEL]

On 1/15/2019 at 10:12 PM, Piper934 said:

 

 

Our tour was with Rony as well, A++. Definitely do Manawakie, it was amazing.  We drove through West Bay just to sight see, went to Cameo Factory, Chocolate place, orphanage, etc.  They will customize it anyway you want if do private tour and stay as little or as much wherever you plan to go.

 

How long was the drive between manawakie & West Bay? We really want to do Daniel Johnsons and West Bay but feel like we'd be spending too much time in the car.