My Thoughts About Magica 4/2-4/9 Eastern Carribbean

[Dandy7]

I'm going to try to be brief in my summary. First, I'd like to let everyone know that I've not cruised in quite some time prior to this vacation. So, I've got nothing to compare this experience to. What you're about to get is my personal opinion. Let's start with embarkment. We arrived at the port very early, around 9:30 am. At first arrival there was some chaos as to where we should go to line up. However, a couple of quick questions to the porters and we had realized that we were in the midst of people disembarking from the previous cruise. Naturally, we began talking with them and asking them about their cruise. Everyone seemed to enjoy their cruise. We were told that we would start to embark about 11:30 am. Everone got in line and we were on the ship no later that 1 pm. We may have been one of the first one hundred people on board. I took Joetrizeo's advice and went directly to our cabin's (we were on the first deck (bottom deck, outside cabin, aft.) To my suprise they were ready. Our cabin attendant Octavio (pronounced OH-TAHVIO) was already roaming the corridor. I introduced myself to him, slipped him a $20 dollar bill and asked him if he could take all the stuff out of the refrigarator and put additional pads on the beds. We when upstairs to the lunch buffet and the out to the main deck for some much needed sun and relaxation. When we returned to our rooms the refrigarator was empty and the pads were on the bed. We didn't put our credit card on file until the next moring after breakfast. This was the quick and painless way.

 

Now, our cabin attendant was fantastic. This guy was there anytime we needed him. I really don't think these people sleep. Actually, he told us he works from 10am to 1am. That's a long day. BRAVO, Ohtahvio!!!

 

The ship itself is spotless. So, clean. It is also very beautiful. There are attendants constantly cleaning her. On deck, in the hallways, in the eating area's, all over. I was very impressed. They all seem to do a fantastic job.

 

Now, the food. I'm Italian. Both parents (both on the ship) are too. My mom is a typical New York Italian woman. She's made her own gravy (sauce) most of her life. She didn't care for the pasta or the sauce on the ship. My Dad, a typical Italian Dad, loved the sauce. I loved the food. So did my wife and in-laws (Ukrainians). My mom loved the soups, and other delights.

 

What I'm trying to say is not everyone may like everyhing. However, there's a good chance you'll find something you like. If you don't like what you're eating, ask for something else. I thought the presentation at dinner was super. Breakfast was fantastic. Overall, the food was excellent.

Everone in my group agreed.

 

The waiter's at dinner and breakfast waited on us hand and foot. Always asking if we needed anything else. These people also work very hard. They really gave us the white glove treatment. The Head Maitre'D was fantastico. High marks to all.

 

Entertainment - I'm not one to sit and watch shows. However, the one's I did catch were presented fine. My in-laws went almost every night. They didn't have a bad word about any of the one's they saw. I thought the constant going ons were enough to keep anyone entertained. Whether you wanted to listen to a piano player in the atrium, dance in the grand bar, or hang in the casino. There was always something to do. I never found myself bored. Neither did anyone in my group. Again, the staff was always getting people up and into the mix. More hard workers enjoying what thet were doing.

 

Now for something's I wasn't too crazy about. Hey! This is Cruise Critic. If I can't do it here, where can I?

 

The Itinerary - I think four stops is a bit too much. I would prefer to stay in one place at least 24 hrs.. St. Thomas and Catalina were fine. Puerto Rico and DR at night did nothing for me. It seemed like everytime we left the ship we were playing beat the clock to get back on board.

 

The music on the main deck during the day was also a bit too much. Again, don't get me wrong, I love music. However, perhaps they can change it up every now and then. Put one of the musicians that work at night out there for a couple of hours each day instead of the constant carribbean music and steel drum stuff. Hey! Even some Jimmy Buffett would have been a delightful change of pace.

 

The televison in the cabin has got to go. Channels 2, 4, 7, a movie channel, and 10 channels of Max all day, all the time. Give me a break! If you have a satellite dish, use it. How about ESPN? Here's a good example. Pedro Martinez is from the D.R.. He's pitching for the Mets while we're there. The people on Catalina are watching the game. I'm on a million dollar ship watching Max and two channels of RAI. Something's wrong with that picture.

 

Overall, This trip was excellent. Would I take Costa again? Absolutely! Again, I can't find faults with any of the staff. They were excellent.

 

BRAVO COSTA MAGICA!!!:)

[boatlover]

Dandy7 -

Thanks for the review. We are leaving soon on our first Costa cruise. I know there have been some bad reviews (as can be said for every cruiseline, every ship) but we are really looking forward to it.

[kchesneylover]

I sailed your same itinerary on the Magica. I have to agree with this comment. Some people like San Juan, some people don't. We will finally get to see the island of PR, I was so dismayed. It was a rock in the middle of the ocean covered in buildings.

 

On to DR. Whilst I enjoyed and loved Catalina Island Beach, snorkeling day (We had a wonderful time), we got ripped off taking an unnecessary tour of the city at night in La Romana. I did not like La Romana at all, or San Juan. But then again, I didn't see the show in PR - the one everyone talks about - I think its called hte "Kandela Show".

 

I think they need to switch ports of call on both those ports.

 

JMHO.

 

Now for something's I wasn't too crazy about. Hey! This is Cruise Critic. If I can't do it here, where can I?

 

The Itinerary - I think four stops is a bit too much. I would prefer to stay in one place at least 24 hrs.. St. Thomas and Catalina were fine. Puerto Rico and DR at night did nothing for me. It seemed like everytime we left the ship we were playing beat the clock to get back on board.