pcvtmom

3 hours ago, redmomof4 said:

What did you do that made it your favorite? Trying to plan a day 

 

We basically toured the wall and took a guided taxi tour of the surrounding areas. I don't remember the specific name of the guide, but he gave us lots of historical context. The views of the Adriatic are stunning.

When we went on our Med cruise, I had no idea what to expect in Dubrovnik.  It ended up being one of our favorite stops! Enjoy, but try to stay cool and hydrated. (I remember the old town being ridiculously hot!)

We haven't done a transatlantic, but we've done a 14 day Hawaiian cruise and a 14 day repositioning cruise.  There were many more activities, such as lei-making, hula and ukelele lessons, dance classes, "lecture"-type sessions, extra comedians, more live music opportunities, and more trivia. We never felt bored with the many options provided. We also had "throw-back" days, with retired Carnival activities such as frog racing, horse racing, etc., three elegant nights, and an extra past guest reception (not just Diamond/Platinum, but the old past guest one).

The thermal loungers, aromatherapy rooms, and Thalassotherapy pool on the Magic are worth it.  I get the weeklong pass, if I don't book a spa room, on ships that have all of the nicer Cloud 9 features.  Magic is one of the BEST!

I've read that certain brands and types aren't compatible to the ships. My daughter has the same hair profile as you, so she has to have a straightener, etc., to travel. She's had no problems whatsoever with her appliances, but I know some people do.  Is yours ceramic? I think I remember that some of those were problematic.

Excited for this one!  My favorite cruise EVER was a western Med cruise.  We had another one booked for the summer of 2020, but we all know how THAT went! We hope to book the Med again in 2026, when a friend retires and wants to treat his family to a big cruise. Being the (unofficial) cruise planner of the group, I'm always on the lookout for experiences of others, both good and bad. Let's have at it!

1 minute ago, kittyraptors said:

Haha sorry! Never been on a Carnival cruise (looking to book one next year so I like reading reviews/recaps to get an idea of the experience of each ship). At the Alchemy bar, do you just order the liquor and they make a drink out of it? 

 

Who knows, if you go on a cruise next year my group and I might be those dreaded blue cards sitting next to you... 😂🤣

 

Thanks for posting your recap! 

There's a menu at Alchemy, but you can just request that they concoct something special. You can choose liquors or flavors (I like anything lime/coconut/almond, etc.).  They're masters at mixology!

This hotel looks fantastic!  We always fly into FLL when cruising out of Miami, so I'll make note of it!

I'm along for the ride (figuratively!).  I always enjoy your reviews!

Prices from Baltimore and Norfolk also tend to trend higher.  I guess it's for the "convenience" of those of us who live on the east coast and don't wish to fly or drive to Florida every cruise.

14 minutes ago, mommio said:

Apparently I said “look how beautiful this ship is!  I’d love to sail on Venezia”

 

He just needed to see food choices and was all in. 
 

High five Texas Teach 👍🏻❤️🍷☀️

Dang, that's 3 bookings he can take credit for! Carnival...PAY UP 😁!!

1 hour ago, luv2trvlnow said:

I haven't posted but I have been following since the beginning.  Your review convinced me to book the Venezia.  We just booked it for a Journeys Cruise

starting in February 2026.  You're filling more than just time you are helping fill the ship.  They should give you a commission.

I did the same thing! We were considering Venezia, but thanks to this review, we're now BOOKED!! 😃 We'll be on her in January 2025!

Wishing you a safe, smooth flight ✈️! Looking forward to your live trip report!

1 hour ago, MeMetwo said:

I’m driving my third Hyundai Santa Fe and they have all been fantastic cars. Just the right size SUV for driving around town (in Atlanta traffic!!!) and also on road trips. Have not had a single problem with any of them. 

We're on our third, as well. I love the Santa Fe and Hyundai's warranty! Our last one (one year old), we switched to a Santa Fe Hybrid, and it's wonderful. We're getting between 35 and 40 mpg.

Much love and appreciation to you and Patti for another awesome review!

Ok, I just "dug out" my Funtimes from our April Journeys cruise. Our cruise was the 7th to the 21st of April.  The first elegant night was Monday, April 8th.  Throwback elegant night was Sunday, April 14th, and the last elegant night was Friday, April 19th.  I hope this helps!

Family cruises are the best!  I just love how the wait staff interacts with my grandkids. On our last one, our waiter made origami for them every night.  Now my 7 yo granddaughter is hooked on origami!

Thanks for a fantastic (as always!) review.

2 hours ago, KarmaCruisers said:

Took a little nap..I figured my checked suitcase would go to “suitcase prison” for my fan..sure enough..no suitcase out front..they’re doing the all-ship mandatory safety briefing, but I’m going to go down and show them that a 12” desk fan is INDEED just fine (as I’ve brought it on ALL my cruises)

I SHOULD have carry’d it on; but I just brought my backpack so I didn’t have room.

 

This happened to us last month in Tampa.  I got the paper in my suitcase (delivered late) that said I had a "prohibited item".  It was the tiny fan that has gone on most of my 34 cruises!  I showed Guest Services the prohibited item list (from my phone), and fans aren't listed.  However, they were not sympathetic at all, and I didn't get it back. (NOTE: I was told I could have gone to claim it upon debarkation, with security, but we were on the Pride repositioning cruise, so we had to bus from Norfolk back to Baltimore.  No time to waste!)

1 hour ago, TxTeach79 said:

I’m a massive Parrothead and really just wanted to use tonight to relax and try to get into the cruise mindset - so what better place?

I knew we had more in common than teaching!  I come from a huge family of Parrotheads. My daughter and I have stayed at the Hollywood Beach Margaritaville...AWESOME place!  We're considering making it an annual mother/daughter trip (down from Virginia). It's not cheap, but it sure is special!

We just did a Pride Journeys cruise.  BlerkOne is correct! I don't remember which days the other elegant nights were, but the Throwback seaday one was the second Sunday (ours was a 2 week, Sunday to Sunday cruise).

Enjoy being disconnected and cruising!  We will all wait for you "on the other side" of your cruise. Relax and refresh, friend!

Magic is a great ship! Reviews are frequently written by people with a bone to pick...just saying.🙄

I'm in the process of mulling over a Venezia cruise next winter (from Port Canaveral). I'm looking forward to your take on the ship! She's intriguing!

Paul, I am so very sorry for the loss of your beloved dad. May you find solace in the wonderful memories. I hope the cruise can be a time of contemplation and celebration of his life. Be blessed, my friend.

Congrats on surviving another year as a middle school teacher 😉!! I'm all in for this review!