StephPS79

I've sailed on the Magic twice.  While I can say it's not my favorite ship, I definitely would say on the Magic again.  100% if it were a free offer. 

I had no complaints about the food, it was on par with the food I had on any other Carnival ship.

The first time I kind of hated the layout of the ship, but the second time I started to come around to it and actually enjoyed it.

While I love a good Joe Farcus ship, I don't particularly care for the color scheme or decor on the Magic.  The green and brown doesn't do it for me.  And all those light fixtures...oof.  The ship had some signs of wear, but that isn't something I'm bothered by.

Crew was great.  No complaints.

8 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Some snaps from my last time at Home Sweet Home in Grand Turk. Can’t wait to get back. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We've been to Grand Turk twice and did the Home Sweet Home excursion both times!  We love that one.  Such a perfect day both times!

So sorry to hear of your father's passing.  My mom passed away last year on 5/3.  We had her services on 5/11, with a previously scheduled cruise leaving 5/14 (no plans for her to attend - but coincidentally that was her birthday...).  

I tend to be the one who joins the sailing groups on the "other" social media platform.  While on the cruise, I realized there was someone in the group and on our sailing with the same name as my mom!  It was such a surreal experience.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but thought I'd share.  I had some guilt going on a cruise right after my mother's passing, but it helped me feel like my mom was letting me know it was okay to enjoy myself. 

Whew, not too late to the party!  V. excited for this one, I'll be on constant refresh for the next few weeks!  This will help fill the gap to June 2nd, our next cruise.  @TxTeach79 always coming in clutch!

3 hours ago, ontheweb said:

I don't understand why anyone has a problem of it being easier to immediately see the bottom line price.

For some reason, people seem to think it is changing the process for charging taxes and port fees.  It's not.  It's just changing where and how prices are displayed.  Literally nothing else changes.

Literally the only change is where the taxes and port fees are displayed.  Now they will be on the first advertised price screen instead of the last final booking price screen.  The process of paying port fees and taxes isn't changing.

2 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

If everything is included in the price, and costs go down, I don't see them giving a refund as they do now. 

Why?  The only thing that is changing is the first displayed per person price will include taxes and port fees.  Literally nothing else is changing except the first advertised price.  The final booking amount is still the final booking amount, the process isn’t changing.  Now you just see the final price at an earlier point.

I would agree that seems odd.  They had the arepas for sure on the Glory last year.  They were off to the side, and no one really noticed, so maybe that is the case?

I *think* I remember getting arepas on Magic in June of last year.  I know I got them somewhere and was pretty underwhelmed by them, and I'm thinking it was that Magic cruise.  I can't give 100% certainty though.

This seems like a great opportunity to reach out to John Heald on his...other platform.

Possibly there is an option to speak with someone to request some play time.  It can't be that hard for someone to set a net up.  Other than having to fight for time on the basketball court.  But I hardly ever even seen people using the basketball court on Carnival.

16 hours ago, EL Pitman said:

Coffee Roast Duck.  Does this actually TASTE like coffee?  My hubby loves duck, but doesn't do coffee.  (I know, I know, he's not really human.  BUT he doesnt begrudge me my coffee and I have grown accustomed to having him around.....)  I'm just wondering if I should steer him away from it.  🙂

I had the Coffee Roast Duck on Celebration.  I'll be honest, I love duck - so I don't think I even realized there was "Coffee" in the title lol.  I just saw duck and ordered.  It had been a long day...

Anyway, I say all this to say - it was really good!  And I wouldn't have known it was "Coffee Roast Duck" until reading this thread lol.  So I will agree, no, there isn't a coffee taste.  Definitely recommend though, one of the better MDR dishes I've had.

1 hour ago, TheLargeFamily said:

It's not a casino offer.

This certainly sounds like a casino offer - why do you think it isn't?  

I'd agree, this looks like a Royal Caribbean Oasis Class ship.

11 minutes ago, buckeyefrank said:

Am I the only one who doesn't really care what the bartender thinks of me? 

Sorry, that sounds a bit entitled.  They are people, providing a service.  This isn't about boosting image.

17 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Black something or other is the mushroom pate and that is the color it should be.

 

The mushroom duxelle is part of what makes Beef Wellington Beef Wellington.  Cooked mushrooms often have a dark, dirty appearance, but darned if they aren't tasty!

1 minute ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

Until I get somebody that actually did this and can actually give true results.  Some people here do understand the true PVSA laws, like I do, it is not a violation to start off in a US port and disembark in a foreign port.

I would say just because it is not a PVSA law doesn't mean the cruise line policy permits it.  Of course they can't hold you hostage, but I would question if there is anything that would stop them from charging a fee if they deemed appropriate.  Even if you get someone's experience, I would continue to seek the answer from Carnival.  Everyone's experience can vary.

We stayed on deck 2 on the Horizon, in an OV.  I can't recall any noise issues.

5 hours ago, IMANOT said:

That was the cruise line’s first communication with us.  I will never cruise with them again.  Their PR stinks.  It is an unprecedented situation, but I feel that we should have had them reach out even if just to offer support.

Not trying to be rude, but what kind of support are you expecting?  

Norfolk has said once construction on the terminal is scheduled to begin in June, they will no longer be able to accommodate the rerouted Baltimore cruises.  So I wouldn't count on it being from Norfolk.

Have you selected to book under an offer code?  It could be select sailings.

23 minutes ago, TigerWoodsLibido said:

I have some OBC saved up and I wasn't sure where to ask this but is it a daily 15 alcoholic drink maximum without the package?

The only place in the beverage policy that specifies 15 drinks is under the Cheers Program Restrictions.  The assumption is it is 15 drinks regardless, but I haven't been able to find confirmation of this, other than word of mouth, including the mouth of the brand ambassador.  He says a lot of things though.

3 hours ago, depplep said:

That's going to be my ride in a few months. Enjoy Aruba.

I've gotta wait it out until November.  And a Havana room!  V. excited for this cruise, but so far away!

6 minutes ago, TinkLoverSam said:

This is literally my worst nightmare... I'm always afraid someone is reading over my shoulder. I have a privacy screen for when I'm reading on my phone, now I think I need one for reading on my kindle!!🫣

Lol, what are you reading on that Kindle??  🤣

2 hours ago, nc762shooter said:

Hmmm, the liquor and beverage policy makes no mention of a limit on sales other than they have the right to request ID or refuse sales at any time. The only place I see 15 mentioned is in the section about Cheers. Having a limit of 15 drinks on Cheers makes sense because it limits the damage you can do to their bottom line😂. They don't need to have a numerical limit on individual purchases since they can stop serving you at any time they deem fit, as long as you aren't being a problem they would love for you to keep spending money at the bar! 😁

I've brought this up in the past - the actual policy wording only indicates a limit under Cheers.  

This probably hasn't been confirmed anywhere though because if someone is exceeding 15 drinks in a day and paying as they go along, that is just bad budgeting lol.

3 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

This is that Cuban coffee explanation that I got in little Havana. So the one I had here yesterday is the one I drank there. This is the heavy milk one which explains why it tastes like milk. Then the one they have on the ship that I haven’t tried is the one with lite milk.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a different color than what I had here.

 

 

The different color on the top one is the crema from the whipped sugar, but underneath that, would most likely be similar.  From the sounds of it, they aren't actually whipping the sugar first, which, to be fair, can take upwards of 2-3 minutes to produce a crema.  I guess you have to pick your battles.  Brown sugar vs. white sugar aside, the difference in taste from whipped vs. not is pretty negligible to me, but maybe a slightly more velvety shot.

10 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

I call this lack of action an admission of a problem.

 

I knocked ours off about 5 times on Celebration, in two different room locations.  I don't think there is an action to correct, other than a install better units.