Spaniel Lover

Most of the still photos, and the above-the-water videos, were shot with a Canon Digital Rebel T2i camera with an 18-135mm image-stabilized lens.

The underwater photos and videos, and a very small number of the other still photos, were shot with a Panasonic DMC-TS3... which is a waterproof pocket-sized camera.

That Canon Digital Rebel camera is definitely the way to go if you're looking to take professional quality photos. I've actually written a web page which talks all about what makes the Digital Rebel so great, and which showcases some of the best photos I've ever taken with it. You can see it on this page of my web site.

That's the end of my review of our back-to-back cruises on the Carnival Magic. I hope you enjoyed it!

If you have questions, now's the time...

Is anyone from Carnival reading this? If so, I do have a few suggestions for you! Even though I totally loved our cruise on the Carnival Magic, there were a few things that could have been improved...

• I know this is minor... but the salt shakers in the restaurants were worthless! The holes were too small, and got easily clogged up by the combination of salt and humidity.
  

• Not enough Mexican food! I totally loved the late-night Mexican buffet. I thought it was the best food of the entire cruise! It was so sad that you only served that great Mexican food one time during the entire cruise... and not until 11 PM. Rather than having two stations in the Lido buffet that serve the exact same thing, how about turning one in to a Mexican food station?

  
  

• The way you offer free soft-serve ice cream 24/7 is brilliant. Now you need to do the same thing for soft drinks such as Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, etc.

  Self-serve soda dispensers are commonplace in the food industry. Put them on your ships! If you're not willing to do that, how about at least putting in some vending machines with soft drinks in them?

  
  

• The 24-hour pizza bar is a great idea, too. Now all you have to do is throw out your pizza recipe and come up with a better one. The crust you use isn't bad... I think it's the cheese and the sauce that are the problems. Put some focus groups together and try out some new recipes on them. Just make sure the focus groups are representative of who your typical customers are!

  
  

• The way you rotate the various types of potato products at breakfast each morning is great. Can you please do that at dinner time in the buffet? I really got tired of baked potatoes with dinner each night. Can you offer mashed potatoes in the buffet every now and then?

  
  

I mentioned at the very beginning of my post that I noticed over twenty things about the Carnival Magic that were superior to the other cruise ships I've been on.

I've mentioned most, but not all of those things already. So, let's look at the full list:

• The decor in the cabins is less loud and more tasteful.
  

• The safe in your cabin uses a combination rather than a credit card to open.

  
  

• The seating in many outdoor public areas is more plush and comfortable.

  
  

• Ocean plaza on deck 5 is an interesting venue for entertainment such as small bands and karaoke.

  
  

• The seaside barbecue (only available on sea days) offers another good option for lunch. I especially liked the grilled tacos.

  
  

• There's an elevator to the Serenity retreat.

  
  

• The Serenity retreat is larger than on some of the other ships.

  
  

• Cucina Del Capitano offers another dining option for lunch or dinner... although I did not particularly like the food there.

  
  

• Tiki huts next to the mid-ship pool offer shade for parents watching their kids swim.

  
  

• You can get clubs and balls for the miniature golf course without having to check them out and check them back in.

  
  

• There's exercise equipment up on the sports deck, next to the Sky Court. This is great for people who want some fresh air while they work out.

  
  

• There's an outdoor pool table, foosball table, and even an outdoor Nintendo game system on the sports deck. Free hot dogs, too.

  
  

• The red frog pub is a fun place with some unique drinks and appetizers, unique seating arrangements, and games.

  
  

• There is an outdoor deck that goes all the way around deck 5, so you can walk around the entire length and width of the ship. This is in addition to the smaller jogging track up on the sports deck.

  
  

• The "fun hubs" located all over the ship make it easy to find a convenient place to access the Internet.

  
  

• Internet access is significantly faster than on other ships, and you can buy unlimited access for the entire cruise without having to pay by the minute. You can also share this unlimited access among multiple devices. (But only one at a time.)

  
  

• There's a hallway that passes by the main dining room in the middle of the ship, unlike other ships where you have to go up and over (or down and under) to get past the dining room.

  
  

• The quality of the mattresses seemed to be improved over the other ships I've sailed on. Out of 15 cruises with Carnival, this was the only time I can remember my wife NOT complaining about the bed.

  
  

• The quality of the Seaside Theatre big screen seems better than on the Splendor and Conquest-class ships. (And Spirit class ships don't have an outdoor TV at all.)

  
  

• The enclosure around the Sky Court (basketball, soccer, dodge ball) is bigger, taller, and more robust.

  
  

• The Assistant Cruise Director, Megan, was the best ACD I've ever seen. James, the Cruise Director, was OK... but it was Megan I was most impressed with. Their version of the morning show, a cruise ship version of Regis & Kelly, was the best I've seen on any ship. On some ships, it's been so bad it was unwatchable!

  
  

• Our safety briefing (aka lifeboat drill) was held in the comfort of the main show lounge. Out of 15 cruises, it was only the second time I've been able to sit down during the safety briefing.

  
  

• Each cabin has two electrical outlets at the desk. Most Carnival ships just have one.

  
  

I'm not sure if CruiseCritic allows linking to YouTube videos, but let's give it a try and see if they allow it.

In addition to all the still photos, I shot a few high-resoultion videos during our cruise, too.

What I'd suggest, so you don't lose your place to this thread on the CruiseCritic forum, is that you RIGHT-click on the following links to the YouTube videos... and choose to open them in a new tab or a new window. That way, it's easy to come back here to this topic.

Also, these videos were shot in high resolution. By default, YouTube displays them in low resolution... but you can change it by clicking on the "change quality" button underneath the video. If you do decide to watch a video in high definition, I'd also suggest you click on the "full screen" button underneath the video.

Here are the links to the videos:

I have to put a plug in for one amazing shore excursion we went on! The place is called Akumal Beach, and it's on the mainland of Mexico, southwest of Play Del Carmen. It's one of those places in the Caribbean that looks like it should be on a post card...

Akumal means "place of the turtles" in the Mayan language. It was given that name because gigantic sea turtles graze here. They feed on the grass that grows in the sand of these shallow waters. These gigantic sea turtles are totally used to humans... so you can snorkel right off the beach and swim with the turtles as they graze on the grass on the ocean floor. It's an amazing experience!

I'm afraid that I didn't get a very good shot of any of the turtles at Akumal beach.

They were huge... about 3 or 4 feet long!

There's also a lot of fish here, and they like to swim in schools around the biggest fish. When humans are in the water, they view the humans as the biggest fish... so they swim along side you. It's really cool! To get here from where the cruise ship docks on the island of Cozumel, you have to take a ferry over to the mainland... which is an adventure in itself. Then a bus from Playa Del Carmen down to Akumal. It's a long day... but I thought it was worth it! And they served a nice buffet lunch, too.

Speaking of wildlife... here are a few creatures I took photos of while our ship was loading passengers in Galveston...

There were probably a dozen dolphins swimming near the ship in Galveston Bay

but the only decent picture I got was of these two

 



I was bored while we waited for the ship to depart Galveston,

so I started trying to get a picture of a seagull in flight...

which is harder than you might think!

 

If you're going to fly in to Texas to take a cruise on the Carnival Magic, try to fly in to the "Houston Hobby" airport ( airport code: HOU), not the George Bush airport (airport code: IAH). IAH is on the north side of Houston, about a 75 minute drive to Galveston. HOU is much closer... on the south side of Houston... and it's only about a 45 minute ride.

If you're looking for a hotel in Galveston, consider staying at the Harbor House hotel. It's right next door to the cruise terminal. You can walk from the hotel to the cruise ship on embarkation day. And if you get up early enough in the morning, you can watch the ship come in the day of your cruise! Another Galveston hotel with a lot going for it is the Moody Gardens resort... which is a very unique hotel with a waterpark, an indoor rain forest, an aquarium, and a 3D theatre.

Now, here's a list of things that I'd like to suggest you should bring with you on a cruise...

• A multi-outlet power strip. There are only two electrical outlets at the desk in your cabin. That may not be enough if you want to charge multiple electronic devices overnight.

  
  

• A 6-pack of your favorite beverage, so you don't have to pay ship prices for it. There's a refrigerator in your cabin, so you can keep your beverage cold... and your cabin steward will fill your ice bucket several times a day. Also, think about buying bottles or cans of your favorite soft drinks at the ports you visit. It's better than paying ship prices for it.

  
  

• Two large plastic drink cups. (One for you, one for your roommate.) The drinking glasses that are provided in the cabins and in the Lido restaurant are frustratingly small! They don't even come close to holding the contents of one can of Coke. We always bring a couple of large plastic drinking cups along with us... to use when drinking our favorite beverage on our balcony, on the Serenity deck, or even at the Lido restaurant. Once I'm comfortable, I don't like having to get up to refill my beverage.

  
  

• A watch or a travel clock. Activities start at certain times, so you will frequently want to know the current time.

  
  

• A highlighter pen, to mark activities on the daily schedule that you are interested in.

  
  

• A small flashlight, so you can stumble to the bathroom in the middle of the night without disturbing your roommate by turning on all the lights in the room. It's also a handy thing to have with you in the unlikely event of an emergency.

  
  

• Your MP3 player, so you can listen to your favorite music while you relax in the sun on deck. I'd also recommend noise-cancelling headphones for use with your MP3 player. There have been many times when I've been trying to relax on The Serenity Deck of a Carnival cruise ship when someone nearby was talking so loudly that all serenity had vanished. Noise-cancelling headphones and your favorite music on your MP3 player will bring the serenity back. Noise-cancelling headphones are also great if you are taking an airline flight to get to and from your cruise. They block out all the engine noise while you are watching the movie or listening to music.

  
  

• Some $1 and $5 bills. Very handy for tipping the people who handle your luggage on embarkation day, and also for making small purchases in Mexico. Using American money in Mexican ports is almost never a problem, but using a large bill to make a small purchase can be a problem.

  
  

• If you're in a full-time relationship with your laptop computer or iPad... be sure to bring it along! There's wi-fi available throughout the ship, even in your cabin... and on the Carnival Magic you can even buy an unlimited Internet access plan.

  
  

• And I think this last one goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway: DON'T FORGET TO BRING A SWIM SUIT!

  
  

There are a few tips I'd like to pass along to people new to cruising. The first is the easy way to prop open your balcony door. The cabin stewards keep a rubber door stopper next to the main cabin door, right under the closets. They use this to prop open the door while they're cleaning your cabin. As long as you're careful to always put it back where you found it before you leave your cabin, you can use this rubber door stopper to prop open your balcony door. Just wedge it in the door opening, above the hinge... and you can easily get on and off your balcony without all the normal door slamming. It's a great way to let a warm breeze in to your room.

See the black rubber door stopper wedged in -- just above the hinge -- to prop open the balcony door?

See that big line of thundershowers stretching across the Gulf Of Mexico?

We had hours and hours of rain when we sailed through that!

While we were sailing through that nasty weather shown in the satellite photo,

there was heavy rain, lightning, thunder... and not a soul out on Lido deck!

Free drinks and appetizers at the Carnival VIFP party

This is a small part of the Red Frog Pub

There are several places on deck 5 where the deck bulges out to provide better viewing over the edge of the ship.

Several of these viewing areas have jacuzzis on them, which offer great views!

The timing of our cruise was an absolute stroke of luck because we sailed on the Carnival Magic right after they had performed a major upgrade of her network and Internet equipment. They had just begun a six-week test of the new equipment... which offered such an improvement on Internet bandwidth that for the first time on any cruise ship they were able to offer unlimited Internet access to the passengers. (For a fee, of course.) On all the other cruises I had been on, bandwidth was in such short supply that they sold it by the minute... and Internet access was slow and flaky. On the Carnival Magic, it was tremendously improved! As soon as I connected my computer to their network, I noticed the difference. It was so impressive, and so much faster than all the other ships I had been on, that I immediately emailed the editors at CruiseCritic and alerted them to the news that Carnival was testing new equipment that provided the fastest Internet connection of any cruise ship in the world. They verified the information with Carnival and then ran a story about it on their site, and even quoted me!

During our two-week cruise, I ran a number of tests at SpeedTest.net to document the speed of the Internet connection at various times of the day and under various conditions. Using a wireless connection to my laptop computer, I got download speeds as high as 1.91 mb/sec and upload speeds as high as .57 mb/sec. Then I tried one of Carnival's "Fun Hub" computers with a wired network connection and got a download speed of almost 4 mb/sec and upload speeds of almost 2 mb/sec. Now I know these speeds aren't in the league of what anyone can get at home with a cable modem... but you have to remember that this was an Internet connection at sea, shared with thousands of other passengers and crew. In that context, it was incredibly fast!

While we're doing cabin pictures, I'll show you our favorite towel animal. If you've been on a Carnival cruise before, you know that the cabin steward turns down your bed while your out at dinner, and leaves you with a towel animal each night. Here was our favorite:

And that brings us to the subject of food! There's definitely plenty of it... that's one of the great things about cruising. But keep your expectations low as far as the quality. At home, in our normal life, we eat out at restaurants a lot. I can't honestly say I'd go back to any restaurant that served food of the quality served on a cruise ship. But I cut Carnival a lot of slack, because they're feeding thousands of guests at every meal... and that's got to be tricky. I wish they didn't get their entire food service staff from India... as I think part of the problem with the food onboard the ships is that the Indian food service staff just doesn't understand American tastes in food. Would you go to a Mexican restaurant at home whose entire staff was from India?

The Carnival Magic did have some dining options that I hadn't seen on other ships before... such as the Taste Bar at Ocean Plaza... where they serve up appetizer-sized portions of various foods. It's not meant to be a meal... it's just meant to give you a little taste of something that you might not normally try. Thus the name, the Taste Bar. Another new venue on the Carnival Magic is the the Seaside Barbecue. They serve sliders (small hamburgers), hot dogs, and grilled tacos. There's also a new hot dog stand up on the sports deck...

The WaterWorks area features working valves that you can turn on and off to make the water go. Kids like to turn them off, wait for someone to walk in to the path, and them turn the valve on to send a blast of water on to their victim.

The moon rises as night falls on the Carnival Magic

The Carnival Magic at anchor of the coast of Belize

We are Jim & Kellyn Zimmerlin... from Grover Beach, California

I mentioned that the Carnival Magic has a number of improvements over the other ships in the Carnival fleet. I was so impressed with all the improvements that I started writing out a list of all the things that were better on this ship than the others I've sailed on. By the end of the cruise, I had come up with a list of over twenty items that were better about the Carnival Magic over her predecessors. Individually, each of these things is a small improvement... but when you add them all up together, you end up with an overall superior ship.

For example, much of the outdoor furniture is better than on the older ships. Many of the seats have big comfortable cushions, and there are umbrellas that provide much-needed shade on a warm afternoon in the Caribbean.

Notice the big thick cushions on this couch and chair set overlooking the aft of the ship

Another example of improved outdoor furniture on the Carnival Magic

These cabanas offer shade for parents who want to keep an eye on their kids swimming in the main pool.

The pool is surrounded by an area with about 2 inches of water so you can sit and keep your toes cool.

Notice all the benches for people who want to sit adjacent to the pool without getting fully in to it.

Five things Carnival could do that wouldn't really be that expensive and which would please a lot of customers:

1. Put real king-sized beds in a select number of cabins on every ship. When I say a "real" king-sized bed, I do not mean two twins pushed together! Make these cabins a separate category all their own, so that people that want a real king-sized bed can book them specifically... and so that people that want two twins don't accidentally book them. Maybe this could be used as a way to encourage people to book the higher classes of cabins in each category... for example, putting king sized beds in category 8E cabins but not in 8A through 8D.

2. Change the pizzeria to a pizza buffet... where there are pizzas sitting out (under heat lamps) so that guests do not have to order and wait for a slice of pizza... they can just come up to the buffet and grab a slice or two.

3. Put cola dispensers in the Lido restaurants so that cola is as easily available as the soft serve ice cream is. Yes, I know you'd be giving up a small amount of bar revenue on cola... but think of how much people love that free soft-serve ice cream and how much they would enjoy free unlimited colas in the Lido buffet. This would give you a competitive advantage over RCCL and Norwegian... and believe me, there WOULD be some serious cola drinkers who would book Carnival over RCCL and NCL simply for the free cola.

4. Make it easy on Carnival.com to book back-to-back cruises. Go over to Princess.com and see how they do it... they make it EASY. For example, when a Princess ship does alternating 7-day eastern and western Caribbean itineraries... they also show a 14-day version on the web site, which is simply two of the seven-day cruises back to back. It is currently not possible on Carnival.com to easily determine a cabin that is available for two cruises back to back. It's simple on Princess.com

5. On the ships you build in the future... put more electrical outlets in the cabins! This is not 1975 anymore. People have iPods and iPads and iPhones and iDontKnowWhatElse... and they want to charge them all overnight.

I am the administrator of an online forum, and I absolutely have to monitor it and be able to do business on it while I am on a cruise. I've been on 8 Carnival cruises and I can tell you that it is definitely do-able.

Like others have said... uploading is painfully slow. Downloading isn't as bad. Definitely do as much stuff offline as possible. What I do with my forum is read posts online and then go offline and compose my replies in notepad. Only after composing my replies offline to I go back online to upload them.

Definitely take advantage of using multiple tabs in your browser to maximize your connection time. For example... if I want to go online to check my forum, check the weather forecast, and check the news... I open up three tabs in my browser and have them all going at the same time. So, if one site takes a while to load, I can look at one of the quicker-loading sites while I wait for the other to download.