pyropoodle

pretty sure I explained in my OP that I know it isn't fine dining.  but as close as you can get on the sea.  it's not meant to be Applebee's or Chilis. it's a sit down service, where they take your order, sweep away crumbs, keep you loaded with bread, etc...they don't rush you so they can clear the table for the next patron.   

I have been reading review after review, in sweet anticipation of my cruise that is coming up in 190 some odd days, and the recurring theme that I keep seeing when people complain about the MDR is "the meal took almost 2 hours".   The food was good, the food was bad, the servers were slow, the servers were fast, but the complaint that the meal took almost 2 hours is kinda bugging me. 

Bear with me as I try to put this into words....

I will concede that the waiters have more tables with less staff, so that might add to the length of the dining experience, but honestly, (and yes, I realize that Carnival's MDR is not on par with what some might consider to be 'fine dining', but still....) dinner in the MDR is supposed to be an experience.  at least, I think it is.  It is supposed to be as close to a fine dining experience on the sea as you can get without the upcharge of the steakhouse.   You are supposed to have the feeling of sitting down, having your appetizer, your main course, your dessert, all in a non-rushed fashion.   it's not applebees fcol!   

I don't have a lot of experiences to compare it to, but I have been to a few 'fine dining' eateries in NYC: Per se, Strip House, Bobby Van's (well, they were expensive if not technically 'fine dining' and in each case, the meals took at minimum and hour and 45 mins.  it's about the experience.   I think we are too focused on trying to get out early to see a show or do other things, but I feel like while 2 hours might seem like a lot, it is kind of on par with the time it takes in other land based 'fine dining' restaurants.  it's not something you rush, but enjoy.

am I completely off base here? am I missing something?    I don't recall a time when I was out of the MDR in less than an hour or 1 1/2 hours.   might just be me though.  

**not looking for a debate or hating on how much cutbacks have affected the line.  we all know about the cutbacks, but just in general...I feel like the MDR meal is an experience, and one I thoroughly enjoy.

I booked this ship for August of 2019 while it was still Triumph, before they announced the refurb and name change.  i'll just be glad to be getting a 'like new' ship, no matter what areas they put on her.  i'm pretty excited about it myself. 

I would almost say the Victory.  It's about to be remade into the Radiance, so this might be the last chance you have to sail her before she dry docks.   just my .02.   

Aww, I love that! 

Aww, I love that! 

Normally, I would have been excited by the Mongolian wok, but since being pregnant with my son, my body chemistry has changed 1,000 percent. I can't eat rice, really any Asian/ Chinese/ etc...food.  It just make me  internally

~trivia~ I haven't eaten rice in almost 5 years

I think these are for people who post once per year, just to remind them. 

adding onto this topic, re: cruise cash. I  see it's not refundable and you can cash out,but if you don't cash out, can you roll that over somehow into the next cruise? or is that not a thing.

I will be sailing in 199 days..YAY, and looking for anyone who might have had an adventure on the Semi Sub at Coki beach.   it looks inexpensive, and I will have a 5 & 2 year old with me and wondering if this might be an option for them.  

have you done it?  it is worth the money?  what can we do at coki beach afterwards?  I don't need a bored pre-schooler and toddler on my hands :) 

what would you suggest instead of this for a 2 & 5 year old.

TIA

Y'all. I had never even seen pictures of the Magic (since it wasn't really a ship that I was researching prior to booking), but I am LOVING the pictures and reviews.  and that POOOL!  it looks amazing.   I am definitely no longer bummed!   100% happy and looking forward to this cruise...just 695 more days...

8 minutes ago, five. said:

Text taken from here:

For guests who do not purchase a spa stateroom or suite but would like to use the Thermal Suites, Thalassotherapy Pool or large spa whirlpool, we offer day passes and passes for the cruise duration. A Thalassotherapy Pool is featured on Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic and Carnival Splendor.

 

This Jim Zim review has a few pictures of the area. It is definitely not paying just for a whirlpool. It's pretty wonderful, at least on the Dream class ships. It includes the giant thalassotherapy pool, heated loungers and a few sauna options. I wouldn't pay for it again on the Vista class. On those you really are paying just for a whirlpool and it's on the opposite end of the ship from the Havana area.

 thanks for the info. i'll check his review out as well.   glad this site offers a lot of reading...even though I should be working :)

21 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

We sail on the Breeze (same class) in Sept, and we look forward to exploring that layout tremendously!  I am sure you will have a blast on Magic!

i'll be looking for your review!

we have an August sailing on the Sunrise, so I'm on pins and needles waiting for that one.  199 dayssss

4 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

I would be bummed too. However, the Magic during NYE will be a blast. You have nothing to worry about. There is plenty to do. Maybe save the Mardi Gras for next time!

yeah, the more I think about it and all that is on the mardi gras, my kids will definitely have a better time if they are old enough to enjoy the roller coaster and all the other fun things.  right now, they are just too young.  I will book her in the future and will start saving now to book the new one that's coming in 2022...and will NOT choose an expensive holiday to travel on at that time. lesson learned.

so, just for my clarity, when you guys say "get access to the spa", what does that entail. we aren't in a spa balcony, so would I be paying for a pass to use a hot tub? or is there more to it?

Not much to do right in the port area unless you like shopping for junk, but out in the country, it is wonderful.  We did the Cave tubing which was just a neat experience as well.   There was a long drive to get there, but we had plenty of time and I never felt unsafe.  

if I don't have plans in Belize, I typically won't tender in.   I'm not a fan of shopping and there isn't really anything super unique in the shops there.

....and talk about timing. I just checked my email, and there is an email from Cruise Critic detailing the pros of sailing on the Carnival Magic.  Coincidence?  I think not. 

love it!

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

We absolutely loved the Magic when we did a B2B on her in 2017. I have a review in my signature.

Thanks, i'll check it out whilst I kill time at work today.  I only have 695 days to prepare ...wooo, that's a long time. 

1 hour ago, robertlanajean said:

 

I love seeing this! The things we do for love... 

 

We're taking my wife's parents on a cruise in May. We were all scheduled on Magic in March but had to reschedule for May to accommodate their schedule. They had psyched themselves up so much for Magic by watching youtube videos that we had to rebook the same ship. Ended up with 2 fewer days and ports that are just meh -- but they will get their Magic and we're still on vacation so all is good. Looks like a fun ship. I think you'll have a blast! Plus vacations are more about the company you keep and the memories you make. Any ship (except maybe the S.S. Minnow) would be a good vacation.

 

 

Yes, he is really, really great in that regard.  it's something that brings me joy, so he 'suffers' through it.  it's not the cruising that he hates per se, it's the being stuck miles from land in the middle of a large body of water, filled with sharks and no way to escape.  <----  his words, not mine.    plus, he literally never relaxes.  even at home he can't sit still. he's always doing something, piddling or fixing. I have to force him to relax.

1 hour ago, Aplmac said:

Nothing can ruin a cruise quicker..

than unrealistic expectations of heavenly perfection.

1 hour ago, Aplmac said:

Nothing can ruin a cruise quicker..

than unrealistic expectations of heavenly perfection.

 in terms of cruising, I'm always a glass half full person.   I'd change that quote to "Nothing can ruin my cruise"

literally.  I'm on a boat.  maybe not the boat I had in my head, but it's still a boat and it's still (for me) a perfect vacation. 

after reading these comments and seeing how many of you "love the magic, it's our favorite ship" my head is in a much better place today.    The ONLY thing that will ruin this cruise is my flight not making it down to Miami.....OR if they run out of DOD's!!!  

now, heading to read @jamman54's review.

I KNOW!!!!  i really am excited.  I haven't been on one in 2 years, so I am ready!

1 hour ago, Shaded Lady said:

F

My niece and her husband just went on a NYE cruise on Magic and LOVED IT! Haven't stopped yapping about it since they got back!

 

 

i have always wanted to do a NYE cruise and this  particular year just happened to work out with the school dates and with me being off work.  other years, where NYE is say, in the middle of the  week,  i have to be back at work the day after Jan 1 so haven't been able to do it.  luckily ,  in 2020/ 2021 ,it falls on a weekend and I have that extra day in there.  i am super happy about that.     

1 hour ago, momof4girls said:

 I would not be bummed at all to spend NYE on that ship! We didn’t feel crowded ever when we sailed on her. We are finally going on the Breeze this May, and I’m ecstatic! 

 

You shouldnt be disappointed at all! Did you enjoy the Legend? 

ugh, i know , i feel terrible for feeling bummed. it's AWESOME that i will get to do this and y'alls comments are really, really helping me put that into perspective.  

and yes, i think i've been on the Legend at least 3 times and it is probably my favorite ship of the ones I have sailed.  it's not huge, but it's easy to navigate and I think it has as classy of a decor that a cruise ship can have, especially considering how old she is.   I would sail her again, but I need to get out of my comfort zone and try other ships.  

30 minutes ago, BENHANDEL said:

I have also been stalking mardi gras....but now that itineraries are out, I am veryunderwhelmed. The Christmas 2020 voyage is SUPER EXPENSIVE and there does not seem to be a family suite, which we loved on horizon, giving us a balcony and space for less than 2 rooms. PLUS it is the exact itenerary, minus one, as the breeze, which we will be on next christmas-and it was nearly $4000 more! It does not appear that there are many more or bigger common spaces than Horizon, so I imagine the crowds and lines would be ridiculous. 

 

I am no longer interested in mardi gras. Perhaps once she is no longer new, and the prices fall, maybe. 

YESSSS, THISSSSSSS.  I feel the same way.  I was  also disappointed because there was no family harbor area (i haven't been on a ship that has that yet, and it seems like it's something we would use and enjoy. it's so strange with a ship that huge they couldn't fit it in.    and the Itin  is not awesome either.  i can only speculate that that is because it's a huge ship and only certain ports can deal with that amount of people.  Tendering would probably be a nightmare. maybe...again, i haven't been on a large ship of any kind, so that's just speculation

on the Magic, the dates are exactly the same, just from Miami instead of Orlando, and we get an extra port.   (i've been to all of them, so no big deal) but hubs really doesn't even like to cruise. he goes because I love it, so an extra day for him to do something in a port is a plus.  For me, i'm happy on the ship being lazy, but he needs to be into something. 

it is a little bit crazy to run the prices up that much, even for a new ship.   I can see that it's going to cost more being new and being at that time of the year, but really, I cruise for economy and when Carnival starts charging as much as those other guys, it kinda hurts my heart a little.   just a little though.   I have never, ever, ever had a bad cruise...even though on one of them we missed ports due to sailing around a tropical storm of some kind. even then, it cruising has always been Magic for me <--- see what i did there???hahahah.   

oh you guys. i feel so much better about my choice.   thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to cheer me up! 

😎 you are all rock stars

y'all are making me feel better already!    Thank you :)

will definitely look into getting a spa pass since I can toss ...ahem...send my kiddos to camp carnival and get some me time. plus I'm saving $3 grand, sooooo, that ought to buy a pass

Like so many others on these boards,  I was looking forward to seeing the Mardi Gras deck plans, following  the MG threads religiously, stalking the leaked deck plans, etc....and then last night happened and literally the only time we can sail in the dates that were finally published is an UBER EXPENSIVE Holiday.  My husband was having NONE OF IT since the Carnival Magic is available on the exact same dates at virtually half the price for the same room category (Regular Balcony on the Magic for family of 4 is $4,100 vs, $7,300 on the Mardi Gras with tips/ taxes and insurance all included in that price).   so, needless to say, I was not able to book the Mardi Gras, but I was able to book the Magic.  

I really am hap,hap,happy that I will be sailing for New Years 2020 into 2021, that's a bucket list item for me, and I am stoked deep down, BUT I can't help feeling a little bit bummed and let down that I'm not on the new super mega Mardi Gras.  (I will book her eventually, don't worry)

ANYWAY, I am counting on all of you wonderful CC'ers out there to really sell me on the Magic and let me know that I have done the right thing~ what do you love about her ~why is she your favorite ship~  Tell me that I will really love her too.   I need to read some positive, uplifting words today.  

I am hoping that the disappointed feeling will pass and I can get on with my life knowing how lucky I am that I am able to cruise at all, and super blessed.

yeah, I really should have said it was for a holiday. my bad y'all.   I just really wanted to get on that ship!

keeping my eyes out for August 2021

if I had known waaaaay back when we booked our august cruise, I would have waited and booked mardi gras for august 2020...possibly.... but even though new years is a premium, for the same amount of sailing days and 1 less  port, I can't justify the extra $3000 just because it's a new ship.   maybe an extra grand, but not 3.  

i'll book her eventually and find a time of the year that isn't so pricey.   but I am bummed for sure.