BigAlexC

10 minutes ago, Tjcalley said:

Did they charge you to switch ?

Nope! Like I mentioned, the Mardi Gras option was almost $600 cheaper than the original Radiance/Breeze booking. Amount will be refunded to me since I had already paid in full.

After reassignment I decided to change the cruise entirely. Booked the 02/27 Mardi Gras sailing. With my current Casino offer this cruise was almost $600 cheaper than my original booking. That's for a Mardi Gras balcony cabin on deck 14 versus a Breeze cove balcony on deck 2. It is a 7 day instead of an 8 day but we felt it was a better value and a chance to sail a brand new boat. Entire call took less than 5 minutes.

Let's hope this one doesn't get cancelled and it is safe to sail!

We were booked on a scenic ocean-view (deck 9, right above the bridge) on the 03/13 Radiance sailing. We have now been reassigned to a cove balcony on deck 2. I guess it is a fair trade off but the OC we had was 1 of 4 on the ship and had the floor to ceiling front facing windows. I'd rather be in a balcony on higher floor... Still thinking I will switch it up as I booked more so for the boat and that specific cabin. Not the itinerary necessarily...

Click HERE for a "full blown" thread about the snorkeling at West Bay Beach. There's a path (they call the kidney) that you can take and it goes to the drop off. We started this thread back in 2011, but there's tons of information and we added tons of pictures and maps, so could be very helpful. Still pretty much an active thread too.

Thank you Mitsugirly!! I've read sooo many of your reviews. You post great stories and even better pictures! We lined up a charter with Radical Adventures out of Oakridge/Port Royal. I'm also still kicking around the idea of taking the water taxi to Caye Caulker in Belize and then taking a charter out to Hol Chan. I think the snorkeling may be better there but we found a great deal on a private charter out of Roatan... Wonderful problem to have!

Can't wait!...

We've used Coral Breeze tours 3 times now to snorkel Hol Chan marine reserve.

In fact we just got back from using them last week.

 

It's $75 for a 5 hour tour. It includes round trip boat ride to Caye Caulkera from the Belize City cruise pier. The snorkeling lasts about an hour and 30-45 minutes.

 

I'm an experienced snorkeler and diver and I can tell you it is one of the better snorkeling tours I've taken.

We enjoyed it so much we've taken the plane over to Ambergris Caye to do the same excursion. Just much faster to fly.

 

Michael.

Michael;

Will be in both Belize and Roatan this Feb via the Magic. Looking to snorkel. Can't decide between the East end of Roatan / Port Royal or Hol Chan in Belize. We have a group of 4 that is willing to book a private charter but only at 1 of the 2 ports. Any experience in Roatan? I hear both are great but would love another opinion.

Thanks!

Visiting this port on 2/21/2017 via The Carnival Magic. Found this charter via another post;

http://www.svfreeradical.com/index.html

My wife and I are interested. A Min of 6 people are needed. Looking for at least 2 more for a day trip. 4 hours on the boat, all inclusive with transportation each way. $120 per person. In line with the cost of a Carnival sponsored excursions but much less crowded. I also researched them on Trip Advisor and they are highly rated and seem to cater to cruise ship passengers.

Anyone else interested? If so, please let Radical Adventures know and they will coordinate everything. We have never been to this port but understand the snorkeling here is not something to miss!

Here is a better picture of the menu, I hope!

Menu and pictures below. This was held in the Galley, as you can see. At 1st each group had their own “station” they were assigned to. Here we had a champagne toast and canapés. Very interesting bites indeed. A marinated olive covered in a spun sugar (cotton candy). Chicken Liver Pate covered in chocolate. Very Peanut Butter and Chocolate like. And cured salmon on a homemade cracker. Rest of the menu is below. This was our 3rd time doing the Chef’s Table (Sensation, Liberty & Magic). Luckily enough we have enjoyed 3 different menus. Speaking with the Chef after dinner he told us that this is the brand new menu and has only been rolled out to the Vista, Breeze and Magic. This experience was the most unique, due to the location and before dinner canapés, and the food was the most refined. I would not hesitate to do this again and strongly recommend for anyone who is interested. As far as the location is concerned there were pros and cons. Pros: Awesome being able to see the hustle and bustle that happens behind the scenes. Amazing perspective into the sheer size of the operation and helps you truly appreciate the wait and kitchen staff. Cons: Very loud as one could imagine. Hard to have conversation with anyone other than those sitting directly next to you. Luckily enough we were seated next to an awesome couple who had run into previously on our cruise. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of everything, but here are a few anyway. Again, if anyone has any specific question about this experience, please let me know!

Magic Recap with New Chef Table Menu

Hello All! I have always enjoyed reading others reviews, even for ships I have no current plans to sail on, so I thought I would take time to post my own. This won't be a daily journey or picture heavy review our cruise. Instead I will share our random thoughts and observations that my wife and I experienced on this cruise. I will also add the Chefs Table menu and a few pictures of that experience as well. So without further ado…

Embarkation: I have only sailed out of Tampa and Port Canaveral. However, I would find it hard to believe there is a more efficient terminal than Port Canaveral. This time around we purchased on site port parking as the rates at Park N’ Cruise seemed to have increased dramatically. This coupled with the issues we had with the PnC pickup service after our last cruise aboard the Sunshine made this decision a no brainer for us. We dropped our bags with a porter, parked and were on board within 20 minutes.

Thoughts on the Magic: This is the biggest ship we have sailed on and we thought the décor was nice. Not as loud as some of the other ships we have been on. Typically Carnival atrium, which I enjoy, and because this was a Thanksgiving cruise they already had the Christmas decorations up including a giant tree in the atrium. We thought this was quite nice and gave the ship a Holiday feel, of course! Since this was a Holiday cruise the ship was at full capacity. However it never felt overly crowded. The exception to this was the atrium at dinner time. The Northern Lights dining room was set up for guests with Any Time Dining. The hostess stand inside the dining room served as the spot for guests to check in AND return when their table was ready. This created quite the line and a great deal of confusion in this area. The line usually used to exit the dining room was also being used as an entrance for guests whose tables were ready. Long story short, it wasn’t well organized or managed efficiently, IMHO. I know some people are not fans with how the Sunshine handles their Any Time Dining check in process but it was much more orderly than the process on the Magic. Now I am not saying move the check in to a different deck. But it could be handled better… Overall we really enjoyed the layout of the ship. Very easy to navigate. Also loved the deck 5 outdoor lanai that wrapped around the entire ship. Very cool feature with lots of places to sit around and lounge. Typical Magic/Carnival staff. Very friendly and engaging. My wife thought the dining staff could have been better but they were efficient. We were in/out in a timely manner. Our room steward, Jocelyn, was one of the best we have had. But we seem to always say that when we return from a cruise. We did have some bathroom flooding due to the shower drain. One call and it was fixed without further issue. We bought Spa passes before we sailed. Wife and I love the Thermal Spa on the ships that have them. The Magic was the nicest we have experienced although the Thalassotherapy Pool was a wave pool during the rougher days at sea and could not really be used. I enjoy the steam rooms and the Magic had two large ones to choose from. One traditional and one with aroma therapy. I felt that the heated loungers in the Thermal Spa were in a busy area but the space was nice otherwise. The Live bands on this ship were the best we have seen. In the lobby there was a great String Trio named “Dolce Trio”. As well as a great Brass/Horn band named “Bold Brass Sounds”. This grouped joined a pair of singers in the Ocean Plaza and became “#SixAppeal”. This was probably the best true band I have ever seen at sea. They focused on Motown classics but the duo could really sing and the band with the added horns section made it very enjoyable. Lots of crowd participation when this band was playing. Another great Ocean Plaza group was “Music and Magic”. Great duo, wide range of songs and they flowed seamlessly into one another. Elizabeth in the Piano Bar was very engaging and made everyone feel welcomed and part of the show. Unfortunately, the Country duo of Erin & Sean were not good at all. We didn’t see any shows so I cannot comment on those. We caught one set of comedy featuring Geechy Guy and he was good. The lounge they use for these shows is large and set up nicely. I am a Craps player and spent a fair amount of time at that table. This table is located against the wall nearest the main entrance to the casino. Kind of off to the side so it wasn’t in the middle of the action and therefore less smokey. Just my opinion and I am a non smoker. Great staff at the table and a fun group of fellow cruisers/gamblers.

Food: Overall we felt the food was good. There are enough choices on the nightly dinner menu to find something you like. If not Cucina offers a solid value for dinner at $15 per person. My wife and I had dinner there one night and enjoyed the experience. The Tiramisu there is actually one of the best I have had anywhere. Everyone knows about Guys and Blue Iguana. We did not try the Steak House or any of the pay items at Red Frog or on the Room Service menu. Additionally, we never ate at the Lido buffet. We aren't opposed to this option, there are just so many other choices available. This ship also had a lot of pop up spots for breakfast and lunch on deck 5. The Taste Bar converted to a breakfast spot in the day time while another area around the corner featured a fresh salad/wrap and sandwich bar. At the aft of the Lido deck you could find the 24 hour pizza spot and Tandoor for lunch. This was probably my favorite spot on the ship. The lunch menu changed daily and the food was fresh and flavorful. It was on the spicy side but I did not find it to be overly spicy. Because of the change of ports and with it the impromptu sea day we did not get to try Guys Bar B Q. It was available the 1st sea day but we opted for sea day brunch instead and never had another chance to sample. I know I promised info on the Chefs Table and I will provide that in another post below.

Misc: Mid-Ship elevators never seemed busy. Of course the glass atrium and forward elevators were always in high demand. We had a cabin on deck 10 forward. We enjoy the short walk out to the Lido area for food or entertainment (people watching). We were up high and almost all the way forward but this was by far the rockiest cruise we have ever been on and others said the same. To be fair the winds were blowing between 40 – 50 knots consistently. So much so that we missed Grand Turk and had to settle for Nassau. I am assuming that because we went to Amber Cove we took a more easterly route into the open Atlantic and you could really feel the winds out in the open sea. Luckily enough, my Wife and I aren’t bothered too much by this. Once we made it into the Bahamas the boat smoothed out considerably although it took a few days for our land legs to return once we hit solid land. Before cruising I read a number of complaints about how smokey the casino is. I didn’t find this necessarily true. Lots of smokers on one side of the bar and around the slots. Not so bad around the table games, or at least the Craps table where I spent almost all of my casino time. If you are that put off by smoke you can bypass the casino by using deck 4. I don’t think many people knew this. If you walk to the mid ship stairs/elevators on deck 4 and go up you will come out in between the casino the Ocean Plaza. As I said above the ship never felt too crowded although we typically do our own thing while cruising. If the Lido or Serenity area looked crowded we went to the Spa or somewhere else. We had the Cheers package and it is worth the cost for the Wife and me. I am the drinker in the family and what I drink in the casino while gambling covers the cost of the package for me. We also enjoy spending time at the Alchemy bar and with Cheers you can get adventurous and try things you may not otherwise. If you don’t like it, you can have another. In my experiences the staff and bartenders treat me no differently because I have Cheers versus those who don’t. A tip goes a long way towards ensuring consistent and attentive service, IMHO.

Debarkation: We opted for Self Assist this time around and we were off the ship in record time. Since we parked at the port we were in our car and on the road within 20 minutes of leaving our room. I think this will be our preferred option moving forward.

That’s it. A little longer than I originally expected. Overall, we had a great time even with a few minor issues along with the way. If anyone has any specific questions, please feel free to ask. As you may notice in my signature, we are already booked on the Magic again for a Birthday cruise in February. I was so good to the Casino while on this cruise, they already want me back!

Now that I see your Avatar, yes we know you! We sat next to you at the Chef's Table. :D

Got all classy today and added that to my profile! As soon as I saw the title of your post, I knew who you were. Unfortunately! ;)

We were on-board over Thanksgiving. The only places consistently showing games were the Casino bar and the Red From Pub. The Red Frog was my preferred destination as it was less smokey.

Hope this helps.

I think I may know you... Great recap! Too bad the cruise wasn't everything you hoped it would be. Every time we ran into you guys it looked like you were having a helluva time! Hope our paths cross again some day. Until then, safe travels!

Great review Swodog94. I don't even have a cruise booked on the Pride but am following along nonetheless.

First and foremost, Thank You for Your Service! Second, We are HUGE fans of the Chefs Table and try to book it every time we can. $75 may seem like a big expense to some but the quality of the food, the generosity of the wine/champagne and the chance to see "behind the scenes" in the galley make it a great value IMHO.

Thanks!

We are also confirmed for the Chef's Table on the Magic and from your sig, it looks like we will be on the same sailing. We are looking forward to it as we have never done a CT experience.

Looking forward to it! This will be our 3rd CT and the previous two were absolutely fantastic. True, no wine pairings. Just red or white with champagne to start. But the food was excellent in every way. Plus, my Wife, has seafood allergies and they prepared special courses for her in lieu of the seafood offerings served to the rest of the group.

Hello All!

We are confirmed for the Chef's Table on our Magic cruise in November. Does anyone know where it is held on the Magic. I know it varies from ship to ship. On the Sensation we were in the Library. On the Liberty we were in a private dining room just off of the main floor.

TIA!

What other cruise ship was Matt cruise directory?

We had him on the Sunshine in Jan/Feb of this year. Best CD I have ever experienced. Friendly, funny and engaging. Not to mention the ladies loved him.

I'd love to pay for this ahead of time, but cannot find it on the site. I didn't see it under spa services or FAQs. Where were you able to do this? Thanks, in advance.

If you go to "my cruise manager" you should see a option for "The Spa & Salon Services". Once you have selected this you should see a menu of spa services on the left hand side. Select "relaxation areas". You should find spa passes there.

I picked up a 5 day couple pass already for our 11/20 cruise! Hope this helps.

Liberty has been my favorite ship. Looking to check out the Magic or Vista on the next go around. Magic will be recently refurbished and the Vista is the latest/greatest.

Do you man handle that big triple or eat it with a fork and knife?

Man handle that mofo... Lol! Extra napkins and no shame are a must!

Love Guy's. Our last 2 cruises (Liberty & Sunshine) both had one. I will say that I thought the burgers on Liberty where better than those on Sunshine and my Wife agreed. Not sure why, but we both shared the same opinion.

Pro Tip - You can always ask for a extra patty... or 2! I enjoyed a few "double stacks" and one triple! Yes, I have a hearty appetite! :cool:

Cruised the Sunshine in early Feb and was in a Spa Balcony on deck 10. This is the same floor as the spa and provides easy access. My only comments has to do with the balcony themselves. Deck 10 balconies extend farther out than the ones above them. So, people on 11 and 12 can see down into your balcony. However, people on 11 and 12 cannot see directly down to the water below, since your balcony extends out farther than theirs. Additionally, you may have some extra noise from the room above you if they are on their balcony and are moving their balcony chairs around.

All in all I enjoyed our room on deck 10. As I said the spa was on this floor and this deck has a walkway leading directly to the slides/sports area in the back and provides easy access to deck 9, the lido deck. Plus I enjoy being able to look directly down to the water, and am not overly concerned about "privacy".

I found a few videos of these cabins on You Tube. If you need any additional insight, let me know!

E-mail. Carnivalcasino.com and ask

Good morning Bases5.

Has the email address for the Casino team changed? I've always used a Oceans Players Club feedback address. I've had no problems in the past but have not had a reply this time around.

Hello All!

My Wife and I have enjoyed the Chefs Table on our last 2 cruises (same menu each time, btw). Our last cruise was in 2014. The menu posted on page 1 is different than what we have previously had. With that said, each Chef put their own personal touch on the menu and experience. While the food is great and we will do this again without a doubt the Chef, and their individual personality, makes a huge difference in the overall experience.

Long story short, the Chefs Table is absolutely worth it, IMHO.

Thanks for the reply!

We ended up choosing deck 10 as we liked the location to the serenity and lido deck. Plus it is on the same floor as the spa, added convenience. Nice to know about the elevators.

We feel good about our choice, and that's all that matters!

Hello All!

I am hoping you knowledgeable CC vets can provide some insight into the Spa balconies on the Sunshine.

I know Deck 10 extends out so that decks 11 and 12 can see down into your space. I have also heard deck 12 can be loud at times as the serenity sun deck is directly above those cabins? Also, can you feel movement more so in these cabins versus others?

Simply put, which deck do you prefer? 10, 11 or 12?

Thanks, as always!