isaiahsnana

Thank you for the trip report! I will be on the Triumph on Thursday for the 4 day trip. We can't wait!

Do the chefs table if you like the kitchen it's amazing

Agree!! Doing it this week on the Triumph. Already did it twice on the Magic. Best money spent!

I am looking at one as well, my daughter has never been on a ship with the spa amenities, this allows us to go together without the charming 3 grandsons. Dad will have that duty for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of our cruise. Looking for information about them as well. Activities, shows? I have been on the ship for two 7 day, but don't know what a two nighter will be like.

Been on the Magic twice, if you arrive early (we always are at the terminal by 10) - by the time we have been thru check in and are ready to board - (about 20 minutes) - then we are on by 11:15 and ready for lunch! Head to La Cucina for their free pasta lunch and spend the afternoon touring the ship. That way by the time you have had lunch, you can put your carry ons away and you only had to tote them to La Cucina.

I am trying to decide if I want to do the East out of Galveston it will be the end of January 2016. Just afraid it might be to cold then we probably won't be going in the water but looking around. I will have my parents with me and they both have scooters which cruise would be a easier one to do as far as ports? Not sure if they can even take them off the ship.

I have traveled on all of the cruises listed in my signature on my scooter and have been into every port except the ones that required tendering. Loved scootering all over Key West, there is a scooter friendly hop on-hop off trolley at certain stops. I will soon be doing the 4 day to Cozumel on the Triumph as well. Carnival makes it very easy to get on and off - some ports I just shopped, was able to scooter to our beach cabana on one stop as well!

On the Breeze did your sail and sign card open the doors to the tpool and sauna area.

You trade your sign and sail card for a key card that opens the thassalo therapy pool and steam room doors.

We saw a guy jump in at the Cozumel port from our balcony on the Magic. He was given a rope ladder and an escort through a different gangway - and I suspect a few hours in the security office or the ship's jail!

I purchased the round carnival soft side cooler for my son's college graduation cruise filled with beer from the Bon Voyage shop and we have used it on every cruise since then. An ice bucket (the one beer comes in) fits perfectly inside and provides a non-leaking soft side cooler for the room. I just checked and Carnival Bon Voyage has a square one now instead of the round one.

John Heald is at the Chef's table right now, posting on Facebook the new chef's table menu items.

Enjoying your review, we are planning this trip for 2016!!

Here is a recent review that is very informative:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2131180

You can go out on the secret deck just below the bridge. There is a bench to sit on but you can't see over the metal railing - you can stand and see the ocean from there but not sit and see it.

At lunch, they give you a paper check list with all the sauces and ingredients listed and you check what you want included in your pasta dish - i.e. mushrooms, green onions, shrimp in linguini with alfedo! and they serve breads to go with it.

Thanks for the reply!! I have always purchased the spa pass on the magic and would love to move up to the spa floor!! I may solve my problem by finding an inside handicapped cabin on same deck with cove balconies and split my group up into two rooms!!

Are there any handicapped accessible cove balconies on the Magic? I have had a regular handicapped balcony, but really want to try a cove!

check out this site for menus and food porn!

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/

If your concern is embark or debark at Galveston for the FTTF, you really don't need it. Arrive at the port about 10:30am you will be dining by 11:30am.

I am a Pooh sized 67 year old woman and travel with two friends and at times with my grown children. I always take the sofa and find it really comfortable. We have had a balcony cabin on the Magic twice and looking forward to an ocean view on the Triumph in April.

We would probably do a balconey. I guess I am just curious about general impressions from cruisers like ourselves who have primarily sailed with Carnival. I am not sure how we would like it.

My first cruise was with NCL and I loved it, the scenery in Alaska was great, weather was wonderful, food was phenomenal. Forward 12 years to being able to go on another cruise, this time on Carnival Magic - outstanding cruise, great ship, wonderful food, delightful staff. So wonderful in fact that I talked two friends into a repeat a few months later. So then I decided to take my daughter (who had been on the NCL before with me) and my three grandsons on the NCL Pearl to Alaska again. Hated the lack of open space that was not designated as a walkway or a for profit restaurant, staff seemed aloof, no fore available space to be out doors watching the scenery roll by, seemed very closed in everywhere, food was average to below average, service was so slow in the dining rooms that we ate most meals at the buffet which was many steps below Furr's Cafeteria. The only available other free dining spot for pub food was OK but very slow. Can't wait to return to Carnival in April. It will be a long wait for me to choose to go on NCL again.

Been on the Magic twice, arrived both times just before 11am (no FTTF) and we were on board having lunch by noon. Quick, easy and painless.

Based on my recent trip on NCL Pearl, you will find the food 100 times better on Carnival and the relaxing space on Carnival much more traveler friendly with lots of places to relax. We found that most of the free space on NCl was a for pay restaurant a lot of the time and you had to walk thru the restaurant area to get to your cabin or to get to the other side of the ship.

They will direct you to an area of others in wheelchairs. There are several staff members who push the chairs onto the ship and return to take the next in line.

All internet while at sea goes through the ship's internet. Your Verizon package would only be good while in port in Mexico.

Just back from an Alaskan Cruise with my three grandsons and my daughter. Boys are aged 10, 4 and 15 months. They all loved the cruise and the 4 year old asks almost every day if we are going back on "the boat" soon!!

Take your grandson and have a great time!

NCL is also an excellent choice for Alaska. Having sailed Carnival and NCL to Alaska id choose NCL every time. Tracy Arm is no comparison to Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier imho.

Just took my second trip to Alaska on NCL (13 years apart) and I will not go on another NCL ship until I can be assured of better food and general feel around the ship. I thought the food ranged from mediocre to poor, the ship had only about 2 areas to congregate that were not used as restaurants throughout the day. Two "for pay restaurants" were walkways to other parts of the ship. I am Carnival spoiled - my food on carnival has always been great with some dishes very memorable. And the ships seem to be much more leisure area friendly as well as having a general feeling of friendliness. Not so on the NCL Pearl.