Review of Magic with pics from a long time lurker!!

[canyonfarrier]

First post from a long time lurker and veteran cruiser. It is so wonderful to be here!

 

The wife, myself, and all three of my step children just returned from a great week on the Magic (Aug 17-24). I thought I would share some random photos and a few comments with you folks!!

 

This was our second cruise on Magic, of course sailing out of Galveston.

 

It was the kids first cruise ever.

 

The two girls, Phoebe (16) and Ella (9) were absolutely terrified and nearly in tears in the days/hours leading up to embarkation. Our youngest, Ella, actually wanted to know the possibility of hitting an iceberg and sinking? Oh boy was that ever a laugh. When we returned, they didn't want to leave the ship! :)

 

My stepson, Jack (12) was thrilled from the get go and I honestly think we saw him for about 3 hours total during the week.

 

We booked two balcony cabins on the Lido deck (10) almost all the way forward, on the starboard side. Cabin #'s 10211 and 10217.

 

Should your checkbook allow it, I cannot recommend this area of the ship highly enough. It is very, very quiet and just a short walk to the main pool/theater area and the buffet!! No stair climbing/waiting for elevators etc. It is also worth mentioning that I didn't have too long of a walk to grab beer as well. :D

 

There is a sort of introduction for you and I hope my following comments will help some of you new cruisers with what and how to do, and bring back some memories for veterans.

Edited August 31, 2014 by canyonfarrier
mistake

[canyonfarrier]

In the interests of playing it safe, we left home on Saturday the 16th and spent the night in Galveston. It is a five hour drive for us and it sure did make things easier not having to rush and worry about that drive on the same day as embarkation.

 

We stayed at the Baymont just off of the seawall. They are super nice folks there and you can leave your vehicle parked for free, which we did.

 

We arranged for a cab to pick us up on Sunday morning. Everything from there on was super painless and we were on the ship by 11:30 AM.

 

Our bags arrived quicker than any cruise I have ever been on. The muster drill was painless. Jack was trembling with excitement and took off exploring the ship before we left. The girls were trembling with fear and worrying about sinking, oh my :) And this was our balcony view, just above and behind the bridge at around 5:30 heading out into the gulf.

 

[canyonfarrier]

This view is looking aft, starboard side, from our balcony. Adios Galveston!!

[kbear]

Looking forward to the review!

[sharkaymon]

. . .so good. Waiting for more. Loved the descriptions of your children:)

[canyonfarrier]

As far as Carnivals website and the "official" booking are concerned, we had no choice but to book myself in one cabin and my wife (Princess) in the other. They did require that a legal adult be in each cabin. At least on paper.

 

However, once on board, our stateroom attendant (Graham), had no problem with all three kiddos staying in 10211 while Princess and I stayed in 10217.

 

Further, he folded back the partition between the balconies for us. So, even though we each had a key to the two different cabins, there was absolutely no problem in getting to either of them, by way of the balcony.

 

Jack and I explored the upper decks before the muster drill while the girls unpacked and got organized. After the drill we all explored together.

 

To all of you parents out there considering a cruise with your children? Do it!! The look on their faces and their excitement over "I can't believe this is floating/moving" is just priceless.

 

We had a thoroughly wonderful time answering all of their questions while we walked around. Ella's were quite entertaining to say the least! You know the saying, "kids say the weirdest things." What a gem she is!

 

We opted for the early dining time (6 pm). So around 5:30 we were all getting changed for dinner. I was ready in quick order, and while everyone else finished up, I went out the door on deck 10 above the bridge and got this photo.

 

[canyonfarrier]

Ok, it's Sunday and a lazy day for us around here. I think my brain got lazy as well HA! I forgot to mention what I think is an important point for new cruisers about the muster drill.

 

I have been on a bunch of cruise ships and learned the hard way that you don't have to don a life jacket and hurry to your muster station. The mass of humanity attempting to go down flight after flight of stairs is cumbersome.

 

So, with that in mind, after those warning bells stop ringing..........relax for a few minutes. Let the rush die down a bit and then head on down to your station without so much traffic.

 

BTW, Carnival (at least the Magic) does not require you to wear a life vest to muster drill. I never experienced this on RCCL ships.

[canyonfarrier]

Another shot for you from above the bow. Taken from Deck 10 (Lido).

[alliecat1970]

I am so excited to b reading this review and glad u took the kids as I have a 5 yr old that is not really looking forward to this experience. We get to go see what the magic is all about oct 5-2014. how was the childerns program and dining room, did u eat at the steakhouse also?

 

Thanks Janet Rae

[Star24K]

Thanks for your review, can't wait to hear more.

[Ruby0704]

Thanks for the review and we are looking forward to sailing this ship in November!!

[canyonfarrier]

I am so excited to b reading this review and glad u took the kids as I have a 5 yr old that is not really looking forward to this experience. We get to go see what the magic is all about oct 5-2014. how was the childerns program and dining room, did u eat at the steakhouse also?

 

Thanks Janet Rae

 

Hello Janet. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at your child's reaction once things get going for you on the ship.

 

Camp Carnival in my opinion is just not that great for the older children that go there (9+). I believe it was the second or third night that we enrolled Ella for a party. There is an additional charge for it during late hours, so be prepared. Anyway, in Ella's words, "it is really lame." lol

 

However, for the younger children? Well, from what I saw, they were having a super, super time. We saw children in there from infant to around 10-11.

 

I believe that for a 5 year old, it will be great.

 

Now the kid clubs are a different story. Club 02 for teenagers is apparently the "bomb". We did not set foot in there, so I am taking their word for it.

 

We ate in the dining room six of the seven nights. The food was really, really good. The service from our waiter, Dennis, was superb. Now, I will have to say that while the food really was quality and wonderful each night............in my opinion, it is not at the same level as RCCL. Please, no one take that wrong. The food on Magic is super duper good. I just believe the main dining room food on RCCL is one notch above. Anyway, to answer your question........I do not think you will be disappointed in the Magic's main dining room food.

 

A note on this.....Do not think for one minute that you must choose just one appetizer or entrée etc etc. Go for broke and order a couple of each. They will bring it to you with smiles. I love that about Magic.

 

Further on service..........Princess and I both drink Merlot. Our "wine" girl was always there after the first night with our favorite brand/bottle. Side note: She was also our waitress in the Casino many nights. She was from Serbia and possibly the sweetest young lady on the ship!

 

Janet, I hope my short diatribe helps you with your questions. Enjoy your cruise.

[Hey Tina]

So excited to read your review! We're sailing on the Magic Feb 28th 2015, also driving in from 5 hours away (HEB area) and there really aren't enough Magic reviews on here so I'm really looking forward to seeing more from this thread!

[canyonfarrier]

Ok moving along here, I want to share a little something. Remember, I mentioned that kids say the weirdest things. Well, this is just classic for my wife and I.

 

I believe that many parents would say that their children's favorite "part of the cruise" was the water park, the pool, hanging out with new friends, even the pizza or hamburger bar! This is not so with my youngest stepdaughter, Ella.

 

This little Princess is just something else. The other day, her mother asked her if we were to go another cruise (of course we will), would she like to go? She thought about that for a few seconds and said yes she would like that.

 

Then, Mom asked, "what was your favorite part of the cruise Ella?"

 

Without batting an eye! Without thinking! This little lady responded, "why Mom, my favorite part was fancy dinner every night"!!

 

I got a chuckle out of that one.

 

Here are my two stepdaughters at dinner. Phoebe is on the left and Ella on the right! How gorgeous they are!!

[canyonfarrier]

Oops. Janet, I forgot to address one of your questions. The Steakhouse.

 

We did eat there on Friday night. Myself, Princess, Phoebe, and Ella. Jack was too busy chasing girls and making new buddies :rolleyes: .

 

We ate there both times we were on the Magic.

 

It was a really nice change up for us and the girls thoroughly enjoyed "fancy dinner."

 

Be prepared it will cost you an additional $35 bucks per person on your sail and sign account.

 

It is worth it just for the experience of the food presentation in my opinion.

 

The food in there is out of this world.

[KPfromCT]

Wonderful review, but I can't see your pictures.

They are just black x's.:(:(

[alliecat1970]

Those 2 young ladies are absolutely gorgeous, get ur baseball bat ready lol. we are 60 miles north of Dallas and are going to drive down late Sat. Evening, did I understand that u were able to leave ur car at the hotel was their an extra charge for this I no the hilton has an extra charge. How was the area?

 

Thank You again Janet:

[PathfinderEss]

Enjoying your review and looking forward to more. So far it sounds like you had a great cruise.

[canyonfarrier]

Wonderful review, but I can't see your pictures.

They are just black x's.:(:(

 

Hello KP. Thank you so much for commenting on this review thread. We are just getting started, I promise you.

 

Concerning the pictures? I had the same problem when looking at them after posting. Just a black "x".

 

I was using Internet Explorer. I closed that out and logged back in here using firefox and boom, they all show up just fine.

 

Have a wonderful Sunday!

[canyonfarrier]

Those 2 young ladies are absolutely gorgeous, get ur baseball bat ready lol. we are 60 miles north of Dallas and are going to drive down late Sat. Evening, did I understand that u were able to leave ur car at the hotel was their an extra charge for this I no the hilton has an extra charge. How was the area?

 

Thank You again Janet:

 

Hello again Janet. We live about 2 hours northwest of San Antonio in the middle of nowhere, so our drive time to the cruise port in Galveston is just about the same as yours considering traffic of course.

 

You did understand correctly. We left our car parked for the week at no extra charge.

 

My first hotel choice was the Commodore. It is directly across from the seawall. I have stayed there many times in the past and they also allow guests to park for free for the week.

 

They were booked up, so the Baymont was our only option considering we wanted the free parking and just the cab fare to the cruise terminal.

 

Janet, the area is really not all that great. The Baymont is directly behind the Golden Corral, which is right on seawall blvd. Next door (north) is kind of a run down place. I don't remember the name. There were a bunch of teenagers hanging out over there all night long making a bit of noise.

 

However, don't worry. All was good with the parking, as they have 24/7 cameras. I did ask at the front desk about it, and they said there had never been a problem.

 

We left our vehicle on the far west end of the hotel along with many others.

 

Hope that helps.

[Rudyard]

Great review so far. Looking forward to the rest of it. We're leaning towards a cruise on Magic next Fall. We're waiting a few weeks until after our upcoming cruise to see how we like NCL as the choice is between Magic and NCL Jade.

[Rudyard]

BTW, Carnival (at least the Magic) does not require you to wear a life vest to muster drill. I never experienced this on RCCL ships.

 

RCCL stopped requiring life jackets as well. We didn't have to wear them two years ago on Mariner.

[Jamman54]

Enjoying your review! Looking forward to the rest.

[canyonfarrier]

If you are creative and have a sense of adventure, there is never a time you can't find something to do on the Magic.

 

Princess and I took off to the casino on the very first night after dinner. That proved to (uncharacteristically) be a good decision. More on that later.

 

My stepson Jack, took off and we did not see him again until around 4am. Btw, Sunday was the only night he ate dinner with us in the main dining room. He was just too "hip" with his new found friends.

 

Phoebe had a touch of motion sickness and hung out in the cabin until the next day. Ella stayed with her watching that "sponge" show. Who the heck watches TV on a cruise ship? Kids do.

 

All in all, it was such a wonderful day.

 

Another note..........don't shun the photographers. They are good at what they do and some of the backgrounds they use are soooooooooo lifelike!!

 

Have one taken every chance you get! You don't have to buy them, but it sure is fun!!

 

Here are some more random pics.

 

Port side from the head of the stairs looking down from Serenity deck.

 

Tides pool and prop wash.

 

Taken from the chair in smokers corner. Deck 11, just above the port side pool bar.

[canyonfarrier]

Beach pool. Taken from Deck 11.