Question about deck plan of Carnival Magic

[Peppa26]

Hi there,

 

My hubby and I are planning our second trip on Carnival Cruise Lines. Our first one was on Triumph this April. We loved the experience and this time we would like to try Magic.

 

We are choosing our state room now. Looking at the deck plan, I'm a little bit confused by the large empty area. What is that? Would it be loud if we choose a room (say, 6400) next to it?

 

Thanks a lot!

 

Deck 6: http://cruise.expedia.com/pictures/db/Deck/181845.gif

[springs741]

Looks like you will be over a night club. Yes, you might hear noise. IF you like to retire early or if you are a light sleeper, this might not be the best location. I must share with you hubby and I will be sailing on the Magic for the third time at the end of this month. Our favorite location is deck 8 aft. We even booked the same room this year as 2012. Two flights up to the Lido. It is a bit of a walk to the Serenity area and to the shows but for us it is worth the quite. Whichever location you pick, happy cruising.

[falkcor]

that's a service area. you often see blank spaces like that on the deck plans.

 

i seem to recall that deck 6 may be the room service galley on magic and similar ships.

 

MOST likely, no, it will not be noisy (because of the blank space).

 

i've stayed next to similar blank spaces before and never had a problem, but never have on that ship in that cabin you're asking - so ymmv. i wouldn't let it particularly dissuade me away from that cabin selection. i'd be more concerned about the noise from deck 5 than i would be the blank space :)

[k2excursion]

For the most part, those empty spaces on deck plans are not problems. They could be storage or crew rooms, but most of them are fine. However, I beg you to not get that room or any other room on deck 6. Deck 6 is the worst! You are directly above the busy & noisy deck 5 promenade. Some spots are okay, some spots are horrible and hear tons of noise from below coming into their room. You should always be most aware of what is above & below the room you're looking at.

 

There is another huge reason to not get a deck 6 balcony room on this ship: it doesn't fully overlook the ocean. It overlooks a public deck on deck 5 that sticks out from the ship. More than half of your view is deck and not ocean. This is unique to the Magic, Breeze, & Dream. All balconies from deck 6 up look down onto this public deck. But deck 6 is by far the worst, because it's so close. Anybody can be walking that public deck at any time, and they can easily see onto deck 6 balconies. So you also have no privacy. And room 6400 is over one of the busier parts of that public deck.

 

Springs741's suggestion of deck 8 aft would be good. It still overlooks the public deck somewhat, but you are higher up, plus that public deck is skinnier there, and it's not used much there. It's not much of an issue from that area. You'll have your privacy, and almost all of your view will be ocean. Another magnificent option is a cove balcony on deck 2. Those are the only balconies on this ship with a 100% ocean view, plus being so close to the water is amazing. The overhead lifeboats will block the sun most of the time, which I see as a very good thing. But even with the coves, be aware of what's above you. Do not pick one anywhere from the midship elevators to the aft elevators. Those are below the very noisy kitchen/galley, where work is being done at all hours. Go forward of the midship elevators. The most ideal spot would be below the midship dining room, which is carpeted & empty all night long. I never hear a peep when I stay below a dining room.

Edited September 2, 2014 by k2excursion

[LambKnuckles]

I agree with the above suggestion! I have only booked Deck 10, Lido, but I always try to book where there is a cabin directly above and below me. I don't worry about those voids or spaces next to me and have not ever been bothered by them. I do try to avoid any elevator's hallway that opens directly to a cabin door. Folks are still talking when getting off the elevator and it can be noisy.

[Peppa26]

Thank you guys!! I'm SOOOO glad that I asked before we make any decisions! Your suggestions are highly appreciated!!!

[Houstoncruiser2007]

My husband and I sailed the Magic last year and I can agree with the poster above that says beware of where you book on the ship as you will be looking out on the public decks. We were in cabin 8446 and our cabin did not look out onto the public decks. It is close to the back of the ship but not in the very back. When seated on my balcony all I saw was water. If you stood up and looked over and to the right you could see the deck where Red Frogs Pub was.

 

I would book this room again or anything behind it.

 

Good luck and happy cruising!

[KLD1019]

we were on the magic last month. stayed on deck six (6395, to be exact). i quite liked being on 6! everything we wanted and frequented the most was on deck 5 and it was just an easy, quick walk down to it. casino, coffee bar, taste bar, hottubs, dining room, Red Frog Pub, shops, seaside grill, computer hub, karaoke, meet up for tendering. If we werent booking a cove on the Dream for next year, deck 6 would definitely be it for us again!!

Edited September 2, 2014 by KLD1019

[Sheeba67]

we were on the magic last month. stayed on deck six (6395, to be exact). i quite liked being on 6! everything we wanted and frequented the most was on deck 5 and it was just an easy, quick walk down to it. casino, coffee bar, taste bar, hottubs, dining room, Red Frog Pub, shops, seaside grill, computer hub, karaoke, meet up for tendering. If we werent booking a cove on the Dream for next year, deck 6 would definitely be it for us again!!

 

We are just a couple of rooms in front of where you were for our October cruise and are a little concerned about the casino and bar noise right there? But, the proximity to all that is available on the Promenade and lack of other available units near and inside for the kids sold us. Was noise or lack of privacy a concren for you?

[KLD1019]

We are just a couple of rooms in front of where you were for our October cruise and are a little concerned about the casino and bar noise right there? But, the proximity to all that is available on the Promenade and lack of other available units near and inside for the kids sold us. Was noise or lack of privacy a concren for you?

 

No noise at all!! We were set a good ways from yhe casino, not directly over it. We were right above the coffee bar/oceanside plaza (i think that was the name of the area). Still no noise from the music.

 

Privacy wasnt an issue either. If you lean on the railing, sure, but other than that, not an issue at all!

[T. Advisor King]

...

 

There is another huge reason to not get a deck 6 balcony room on this ship: it doesn't fully overlook the ocean. It overlooks a public deck on deck 5 that sticks out from the ship. More than half of your view is deck and not ocean. This is unique to the Magic, Breeze, & Dream. All balconies from deck 6 up look down onto this public deck. But deck 6 is by far the worst, because it's so close. Anybody can be walking that public deck at any time, and they can easily see onto deck 6 balconies. So you also have no privacy. And room 6400 is over one of the busier parts of that public deck.

 

....

 

I'm curious how you determined that 50% of the view was deck. What was your measurement methodology?

 

I had a deck 9 midship balcony on the Breeze, so I was three decks higher, but it is hard to imagine that "more than 50% of the view" off the deck 6 balcony was deck.

 

As for privacy, it seems to me that unless you're doing something that really requires complete privacy, it shouldn't be much of a concern that someone else can see into the balcony. But I agree it is a worthwhile caution if the OP potentially places a high value on extreme privacy.

 

I kind of liked being able to see deck plus ocean, instead of just ocean. But it wasn't a big deal one way or the other for me.

[Sheeba67]

No noise at all!! We were set a good ways from yhe casino, not directly over it. We were right above the coffee bar/oceanside plaza (i think that was the name of the area). Still no noise from the music.

 

Privacy wasnt an issue either. If you lean on the railing, sure, but other than that, not an issue at all!

 

Thanks for the quick response. I am sure it will be just fine for us too.

[KLD1019]

Yeah, you look diwn and see deck, but you still see a good bit of ocean too! Its a good medium, IMO!

 

When i get a chance later, i'll post pics of our views from the balcony. Ive been meaning to actually write a review of the entire cruise with picture albums, but keep forgetting! LoL

[k2excursion]

Never mind. Not worth it.

Edited September 3, 2014 by k2excursion

[k2excursion]

At first, I relented from doing this, but OP, for your sake, I will. Here's a picture I took from the deck 5 lanai on the Magic. I confess that I have not done the math to determine the exact percentage of sea that you see from a deck 6 balcony, however, it sure appears to be about half or less. Where you are standing/sitting and how tall you are will change the numbers; but seriously, I don't think anyone who this matters to cares about the numbers. For balconies above the hot tubs & other spots where it sticks out extra far, their view of the sea is probably closer to 1/4.

 

From the deck 5 lanai, I could very easily see onto the deck 6 balconies, almost the whole thing. This may not matter to some people, but some people want their privacy, even if they're not doing anything other than sitting & staring at the ocean.

 

Some people are totally fine and even prefer being seen by the public on their balconies. Some people want to have a deck view, even a majority deck view. But these people seem to be more of the detractors, and nobody brings out detractors better than me. Most of the reports from people on deck 6 balconies is that they didn't like the lack of privacy and the deck view. I am getting a dirty look from one in this pic. Each person should determine what they want or don't want and choose accordingly. Nothing wrong with either viewpoint. My personal opinion is that I wouldn't want a deck 6 balcony.

 

Edited September 3, 2014 by k2excursion

[KLD1019]

no, you cannot see "almost the whole thing". you see whats by the railing. the glass is dark and tinted, so you cannot see through the glass. you cannot see anyone sitting in the chairs on the balconies. you cannot see anyone standing by the balcony doors. again, you have to be AT the railing to be seen.

 

 

here are a few pictures from our deck 6 balcony. the last one is one of my favorites! :)

 

 

[T. Advisor King]

My question about the methodology for calculating 50% was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Nonetheless, the fourth photo above seems to be the best straight-on view of how much deck you see vs. how much ocean you see. I'm not even sure how you would measure the percentage of the "blockage", but it just seemed to me that what is shown by pic #4 is more like 20-25% (and I'm not referring to just the vertical height that is blocked in the photo itself).

 

And pic #5 is a fabulous shot!

Edited September 4, 2014 by T. Advisor King

[KLD1019]

My question about the methodology for calculating 50% was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Nonetheless, the fourth photo above seems to be the best straight-on view of how much deck you see vs. how much ocean you see. I'm not even sure how you would measure the percentage of the "blockage", but it just seemed to me that what is shown by pic #4 is more like 20-25% (and I'm not referring to just the vertical height that is blocked in the photo itself).

 

And pic #5 is a fabulous shot!

 

isnt it!? i was even amazed that i caught it! im entering it in a small photo contest at a local small town festival

[k2excursion]

I will repeat again that most (but not all) people do not like deck 6 balconies on the Magic and her sister ships. There's nothing wrong with being in the minority. I am quite often in the minority with opinions, including with Guys burgers & 2.0 in general. The reasons that people don't like these deck 6 balconies is not just because of the deck view, but because many deck 6 rooms are directly above noisy spots. But not all. There are some quiet spots on deck 5 that would be alright to be above. But deck 8 would be a safer bet, as all of those have rooms both above & below, and you're much further up from the deck 5 lanai obstruction.

 

Nobody cares about the percentage of deck view. I apologize that I even made a slight reference to that. Where your eyes are situated will change how much ocean you see. When I had a cove balcony, I see more barrier than ocean if I'm sitting inside. But when I look down at the edge, I see all ocean & I see the ship hitting the water. I greatly prefer seeing all ocean, as do most (but not all) people, which is what makes coves so popular. That and the fact that they are so close to the water. It's amazing to see the water rushing by so fast.

 

I guess I'm supposed to be offended by being called a liar. Whatever! But yes, I could see onto deck 6 balconies. For anyone booked in or booking a deck 6 balcony, please don't think you have complete privacy. There is some level of blockage that the glass provides, but it's not complete. It depends on the angle & the light, plus people getting into or out of the hot tubs are almost at eye level with you. Most guests are considerate, as was I. But I wanted to take note on whether or not I could see onto those balconies while on my 5 cruises aboard the Dream, Magic, or Breeze. And I could.

Edited September 4, 2014 by k2excursion

[T. Advisor King]

I will repeat again that most (but not all) people do not like deck 6 balconies on the Magic and her sister ships. ... The reasons that people don't like these deck 6 balconies is not just because of the deck view, but because many deck 6 rooms are directly above noisy spots. But not all. ....

 

Nobody cares about the percentage of deck view. I apologize that I even made a slight reference to that. Where your eyes are situated will change how much ocean you see. ....

 

I guess I'm supposed to be offended by being called a liar. Whatever! But yes, I could see onto deck 6 balconies. For anyone booked in or booking a deck 6 balcony, please don't think you have complete privacy. ....

 

It sounds like you were offended by the clarifications offered in regard to your post. That was not my intent. Your original post #4 provided valuable information, as did the subsequent posts that added to it. The back-and-forth provided a good flavor of the issues, which I think was helpful to anyone considering the topic.

 

I haven't re-read all the posts carefully, but I don't think anyone called you a liar. I understand the word to refer to someone who knows the truth and says something that isn't the truth. There is an enormous difference between lying and having a different interpretation or a different recollection. For example, if you say you can see right through the glass railing and someone else says "no you can't", I don't think that person is calling you a liar. At worst, they're saying they have a better recollection than you. More likely, they are just expressing a different view on the degree to which semi-transparency equates to being able to "see right through".