portlandpete Posted November 6, 2016 #1 Share Posted November 6, 2016 We were on the Magic Oct 22 cruise and loved it so much we just booked it again for next October! My DH and I (both 59) were on this cruise and we have sailed Breeze and Glory and loved them too. We have also been on Celebrity and Princess and had a fantastic time on them but Carnival just seems to be a better fit for us. We flew out of Portland, ME and rented a car from Budget (42.00) at Orlando airport and stayed at Days Inn Cocoa Beach for the night before (97.00 but got free because of points). We liked the hotel location which was a block from the beach and right across from Publix and was great for picking up last minute things. This isn't a hotel we would want to stay in for more than a night but it was clean and convenient. We ate at The Alehouse which was right next door and had outdoor seating. Very easy to drop off our rental car and shuttle to the Port. Total time from dropping off car to getting to port 15 minutes. We had FTTF and for us it is worth it. Love getting on ship early and going directly to the cabin (10256). We took one luggage with us and unpacked and 2nd one came about half an hour later. Our cabin was spotless and the steward Dedk and Gede did a wonderful job and came twice a day and never asked if we wanted once or twice. Fridge was empty. They filled our cooler with ice 2x a day and always smiled and said hello. Lido is the only deck we like to stay on. The spa which I used almost every day (139.00 for week) was really close just 2 decks up. We like having the bars close so DH can just walk out and grab us a beer for the balcony. Also like the closeness to the food and chairs on Deck 11 over the pool. We had Cheers and we didn't even come close to the limit but I liked getting soda's whenever I wanted, the water and the really tasty smoothies!! We felt we got waited on quickly and the bartenders/waiters were very friendly. I know tipping is a personal thing and we already paid for gratuity with Cheers but we still tip every round we get. Please let me know if you have any questions. I will probably finish this review tonight since it won't be a long one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camper49 Posted November 6, 2016 #2 Share Posted November 6, 2016 We are sailing Magic in January..Eastern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Manatee Mom Posted November 6, 2016 #3 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Did you happen to take pictures of the menus????? thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandpete Posted November 6, 2016 Author #4 Share Posted November 6, 2016 We are sailing Magic in January..Eastern. We booked Eastern for next October. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandpete Posted November 6, 2016 Author #5 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Sorry! Didn't take any photos of menu's. But they are posted each day outside of the dining rooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandpete Posted November 6, 2016 Author #6 Share Posted November 6, 2016 We opted for AD because we like not having to be on a schedule. We tried the buffet the first night and I know everyone has different opinions and our other cruises we liked it but this time we didn't. The food was cold and we didn't feel enough options. Also, not much variety to make a salad IMO. However, we never went hungry! That's for sure and didn't effect our cruise at all. We ate at the Steakhouse (35 each) and loved it! The steak, bread, appetizers, desserts everything was perfect! We were seated right by the window and they knew it was our anniversary so they brought us a glass of champange! Waiters were very friendly and it took an hour and 45 minutes. It was timed perfectly. We ate in the dining room 2 nights which we did not plan on! What we did is check out the tables because we didn't want to sit in those awkward 2 tops (for us) and found a booth in the rear of the restaurant (table 284) which was perfect. How we did it was go down to dinner at 5:45 and just requested it. I am sure if we waited till 7:30 it might not be available but it was worth it to us to go early. We had Rode as our main waiter and he was friendly and fast as was his team. We ordered drinks and they came right away. Food was pretty good and dinner was about 1.5 hours. We loved the pizza (great at night), Guys burgers, Bluelguana (breakfast burritos yummy!!) and taco salad, Cucina Del Capitano (for lunch) Pig and Anchor (sea day) Wok (great but longer line) and Sea brunch (loved the tomato soup and getting to eat in a different dining room). We got room service for some breakfast and also a lunch and late night snacks. Every time they came quickly and the food was hot. We tried the french fries and wings which we paid for and they were hot and really good. Very pleased with room service. Except the buffet we enjoyed all the food and I have the 5 lb wait gain to prove it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jamman54 Posted November 6, 2016 #7 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Glad you enjoyed the Magic so much that you booked her again for next October! When are you going? We are booked for a B2B 10/7 (Eastern) & 10/14 (Western). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandpete Posted November 6, 2016 Author #8 Share Posted November 6, 2016 We would love to do a back to back! You are so lucky! That is DH's dream! However, that won't happen till he retires in a few years. We really did not want to get off that ship. We are doing Eastern 10/21 so right after you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandpete Posted November 6, 2016 Author #9 Share Posted November 6, 2016 There were many options for entertainment so we were pretty busy at night. During the day we could always find a chair to be able to read and look out to the sea. Plus I went to the spa 4 days so the days went fast. In the funtimes we saw trivia (it seemed like a lot), scavenger hunts, bingo, seminars, Texas hold-em and sport type things. These are not things we are interested in but when we would walk by they all seemed well attended. We don't like being around the pool or in the sun and it's a little too crowded for us so we would go there first thing in the morning when it wasn't busy and sit on the chairs above the pool and just relax. We always left before it got crowded but I did come back to stand on the railing and watch when they did the hairy chest contest. The guy who won was so funny! I really thought he was part of the entertainment but he wasn't!! We liked the deck above Tides pool and it was quiet and shaded back there. There are many places around the ship inside and out to just relax and have it be quiet. At night we saw Alterr Band at Ocean Plaza who were really fun, comedy shows (1 really good and 1 not so good), karaoke, love and marriage show and we liked the singers in the Red Frog Pub and we really we like the bar in there. We saw the last night of the show Groovline and thought it was entertaining. Every single night we were out late listing to music. We never think about a CD but we thought DR E was really good. He was all over the ship and I don't think he ever slept! He really got all the crowds going. So many people really like him. We were so busy we didn't even make it to the piano bar which we really enjoy! But there is always another cruise though! We were disappointed in the casino. It was so smokey it was hard going there to even get to Ocean Plaza and the other venues. DH always plays poker and usually he does that while I am at the spa but he just couldn't sit there. We normally also play a little video poker but just couldn't. I have nothing against smokers (former one myself) but I think Carnival should have the casino have way better ventilated so more people could enjoy it! Another thing we like is the Dive In at night but there was only enough time to watch 1 movie. And we didn't even get to see the whole movie because we were late getting there. Still we find it relaxing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micahs Grandad Posted November 7, 2016 #10 Share Posted November 7, 2016 Thanks for your review we are on the Magic next week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eliezra Posted November 7, 2016 #11 Share Posted November 7, 2016 So nice to hear of your great time on the Magic! Can't wait to go in February. Can you tell me more about the smoothies? What flavors and where do you get them. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted November 7, 2016 #12 Share Posted November 7, 2016 Nice to know FTTF worked out well for you. Thanks for the review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted November 7, 2016 #13 Share Posted November 7, 2016 Good for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TiferyJL Posted November 7, 2016 #14 Share Posted November 7, 2016 5 more days till our first time on the Magic, we are excited! Thanks for the great review - can't wait to experience it too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drazil65 Posted November 7, 2016 #15 Share Posted November 7, 2016 (edited) We are on Magic next month for first time. All of the reviews we read and pix we have looked at lead us to believe that this will be our favorite ship! We have loved pretty much every ship we have been on for different reasons and have had a blast each time. The idea of this ship just appears to really appeal to us. So much so, that I am getting ready to book for next December BEFORE we even get on this cruise (at least on our cruise next month to get the credit, if I can wait). :D:D:D Edited November 7, 2016 by Drazil65 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcvtmom Posted November 7, 2016 #16 Share Posted November 7, 2016 Excited by your review! We'll be on the Magic in June (one of few Carnival ships we haven't sailed on yet!) I LOVE to hear all the positives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maldenmusic Posted November 7, 2016 #17 Share Posted November 7, 2016 Glad you enjoyed Magic. I"m on the Dream next month and I think they are the same class ships so I'm sure I'll love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satbeachbill Posted November 7, 2016 #18 Share Posted November 7, 2016 We'll be on the Magic in 18 days - can't wait! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinpsychRN Posted November 7, 2016 #19 Share Posted November 7, 2016 I was on that cruise and also stayed at Days Inn. Booked Magic for 4/1/17 and Days Inn wants $189!!!! Booked Comfort Inn for $148. Most hotels were over $200. WTH?!?!? Dr. E was annoying to me. He did a great job with the sing a longs. The only difference in family and R rated comedy were curse words. I was at one at 7:30pm and the intercom kept going off interrupting his routine asking for David somebody to contact 7777. David was in the comedy club! The manager who was really annoyed came and took him out. When he came back the ingercom went off twice more. Security came in and talked to David and that was the end of it. It got really funny. Threw the comedian off badly. Got a terrible rib eye in the Steakhouse firt night. Didn't pay for that. Cucina's food was terrible. I think it's the chef because on Sunshine it was very good. I make better meatballs and spaghetti than that. They tried to give me someone else's leftover spaghetti to go. How would they expect you to heat it?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evandbob Posted November 7, 2016 #20 Share Posted November 7, 2016 I cruised Magic in October and November of 2015. Excellent ship, that experience led me to book my upcoming Vista cruise. I won't sail out of Galveston (or Port Canaveral) again though, I much prefer sea ports closer to airports like MIA or FLL. The deal breaker was sitting next to a few Vets in the Steakhouse who said they wished the terrorists who just bombed Paris that day Nov. 13, my 65th BDay, would bomb NYC next since it was a place full of godless liberal people. We were on our dessert course and just asked if it could be wrapped to go after that insane comment. I guess it still bothers me today that a Vet could wish harm comes to some part of our country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandpete Posted November 7, 2016 Author #21 Share Posted November 7, 2016 So nice to hear of your great time on the Magic! Can't wait to go in February. Can you tell me more about the smoothies? What flavors and where do you get them. Thanks! You may be able to get them more places but where we did was the bar at the lobby (deck 3) and alchemy bar(deck5). They had many flavors but sorry can't remember them all except the pina colada which were excellent!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaMomof4 Posted November 7, 2016 #22 Share Posted November 7, 2016 Hi! Thanks for your review! We are sailing on the Magic for the first time in February. We are also booked on the Lido deck in a balcony cabin (first time in a cabin on Lido deck also) and I am wondering if it is loud in that location? We will be a few cabins farther aft than you and I was hesitant to book it at first thinking there might be some noise issues or maybe lots of traffic in our hallways. Just wanted to know what your thoughts were. Also, what all does the spa pass include for the $139? Also, is that per person or per cabin? My husband has some health issues and I'm thinking the warm pools and heated loungers might be good for him but I'm not sure he would go unless I got a pass as well. I hope we love it as much as you did - because we are already booked on her again for February, 2018 and bringing all 6 kids along for that trip! Thanks again for your report! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandpete Posted November 8, 2016 Author #23 Share Posted November 8, 2016 Love, love lido deck!! It is really quiet. I just booked for Oct 2017 and got cabin 10266 which is just down from where we were on Oct 22 cruise. Also, we have been on lido deck 3 times now and have never heard any deck parties or anything else around the pool from the cabin. The Spa Pass includes a thermal Suite which features heated chaise lounges as well as aromatic steam and sauna rooms and a thalassotherapy Pool. I love the heated lounges. Also, there is a big shower in the locker rooms which anyone can use and I used them 4 days and never saw anyone in there! There are also blow dryers and lockers too. I love the spa area so much I just booked it on line for our next cruise. Also, already booked FTTF! Have a great time!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlandpete Posted November 8, 2016 Author #24 Share Posted November 8, 2016 I was on that cruise and also stayed at Days Inn. Booked Magic for 4/1/17 and Days Inn wants $189!!!! Booked Comfort Inn for $148. Most hotels were over $200. WTH?!?!? Dr. E was annoying to me. He did a great job with the sing a longs. The only difference in family and R rated comedy were curse words. I was at one at 7:30pm and the intercom kept going off interrupting his routine asking for David somebody to contact 7777. David was in the comedy club! The manager who was really annoyed came and took him out. When he came back the ingercom went off twice more. Security came in and talked to David and that was the end of it. It got really funny. Threw the comedian off badly. Got a terrible rib eye in the Steakhouse firt night. Didn't pay for that. Cucina's food was terrible. I think it's the chef because on Sunshine it was very good. I make better meatballs and spaghetti than that. They tried to give me someone else's leftover spaghetti to go. How would they expect you to heat it?? Wow! 189 for Day's Inn! I would never pay that. Must be because of the time of year. I loved the hotel being close to the beach and it was clean but we were hardly in the room. Our steakhouse meal was really good and the steak we ordered was the sirloin. The comedian who we thought was funny was Mike Pace and the one (IMO) who wasn't as good was John Floyd. But we didn't have any problems while the show going on. So I am sure that made the difference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port of Tampa Posted November 8, 2016 #25 Share Posted November 8, 2016 We loved the Magic as well and hope to cruise on her again in 2017. Cheers and happy cruising! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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