Breeze Vs Magic - Brand new cruiser

[Sersee]

1 hour ago, Palmetto Pilot said:

Breeze hands down. Great decor, ship is in good shape. We are on the Magic last September in an ocean suite on deck 7, little or no AC, hot humid and the sewage smell was incredibly bad.   

Thank you! That doesn’t sound fun . I didn’t even think about Ac!  

[missholly24]

First of all you will love Carnival. I have sailed both and for the cost Carnival is the better choice. Royal is great but overpriced. 

Secondly, both ships will be awesome. LOL I have never been on either but research constantly and everyone loves both. So about the things I do know first hand about! The ports....I would choose the Magic. Half Moon Cay is one of the most beautiful places you will ever visit. (rent a Villa if you can swing it--expensive but AMAZING). Grand Turk is a super easy beach day. Head right off the ship and way down the beach to Jacks Shack. They have cute dogs, and good food and good drinks. Amber Cove was a fun pool day right at the port. We didn't leave the area (my child wasn't feeling well) but we had a blast and the fresh water was a welcome change from all the salt water. 

[tandemcruzr]

We've been on both the Magic and the Breeze and liked the Breeze. Most recently, this past November on a 14 day cruise.

 

Clientele was a lot like us  -- mid 70s, but there were families with young children who looked like they were having a good time. Now, a 14 day cruise draws a much different group than the shorter cruises. However, we've done 7 day cruises on the Breeze and have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

 

Oh, and no A/C issues for us. 🙂

 

[CruiseJB]

8 hours ago, Sersee said:

I should probably expand on my hotel snobbery. Motel 8 definitely not happening.  But I just Like shiny ,new and pretty. I like Renaissance and Marriots.  I like some Hilton’s. I’m a deluxe resort person at Disney. I will stay at a Hampton if it’s very clean.I think I am more about being updated and clean. I’m ok if the cruise is not dated  or dirty. I’m definitely looking  for a 7 night and not a party cruise 

As another hotel snob to another (I am a Marriott associate of 17+ years) we loved Carnival.  we went on our first cruise on a carnival ship.  2nd on NCL.  I can not speak to Royal.  our 3rd is booked for January on Magic. I prefer carnival hands down between the two I've been on be because of the crew (both were updated and clean in fact NCL was on a new ship).  The carnival crew were friendlier and much more accommodating.  they truly seemed happy we were aboard, while on NCL the atmosphere was more they couldn't  wait to get the cruise over and get on to the next. (if that makes sense)  with that said I have heard carnival=party so I didn't sail spring break or in the summer and did not have that impression. 

[xDisconnections]

9 hours ago, Sersee said:

I should probably expand on my hotel snobbery. Motel 8 definitely not happening.  But I just Like shiny ,new and pretty. I like Renaissance and Marriots.  I like some Hilton’s. I’m a deluxe resort person at Disney. I will stay at a Hampton if it’s very clean.I think I am more about being updated and clean. I’m ok if the cruise is not dated  or dirty. I’m definitely looking  for a 7 night and not a party cruise 

Sounds like you never found the marvel that was SPG.

[Jerseygirl1416]

If you like newer and shiner I’d say Breeze since it’s newer than the Magic. We sailed the Breeze in October and loved the ship. We had a spa balcony cabin on deck 12 and it was clean and in great shape. We loved the ship so much we booked 3 balcony cabins for this Christmas with our kids who will be 24, 24, 21 and 17. They’re going to love the ship with the full basketball court, big mini golf, movies under the stars, Cheers package 😂 and water slides. I’m betting they’ll be at Blue Iguana for lunch everyday since they love Chipotle. It really is a great clean updated ship with good flow. I’d say after you pick your ship that then you research ports and what to do so it’s not so overwhelming. 

[beachbum53]

16 hours ago, Sersee said:

Hi!  This will be our very first cruise. We have my husband and I, 23, 21, 17 and a 14 year old.  My kids won't go to the "kids clubs" and will prefer the arcade , shows, eating and just hanging out. I am a hotel snob if it helps to recommend a ship lol.  People keep telling me that Carnival ships aren't great and I should go to Royal. But for the price, Carnival seems to work better and I also heard they had good food as well as awesome with food allergies . So I am ignoring all the naysayers.lol

 

Im down to the Carnival Magic and the Breeze. We will be getting two rooms. I am so clueless! I have no idea what to do at port! Magic  goes to half moon cay, grand turk and amber cove. Breeze goes to amber, st thomas, grand turk and san juan.

 

 

Which ship would you choose? Im ok with the ports, but again I don't know much. Any help would be appreciated!!

Being on a cruise ship, regardless of which line, is not the same as staying in a hotel. Just as no two hotel chains are the same, no two cruise lines are exactly the same. There are some similarities and there are some differences. Over time, most cruisers tend to develop a preference for one cruise line over another. Keep in mind that about 90%  of a cruise review is based on personal opinions and very little on facts. The Breeze and the Magic are sister ships, and have the same layout. The Breeze is newer than the Magic, and the décor is different on the two ships. The amenities on both are pretty much the same. We happen to like the Breeze just a bit more than the Magic, but that's strictly a personal preference. As for choosing between the two itineraries, I'd probably choose the Breeze's itinerary. As tempting as it is to choose the Magic's itinerary because it includes HMC, I'd still choose the other. St. Thomas and San Juan are two of our favorite ports. I'm starting to get a little burned out on Grand Turk (we've been there several times), and I wasn't all that thrilled with Amber Cove, but that's just me. Regardless of which cruise you choose, keep your expectations at a moderate level. Plan to have a great vacation, and don't let little things bother you.

[3smithboys]

I have kids pretty close to your age 20, 16, 16 and they prefer Carnival over Royal. We will be sailing on the Breeze this summer for my son’s 21st birthday and our anniversary, and we can’t wait! We’ve been to Disney a lot with them, and like you, enjoy staying in nicer places. We’ve sailed on Disney twice as well and loved those cruises! If you had younger children, I’d suggest you possibly go with Disney. They are amazing! However, at the ages your family is at now, they will have a fabulous time! The food is better on Carnival then Royal in our opinion, too. They have better lunch options with a Guys, Blue Iguana, pizza, pasta..... We will be sailing your exact Breeze itinerary in August! 

[Sersee]

18 minutes ago, 3smithboys said:

I have kids pretty close to your age 20, 16, 16 and they prefer Carnival over Royal. We will be sailing on the Breeze this summer for my son’s 21st birthday and our anniversary, and we can’t wait! We’ve been to Disney a lot with them, and like you, enjoy staying in nicer places. We’ve sailed on Disney twice as well and loved those cruises! If you had younger children, I’d suggest you possibly go with Disney. They are amazing! However, at the ages your family is at now, they will have a fabulous time! The food is better on Carnival then Royal in our opinion, too. They have better lunch options with a Guys, Blue Iguana, pizza, pasta..... We will be sailing your exact Breeze itinerary in August! 

Thank you!  That is good to hear. The teens are a tough group. They are to old for kids clubs but don’t want to sit there and watch the adults drink.  I need a happy medium.  We go to Disney all the time because well it’s Disney. Recently we have been switching it up to Universal because of my teens who like it better. 

[Kristi Williamson]

1 hour ago, Sersee said:

Thank you!!  That makes sense to me about the bigger ships. Do you think it feels less  crowded on The Breeze than the Magic? Is it the same? 

 

As far as crowds go, I think it really depends on the time of year you travel as well as the times you choose to eat, which may sound odd. We never eat right at noon or right at 6pm. These times are, of course, super crowded. We try to go a little earlier or a little later and genuinely never have a wait longer than a few minutes. It felt like the Breeze was less crowded but that could also have been the time of year we traveled. Breeze was in May and Magic was in July, so there were more passengers and young people in July. 

 

I think the muted decor on the Breeze was really pleasing to us and the crew was very good, which always makes the trip that much more wonderful. Also, the Thrill Theater and Bonzai Sushi are extras the Magic doesn't have and we used both. We are returning to the Breeze in April and I can't wait. We are looking forward to crab legs and beer from the Seafood Shack. 🙂

[Jamman54]

Have been on both and loved them both. I like the Magic's itinerary better, but that's just me. 

[let's go cruising]

We were on a Royal cruise at Christmas, 2017 with our 22 and 18 daughters.  Then, we went on a Carnival cruise January 2019 with adult friends.  The two ships were comparable for size.  We thought that the Carnival cruise was more fun! We are NOT "party" people. It just seemed like there were more "fun" activities on Carnival.  They definitely are better with comedians.

 

I really think that your group will have a great time on Carnival.  I had expected a more deluxe experience on the Royal cruise and a more down-to-earth experience on Carnival.  What we ACTUALLY experienced was A LOT of upselling on Royal.  We couldn't sit anywhere without someone trying to talk us into making reservations at an upcharge restaurant or something on Royal.  On Carnival, those things were available, but no one put us on the spot.  Also, the food really WAS better on Carnival! 

 

We haven't been on either the Magic or the Breeze.  We are booked on the Magic for 2020! (Whoop-Whoop!)

 

Just feel comfortable with choosing Carnival.  I think, as many on these boards also feel, that during Spring Break or Christmas Break you might see more "party" on Carnival than other lines. 

 

Bottom line is that I thought Carnival was superior in food and activities and crew.

 

Renee

[Anyislandwilldo]

4 hours ago, tandemcruzr said:

We've been on both the Magic and the Breeze and liked the Breeze. Most recently, this past November on a 14 day cruise.

 

Clientele was a lot like us  -- mid 70s, but there were families with young children who looked like they were having a good time. Now, a 14 day cruise draws a much different group than the shorter cruises. However, we've done 7 day cruises on the Breeze and have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

 

Oh, and no A/C issues for us. 🙂

 

Yes 14 day cruises will have an older clientele on the ship and you will find very little partying going on with that group.  The 4 day cruises are where you will see more active party groups.  

[SRQbeachgirl]

16 hours ago, Sersee said:

I should probably expand on my hotel snobbery. Motel 8 definitely not happening.  But I just Like shiny ,new and pretty. I like Renaissance and Marriots.  I like some Hilton’s. I’m a deluxe resort person at Disney. I will stay at a Hampton if it’s very clean.I think I am more about being updated and clean. I’m ok if the cruise is not dated  or dirty. I’m definitely looking  for a 7 night and not a party cruise 

 

You sound exactly like me when it comes to hotels - right down to Disney Deluxe. I have cruised both Royal and Carnival multiple times and think they are pretty similar (though I much prefer the food options on Carnival). We sailed the Magic last year and loved it - our favorite ship so far. We are sailing the Breeze in July, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they compare.

[jsglow]

You do know that Breeze and Magic are literal clones?  The difference is so slight as to be not worth really considering when compared to price, ports or airline access (MCO vs. FLL/MIA).

[Crusin Hogs]

6 minutes ago, jsglow said:

You do know that Breeze and Magic are literal clones?  The difference is so slight as to be not worth really considering when compared to price, ports or airline access (MCO vs. FLL/MIA).

 Carnival used two different designers   ,1  for each ship ,Their old designer  Farcus   , did the Magic in the  (old) Carnival style  ,Las Vegas  gaudy ,, The new designers  uses  tropical  colors , pastels , The Breeze has a beach feel to it  , Vs  the Gaudy Magic  

[Sersee]

22 minutes ago, jsglow said:

You do know that Breeze and Magic are literal clones?  The difference is so slight as to be not worth really considering when compared to price, ports or airline access (MCO vs. FLL/MIA).

I do... but I know they are decorated differently . But I also was trying to figure out itinerary. I didn’t even think about ports. I know pc is about an hour from the airport sonIness going to see about a hotel /transfer package in pc. FLL, I have no clue.

[Richjoxyz]

You should be fine on either ship.  These are two of the nicest ships in the Carnival Line.  Most mainstream cruise lines are more the same than different.  We are getting older (58 and 53) and we have grown to prefer Princess and HAL, but that is only because the have fewer kids, better food, and have a bit more adult theme.  We enjoyed all of our Carnival Cruises and Carnival does some things very well.  I love their casinos, the dining room food is good, the comedy showroom is the best at sea, their cabins are generally larger than other lines, and they have 24 hour soft serve ice cream!

 

Regarding your choice, the ships are virtually the same, the ports are almost the same, so I recommend taking the one that is less expensive.  You are going to have a nearly identical experience on either trip. 

Edited March 18, 2019 by Richjoxyz

[PhillyFan33579]

12 hours ago, Crusin Hogs said:

 Carnival used two different designers   ,1  for each ship ,Their old designer  Farcus   , did the Magic in the  (old) Carnival style  ,Las Vegas  gaudy ,, The new designers  uses  tropical  colors , pastels , The Breeze has a beach feel to it  , Vs  the Gaudy Magic  

 

I know people have different opinions, but I prefer the ships designed by Farcus, where every ship has its own unique style. Breeze, Vista and Horizon are all very similar design wise and lack the unique characteristics of previous Carnival ships. 

[jsglow]

12 hours ago, Crusin Hogs said:

 Carnival used two different designers   ,1  for each ship ,Their old designer  Farcus   , did the Magic in the  (old) Carnival style  ,Las Vegas  gaudy ,, The new designers  uses  tropical  colors , pastels , The Breeze has a beach feel to it  , Vs  the Gaudy Magic  

If I'm not mistaken, the Magic was his last ship.  All I;m saying is that the only difference between the two is essentially the 'paint job' and that every other criterion (price, airport, ports) would outweigh that in my mind by a factor of 20.

[JaniceB]

I think the Breeze would work best for your family.  It has a few more bells and whistles than the Magic.

[MWBearFan]

Can't speak for the Breeze or Magic, though we are booked on the Breeze for a 2021 cruise.  But I can speak for Carnival.  Wife and I had our first cruise together (my first ever cruise) last October on the Victory.  We had friends badmouth carnival and talk about how it's just a party ship we have to watch ourselves from all the riff raff, debotchery and so on.  We experienced none of that on our cruise we had a wonderful experience start to finish.  Our only complaint is we wish we'd have booked a longer cruise.  Service was great, staff helpful and friendly, we had a great cruise director named Philipe (sp?).  Food was all good only exception is we weren't impressed with the buffet (with so many other good options this didn't bother us).  Our fellow cruisers were generally friendly as well had good conversations with about anyone we came in contact with.  For the price we felt we got our money's worth.  It didn't feel cheap or trashy like we'd been told.   Our itinerary was Nassu and Half Moon Cay.  Half Moon Cay is awesome and we will be returning on our next cruise. It is a private island so the only people on the island when your there are the people from your ship.  It is a tinder port but that's not a big hassle.  I would recommend Faster to the Fun which can be booked under your excursions.  That will give you priority tinder access along with many other benefits including things like priority boarding, your room will be ready when you board the ship, priority debarking, priority spot at the service desk, among other things.  On our cruise we got to the port, parked and they had a special entrance for priority boarding, we didn't have to wait in long lines to board. I'd say within a half hour to 45 min from arriving at the port of Miami we were on the ship.  Dropped our carryon bags, and headed to Lido for lunch at Guy's Burgers.  

[Sersee]

On 3/17/2019 at 1:31 AM, Doug910 said:

Then you should be fine. These ships are kept shiny and clean. People have different interpretations for "party". If someone is talking about a bunch of people standing around a bar with drinks in their hands, laughing, then that's going to happen on all ships. Happens on Royal, Carnival up to the high end lines like Cunard, Seabourn and Azumara.  If the ship is "hopping", you see people having a good time, singing and drinking in the piano bars. That's really the extent of the parties.

That makes sense.... thank you. We are drinkers , so I am fine with hanging out at the bars and having a good time. I think I pictured it as more of a rowdy college spring breaker cruise. 

[Palmetto Pilot]

9 minutes ago, Sersee said:

That makes sense.... thank you. We are drinkers , so I am fine with hanging out at the bars and having a good time. I think I pictured it as more of a rowdy college spring breaker cruise. 

I can be if you want it to be. It's really dependent on the sailing date regardless of the cruise line. 

[momof4girls]

I’ve read all the replies (including yours) and I feel like the Breeze (both the itinerary and the ship) would definitely be best. 

 

Out of all my cruises, only one would I consider a “party cruise or booze cruise” and that was the 5-day Triumph cruise out of NOLA. Even my 4-day Liberty cruise wasn’t a booze cruise. It could have been the port and/or the timing, but that Triumph cruise made me NEVER again want to sail a shorter cruise at the end of the school year! We are sailing around the same time this May, but we chose a 7 day cruise (more families likely on board). 

 

The Magic has been my favorite ship so far, but I’ve been wanting to sail the Breeze since she first hit the water (May can’t get here soon enough!). I love the layout of the Dream class ships and I feel there is always ample seating somewhere outside. 

 

I have not tried the spas on any ships, but I’m told the Dream class ships have the best spas. 

 

The ports for both cruises are great (IMO) but I think your hubby would enjoy the ports on the Breeze cruise a little more. I think you would enjoy the Breeze a little more than the Magic (I think hubby and kids would like either one). 

 

HTH! Enjoy your cruise and decide for yourself if the “naysayers” are right about Carnival. 🙂