Carnival Magic 8 Day Eastern Cruise Review

[DaisyGirl55]

Love-Love-Love the pictures of the ship!  We are sailing 9/28/19.  My Carnival Hub countdown shows 60 days, so I am really getting excited. 

 

I know these reviews are time consuming, so I appreciate the tons of effort in making this happen. 

[grandmarnnurse]

1 hour ago, Buffalofirsttimer4 said:

OP- thank you for your review (please keep it coming ). We are doing this same itinerary in April '20 (looking to make it our second leg of our first back to back by booking the 6 day right before- still trying get DH to agree).

That’s exactly what we are doing! April 5 (6 day) and April 11 (8 day) for our 50th Anniversary. 

[Buffalofirsttimer4]

1 hour ago, grandmarnnurse said:

That’s exactly what we are doing! April 5 (6 day) and April 11 (8 day) for our 50th Anniversary. 

 

Congratulations on 50 years!!!

 

We are booked April 25 (8 Days- our 23nd wedding Anniversary) looking to book April 19 (6 days)- just so we finally do a back to back! I looked at doing the May 3 but that is when Magic is moving to Miami and we would have to pack everything up and get to Port of Miami from Port Everglades- John H advised that Carnival would takes us via a shuttle to the mall and then to the port but packing up defeats all the reasons for a back to back .

Edited July 30, 2019 by Buffalofirsttimer4

[grandmarnnurse]

1 hour ago, Buffalofirsttimer4 said:

 

Congratulations on 50 years!!!

 

We are booked April 25 (8 Days- our 23nd wedding Anniversary) looking to book April 19 (6 days)- just so we finally do a back to back! I looked at doing the May 3 but that is when Magic is moving to Miami and we would have to pack everything up and get to Port of Miami from Port Everglades- John H advised that Carnival would takes us via a shuttle to the mall and then to the port but packing up defeats all the reasons for a back to back .

I was even lucky enough to keep my same cabin, so I don’t have to move at all. 

[five.]

On 7/28/2019 at 4:58 PM, jam19872016 said:

This guy has his own FlowRider in his backyard.

Ok. That is AWESOME!

 

On 7/28/2019 at 5:18 PM, jam19872016 said:

Ok. That is AWESOME too!

 

19 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

I stay at a hotel in Stuart called Suburban Extended Stay Hotel. It is probably about 5 miles off Exit 110 so still a good ways away from the port, but I would recommend it to anyone looking for budget accommodations close but not so close to Miami that prices are sky high.

Many thanks for this information. Always looking for tidbits like this on the reviews.

 

18 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

On Deck 5 now starting in the front. I love the outdoor Lanai, my favorite improvement on the Dream class.

We leave for Magic 8 day southern caribbean in 46 days. Loved reading your review so much. And this is my favorite spot on board as well! A hidden treasure. I am married, but would love to do a solo cruise one day. Seems like it would be so much fun.

Edited July 30, 2019 by five.

[Garv816]

Congrats on the casino win!! 

Do you recall if the shore excursions desk was open when you first got on the ship?

 

Thank you!

Edited July 30, 2019 by Garv816

[Weeziblu]

Congrats on that casino win!!!  And thanks for the review!  We are sailing Magic in less than 2 weeks and can't wait to board!

[RenoNanaOz]

On 7/28/2019 at 2:18 PM, jam19872016 said:

I rested in the room a bit then headed out to the casino to try my luck. I love gambling. It is my entertainment. It is not about making money, it is not about earning free or cheap cruises. It is solely for the entertainment value of playing the game. But man it is nice if you can get those free and cheap cruises and maybe even make a little money along the way but that doesn't really happen very often. Casinos are big business and not because their patrons are walking away winners. 

 

But it is nice to dream. I would love, love, love to hit a jackpot. There is no trick except knowing when you have to play max bet, and then just being in the right place at the right time. I am so so so excited to say that after 24 cruises, I was FINALLY in the right place at the right time.

 

 

 

 

It was such a surreal experience. If you have ever gambled, you know slot machines love to give you two out of three, then slow down on the third reel before landing on something useless instead of the one you needed for the jackpot. When the third "TRIPLE" landed I was just like WTFun just happened? Is this for real? I pretty much just froze and next thing I know a bar waiter snapped me back to realty and asked if anyone was on the way. I told him no and he got someone for me. I was very sleepy and still in a food coma and shock and really the whole experience still feels like it didn't really happen! What an amazing thing to have happen!

 

What a time to be traveling solo! I seriously considered buying the internet package for 24 hours just to be able to tell someone about my jackpot! Now I just have to resist the urge to not play too much of the money back to the casino. There is no bad time to win a jackpot, but the best time would be the last night lol!

 

I played for a little while longer until I was sure the machine was not going to spit out another jackpot then turned in early for the night around 10:30. Tomorrow would be our first fun day at sea.
 

How exciting! Can't wait for the rest of your review.

[tradewinds traveler]

Thank you for all the pictures! Congrats on your win. When we go on the Magic it is for our 25th anniversary. Thanks again for the review.

 

[hockeyluver]

On 7/29/2019 at 6:54 AM, grandmarnnurse said:

Just a little FYI, for you, and anyone sailing out of South Florida that week. I hope you already have your hotel booked, as they are pretty much all sold out due to the Super Bowl in South Florida that day, and the festivities begin the week before, so they are booked pretty solid starting the week before, as per someone else in another cruise thread. 

Yes,  we booked our hotel months ago,  booked the cruise a year ago April 😄   this will be our 3rd Superbowl cruise, but first from near the host city.  

[jam19872016]

On 7/30/2019 at 9:59 AM, Buffalofirsttimer4 said:

OP- thank you for your review (please keep it coming ). We are doing this same itinerary in April '20 (looking to make it our second leg of our first back to back by booking the 6 day right before- still trying get DH to agree).

 

I would love to do 14 days! Sounds wonderful. It may be a case of "ask for forgiveness not permission 😈"

 

On 7/30/2019 at 10:26 AM, pooksma said:

Great pics! Keep it coming!

Thank you.

[jam19872016]

On 7/30/2019 at 11:07 AM, DaisyGirl55 said:

Love-Love-Love the pictures of the ship!  We are sailing 9/28/19.  My Carnival Hub countdown shows 60 days, so I am really getting excited. 

 

I know these reviews are time consuming, so I appreciate the tons of effort in making this happen. 

 

Happy to do it. It helps ease the time between cruises 🙂 Thanks for reading along.

 

On 7/30/2019 at 11:14 AM, grandmarnnurse said:

That’s exactly what we are doing! April 5 (6 day) and April 11 (8 day) for our 50th Anniversary. 

So jealous.  Hope to do a B2B one day.

[jam19872016]

On 7/30/2019 at 2:14 PM, five. said:

Ok. That is AWESOME!

 

Ok. That is AWESOME too!

 

Many thanks for this information. Always looking for tidbits like this on the reviews.

 

We leave for Magic 8 day southern caribbean in 46 days. Loved reading your review so much. And this is my favorite spot on board as well! A hidden treasure. I am married, but would love to do a solo cruise one day. Seems like it would be so much fun.

 

Solo cruising is the best! The double cost sucks but it is so so relaxing to just do your own thing the whole week! 

 

On 7/30/2019 at 3:24 PM, Garv816 said:

Congrats on the casino win!! 

Do you recall if the shore excursions desk was open when you first got on the ship?

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you!

 

According to my Fun Times the shore excursion desk was open from 11:30-7 on embarkation day.

[jam19872016]

On 7/30/2019 at 4:10 PM, Weeziblu said:

Congrats on that casino win!!!  And thanks for the review!  We are sailing Magic in less than 2 weeks and can't wait to board!

 

Two weeks?? Nice! Almost time to sail now. Enjoy your cruise, Magic is fantastic.

 

On 7/30/2019 at 4:36 PM, RenoNanaOz said:

How exciting! Can't wait for the rest of your review.

 

Very very exciting! I hope it doesn't take another 24 cruises to get another one! 

[jam19872016]

21 hours ago, tradewinds traveler said:

Thank you for all the pictures! Congrats on your win. When we go on the Magic it is for our 25th anniversary. Thanks again for the review.

 

 

You're very welcome! Thanks for reading along.

 

7 hours ago, hockeyluver said:

Yes,  we booked our hotel months ago,  booked the cruise a year ago April 😄   this will be our 3rd Superbowl cruise, but first from near the host city.  

 

I'd love to do a Superbowl cruise someday. Sounds fun. From anywhere near the host city though? No way I can't imagine the traffic don't think I could do it. You're braver than me lol.

[jam19872016]

Tour cont.

 

Decks 6-9 are all guest cabins.

 

 

 

 

Coming out on Deck 10, Lido deck. Starting at the back at the Aft pool which is not adults only on Dream class ships.
 

 

24 hour pizza.
 

[jam19872016]

Tandoor used to be back here, sadly it's been replaced with a Seafood Shack which I forgot to photograph so i'll repost Tandoor just to torture myself with what used to be.

 

 

Looking up towards the whale tale.
 

 

Buffet seating area.
 

 

 

The Deli. The sandwiches were all made to order each time I came through here.
 

 

Sweet Spot. Behind it are the stairs that will take you to Cucina del Capitano.
 

[zencruisers]

Following along. Enjoying your review and pictures.

 

[jam19872016]

Buffet. They now have a new menu, so I guess the signing is not current, but the layout is the same.
 

 

Mongolian Wok.
 

 

Heading outside to the Blue Iguana.
 

 

Lido pool.
 

 

Guy's Burgers.
 

 

Towel exchange.
 

[jam19872016]

RedFrog Rum Bar.
 

 

BlueIguana Tequila Bar.
 

 

At the front of Lido is more cabins.
 

 

Elevators. Could be slow at times but not as bad as I was expecting.
 

 

More cabins on deck 11.
 

 

Forward observation deck a great place to be for sailaway. Just keep walking all the way forward.
 

[jam19872016]

Also up here is a set of stairs and another elevator that will take you to the spa.
 

 

This here is new, or unique to the Dream class. I have never had this bar blocking my shot down before.
 

 

If this is for safety, I think it is a false sense of security. This bar is not big enough to stop a small child. And if it does, how long can they hold onto it before they fall anyway?

 

Heading outside.
 

 

Seaside Theater.
 

 

 

Plenty of seating up here if you don't need to be right by the pool action.
 

 

Looking out the back of the ship.
 

[jam19872016]

Climbing up to 12, exercise equipment.
 

 

Basketball court.
 

 

Mini Golf.
 

 

Ropes Course.
 

 

 

Jogging track.
 

[jam19872016]

More cabins at the front of 12.
 

 

Entrance to the spa.
 

 

The stairs and elevators that run from the spa cabins on 11, up here into the spa.
 

 

Second level of the spa is on 14. I did not get a picture of the thalassotherapy pool because there was someone in it and it seemed weird. Here is the Tepidarium.
 

 

Aroma Steam Bath.
 

 

Lanconium.

 

[jam19872016]

Relaxation room.
 

 

The Waterworks.
 

 

 

 

On 15 is Serenity, which is way too close to the water park.
 

 

Next up: Fun Day at Sea.

[jamscckmc]

Congrats on your casino win! Wondering compared to other ships how smoky the casino was. Was there any ventilation? Any nonsmoking machines? Thanks!