Magic-9/10 to Canada-Exceeded Expectations!

[MsTabbyKats]

We left home at 11:10 and after a 15 minute cab ride, we were on the ship at 11:50.  We never had such an easy embarkation.

 

Our cabin....Deck 1...Deluxe Ocean View.  I've done "the Canada thing" about a dozen times.  And I know, a balcony is a waste....it's too cold, windy and foggy to sit out there.  This cabin was great.  We had a giant window....lots of floor space....way more closet space than necessary....and 2 bathrooms.  Because we were so low we could see how fast the ship was moving.  Totally different view than if on a high deck.  I wish I could get "this cabin" on all future cruises (generally we do balcony).

 

The food.  Nobody starved.  The best meals I had were paninis from the deli (although not on traditional panini bread...so not real paninis).  The cakes/desserts were very good in the buffet...other things, just ok.  We ate at the Blue Iguana once....not impressed....especially if you're used to real Mexican food.  We ate in the MDR once....again, not impressed.

 

The entertainment.  Not "B'way quality" but not B'way prices either.

 

The casino.  Give and take...mostly take.  But I did get a lot of play time.

 

The ports.  Sadly, a lot of our "regular places to buy stuff" weren't there any longer.

 

One big gripe DH had.  He buys a lot of gifts (not the bargain special stuff) to give people.  They no longer have the Carnival bags....or any bags.  You can buy one for $2.  But otherwise, you carry in in your hands.  I mean....I don't complain about "nickel and diming" because everyone needs to make a living or make up for 2 years of lost revenue.  But no bags is ridiculous!!!!

 

Disembarkation....we just walked off.  No lines........

 

DH and I thought this was a great cruise.  Others (FB group) would disagree.

 

 

[pe4all]

Nice review.  I noticed the Magic gift shop also had a lack of bags, and also not too much CCL logo stuff. (wanted to get a sweatshirt, and it was slim pickings).  Loved the Canada route when we did it, and looking forward to doing it again in future.  NY is so convenient for us, and saves us on airfare and pre-cruise hotel costs, but gets us on higher cruise fare than other departure ports have.  

[Crusin Karen]

 NY is so convenient for us, and saves us on airfare and pre-cruise hotel costs, but gets us on higher cruise fare than other departure ports have.  

Agree-I'm in NE NJ so right over the GW Bridge.  I wish CCL would bring back winter cruises.  I don't mind first and last day cold for convenience of sailing from here.  We always cruised in May also-our anniversary is 5/12 we cruised over that/Mother's Day.  They start cruises in June now.  OP-glad you had a good cruise.  I'll be on Magic on Saturday going to Bermuda.  One question:  I know "food is subjective" but what was your complaint about MDR food. No flaming-just interested. 

[MsTabbyKats]

@Crusin Karen

 

We are "buffet people"....get what you want, as much as you want....no waiting.  Except for the cakes, everything else was just "ok".

 

We went to the MDR on lobster night....DH wanted to.  I ordered salmon...it was bland.  But the dessert was good.  Waiter gave me a banana split!  DH had 2 lobster tails....I guess he liked it,

 

For transparancy sake...I live in Manhattan and eat out all the time.  I'm just used to higher quality (and much more costly) food.  I also cook a lot of dishes with lots of spices and seasonings.  They can't do "food to order" like at home.

 

As you said....food is subjective.  I wasn't expecting more than what I got.  And truth be told, the food on the Magic was better than the past few Carnival cruises I was on.

 

[Crusin Karen]

Great, thanks for that.  I'm a buffet person also but I do like eating dinner in the MDR.  But I'm also an in and out person.  Don't like sitting around waiting to order, be served etc.  At one time-I think it was just a few selected cruises-they had hamburger/cheeseburgers on the dinner menu.  I'm VERY PICKY about my burgers and these were fantastic lol. One cruise-never saw them again! 

[MsTabbyKats]

2 minutes ago, Crusin Karen said:

Great, thanks for that.  I'm a buffet person also but I do like eating dinner in the MDR.  But I'm also an in and out person.  Don't like sitting around waiting to order, be served etc.  At one time-I think it was just a few selected cruises-they had hamburger/cheeseburgers on the dinner menu.  I'm VERY PICKY about my burgers and these were fantastic lol. One cruise-never saw them again! 

Try the paninis at the Deli.  They had a special one day....cheese and spinach with onions.  It was the best thing I ate all week (except for the buffet cakes...lol). The ham & cheese panini was excellent also.

This Deli was better than the last Carnival deli.  Overall...DH agreed that the food improved.

 

 

 

[luvs2beachit]

9 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

9 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

We left home at 11:10 and after a 15 minute cab ride, we were on the ship at 11:50.  We never had such an easy embarkation.

 

Our cabin....Deck 1...Deluxe Ocean View.  I've done "the Canada thing" about a dozen times.  And I know, a balcony is a waste....it's too cold, windy and foggy to sit out there.  This cabin was great.  We had a giant window....lots of floor space....way more closet space than necessary....and 2 bathrooms.  Because we were so low we could see how fast the ship was moving.  Totally different view than if on a high deck.  I wish I could get "this cabin" on all future cruises (generally we do balcony).

 

The food.  Nobody starved.  The best meals I had were paninis from the deli (although not on traditional panini bread...so not real paninis).  The cakes/desserts were very good in the buffet...other things, just ok.  We ate at the Blue Iguana once....not impressed....especially if you're used to real Mexican food.  We ate in the MDR once....again, not impressed.

 

The entertainment.  Not "B'way quality" but not B'way prices either.

 

The casino.  Give and take...mostly take.  But I did get a lot of play time.

 

The ports.  Sadly, a lot of our "regular places to buy stuff" weren't there any longer.

 

One big gripe DH had.  He buys a lot of gifts (not the bargain special stuff) to give people.  They no longer have the Carnival bags....or any bags.  You can buy one for $2.  But otherwise, you carry in in your hands.  I mean....I don't complain about "nickel and diming" because everyone needs to make a living or make up for 2 years of lost revenue.  But no bags is ridiculous!!!!

 

Disembarkation....we just walked off.  No lines........

 

DH and I thought this was a great cruise.  Others (FB group) would disagree.

 

 

     I was on the same cruise and I am sitting here laughing because your review is almost word for word what my experience was.  The only comments I would edit are that I was in a Deluxe Ocean View on deck 2 instead of deck one!  My comments about the cabin would have been the same as yours, we LOVED the cabin and would book it again in a heartbeat!

My second edit would be about the deli, I have a soft spot for the Reuben, not exactly Katz deli, but still good.

This was the 3rd time on the Magic and have another one booked for next year.  Thanks for the great review!!

 

[ButterflyGirly]

On 9/18/2022 at 12:37 PM, MsTabbyKats said:

Try the paninis at the Deli.  They had a special one day....cheese and spinach with onions.  It was the best thing I ate all week (except for the buffet cakes...lol). The ham & cheese panini was excellent also.

This Deli was better than the last Carnival deli.  Overall...DH agreed that the food improved.

 

 

 

Going on the Magic for the first time in November out of Port Canaveral.  Thank you for the info.