LIVE-ish Carnival Magic May 19 - May 26 Family Cruise Eastern Caribbean LET’S CRUISE!

[TravelBluebird]

OK, so I’m off on the high seas on Carnival again!

 

For the first time, I’m cruising with my grandchildren, so I’m not promising a full LIVE! blog!  I mean, it could turn out that way, but I don’t want to promise since the family is going to come first this trip! We have both grandsons’ birthdays AND our 34th Anniversary this cruise!

 

Its been pretty eventful so far…and we haven’t even gotten on the plane to FLL (Ft. Lauderdale) yet!

 

SO….I haven’t taken Southwest since that debacle trying to drive all the way to Nashville with all lanes closed off (that was my Mardi Gras blog I belive).  BUT wityh 6 of us traveling, we needed to save $$ so Southwest to FLL for our Miami cruise was the decision.

 

On the way here, we learn that there is WEATHER and air traffic control problems. At one point our 12:20 flight was delayed past 4pm…now we are hopefully leaving at 2:20 (fingers crossed) on Book o Faces, nearly everyone leaving today is delayed due to the Florida air situation.

 

Then I’m sitting at the gate with one of my grandsons, and he looks around and says PAPA IS IN TROUBLE!  Turn around and see 6 policemen and I’m like WHAT is going on???!  Turned out he had a bad cramp and collapsed on the way to the gate.  He had a big physical job yesterday and we think that and dehydration was the problem…he has been medically cleared to fly.  But 6 police men for a medical emergency! 

 

Only odd positive that came out of the situation is that he got pre-boarding…we were otherwise all out in the C group on this very full flight.

 

Other positive is that the gate agent had everyone at the gate sing Happy Birthday to grandson!

 

We are on board the flight and should be leaving about 2:30.   Off to the AC Marriott Brickell for our pre-cruise stay.

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

It will be very interesting for me this trip because my last few Carnival trips were Jubilee, Celebration, and 2 on Mardi Gras. What will I think being back on an older Carnival ship?

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Here is La Familia!  At Nashville airport.

We took off right at 2:35, so 2 hours 15 minutes late. Not bad; kinda ruins birthday dinner in Atlanta tonight, but way better than leaving after 4 which was the first estimate!

 

Flying into FLL saved us major $$ over flying into MIA. 

[TravelBluebird]

Very bumpy ride!! It’s just WEATHER all over the south.  Glad we got out of Nashville before the storms there!

 

Hmm….perhaps not overly enthused about the plane type…

[TravelBluebird]

WOW like SERIOUS air turbulence! 

[Jamman54]

Great start to your review. Looking forward to the rest! 

[TravelBluebird]

Also did I mention that my husband is traveling in a cast due to a broken arm? Nothing exotic or cruise related like when I broke my ankle; he slipped on wet leaves in our garage during a storm.  Puts a damper on his plans to teach the boys to snorkle this trip. 

 

Here are some photos from after our medical emergency; I of course didn’t take photos till it was over and we knew everything was going to be OK…handy  little EMS cart that they have at the airport.

 

Edited May 18 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Flight boards in Nashville showing all the delays

Edited May 18 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

We booked on the Magic because we booked this at Christmas as a family Christmas gift. It is the beginning of summer break, so lots of ships already had started to book up. Way too much $$ on the newer Excel ships, so we decided on the Magic.

 

WOW I feel bad for people who can only book during when kids have their breaks. SO expensive, and not a ton of casino discounts. And 4 in a room is pricey too!!  I’ve been spoiled by mostly cruising with my husband during off season and on mostly casino offers.  I honestly didn’t realize how expensive a basic Caribbean cruise can be! 

 

This cruise turned out to be a Brian Christopher cruise; but I am not part of that group. To have joined it I would have had to cancel my reservation and re-book, but didn’t want to lose my room (an Aft-Extended Balcony, right near the rest of the family too)

[TravelBluebird]

We are at the hotel and in the POOL!

 

Hotel is AC Hotel Miami Brickell (mentioned it above but in case you didn’t read it).

 

POOL is gorgeous. On the 6th floor with Miami all around us.  Dove right into the pool since its only open till sunset.

 

Rooms very pleasant and bright!  Will upload photo of room a bit later.

 

Hotel is hella expensive. Wouldn’t be here if we didn’t do it on points.  Nearly $400 for a room on this Saturday night PLUS they charge a $25 “destination fee” which is ridiculous. they say you can use it at the bar OR for breakfast. We checked out the breakfast and at $25 a person, its a big fat NO WAY.  Will have to order some expensive sodas at bar tonight to use up the fee.

 

VERY nice front desk personnel. Looking for a close by taco place for us for tonight that isn’t too expensive and would be OK for kids (not a bar).

 

 

 

Edited May 18 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Moon Over Miami!

 

[TravelBluebird]

Health episode at airport evidently was just dehydration and low blood sugar!  Fine since then.  Phew!

[TravelBluebird]

Had a fun casual dinner at Talkin’ Tacos.  Short walk from the hotel.  Very tasty!  You order from a screen, and the food comes out pretty quickly and is brought to your table. 

 

Walked to the CVS for some last minute items we forgot, like sunscreen, and then thought about carrying on some sodas but didn’t want the hassle; will just get the boys Bottomless Bubbles on the ship for a splurge.

 

Our cruise ship luggage tags are on the bags; we are ready for our 10am Uber XL pick up tomorrow!

[SenatorsFan]

What a scary start to your trip! You must be so relieved that DH is ok. Hope you all have a fun cruise.🙂

[TravelBluebird]

20 minutes ago, SenatorsFan said:

What a scary start to your trip! You must be so relieved that DH is ok. Hope you all have a fun cruise.🙂

 

Thank you!  All is well and we are excited to be back on track for a great time!

[TravelBluebird]

Good morning from Miami! Very comfortable room and bed.  No issues with noise that some have reported at this hotel—we are right by a train—but then we were on the 17th floor.

 

DH and I are in the hotel lobby—rest of family is still getting ready.  At least the coffee is free at the hotel! Beautiful morning—we are excited to be boarding our cruise. Our Uber will be arriving at 10 AM. See you on board!

 

 

Edited May 19 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Perfect Miami morning no traffic so we flew to the port!  They let our whole group go through priority for check-in and then because only DH and I have priority with platinum we are just boarding with our family at 11 so we’re in the main group. Can’t hear anything on the boarding announcements but we’ll see how it goes. 

[TravelBluebird]

Wow, after boarding all the priority groups and faster to the fun and the suites there is like nobody left except us. We are waiting for boarding group E3!

 

Our boarding time is 11 AM for our family and it is now 11:01 the entire ship has some sort of priority.  😂

Edited May 19 by TravelBluebird

[lazydayz]

Have a wonderful cruise with your family!

[TravelBluebird]

51 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

Have a wonderful cruise with your family!

Thank you!  We are in the ship having lunch!

[TravelBluebird]

So group E8 for a boarding was right after all the priorities so we got on the ship right after 11 AM very easy no wait! 
 

We right away, did our muster in E4, which is the after dining room and dropped our carry-ons off in the closet of my State room.  The extended balcony room looks lovely!

 

We chose Guys Pig and Anchor for lunch, which is on the outside on deck five and no crowd whatsoever so we’re having very pleasant lunch in the shade.  Super  hot in Miami at 89° and a ton of humidity.

 

 

 

Edited May 19 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Gave the family a tour of the ship oh my it is super hot. There is an excessive heat advisory in effect for Miami. We are now hiding in the red frog pub for a for a peaceful moment and about to go to our rooms which became available to everyone at about 1:20

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Our luggage came lightning fast to the room as soon as the room was ready!

 

Love the extra space in the Aff Extended Balcony! It’s just a little but makes a difference.  Also loving the bigger balcony with the rear view!

 

Not loving how HIT my room is.  Called the room steward Sila in and he started with a standard talk about the air conditioner—and then when he stepped INTO my room  he was like WOW it really is hot in here—reporting the issue.  Also making my bathroom not smell particularly nice.

 

We had Carnival decorate the boys room for their birthday—they were genuinely surprised! 
 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Never left a sail away party because it was too hot to dance,  but I did today!  Frankie the CD will be fun!
 

Watched the rest from the aft balcony.  Beautiful!

 

Edited May 19 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Big thunderstorm during dinner!  Sea and sky got dark and thunder and lightning!

 

6pm set time dining this trip—I’ve done anytime dining forever, but kids this trip!

 

There’s a Kids menu and both grandsons had chicken nuggets and fries.  Not big fans of fine dining yet.

 

I had the paroardelle and lamb appetizer.  Perfect on the Jubilee—sauce too sweet on the Magic.  The Cornish game hen was very good!  
 

A big fuss was made over Grandson’s birthday and our 34th Anniversary which is  today!   
 

Our family got into the spirit of Shhowwwtime!

 

Aftercwe enjoyed the now far off storm from the balcony and sunset.  Now waiting for the Welcome Aboard Show! 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 20 by TravelBluebird