Magic is overdue for a dry dock. Carpeting was worn in some places. Layout needs overhaul, better signage would go a long way in assisting people to get where they want to go easier and faster. Decor could also use an upgrade. While not directly affecting us, moldy smell and AC seems to be an issue is some areas on some decks.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Fort Lauderdale has this down to a science. Faster than expected and smoother than anticipated.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Only one trip to MDR( formal night) and while the service was good, the food was warm. The steak house was a huge disappointment. Meat was tough and flavorless, service was medicor and menu needs to expand. Neighboring tables had similar comments about the quality and lack of value. Pizza was tough despite being thin crust but area was clean and well attended by staff. Many of the meal items were tasteless, while visually appealing, it did not live up to expectations. Mongolian Wok was a welcome surprise.
Prime Steakhouse
3 out of 5
Huge disappointment. Service was slow initially but did get better once we had meal. Meat was tough despite being a quality cut. While chefs seemed to be having a good time( joking around and not taking the responsibility seriously), the staff did the best they could with a below average offering.
Play it Again Piano Bar
3 out of 5
Would have been great if not taken over by Bar-Barians. Could qualify as the rudest group I have ever encountered. Not the fault of the Bar, but they did ruin the experience. Thus the mediocre rating.
Mongolian Wok
5 out of 5
Busy station on embarkation day, but was delicious. Menu needs to expand and worth the wait( about 40 minutes). But was hot versus balance of buffet offerings which are warm( at best).
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Quest was a ton of fun, Dive in movies were a great source to get away from the crowd( not well attended), trivia and bingo, more trivia and more bingo. The CD needs to look at options for the onboard activities.
Ropes Course
4 out of 5
Challenging and tougher than it looks. Great fun.
Internet Station
2 out of 5
Slow, slower,and slowest and not worth the money spent. Best advice---unplug entirely and don't waste your money. Save the aggravation and disappointment.
Cloud 9 Spa
4 out of 5
Miles of smile as they reach into your wallet. Overpriced for what is offered in US. Accounting is a bit confusing especially if you pay ahead of time. Staff are accommodating in a limited basis. Could have done without hard sell on products, but that is their money maker. Better than a 3 star but not quite a 4 star. 3.5 stars is much more accurate.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Lip Sync was good fun, Piano bar was always crowded with rowdy, inhospitable belligerent group( Piano Bar-Barians). Music on Lido deck needs improvement and again, CD needs to review events at the theatre and upgrade.
Children's Programs
no children in group
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Room Steward was exceptional. Anticipated our needs and had everything available before we even thought about asking. Bartenders in Red Frog Pub are slow. Bartenders in Alchemy work multiple drinks at one time( which is entertaining to see them work) but were not friendly.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Confusing at first due to some decks being closed off to passing through( MDR and lobby). Due for a dry dock, for sure.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Larger than we expected. Listed as inside but was actually a port hole cabin. AC worked( despite friends complaining about theirs). No musty smell( again, despite others complaining). It was quiet with gentle rocking motion. Mattress was very comfortable and room steward kept it clean and well stocked.
Ship tip
Patience. This is a huge ship ( over 4000 people) and there are bound to be lines. With lines, rudeness comes out on people. Take a breath and relax.
Construction and traffic around port makes it a bit of a nightmare to get around( should change and hopefully improve), Did not see attractions but seemed small-townish. Lots of hustlers, but overall clean and friendly.
Needs improvements of logistics. Very poorly mapped out. Sand was soft and on our visit, tide was very strong. Not the highlight of the trip but not bad for a quick stop.
The people are friendly and accomodating to the tourist trade, but the island itself needs help visually. Lots of debris on the roadside, housing is weather beaten . Not idyllic picture taking opportunities. They also seem in no hurry to recover from the hurricanes of few years ago. Very slow paced.
Unexpected pleasantness. While catering to the tourist trade, it was a welcome improvement from Grand Turk. Did excursion at Dolphin Academy. Exceptional treatment and once in a lifetime experience with Dolphin Swim. Money well spent and value received. Taxis being very expensive was only drawback.
A port designed for the tourist shopper. Hustling and bustling with lots of shining, flashing signs and people hustling and urging you to visit their shops. Not willing to bargain much on prices. Definitely a city feel versus a town feel is prevalent. No excursions due to limited time in port.
Luggage picked up night before. Hard side luggage was damaged and will have to replace( wheel broken). Customs was quick and well organized but again, due to volume was slow moving line. Could have been slightly better but pretty much as expected.
We also found many folks from the marketing group pushy and rude to the crew. Certainly they weren’t all that way, but enough to tarnish the group reputation. We were also on the ship the week before and the passenger component changed the whole atmosphere of the cruise. However, while Grand Turk may not be your cup of tea, it has some beautiful places and a wonderful history. Sorry this cruise didn’t meet your expectations!
I have to agree about Grand Turk. It has gone down hill since we were there last year. Almost no Carnival chairs, the pay chairs have taken over. The beach area was not as clean. The wave rider at Margaritaville had a big hole in it. Locker rental never opened.
I also agree with you on the piano barbarians and the marketing people. They were rude and acted like the ship was just for them.
So many people ended up with a respiratory illness on this cruise and at the medic or doctor after coming home.
Well you seemed to find something wrong with almost every aspect of the cruise. Only one trip to the MDR but you feel justified in critiquing the food. Found problems with half moon cay, which really takes an effort..sand too soft...and you talk about grand Turklike it's a movie set and not an actual country where people live. Probably time to start staying home.
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