Carnival Magic Cruise

Carnival Magic Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

jaws0812

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 31

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 16, 2015

Ship: Carnival Magic

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9303

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 9 years ago

Review summary

Hi, I want to start by saying that my husband and I have been traveling on Carnival Cruises since our 25th Anniversary and this year we were on the Carnival Magic which departed from Galveston on Aug 16, 2015 (Cabin 9303), It's not the first time we have traveled on this ship but it will definitely be the last time and quite possibly the last time we cruise with Carnival if we have to depart from Galveston.

First, the Air Conditioning didn't seem to be working properly. We notified our Stewart who had the Engineer come check it out only to be told that this is "Standard" for Carnival. Considering we have been on Carnival Ships before, this one and others, we knew this was not the case. In the past we have been able to control the temperature in our stateroom/suite. Now that they have the control they seems to simply turn it off at night and every morning we awaken to a very hot room. Nothing else was done not even the offer of a fan. Secondly, the food and the crew was not the best on this ship. Seems that we as patrons we are paying the same if not more each year but the food is getting worse. When eating at the Buffet the crew never seem to come around with drinks as they have in the past. The burgers seem to have way too much soy in them now so they were very dry and the unfortunately the food offered for lunch on Sea Days was always the same and this is only a few of the issues I had with the restaurants and honestly if I had my say I would have not provided them with gratuity just as I wouldn't if I had received bad service at any other restaurant not on a cruise ship.

Lastly, we were supposed to have 3 stops on this cruise, Mexico, Belize and Honduras. The Captain announced that we would not be stopping in Honduras, He claimed it was for safety reasons too windy for him to dock. I am unable to find anything online regarding a safety issue in Honduras last week. Furthermore, there were 2 other cruise ship at the Honduras port that it seem to be safe for them. Even if there was an issue why were we not taken somewhere else when this decision was made not to go to Honduras verses holding us "hostages" for 3 days at sea?

I know that this is possible because your Sister Company (or Child Company), Princess Cruises, does it all the time when they decide it is not safe to go where originally planned. When speaking with other guest on the ship we found that Captain Antonio Marchetti has done this in the past when enough money had not been spent on the ship. So I have to wonder, was there really a Safety Issue or was Captain Marchetti simply trying to meet some quota that he and or Carnival has set. There is a contract between us and Carnival. Carnival did not fulfill their part of the agreement to make 3 stops on the 7 day cruise that we purchased. We would like to receive a partial refund for not making the stop and not just the Port Fees. We paid $1035.44 per person for 7 days which is $147.92/day per person. Deducting the $12.81 already received per person, we would like to receive a $135.11 per person refund for two people.

This year my husband and I celebrated our 42nd Anniversary, on your Cruise Ship, and I tell you this because I want you to understand how long we have been cruising but more importantly, how displeased we are in the upkeep, or lack thereof, of the Carnival Cruise Ships that depart from Galveston, TX and if I am honest, I can't say for sure that I will be back.

I am also copying the agency that we booked this cruise through in hopes, that at minimum, they will take heed to this, before booking their future customers on the Carnival Magic.

Disappointed,
Clifford & Joyce Sherman

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Ship tip

We did not make all port calls. very disappointed never made it to Mohogany Bay, Roatan. Three days at sea with kids running around every where.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Galveston, Texas

3 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

Belize City, Belize

3 out of 5

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

1 out of 5

29 Comments

pmjc101 9 years ago

they should atleast return the port fees since you didn't get a chance to dock. thats the least they should do.

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LadyAfrikan 9 years ago

I just purchased two small fans because of the latest reviews.

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DFromATX 9 years ago

P.S. - I've been seeing lots of complaints about the cabins being hot... Maybe there's some truth to it. Hopefully it'll be fixed!

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DFromATX 9 years ago

We've cruised the magic twice now and love it, but if you have a complaint, I wouldn't do it here. This is not a carnival site so they will never see it. You need to contact carnival. You can go to their website forums and from there go to looking for assistance (something like that). I too would be disappointed missing a port but sometimes that happens. :(

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lpina 9 years ago

amen to that krisandvickie

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sdg1979 9 years ago

also that's what you get for traveling on a cruise duing hurricane season... lol😝😝😝😝😝😝

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krisandvickie 9 years ago

are we still on this guy's give it a rest

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sdg1979 9 years ago

Wow, I think that some of these comments are classic. First off Carnival states clearly in the contract that the can change it cancel any port at any time. secondly, I believe that some people just cannot be satisfied no matter what. Maybe the complaints are justified. but also remember that you have 3600 of your closest friends with you on board with you. Carnival is doing their best to provide a quality vacation to all. A open mind will go a long way along with some patients and you just might of had some fun. As for the refund you must be out of your mind. They still provided you a safe place to sleep, and all the food and drink you could handle. Just like a lot of people in America looking for the free hand out....

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lbk1009 9 years ago

steward, stupid fat fingers!

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lbk1009 9 years ago

Just keep the balcony door shut, and the curtains pulled to keep out the sun. Cabins aren't much more than big metal boxes, and they absorb heat. I've heard that your stewatd, or guest services, sometimes have fans available to borrow.

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oufanz 9 years ago

I will be on the magic on the 18th October. hopefully it won't be warm in the rooms, I have a balcony room maybe that will help if the rooms are warm.

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dalerandle 9 years ago

I think all of you are right. I don't think I can sleep at 74 degrees. That's too hot. This will be my 10th cruise (November 1st) and this has never been a problem. It must be a new cost cutting measure. I hope enough people protest to have this corrected by November. People on vacation love and must have a cold room! To whom do we complain?

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ashleymaxwell 9 years ago

74 is, as we were told, "74 is within Carnival standards". The staff tried to be helpful but couldn't do anything to fix it. We were miserable from so little sleep, and both came home with dark circles FROM VACATION. 74 as the coldest setting is horrid.

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ashleymaxwell 9 years ago

I just got off the Magic. Room 11212. It was so hot we couldn't sleep. My husband has a condition and he has to be able to sleep. We mentioned how hot it was to guest services the first hour we were aboard. Eventually a few days later after we kept going in person, someone came and it was almost 75 in the room. We said we needed to sleep and it needs to be fixed. Then they said it tested for 74

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lpina 9 years ago

I just can't believe how far this has gone...it's almost bullying. jaws0812 didn't enjoy her trip, that's her perogative.

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krisandvickie 9 years ago

have you guys ever listen to yourselves, you sound like three year old fighting over a toy. let it go, she wasn't happy about her trip, fine. It's seems like you guys have more time on your hands than a clock. Let it go.

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lpina 9 years ago

omg...what in the hell

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chericobb 9 years ago

You are in a class all your own.

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brandon1600 9 years ago

"Carnival did not fulfill their part of the agreement to make 3 stops on the 7 day cruise" 😂😂😂 for someone who has cruised before you obviously have no idea how it works. Carnival does not guarantee that you will make it to every stop. You seemed to do a lot of research afterwards but maybe you should've done some research on some of carnivals general policies before the cruise.

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chericobb 9 years ago

Mason2x: thanks for proving my point.

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bettyjmiller1 9 years ago

Carnival isn't the only one that will cancel a port if it's a safety problem. Royal Caribbean cancelled ours to Coco Cay due to high waves but I would rather be safe than sorry. we went in August. hurricane season

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chericobb 9 years ago

Mason2x: you need to grow up. I see you have been posting rude comments on other posts as well...

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krisandvickie 9 years ago

they are right I apologize for my rudeness it was in called for.

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chericobb 9 years ago

Are accustomed to receiving from Carnival. While differing opinions are a great thing, be respectful.

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chericobb 9 years ago

WOW!!! I am shocked by the rudeness of strangers. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. While you folks are correct that Carnival is not required to reimburse this couple for their skipped port, they have a right to be disappointed. They might be lucky enough to be able to afford that trip, but they, as we all do, work very hard for our money. They have a right to expect to get the service they.

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krisandvickie 9 years ago

a least she wasn't stranded at sea for 3 days after a fire...just sayin.....me either for that much.....just know some people that were

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lpina 9 years ago

She didn't have a good experience, you all don't have to be rude to her. There are going to be good and bad reviews people...Let's respect that.

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lbk1009 9 years ago

It is in your cruise contract that they can change or cancel any port at any time, with no passenger remuneration with the exception of port fees and charges if, at the captain's discretion, porting would expose the passengers, crew, or ship to harm. You signed the contract when you booked the cruise. If your agent didn't explain it, that's between you two. Maybe the other ships got there before the seas changed; maybe they are engineered in such a fashion that they are not affected by the conditions as your ship was. Carnival wouldn't have cancelled the port for revenue purposes: they probably lost more for refunded excursions than they would make onboard. As far south as Mahogany Bay is, there was likely no substitute port available.

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olety90 9 years ago

really true it was my first cruise and last cruise with carnaval. we bought this cruise for the only reason to meet roatan Honduras. and captain cancelled our stop there.

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