Great Family Cruise for Christsmas

Item: Carnival Magic
Rating: 4
Author: slappe

Carnival Magic Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

slappe

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Reviews: 0

Helpful Votes: 52

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 20, 2015

Ship: Carnival Magic

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 11265

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Our family cruise for Christmas was wonderful but expensive! The staff is absolutely amazing, and did everything to make you comfortable and make sure you were having fun. My only complaint is the prices onboard the ship. Paying almost $30 a bucket of (4) beers is crazy expensive. Drinks at $8.95 plus tip -- really adds up and is just way overpriced. The amount you pay for your cruise the prices should be a little more reasonable. Same goes for the kids arcade, not one game under $1 is also crazy. Your stuck on the ship with no alternatives so they got you. Just remember your going to spend double what you think onboard the ship. Even the pictures are overpriced!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

At dinner the other Marketplace options are not available. Burito and Mongolian Wok should be open for dinner not just lunch. Only option for dinner if you don't go to dinning hall is the main buffet:(

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Wasn't real impressed with the onboard activities especially over Christmas and last day. Thought they would have made more of an effort on these two days your stuck on the ship especially on a holiday. No going away party the last day on lido deck was disappointing!

Entertainment

3 out of 5

OK -- not great show times if you have late dinner and kids

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

My kids did not partake because to shy to walk into that room

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Can't even say enough about the staff!!!! WONDERFUL!!!! Room attendant was amazing - Sup (?) 11th deck --- so accomidating and always making sure we were good!! Tide Bar: Again AWESOME -- Komang/Erwin/Suyasa!!! Always kept us entertained along with our teen sons. Also -- Burtomi and Alit -- were amazing and made our trip memorable. All these people made our cruise a great one and deserve recognition!!

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Design is awful -- so split up hard to find things

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Room was great!! 4 people in room is tight probably wouldn't do that again. Need a coffee maker in the room, so you can have coffee while you get ready for breakfast! Very clean always!!! Sup was wonderful:)

Ports of call

Galveston, Texas

5 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

George Town, Grand Cayman

3 out of 5

Tender process was awful and waste of a day!!

Thumbs Up 1

Montego Bay, Jamaica

5 out of 5

Loved Jamaica!! Easy off and on the ship

Thumbs Up 6

14 Comments

mjhoward 8 years ago

A cruise over the holidays is more expensive than normal. I have one booked for next Christmas and it was $500 per person more than the same itinerary before the holidays. If you feel it's too much, book a cruise during a time of year that the fares are lower!

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lordoftraffic 8 years ago

lol

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jtmaysfamily 8 years ago

Maybe you should pray for free cocktails.

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lordoftraffic 8 years ago

You asked me to care when you posted on a PUBIC form, I just hate negative people. My opinion, nobody else's, if you hate vacation, quit taking them.

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motheroftwinsplus5 8 years ago

No need to reply because I won't see ~ #no power

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motheroftwinsplus5 8 years ago

Excuse me everyone is entitled to their own opinion, it is a right~ and of course it is very easy for you to judge and criticize Mr or Ms "Know it all" no one asked you or care what you think again it's only your opinion~ Happy New Year maybe you should pray that God takes the judgement from your heart for this New year~ sure would make this world just a tad bit better~

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lordoftraffic 8 years ago

So easy to be negative , book and all exclusive vacation, way more expensive. I've been on several cruises, do your homework a lot of times I've seen several exotic places for $55 a day, beat that anywhere else.

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Boysmomtami 8 years ago

You can get Iced Tea, Lemonade, water, milk, coffee & tea for free... You don't need to drink alcohol if your budget is that tight. We've been on many cruises & spent $0 on extras on the ship. So if your really on a budget, don't spend extra money & you can still have a great holiday.

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jtmaysfamily 8 years ago

My bad. I thought everyone was like me and wanted to drink every day while on the boat!! Cheers!!!

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motheroftwinsplus5 8 years ago

What about one free drink a day~ or free drink with dinner, it would not have hurt ~

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motheroftwinsplus5 8 years ago

My boys a decent life, I did not expect everything to be so costly~ despite the lack of funds to do a lot the boys enjoyed the experience and the little we were able to do~ I don't meant to complain, I thank God for all of my Blessings, I'm just saying they should really consider that people have already paid a fortune to cruise, why break the bank more while on the cruise~

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motheroftwinsplus5 8 years ago

I agree it was just way over priced, the drink package was really not good either because you had to pay for all of the days you were on the boat, I didn't want to drink the entire time and no way would I have drank so many in one day~ I am Blessed that I was able to goon this cruise with my boys~ it was a lot of sacrificing because I am a single parent living paycheck to paycheck trying to give

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jtmaysfamily 8 years ago

We got the drink card for $50 per day and We saved a ton of money. At the very least, I knew what my bar bill would be at the end of the cruise!! Circle C had some Wii consoles so I told my kids to go there if they got the itch to play video games. Lastly, I have only née on a few cruises but one thing I (along with veteran cruisers) have learned, bring a camera and take your own pics!!

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Boysmomtami 8 years ago

You can get a drink card for $50/day. We don't drink on the ship so we're good there. As far as the arcade, I just tell my kids not to use them, plenty of video games at home. Glad you had a great holiday though.

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