Terible Experience
Carnival Magic Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 36
7 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)
Sail date: November 25, 2017
Ship: Carnival Magic
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 6 years ago
Review summary
Carnival Magic review. My wife and I are waiting to disembark from our first cruise and very much look forward to getting off the boat. We learned a lot on this cruise. Mainly that cruises don't meet out travel and vacation goals and expectations. We are used to traveling all exclusive. A cruise is NOT an all exclusive experience, even if you purchase drink packages, and internet access, and excursions up front. On this cruise we were presented with a check to sign for every drink, no matter whether it was a cocktail or a bottled water. Even though the bill shows a package pre-purchase, you are presented with a gratuity request. Coffee=sign here, water=sign here, cocktail=sign here. In addition to apparently not being cruise people, there were specific things about this boat The Carnival Magic, that created a "less than desirable experience". 1). Carnival Magic, holds over 4000 guests. This is a big issue for meals as the wait to stand in the cafeteria line was at least 20 minutes and often over an hour for breakfast or lunch. Yes, you can quickly get through the salad line, but forget any hot plate line taking less than 20 to 30 minutes of standing in line. We spent most of our time, unfortunately at the taco, pizza and hamburger kiosks, simply because they had the shortest lines most of the day. f.y.i. We've not eaten fast food in years until this cruise. 2) The food in the cafeteria and in the main dining room was the same, low quality food. If you are a foodie, like we are, this cruise is NOT for you. Obviously trying to seat 4000+ people can be a dining challenge that the cruise manages very well. But you get this service in the main dining room at the expense of food quality. The food quality is about 3 steps lower than that of say, an Applebee’s. 3) I'm not a ship designer, but there were several definite oddities that hindered the experience on the Carnival Magic. Here are some examples: - They have an adults only "Serenity Deck" to give the adults an opportunity to get away from the families on the boat. The problem is the serenity deck is located under/next to the kids park/ water slides. Not a good location when all you hear are kids hollering with excitement running up the stairs and screams while coming down the slides. - Here is a BIG ONE. There are two pool decks, but only one kiosk location to get deck towels. So if you need a new towel, (because some kid has just sat on yours, or dropped their drink on yours, you must walk wet, and in my case, shirtless, through the main cafeteria, through the dining tables and people waiting in line to get to the other pool to gather a towel. NOTE: Your towel will get wet. The chairs on the deck are all in rows edge to edge. Which brings up number three. 3). Imagine a movie theatre where you have rows of chairs with small aisles where everyone has to share an armrest and stand when someone tries to get a seat in the center of the theatre. Do you have the image? This is an exact image of the sun decks and chairs. Chairs are pushed in armrest to armrest with about 30 in a row. You have no choice to be next to everyone. 4) Drink package rules don't allow you to get 2 alcoholic or two non alcoholic beverages at one time. I can somewhat understand this for alcohol stuff since they don’t want you sharing your allotted drinks. But you can't get a coffee and a water at the same time from the coffee shop. Not allowed. Move to the back of the line we were told. 5). Did I mention 4000 people trying to eat lunch in one big cafeteria with only four food stations and two salad stations. 6). Note, while we love kids and enjoy loud party music with the best of them, we also occasionally, while on vacation, like the music to be in the background, rather than at volumes that prevent conversation. (That statement makes us sound like prudes, but understand we have a ski boat with 8 large speakers and do enjoy loud music in the right setting.) At the sun /pool areas the music was so loud constantly, that you could not speak with the person next to you to ask them to move their arm off of your armrest. 7). The ship photographers. Some are fun and flexible. But some get very upset if you want to do a silly family picture. We just wanted to do a picture with funny faces. It wasn't like we were wanting to moon the camera, but just making faces the photographer came unhinged. I finally had to say, "why don't you let us pose for a photo we might actually purchase". 8). Back to the food. The main dining room is probably the most relaxing dining experience because you have wait staff who's very good. However the food is still very much below that an Applebee’s for example. 9) One more issue with the ship layout. The Carnival Magic has two additional restaurants that you have to pay additional money to dine there. One is a steakhouse, the other is an Italian restaurant. This restaurant has a good visual atmosphere and at first glance seems liked a good choice away from the "grazing" crowd. However, the constant bouncing and banging you will hear which sounds like the ceiling is about to fall in, is because the restaurant is located directly below the outdoor basketball court. You hear ever jump shot all day and all evening all through your dining experience. But it is free of kids screaming and the grazing passengers. All and all I would never recommend traveling on a Carnival Cruise. We did it with family and have no regrets trying to pick something affordable for all. But even families on a budget deserve a better experience than Carnival offers on this boat.Embarkation
Good and timely
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Substandard food quality. Long lines in the cafeteria.
Onboard Activities
*
Entertainment
The comedy shows were good and they changed up the act each night. The piano bar was terrible talent in that we went by on 4 different nights since it was near our dining room. Each night, while the entertainer appeared to take requests from the audience, actually played the same songs in the same sets each and every night. Poor Poor entertainment.
Service and Staff
*
Ship Quality
*
Cabin / Stateroom
The cabin was great and we loved our housekeeper. Very attentive.
Ship tip
Don't do it.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
We will not go back to Belize. Very aggressive people and not seeming to be safe outside the armed security and razor wire surounding the port.
Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras
Loved Roatan. We might fly back to stay a few more days there. Will not take a cruise there. Not enough time for the quality time available there.
Disembarkation
Good /fast.
24 Comments
glojoe10 6 years ago
I have been on 5 Carnival and 1 RC cruises. I will take Carnival over RC anytime. It has a much better relaxed feel on Carnival. I am not a party person but am a people person and I have never encountered more snobby people than on RC.
1) Never have I stood in line for an hour for food, My question is, do you ever go out to dinner or to an fun park or anywhere for that fact that you never have to stand in some sort of line. I mean even at work sometimes I have to wait my turn to use a microwave. That is just life.
2) Food depends on the many aspects. Remember they are trying to feed 4K people 3 times a day. There is always something to find and for 90% of the time I have not had a complaint about food.
3) As for lay out...they only have so many places they can put things. There is always somewhere to go to get serenity, up on 12 in the spa area is a waiting relaxation room where people who are getting massages wait to be serviced...We often go in there and sit and read and watch out the front, it has an amazing view. And you don't have to have a spa room to enjoy that area. Every movie theatre I have ever been in has to share an arm rest, same with every li e basketball or football game or any live event. I have sat out and watched the outdoor movies and never been crowded so bad that I am uncomfortable. Go get some fruits and veggies and cheese and a drink and sit back and nauche (that is slang for snack)
4) Don't drink, but I can imagine this because of sharing drinks with those who don't have the drink package. You must only be getting bottled water and pay coffee...cause I have never signed for coffee or tea or water. Of course they have you sign for it, otherwise someone could charge to your room and you couldn't dispute it if it was someone using your card cause it got lost or stolen...not to mention they need to know for inventory purposes....they replenish every week and they know exactly what they have on that ship.
5) There are multiple places to eat other than cafeteria....the Italian place is open and it is free...yes there will be a wait. There is during sea days places like a bbq out on side or blue iguana grill, sandwich shop, guys burger and others.
6) there needs to be a place for that loud music and in the back it is not like that....I have never not been able to find something to do on a Carnival ship. I have never encountered anyone on the ship who was not more than willing to assist or accommodate any request, including silly pictures. Of you want that kind of quiet go to RC cause it is like crickets by 8pm...so that should suit your needs and desires better. Cause it sounds like your standards are impossible and unless you charter a private boat you wouldn't be happy and my guess is even then you would have something bad to find.
jjsquyres 6 years ago
@Mike99908378 my husband and I cruised on the magic almost 2 years ago. It was his first cruise and he didn't like many things about it. He said it was like being at Walmart! He really didn't like the constant lines to do everything, get food, go to the bathroom...He wrote off cruising completely. I recently talked him in to doing a cruise for my 40th bday on a different cruise line. We are going on Royal Caribbean next month. I've heard from many people that it is a little nicer cruise line, not as packed and having to wait in line for everything. Fingers crossed he likes this one better!
TNTGreen 6 years ago
I wouldn't write off cruises all together but you sound more like a Holland, Viking or Celebrity Cruiser. You tend to find very few children on those lines and more subdued since they cater to an older crowd and not so much of a Fun Ship that Carnival is known for. It doesn't matter if you're cruising or doing a resort vacation; you need to read what you're purchasing. You purchased the Cheers package but sounds to me that you did not read what you were purchasing since everything is clearly stated on Carnival website prior to clicking Add to Cart. No you did not book an all inclusive cruise but unless you are sailing Viking; all inclusive is non existent on the popular lines.
Martine1973 6 years ago
Wow. Before we write him off cruising altogether maybe we should suggest another cruise line that would be more suitable for his need. Of course it will be a little more expensive but maybe Norwegian Cruise line or even Celebrity would be more his speed. I also had my 1st cruise on the Breeze and I had the same issue about the Serenity deck being right beside the water park. I adore children but it is call serenity and I would have like to have some. If I want to hear screaming I would have stayed at the lido deck. As for the food I somewhat agree but I believe it was better than Applebees but everyone has their own taste. I was told what to expect and therefore my expectations were not to receive 5 stars gourmet meal, except for The Chef's Table which totally delivered. Ok I am rambling. All I want to say is I appreciate your honest review and you made very valid point. Just don't base your experience on 1 cruise only. Thanks 😀
GospelCruiser 6 years ago
I would say cruising is not for you!!!! We have never had problems getting food in the windjammer,might take a bit to find a table but we always find one and no complaints about the food other then the portions are to small at dinner but that's ok,you just order as much as you want!