Met Expectations Unfortunately

Carnival Magic Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern

jtreehorn4042

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 20

Overall rating:

3.1 out of 5

Verified Review

8 Night Southern Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: February 25, 2023

Ship: Carnival Magic

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 12040

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

In fairness to Carnival, it's not propped up as a high end experience. In my opinion, it's a good line to start with or if you just don't have a very high cruising budget. It could also appeal to the drinking and partying crowd, as they do try to make things fun throughout the ship. Pros: Embarkation and Debarkation were one of the best we've experienced. Other cruise lines could take a lesson from the Carnival Magic. Guy's burgers are the best at sea. The deserts, in particular the cakes were very good and higher quality than some other lines we've been on. You must try the melting chocolate cake. Our Cabin Steward, John was so helpful and nice. He seemed very genuine and friendly. We loved him. The atrium entertainment went throughout the day and evening and was generally very good for that type of venue. Great violinists and female singer. Cons: Overall the food was poor. The buffet is the worst we've ever experienced. MUCH smaller than lines like NCL. And it had limited hours so you had to plan where to eat more than I like. Service in the main dining room was overall good but one night I had the worst service ever with a waiter who simply wouldn't honor any simple requests like asking for bread or a second dessert. Their staff, like most lines, is spread too thin in the dining rooms and its all they can do to keep up. And you feel it. Entertainment was mediocre and they used the same entertainers to do most of the shows. That puts a lot of stress on them to know all the choreography and routines. Most of them couldn't sing or dance all that well with the exception of a couple. The cruise cabin had not apparently been updated as the carpet was worn and dirty looking in a few places. There was chipped off trim in places too but was overall clean.