Hey, y’all! After seeing how successful my review of the Carnival Elation was, I decided to write another review- this time for the Carnival Magic. My intentions for these reviews is to share my honest opinion of the vessel and to give you a little insight before you book your trip.
To give you a little background, I’m what you might consider a Cruise Expert at this point. I’ve been on countless cruises, somewhere between the 15 and 20 range. I’ve cruised all throughout The Caribbean from Aruba to Nassau, and from Belize to Tortola. We’ve even done an incredible Alaskan cruise that sailed out of Seattle.
About Carnival Magic
When the Carnival Magic first was unveiled in 2011, jaws dropped. This incredible vessel offered state of the art amenities that were almost unheard of including the first ropes course at sea. The Carnival Magic is a member of the Dream class which basically means that this sucker is huge and full of incredible features such as a laid back pub, a delicious Italian restaurant, and my favorite, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse.
Ship Amenities
Cucina del Capitano Italian Restaurant
RedFrog Pub
RedFrog Rum Bar
SportSquare outdoor recreation area with the first ropes course at sea.
Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse
BlueIguana Cantina
Alchemy Bar
What I Liked
Amenities- The amenities on this ship are obviously the vessel’s biggest highlight. There is no way you can ever be bored on this ship. There are bars, restaurants, clubs and entertainment hubs tucked away all over the place.
The Food Options- This ship boasts a range of restaurant options such as Seafood Shack, Guy’s Pig & Ancho Bar-B-Que, Guy’s Burger Joint, a pizza station, a Mongolian wok, a deli, BlueIguana Cantina, and my favorite the Cucina del Capitano. Many of these options on only available on select ships so be sure to take advantage of them while you can!
Seaside Theater- Carnival Magic has two saltwater pools. The Beach Pool is located mid-ship and is located directly under a massive LED TV known as Carnival’s Seaside Theater. I tell you, there is nothing quite like watching a movie under the stars while the sea breeze blows through your hair!
The Hot Tubs are Tucked Away- Many ships have all of the hot tubs located on the Lido Deck. This isn’t the case for Carnival Magic. There are hot tubs scattered across several of the decks.
The Cabana Feel- I absolutely love the Lido Deck on Carnival Magic! They upgraded the old, worn blue lounge chairs and replaced them with incredibly comfortable chaise lounges. There are also several small “cabanas” scattered around the deck that are a wonderful place to enjoy a copy of coffee or view the Seaside Theater featured movie.
The Serenity Deck- The Serenity Deck is a 21+ spot that is ideal for escaping the little ones. This is available on all ships but the one on Carnival Magic is gloriously huge. I can’t even begin to calculate how many hours I spent here on my last trip. It comes complete with hammocks, jacuzzis, a bar, and an overall sense of privacy.
RedFrog Pub- Our family loved the RedFrog Pub! It was a vibrant, fun little space where we could grab a pint before dinner. They also have a special menu where you can order delicious appetizers to enjoy.
What I Didn’t Like
The Lines- Since the ship is so large, the lines can be ridiculously long. I waited over 40 minutes at the Mongolian wok which is practically unheard of. Unfortunately, this is the price you have to pay for a ship with a guest capacity of 3,690.
The Kids- Unfortunately, one thing drawbacks of having so many amenities are the kids that come with them. Now, I love kids but they are everywhere. Everywhere. Often times they are unaccompanied (who can blame the parents, though?). When I was that age I was running around by myself as well. Of course, kids are just par for the course. Keep in mind that this is a family ship. If the thought of kids bothers you, book an adult only resort.
Ugh, The Smoke!- Non-smokers will tell you that the smoking areas on the ship are always the worst. This isn’t limited to Carnival Magic- this is on all ships. The fact that you have to pass through the smoky casino to get anywhere is a huge negative.
Where Does The Carnival Magic Sail
Carnival Magic offers year-round Caribbean cruises leaving out of Port Canaveral, Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. She visits a wide range of ports including Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Nassau, Half Moon Cay, San Juan, St. Thomas, Cozumel, Belize, Grand Cayman, Mahogany Bay, Bermuda, Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Curacao, and La Romana.
Overall Opinion
I can’t say enough good things about Carnival Magic. It offers top-notch amenities, a fantastic selection of foods and a plethora of fun. This is by far one of my favorite ships in the fleet!
I give the ship itself 5 out of 5 anchors.
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