Just off the Magic, a few observations, questions welcome...

Departed the Magic last Sunday. A few observations, questions welcome.

Staggered check in at Galveston was great! You can drop off your luggage any time, but you can't enter the terminal until it is your time. It was enforced. I was Platinum but my friends were not. The lines in security and to get your S&S cards were very short in both the VIP and regular lines. From walking into the terminal to waiting to board was not more than 10 minutes. We had the 10:30 to 11:00 boarding time.

Order to board the ship: Wedding parties, Diamond, Platinum, FTTF, zone numbers. It was enforced.

Had a balcony on deck 6. It was great. I had read that the wrap around Lanai on deck 5 interfered with the view from the balcony. My cabin was towards the back where the lania thing narrows and it was perfectly fine. However, had we been closer to midship it would have overlooked a large deck area and hot tubs and I WOULD NOT have been happy with it. I would recommend being either foreward or aft of the wider parts on the lania deck regardless of what deck you are on.

The Magic still has a live band so the shows were good. I despise the Playlist Productions stuff. I really hate it.

No Guy's Burgers, but the burgers were still good.

American Table thing is disappointing. It looks nice, they did a good job of making the tables look good without the table cloths. But the food was disappointing. Why can't we have the duck on lobster night? I can get the same lobster for $6 at my local grocery store, what I really liked was the duck. Anyway, less variety, and nothing really stood out. Deserts were also lacking in variety. No Bitter and Blanc, no bread pudding. The blueberry pie was actually blueberry jello with a few blueberries in it. Do I cruise for the food? No. But as a guy who cruises once a year I have seen the gradual decline in both quality and variety.

Bright spot: The Tandoor Indian place. Prior to this cruise I thought I didn't like Indian food. I ate lunch here every sea day. A few things were vile and inedible (but I saw passengers from India enjoying them), but most things were absolutely delicious. Bread was awesome.

Jamaica: You either love it or hate it. I didn't really need any confirmation that I hate it, but I got some anyway. It's the armpit of the universe.

Grand Cayman: Sting rays and snorkeling with Capt. Marvin. Great time.

Cozumel: Great day at Mr. Sanchos.

Debarkation was easy enough.

It's been four days since I got off the boat and the boat finally stopped moving last night. Ya know what I mean?

Bright spot: The Tandoor Indian place. Prior to this cruise I thought I didn't like Indian food. I ate lunch here every sea day. A few things were vile and inedible (but I saw passengers from India enjoying them), but most things were absolutely delicious. Bread was awesome.

Indian Tandoor is VERY underrated! Great food!

Is the lobster really that small? A 4 oz. tail at my local store is about $6. We have FTTF and have always arrived about 10 AM, and never had any problem. I did pick the 10:30 time, next cruise, as was the earliest offered. So, am I correct in understanding I should not bother to arrive before 10:30 as will not be able to enter the terminal? No biggy, but why arrive 30 minutes too early if I can't go in. We live about a mile from the port so it is easy to get there at an exact time. Love early as possible as want to start my vaca, asap. There is a DOD waiting somewhere with my name on it! Thanks for posting

I agree with Chief on the American Table. We were on the same cruise. Disappointed that in Jamaica all the shops at the port were closed for construction. You had to take a shuttle or cab to shop. $7 one way pp.

Is the lobster really that small? A 4 oz. tail at my local store is about $6.

The lobster tails do tend to be small outside of the steakhouses (where they're definitely larger). Don't feel bad ordering two :cool:.

Bright spot: The Tandoor Indian place. Prior to this cruise I thought I didn't like Indian food. I ate lunch here every sea day. A few things were vile and inedible (but I saw passengers from India enjoying them), but most things were absolutely delicious. Bread was awesome.

 

 

It's been four days since I got off the boat and the boat finally stopped moving last night. Ya know what I mean?

THANKS for your quick observations! Very helpful!

Regarding the Tandoor place, I too believe that I don't care for Indian food, but your comments make me want to try. Which dishes were your faves, and which did you deem not-so-good?

Yep, I DO know what you mean about the boat/ship continuing to rock after returning. Only cure for that is more frequent cruises!!!

So, am I correct in understanding I should not bother to arrive before 10:30 as will not be able to enter the terminal?

That I don't know. We arrived at 10:50 and there was no line at all, but there were quite a few folks waiting to board. There were plenty of seats.

I agree with Chief on the American Table. We were on the same cruise. Disappointed that in Jamaica all the shops at the port were closed for construction. You had to take a shuttle or cab to shop. $7 one way pp.

Can't remember if last time in Jamaica was '09 or '11. Had prebooked a zip line excursion and couldn't go as I had broken my leg in the meantime. We took some sort of hop on hop off bus that I don't think was pricey, to the shopping area that has Margaritaville and the horrible flea market type shops near by. Any thing I saw I never need to see again. Our next cruise stops there and was planning to stay on the ship unless I hear of something good to do I haven't heard of. I have never understood why anyone cares about tablecloths?? Not that you said you did, but it comes up. Happy Thanksgiving!

Regarding the Tandoor place, I too believe that I don't care for Indian food, but your comments make me want to try. Which dishes were your faves, and which did you deem not-so-good?

I don't remember, the selection changes every day. There was always one tandoor fish and one tandoor chicken dish. Some are mild and some are very spicy. The rice is very good. On the condiment side there is a white yogurt sauce with cucumbers. It is very refreshing to go from something spicy to the yogurt sauce, or to use it to cleanse your palate when you switch dishes. The really gross thing (to me) was something that looked like stewed tree bark and was simply labeled "pickle."

There was also a beef dish every day I think. I can't eat red meat so I didn't try it.

Is the lobster really that small? A 4 oz. tail at my local store is about $6. We have FTTF and have always arrived about 10 AM, and never had any problem. I did pick the 10:30 time, next cruise, as was the earliest offered. So, am I correct in understanding I should not bother to arrive before 10:30 as will not be able to enter the terminal? No biggy, but why arrive 30 minutes too early if I can't go in. We live about a mile from the port so it is easy to get there at an exact time. Love early as possible as want to start my vaca, asap. There is a DOD waiting somewhere with my name on it! Thanks for posting

I asked Carnival about this. If you are platinum, diamond, or faster to the fun, you can arrive at the port whenever you wish. The only reason the site has you choose a time is because the software has not been worked out to allow people in these groups to skip it. But it doesn't really matter which choice you choose you can arrive anytime you wish. I'm doing a back to back to back on triumph for my next cruise and the site even had me choose a time to arrive for the second and third cruises. I will already be on board so I don't need an arrival times for the cruises but none the less the computer made me choose one!

THank you for your review. We are on the Magic in January. Definitely going to have to try the Indian food. Is it on Lido with the buffet? One thing I haven't figured out from the website where some of the food locations are outside the main dining room and specialty and buffet.

Thanks Jana60, Great to know!

Re: Tandoor, I have traveled all over the world and even have lived in 3rd world countries. Some of the things I have eaten would "gag a maggot" as my husband says. Believe me, you don't even want to know. But, I have never tried Tandoor. I will literally try any food, at least a taste. BUT! I have to know what it is before I will try it. Every cruise we have taken that has this option, I have never found the servers to speak enough understandable English to let me know even what food group the item is in. All I see is lumps of something floating around in "something". I mean, please?, does it fly, swim, or walk on 2 feet or 4, is all I need to know. I swear every cruise I will try it but haven't yet. Maybe next time.:confused:

Jamaica is like food, pretty subjective. My wife and I personally loved it.

Great review, though. Thanks for posting.

Had a balcony on deck 6. It was great. I had read that the wrap around Lanai on deck 5 interfered with the view from the balcony. My cabin was towards the back where the lania thing narrows and it was perfectly fine. However, had we been closer to midship it would have overlooked a large deck area and hot tubs and I WOULD NOT have been happy with it. I would recommend being either foreward or aft of the wider parts on the lania deck regardless of what deck you are on.

 

Could you expand on what the problem was here? This is about where we are on our next cruise so I"m a little worried.

Could you expand on what the problem was here? This is about where we are on our next cruise so I"m a little worried.

Deck 5 on Dream class ships is a wide deck with hot tubs and lounge chairs along the sides of the ship. Anyone walking on deck 5 can look up and see everything that goes on on the deck 6 balcony. There is no privacy at all.

People sitting in the hot tubs get a great view of the deck 6 balconies and can see a bit of deck 7 balconies. That is precisely why we never got a balcony on any deck lower than deck 8 as we like to be midship near the elevator.

Deck 5 also has the sea day bbq, so there is a lot of smoke from that and the balconies on deck 6 get some of it. When sitting out on deck 6 balconies, you see deck 5, not a real view of the sea as you do on the higher decks.

Having said the above, I'm sure there are those who love deck 6. It's just not a choice for us.

Could you expand on what the problem was here? This is about where we are on our next cruise so I"m a little worried.

Here is a picture from my balcony. As you can see you can walk all around the ship on deck 5. Below my balcony it was narrow and the only way I could actually see anyone on it I had to lean over the rail. However, midships the deck sticks WAY out and even sitting on your balcony you would be looking at people in the hot tubs. Also, on the other side of the ship, that area is the outdoor seating area for the Red Something Pub.

Note that I have the "bowling alley" balcony, second to the last balcony on the ship. So I was way at the back.

Definitely going to have to try the Indian food. Is it on Lido with the buffet?

Yes, on deck 10 at the very back, opposite side from the deli. Also there are some very cool tables next to it that are covered but still have a nice outside feel. Enjoyed breakfast there.

Enjoyed reading your post, I'm always intrigued to read others' opinion of "our girl," the only ship we know. :) I totally disagree with your observation of Jamaica, though. Out of the 7 ports we've visited, Mo Bay remains one of our favorites. Calling it the armpit of the universe is unfair to the beauty of the island and the hospitality of it's people. Granted, their government is corrupt, resulting in an overall poor and oppressed citizenry, but it really is a gorgeous island. We found the people to be gracious and welcoming and the beauty of the island unmatched.

Enjoyed reading your post, I'm always intrigued to read others' opinion of "our girl," the only ship we know. :) I totally disagree with your observation of Jamaica, though. Out of the 7 ports we've visited, Mo Bay remains one of our favorites. Calling it the armpit of the universe is unfair to the beauty of the island and the hospitality of it's people. Granted, their government is corrupt, resulting in an overall poor and oppressed citizenry, but it really is a gorgeous island. We found the people to be gracious and welcoming and the beauty of the island unmatched.

You're right. It was an unfair thing to say based on my limited time there. I really, really want to have the same experience you have had. Maybe I'm just not doing the right things there.

Here is a picture from my balcony. As you can see you can walk all around the ship on deck 5. Below my balcony it was narrow and the only way I could actually see anyone on it I had to lean over the rail. However, midships the deck sticks WAY out and even sitting on your balcony you would be looking at people in the hot tubs. Also, on the other side of the ship, that area is the outdoor seating area for the Red Something Pub.

 

Note that I have the "bowling alley" balcony, second to the last balcony on the ship. So I was way at the back.

 

It's called the Red Frog Pub

Personally, I think calling Jamaica the armpit of the universe is very unfair. I have been on 3 land vacations and 1 cruise to Jamaica. We love Jamaica. It is beautiful and the people love their country. I don't think it's a place to do any shopping. Get out and enjoy nature here- that's the beauty of Jamaica.

Never thought Jamaica was good enough to make it up to armpit standards

Enjoyed reading your post, I'm always intrigued to read others' opinion of "our girl," the only ship we know. :) I totally disagree with your observation of Jamaica, though. Out of the 7 ports we've visited, Mo Bay remains one of our favorites. Calling it the armpit of the universe is unfair to the beauty of the island and the hospitality of it's people. Granted, their government is corrupt, resulting in an overall poor and oppressed citizenry, but it really is a gorgeous island. We found the people to be gracious and welcoming and the beauty of the island unmatched.

Put me down as someone that LOVES Jamaica. Been there 3 times. First time we went to the Dunn River Falls. Sure it's a tourist trap, but who cares, they are beautiful and fun to walk up. The 2nd time we did River Tubing down the White River. Great guides, and Most.Fun.Ever! Our last time we took a 4x4 trip into the mountains. It rained most of the time, which was a bummer, but we ate Jerk Chicken at a roadside stand that was unbelievably good. Every person we have encountered was charming and friendly. Yes, there are places that are probably not safe to go it alone, but I came closer to being robbed in Tallinn, Estonia & Stockholm, Sweden then I ever have in any island in the Caribbean.

Jamaica is like food, pretty subjective. My wife and I personally loved it.

 

Great review, though. Thanks for posting.

I would agree. We were on the Nov 1 sailing of the Magic, which also visted Jamaica and we loved it.

Deck 5 on Dream class ships is a wide deck with hot tubs and lounge chairs along the sides of the ship. Anyone walking on deck 5 can look up and see everything that goes on on the deck 6 balcony. There is no privacy at all.

 

People sitting in the hot tubs get a great view of the deck 6 balconies and can see a bit of deck 7 balconies. That is precisely why we never got a balcony on any deck lower than deck 8 as we like to be midship near the elevator.

 

Deck 5 also has the sea day bbq, so there is a lot of smoke from that and the balconies on deck 6 get some of it. When sitting out on deck 6 balconies, you see deck 5, not a real view of the sea as you do on the higher decks.

 

Having said the above, I'm sure there are those who love deck 6. It's just not a choice for us.

With the few people that actually gather on the Lanai, I wouldn't think privacy is a real bad issue for people on a deck 6 balcony. The Lanai is pretty sparsely populated. Also, the Oceanside BBQ is on the starboard side. So as long as you are on port, you wouldn't have a problem with smoke from the BBQ. Also, on the Magic, the BBQ was mostly pulled pork and sausage. Nothing looked like it was actually grilled.

Departed the Magic last Sunday. A few observations, questions welcome.

 

Staggered check in at Galveston was great! You can drop off your luggage any time, but you can't enter the terminal until it is your time. It was enforced. I was Platinum but my friends were not. The lines in security and to get your S&S cards were very short in both the VIP and regular lines. From walking into the terminal to waiting to board was not more than 10 minutes. We had the 10:30 to 11:00 boarding time.

 

Order to board the ship: Wedding parties, Diamond, Platinum, FTTF, zone numbers. It was enforced.

 

Had a balcony on deck 6. It was great. I had read that the wrap around Lanai on deck 5 interfered with the view from the balcony. My cabin was towards the back where the lania thing narrows and it was perfectly fine. However, had we been closer to midship it would have overlooked a large deck area and hot tubs and I WOULD NOT have been happy with it. I would recommend being either foreward or aft of the wider parts on the lania deck regardless of what deck you are on.

 

The Magic still has a live band so the shows were good. I despise the Playlist Productions stuff. I really hate it.

 

No Guy's Burgers, but the burgers were still good.

 

American Table thing is disappointing. It looks nice, they did a good job of making the tables look good without the table cloths. But the food was disappointing. Why can't we have the duck on lobster night? I can get the same lobster for $6 at my local grocery store, what I really liked was the duck. Anyway, less variety, and nothing really stood out. Deserts were also lacking in variety. No Bitter and Blanc, no bread pudding. The blueberry pie was actually blueberry jello with a few blueberries in it. Do I cruise for the food? No. But as a guy who cruises once a year I have seen the gradual decline in both quality and variety.

 

Bright spot: The Tandoor Indian place. Prior to this cruise I thought I didn't like Indian food. I ate lunch here every sea day. A few things were vile and inedible (but I saw passengers from India enjoying them), but most things were absolutely delicious. Bread was awesome.

 

Jamaica: You either love it or hate it. I didn't really need any confirmation that I hate it, but I got some anyway. It's the armpit of the universe.

 

Grand Cayman: Sting rays and snorkeling with Capt. Marvin. Great time.

 

Cozumel: Great day at Mr. Sanchos.

 

Debarkation was easy enough.

 

It's been four days since I got off the boat and the boat finally stopped moving last night. Ya know what I mean?

Thanks for the review. We have cabin 6305 from what I can tell we are around the casino. I am hopeful we won't have too much noise and still be private but after reading your review, I'm nervous.

How did you like Mr. Sanchos?? How many ships were in port that day and was it crowded or easy to get a chair on the front row of the beach?

Would you go back or somewhere else? Was the food good?