luvs2beachit

Love reading your review!  I will be on the Spirit for 23 days in April/May 

doing a b2b of the Panama Canal transit and Alaska.

Thanks for taking the time to write your report.

9 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

9 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

We left home at 11:10 and after a 15 minute cab ride, we were on the ship at 11:50.  We never had such an easy embarkation.

 

Our cabin....Deck 1...Deluxe Ocean View.  I've done "the Canada thing" about a dozen times.  And I know, a balcony is a waste....it's too cold, windy and foggy to sit out there.  This cabin was great.  We had a giant window....lots of floor space....way more closet space than necessary....and 2 bathrooms.  Because we were so low we could see how fast the ship was moving.  Totally different view than if on a high deck.  I wish I could get "this cabin" on all future cruises (generally we do balcony).

 

The food.  Nobody starved.  The best meals I had were paninis from the deli (although not on traditional panini bread...so not real paninis).  The cakes/desserts were very good in the buffet...other things, just ok.  We ate at the Blue Iguana once....not impressed....especially if you're used to real Mexican food.  We ate in the MDR once....again, not impressed.

 

The entertainment.  Not "B'way quality" but not B'way prices either.

 

The casino.  Give and take...mostly take.  But I did get a lot of play time.

 

The ports.  Sadly, a lot of our "regular places to buy stuff" weren't there any longer.

 

One big gripe DH had.  He buys a lot of gifts (not the bargain special stuff) to give people.  They no longer have the Carnival bags....or any bags.  You can buy one for $2.  But otherwise, you carry in in your hands.  I mean....I don't complain about "nickel and diming" because everyone needs to make a living or make up for 2 years of lost revenue.  But no bags is ridiculous!!!!

 

Disembarkation....we just walked off.  No lines........

 

DH and I thought this was a great cruise.  Others (FB group) would disagree.

 

 

     I was on the same cruise and I am sitting here laughing because your review is almost word for word what my experience was.  The only comments I would edit are that I was in a Deluxe Ocean View on deck 2 instead of deck one!  My comments about the cabin would have been the same as yours, we LOVED the cabin and would book it again in a heartbeat!

My second edit would be about the deli, I have a soft spot for the Reuben, not exactly Katz deli, but still good.

This was the 3rd time on the Magic and have another one booked for next year.  Thanks for the great review!!

On 8/26/2022 at 4:52 PM, joyandjerry said:

I found a link on Seabourn's site (by chance, I have not cruised with them) for using ArriveCAN for cruise ship pax. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks very complete, with pix. The link is here.

Thanks for posting the link.  I  sail on Saturday and had several questions about 

completing the ArriveCan documentation and I was able to find all the info I was 

looking for in the Seabourn directions.

😃

Does anyone know what movies will be playing on the Magic this month?

TIA

Thanks for responding.  I thought it was for both but wanted to confirm.

For those who have received casino offers that included the princess plus package can you tell me if the 

offer is for both persons in the cabin or just the promo recipient. 

TIA

On 7/20/2022 at 12:54 PM, calumtdon said:

I lost my husband almost 2 years ago and have been spending most of my time closeted away. We so enjoyed cruising together that I thought it would be extremely odd for me to go alone. But I am taking the leap and have scheduled the December 23 cruise on celebrity cruise line out of Tampa over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.  I am hoping to enjoy the time away to chill on the open seas and maybe meet other solo travelers. It might be nice to share a drink or two.  If you’ve got any tips for me please let me know.

  I too did the same thing after my husband passed,  I closeted myself away and avoided social interaction.  My kids and friends starting  haunting me to start getting back into life but easier said then done.  The shortly thereafter I received an email from a cruiseline offering great deals and I decided that was a good way to not only shut my kids up but also to take that first step. My husband and I had been on 50 plus cruises so it was familiar territory.   I booked a cruise for last June out of NY.  I can't say it was completely solo as I knew someone who was also on the cruise but we didn't spend all our time together just some meals and conversations so I considered it semi-solo.  I booked another cruise for this September which I will be really solo so I am calling it  my first solo cruise.

I am very glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and booked that cruise in June!

On 7/31/2022 at 3:03 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

This is an important advantage of sailing on two or more consecutive cruises.  There is increased familiarity with the crew and that, sometimes, results in improved service.  

I agree!  I just completed a b2b in July and many crew members knew me.

Also, by the second cruise I knew my way around the ship and where all the good hiding spots were!

58 minutes ago, Dkconnor said:

Has anyone recently cruised on the Magic and done self-debarkation at Manhattan Cruise Terminal? How long did it take you to leave the ship and get through customs/immigration? 
Do you remember what time the process began? Thanks! 

I didn't do it but my friend did.  She had to go to the designated area for self carry off at 730am and was processed off and out on 12th ave before 8am, grabbed a cab to Penn Station and was on the train out to Long Island by 9am.  She said it worked great for her.

On 7/14/2022 at 2:14 PM, Tradestock said:

Since the restart, we have taken approximately 5 cruises and have not used it.  We will not use it for our upcoming cruises either.  I could not determine where our passport and health information is transmitted or stored, so will not consider using it.  In my opinion, it takes no longer to look at a sheet of paper than it does a phone screen.  Over and above, we still have to carry the paper copies and have them available, if there is a question at the port.  This is a deal breaker for us, if it becomes a requirement.

,I agree.  Who is Verify and how do I know they can be trusted with my personal information?  In particular, what will they do with it in the future when none of this info will be needed for travel?





 

On 7/18/2022 at 10:18 PM, smears said:

Something is wrong with me. Now I'm looking at ones to Alaska. They sent me 3 offers for free rooms, 1 interior, 1 balcony and 1 oceanview and apparently I can use each one 2 times. So I could book one for next year to Alaska and it would just be the taxes like under 300 bucks. 

 

Seriously. Someone has to talk me down.

Seriously, from the voice of experience, if you see something you like that works for you book it!  These cruise deals can vanish.  Categories and cabin allotment can and  do sell out.   I have a b2b booked for Oct. 23 for a total of 26 days, first 10 days on an Italy, Greece and Turkey cruise followed by 16 day TA back to Miami.  It was posted for only a few days and then vanished.  So glad I booked it when I did.

On 7/12/2022 at 2:28 PM, Illbcruzn4life said:

I've done plenty of insides too. If the price difference means I can't cruise because of the balcony , I would have no problem with boking the inside cabin.

Exactly!

Just got off a b2b yesterday and we didn't have too bad an experience checking in and we did not have Verify.  From start to finish took us about 20-25 minutes.  We are also platinum, and like you, we were 3/4 down the line until we were directed to the priority line.  Our boarding time was scheduled for 1st boarding at 10AM..

Thanks for the replies.  I also got it via email about an hour after I posted.

Completed and submitted the health assessment, bags are packed and test is negative! Ready to board!!

Got an email from Carnival advising that we needed to fill out a Pre-boarding Health Assessment form prior to our cruise on 6/20 .  The email 

directs me to log into my cruise manager in order to complete the form.  My problem is that there is not a Pre-boarding Health Assessment form listed on my things to do list.  Has anyone else had this problem.  Is there something I am doing wrong?

Thanks

We  cruising on Monday and I have scheduled my covid test for Friday, 3 days before based on Carnivals definition of fully vaccinated.

I have had two shots and one booster (3/30/2022) and am not eligible for a second booster until Aug.  

My concern is that I was eligible for a booster months prior but didn't get it until March.  Am I still considered up to date with only the 

one booster shot?  The wording on the website says up-to-date with all eligible booster shots in order to test 3 days in advance.

Does that mean that I am supposed to have had the second booster in order to qualify for the 3 days test  or am I considered up-to-date

because I am not eligible for the 2nd booster until August??  I know crazy!  I am making myself and everyone around me crazy

On 6/4/2022 at 10:31 PM, shippmates said:

It is on the Queen Mary 2 round trip out of NYC.  Yes it is 23 days.  There are stops in Germany, Southampton, Amsterdam and Belgium.  So sorry for your loss.  

 

Your cruise sounds wonderful! The Queen Mary, 23 days round trip and fabulous ports.  Have a great journey.

Thanks for taking the time to write such an interesting and fun review!

You had me laughing out loud multiple times.  You are a great writer! 

Thanks for taking the time to write your report.  I will be on the ship for  a repositioning cruise next April.  You provided great information,

Hi Jill,

Thank you for your condolences.  It seems we are both in the same boat, so to speak, trying to navigate new territory.  Well, maybe not new territory but rather old territory from a different direction.  I live on the south shore Plainedge/ Seaford area.  Where are you located?

I can certainly identify with your trying to get the courage to make the call because it was the same for me.  When I finally made the decision to book I was a bit surprised how ok I felt afterward.  

Sadly, I am also in the same situation.  I lost my husband at the beginning of this year.  We loved cruising and had been on many over the past 20+ years.  We had a bucket list of places we still wanted to go as well as places we wanted to revisit but because of his illness and Covid we had to stop traveling about 5 yrs ago. My goal is to try and to cross off a few of those dreams from our bucket list. So far because of the current great prices I have  booked a return trip to Canada / New England for this Sept. and a B2B  in April of 23 to cross off 2 new items with a B2B of a full Panama Canal transit followed by a 7 day Alaska cruise.  These will be my first solo cruises so a whole new experience.

Please accept my condolences for the loss of your spouses.

Loving your review but sadly I also can't see your pictures.

Will be sailing out of Tampa in Jan. 2023 and would appreciate suggestions for reasonably priced hotels 

It's only for one night so doesn't have to be 5 *. Airpt. Shuttle and breakfast included would be nice.

TIA

Well, here's hoping the ship will be doing a spring TA to Europe because I am booked on a b2b in Oct. 2023 10day Greece and Turkey cruise followed by a 15 day TA Rome to Tampa.