LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 #1 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I'll have photos to come and more details. But this is a synopsis: Carnival MAGIC out of Galveston Itinerary: Roatan, Belize, Cozumel Master of the Vessel: Antonio Marchetti. Truly a good Captain! He is understandable listening to his noon briefings over the intercom. He is approachable and warm during the cruise and at the Captain's Celebration on Deck 5 before dinner seatings. Cruise Director: Skip Lyons, from Australia. Very good! I enjoyed his humor, attentiveness, manners, approachability and availability. He was constantly out and about and seen! His Love and Marriage Show was one of the Best I've seen!! And the Gender Showdown he hosts is a HOOT!!! Cabin: 10204, a 4J, Interior, obstructed view, handicap mobility accessible on the LIDO Deck 10. One complaint about the cabin -- made as twins and this one the beds were one aft to forward and one port to starboard -- and only one bed could see the tv from your pillow. (Nana didn't get this bed -- but she did get the bed closest to the bathroom.) There is ample room for wheelchair turnaround in the cabin and in the bathroom. Very easy for a power chair! NEVER enough storage space in closets or drawers -- but I had the shoe bag for over the bathroom door and we just made do. We each had one shelf, in one closet. and one drawer in the vanity/desk. Sheryl had one closet and Nana and I shared the other. We had to remove all the life vests and stow them under the beds. Sheryl had one side of the bathroom vanity and Nana and I shared the other. Cabin Stewards: Gugum and Daniel -- efficient and thorough. Always had ice for us. Accommodating to make the bunk for us, so we could have the sofa as a sofa during the day. (There wasn't much headroom -- was it was great to have a sofa.) MDR: Early Seating, Upper Northern Lights, Table for 5, #415. Great view of the passageway on Deck 4 and great people watching -- but impossible to see the downstairs' waiters dancing. But we got up when we wanted to see that! Head Waiter: Sandro, from Peru -- he'll be off for six months then back on board from New York Waiters: Fritz from Jamaica (from some angles he looked like a tall Ben Vereen -- Sheryl said "Who is Ben Vereen?")and Catherine from Peru Weather was rain and sprinkles during the day. I think the Captain routed us around storms and squalls, because we could see some. Most of the days HOT, sunny and HUMID! Most of the nights, RAIN and THUNDER and LIGHTNING! Some folks had queasy tummies when they woke -- but it really wasn't bad. I doubt we ever had higher than 8-10 foot waves. Mostly calm and 2-4 foot waves. Freezing cold (to me) on Sunday as we sailed into Galveston!! Brrrrrr... Food was GREAT! But then, maybe I'm easy to please! There was shrimp on the menu every night, so Wingie, a cabinmate was content. (She is a Royal devotee, and her words, "Never eats in the dining room." But we ate there every night! and even she liked the food!!) Nana always had a selection to her liking and most of the time, it was even on her diet/diabetic -- healthy choice with a heart on the menu. Her prime rib was too fatty and gristly, but an ample slice that she had plenty of good meat for her serving! Dennis's, our tablemate, had the BEST SLICE and he ate every bite! Favorite Lido food: Lambie: Tandoori -- clay oven fish, farmer's salad and nan!! Nana: Deli and her Ruben sandwich Wingie: Salad Bar and 24/7 ice cream Mexican Buffet at 11PM: WONDERFUL. Didn't eat a thing -- too full -- but the decorations and desserts are captured in my photos!!! OH BOY!!! Chocolate Extravaganza on Saturday Lunch: YUMMMMMMY!! Grabbed a platter from a food line and filled it for Nana and me!!! Got photos of this too! Entertainment: Big Production Shows were GREAT!! Dancers, singers, band OUTSTANDING!!! Monday night Grooveline (I've seen before) was spectacular. Nana LOVED IT!! Music of the 70's and 80's, loud, and wonderful!! Seating in the lounge for wheelchairs is HARD TO COME BY!!! Only 4 places for wheelchairs. Wednesday night was Destination Unknown -- an Illusion show. Full Las Vegas style!! OUTSTANDING!! Nana and I got doused with confetti and she LOVED it all!!! Friday night Motown and More, I can't review this -- Nana wasn't up to going! We didn't make the Legends show, either. Park West Art Auctions: Wingie bought three prints by LEBO -- a new artist they have. Very nice and happy feeling captured in his art -- Like Britto, my favorite!! Your don't have to think or ponder too much, just look and smile!! Shopping on board -- didn't do much at all. Wingie bought a $10 watch and t-shirts and we window shopped. She also frequented the Cherry on Top candy store. She loved that!!! Shopping in ports: Roatan, GREAT PRICES in the second group of stores on the left as you walk up the rise. The first building's stores had no prices on them. I asked for a few prices and I swear they sized me up and gave me a price of what they thought I would pay, and a different price to someone else. I commented that I don't want to have to haggle and guess and ask and left. Their stores were neat and nice -- but I want to know where to start, before I haggle!!! We bought some wooden items, mahogany candy dishes for the office and necklaces and trinkets and t-shirts and thought they were all reasonable! Wingie bought sapphires at the Effy store. Necklace and ring. Didn't debark in Belize Cozumel: Great shopping always!!! Jewelry of course, but I only bought souvenirs and rum cakes!! Wingie bought ruby earrings, necklace and ring. She wanted a pink stone and the lower quality rubies fit the bill!!! She got a good price and is quite happy. Sunrises: OUTSTANDING!! Beyond words!!! Got photos, too many of course!! There was rain and clouds for some -- but still WONDERFUL! I was completely awestruck at the colors of one!!! God blessed me with a treat that morning!!! I'd go out on the not-so-secret-deck on Deck 10/Lido, about eight steps from our cabin door, wearing my bathrobe over my nightgown. I'd meet one man almost each morning and another I saw frequently. He and I started talking. He was traveling with a woman, who wanted to spend all his money, since hers was gone, she gambled it away on the second day. We'd just stand there in awe of the sunrises!!! And chat and he'd be smiling when we'd head back to our cabins. Nana and Wingie slept through most --but our cabin window did allow Nana to pull back the curtains and see the sunrise out the "obstructed window" on our southbound mornings!!! (And not wake Wingie...) We did have a SuperMoon while on board and was it beautiful and orange and big!!! Teatime: I made it to one, on Monday. GREAT!! And I had a wonderful table of new friends!!! But I couldn't believe how popular and full it's getting! We filled about 2/3s of the aft of the upper Southern Lights MDR. Normally about 1/3 or 1/4 of that area is full! No piano on the Magic -- but the music was light and classical! And they put on more servers and sent out more food for everyone. Love and Marriage show was so great, I watch it on TV, too!! Skip did get a little carried away with the newlywed husband and kept picking on him -- but I think hubby was OK by the end of the show! But the answers the 68 year married couple gave were PRICELESS!!! If you don't want to know the questions... Stop reading this paragraph -- they were mostly the normal ones, but Skip's personality just made them funny and FUNNIER!!! *Where and when did you met? *Rate your very first kiss, together, 1 - 10. *Who was your hubby's girlfriend just before you and what did you hate about her? And the hubby has to say what he LOVED about her... *"You haven't seen ugly, until you've seen my wife's ____." *What is your husband's most disgusting habit? *When is your husband more macho? ...in bed, out of bed, or in his head? *Gentlemen, your wife bends over, how would you describe what you see. What do you think about when your wife bends over? Ladies, tell us about your bottom. *When your man steps out of the shower, what do you see -- a stretch limo, a Ford Dump truck, or a Volkswagen with two flat tires? *You have a parrot in your bedroom, he listens to everything, what would the parrot learn to say? *If your man could be an animal, what would he be and why? ... and Skip really tried to get the couples to change their answers by tricking them into what their spouse wrote -- but it wasn't true!!! The 68 year married couple... Getting out of the shower? The man said he was a hummer. (The crowd laughs and laughs) "No," Skip insisted, "You can't make up answers, it has to be one of mine." He changed it to Volkswagen and it matched the wife's. Bending over? She says it looks like too much -- he said -- and Skip started laughing as he read this, and asked if they were travelling with anyone. They had their two adult daughters stand up and said, "Let me paint a picture about your Mum and Dad. Your Dad said it was like looking at an Open Invitation. The crowd roared!!! Yes -- this was an adults only, 10pm show, with disclaimers and warnings!!! And the animal? She said -- no I can't remember... but it didn't match her husband. Skip blushed a bit when he started to read it, asked for the daughters to stand again, then asked the couple if it was OK if he shared the answer. Wife said, "It's his paper!" He wrote, A Great Stallion -- because she likes to ride! (Now, he might have meant this in a sweet way -- but by this time of the show -- NO ONE took it that way!!!) Nana loved the whole show, too!!! The CD Q&A and stories about ship life on Saturday at 11am just wasn't long enough!! Skip did a great job with this!! He's been with Carnival since 1996 and left being a high roller dealer at a posh casino in Australia to be a dealer on the ship. The Casino bosses commented that he talked too much (and maybe this wasn't a bad thing) and in 1998, he started the Casino Host position and went around the fleet initiating that position. Then Entertainment staff picked him up and he was on the inaugural cruise of the Elation, all the way from Helsinki. Even through a hurricane when they had to go from NYC to Miami for christening and press of her first cruise out of Miami. The MAGIC has so much to offer. I loved the slides!!! The Sports Square, the Serenity Deck, the ropes course, all OUTSTANDING!!! Plenty of shaded places to lounge and plenty of sun and chairs! Most on Sea Days the pools were crowded, but on port days, it was easy to use the slides, the pools and just HAVE A BLAST!! I hope that's enough. OVERALL RATING... FIVE STARS!!! Great Cruise, great people, above expectations!!! LOVED IT!!! Now let me tell you the story with photos from beginning to end... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aggie182 Posted September 20, 2014 #2 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Nice review - Will be on the Magic Oct. 5 for Key West, Nassau, and Freeport. I am really looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgbteacher Posted September 20, 2014 #3 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I can't wait. I love your reviews! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #4 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I normally drive down to the port of Galveston on the morning of the cruise, but we decided to go in on Saturday... at least to Houston, since it was a noon home football game for the Texans and I didn't trust what traffic and tailgaters might be like. As I researched Galveston hotels, I found -- the Monday before the cruise -- I had waited too long to get a deal in Galveston, so I looked in the Houston area. No, I wanted to get passed Houston and be south of there on Sunday morning. Maybe an alternative road, since everyone was talking about all the construction on IH45 -- and lo and behold, I found Hwy 6. And there are hotels in the town of Alvin. Then I saw the listing for a Best Western Plus in Manvel -- and made our reservations. Nana is in a wheelchair, Wingie is a co-worker cruising with us, and me all pile into the van at 1:30pm on Saturday afternoon. We plan a leisurely drive down, with stops for Nana and stretching our legs... and other "necessities" -- and of course, eating!!! After all we're going on a cruise and there will be EATING!!! Let's just start now!!! (I don't have lots of food photos, so don't worry...) We head out of Austin and take 71 to IH10. We passed the Buc-cees in Bastrop and decided we'll stop at Hruska's just north of Columbus instead! They have great bathroom and Nana will be fine, there, too!! We couldn't believe the northbound traffic -- then we remembered there was a home Longhorns game this night!! The traffic was light and not bad in west Houston/Katy, so we stayed on IH10 till IH610 -- OH BOY!!! OH BOY!!! Didn't realize UH also had a night home game... BUMPER TO BUMPER!!! until we rounded the left curve to the Astrodome and new Stadium. (It isn't Reliant Stadium any more, is it???) Then went on to Hwy 288 south and on to Hwy 6. We arrived at the hotel about 5pm. Our room was fine. Two King sized beds, under $100, with breakfast in the morning! Then we headed out to the Dollar Store -- that's about the only store in Manvel -- for a couple things we forgot... and to dinner at Bresa's Tex-Mex. I was THRILLED... They had NASCAR on their TV!!! Plus the food was OUTSTANDING and the prices quite reasonable. Back to sleep and awake for breakfast. Now, here's where the hotel could improve. The hot and cold cereals were fine, the bagels and breads were OK. The coffee and tea, GREAT... but the eggs weren't great (altho' Nana ate them), and the biscuits and gravy were like Hockey pucks and watery gravy. But you know, we're off for a cruise -- where the food is good and ever-flowing... Who cares!!! We left the hotel at 9:08am, arrived in Galveston, via Hwy 6, about 10:10. HEAVY RAIN crossing the bridge!!! I dreaded unloading Nana and suitcases in this downpour!! So, we prayed for it to clear at least for the time it would take to unload and board. But they rain continued, until we got onto that Harbor/Shoreline road and it started to clear. Once we saw the ship, under no rain... it was clear till well passed sail away! PRAYERS WORK!!! I dropped Nana and Wingie off at the terminal, with suitcases and carry ons, and drove over to the Park and Cruise lot. Was I SURPRISED!! They've changed the exits from the terminal drop off to get back on to the main road and parking. We used to go right out, by the Carnival Terminal, but now we had to stay this side of the railroad tracks till way passed the RCCL ship and parking lots. Park and Cruise is still very handy -- but a headache to get to after dropping people off!! I park and walk back to the terminal and find Nana and Wingie waiting for me -- but the lines have already opened before 10:30am. With Nana in a wheelchair and me being Platinum, we don't wait long! We go through the security screening and no problems with 2 12-packs of Diet Dr. Pepper or a power strip for recharging the wheelchair in our carry ons. Head around to the elevator and up to VIP check in! Walking by the Wedding waiting area, we see there is one wedding on board today! (And we met them in the Love and Marriage Game!) Up to the counter for our S&S cards and our photos to be taken... SMILE... and now we sit and wait to be called for boarding! Look who we run unto in the terminal... Batman is gracious enough to pose for a photo with Nana before we are scolded... "No photos in the terminal!" Oops!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #5 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Nice review - Will be on the Magic Oct. 5 for Key West, Nassau, and Freeport. I am really looking forward to it. I did that route once... We did a B2B for my DD's 21st birthday and she LOVE Key West and Nassau. Neither of us cared for Freeport -- but we didn't have anything planned and you NEED to go somewhere or just stay on board in Freeport. I hope you have a GREAT cruise, great weather and FUN FUN FUN!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bury me at sea Posted September 20, 2014 #6 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Enjoyed your review. I like the Magic too, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I can't wait. I love your reviews! Shucks and Thank you!!! Heck, I love writing them and recording my thoughts of the cruise. I save them and it's like a diary for me!!! But when folks read 'em and comment, I'm especially happy! I might take some time, since I have chores and work and Nana at home... But I'll get it done!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #8 Share Posted September 20, 2014 So, let me show you Cabin 10203, Lido Deck, Deck 10. This is a 4J cabin. It's in the interior category and price range, so it's just a little less than an oceanview -- but there are fully accessible cabins for wheelchairs!!! When I don't travel with Nana, I love balconies and these 4Js. There are some 4Js that are not reserved for wheelchairs, so always look for them!!! This shows the sofa being made as a bed. We asked Gugum to changed it to make the bunk a bed, so we would have the sofa... I'll have more photos later. The window looks out over a deck over the bow. People walk by the window and could look in, but they'd have to cup their hands to see in in the daylight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #9 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Once settled and the carry ons are stowed, and passports in the safe, our stomachs are grumbling... It's time to wander out on Lido deck and find some food!!! Never hard to come by on a ship!!! From our forward cabin, we walk through the Fun Hub on Deck 10. This is where the computers are for this deck. Also, you see they have a special Cat n the Hat Breakfast on Saturday for a small fee! We didn't do this -- but I know of kiddos who would love it!!! Wingie decides on Salad bar and Nana and I have Tandoori. You have to walk all the way aft -- out the doors to the aft pool, and on the starboard side is the Tandoor food!!! LOVE IT!!! I have the clay oven baked fish, nan and farmer's salad! Now off and around the ship... Wingie finds batman in the Red Frog pub Me too! I give him kiss... Taking Nana back to the cabin, Wingie and I head out to the Bow Deck of Deck 10 and try to peek in our window. You can see her suntan lotion on the windowsill -- but only our reflection, not into the cabin. And when I cup my hands around the lense and purposefully look in, you can just barely see Nana's head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #10 Share Posted September 20, 2014 From this deck, you can see back to the Navigator of the Seas... And forward up the channel, where we'll sail after Muster Drill... And over the starboard side, we look back and see the gangway (white with glass), the top of the terminal buildings and the loading dock of the pier.... Some little speed boat is getting awfully sassy out there!!! You can see in the sky, the threat of rain --but there's just a bit of a breeze and a very comfortable temperature for sailaway. Muster Drill / Safety Drill is about to start. On our S&S cards, we find we're 4A for our Muster Station, so we head down to Deck 4, and outside the Show Lounge doors is the Handicapped Muster Station. There are other wheelchairs and people with special needs and we all just wait for everyone to be in their place. We don't have to carry out life jackets to Muster, but the crew demonstrates how to put them on and their features. We also are told to go to our cabins and get the life jackets in the event of a real emergency -- and that a crew member will be assigned to us and be sure to escort us from our cabin to the life boat if it ever would be necessary! Ahhh... Muster is over and we get released a few minutes before everyone else does, and get back to the elevators to watch sailaway... We're moving!!! We're leaving!!! Our cruise has begun!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #11 Share Posted September 20, 2014 The Bridge is Deck 8 -- so we're two deck higher than the Captain -- but we see the same thing. And sailing out, it's fun to watch!!! Leaving the channel, there's lots to see in Galveston! There are many folks on the dock in front of Harbor House waving good-bye to us!!! The birds are watching us leave, too! We're about to pass SeaWolf Park... and we can just barely see the lighthouse straight in front of us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #12 Share Posted September 20, 2014 ...and a close up of the lighthouse with my zoom lens... Turning to head away, we see a few ships... Good-Bye Galveston... Hello FUN FUN FUN!!! Back in the cabin, we look at the dinner menu for tonight on tv: Here's the Everyday menu -- we always have this available... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted September 20, 2014 and specifically for tonight's choices: Our table mates are already thee when we're seated... I love the glass wall behind us, for people watching! And Wingie and Nana... and the other view of the MDR behind us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #14 Share Posted September 20, 2014 and Sandro and Fritz... I didn't take photos of all the food selections. We've cruised many times, but this is the first time to order the chips and guacamole and salsa for Nana... I chose the fried chicken tenders... And Wingie, the fried spring rolls... Sweet and sour shrimp for the main course... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LambKnuckles Posted September 20, 2014 Author #15 Share Posted September 20, 2014 (edited) Now, back to the cabin for Nana. Wingie says she's tired too! I did all the driving for the past two days, so I am too! So we just get ready for bed and I went out to sit and enjoy the sailing on the forward deck. Here's what we had to greet us: A Stingray on Wingie's bed. You can see a corner of my bunk... And how our cabin looks with the bunk made and the sofa as a sofa! The hallway to the bathroom -- we use a shoe bag outside the bathroom door to hold more things as the cruise goes on! Nightie Night... Our first Sea Day will be next!!! Edited September 20, 2014 by LambKnuckles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda the Book Lover Posted September 20, 2014 #16 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Wow a wonderful review! I loved your writing and all of the great pictures. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boaterette Posted September 20, 2014 #17 Share Posted September 20, 2014 As always a wonderful review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peppa26 Posted September 20, 2014 #18 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Enjoyed your photos and reviews! We will be on Magic in Dec, sailing out to Key West and Bahamas. It will be the first time for us to be on Magic so it's great to be able to see what she has to offer from your photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rene194215 Posted September 21, 2014 #19 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Cant wait to read more!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruisin4cruisin Posted September 21, 2014 #20 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Great review! Can't wait to read more and more and more!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted September 21, 2014 #21 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Enjoying your review and photo's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
092306 Posted September 21, 2014 #22 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Enjoying your review and pictures. Thanks for sharing the recap of the Love and Marriage show. Sounds like you saw a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labsnabys Posted September 21, 2014 #23 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Love your review so far! We are sailing on Magic for Christmas and can't wait! Lisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eeyoregon Posted September 21, 2014 #24 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Thank you for taking the time to do a review. I leave on the Magic 3 weeks from tomorrow. :D You're Nana is freaking adorable! Gina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugsokc Posted September 21, 2014 #25 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Great review & photos! Thanks for sharing!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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