Literally just off the Magic in Galveston - got questions? Ask away!

[tea4ular]

A rough start due to hurricane Patricia but a great trip overall - we sailed less than 50% full - hopping on the Galveston Express to Bush airport -

 

Got questions? Ask away!

:)

[Sheeba67]

A rough start due to hurricane Patricia but a great trip overall - we sailed less than 50% full - hopping on the Galveston Express to Bush airport -

 

Got questions? Ask away!

:)

 

I've never been on a cruise that empty. I bet that made getting drinks and getting a seat in the comedy show a lot easier. Did they end up cancelling a lot of trivia and other on board activities?

[tea4ular]

I've never been on a cruise that empty. I bet that made getting drinks and getting a seat in the comedy show a lot easier. Did they end up cancelling a lot of trivia and other on board activities?

 

Not one thing canceled - not one. We reversed the order of sailing & spent our first night on board in Galveston due to the port being closed - no hard selling; spectacular cruise director; zero annoying announcements; phenomenal staff/crew (as I have always had!) - and every single passenger was kind and thoughtful - first time on Magic & Galveston for us -

[Uncwrn93]

WOW 1/2 full wonder if people just no showed or couldn't get there or what. Glad you had a wonderful trip makes me even more excited for our trip on her in January.

[tea4ular]

WOW 1/2 full wonder if people just no showed or couldn't get there or what. Glad you had a wonderful trip makes me even more excited for our trip on her in January.

 

Hurricane made it near impossible to get to port - we flew in from So Cal Saturday morning (for Sunday sailaway) & even the airline offered a no penalty cancel/rebook - we took our chances - we DID have travel insurance -

[QTPieRye]

How was the CCL flyaweigh experience? We are 69 days out for our cruise in January and info was on our reservation last week and now shows pending again.... did you experience this?

[Cruisegirl6]

How was the lunch buffet? Did you find good choices, did you try the pasta bar above the Lido Marketplace?

 

How was dinner in the MDR, did you have anytime dining, if so how was it? Any good things on the menu for dinner?

 

Who was the band and I assume they played outside the casino area?

 

How were the slots did you play do well?

 

What was available to eat past 11pm besides pizza?

 

So glad you had a good time half empty ship is nice.

[cceasar]

A rough start due to hurricane Patricia but a great trip overall - we sailed less than 50% full - hopping on the Galveston Express to Bush airport -

 

Got questions? Ask away!

:)

 

Sounds like you had a great time. How are the chances for upgrades in these instances? How was cloud 9 spa?

[tea4ular]

How was the CCL flyaweigh experience? We are 69 days out for our cruise in January and info was on our reservation last week and now shows pending again.... did you experience this?

 

Initially we were booked with CCL FlyAweigh, but after some long discussions decided to cancel (full refund, no penalty phase) and booked our flights/car/hotel independently, so I cannot comment on that. Sorry.

 

I do know this...IF we had stayed with the FlyAweigh we would NOT have made it to the ship due to the way FlyAweigh was going to work and how they had booked us.

 

Reconsider FlyAweigh, and BUY travel insurance!

[tea4ular]

How was the lunch buffet? Lunch choices were very good. We thoroughly enjoyed tandoor (Indian) and Mongolian BBQ (freshly prepared) Did you find good choices, did you try the pasta bar above the Lido Marketplace? We did go to Cucina Capitan for lunch once, and it was delicious. We opted for 1/2 portions and had several items brought to the table to share. We didn't care for the lasagna but LOVED the pomodoro sauce and Nona's meatballs (I'm predominately vegetarian, and even I liked them!) :p

 

How was dinner in the MDR, did you have anytime dining, if so how was it? Any good things on the menu for dinner? We had anytime dining, and this trip we "only" went to the dining room once (we also tried the steak house (a first for us - and it did NOT disappoint) and went to Cucina Capitan for dinner one night as well...it was excellent!), and it was very good, and service was excellent. I had the Indian (vegetarian) selection, and my friend had (and enjoyed) the salmon. Appetizers, soup, and salads were fresh and yummy. Another night we opted for hot sandwiches (from the deli) and buffet choices.

 

Who was the band and I assume they played outside the casino area? Sorry, I didn't even pay attention, but they had a good crowd enjoying them, and dancing to them every night. On the other hand I cringed each and every time I passed by the piano bar, the guy in there was pretty bad (again, I didn't even look up his name). How bad was he? Let's put it this way, the piano bar was empty every single night except for the first night. He was bad. :eek:

 

How were the slots did you play do well? We did a group slot pull, and all came away with about $12 (in addition to our initial $20 offering). The last night I had $40 of credit on my Sign & Sail and decided to try my luck. The slots sucked that $40 faster than I can drink an iced coffee! ;)

 

What was available to eat past 11pm besides pizza? After 11, was pizza, and the room service menu (there were no for $ items offered on the room service menu on our sailing).

 

So glad you had a good time half empty ship is nice.

Thank you.

 

I spoke with someone late yesterday who spoke with the cruise director at disembarkation, and apparently he confirmed we sailed at 25% capacity. Wow, I knew it was empty, but THAT'S really empty!

[tea4ular]

Sounds like you had a great time. How are the chances for upgrades in these instances? How was cloud 9 spa?

 

I would think upgrades would/could be available. The cabins on either side of us were empty for the first 2 days, then become occupied. My assumption is that they either upgraded, or were moved for various reasons. We prefer not to get "gabby" with our neighbors so didn't ask.

 

We had a Cloud9Spa balcony cabin (our 4th now - 1st on Magic - actually first time sailing on Magic) and it did NOT disappoint! We utilized the spa every day. It was quiet and very serene. Several times we had the entire place to ourselves.

 

Our cabin also provided some small sized body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion (Elemis brand); as well as a lavender lemongrass "linen" spray. When we first checked in to Cloud9 we were also given a small pot of exfoliating scrub and mitt (there were several fragrances to choose from) to use in our cabin. And of course the robes and slippers. We were also eligible for 2 classes each of either yoga or spin (general pricing was $12 per class). We do our own yoga practice, and we don't spin, so didn't take them up on these, but they did let us use the yoga studio when not in use for our practice. :)

 

We did not buy in on any of the other spa offerings (massages, etc.) - I was waiting for some deep discounts due to the customer base being so small, but it never happened. ;)

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you, I do know and confirmed that it remains the larger newer ships you go on the more food choices you have, except for late night snack, glad to hear the pasta place remains to be very good. I am so glad you tried the steakhouse, on the Valor this past May, it was a 8 night cruise we dined at the steakhouse for 7 nights it was amazing, glad you enjoyed it and glad to hear there remains to be a band. Thank you!

[cceasar]

Thanks for info, glad you enjoyed the spa balcony. Missed out on spa cabin but will try to get a week pass. At least I can use the pool and thermal suite.

[tea4ular]

I'm going to write up a full review, but one thing that was cool was we had a duo at the pool ("we put the "fun" in funky") that was part electronic and a live steel drum player. I went up at one point and welcomed them "back" - said we'd all been anticipating the steel drum back on deck. Drummer reached out and shook my hand and said "you're all welcome" -

[Letmelivehereplease]

Where did you get the info that we sailed 1/2 full? I was also on board and that just doesn't seem possible.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CrusieToy]

Not one thing canceled - not one. We reversed the order of sailing & spent our first night on board in Galveston due to the port being closed - no hard selling; spectacular cruise director; zero annoying announcements; phenomenal staff/crew (as I have always had!) - and every single passenger was kind and thoughtful - first time on Magic & Galveston for us -

 

sounds great!

[tea4ular]

Where did you get the info that we sailed 1/2 full? I was also on board and that just doesn't seem possible.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

It was confirmed by Everson at disembarkation - it was actually less than 50% - think about it... passenger capacity is 3,690 - not a chance there were 3700 passengers on board - read reviews about when the Magic sails full - we were very (VERY) light.

[saltybones]

Very interesting information, sailing the Magic next September.

[danacline]

I can't help but wonder - what percentage of the missing passengers were missing because of the weather? In other words, if you had asked the question of "what percentage of cabins are booked", what would the answer be?

 

I grew up in south Texas, and we knew how to drive in the rain, so I don't see even a severe rainstorm stopping people from going on a cruise vacation. I can see it affecting those who fly in from elsewhere, but what percentage of the Magic's passengers were from that far away?

 

Obviously, the lower the booked percentage, the better chance of an upgrade fairy visiting...as I'm hoping for our January 10th Magic cruise.

[tea4ular]

I can't help but wonder - what percentage of the missing passengers were missing because of the weather? In other words, if you had asked the question of "what percentage of cabins are booked", what would the answer be? Well yes, of course...we flew in from So Cal on Saturday morning (we had reserved a car and a hotel for the night in Galveston) - on Friday night I received an email from the airline offering me "no penalty" rebooking and/or postponing my flight and having a credit (without penalty) which would be available to use for 12 months. We had travel insurance, and decided to just go, and not stress over it (at that time, there was zero online at Carnival.com, nor any scuttlebutt here, as to whether we would actually sail or not). The flight was completely sold out the week before, but when we got on, it was so empty that nearly each passenger had a row to themselves to stretch out (I'm assuming many (MANY) opted for switching). I'd been keeping up-to-date on cabin sales on the ship, for price drops. Our entire category was sold out a month before sail date. Yet, at sail away, the cabin to our left and the cabin to our right were unoccupied, and remained so until a couple of days in.

 

I grew up in south Texas, and we knew how to drive in the rain, so I don't see even a severe rainstorm stopping people from going on a cruise vacation. Roads were flooded, and I cannot tell you how many accidents along the roads we saw as we drove in to Galveston (both directions). This was more than a "severe rain storm" - as we inched our way along the seawall to our hotel, news vans were out in full force reporting on conditions. On Sunday (sail day) the port of Galveston was on lock down, no incoming, or outgoing traffic. I say again, this was no "severe rain storm" this was part of Hurricane Patricia. Later I'd heard that a tanker had toppled over in the channel. I can see it affecting those who fly in from elsewhere, but what percentage of the Magic's passengers were from that far away?

 

Obviously, the lower the booked percentage, the better chance of an upgrade fairy visiting...as I'm hoping for our January 10th Magic cruise.

 

Again, this was no "severe rain storm" this was part of Hurricane Patricia.

[danacline]

OK, I'll respect your opinion, but disagree. Just like in Denver, a foot of snow blowing sideways may be a major blizzard for those not used to it, but for those that have lived and driven in Colorado, it was just another Tuesday.

 

I went through one hurricane, with winds gusting to over 200 mph (Celia, when it hit Corpus Christi in the 70's). That was a hurricane. With winds less than 50 mph, the Patricia thing was just a rainstorm. Granted, a lot of roads flooded, but ask Houstonians how often that happens (i.e. a lot).

 

I am kind of surprised the airline offered to let you cancel - normally they're pretty keen on making their money unless conditions absolutely forbid them from flying.

[Lilyray]

A few questions about the ports. Did you do any excursions, if so which ones. What about the water temperature in the ports? I booked the Cenote excursion, I think in Cozumel, and worried about it being too cold in the Cenote water. We don't have anything booked in Montego Bay, any suggestions on what to do there? We leave on the 15th and I can't wait.:D

[Jenny in TX]

OK, I'll respect your opinion, but disagree. Just like in Denver, a foot of snow blowing sideways may be a major blizzard for those not used to it, but for those that have lived and driven in Colorado, it was just another Tuesday.

 

I went through one hurricane, with winds gusting to over 200 mph (Celia, when it hit Corpus Christi in the 70's). That was a hurricane. With winds less than 50 mph, the Patricia thing was just a rainstorm. Granted, a lot of roads flooded, but ask Houstonians how often that happens (i.e. a lot).

 

I am kind of surprised the airline offered to let you cancel - normally they're pretty keen on making their money unless conditions absolutely forbid them from flying.

 

I agree! I was born & raised in Houston and still live here, about 30 minutes from Galveston. My husband left that morning for his deer lease and I drove across town about an hour and spent the day at my dads house and then drove home. Even made a stop at the Galleria for a little shopping. We got about 10 inches of rain at our house but luckily everything around me drains really well and everyone was still out and about taking care of business. There were areas that were flooded but the same areas always flood and over time you learn where they are and just avoid them.

[surfjock27]

I would think upgrades would/could be available. The cabins on either side of us were empty for the first 2 days, then become occupied. My assumption is that they either upgraded, or were moved for various reasons. We prefer not to get "gabby" with our neighbors so didn't ask.

 

We had a Cloud9Spa balcony cabin (our 4th now - 1st on Magic - actually first time sailing on Magic) and it did NOT disappoint! We utilized the spa every day. It was quiet and very serene. Several times we had the entire place to ourselves.

 

Our cabin also provided some small sized body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion (Elemis brand); as well as a lavender lemongrass "linen" spray. When we first checked in to Cloud9 we were also given a small pot of exfoliating scrub and mitt (there were several fragrances to choose from) to use in our cabin. And of course the robes and slippers. We were also eligible for 2 classes each of either yoga or spin (general pricing was $12 per class). We do our own yoga practice, and we don't spin, so didn't take them up on these, but they did let us use the yoga studio when not in use for our practice. :)

 

We did not buy in on any of the other spa offerings (massages, etc.) - I was waiting for some deep discounts due to the customer base being so small, but it never happened. ;)

 

We are also fans of the Cloud9 Spa and will be on the Breeze in a Cloud9 cabin in 4 weeks.

This is our 4th Cloud9 cabin, once on the Dream and the 3rd on the Breeze.

 

I noticed in the past on the website that there is a DIY Scrub Kit included in the cabin, but we have never gotten one.

Did you have to ask, or was it just given when you received your bracelet?

[ryanpatricksmom]

I can tell you our 12:40pm flight left from Houston on time on the 25th, because we had to run in our socks after going thru security and were the last ones to board the plane. Our driver drove thru a few flooded streets to get there, but we made it in the knick of time. I couldn't believe that there wasn't a flight delay.