Carnival Magic Eastern 28 Jan 2017 Funtimes

[Ken076]

Carnival Magic Eastern Itinerary 28 Jan - 04 Feb Funtimes (DropBox Link)

https://db.tt/KEBFCw8qfG

 

Review and Photos to follow.

Ken

[Tryingtocruise]

Thank you!! We leave in 2 1/2 weeks. Can't wait!

[Ken076]

Pre-Cruise Night: Holiday Inn Vacation Resort at Cape Canaveral.

Quick check-in, super-nice Villa with sitting area with TV, a separated sleeping area with TV, Kitchenette with microwave and coffeemaker, sink, and small fridge. Kids indoor McDonald's-like play area, mini golf, tennis and basketball on top of the parking garage, large pool, large winding river and kids waterpark. Clean facility, very friendly and helpful staff, maybe 5 minutes to the cruise terminal and to the restaurants on the channel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KenMo]

....

[Ken076]

Pre-Cruise Dinner: Milliken's Reef Restaurant less than 5 minutes, on the channel. Excellent menu, food and service, an outside band and bar, and a channel view.

 

 

 

[Ken076]

Embarkation at Carnival Cruise Terminal CT6. We Arrived by car a few minutes before our 11:00AM Check-in. The entrance to CT6 luggage drop-off was VERY congested and very slow (there’s a cross street ACROSS the entrance), only 6 or 7 diagonal slots to pull into for unloading. The Parking garage across from the Terminal was uncrowded and we parked on ground level. Short walk to entrance, where they WERE checking boarding passes for check-in time. Checked-in took less than 5 minutes, and we were onboard at Guys by noon. Cabins were ready by 1:30.

 

There was Calypso steel drum music on the Lido (one musician with recorded accompaniment).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 8, 2017 by Ken076

[Ken076]

Inside Lido Cabin 10230:

There were 2 ceiling height hanger closets and 1 shelved cabinet. Shampoo and bath gel dispensers in shower plus round bar soap. No sample bags.

There’s a card reader on the wall as you enter; you must insert S&S card to turn lighting on – the card stays in reader to keep the lighting enabled. There's also a switch conveniently above the bed.

There are two 120 volt outlets and one 230 volt outlet on dressing desk, three desk drawers plus partial top drawer with small hairdryer. We plugged-in a cheapo 4 outlet non-surge-protected power strip.

The Cooler was empty on arrival.

Our VIFP Water Bottles and Free Drink Coupon were delivered the first nite.

 

The Steward asked what turndown service we wanted and Provided Ice and wine glasses.

 

There was NO noise from Lido in Lido cabin hallways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken076]

 

 

 

 

[Seago2]

Thank you for the pics!

[Ken076]

AMBER COVE was nicer and larger than we expected. There are Jewelry/trinkets shops, a large pool and winding river and music. With two ships, there were still a lot of empty loungers.

There’s a zip line from the hilltop to near the ocean. NO BEACH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken076]

 

 

[Ken076]

GRAND TURK: We decided to try Island Trams island tour, $25pp in open trams. Tickets are sold just off the Pier; they didn’t mention that the trams were a bit awkward to enter and exit –AND- as the company is not "affiliated" with the Port and cannot enter port to pick-up or drop-off , there’s about half mile, unescorted walk In the sun to board the tram OUTSIDE the port gates. The tour was about 1.5 hours and was pretty informative; Cockburn town and Market Place -- not much to it.

 

You enter Margaritaville just after the pier – free loungers umbrellas and music. There are plenty of independents with loungers /umbrellas, probably $10/$20 down the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken076]

 

 

 

[sturderick]

Thanks! These pictures are great! You already answered a question I had which was about the laundry. I didn't know if the machines took sign and sail or coins. I asked someone else and they said coins.

[Ken076]

ST THOMAS: It was raining just as we exited the ship and the crew had Panchos at the gangway for only $2. There’s shopping just a short distance from the pier.

 

We did the St John Catamaran and Snorkeling Champagne excursion ($99pp). A twenty minute bus to the Marina and 45 minute cruise to St John Caneel Bay where the Catamaran anchored offshore for snorkelers and “dingy’d” others to the beach. The Catamaran was clean and the crew was enthusiastic and helpful. The snorkel site was average. There was cheese and bread snack, and Champagne and Rum Punch on the sail back.

 

 

 

 

[Ken076]

Old San Juan: The ship docks right outside OSJ – you can walk OSJ or take the free Trolley. We did the Inside the Walls tour. The tour guide Naomi was enthusiastic and super informative and very proud of her country. It was HOT, there was quite a bit of uphill, steps/ramps, but there were frequent rest stops. Many, many historical tidbits. A number of our tour “dropped-out”, with no problem – Naomi notified the ship via cell phone.

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken076]

 

 

 

[Ken076]

Miscellaneous.

 

Cruise Director “Schwartz” was enthusiastic, HIGH ENERGY and ever-present.

There were a good number of Karaoke sessions usually in the aft lounge.

The Buffet had a good selection – remember, there’s a front and a rear section

The MDR had decent choices + the standard 4 extra choices each nite + a selected “local” app, entree and drink. We felt the MDR food was “ok".

Pizza was decent and apparently available 24/7 – there are 4 choices.

There was afternoon Tea on the two sea days.

There was Sea Day Brunch on the two Sea Days.

There was Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ on Promenade on the two Sea Days.

The Blue Iguana has Breakfast Burritos in the morning.

 

AMERICAN TABLE: No tablecloth, basket of self-serve rolls, large carafe self-serve water. Service seemed a bit frantic. Menu has app, drink and entree from the country you're visiting that day. The curry shrimp was terrible.

 

The Alchemy bar was “ok”, maybe 10 bar stools, the menu drinks were up to $10.95 from $8.95 that I had read about. Bartenders were personable.

 

At the 5:45 opening, entry to the Northern Lights mid-ship Anytime Dining was pretty crowded with a long line wrapping around the Deck 3 atrium. Wait to 6:15 or so and almost instant seating.

 

There was a bit of ship's motion entire trip.

 

There ARE kids life vests available on a rack at the Lido Towel station.

 

SHOWS :

There are 4 shows in the theatre. Each show runs one night only, at 8:15 and 10:15 . The showroom fills up -get there 30 minutes prior for a seat.

 

Flick: a little strange, but picked-up. OK

Country Road: country music. OK.

88 Keys: Missed

America Rocks: Rock & Roll – pretty good.

 

The Comedy Director did insist on clearing the comedy club after each show. Get there 20+ minutes early. There are LONG Lines each show, stretching through the Piano Bar (which somewhat disrupts the Piano Bar) , but everyone in line seemed to get in.

[Ken076]

CT6 Luggage Drop-off, Check-In and Parking (just across from the Luggage Drop-off - the covered walkway to the left leads from parking garage to check-in).

 

 

 

[Ken076]

Miscellaneous:

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken076]

 

 

 

 

[Ken076]

 

 

 

[Ken076]

Cruise Director "Schwartz":

 

 

[Ken076]

In San Juan, just off the Pier, if still in Port "Le Galleon" is super-interesting to Tour:

 

[ryano]

Thanks so much! I will be on this cruise in October.