Carnival Magic that bad?? Anyone sailed them recently?

[KKB]

I just noticed we have a free cruise offer on the Magic next year.

Love Aruba & Curacao.

Read the latest reviews--not very good....

I try to read those with a grain of salt but a lot of complaints.

 

We have done most mainstream lines, small & large, older & newer ships--we always have a good time! 

 

I do find that CC folk are less likely to gripe as those who write reviews.

Looking for your thoughts...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 24 by KKB

[ChuckF]

There's a live review being done right now by someone currently on the ship.

[pcvtmom]

Magic is a great ship! Reviews are frequently written by people with a bone to pick...just saying.🙄

[Indiansbaseball]

Just off this past March. Second time and we enjoyed it both times ! 

[mrpayroll]

I wouldn't hesitate to book the Magic. 

[Cricket551]

Magic is my favorite ship! The layout and size seem perfect to us!

 

 

[mz-s]

I posted some thoughts (not really a review) of my September cruise on Magic back last year.

 

The ship's features are nice, I liked the size of the lounges and LOVED the smoke-free casino. This was my first Dream class cruise. The food was sub-par, and the cleanliness of the ship was sub-par as well. If either of those have been improved since September, I'd book Magic again tomorrow.

[CheckersMidwest]

We were just on the Magic May 4-12. Food was excellent except for the Italian restaurant, worst meal the whole week. We had Guy's Burgers, Blue Iguana Cantina, a little bit of the lunch buffet, mostly salads, breakfast buffet, dinner in the dining room.

 

The only 'dirty' places I noticed were the usual spots from salt erosion. Stairs & decks were clean. This was our second time on the Magic. We'd sail again.

[mz-s]

17 minutes ago, CheckersMidwest said:

We were just on the Magic May 4-12. Food was excellent except for the Italian restaurant, worst meal the whole week. We had Guy's Burgers, Blue Iguana Cantina, a little bit of the lunch buffet, mostly salads, breakfast buffet, dinner in the dining room.

 

The only 'dirty' places I noticed were the usual spots from salt erosion. Stairs & decks were clean. This was our second time on the Magic. We'd sail again.

 

When I was on Magic, pretty much all the upholstery around the ship was stained and the carpet was all worn. I did notice that on port days they were replacing carpets while the guests were onshore, so I am hopeful that they were working on that as time went on.

[TravelBluebird]

I’m on the ship right now!  It’s not perfect but we are having a great time and I am really enjoying the ship!—I’d take a free offer on this ship!

 

Here is my LIVE thread:

 

 

 

 

 

[StephPS79]

I've sailed on the Magic twice.  While I can say it's not my favorite ship, I definitely would say on the Magic again.  100% if it were a free offer. 

 

I had no complaints about the food, it was on par with the food I had on any other Carnival ship.

 

The first time I kind of hated the layout of the ship, but the second time I started to come around to it and actually enjoyed it.

 

While I love a good Joe Farcus ship, I don't particularly care for the color scheme or decor on the Magic.  The green and brown doesn't do it for me.  And all those light fixtures...oof.  The ship had some signs of wear, but that isn't something I'm bothered by.

 

Crew was great.  No complaints.

[KyloRen]

Sailed her to Bermuda last season. My only complaint was the lack of staff. Only time in the last two years (10 cruises) I’ve felt they needed more staff.  I love the jaccizis that hang over the side. Watching the Statue of Liberty from the jaccuzi was amazing

[TravelBluebird]

4 hours ago, StephPS79 said:

I don't particularly care for the color scheme or decor on the Magic. 

 

Just tonight I was sitting with my husband in the Magic Atrium, and I leaned over and said “It looks like a leprechaun threw up in here” 😂 

[Honolulu Blue]

15 hours ago, mz-s said:

I posted some thoughts (not really a review) of my September cruise on Magic back last year.

 

The ship's features are nice, I liked the size of the lounges and LOVED the smoke-free casino. This was my first Dream class cruise. The food was sub-par, and the cleanliness of the ship was sub-par as well. If either of those have been improved since September, I'd book Magic again tomorrow.

 

I was on the Magic in November.  I thought she was in good shape inside and out. The food was just fine (by Carnival standards).

 

 

 

I have a LIVE thread from that cruise, which anyone is welcome to look up if they're interested in more details.  But the TL,DR is that I liked the Magic and wouldn't mind booking her again if she was running a route I was interested in sailing.

[wrightkj]

I was on the Magic in January and was quite pleased. My room had a few shabby areas (drawer that wouldn't close all the way, carpet loose at the edge of the wall) but public areas were great. Every time I turned around a floor was being mopped, a window sill being dusted. I thought the food was just fine, with a few terrific meals and a few mediocre. I'm sailing on her again January 2025 with a different itinerary and can't wait!

[havanadaydreaming]

I had opposite experience of Checkers in italianrestaurant, we thought it was fantastic. 

 

MDR strong.  Lunch buffet dessert game strong. Dinner buffet passable. 

 

Id book Magic again in an instant. 

[hockeyluver]

We have been on the Magic twice so far and booked again for January.  We were just on it in December. The Magic is by far my favourite ship,  we have been on 27 cruises with Carnival. 

Cant wait to go on it again !! 

[KyloRen]

1 hour ago, hockeyluver said:

We have been on the Magic twice so far and booked again for January.  We were just on it in December. The Magic is by far my favourite ship,  we have been on 27 cruises with Carnival. 

Cant wait to go on it again !! 

Until I was on the Firenze Magic was my fav as well! 24 cruises here with Carnival and I’m booked on the Magic next year for the Feb Eastern Caribbean cruise (so excited!)

[sprint180]

Hands down my least favorite cruise I have taken.  I will not go on it again,  I have been on Mardi Gras since and enjoyed it very much.

[Cinnamon2]

Nope, not bad at all.  Beautiful ship, clean, great food and service.  Would sail her again in a heartbeat.   

[Tennessee Rose]

I've been on Magic twice, the last time being this past January. Although I prefer the smaller Spirit class ships, I'm perfectly fine with Magic. In fact, we are booked on her for the 3rd time next Feb on the 8-day Southern Caribbean. I especially like the smoke free casino on deck 4, completely separate from the one on deck 5 (smoking). Food was fine. We always find plenty of good things to eat!

[Sgwscruiser]

Also on The Magic MAy 4-12. This was our second time on the Magic. The first time was in January.

First Cruise

Worst Cabin Steward ever

Food was ok

Italian Restaurant was awful. (Have never had a decent meal in this restaurant on any Carnival ship) last time going there

Service throughout the ship was good except MDR

Never noticed dirty or extremely used look anywhere

 

Second Time

Best Cabin Steward ever 

Food was the same no noticeable different

Service in the MDR was noticeably Worse

still didn't notice heavily used or dirty Areas

would sail her again

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Quick summary. but seriously, read my LIVE thread for full information.

 

Best Cabin Steward ever!

Frankie the CD showed us all a good time! 

Wait staff so good we tipped them all extra at the end, and many hugs and photos were taken the last evening. 

Yes some furniture is looking a little shabby, and there is rust here and there (some of which was painted in port in San Juan, so ongoing maintenance, of course, is happening)l

My only real complaint was that our room was too warm for the entire trip; location at front on 9 I believe had lots to do with thatl.

[abby1257]

On 5/24/2024 at 11:35 AM, KKB said:

I just noticed we have a free cruise offer on the Magic next year.

Love Aruba & Curacao.

Read the latest reviews--not very good....

I try to read those with a grain of salt but a lot of complaints.

 

We have done most mainstream lines, small & large, older & newer ships--we always have a good time! 

 

I do find that CC folk are less likely to gripe as those who write reviews.

Looking for your thoughts...

 

 

 

 

Honestly, we must have been on a different ship called the “Magic”???

Because we were just on the Magic inApril and we had a wonderful time…the food was great, the ship was clean, the staff were friendly….awesome….people generally take time to post negative reviews…they aren’t happy on any ship…take the offer and have fun

 

[staceyglow]

1 hour ago, Sgwscruiser said:

 

 

 

Italian Restaurant was awful. (Have never had a decent meal in this restaurant on any Carnival ship) last time going there

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow.  I have probably eaten at the Italian restaurant on Carnival ships a half-dozen times or more on about as many ships, and it has always been great.  I far prefer this meal to the steakhouse, especially at the relative price points.

 

What exactly about it do you think is awful?