Carnival Magic

Written by Natalie Brisco, Assistant to Linda Allen

I had the opportunity to sail on the Carnival Magic in April, 2012.  This sailing came during the Easter holiday and quite a few children were expected onboard, so my husband and I opted to stay in a Cloud 9 Spa Balcony cabin.   The Cloud 9 Spa cabins were very nice and included private access to the spa area, priority spa reservations, plush robes, slippers and Elemis spa bath products.  We enjoyed this cabin for several reasons; it was located in a quiet area of the ship; and we were on the same level as the Sports Deck, which made our morning walk convenient.  In addition, we were just a short distance from Serenity, a sun deck for adults only.

On our first day on the ship, my husband and I were given a guided tour of the spa.  The spa includes two floors.  The top level contained the salon, treatment rooms, thermal suites (which are based on a Turkish bath), saunas, Thalassotherapy Pool and relaxation area.  

The bottom floor facilitated a gymnasium that was open from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.  There was a fitness schedule that included various classes and seminars.  My favorite part of the spa was the thermal suite area, which featured different levels of herbal steam, sauna grottos, tropical showers and heated chaise lounges. There were windows surrounding the area which allowed you to relax and watch the ocean.   The spa and salon offered numerous treatments for example, Acupuncture, Gosmile Teeth Whitening, Aroma Stone Massage, Bamboo Massage and Couples Swedish Massage.

The Serenity Deck was one of our favorite places on the Carnival Magic.  It had relaxing chaise lounges and chairs with comfortable cushions, wonderful large hammocks, two large whirlpools and a private bar.  One really nice feature about the bar was they served a small lunch menu that featured items such as wraps, sandwiches and salads.  If you were relaxing in the sun you did not have too go to far to get a light lunch. 

The Water Works water play area was popular with kids and adults alike.  It is one of the largest at sea.  It has two water slides, a large 300-gallon dump bucket that will dump when you least expect it and many other water features. 

Located on the same deck as Water Works is the Sports Deck, with a variety of things to do.  There is a suspended, in the sky roped course with various levels, mini golf, basketball, volleyball, soccer, outdoor weightlifting area, jogging track, ping pong, and other great items.  There was also a large outdoor big screen TV that showed various sports throughout the day.   

The Carnival Magic had quite a few food choices including the two main dining rooms the Northern Lights and the Southern Lights.  The Marketplace Lido Deck Buffets offered the Burrito Bar, the Mongolian Wok, the Indian Tandoori, 24-hour Pizzeria and the Sushi Bar.

Also available was the Cucina del Capitano, which offers a lunch pasta bar (complimentary) or dinner ($12.00 per person cover charge).  

The Prime Steakhouse ($30 per person charge) and other casual and formal were also an option. 

Our favorite was the laid back atmosphere of the Red Frog Pub.  It offered a variety of wonderful Caribbean inspired items such as conch fritters, Bahamian conch salad, grouper fingers, Caribbean sliders, jerk pork sliders and a couple of desserts. The cost for these items was $3.33 each for a pub size serving, which was plenty for two people to share.  Their Thirsty Frog Red was an excellent beer and they also offered a wide selection of Caribbean beers. 

Another fun feature of this ship was the Cherry on Top.  It is a bulk candy store with a variety of candies and treats from Skittles to Truffles.  They also had a selection of gifts items and tuxedo rentals.  I have to say, my husband figured out about half way through our cruise that this was a location to be avoided.  Although I have to say, I do love candy! 

There was a wide range of night life on the Carnival Magic from movies on the jumbotron, dancing at the Vibe Nightclub, listening to music at the Play it Again Piano Bar or watching a Las Vegas style show. 

My husband and I truly enjoyed our time abroad the Carnival Magic. We had a wonderful relaxing getaway even during this busy holiday.  The Carnival team on the Magic did an excellent job of making us feel welcome.

(Based on a 7-day cruise from Galveston, Texas to Key West, Freeport and Nassau, April 2012)