Back from the Magic Caribbean 10/23-10/28 - Amazing!

[anricat]

Or as Cruise Director Natalie might say, "Absolutely Amazing!"

I wasn't sure how I would like the Magic after being on the Dream, but I'm here to tell you that the Magic has stolen my heart. Wow, what a ship! I'm sticking with the Classics from now on. I love love loved it. My DH felt the same way.

I don't even know how to put our trip into words. The Halloween stuff was so much fun, the weather was perfect. Stingray City in Grand Cayman was incredible. The time went by so fast at Castaway Cay, I swear that it's some kind of time vortex.

There were more than a few tears yesterday morning as we got off the ship. And my DD was a little sad, too.

I only really have a couple of minor quibbles. First, events in the atrium felt really really crowded. It's a small space to have big events. Second, Shutters. Some issues there. No big surprise. Finally, embarkation in Miami was sort of a mess. Nobody knew where we were supposed to go and the terminal was bonkers crowded. Disembarkation on the other hand was much smoother and faster than I experienced in Port Canaveral. (We had second seating both times so our time frame was about the same.)

Other than that, everything was fantastic. Our room was amazing, the crew was great. Shows were great. The variety entertainers were fantastic. I just loved it all. Only 283 more days until my next cruise! (Not that I'm counting or anything.)

Any questions? I'd like to help out future cruisers as much as you all helped me.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

I'm sailing out of Miami in December. How was embarkation challenging? We're there signs pointing the way? Should I be sure to ask at checkin exactly where I need to be? I've been spoiled sailing out of PC four times.

 

[stickeymouse]

Was the movement of the ship more noticeable on the smaller vessel? Also, do you recall any specifics about the variety acts onboard?

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Glad to hear you had a great time We will be sailing the same itinerary in December. We first sailed on the Magic, then the Fantasy and I was fully expecting to be blown away by the Fantasy. While I loved it, I felt many things were better on the Magic including the overall service. It was great on the Fantasy don't get me wrong, but really wowed us on the Magic. I think my DS will miss the Aqua Duck, but the yellow Mickey slide and Aqua Lab were better on the Magic imo. Anyway.. never sailed out of Miami - so is there no Disney cruise terminal there like PC?
Also curious about the excursion in Grand Cayman, did you book that through DCL?

 

[JackieT1182]

We're on the Magic sailing out of Miami in January. Did you go straight to the airport after disembarking? If so, what time did you get there?

Also, what was your Castaway Club gift?

Glad to hear you had a great time! We're so excited!

 

[JackieB10]

We are on the Magic out of Miami in January as well, I think the same itinerary. I am glad to hear that you loved the Magic. This is our first Disney Cruise and I had a hard time deciding on a ship. As if I'm not excited enough, you have added to my excitement. Glad to hear you had such a fantastic trip.

 

[anricat]

I'm sailing out of Miami in December. How was embarkation challenging? We're there signs pointing the way? Should I be sure to ask at checkin exactly where I need to be? I've been spoiled sailing out of PC four times.

The checkin was in one room and then we were directed to (very limited) seating in another room, which was where Captain Mickey was greeting. Then the actual entry to the gangway was back in the main checkin room. We had boarding group 3, but we couldn't get through because people were all crowding around the entryway who had much later boarding numbers. They needed to tell people who's groups were not being called to get the heck out of the way. It was just a mass of people. The terminal really wasn't big enough to accommodate everyone.

 

[anricat]

Was the movement of the ship more noticeable on the smaller vessel? Also, do you recall any specifics about the variety acts onboard?

I was worried about this, but DH and I were talking about it on the way home and we both felt like the ship movement was much LESS on the Magic and that there was a lot less vibration, particularly during docking and when the ship was turning around (we made a 180 to get out of Grand Cayman).

We were really trucking from Miami to GC and from GC to CC, but it was fine. My DD also was not feeling well the first night on the Dream. She didn't complain once on the Magic.

 

[anricat]

Was the movement of the ship more noticeable on the smaller vessel? Also, do you recall any specifics about the variety acts onboard?

Oh, variety acts. Yes! I have all the Navigators, I'm going to scan them and upload them to disneycruiselineblog.com in the next couple of days. In the Walt Disney Theatre one night we had Lynn Trefzger who was hilarious. She also had a show for adults in Fathoms that we attended and we were practically rolling on the floor crying it was so funny. We also saw a family show of Rich Purpura in Fathoms. He also had an adult show, but we were too tired by then to attend! He was quite good as well. I preferred Lynn's show, however.

 

[anricat]

Glad to hear you had a great time We will be sailing the same itinerary in December. We first sailed on the Magic, then the Fantasy and I was fully expecting to be blown away by the Fantasy. While I loved it, I felt many things were better on the Magic including the overall service. It was great on the Fantasy don't get me wrong, but really wowed us on the Magic. I think my DS will miss the Aqua Duck, but the yellow Mickey slide and Aqua Lab were better on the Magic imo. Anyway.. never sailed out of Miami - so is there no Disney cruise terminal there like PC?
Also curious about the excursion in Grand Cayman, did you book that through DCL?

There is no dedicated Disney Cruise terminal. We were in Terminal F. When we arrived, there were signs indicating which terminals were for which ships.

We did book through DCL the "Island Tour and Snorkeling with Stingrays." We met in D Lounge at 7:15, we were off the ship around 7:30. We got to the island and we loaded onto buses and had a nice bus ride around the island. We made a stop at the turtle farm first for 45 minutes which was just the perfect amount of time. Then we went to Hell. That stop was a little longer than it really needed to be, but it was fine. Then we went to a boat dock and we were loaded onto a boat and taken to Stingray City (about 30 minute boat ride). We had a great time with the stingrays. We were there for about an hour and it was just the right amount of time. Then we headed back to the boat and arrived at the tender dock around 12:15. We shopped a bit and were back on the ship by around 1, for lunch in Lumiere's.

 

[anricat]

We're on the Magic sailing out of Miami in January. Did you go straight to the airport after disembarking? If so, what time did you get there?

Also, what was your Castaway Club gift?

Glad to hear you had a great time! We're so excited!

We did go straight to the FLL airport. We used SAS transport and had second seating dining. We arrived at around 10:30.

Our club gift was the silvery grey bag with the cream colored straps (not the rope straps). Not the new burlap bag. This isn't my photo, but this is what our bag looked like: http://s48.photobucket.com/user/bab...ruise 2-13-2-16/IMG_9485_zpsmyohp4kk.jpg.html

I saw people with all kinds of Castaway Club bags. I have no idea if they were giving out a zillion kinds of bags or if people brought them from previous cruises.

 

[Ariel484]

Thank you for posting this! We're booked on the Magic next year and have only been on the Dream and Fantasy so far. Glad to hear you loved it!

 

[SurroBear]

This was our first Disney cruise, there were things I was disappointed with but overall it was a wonderful experience and can't wait to go again. My least favorite day was the day before it ended because I knew it was going to be over soon. Our kids loved the kids clubs (they were in the oceaneers club/lab). The crew was wonderful. I didn't feel that embarkation was very hectic at all. We were group 24 to board so it took forever to get on, we were just sitting there and the kids were so excited they kept asking how much longer. We're not Halloween fans so we didn't participate in that (we didn't even know to bring costumes as our packet got lost in the mail since we moved). Our kids loved the days at sea more than the port days, I think our next we'll stay on ship for on of the port days so they can have the pool to themselves. The staff was amazing.

*Anricat, we probably rode to FLL together via SAS. We were in the back with our 3 boys.

 

[anricat]

This was our first Disney cruise, there were things I was disappointed with but overall it was a wonderful experience and can't wait to go again. My least favorite day was the day before it ended because I knew it was going to be over soon. Our kids loved the kids clubs (they were in the oceaneers club/lab). The crew was wonderful. I didn't feel that embarkation was very hectic at all. We were group 24 to board so it took forever to get on, we were just sitting there and the kids were so excited they kept asking how much longer. We're not Halloween fans so we didn't participate in that (we didn't even know to bring costumes as our packet got lost in the mail since we moved). Our kids loved the days at sea more than the port days, I think our next we'll stay on ship for on of the port days so they can have the pool to themselves. The staff was amazing.

*Anricat, we probably rode to FLL together via SAS. We were in the back with our 3 boys.

Glad embarkation didn't feel hectic to you. We arrived at 11 and it felt really crazy around 11:30. It seemed like boarding got started late, maybe?

I also enjoyed the days at sea! So many activities to participate in!

I think we weren't in the same SAS shuttle. We had a family of three in front of us (mom, dad, young son) and a family of four being (mom, dad, toddler boy, girl that was maybe 4 or 5).

 

[BrandiBelliveau]

There is no dedicated Disney Cruise terminal. We were in Terminal F. When we arrived, there were signs indicating which terminals were for which ships.

We did book through DCL the "Island Tour and Snorkeling with Stingrays." We met in D Lounge at 7:15, we were off the ship around 7:30. We got to the island and we loaded onto buses and had a nice bus ride around the island. We made a stop at the turtle farm first for 45 minutes which was just the perfect amount of time. Then we went to Hell. That stop was a little longer than it really needed to be, but it was fine. Then we went to a boat dock and we were loaded onto a boat and taken to Stingray City (about 30 minute boat ride). We had a great time with the stingrays. We were there for about an hour and it was just the right amount of time. Then we headed back to the boat and arrived at the tender dock around 12:15. We shopped a bit and were back on the ship by around 1, for lunch in Lumiere's.

Did they have professional photography available for purchase at the Stingrays?

 

[stickeymouse]

This was our first Disney cruise, there were things I was disappointed with but overall it was a wonderful experience and can't wait to go again.

What disappointed you?

 

[pacific mermaid]

Sounds like a fantastic cruise! We're booked for the same itinerary in January 2017 and I love reading about how much you enjoyed the Magic! Also good to have realistic expectations about embarkation in Miami. How did you spend your time at Castaway Cay? I'm so looking forward to going there!

 

[antkim]

LOVE the Magic! We were suppose to be on the 2/19 3 night Dream cruise and just yesterday I changed it to the 2/18 3 night on the Magic! I SWEAR the Magic was not an option when we booked the cruise about a year ago. Yesterday I was poking at February options and saw the 2/18 sailing. Without hesitation I switched it! We all much prefer the classic ships and sailed the Magic last November and just loved it. Honestly, I was dreading the Dream a tad because I just know it is so much more crowded! Same amount of pools but twice the amount of people. Same with CC...we felt like we practically had the island to ourselves in November because with the island expansion and less people means more island, chairs, hammocks etc for us!! We are all super excited for the switch!

 

[anricat]

Did they have professional photography available for purchase at the Stingrays?

Yes, for the Grand Cayman "Island Tour and Snorkeling With Stingrays" excursion, they had professional photography with the stingrays which was $40 for digital copies of all photos. I wish we had known, we didn't have that much money with us.

 

[anricat]

Sounds like a fantastic cruise! We're booked for the same itinerary in January 2017 and I love reading about how much you enjoyed the Magic! Also good to have realistic expectations about embarkation in Miami. How did you spend your time at Castaway Cay? I'm so looking forward to going there!

We did NOTHING at Castaway Cay and it was perfect! Actually, that's not really true, but I mean we didn't do any excursions or anything. We built sand castles, swam, went down the slides at Pelican Plunge, rented a raft to float around on and went to the sprinkler area. DH and I visited Serenity Bay for a little bit of time. It was a perfect day.