Fantasy vs. Magic?

[Kimberly9701]

I can not decide between the Magic or Fantasy for a late November Very Merrytime cruise. This will be my first time with DCL, and will be my 5 year old's first time cruising.
I wanted to be on the Fantasy since it is newer, and also since we will be doing two nights at Disney World as well.
However, for the dates that we can travel-the Fantasy is a Western Caribbean, and I would MUCH rather do an Eastern, Cozumel and Grand Cayman do not at all interest me. I've always been an Eastern Island gal.

Any advice on advantages for either ship/itinerary? (Another strong point for the Fantasy is the aquaduck. I don't know if my son will be tall enough for the Magic's Aquadunk)

Thanks in advance for any comments!!

 

[DISGRL13]

Both ships are great! Go for the itinerary that you like. We love the Magic because there are fewer people and it is newly renovated. There are plenty of water activities for younger kids if your son can't use the Aquadunk. Good luck with your decision.

 

[emilyann415]

Here is my 2 cents. Personally I'd choose based on the itineraries because both ships are amazing. The magic won't have the AquaDuck but does have the Avenger Academy which your son would love. I personally like the smaller ships better. Easier to use the pools, pirate night isn't so crazy crowded.....

 

[bethy]

I had the same dilemma for next December. I am choosing the Magic because I much prefer the Eastern over the Western itinerary and my dates are not very flexible. Itinerary is important to me - the ship is not our family's only destination. Also I like the idea of a smaller ship and fewer people on the ship and Castaway Cay. My kids will like the AquaDunk better than the Aquaduck I'm pretty sure, too as they are thrillseekers.

 

[Flossbolna]

My first cruises were on the Wonder and I loved her. Then I cruised on the Fantasy and thought she was even more wonderful. The after that I was booked on the Magic because we wanted to cruise in Europe. I was really a bit afraid that I would not like the Magic as much because I just loved the new ship fell of the Fantasy so much. However, I absolutely fell in love with the Magic as well. I think the refurbishment was done really well (I even like the new chandelier) and added a lot of really nice things! So, if itinerary is important for you, go with the Magic!

 

[Muskegon78]

I had the same dilemma for next December. I am choosing the Magic because I much prefer the Eastern over the Western itinerary and my dates are not very flexible. Itinerary is important to me - the ship is not our family's only destination. Also I like the idea of a smaller ship and fewer people on the ship and Castaway Cay. My kids will like the AquaDunk better than the Aquaduck I'm pretty sure, too as they are thrillseekers.

What excursions do you do on the easterns?

 

[cgolf]

As you can tell by my signature I am biased toward the Magic. This was cut and paste from a response I gave for the Dream.

Will list the pros and cons for each
Magic
Pros
1. Smaller ship less people and less congested
2. Staff is much friendlier. Did the third trip on the reimagined magic and all the staff were super friendly and personable. 2 months later on the Fantasy the same staff that had transferred back were much less friendly and personable.
3. Quit Cove pool is bigger and you can swim mini laps, and seems to get more sun
4. Dining rooms are more relaxed and the serving stations are laid out better making the server teams more efficient and in a better mood.
5. Aqua dunk is great and the new splash zone in the little kids pool area seemed to be used more than similar area on the Dream or Fantasy.
6. Fathoms is awesome and for us is a much better venue for shows than the tube.
7. Cruisers are more personable, might be due to the smaller number of people on board, and a bit more relaxed pace than the Dream.
8. Gyro station, at least when we were on in January
9. The pirate show includes the fireworks as part of the show.

Cons
1. Rainforest room is nice, but no where near the Dream class.
2. Not as much technology, like no midship detective could be a downer for some
3. No mini golf
4. No satalite falls
5. No skyline lounge, miss that the most, great place to have a martini and debrief the day.

Fantasy
Pros
1. Satellite falls
2. Technology midship detective and magic portholes
3. Mini golf
4. Rain forest room
5. Skyline lounge

Cons
1. Bigger ship and the pool decks can get crazy
2. Because of the number of people and 2 pirate shows, fireworks are just fireworks.
3. Dining room experience is not as relaxed.
4. Staff not as personable.

 

[bethy]

What excursions do you do on the easterns?

I've never been to the Eastern ports - unlike the Western - and so that's one reason I'm so interested in the itinerary. We are cheap and the cruise itself is a major splurge for us. Therefore we don't usually spend a lot on excursions. But I do know for sure that I want to do some sort of excursion to the Baths near Tortola.

 

[Muskegon78]

I've never been to the Eastern ports - unlike the Western - and so that's one reason I'm so interested in the itinerary. We are cheap and the cruise itself is a major splurge for us. Therefore we don't usually spend a lot on excursions. But I do know for sure that I want to do some sort of excursion to the Baths near Tortola.

Oh ok, I read that like you preferred it from experience, not from how they sounded. We plan to do the Baths as well

 

[brandyleeann]

2. Because of the number of people and 2 pirate shows, fireworks are just fireworks.
.

There are two pirate shows on the Fantasy? What does fireworks are just fireworks mean?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There are two pirate shows on the Fantasy? What does fireworks are just fireworks mean?

Thanks!

There are two pirate shows on the Fantasy. A more family-friendly one (Mickey and friends) between the two dinner seatings, and a more Jack Sparrow-type one after second seating.

The fireworks on the Magic & Wonder are incorporated into the storyline of the pirate show (there's only the one after second seating). On the Fantasy & Dream the fireworks are displayed after the second show. A separate event.

 

[cgolf]

There are two pirate shows on the Fantasy? What does fireworks are just fireworks mean?

Thanks!

Also want to add the Pirate show on the Classics is really cool, especially with how the fireworks are integrated into the show. I don't want to spoil it for those that haven't seen it yet, but I highly recommend seeing it over the Dream class. When we were on the Dream, I was really let down that the fireworks were just that, I was expecting something cool to happen with the show.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I didn't realize that the Magic did not have mini golf until stated here. But they do have a sports deck right? And the Fantasy does not, I think that's what I read. My biggest hesitation with the Magic is the drive from Miami to Orlando. We only have 9 nights total for this trip, so was hoping to be in Orlando early after we return from the cruise. I also was trying to avoid a multi city flight. But- I do not want to deal with overcrowded pools, so maybe the Magic wins after all.

 

[mlayton14]

I didn't realize that the Magic did not have mini golf until stated here. But they do have a sports deck right? And the Fantasy does not, I think that's what I read. My biggest hesitation with the Magic is the drive from Miami to Orlando. We only have 9 nights total for this trip, so was hoping to be in Orlando early after we return from the cruise. I also was trying to avoid a multi city flight. But- I do not want to deal with overcrowded pools, so maybe the Magic wins after all.

The magic pools are just as overcrowded as fantasy, it doesn't matter whether there are 2500 or 4000 people onboard when the pools are the size of a very small backyard pool in your neighborhood. More options on fantasy , but itinerary prob should win out

 

[EONSO]

As you can tell by my signature I am biased toward the Magic. This was cut and paste from a response I gave for the Dream.
Fantasy
Pros
1. Satellite falls
2. Technology midship detective and magic portholes
3. Mini golf
4. Rain forest room
5. Skyline lounge

Cons
1. Bigger ship and the pool decks can get crazy
2. Because of the number of people and 2 pirate shows, fireworks are just fireworks.
3. Dining room experience is not as relaxed.
4. Staff not as personable.

Interesting list and it seems strange that as the ship scale goes up in size, the crowding would be the same.

 

[cgolf]

Not sure, but yes the kids pools are ridiculous on all 4, but we do sail off peak so maybe the classics don't sell as well then? We love all the ships, but for some reason the classics feel less crowded overall, with all 4 of course having their moments. I wish I could come up with a reason other than what we have observed.

 

[TimeAndTide]

We sailed on the Magic in January and the Fantasy last month. There was more nightlife on the Fantasy for sure, and the way the clubs/bars are situated near each other it creates a lot more "atmosphere". Our kids enjoyed the Aquaduck. They also liked the magic porthole in their inside stateroom and movies on demand. They liked the kids club on the Magic better, and the staff was much friendlier on the Magic We liked having the concierge lounge on the Fantasy as it was so convenient, but we kind of missed having the personal assistance of an assigned concierge host (although the concierge folks were great!) My understanding that they've opened a concierge lounge on the Magic so that may shift that dynamic.

We really do feel that the staff on the Magic is friendlier and more personable. And the overall feel of the ship is a bit more traditional even among passengers. Personally I like the Magic better, but I also wouldn't hesitate to sail on the Fantasy either.cfor future sailings, we'll go with a combination of itinerary and sail dates to decide which ship.