Is the Magic in trouble??

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Just got off the Magic today and I am proud to report, all is fine with the Magic. No problems on our 7 day Western Caribbean cruise. Seas were a little rougher at times than I expected, but the motion sickness medicine given at Guest Services worked perfectly.

Great to hear!
Glad you had a good time!

Ex Techie

 

[mjaclyn]

I have to admit, reading all of these posts is making me extremely nervous. My family and I are taking the Eastern Caribbean Cruise in January on the Magic and I REALLY hope nothing like this happens. I am definitely a nervous person and thinking about the ship losing power in the middle of the ocean completely freaks me out. I'm going to try my best and prepare myself in case something happens. I also really hope that no one gets sick. I may check with my pediatrician to see if he can give me some kind of antibiotic in case the kids get sick while we're away. I guess the only thing I can really do is try to think positively. If the ship does lose power and we're stuck in the middle of the ocean, the worst that can happen is that they bring another ship to get us. So, we won't ever really be 'stuck' out there indefinitely. When I think of people who are REALLY stuck out at sea...perhaps in a very small boat it makes me feel better that we would be on a Disney ship with other people working as hard as possible to get us going again. Not to mention we'd have food and water and certainly the means to have other ships bring it to us if need be. Disney is extremely concerned about their image and I'm sure they'd go to great lengths to prevent a real disaster from happening. The crew must be trained in great detail for things like this, especially if they've happened before. We're probably in the best hands possible should something like that happen while on vacation.

 

[Patrickprincess]

I have to admit, reading all of these posts is making me extremely nervous. My family and I are taking the Eastern Caribbean Cruise in January on the Magic and I REALLY hope nothing like this happens. I am definitely a nervous person and thinking about the ship losing power in the middle of the ocean completely freaks me out. I'm going to try my best and prepare myself in case something happens. I also really hope that no one gets sick. I may check with my pediatrician to see if he can give me some kind of antibiotic in case the kids get sick while we're away. I guess the only thing I can really do is try to think positively. If the ship does lose power and we're stuck in the middle of the ocean, the worst that can happen is that they bring another ship to get us. So, we won't ever really be 'stuck' out there indefinitely. When I think of people who are REALLY stuck out at sea...perhaps in a very small boat it makes me feel better that we would be on a Disney ship with other people working as hard as possible to get us going again. Not to mention we'd have food and water and certainly the means to have other ships bring it to us if need be. Disney is extremely concerned about their image and I'm sure they'd go to great lengths to prevent a real disaster from happening. The crew must be trained in great detail for things like this, especially if they've happened before. We're probably in the best hands possible should something like that happen while on vacation.

verry well said. We can do everything to get ready for a cruise but one can not control everything. I hope for the best but i try to prepare for the worst

 

[mesaboy2]

I have to admit, reading all of these posts is making me extremely nervous. My family and I are taking the Eastern Caribbean Cruise in January on the Magic and I REALLY hope nothing like this happens. I am definitely a nervous person and thinking about the ship losing power in the middle of the ocean completely freaks me out. I'm going to try my best and prepare myself in case something happens. I also really hope that no one gets sick. I may check with my pediatrician to see if he can give me some kind of antibiotic in case the kids get sick while we're away. I guess the only thing I can really do is try to think positively. If the ship does lose power and we're stuck in the middle of the ocean, the worst that can happen is that they bring another ship to get us. So, we won't ever really be 'stuck' out there indefinitely. When I think of people who are REALLY stuck out at sea...perhaps in a very small boat it makes me feel better that we would be on a Disney ship with other people working as hard as possible to get us going again. Not to mention we'd have food and water and certainly the means to have other ships bring it to us if need be. Disney is extremely concerned about their image and I'm sure they'd go to great lengths to prevent a real disaster from happening. The crew must be trained in great detail for things like this, especially if they've happened before. We're probably in the best hands possible should something like that happen while on vacation.

When I first read the OP's second-hand email days ago, it struck me as alarmist and probably not particularly accurate. We've since had a number of first-hand reports that seem to back that first impression up. I hope you've taken the time to read those also. That first post by itself does a disservice to self-proclaimed worriers such as yourself. The rest of the thread should bring you back to something closer to reality.

Bottom line: don't worry about things you can't control. There are worse things than being stuck for an hour or two on a luxury cruise ship. And the odds of that happening are remote at best.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

mjaclyn,

from what I understand of the incident mentioned in this thread, the Magic was never in any danger.
There are lot's of other cruise ships (or other vessels) nearby (1-2 hours away) if the ship you are on is ever in danger.
In fact when the Magic had a issue in 2002, there were three other cruise ship's circling her, ready to help if she needed it, and the appropriate people took care of the situation.

The crew are trained by DCL and routinely tested by the USCG.

In the UNlikely event something serious does happen, you will be in safe hands!

Ex Techie

 

[Patrickprincess]

mjaclyn,

from what I understand of the incident mentioned in this thread, the Magic was never in any danger.
There are lot's of other cruise ships (or other vessels) nearby (1-2 hours away) if the ship you are on is ever in danger.
In fact when the Magic had a issue in 2002, there were three other cruise ship's circling her, ready to help if she needed it, and the appropriate people took care of the situation.

The crew are trained by DCL and routinely tested by the USCG.

In the likely event something serious does happen, you will be in safe hands!

Ex Techie

thank you for saying that. I feel safe on any disney ship because they under go training and they will do everything for saftey. After all this isn't 1912

 

[mesaboy2]

I think you meant unlikely. Let's not contribute to this poster's nervousness, m'kay?

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

I think you meant unlikely. Let's not contribute to this poster's nervousness, m'kay?

LOL! Sorry! Yes your right!

Ex Techie

 

[MagicFan75]

I also really hope that no one gets sick. I may check with my pediatrician to see if he can give me some kind of antibiotic in case the kids get sick while we're away.

I'm fairly prone to sinus infections, so just before we left for our 14-night cruise aboard the Magic in Sept 2010, I went to my doctor and he gave me an antibiotic prescription that I got filled beforehand, which I did wind up using. I haven't done that for my kids before, though, but I know there is a doctor onboard that you can see if you or your family does get sick.

The Magic is a beautiful ship that we've sailed on four times already and we are sailing on her again in May.

 

[bklwashere]

Just got off the Magic today and I am proud to report, all is fine with the Magic. No problems on our 7 day Western Caribbean cruise. Seas were a little rougher at times than I expected, but the motion sickness medicine given at Guest Services worked perfectly.

I was on this cruise as well, and echo this. The Magic is a great ship. I was really impressed.

 

[Cruella 66]

As you can tell, I am VERY happy to hear this. Cindy

I was on this cruise as well, and echo this. The Magic is a great ship. I was really impressed.

 

[renee123]

happy to see good reviews as well

 

[MoranClan]

We are on The DREAM right now and we have NOT moved for 3 hours. We are justing sitting here in the ocean. We have no idea what is going on NO word from the bridge. What's up with that?? HUM......

So were we, have to admit, the seas were dead calm, with no wind. Beautiful to just float and drift.

Ex Techie, I have a question for you. Above the adult pool, over deck 13 is where they fly some maritime flags, the day we were just drifting, they had 2 black balls it looked like, with slits in them flying.

What does that mean?

 

[amyren]

I’ve sailed on the Magic twice this year. Our 10 night Med cruise in June was incredible! I didn’t notice any real issues with the ship. Our stateroom was a little worn but nothing to complain about. We had an amazing time!

On our 7 night Eastern Caribbean in November I had the same general impression of the ship, lovely but in the need of a little TLC. Our stateroom toilet overflowed the second night of our Nov cruise. It kept flushing until it overflowed onto the bathroom floor then into our room. We reported it and were quickly moved into a new room. It was pain to move our luggage but in my book not a huge deal. I was just glad there was a vacant room for us!

I love the Magic I don’t think she’s near retirement but IMO she could use a dry dock to look at some plumbing issues and detail the ship over all (carpet, trim, paint, hardware …). I will definitely sail on the Magic again

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

So were we, have to admit, the seas were dead calm, with no wind. Beautiful to just float and drift.

Ex Techie, I have a question for you. Above the adult pool, over deck 13 is where they fly some maritime flags, the day we were just drifting, they had 2 black balls it looked like, with slits in them flying.

What does that mean?

MoranClan,

I have absolutely no idea!

Hopefully Tonka's Skipper or another member who has navigated a ship may be able to answer what was flown on the foremast meant !

Ex Techie

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

I know some maritime terms, and some meanings through the DCL training, but any knowledge I have or had is more technical.
That whole maritime law thing is a law onto itself and me! lol!

Ex Techie

CaptBJ would be another person who maybe is able to answer that!

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

After looking it up, it seem's,

"Shapes

What lights indicate by night, shapes indicate in the daytime. Shapes are, typically, 'a ball' (spherical), a cylinder, a diamond, a cone etc. As with lights, their shape, colour and size is prescribed under the rules. These are normally hoisted on a mast so that they can be seen from afar by other vessels.

Some typical shape configurations:

A normal power driven vessel shows nothing special at daytime
A vessel at anchor shows a black ball at her forward end on the forecastle.
A vessel not under command shows two black balls in a vertical line on her main (highest) mast
A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre shows two black balls separated by a diamond.
Some other typical shape configurations can be seen in the diagram below, along with the kind of ship they represent."

SNIP from:
http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/marine/articles/35064.aspx

HTH's!

Ex Techie

 

[MoranClan]

Thank You.

So I guess while adrift, this is what they fly

"A vessel not under command shows two black balls in a vertical line on her main (highest) mast"

I love learning new things.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Thank You.

So I guess while adrift, this is what they fly

"A vessel not under command shows two black balls in a vertical line on her main (highest) mast"

I love learning new things.

Glad you never had the diamond inbetween! lol!

Ex Techie

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

So were we, have to admit, the seas were dead calm, with no wind. Beautiful to just float and drift.

Ex Techie, I have a question for you. Above the adult pool, over deck 13 is where they fly some maritime flags, the day we were just drifting, they had 2 black balls it looked like, with slits in them flying.

What does that mean?

Extech had the right details. The 2 black balls are a signal to other ships/traffic in the area, telling them that the Dream is *NOT ABLE TO MANUVER*.. The Dream will have put out radio secruity calls about this as well as talking directly to any ship/traffic in the area. NO dangers.


These Ships today are very complex..anything can happen and cuase a problem. This happens more often then you would guess, we just hear about it more due to the great comunications. By the time you are reading this I am sure your back under way......Enjoy the cruise


AKK