Just off the Magic. Some random thoughts...

[mcd2745]

Just completed a 4-night aboard the Magic. All of our recent cruises had been on larger ships (Dream & Fantasy, plus Freedom & Oasis on RCCL - we were on the Wonder 15+ years ago and don't remember enough about it, especially since it was out first and only cruise experience for a long time). So we had a liitle trepidation about sailing on an older/smaller ship. I was always skeptical when people here say they prefer the classics over the 2 newer ships. While I am certainly not it that camp now, I can at least find it believable. There are definite pros and cons to each class of ships. The pros for the classics are all about crowds. Castaway Cay is a much better experience with approx halh the people on the island as opposed to the Dream/Fantasy. Also, the lines for character meets are much more reasonable. The pool deck on a sea day is still a disaster though...no way around that, and same goes for sail away and Pirate night (I would love to see DCL do away with Pirate night altogether... but that's a whole separate thread). There's just not enough room up there. I do like Palo better on the classics as well. I think it's a nicer setup with the open kitchen and stretching around the entire back of the ship. Food was equally great on all ships. Many cite a better service level on the classics. I didn't find that. I thought it was no better or worse than the new ships.

The cons had to do with the activities on the ship, mostly. Obviously much more to do on the newer ships (Midship Detective, mini-golf, etc.). Also, my daughter said she liked the Oceaneer Club/Lab much better on the newer ships. Additionally, there was a lot of movement that you don't feel on the larger, newer ships. I do realize though that some may consider that a pro instead of a con.

 

[Bishoparc]

Thanks for sharing this. We haven't been on anything but the Dream yet and were curious about that.

 

[mjfisherdc]

After being on both the Dream and Fantasy, we will be going on the Magic for the first time in May. Kids are bummed there is no Mid-Ship Detective Agency, but my DS is excited about the Marvel stuff in the kids club.
Thanks for your insight!

 

[Simba One]

I like the adult night club on the magic MUCH better than the tube. No poles in the way of viewing and much more comfortable chairs!

 

[Sir William]

....The pros for the classics are all about crowds. Castaway Cay is a much better experience with approx halh the people on the island as opposed to the Dream/Fantasy. Also, the lines for character meets are much more reasonable. The pool deck on a sea day is still a disaster though...no way around that, and same goes for sail away and Pirate night (I would love to see DCL do away with Pirate night altogether... but that's a whole separate thread). There's just not enough room up there....

Since I hate crowds, this is why I really like the classic ships.

The last two cruises I've skipped the Sail Away and Pirate parties, enjoying our departure and the fireworks from our veranda. I also prefer our veranda to the pool deck. I don't have to worry about keeping any kids entertained, so the "reduced" activities for them compared to the newer ships is not a concern for me.

 

[Expatriat]

I agree about pirate night. We used to love it many years ago on the classic ships. Lately we have stuck with the Fantasy and you couldn't pay us to go to a deck party with those crowds, plus the current pirate show does nothing for us compared to the original back in the old days. Although fireworks at sea is nice, we'd be happy to forego that if it might result in DCL lowering their prices a bit, but that would never happen I'm sure. I also agree about the layout of Palo.

 

[jrabbit]

RE: Palo Layout. on the classic ships having the entire aft of the ship is great, but having people able to walk back there is kind of disappointing. I like the "private" feeling in Palo on the Dream/Fantasy.

RE: Ship's Movement: Your trips on the Dream/Fantasy must have been in calmer and less windy conditions. Our cruises on the Magic and Wonder (13 of them) generally have less rocking and rolling than we have experienced on the larger ships.

 

[anricat]

I also experienced a smoother ride on the Magic than on the Dream. My DH and DD felt the same way.

 

[daisydog2]

Thanks for this. We've been on the Dream twice and are planning a Spring Break 2017 cruise on the Magic with extended family.. Makes me feel better knowing that others like the classics better and I hadn't even thought about the smaller crowds for Castaway Cay.....

 

[mcd2745]

RE: Palo Layout. on the classic ships having the entire aft of the ship is great, but having people able to walk back there is kind of disappointing. I like the "private" feeling in Palo on the Dream/Fantasy.

RE: Ship's Movement: Your trips on the Dream/Fantasy must have been in calmer and less windy conditions. Our cruises on the Magic and Wonder (13 of them) generally have less rocking and rolling than we have experienced on the larger ships.

Each of our cruises on the Dream/Fantasy were at the end of August and we had to go around the edges of tropical storms. Still, there was very little movement. While it was quite windy this past few days, it wasn't worse than those storms, but there was a lot more movement.

 

[hanscarlet]

I agree with almost everything you said above having gone on the Dream and the Wonder. I loved the Pirate Show on the Dream and was really disappointed by the party on the Wonder... the Dream everyone sat down and lots of good story line and characters... the Wonder it was really loud rock music and people were all standing and it was difficult for the kids to see. We didn't experience Palo on the Dream but loved Palo on the Wonder. I didn't notice the movement too much but did notice it on the Wonder (on Decks 2 and 3) whereas I forgot we were even moving on the Dream.