Just off the Magic-Thoughts

[aidtrismommy]

Just off the Magic 4-night, A few thoughts:
Embarkation: I still can't believe how smoothly it went, we arrived at 11:30 and did not have to wait in line. They just started boarding as I was checking in, I got #12 (PAT was 12:30-1). We were onboard before noon!! (When boarding the Dream two years ago it was chaotic-I realize there are way more people on that ship to board)
Stateroom: First time EVER with a verandah. It was nice. I think I would be just as happy without one. Next time, I will save the money and stick with deck 2. I just didn't utilize it as much as I thought I would. Our host was wonderful, the room was wonderful, the service was outstanding.
Food: Food is subjective, I thought it was great. I planned on eating Cabanas table service for the middle two nights due to extremely slow dinner service on the Dream last time, I was pleasantly surprised that on our first night it went very smoothly and quickly. We ate every dinner in the MDR and I enjoyed it very much.
Re-Imagined Areas: The kids clubs were outstanding. I liked how they offered secured programming during certain times and open houses for me to go in and spend some play time with the kids during other times. I believe this is new-ish, I don't think it was like this two years ago. We enjoyed the pool deck changes as well. The atrium is beautiful and overall the ship is in excellent condition.
Debarkation: We ate at Cabanas around 7:15. This option is so much better than the 0645 breakfast at MDR. I'm glad it is not advertised. I heard about it on the dis and had to ask a CM what time it starts. He told me the times but encouraged me to go to MDR.
Overall: Awesome! Next time: Double-Dip-Castaway Cay is outstanding

 

[bats]

Glad to hear that you had a lovely time on the Magic .. Our favourite ship.

 

[Zandy595]

Just off the Magic 4-night, A few thoughts:
Embarkation: I still can't believe how smoothly it went, we arrived at 11:30 and did not have to wait in line. They just started boarding as I was checking in, I got #12 (PAT was 12:30-1). We were onboard before noon!! (When boarding the Dream two years ago it was chaotic-I realize there are way more people on that ship to board)
Stateroom: First time EVER with a verandah. It was nice. I think I would be just as happy without one. Next time, I will save the money and stick with deck 2. I just didn't utilize it as much as I thought I would. Our host was wonderful, the room was wonderful, the service was outstanding.
Food: Food is subjective, I thought it was great. I planned on eating Cabanas table service for the middle two nights due to extremely slow dinner service on the Dream last time, I was pleasantly surprised that on our first night it went very smoothly and quickly. We ate every dinner in the MDR and I enjoyed it very much.
Re-Imagined Areas: The kids clubs were outstanding. I liked how they offered secured programming during certain times and open houses for me to go in and spend some play time with the kids during other times. I believe this is new-ish, I don't think it was like this two years ago. We enjoyed the pool deck changes as well. The atrium is beautiful and overall the ship is in excellent condition.
Debarkation: We ate at Cabanas around 7:15. This option is so much better than the 0645 breakfast at MDR. I'm glad it is not advertised. I heard about it on the dis and had to ask a CM what time it starts. He told me the times but encouraged me to go to MDR.
Overall: Awesome! Next time: Double-Dip-Castaway Cay is outstanding

Glad you had a great time, but I wanted to mention, we never had any of those problems on our two Dream cruises. Both times we got to the port just before 11:30am and walked right on the ship as soon as we were done with check-in. Also, our dinners weren't slow at all. I know you're just telling your experience, but I don't want people think that is the norm on the Dream.

 

[BeautyFan]

Thanks for your review! We are excited to be sailing her in a few weeks!

Do you know which princesses were on the Magic with you? I've heard Anna is on the Fantasy & Dream, wasn't sure if she's on the Magic too?

 

[Magical3]

Great review. Sounds like a great trip. I'm so excited to sail on the magic next month.

How are the kids pools on this ship - I've read some reviews about them being too small and crowded. Any thoughts ?

And thanks for the cabanas debarkation breakfast tip!

 

[jennifermturner]

On the magic in 6 sleeps, can't wait!!!!!

 

[taylor3297]

We ate in the MDR on the last morning before getting off the ship. It actually was a very nice meal and very tasty. Even though we were supposed to be there around 6:45 our servers told us if we were there by 7 everything would be fine.

 

[aidtrismommy]

Pools: My kids are 6 and 7, we stayed mainly at the mickey pool/splash area which is also where the twist n spout water slide is. The pool is small (which they all are on cruise ships), but overall the water area is larger when you incorporate the splash areas. Swimming is not something you can really do on a cruise ship, no matter what you do, but with the changes, there is more space to get wet. We did the goofy pool once with my older son, there is really only space to marinate. The slide was about 10minute wait both times they did it, the pools didn't seem overly crowded, we were able to get a table nearby, they were the most crowded on embarkation day imo. But "crowd levels" are subjective. The adult pool is nice, you can actually swim in there.
MDR I did have a wonderful trip on the Dream two years ago and don't want to give people the wrong idea, but we really did have a really slow MDR experience that effected how I felt coming into this cruise. It probably isn't what the majority of people experience, just what I did.
Same with embarkation on the Dream, we did get on the ship relatively early, before noon if I remember correctly, but it was indeed chaotic, this was on one of her first sailings, the terminal was just full of people and I felt crowd control was handled poorly. It has been a long time since I took that cruise, and I think they worked out all the bugs during those first sailings. This is why I was so pleasantly surprised this time on the Magic. There are many things I like about the Dream that the Magic doesn't have and vice versa. I am looking forward to future cruises on all four ships!!

 

[aidtrismommy]

We ate in the MDR on the last morning before getting off the ship. It actually was a very nice meal and very tasty. Even though we were supposed to be there around 6:45 our servers told us if we were there by 7 everything would be fine.

Oh that's nice. 7am doesn't seem so bad. My son wanted mickey waffles and they didn't have them at Cabanas the last morning. I was thinking he probably could have gotten them if we ate at MDR.

 

[jgive]

Reading this makes me look forward to our cruise later in the year even more. Thanks for sharing

 

[gigi1313]

Just curious... who was your stateroom host and your serving team?

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Thanks for the review!

Do you know the hours of the Cabanas breakfast on the last morning?

We always have main dining (and the early breakfast time on the last day) and our kids are always so tired and grumpy. I was thinking that if we could let them sleep in even just a little bit more and go to Cabanas, we might all be in better moods.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the review!

Do you know the hours of the Cabanas breakfast on the last morning?

We always have main dining (and the early breakfast time on the last day) and our kids are always so tired and grumpy. I was thinking that if we could let them sleep in even just a little bit more and go to Cabanas, we might all be in better moods.

We're done with the early breakfasts. Our plan next time is to pick up some sweet rolls, fruit, cereal the next to last day and just eat in our room that morning.

 

[aidtrismommy]

The breakfast at Cabanas is from 0630-0830, our server stated they start clearing up the food around 0815. It is not advertised anywhere (that I could see, and I looked). I heard of it here on the Dis and asked our server. The buffet is not as assorted as the normal breakfasts, but they had most everything and only one side is open. (hot items, pastries, cereal area, fruit)
It worked out great for us. I, too am so done with the super early breakfast. I slept until 0650 (although, in retrospect I could have slept a bit later) got myself ready and then woke up the boys around 0715.

 

[aidtrismommy]

Just curious... who was your stateroom host and your serving team?

Stateroom host was Jonathan (we were in 6106)

Serving Team were Juan Carlos (server) and Kenloy (Asst. Server). Kenloy entertained my boys with a couple of magic tricks.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

The breakfast at Cabanas is from 0630-0830, our server stated they start clearing up the food around 0815. It is not advertised anywhere (that I could see, and I looked). I heard of it here on the Dis and asked our server. The buffet is not as assorted as the normal breakfasts, but they had most everything and only one side is open. (hot items, pastries, cereal area, fruit)
It worked out great for us. I, too am so done with the super early breakfast. I slept until 0650 (although, in retrospect I could have slept a bit later) got myself ready and then woke up the boys around 0715.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Magical3]

Pools: My kids are 6 and 7, we stayed mainly at the mickey pool/splash area which is also where the twist n spout water slide is. The pool is small (which they all are on cruise ships), but overall the water area is larger when you incorporate the splash areas. Swimming is not something you can really do on a cruise ship, no matter what you do, but with the changes, there is more space to get wet. We did the goofy pool once with my older son, there is really only space to marinate. The slide was about 10minute wait both times they did it, the pools didn't seem overly crowded, we were able to get a table nearby, they were the most crowded on embarkation day imo. But "crowd levels" are subjective. The adult pool is nice, you can actually swim in there.!!

Thanks - great info. And lol @ "space to marinate"

My daughter is 5 so I imagine we'll probably be at the Mickey pool and splash area most of the time. Im hoping to get away to the adult pool for a little quiet time!

 

[czmom]

Thanks for your review! We are excited to be sailing her in a few weeks!

Do you know which princesses were on the Magic with you? I've heard Anna is on the Fantasy & Dream, wasn't sure if she's on the Magic too?

Would love to know if Anna was on as well.....

 

[rebeccam31]

Would love to know if Anna was on as well.....

Anna was not on during our February trip.

 

[aidtrismommy]

Would love to know if Anna was on as well.....

I have boys, but I did see the princess gathering in the atrium as we were passing by on deck 5.
I saw Cinderella, Tiana, Belle, and the one from Tangled. No Frozen characters were there, but Frozen was playing in the Buena Vista Theater at least twice daily with one showing in the Walt Disney Theater on the sea day.