Magic or Fantasy ?

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Hoping to book soon. As mentioned, I'm shooting for immediately after next year's election (if it doesn't kill me first).

I was all set to book 'new' Magic 7 day out of PC and then I saw that verandas are cheaper on Fantasy and that I can get a veranda for only $200 pp moreish (i have some discounts hoping to apply) than I can get interior on the Magic. They are within a day of each other, both are 7 days. I have been on the Dream and I think Fantasy is a teeny bit updated Dream? But Magic has it updates too and different restaurants. Well the Magic goes to 3 ports (all of which I went to this year) and the Fantasy has 4 ports (3 of which I went to last year, at least for islands, not sure about specific ports.)

Mom and Dad don't cruise with out verandas. I'm starting to come around to their side of things, especially with a 7 day when we can finally use it. Magic veranda is more like $1400 for them.

My husband loves cruising! He loves sea days and ports, but thinks that more ports is always better than less.

I am starting to think Fantasy? What should we do? I have to figure out soon or I am going to lose out on my golden opportunity to get close to what would have been like booking on board..

*sighs*

 

[ktb2002]

What are the ports for each? I havent been on the Magic yet, not until December anyway. I have been on Fantasy twice with 2 more trips booked.

 

[Justacruiser]

If the cost was exactly the same which would you do? But yes, all of our cruises have been on the balcony. Once you get the balcony you won't want to go back.

I personally would do the Magic. Love the ship, been on it 6 times so far. Would like to see the updates. Like the smaller crowds of people. And like you, we have been to all of the ports. I like the CS on the Magic better. More personal attention IMHO.

 

[ktb2002]

Ugh, apparently I need to pay more attention ha! Missed the part about you have been to most of the ports on both cruises. I prefer Eastern right now as I have taken more Western cruises. I probably would go with the Fantasy for price.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Fantasy-
Cozumel
Jamaica
G Cayman
Castaway
(not necessarily that order)

Magic-
St Thomas
St Maarten (LOVE!!)
Castaway

They are even in the respect that we can do PC and CC for each (I HATE miami!!)

I was really geeked about the new Magic but Mom & Dad would have to pay more (like $400 ish?) to get their balcony or we can all get balconies for what I 'estimated' about $240 or so less pp (and includes port fees & taxes).

I kinda thought the Fantasy was out of reach, and now I'm not sure? I haven't been to Chankanaab since they got manatees. That sounds really cute. Mom & Dad don't really care about ports, they like the cruising and mom likes to drink tea on her veranda. (actual tea )

If we get interior, we will try to be across from their balcony, but if we all get balconies, we can hopefully get next to each other like was so nice on our last cruise.

When is Magic done getting her 'work done'? I wonder if anyone could compare the two? My ADD husband says he doesn't care about Detective Agency. HE LOVES waterslides so I think we are ok there for either?

 

[ktb2002]

Well the Fantasy is ALOT like the Dream, just tweaked like you said. If your husband is a water slide person, maybe the Magic for the new Aquadunk? The first cruise after the dry dock isn't until October, so you're not going to have a good comparison until then.

 

[EeyoreIsMyName]

I was pricing cruises on the Magic and Fantasy for the same time period and the Magic was more expensive. I was a little shocked that the newer, bigger ship was less expensive. Of course, the Magic will gone through refurbishment, but still I couldn't quite figure out the logistics of that large of a price difference.

 

[kathi]

We just went through a similar debate and ended up selecting the Fantasy. I know we would have loved both, but in the end the additional adult dining options (Remy brunch and dinner), more bars (Meredian, Oh La La and Skyline are favorites) and the larger kids club tipped the scales.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I gotta know, man this is hard!

Does the Magic have the 3D movie theater too? I know it doesn't have movies on Demand on Fant/Dream do.

We are having a tough time deciding!

 

[Cruisefan2]

The Fantasy is the Dream with all the kinks worked out. Also the have some additions like satellite falls and the water play area. Honestly go with what you think is the best for you because they are both great ships but is it more ports you want or a bigger ship. Just think about the different variables but you can't go wrong with either choice!

 

[jahber]

What an awesome decision to have to make! Personally, I would be eager to try the new Magic. But my husband would be eager to save the $. The Magic will still be there in a year or two, but the Fantasy might not always be cheaper (with regards to equivalent Verandah rooms, not comparing verandah to inside)! In fact, the Magic will probably be cheaper again in a year or two compared to the Fantasy. Of course, no one knows the mysteries of DCL pricing, but the trend is toward larger ships being the more popular, "new" thing. So for my family, and this is just us, we would jump on the Fantasy, save some $, and do an OBB for the Magic later

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

We have had some similar discussions.

Just my thoughts, but my choice would be determined by which one offers more ports that we haven't seen yet. This is the reason why our next Caribbean cruise will be a Western itinerary. We have been to Jamaica (got married there) twice, but we've never been to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, etc. We just think that cruises are such a good way to see several places in one fell swoop that you might not have the opportunity to see again.

Like you, I LOOOOOOOVE St. Maarten!! We sailed the Oasis two and a half years ago and by far, that was our favorite island and our favorite excursion. We did a 4 wheeler tour of the island that stopped at Orient beach for 90 minutes. When we got back to the port, we walked into town and stopped at a FANTASTIC place for lunch called Chesterfield's (about halfway between the port and the shopping district), then hit the shopping district for a couple of hours. It was the BEST day.

If you are considering the trip that is more expensive, maybe you could just put a little money away each week to help cover that cost. Example, when you go to the grocery store, get cash back ~$20 dollars and put it away. I do this every single time we plan a vacation and that becomes my spending money. That way, my bill at the end of the week is extremely reasonable.

At the end of the day, either trip is going to be magical and you know you'll have a blast!!! Happy Trip Picking! Let us know what you decide.

 

[jdb in AZ]

You know you want to try all four ships. You've already sailed on the Dream. Try the Magic because it's a classic. We prefer the smaller ships because it isn't such a hike from Point A to Point B. with all the renovations the Magic will have before you sail, it will feel like the newest DCL ship.

 

[cruisecrasher]

I gotta know, man this is hard!

Does the Magic have the 3D movie theater too? I know it doesn't have movies on Demand on Fant/Dream do.

We are having a tough time deciding!

Yes the Magic does have 3D. And after dry dock she will be the newest ship. On Demand was one of the things they are rumored to be adding.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

The Magic hands down. Wouldn't even be an option for us and we love St Maarten to boot.

 

[ChipnDalePals]

We have been on all four and love them all but The Fantasy is our favorite by far. So much more to do and the adult areas are fantastic! Can't go wrong with any of them though. Enjoy!

 

[darkwing818]

I gotta know, man this is hard!

We are having a tough time deciding!

OK so decision time is looming, time to make a decision.
If I understand it, your 1st thought was to book a Magic 7 day cruise, but now your having 2nd thoughts because the Fantasy is less expensive by $400 give or take. Clearly your getting opinions on both sides of the coin; no surprise, so here's one more.
Sounds like you are comfortable with the price for sailing on the Magic, if that is correct, then I'd stay with the Magic. I hate 2nd guessing myself, drives me nuts (my 1st inclination usually works out the best anyway). The Magic will be the "newest" ship in the fleet, bunches of new updates (restaurants, clubs, AquaDunk etc.) that I'd want to scoop out. Also I like the ports that are scheduled for the Magic better than the Fantasy. Of course let's face either way, you'll have a Great cruise. Good Luck & Smooth Sailing

 

[sorceressk]

I would pick the fantasy. That's not much more $ -if u can swing it. And it sounds like that's a trip u never thought u could take (when u said u thought the fantasy was out of reach). The magic will be there next year. And like someone else said, the prices will probably go down.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Sigh. You all have nice answers, thank you. Of course, any 7 day is going to blow my mind since my 3 day was amazing.

It sounds like it may be Fant because I asked my husband if he wanted to save $200ish or get a veranda and he said veranda. However I kinda wish that it would swap to an eastern maybe because 4 ports is whoa. However we may make one of them a sea day while half the people are off the ship. That could be an advantage. (Prob Jamaica maybe.)

Twinkie n I kinda liked the more relaxing appeal of the Magic with 3 ports but verandas cost more so we thought we might chip in more towards mom n dads but then that puts the averages back where they would be if we all got Fant verandas in the first place.

Both have pubs. Magic has different restaurants but they both have same AP.

So yeah back where I started. It may come down to husband saying (because we never get one but we go cheaply on CCL and our DC Dream was our very first veranda) given that they all are so close to each other in cruise fare and that our rewards between the next 14 months may be enuf to cancel it out anyway, and because work leading up to election day is probably going to kill me so the idea of vegetating on my own veranda with Twinkle and Mom for a week (hubby too of course) sounds wonderful.

I think it will come down to the ship (vs ports since we have done all the islands 2012 n 2013) and when my rewards card adds up, it may cover the difference of having my own veranda...

 

[Silverfox97]

I would choose the Eastern cruise on the Fantasy. I will also never cruise without a verandah again. Period. I personally think the 5E verandahs are the best fleet-wide. We totally ditch St Thomas and book it over to St John immediately (hope to spend a week in St John next summer in between our cruises)!!! Its our favorite port. I've been on the Fantasy three times (and I did not like the Dream). Although big, she's great You will not be disappointed.

Now, I'm a classic ship girl. In 8 cruises, we've done 1/2 on the classics, 1/2 on the new ships. The Magic is my fave ship. That being said, inthis case, price trumps, as does destination & I will typically always choose an eastern over a western. Personal preference.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards