This is our third western but with a new port, Falmouth. The Magic is our favorite ship and we had some DVC points that expire soon. We stayed in a family suite in 5600s, aft of the theater - not as much foot traffic back there, so quieter but if I were to book again, I'd go for the port side rather than starboard. I like to see Cuba as we go by. Sunday dinner was in Cariocas. We liked this "reimagined" area better than Parrot Cay and enjoyed the menu.
Monday - at sea - I like having a day at sea early in the trip - gives everyone a chance to figure out the ship. I spent the morning in the fitness center and the sauna. Also attended a seminar on facials and massages - they are basically trying to get you to buy into the services but we did a nice self-facial. I did not pay for any spa services or products - a bit pricey for me. We had dinner in Palo and, as usual, it was wonderful.
Tuesday - Cozumel - We did not do an excursion in Cozumel (in the past have done Tulum and a beach trip on the mainland, both great). Instead, we met a friend who lives nearby for a long lunch then got back to the ship early. Dinner in Animator's Palate.
Wednesday - Grand Cayman - In the past we have done snorkling and a couple of the tours around the island (to "Hell", etc.). Just to do something different, we did the Duck Boat tour. It was fine - water was a little unsettled but the driver did his best. The "tour guide" was a former stand-up comedian and kept it interesting. Animator's Palate for dinner - think I had the standard grilled salmon.
Thursday - Falmouth, Jamaica - except that we couldn't dock there and went past to Montego Bay. This made us dock about an hour late but the excursions folks did a good job of scrambling to pick us up. We did Dunn's River Falls and Mystic Mountain and the change in port made the drive longer (90-100 minutes each way). The falls were fun - you wade up the boulders and there are a few deeper pools where you can fall in or slide down into a pool. But it is first and you DO GET WET. Take a change of clothes and leave your bag on the bus - not the lockers because they are not near where you come out of the river or near the dressing rooms. Also, overall impression is that it was a bit chaotic. A few folks had younger kids - I wouldn't take one under 9 or 10. We got back to the ship within 5 minutes of the final "all aboard" time - but there were a couple of busses after us. Back in Cariocas for dinner.
Friday - at sea - around the eastern end of Cuba and past a couple of other islands. There were winds and the sea was a little choppy but not bad. Dinner in Lumiere's was good.
Saturday - Castaway Cay - morning was a little breezy and cool, which was OK because I ran the 5K. The adult beach was breezy so I didn't get in the water but enjoyed the sun. The folks at the float/tub pickup place near the family beach told us there was not a place to pick-up my float at the adult beach so I lugged it all the way over. There WAS a pick-up at the adult beach so we turned it in there. We also picked up our bike at the adult beach and turned it in at the family beach. Dinner was in Animator's again and with a new "trick" since I've been there. At the beginning of the meal we were given a paper with a cartoon character on it and a marker. We were to decorate our character - hair, clothing, facial features, etc. Near the end of dinner they put on a show with all of the characters on the wall screens. Cute.
Shows - were all good but the Villains show needs a little rewriting, it just didn't seem to hang together and seemed contrived although the performers did their best. The Dreams show and the final show were excellent.
Special entertainment - comedians and magician - excellent. Love Buckets and Boards!
A couple of "negatives" - I felt more "sales" pressure this cruise than I remember in the past - everyone was trying to sell something, spa, wine, services, bingo --- if I heard one bingo announcement I heard a dozen. Also, there seemed to be a LOT more announcements "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, this is your cruise director......" telling us what was going on in the next couple of hours and then telling us to look at our navigator. Really? we get those every night, do people really have to be reminded that often? Finally, the adult area Fathoms did not seem to go over as well as the old format except when one of the special entertainers was there. As soon as entertainment was over, folks left, no dancing.
Overall good cruise but since it was our 3rd western and we've done a couple of easterns, I think we are looking to southern for next Caribbean trip.
Monday - at sea - I like having a day at sea early in the trip - gives everyone a chance to figure out the ship. I spent the morning in the fitness center and the sauna. Also attended a seminar on facials and massages - they are basically trying to get you to buy into the services but we did a nice self-facial. I did not pay for any spa services or products - a bit pricey for me. We had dinner in Palo and, as usual, it was wonderful.
Tuesday - Cozumel - We did not do an excursion in Cozumel (in the past have done Tulum and a beach trip on the mainland, both great). Instead, we met a friend who lives nearby for a long lunch then got back to the ship early. Dinner in Animator's Palate.
Wednesday - Grand Cayman - In the past we have done snorkling and a couple of the tours around the island (to "Hell", etc.). Just to do something different, we did the Duck Boat tour. It was fine - water was a little unsettled but the driver did his best. The "tour guide" was a former stand-up comedian and kept it interesting. Animator's Palate for dinner - think I had the standard grilled salmon.
Thursday - Falmouth, Jamaica - except that we couldn't dock there and went past to Montego Bay. This made us dock about an hour late but the excursions folks did a good job of scrambling to pick us up. We did Dunn's River Falls and Mystic Mountain and the change in port made the drive longer (90-100 minutes each way). The falls were fun - you wade up the boulders and there are a few deeper pools where you can fall in or slide down into a pool. But it is first and you DO GET WET. Take a change of clothes and leave your bag on the bus - not the lockers because they are not near where you come out of the river or near the dressing rooms. Also, overall impression is that it was a bit chaotic. A few folks had younger kids - I wouldn't take one under 9 or 10. We got back to the ship within 5 minutes of the final "all aboard" time - but there were a couple of busses after us. Back in Cariocas for dinner.
Friday - at sea - around the eastern end of Cuba and past a couple of other islands. There were winds and the sea was a little choppy but not bad. Dinner in Lumiere's was good.
Saturday - Castaway Cay - morning was a little breezy and cool, which was OK because I ran the 5K. The adult beach was breezy so I didn't get in the water but enjoyed the sun. The folks at the float/tub pickup place near the family beach told us there was not a place to pick-up my float at the adult beach so I lugged it all the way over. There WAS a pick-up at the adult beach so we turned it in there. We also picked up our bike at the adult beach and turned it in at the family beach. Dinner was in Animator's again and with a new "trick" since I've been there. At the beginning of the meal we were given a paper with a cartoon character on it and a marker. We were to decorate our character - hair, clothing, facial features, etc. Near the end of dinner they put on a show with all of the characters on the wall screens. Cute.
Shows - were all good but the Villains show needs a little rewriting, it just didn't seem to hang together and seemed contrived although the performers did their best. The Dreams show and the final show were excellent.
Special entertainment - comedians and magician - excellent. Love Buckets and Boards!
A couple of "negatives" - I felt more "sales" pressure this cruise than I remember in the past - everyone was trying to sell something, spa, wine, services, bingo --- if I heard one bingo announcement I heard a dozen. Also, there seemed to be a LOT more announcements "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, this is your cruise director......" telling us what was going on in the next couple of hours and then telling us to look at our navigator. Really? we get those every night, do people really have to be reminded that often? Finally, the adult area Fathoms did not seem to go over as well as the old format except when one of the special entertainers was there. As soon as entertainment was over, folks left, no dancing.
Overall good cruise but since it was our 3rd western and we've done a couple of easterns, I think we are looking to southern for next Caribbean trip.
