Empress Room
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 15, 2007
- Messages
- 426
Day One - Introduction, A Big Surprise and Embarkation
My first voyage on the Disney Magic was back in August of 1999, back in the day when the Magic was still doing three and four day cruises only because its sister ship, the Wonder, was just being built. (As an aside, this first trip on the Magic coincided with the Wonder's maiden voyage, and the two ships met up bow-to-bow at Castaway Cay for fireworks and a little celebration, but that's long ago history and a topic for another trip report.) I traveled then (as I do now) with my DW (no kids); we have both been Disney fans over the years, but I was the reluctant cruiser, always thinking that a cruise would be too restrictive, too boring, too structured. That was eleven cruises ago, both on various DCL three and four day, seven day, Eastern, Western and Mexican Riviera and even a 10-day Southern Caribbean, both on the Magic and the Wonder, as well as on Holland America for Alaska several years back.
So I have been watching and reading these wonderful trip reports. They are informative and fun, and provide DisBoards readers with some valuable information. I suppose it's truly a good time for me to write one, not necessarily because I am any more informative or insightful as the other fine writers who have preceded me, but perhaps because I can lend a slightly different perspective. DW and I have been on a good many DCL cruises, a decade has now passed, and we are back on the Magic, cruise "veterans" who can possibly enlighten folks with some experience and a critical eye for what has changed, what has stayed the same, and, after ten years, to opine on what the Magic doing right and wrong (or perhaps different) than that first experience in 1999.
Yours Truly:
Dearest DW:
Which brings us to the August 15 Tortola cruise. Traveling with us are our good friends, Bob and Carmen, who have shared in some of these adventures. Four adults, no kids, the thoughts of food, adult beverages, sun, the Baths on Tortola, an early flight out of DTW to MCO and on the cruiseline bus by 10:15 a.m. on Saturday the 15th. I remember seeing the Magic for the first time in 1999 from the cruiseline bus on the highway outside of PC, it was massive, impressive and awe-inspiring. Ten years later and that hasn't changed. There is something about seeing that ship's stacks on the horizon...wow!
Carm, Bob and DW:
Awe-inspiring:
We pulled into port and were greeted by the DCL CM who boards the bus and tells the folks enthusiastically about the embarkation process and what awaits them in the week ahead. But this time it was different. A monotone CM boarded our bus and mumbled something about, "I have some interesting news. Blah, blah, blah, Anna and Bill, blah, blah, blah, you are not going to Tortola, you are going on a Western itinerary, possibly to Key West and Grand Cayman, Castaway Cay tomorrow, but its changing every moment." There was a stunned silence on that bus. Was this guy joking? He wasn't very forthcoming and a bit un-Disney-like in his delivery. It was no joke; we got off the bus and were handed a printed alternative itinerary, changed because of a tropical depression and pending hurricane.
The group was disappointed because we were all looking forward to Tortola and St. Thomas, but we all decided DCL and Captain Thord had our best interests in mind - we would gladly trade nicer whether for closed ports, high winds and 25-foot seas as the Good Captain explained (in a hushed, Seinfeld low talker delivery). Some in the terminal weren't so understanding, as there were a vocal few complaining that they wanted refunds, rebates or (unbelievably) insisting that the ship nevertheless travel to its scheduled itinerary (these same folks would undoubtedly head for the ill-fated bow of the ship if they had been starring in the Poseidon Adventure). (Really! Do you think that DCL would go somewhere instead of the scheduled itinerary, scramble to print new schedules, to book new and different excursions and otherwise make a seemless experience very complicated if it thought it had a choice? Of course not. DCL doesn't (also unbelievably) control the weather, so the safety of passengers and crew, the comfort and experience must take precedence over a few selfish guests who think they know better.)
Embarkation was efficient and flawless. With those #2 boarding cards in hand, a quick picture at the now-mandatory picture taking stand and we were on the ship at 11:45 a.m., somewhat frazzled, but as excited as we were the first time they called out our family name in that impressive Magic lobby on Deck 3. The first order of business was a trip to Topsiders buffet and a trip to Signals to fill up those ESPN Skybox mugs - although not necessarily in that order. (Something you should know about my ESPN Skybox mug. It was purchased on that first 4-day Magic cruise a decade ago and has logged as many cruises as DW and I. To dispel any rumor: there was no card given out with the first fill up, no double-checking of receipts. I simply walked up to the bartender, told him it was my lucky mug from more cruises than I care to count. He laughed and gladly filled 'er on up with suds and the cruise (officially) began. In case you think that the return of this mug on subsequent cruises is my way of trying to scam DCL out of the $14.95 price it now commands [it was about $10.95 back in 1999] that's not the case. It is a keepsake and a common thread to all DCL cruises, a reminder of great moments past and exciting adventures ahead and, in any event, with the number of cruises DW and I have been on, it's been more than paid for several times over!)
The one on your left is the "veteran mug:"
The buffet lunch at Topsiders was very good, maybe not as impressive as years ago when it seemed like thousands of cocktail shrimp were heaped in the middle, surrounded by glacier-like ice sculptures. The shrimp and ice sculptures are still there, maybe not as intricate or voluminous as in years past, but there and plentiful and quite good. (This is perhaps a good time to let you know that DW and I - as well as our traveling friends - are foodies. We like good food, pick quality over quantity, but are by no means food snobs. We fully enjoy Pinnochio's pizza and the chicken fingers and fries across the pool as well as Palo, although Palo and our experience(s) there will be discussed in due time.)
The remainder of our afternoon was spent in the Quiet Cove pool, my true "happy place," enjoying the beautiful sunny weather with bemused fascination at those aforementioned vocal minority folks who were still criticizing the itinerary change and complaining about why new shore excursions and definitive plans hadn't yet been established - a "mere" four hours before sailing! We checked out the All Aboard! variety show and cemented our "I am on vacation" mindset.
My happiest Happy Place(s):
Dining rotations and Palo brunch schedules of course all changed because of the itinerary change and one less sea day. We were originally APLAPLA, but that was changed by DCL to APLALPL. We spent the hours before our second dining assignment at Sessions, truly a great cocktail bar with a sophisticated atmosphere. Martinis were served with perfection by Dean from Australia, a young and energetic lad who epitomized DCL service. (Admittedly, if I had to vote on a second or co happy place on board that ship, this would be it.)
Sessions: sophisticated and relaxing:
Animator's is my least favorite main dining assignment. Not necessarily because of the food, but because it is exactly the same as it was 10 years ago. The black and white to color transformation is a bit tired now, the technology isn't quite as impressive as it was way back when, and the theme or commonality of the evening appears a little lost now, maybe as a result of DCL replacing some of the original movies and scenes with newer movies and scenes in an inexpensive way to update the show - they just don't seem to fit as well. I would guess that this dining room is on the short list for reimagineering at the next drydock. Nonetheless, our servers, Daniel from Peru and Kendall Dont Call Me Jackson (Chardonnay), were consummate pros who cared. We still had a great meal. After dinner, we opted for a simple walk around the decks, reexploring and rediscovering those nooks and crannies that were familiar with the last cruise, but demanded a revisit. A little after 11:00 p.m., and the first (half) day was history. A full and satisfying beginning to the adventure.
Some impressions as I laid my head down on my Category 5 balcony pillow that first night, reflecting on this versus that first cruise a decade ago:
The Magic is in great shape. It is clean, beautiful and stunning. Everything in our cabin was in working order and the addition of the flatscreens were welcomed;
The crew and staff remain extremely friendly, helpful and genuinely happy to please and serve. Yep, theyve gotten better over the years and the ten years under their belts have made them that much more polished;
The food in main dining rooms is much improved, if Animators Palate is any indication. It used to be that ordering meat in the main dining rooms meant something always well done (no matter what temperature requested) and a bit tough. This was solid. Very tasty even. Medium rare now means medium rare, and the accompaniments are tasty too;
Gosh, Im really having fun.
Next up: Day Two - Castaway Cay: Clean Living And Pictures Are Better Than Words
My first voyage on the Disney Magic was back in August of 1999, back in the day when the Magic was still doing three and four day cruises only because its sister ship, the Wonder, was just being built. (As an aside, this first trip on the Magic coincided with the Wonder's maiden voyage, and the two ships met up bow-to-bow at Castaway Cay for fireworks and a little celebration, but that's long ago history and a topic for another trip report.) I traveled then (as I do now) with my DW (no kids); we have both been Disney fans over the years, but I was the reluctant cruiser, always thinking that a cruise would be too restrictive, too boring, too structured. That was eleven cruises ago, both on various DCL three and four day, seven day, Eastern, Western and Mexican Riviera and even a 10-day Southern Caribbean, both on the Magic and the Wonder, as well as on Holland America for Alaska several years back.
So I have been watching and reading these wonderful trip reports. They are informative and fun, and provide DisBoards readers with some valuable information. I suppose it's truly a good time for me to write one, not necessarily because I am any more informative or insightful as the other fine writers who have preceded me, but perhaps because I can lend a slightly different perspective. DW and I have been on a good many DCL cruises, a decade has now passed, and we are back on the Magic, cruise "veterans" who can possibly enlighten folks with some experience and a critical eye for what has changed, what has stayed the same, and, after ten years, to opine on what the Magic doing right and wrong (or perhaps different) than that first experience in 1999.
Yours Truly:
Dearest DW:
Which brings us to the August 15 Tortola cruise. Traveling with us are our good friends, Bob and Carmen, who have shared in some of these adventures. Four adults, no kids, the thoughts of food, adult beverages, sun, the Baths on Tortola, an early flight out of DTW to MCO and on the cruiseline bus by 10:15 a.m. on Saturday the 15th. I remember seeing the Magic for the first time in 1999 from the cruiseline bus on the highway outside of PC, it was massive, impressive and awe-inspiring. Ten years later and that hasn't changed. There is something about seeing that ship's stacks on the horizon...wow!
Carm, Bob and DW:
Awe-inspiring:
We pulled into port and were greeted by the DCL CM who boards the bus and tells the folks enthusiastically about the embarkation process and what awaits them in the week ahead. But this time it was different. A monotone CM boarded our bus and mumbled something about, "I have some interesting news. Blah, blah, blah, Anna and Bill, blah, blah, blah, you are not going to Tortola, you are going on a Western itinerary, possibly to Key West and Grand Cayman, Castaway Cay tomorrow, but its changing every moment." There was a stunned silence on that bus. Was this guy joking? He wasn't very forthcoming and a bit un-Disney-like in his delivery. It was no joke; we got off the bus and were handed a printed alternative itinerary, changed because of a tropical depression and pending hurricane.
The group was disappointed because we were all looking forward to Tortola and St. Thomas, but we all decided DCL and Captain Thord had our best interests in mind - we would gladly trade nicer whether for closed ports, high winds and 25-foot seas as the Good Captain explained (in a hushed, Seinfeld low talker delivery). Some in the terminal weren't so understanding, as there were a vocal few complaining that they wanted refunds, rebates or (unbelievably) insisting that the ship nevertheless travel to its scheduled itinerary (these same folks would undoubtedly head for the ill-fated bow of the ship if they had been starring in the Poseidon Adventure). (Really! Do you think that DCL would go somewhere instead of the scheduled itinerary, scramble to print new schedules, to book new and different excursions and otherwise make a seemless experience very complicated if it thought it had a choice? Of course not. DCL doesn't (also unbelievably) control the weather, so the safety of passengers and crew, the comfort and experience must take precedence over a few selfish guests who think they know better.)
Embarkation was efficient and flawless. With those #2 boarding cards in hand, a quick picture at the now-mandatory picture taking stand and we were on the ship at 11:45 a.m., somewhat frazzled, but as excited as we were the first time they called out our family name in that impressive Magic lobby on Deck 3. The first order of business was a trip to Topsiders buffet and a trip to Signals to fill up those ESPN Skybox mugs - although not necessarily in that order. (Something you should know about my ESPN Skybox mug. It was purchased on that first 4-day Magic cruise a decade ago and has logged as many cruises as DW and I. To dispel any rumor: there was no card given out with the first fill up, no double-checking of receipts. I simply walked up to the bartender, told him it was my lucky mug from more cruises than I care to count. He laughed and gladly filled 'er on up with suds and the cruise (officially) began. In case you think that the return of this mug on subsequent cruises is my way of trying to scam DCL out of the $14.95 price it now commands [it was about $10.95 back in 1999] that's not the case. It is a keepsake and a common thread to all DCL cruises, a reminder of great moments past and exciting adventures ahead and, in any event, with the number of cruises DW and I have been on, it's been more than paid for several times over!)
The one on your left is the "veteran mug:"
The buffet lunch at Topsiders was very good, maybe not as impressive as years ago when it seemed like thousands of cocktail shrimp were heaped in the middle, surrounded by glacier-like ice sculptures. The shrimp and ice sculptures are still there, maybe not as intricate or voluminous as in years past, but there and plentiful and quite good. (This is perhaps a good time to let you know that DW and I - as well as our traveling friends - are foodies. We like good food, pick quality over quantity, but are by no means food snobs. We fully enjoy Pinnochio's pizza and the chicken fingers and fries across the pool as well as Palo, although Palo and our experience(s) there will be discussed in due time.)
The remainder of our afternoon was spent in the Quiet Cove pool, my true "happy place," enjoying the beautiful sunny weather with bemused fascination at those aforementioned vocal minority folks who were still criticizing the itinerary change and complaining about why new shore excursions and definitive plans hadn't yet been established - a "mere" four hours before sailing! We checked out the All Aboard! variety show and cemented our "I am on vacation" mindset.
My happiest Happy Place(s):
Dining rotations and Palo brunch schedules of course all changed because of the itinerary change and one less sea day. We were originally APLAPLA, but that was changed by DCL to APLALPL. We spent the hours before our second dining assignment at Sessions, truly a great cocktail bar with a sophisticated atmosphere. Martinis were served with perfection by Dean from Australia, a young and energetic lad who epitomized DCL service. (Admittedly, if I had to vote on a second or co happy place on board that ship, this would be it.)
Sessions: sophisticated and relaxing:
Animator's is my least favorite main dining assignment. Not necessarily because of the food, but because it is exactly the same as it was 10 years ago. The black and white to color transformation is a bit tired now, the technology isn't quite as impressive as it was way back when, and the theme or commonality of the evening appears a little lost now, maybe as a result of DCL replacing some of the original movies and scenes with newer movies and scenes in an inexpensive way to update the show - they just don't seem to fit as well. I would guess that this dining room is on the short list for reimagineering at the next drydock. Nonetheless, our servers, Daniel from Peru and Kendall Dont Call Me Jackson (Chardonnay), were consummate pros who cared. We still had a great meal. After dinner, we opted for a simple walk around the decks, reexploring and rediscovering those nooks and crannies that were familiar with the last cruise, but demanded a revisit. A little after 11:00 p.m., and the first (half) day was history. A full and satisfying beginning to the adventure.
Some impressions as I laid my head down on my Category 5 balcony pillow that first night, reflecting on this versus that first cruise a decade ago:
The Magic is in great shape. It is clean, beautiful and stunning. Everything in our cabin was in working order and the addition of the flatscreens were welcomed;
The crew and staff remain extremely friendly, helpful and genuinely happy to please and serve. Yep, theyve gotten better over the years and the ten years under their belts have made them that much more polished;
The food in main dining rooms is much improved, if Animators Palate is any indication. It used to be that ordering meat in the main dining rooms meant something always well done (no matter what temperature requested) and a bit tough. This was solid. Very tasty even. Medium rare now means medium rare, and the accompaniments are tasty too;
Gosh, Im really having fun.
Next up: Day Two - Castaway Cay: Clean Living And Pictures Are Better Than Words
!!! Thanks for posting so soon!!!!
Double Dip Cruise buddy from August 2006.....so I see you got another "unplanned" Double Dip cruise this August as well.....
We're usually about the Goofy Pool and Mickey slide!
