There is Cruising and Then There is Cruising with Carnival
Last month my family and I stepped aboard the Carnival Magic for 7 days of the best vacation a family could hope for. It’s been years since I had been on my one and only cruise so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would the ship be nice? Would the kids get board? Would I feel crowded? These are just a few of the questions I wondered before we set sail.
However, my mind was put at ease, the moment I stepped aboard the Carnival Magic because it was like I was transported into another world. It was seriously amazing and beautiful.
The Beautiful Atrium
When you first step into the ship from the port you are greeted to the beautiful atrium with bright lights and colors. This is the center hub of the ship and a lot of fun things happen in this area, including one of my favorites, the Mardi Gras Party. This is also the area where you will take those fun cruise photos like on formal night.
Aboard the Magic, you will find no shortage of elevators but these are probably my favorite because you can see the whole atrium as you rise up and go down.
I probably took close to 1,000 photos while on our cruise and I am not exaggerating. Trying to go through these pictures and paint a picture of how awesome this boat is, was quite a feat. There is so much packed inside the ship that it’s almost impossible to capture all the magic in just one post. However I’ll try to give you a glimpse of some of my favorite parts about the Carnival Magic.
For Kids
There is so much for kids to do aboard the Carnival Magic. There are two pools, an arcade, a library full of books and games, Camp Carnival and so much more. Like….A huge waterpark with two slides. Don’t worry moms and dads, parents can ride these too! They`re so much fun.
A Giant Chess Board
How about going through a Ropes Course while you’re in the middle of the ocean. This one does have a height requirement, so if you have little one’s they may not be able to participate.
And for those teens, there is Club O2 which my son is already marking down the days until he’s old enough for this exclusive teen’s club.
For Adults
While the kids are having the time of their lives at Camp Carnival, there is plenty for the adults to do as well. There is something going on throughout the day on different areas of the ship.
You will find things like Bingo, Master Mixologist Competition, Pool & Deck games with your ships cruise director and the most popular event the Hairy Man Contest. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this, it’s hilarious!!
Here are some of the best moments from the contest. WARNING: This video is a mixture of funny, disturbing, hilarious, gross all rolled into one.
The Food
If there is one thing I can say for certain about your time on the Carnival Magic, it’s that you will never go hungry. There is food around ever corner, 24 hour room service and even homemade pizza (it’s delicious) that you can get round the clock.
The Spa & Fitness Center
I know, I know who wants to work out on your vacation. Right? Well when you have a panoramic view of the ocean while your strumming away on the elliptical, it makes it a little more enticing. Plus the Carnival Magic has a state of the art fitness center where you can enjoy just about every type of fitness equipment you could want or need.
The spa is tucked away in it’s own corner of the ship, but if you splurge on one thing during your cruise, a spa package would be one of my recommendations. Everyday they offer a special package and it’s a pretty sweet deal on port days, so be sure to check those out.
While we didn’t get a massage we did take at advantage of some of the spa’s extra amenities like the steam rooms and Thalassotherapy Pool. You can use these amenities for a small fee.
Entertainment
There is no shortage of entertainment aboard the Carnival Magic. Depending on whether it’s a port or sea day will designate the day’s activities, there is always something going on until the wee hours of the morning.
If you are feeling lucky you can hit the Casino for slots and table games or you can head over to the Redfrog Pub to listen to the band while sipping a Mocha Chocolate Getaway. Then, of course, you don’t want to miss out on the very popular Punchliner Comedy Club at night.
This is a free show that they do each night featuring some of the best comedies in the business. They have both adult (18+) & family friendly shows.
The bottom line is this. The Carnival Magic is an amazing ship and it’s name says it all. It’s a magical place that will take you far, far away. At least for 7 days or so. For more of a look inside the Carnival Magic be sure to check out some of my most recent review posts from our cruise.