Cruising: Part 5 - Shipboard

Once we survived the check-in process and the trip was underway, Melissa and I began to explore the Carnival Magic.  We discovered lots of great places to play, eat, relax and be entertained.  

We each treated ourselves to a hot stone massage in the Cloud 9 Spa.  The waiting area is lovely and we returned after our spa time to enjoy it a little more. There is also an amazing adults-only serenity deck which had my favorite big round lounges.  Each had thick cushions and pillows, high sides and were big enough to snuggle down and just enjoy the water views. 

There are so many dining options: marketplace casual, the dining room, an Italian restaurant which features recipes from our Captain's mother and a variety of bars (to get our endless refills of soft drinks for a additional fee) which are never far from a thirsty cruiser.  In the dining room, seating is assigned for the length of the cruise.  We had great conversation and many enjoyable evenings with the ladies at our table.  Each dinner offered a nice variety of meal options which included a unique, 'did-ya-ever' selection of items such as escargot, frog legs, shark, oysters, etc.  Desserts were diet-busting good.  Service in the dining room was first class with a team who were eager to ensure we had what we wanted, how we wanted it prepared, and in sufficient quantities.  They also double as entertainers, singing and dancing nearly every night. 

Each day while we were out, our room stewards tidied up and each evening they left a bucketful of ice, a few mints on our turned-down beds and a new towel animal.  We saved each one and had a hard time leaving them behind.  It was so fun to walk out on the Lido Deck Valentine's morning to find that crew had created a towel animal wonderland - with animals on each chair, in the pool and scattered around the deck.  We were encouraged to select one to take with us.  I picked the bear and Mouse selected a snail (as a reminder of eating escargot, I think). 

Entertainment options were varied.  The Magic has a nightly stage-show, comedy clubs, casino (amazingly, I won $65 playing penny slots!!!), lounges and bars.  We usually spent our late evenings in the piano bar enjoying Derrik's music.  During the days you can play mini-golf, basketball, challenge yourself on a ropes course, watch movies at the Dive-in theater, shop duty-free stores, become part of an organized activity, or take a slippery ride on the two water slides.  
 
 

Ultimately, my favorite part of being on the ship was just relaxing, spending time with my daughter and watching the beautiful Caribbean waters slip past.