Cruise Ship Review

Disney Magic's Art Deco design elements are evident in all of its public spaces, which are -- for the most part -- refined and understated. There are a few Disney-themed venues that are appropriately colorful and exuberant, but most of the ship's appeal lies in the fact that it is truly designed for everyone, not just Disney fanatics and kids.

On this trip I traveled with my nearly-12-year-old niece. I worried that she might be too old for the Disney characters, and that she might pooh-pooh the events surrounding Mickey Mouse, Goofy and the others, but I needn't have been concerned. Her age provided the perfect combination of wide-eyed wonder and pre-teen sophistication ... one minute commenting on the perfect blend of seasonings in her penne pasta (accurately pronouncing it "penneh") and the next chasing down an oversized costumed chipmunk --Chip or Dale, I'm not sure which -- for an autograph. And when my niece proclaimed something "cool," I could take it to the bank; it was indeed "cool." In all, this ship is a study in contrasts, blending elegant sophistication on the one hand and joyous, Disney-fied abandon on the other, ultimately merging perfectly into a wonderful whole. I was struck, too, by a couple of luxurious touches (comfortable heavy metal and mesh cloth balcony furniture, a mini-suite-like standard stateroom) and some surprisingly tacky ones (the 24-hour coffee station only has Styrofoam cups, and butter isn't served at any meal -- you get a margarine blend called "butterine").

Magic alternates seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, but in summer 2007 will move to the Mediterranean to sail 10- and 11-night itineraries from Barcelona

Dining

There are three main restaurants on Magic, and every guest gets to dine in each of them at least twice -- you remain at the same table number with the same dining companions and servers, but show up at a different location. Dining times are set at 6 and 8:30 p.m.; as always on a family-friendly cruise ship, the earlier dining times cater to the youngest kids, so plan accordingly.

Lumiere's is the fanciest and most traditional dining room of the three, with Art Deco decor and a French-inspired menu. Dining here replicates mealtimes on luxury liners from the heyday of trans-Atlantic crossings. We loved the bright colors and cheerfulness of this room, which is also available for breakfast and lunch buffets.

Topsider's, the casual dining restaurant, serves breakfast and lunch buffets and is open for dinner as well. The location, high up and aft, is terrific, but the indoor layout is cramped and difficult to maneuver, one of the rare poorly planned spaces on the ship. On nice days you can dine outdoors overlooking the stern, which is pleasant and appealing.

There are two fast-food locations and a fruit and ice cream bar on Deck 9, which is where most of the outdoor action is to be found.  Pinocchio's Pizzeria wasn't nearly as popular on the cruise I took, but Scoops, the ice cream station, is an obvious favorite.

Room service was fast and efficient. In-room breakfast is continental only and relatively boring, ordered via a pre-hung door card the night before.

Suite guests get hot breakfast options and dining room meals delivered when requested.

Public Rooms

Most of the public spaces are located on Decks 3, 4 and 5, and we had great appreciation for the way they seamlessly flowed from the rowdier kid-centric activities to the quiet family or adult-oriented spaces. We enjoyed pre- and post-dinner music in the Promenade Lounge, a quiet, family-friendly environment, and in Studio Sea we participated in the game shows, exhibitions and karaoke. The Atrium is fairly small and aside from being a great meeting point is little used, except for the Disney character autograph signing, the Captain's cocktail party and Disney pin trading.

 

At the very front of the ship on Deck 3 there is an entertainment complex called Beat Street, consisting of lounges, bars and cabarets that become adults-only after 9 p.m. Before that time these spaces are used for various activities. The cabaret lounge, Rockin' Bar D, hosts family-friendly individual performers or family dance parties early in the evening.

 

In the adult section of the pool deck there is a new coffee house, Cove Cafe, serving specialty coffees and bar drinks; Cove Cafe also has a small Internet section. This was a favorite, another spot that was conducive to quiet pursuits, and the closest thing to a library onboard the ship.

Cabins

The deck parties on Magic were the most widely attended (by all age groups) of any I have ever seen and no one quit until the lights were out. The Pirates in the Caribbean Party, a new theme for Magic, was the highlight of the cruise, with every guest wearing a red bandanna and some donning Cap'n Hook hats, eye patches, the works. Pirates rappelled down the stack and flew over the balconies while everyone danced and danced and danced and cheered and booed and danced some more. The cruise staff uses a lot of music that involves the family, lots of line dances and dances that require hand movements like the Ketchup Song and the Macarena. It was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time; great fun.

Anyone who assumes that the entertainment onboard would be all Mickey, all the time would be wrong. There are several production shows (Hercules the Muse-ical, Disney Dreams and The Golden Mickeys) that feature the Disney characters, and they are wonderful ... bright, colorful, perfectly executed and intricately elaborate. Trivia tidbit: There are three sets of costumes onboard and they're custom-made of the finest fabrics -- two for the performer, in case something happens to one of them, and one for the understudy. Performers use some 250 wigs and 350 pairs of shoes in a week's worth of production shows!

There are, of course, the movies; when there is a theatrical release, guests on Magic get to see it at the same time. Otherwise there are first-run movies shown daily in the Buena Vista Theatre; movies with PG-13 and R ratings are shown at later times, while kid-friendly movies are shown during the day.

Entertainment

There are three swimming pools on Disney Magic, all located on Deck 9, each with a different theme or purpose. Mickey's Pool, at the aft, is for kids only. It has a one-deck-high curly slide, is very shallow and has small toddler pools at the "ears." Goofy's Pool (and pool deck) is for families; located midship, this is where a lot of the daytime deck activities take place and is the scene of the nighttime deck parties.

Spa treatments run the gamut from the usual (Swedish massage, aromatherapy facials) to the unusual. Rasul, or "Mud Room," is a treatment room with sundry types of mud body masks scrubbing salts and scented oils, used on an hourly basis with no therapist involved. Though designed for three guests, it's usually only occupied by two. It's a chamber with two rooms; one for steam after applying the mud, and the other for showering the mud off. The cost for the Rasul is $68; other treatments range from $89 for a massage or facial to several hundred dollars for a day of pampering.

 

It might be unusual to mention a cruise line's private island retreat in a ship review, but Disney's Castaway Cay in the Bahamas is actually an extension of the shipboard experience. (Each of the Caribbean and Bahamas cruises has a full day at Castaway Cay.) This beautifully groomed island's amazingly organized "day of leisure" offers a variety of recreational opportunities for families and adults. There is no charge to use the chaises, chairs and hammocks along the beach; tube, floatie and snorkeling equipment rentals are reasonably priced. There is an adults-only section, and the Oceaneer's Club and Oceaneer's Lab age groups have their own excursions, as do the teens. You can rent bicycles, go for a nature walk or take advantage of the motorized water sports such as Jet Skis, parasailing and banana boat rides offered by a concessionaire. There is also music, dancing, a barbecue lunch and family games throughout the day.

Fitness & Recreation

Deck 10 has a basketball hoop and volleyball area; there are Ping-Pong tables on Deck 9 and shuffleboard courts on the promenade on Deck 4. Both Deck 4 and Deck 10 have full-circuit walking/jogging tracks. There is a small but well-equipped fitness center on Deck 9, adjacent to the Vista Spa; classes in Pilates and yoga are available for a small charge.

Family

Disney Magic was designed with families in mind so it's no surprise that most of the programs onboard tend to appeal to all age groups. The areas designated for kids, though, are probably the most extensive at sea, with activities for every age level.

Fellow Passengers

Mostly families; however, there are a large number of people traveling without kids because they appreciate the quality of the ship and its offerings, and the suite-like staterooms.

Dress Code

Casual during the day, resort casual in the evenings with one formal night and one semi-formal night on a seven-night cruise. Swimwear, shorts and jeans are not allowed in the restaurants at dinner.

Gratuities

For a seven-night cruise on Disney Magic, the recommended gratuities are $25.75 for the dining room server, $18.75 for the assistant server, $6.50 for the head server, and $25.25 for the room steward. All bar drinks and deck service areas have a 15 percent gratuity added to the bill. It is suggested that one tip for room service as it's delivered.

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