Carnival Magic offers sophisticated spaces, from the main dining rooms to the sun deck. There’s the new-to-Magic SportSquare outdoor recreation area for adrenaline-pumping onboard adventures. Featuring the first-ever ropes course at sea, an outdoor fitness area, and two-level mini-golf course, SportSquare is a welcome addition to the cruise world.

[fa type=”bed”] Accommodation

Carnival Magic’s cabins are larger than average, with even the smallest cabins offering a generous 185 square feet of space. There are 193 cabins for families that can sleep up to five, as the staterooms are configured with two regular twins, two bunk-style beds that hang from the wall and a sofa that converts to a twin. Cabin decor in basic cabins is a mesh of comfort, colour and clean lines. White duvets with brown accent pillows give beds a boutique hotel vibe, while pleasing maroon carpeting and a rust-colored couch offset the large-scale flower paintings that adorn the walls. Storage is more than and the layout, while tight, is efficient.

[fa type=”cutlery”] Food

The Cucina del Capitano is a family-style Italian restaurant with singing waiters. It’s an open space partially looking down on the Lido Marketplace buffet, so it gives off an Italy-meets-Vegas vibe. Menu options include chicken parmigiana, spaghetti, risotto, braised short ribs and fish dishes. The RedFrog Pub has a selection of tantalising $3.33 bites, which include grouper fingers, conch fritters and roti – all attractively presented and portioned. In addition to dinner, breakfast and lunch are also served in Southern Lights, and seating is open. Early eaters have a wide range of options, from cereals and baked goods to such hot entrees as omelets and pancakes. For lunch, it dishes out favorites such as club sandwiches, Caesar salad, pasta dishes and burgers, all served with style for those who want to eschew the grill or buffet at midday.

[fa type=”ticket”] Activities

Carnival Magic’s designers took Carnival Dream’s deck plan. By moving the WaterWorks aqua park forward on Deck 12, designers were able to introduce SportSquare, which comprises a two-level mini-golf course, outdoor cardio stations, basketball courts, the SkyTrack running course, and the show-stopping SkyCourse. Directly one deck below Serenity is the Cloud 9 Spa. It hass well-equipped fitness center which runs classes such as boot camp, spinning, abs attack, and yoga. Cloud 9 offers dozens treatments, including acupuncture, body sculpting, hot-stone massages and facials. A 50-minute Swedish massage costs $119, the same price at which facials start. There’s also a salon providing traditional and exotic manicures (from $29), shaves ($45) and waxing, plus hair styling and coloring.

[fa type=”group”] Families

The family wouldn’t ran out of activities to choose from. There are waterslides, family-friendly comedians, a splash pool and a wandering Fun Ship Freddy (Carnival’s odd-shaped mascot). Carnival Magic devotes more than 19,000 square feet of space to children and teenagers, plus a lengthy list of activities. Camp Carnival, geared toward those ages 2 to 11, is divided into three sections: Ages 2 to 5 do arts and crafts and play games; 6- to 8-year olds have talent shows, go on scavenger hunts and take on the ropes course; and the 9-to-11 set learn magic tricks, swim and the like.

Verdict

With a touch of sophistocation and plenty of space, Magic is ideal for families and multi-generational groups.

– Cruise Passenger

“With some intriguing innovations, inventive twists on old themes and a more refined look than any of its predecessors in the Carnival fleet, this 130,000-ton, 3,690-passenger behemoth debuted in May 2011 and instantaneously became one of the coolest ships on the high seas.”

– Cruise Critic

“The whole family will enjoy this high-energy floating resort.”

– Berlitz