Carnival Unveils Magic Details

Although a Carnival Cruise might not be everyone's cup of tea I am very excited about the upcoming Magic cruise that we are planning in May going to all the most popular ports in the Mediterranean.  The best part of our 9 day itinerary and one of the driving reasons I chose it was that it begins in Venice and ends in Barcelona giving us time to spend a day or three on either or both ends and explore those locations a bit more than a one day port visit.  Add a spanking brand new ship smell.. great ports, fantastic spa for tired feet and bodies, yummy food and really good entertainment...  I am there!

Having said that, here is the latest news on the Carnival Magic build.

I mean, how fun does THAT look !!!

If you would like to join us, check the tab at the top of the blog for info.  We do have very special EXCLUSIVE SMALL GROUP TOURS PLANNED IN MOST PORTS.  6-8 people

An artist's rendering of the Twister slide at WaterWorks park

With 249 days until its newest "Fun Ship," the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, sets sail, Carnival Cruise Lines is revealing a peek through the porthole at some of the ship's unique spaces and features.

Special amenities include Carnival's first-ever pub (featuring its own private label beer), an authentic trattoria that brings the heritage of Carnival's Italian captains to the table, an expansive outdoor sports complex that features the first-ever ropes course and outdoor weight-lifting area on a cruise ship, and cruising's first gargantuan water dump bucket, to name a few.

Here's some details about the new features:

RedFrog Pub— The RedFrog Pub offers a Caribbean vibe with island-inspired snacks and drinks, including ThirstyFrog Red, a private-label draught beer brewed especially for Carnival Magic. Located on Promenade Deck 5, the 100-seat indoor/outdoor pub's fare includes Bahamian conch salad, grouper fingers, firecracker Jamaican chicken wings, and other Caribbean favorites. RedFrog Pub will also offer tastings of top-rated rums of the Caribbean and a collection of the region's best beers.

Cucina del Capitano ("The Captain's Kitchen")— An homage to Carnival's rich Italian lineage— all of the line's captains are Italian and many Carnival ships, including Carnival Magic, are built in Italy— Cucina del Capitano is a dinner-time option with made-to-order Italian favorites. Guests can dine on hand-made pastas, risotto and fresh-from-the-oven Italian specialties (many served family style) complemented by a wine list specializing in Italian vintages. Many of the dishes and recipes were hand-selected by Carnival's captains. Dinner carries a nominal fee. During the day, the space is utilized as a casual made-to-order pasta bar with items offered on a complimentary basis.

SportsSquare— Taking Carnival's outdoor recreation areas to a new level is SportsSquare, which features the cruise industry's first ropes course where guests can traverse across nets suspended above Spa Deck 12. Surrounded by an eight-mile jogging track, the SportsSquare complex includes the first outdoor weightlifting area on a cruise ship, along with Carnival's first two-level miniature golf course, a Vita exercise course, a lighted multi-purpose court for basketball, volleyball and soccer, along with ping pong and foosball tables. A full bar with a large flat-screen display is available for those who just want to relax and check out the sports action in the area or on TV. Carnival Magic's other top-deck amenities include the WaterWorks aqua park and its "Twister" spiral water slide, as well as the new Aqua Play splash park designed for youngsters and their families, featuring a gigantic, 500-gallon "dump bucket" and a host of features.

Expansive Family-Friendly Spaces— Carnival Magic offers more than 19,000 square feet of space catering to kids and families, including dedicated spaces for children (Camp Carnival), 'tweens (Circle "C") and teens (Club O2), with organized activities and enthusiastic counselors for each group.

Serenity— For some adult-only "me" time, Serenity offers chaise lounges and chairs, hammocks, umbrellas and two jumbo-sized whirlpools, along with full bar service specializing in frothy, icy concoctions.

Cloud 9 Spa— Guests in the mood for a workout or some personal pampering can visit Cloud 9 Spa to soak in the thalassotherapy pool or sit in the thermal suite.

Stateroom Innovations— With 1,845 staterooms, Carnival Magic offers an array of accommodation types, including two-bathroom/five-berth cabins and connecting staterooms that hold particular appeal to families; cove balcony cabins closer to the water line; and spa staterooms providing special access and benefits.

Entertainment— The Punchliner Comedy Club, live bands along the promenade, Superstar Live

 Karaoke and production shows incorporating the latest special effects will be available for guests to kill time.

Carnival's Seaside Theatre— This 270-square-foot LED screen and poolside seating is where guests can sit and watch classic and first-run movies, sporting events, news, concerts and other programming, either during the day or night.

Ocean Plaza— Ocean Plaza is an indoor/outdoor cafe and live entertainment venue where guests can dance to live music and enjoy specialty coffees and sweets - even freshly made milkshakes. Full bar service, specializing in martinis and mojitos, is also available.

The Lanai— The Lanai is a half-mile, open-air promenade encircling Promenade Deck 5 where guests can take a stroll, lie down in a deck chair, or relax in one of four cantilevered whirlpools that extend out over the ship's sides.
 
Fun Hub— Available on any guests' Internet-connected laptop or at dozens of locations throughout the ship is the Fun Hub, a social network and comprehensive shipboard intranet portal that provides access to a variety of information on Carnival Magic's services, facilities and daily activities. Carnival Magic will also offer bow-to-stern Wi-Fi and cell phone service.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic is slated to debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 - October 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, TX, November 14, 2011, becoming the port's largest year-round cruise ship.