The Southern Lights Restaurant and
Northern Lights Restaurant are the formal dining rooms where diners are
assigned either early or late seating or the more flexible Your Time
Dining, an open-seating option. Start your dinner with a selection of appetizers, soups,
and salads, and move on to a variety of entrees. In addition to the always popular
lobster, served once each cruise, Carnival's decadent Chocolate
Melting Cake is available every night. Don't be in too much of a
hurry to leave the dining room or
you'll miss the inventive and talented wait staff performing musical
numbers just as energetically as they served your meal.
For a romantic dinner or special occasion, Prime,
Carnival Magic's steakhouse features a full service bar for before
or after dinner cocktails and, for the $30 per person cover charge,
it's one of the best restaurants—and dining bargains—at sea. Not
only is the food exceptional (escargot, New England crab cakes,
lobster bisque, grilled lamp chops, prime rib,
free range chicken, veal chops, lobster, and several cuts of beef
from 9 to 24 ounces), but the presentation is sophisticated and the
atmosphere decidedly upscale. It's a fine dining experience you
won't want to miss.
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Cucina del Capitano
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New on Carnival Magic is the Italian specialty
restaurant,
Cucina del Capitano, that celebrates Carnival's
tradition of Italian captains by sharing some of their favorite
dishes. Served in relaxed family-style surroundings that celebrate
Italy, the menu includes pastas, risotto, and Italian
specialties. The setting is enhanced by framed photographs of
Carnival’s ships, its captains, and their families that adorn the
walls. Lunch is complimentary and dinner is $10 per person ($5 for
children under age 11).
The variety of casual dining choices starts at breakfast with
made-to-order omelets and continues with a wide variety of buffet
items for lunch, as well as meat-carving and pasta stations, Indian tandoor selections, a
Mongolian stir-fry wok, and burrito bar in the casual buffet-style Lido
Marketplace Restaurant.
In addition to the usual selections, there are a daily taste-of-nations specialty, a Pizza
bar, outdoor Grill areas serving fresh burgers and grilled
favorites, and the Deli for just-made sandwiches. Several
serving stations dispense ice cream treats.
Try the Sushi & More Sushi Bar on Deck 5 for
freshly prepared sushi before dinner. Also on Deck 5, the
Plaza Cafe patisserie serves specialty coffees, teas, and pastry treats for a
nominal charge and offers complimentary snacks throughout the day
and evening. RedFrog Pub serves Caribbean
favorites, such as Bahamian conch salad, grouper fingers, and
firecracker Jamaican chicken wings for a $3.33 charge per item. For
a quick burger and trimmings on sea days, head to the Lanai on Deck
5 where you'll find an outdoor barbeque waiting at lunchtime.
For parents who want to share a romantic dinner for
two, the Camp Carnival program and group evening babysitting takes
the hassle out of child care. In addition to the many choices,
Carnival Magic offers the flexibility of dining whenever you are
hungry—around the clock. Room service never closes and, while the
choices are somewhat limited, a picnic on your private balcony is
always a treat.
Staterooms
With so many categories from which to choose on Carnival
Magic, stateroom selection might seem
daunting. In reality, there are only five main accommodations types
with a few differing configurations within them. They range from standard Interior and Ocean
View staterooms to
Ocean View staterooms with private balconies and Suites and Penthouse
Suites with large private balconies. More than 60% of all staterooms
are outside and, of those, over 80% have balconies. Within the
balcony categories are Premium Vista Balcony staterooms that are
aft-facing and have an extended balcony and Cove Balcony staterooms
that are close to the water level. A step up from standard outside
cabins and ideal for families are Deluxe Ocean View staterooms that
feature a full bathroom with shower and separate washroom with sink
and junior tub.
Carnival Magic features 86 exclusive
"spa accommodations" with unlimited access to the Cloud 9 Spa
facilities via private elevator and special amenities, including the
use of special "Cloud 9 Spa" logo items, personal fitness bands and
yoga mats, complimentary fitness classes, and priority reservations
for spa treatments and services.
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Ocean
View
Stateroom with Balcony
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Carnival Cruise Lines has always prided themselves
on spacious cabins and Carnival Magic’s are no exception.
The staterooms are actually very similar in
layout and décor to Conquest-class vessels.
Yet the cabins appear more open because the
desktop-to-ceiling storage unit found on older ships was
eliminated and the desk/vanity has been lengthened
to include additional under-counter storage. The television is a
flat screen mounted on the wall.
Unlike the recent trend for cabins with few drawers,
Carnival Magic’s standard balcony cabins have a trio of nice deep
ones built into the vanity/desk, where you’ll also find a
mini-bar-fridge, a personal safe, more storage behind cabinet
doors, and open book shelves. There are two huge drawers in the base
of the sitting area sofa and even some additional small storage
cubbies in the two nightstands.
Staterooms feature mirrored accents, a
hairdryer in a vanity/desk drawer, and terrycloth bathrobes are
provided for use during the cruise in all ocean view accommodations.
The outstanding lighting that encircles the living area even extends
to the front of the closets, which can be dark holes on some ships.
Nothing can ruin a vacation faster than a lumpy,
bumpy bed with scratchy sheets and pancake thin pillow. To insure
sweet dreams, Carnival provides more than a chocolate treat on your
pillow. The exclusive "Carnival Comfort Bed" systems start with plush mattresses and add soft and
comfy duvets, upgraded pillows, and linens for a good night's sleep.
Bathroom amenities include shampoo and bath gel in
shower mounted dispensers and an array of sample toiletries. The
shower itself is roomy and has a pull-out clothesline for drying
bathing suits or hand laundry. A real convenience is the two-sided
(regular and magnifying) bathroom shaving/make up mirror. Closet and
drawer/shelf storage, as well as bathroom shelves, are more than
adequate.
Family-friendly accommodations include interconnecting staterooms;
many, including suites, can
accommodate up to three or four. Passengers with physical challenges haven't been
overlooked—staterooms have been designed that take their special
needs into consideration.
Continue to explore
Public Spaces & More -->
Carnival Magic (Part 2)
Cruise Diva's Blog Highlights from the
Carnival Magic Inaugural cruise from Venice:
