Carnival Magic Cruise Ship: 13 Must-Know Things

Carnival Magic was launched in 2011, but even a decade later, this ship still has its, well, magic. A member of Carnival’s Dream class, Carnival Magic has served cruising passengers all over the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

If you’re considering a Carnival Magic cruise among your upcoming travel plans, here’s everything you need to know about the ship.

1. Carnival’s Dream Class

As a member of Carnival’s Dream class, Carnival Magic is sister ship to Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream and Costa Diadema (owned by Carnival, operated by Costa Cruises and still considered a Dream-class ship).

Even though Carnival Magic and Carnival Dream premiered in relatively quick succession, Carnival Magic has a few unique attributes that set it apart from Carnival Dream, including a SkyCourse ropes course that’s not on Carnival Dream.

At the time of premiere, Carnival’s Dream-class vessels were the largest cruise ships ever built by Carnival, all weighing in at around 130,000 gross tonnage, which was pretty impressive for the time in which they debuted, in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

The Dream class’ stand-out features upon premiering included promenades, outdoor dining and water park features.

Carnival Magic was the second Dream-class vessel in the row of four, in 2011, and is the overall smallest ship among the class, though not by much. (The ship weighs in at only 4 GT less than Carnival Breeze.) Since the ship isn’t that old, it’s only received one dry docking phase, in 2016, which simply upgraded a few public areas.

2. Carnival Magic’s Size

As mentioned, the entire Carnival Dream class was impressively big at the time of launch, but that’s not the case now. Modern cruisers enjoy much larger vessels than these ships, which are now basically considered mid-range.

Carnival Magic weighs in at 128,048 GT, with a length of 1,005 feet and 14 passenger decks, and 17 decks total. The vessel holds 4,724 passengers at max capacity, though more around 3,690 during a normal sailing, along with 1,386 crew members. Carnival Magic cost the cruise line $740 million to build.

Today, Carnival Magic is the 56th largest cruise ship in the world, just under sister ship Carnival Breeze, and just above AIDA Cruises’ vessels AIDAprima and AIDAperla.

3. Carnival Magic Cruise Inclusions

When planning a cruise, it’s always nice to know what exactly is included in the price of your cabin fare. While most inclusions remain standard across Carnival’s entire cruise line, there are some differences that can pop up from ship to ship.

When you’re aboard your Carnival Magic cruise, you’ll find that you enjoy all your meals for free when in one of the two main dining rooms, as well as when you’re at the buffet and a very small selection of specialty restaurants, as well as when ordering select room service.

You enjoy access to complimentary entertainment, such as theatrical shows, game shows, children’s events, live music and comedy sets. Of course, you get access to all the fun outdoor attractions, like the ropes course and water park. Other complimentary amenities include the fitness center, children’s programming and daily entertainment.

4. Carnival Magic Staterooms

Carnival Magic’s staterooms, even with this being a (somewhat) older ship, are pretty spacious, surprisingly. You’ll find interior, ocean view and balcony staterooms, all with plenty of floor space, seating and large bathrooms in many.

The design leaves a little to be desired, as it does harken back to that older era of cruising. However, if you don’t plan to spend all that much time in your cabin, you won’t really care at all.

5. Carnival Magic Suites

You can upgrade your stay to a suite. Carnival Magic’s suites do have a bit more of a modern feel to them, as compared to the general staterooms. You get tons of space, as you might expect, with plenteous seating, making the ship’s suites ideal for those traveling as a family or in a group.

You can choose from junior suites, ocean suites and spa suites. The Grand Suite is the top pick, though, with its long terrace with seating, huge bathroom with a double vanity, large couch and seating area and even a desk.

6. Carnival Magic Dining (Complimentary)

If you’ve been on some newer cruise ships recently, whether new Carnival ships or ships with another cruise line, then you likely enjoyed a range of fine dining. And that’s something that we’re seeing across the board — cruise lines are enhancing their dining to cater to pickier palettes among cruising audiences.

Related: Free Carnival Cruise Dining Options

When you sail aboard Carnival Magic, though, it’s important to realize that this ship was built a decade ago, when that emphasis on dining wasn’t quite as thorough.

That’s not to say that the food isn’t good — it is. But you won’t find 20-plus restaurants helmed by world-class chefs and serving up gastronomic feasts for the eyes. Instead, you’ll find food that’s good, and that’s about it.

In terms of free dining, you get, as mentioned, the complimentary access to the two main dining rooms, where you’ll enjoy standard cruising fare — soup, salad, entree and dessert. At the buffet, you can find a wealth of international and American options, with something for everyone, really.

There are also the two Guy Fieri-designed restaurants, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Guy’s Burger Joint. Both offer delicious — albeit a little sloppy — eats in relaxed atmospheres. For tacos, head to BlueIguana Cantina; pizza is served up at Pizzeria del Capitano; and hot dogs are up for grabs at the cart by the mini golf course.

7. Carnival Magic Dining (For a Fee)

There are, of course, several for-a-fee dining options that you can choose to upgrade to, if you so wish. The Prime Steakhouse is the favorite option, with classic steakhouse fare, as well as surf and turf options.

Related: Carnival Cruise Dining Options Worth Paying For

Cucina del Capitano is Carnival’s older Italian restaurant, while RedFrog Pub is much like the free BlueIguana Cantina (think Mexican and Latin-inspired eats, along with the well-known cocktails from the same regions).

If you want to book a special dining experience, you can reserve your spot at The Chef’s Table, where the ship’s executive chef hosts and treats you to private and behind-the-scenes tidbits and looks at what goes on behind the curtain.

8. Carnival Magic Entertainment

You can pretty much always rely on Carnival to provide you with plenteous entertainment over the course of your cruise, and that’s certainly the case when you’re aboard Carnival Magic.

In addition to the daily, ever-changing fun organized by the enthusiastic cruising staff, you’ll also find nightly musical and theatrical acts in the ship’s theater, the live music scattered throughout the ship and dancing in select spots. There’s also a casino, if that’s more in line with the type of entertainment you prefer.

9. Carnival Magic Watering Holes

There certainly is no shortage of bars aboard Carnival Magic. You can easily find a cocktail just about anywhere you look. Just about every public space has its own bar, from the lobby to the casino to the pool to the theater to the sports complex.

Other watering holes you might want to check out include the specialty cocktail bar Alchemy; the Caribbean-themed bar RedFrog Pub (which actually made its very first appearance on Carnival Magic); Vibe Nightclub for a disco-style experience; piano bar Play It Again; and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, next door to RedFrog Pub.

10. Carnival Magic Pools

There are two pools aboard Carnival Magic. One is the primary pool, where things get busy and regular activities like games, live music and movie screenings draw crowds.

Another pool sits on the opposite side of the ship, and is preferred by families and children. However, if you’re looking for a hot tub, you’ll be pleased to know that there are 10 scattered across the ship.

11. Premier Outdoor Activities

There are a few stand-out, outdoor features that appeared on Carnival Magic as relative game changers in the early 2010s. For example, SportSquare came to the Carnival cruise line on Carnival Magic for the first time, and now it’s practically a Carnival ship must. If you’ve yet to cruise with Carnival, the SportSquare is essentially a large outdoor space themed around sports, with plenty of fun to be had by all ages.

Within SportSquare is SkyCourse, which was also a first when it debuted on the ship. The cruise ship’s ropes course is popular with adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers, as it takes you through some difficult ropes challenges high above the ship’s deck and the water.

12. Carnival Magic Wellness

You don’t want to abandon your fitness goals just because you’re on vacation. When you’re aboard a Carnival Magic cruise, you enjoy (free!) access to the fitness center, which is outfitted with all the latest and greatest workout gear. You can also enjoy some other workout equipment that’s situated outside, in the SportSquare.

If your wellness regimen focuses more on relaxation than working out, though, you can always make a trip to the Carnival Magic spa, which is pretty large and offers a wide range of treatments. The menu prices are a bit on the expensive side, but frequent Carnival cruisers laud the cruise line for its very nice spa experiences.

13. Children’s Programming

Carnival is, in general, a very family-friendly cruise line, even though sometimes it can feel a bit like a party boat, with all of its bars and lounges.

However, while mom and dad are off at the bar or on the adults-only sundeck, kids have plenty of ways to keep themselves entertained, thanks to myriad children’s programming. Pick from programs for ages 2 to 17, with kids split into groups 2 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 11, 12 to 14 and 15 to 17.

Younger children enjoy educational activities that are plenty fun, such as crafts and games, song times and stories. Older kids are given a little more freedom, but all the fun they could ever need at their fingertips, thanks to a cool lounge area outfitted with gaming systems and more.

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