Carnival Magic Cruise: 8-day Exotic Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral

February 2022

Carnival Magic in Grand Turk February 18, 2022.

We went on a 7-day western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Magic from this cruise port in 2018. You can find additional info about the Magic in that post, and more photos in the 2018 Carnival Magic Facebook album. 

Booking and pre-cruise

This is the first cruise we have been on that we booked after the pandemic started. We had two cruises that cancelled, and Carnival was giving on board credits for rebooking a cancelled cruise. I was not initially interested in booking a replacement cruise, as we still had two B2B cruises in November and December 2021 that did not cancel. My husband talked me into it because he could not give up the $600 on board credit! We did let the first cancellation, of the four cruises we had booked prior to COVID-19, go by the wayside when that one cancelled. I was also not excited about this cruise because it was replacing our trip on the newly upgraded Radiance (which we did not get to go on), and we had already been on the Magic a few years ago. The itinerary was a plus though, as it was pretty much the same as the one on the cancelled Radiance cruise.

Many folks in the Facebook group for this sailing said they received wonderful upgrade offers for minimal cost, although we did not receive any offers. Online check-in for diamond and platinum guests opened up 16 days before the cruise, and boarding zones went quickly. We checked in before 8:00 AM, and received boarding zone A03.

View of Port Canaveral from Carnival Magic spa cabin 12038.

Arrival and check-in at Port Canaveral

Our arrival appointment was for 10:00 - 10:30 AM. We arrived about five minutes after 10:00, and the terminal area was quite full. It only took us a few minutes to complete check-in, and then we were directed to the general waiting area. It appeared that there was a VIP waiting area in this terminal that became full right before we completed check-in. An agent walked behind the person completing our last check-in step right before we finished, and told everyone, "No more diamond and platinum." When the boarding process started, guests were called in the following order: guests with suites, diamond guests, and then zone A01. We did not see anyone move toward the boarding area until zone A01 was called. The agent had told us all to board when zone A01 was called (our son had boarding zone A01). We were on board around 11:00 AM. 

Departing Port Canaveral; view from Carnival Magic spa cabin 12038.

Spa balcony cabin 12038

Our son's room steward on deck 6 was just finishing his cabin after we boarded, although our cabin was not ready until after 12:30 PM. 

Carnival Magic spa cabin 12038.

This is a typical spa balcony cabin; however, there are a couple of things worth noting. Deck 12 is the first floor under serenity deck, and there is no roof over the balconies on this floor. I suppose this is nice if you want lots of sun, and the view is better without the roof. However, without a roof, there is no shade, and you cannot sit outside when it is raining. If the balcony door is open when it rains, the floor and foot of the bed will get wet. It rained at least three different times (for only a short period) during our cruise. 

This cabin is not in a quiet area like we expected for a spa floor. We could hear noise from lido deck when on the balcony, or if the balcony door was open, and the overall noise in this room seemed much noisier than we usually experience. We could hear our neighbor's phone ring, commotion inside their rooms, and one day they blared their music on the outside balcony when apparently everyone was inside the cabin (we could not hear any voices). The music in the video above is much quieter than the volume had been right before I started recording.

Dining room breakfast: Corned Beef Hash above,
Masala Dosa below.

Food and beverages

Again, check out my previous blog posts for more details about dining options. Following are a few things that were new on the Magic since 2018, or that I did not write about before.

Breakfast

• Dining room breakfast is still my favorite meal! Corned Beef Hash and Egg was different, and I tried a new item; Masala Dosa. Although Masala Dosa was flavorful, mine did not look anything like the photo posted on John Heald's page. The photo John posted looks more appetizing than what I received (my photo above).

• Sea Day Brunch was extremely packed every morning, and the check-in app was not working correctly two of the days. The salad tower continues to come out differently every time, and the bagels and tomato portion are not included unless you request it. Pancetta Scrambled had good flavor, except I could only eat a small portion of it because it was extremely salty.

Pancetta Scrambled at Sea Day Brunch on Carnival Magic.

One negative about the breakfast foods on this ship, is that the eggs were always undercooked unless they were scrambled. Although I do not like overcooked eggs, I do not like the whites runny either. The Broken Egg Sandwich ran out while eating, as the inside was not cooked. Egg whites were runny in all of the following dishes: Breakfast Board (supposed to be soft boiled), eggs-over-easy, Breakfast Bowl, and Eggs Benedict (at breakfast and brunch).

Lunch

• Guys Pig and Anchor was only open on sea days, and on the day we boarded. The least busy time was right after we boarded, and when we went through a patch of rain one afternoon.
• Cucina del Capitano was open almost every day at noon (no charge for lunch).
• Guys' Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Carnival Deli, Seafood Shack (extra charge), Pizzeria, and Lido buffet were open every day.
• Sushi (extra charge) and Light Lunch in Ocean Plaza were not open every day. You can check location hours for each day in the app, if you want to plan your meals. I tried to visit Ocean Plaza for lunch the day we were in St. Kitts, and neither location was open.  
• Tandoor, which I loved in 2018, is no longer on this ship.

Complimentary house wine in steakhouse first evening.

Pittsburgh Airport: Avis, Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport, The Club

October 2021, weekdays, one night

I returned my Avis rental car, and then walked to the Hyatt, which is attached to the Pittsburgh airport terminal via a walkway. I was not familiar with the route between the rental lot and the hotel, and this is not well marked. The Avis employee had told me to take the elevator by the Avis counter and then there is a walkway to the hotel. I saw a sign that said Hyatt before I got on the elevator; however, there was no signage inside the elevator telling me if it was on level 2 or 3. I got off at both levels, and could not figure out where to go. There are no signs on either of those levels, other than the parking garage signs. I took the elevator back down to level 1 where I saw a second Hyatt sign stating that the hotel is on level 3. Back up on level 3, I walked into the parking lot and looked around. I decided to try the unmarked entrance a little ways away (about 400') in the right corner of the parking lot. Inside this entrance, I found the walkway, and a hotel sign. The unclear signage apparently goes both ways; on my way to the unmarked entrance, I overheard two people looking around and wondering what level the rental car lot is on. I stopped to tell them it is on level 1.

Sunset view from guestroom 1129 at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport
Rooftop is view from guestroom 209 at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport 

Arrival and check-in at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport

I had tried to check in via email when the notification arrived the morning of my arrival; however, I received an error message, so I checked in at the front desk when I arrived. I was initially assigned guestroom 209, which is across from the pool and next to the ice machine on the second floor. Although I was not crazy about this location, I did not initially say anything. I took pictures for my blog, and then sat down at the desk to start working. I did not unpack, or even place my suitcase up on the suitcase bench. It was not long before the ice machine started making a LOT of noise. I walked out into the hall to see if the noise was actually coming from the machine, and it was. I then called the front desk to ask if there was a room available in a quieter location that I could move to. The agent said he had another room, if I did not mind having two queen beds. I said that would be fine, and then I asked him if that room type also has a work desk area, as I had a lot of work to do. He said no, and then he asked if he could call me right back. When he called back, I was reassigned guestroom 1129. 

Cookies and bottled water were available for guests at the front desk when I checked in. The agent did not offer this. I saw the display, so after he completed check-in and directed me to the elevators, I asked if the refreshments were for guests, and he said yes.

Guestroom diagrams on back of door at Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport

Guestrooms 209 and 1129 in Hyatt Regency

Both of these guestrooms were almost exactly the same other than the floor they were on. I have included pictures from both guestrooms along with some info.

Closet and safe in guestroom 1129 in Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport

As I previously stated, guestroom 209 is next to the ice machine. I found out after switching rooms that there is not an ice machine on all of the floors, so the activity outside this guestroom is probably heavy. The pool and fitness center are also located on this floor. The view is not great from either guestroom, which did not really matter to me, as I had work to do and then just wanted to get a good night's sleep.

Bathrooms in Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport
Room 209 above, 1129 below

The bathroom is located just inside the entrance across from a large closet, which contained a safe and other items. There were a couple of minor differences in the bathroom. I assume the silver circle in the bathroom photo for room 209 is a TV speaker, although I never turned the TV on. The vanity counter in room 1129 had been made higher. A second piece of countertop had been added, and the backsplash was taller. This also made the mirror height much higher. I felt like I was standing at a bathroom counter for giants! I am only 5'2" tall, so I probably felt this more than most people.

Empty shower amenities in Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport, guestroom 1129

Shampoo and shower gel pump dispensers were in the shower; however, the canisters in guestroom 1129 were empty.

Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport
Room 209 above, 1129 below

Moline, Illinois: Quad Cities International Airport, Holiday Inn Express, dining, and rental car

 July 2021, three days & one night

Arrival and check-in at Holiday Inn Express

The front desk agent (manager possibly) assigned my room during check-in. He did not really talk to me as he did this; he was apparently training a new employee, and was talking to her instead. I requested a top floor guestroom when it did not sound like that was what he was assigning me. The platinum 500 bonus points posted to my account the same day.

Entrance in guestroom 425 Holiday Inn Express Moline - Quad Cities
Connecting room door on left

King guestroom 425 at Holiday Inn Express

This guestroom was much smaller than the one I had just stayed in in Galesburg, and it was also much more soundproof. It was comfortable and perfect for sleeping. When I first entered the guestroom and observed the connecting room door, I was somewhat worried after the two noisy nights I had tried to work and sleep through before this stay. Fortunately, everything in this guestrom is soundproofed very well.

Refreshment area in room 425
Holiday Inn Express Moline - Quad Cities

The refreshment center outside the bathroom contained a K-cup machine with supplies, an ice bucket, microwave, and small fridge.

Carnival Breeze ~ 8-day Exotic Southern Caribbean, February 2013

Carnival Breeze in Aruba

Check-in

Our check-in at the Port of Miami was the smoothest we have experienced since becoming Platinum guests. We arrived around 11:30 a.m., and were quickly routed through the Priority lines. We got held up briefly at the check-in counter because our son was with us, and he is not a Platinum guest. Our PVP had told us that if we tied his account to ours with the same credit card, he would be able to board with us. We did this online a couple of weeks before the cruise; however, when we got to the check-in counter, his sail and sign card was not ready with ours. The employee helping us had to ask another employee for assistance, and then they made his card right then.

The VIP lounge area was fairly full; we found the last two seats together, and our son stood. Coffee was available on a table in the room, although there were no restrooms in the lounge. We had passed the restrooms outside the lounge and around the corner before we entered. When I went out to use the restroom a few minutes later, there was a wait for the single room. All of the priority guests were already boarding and gone from the VIP lounge when I returned (except for my family members who were waiting for me!). If I had realized we were going to board that soon, I would not have left the lounge.