My boyfriend and I cruised on the Magic July 2012 and had a really great time. I was nervous we would be overrun with children and that the full ship would just be too crowded; however, we were pleasantly surprised that most of the children seemed to be pre-teens and teens who were under control and there was plenty of space throughout the ship.

We drove from the DFW area to Galveston and were on the ship by about 2PM. We left a little late from DFW (about 8AM) because we received information from Carnival that our boarding time was pushed back to 1:30. We had no problems or delays getting through security or getting checked in. We booked our parking online ahead of time at Lighthouse parking for $50 for the week and had a great experience with them as well.

Dining: We were originally placed at a table for 4 in the Northern Lights Dining room (Late seating); this dining room has a glass wall that is by a corridor where guests walk throughout the day and dinner. Since we were traveling with just 2 and didn't like the "fish bowl" feel of the Northern Lights, we requested a table with a large group in the Southern Lights Dining room. This was a great choice for us. We loved the larger group and the Southern Lights Dining Room was a nicer experience. I was a bit disappointed that the after dinner coffee drinks (lattes, cappuccinos, etc) are no longer included. Read more