The embarkation process was OK. We had expected some readily observable improvements to the terminal but did not recognize anything significant. Disney really needed to add space and seating areas due to their system of embarkation. I like that they gradually board people so that large masses do not flood the ship too quickly, but if you want to slowly embark the ship more seating would be nice. Disney also likes to announce your family by name as you board like they do at their character dining venues in the parks. The purpose is to emulate being announced to the "court" so to speak much as you would have been announced during the rule of monarchs. We like this touch although I have read others describe this gesture as "cheesy". My 7 year old daughter loves it. Once onboard the ship everything was peaceful and orderly. We proceeded to Cabanas (Topsider on the Magic and Wonder) for lunch. The Enchanted Garden restaurant was also open for lunch. Actually, my daughter and I rode the Aquaduck 2 times before eating lunch before it got crowded. We were #5 group to board and #1 on the 3 nt B2B leg so we were able to get in a few rides before it got crowded. Disney buffet lunches are better than all of the RCI lunches we have experienced in the Windjammer. Disney makes their foods in the kitchens and this is quite evident in the dessert preparations. I might pick up a cookie in the Windjammer on RCI but consider the desserts to be bland and relatively tasteless. RCI's desserts appear to be made off the ship and brought on to the ship. The desserts on a Mediterranean cruise with RCI were exactly the same as those in the Caribbean itineraries. I do not complain since the price is less on RCI and expect Disney's buffet to be better since I pay more. The meats are almost always not overdone sitting under heat lamps too long. The breads and meats are of a higher quality. There is always a freshly baked warm cake available that varies daily with sauces (such as caramel or vanilla) and nuts and other toppings. The fruit salad is freshly chopped and includes large portions of fresh Mango rather than the canned variety on RCI.

Our cabin, #2010-outside ocean view, was ready after lunch and was beautiful. We had originally booked a cabin on deck 5 inside intentionally so we could experience the virtual portholes with Disney characters showing up from time to time. Leslie, on the Magic, booked only me because we were going to transfer a deposit from another cruise and advised me to book the rest of the family upon our return home. This was a big mistake. When we tried to book the rest of the family with our travel agent we were told that Coast Guard restrictions for capacity on our deck and section of the ship would not allow us to book 4 people in the cabin. Since we had returned home, more people had booked on our deck. We were moved to #2010 instead and did not mind. We were 1-2 flights of stairs down from the restaurants and the theaters. The problem, however, was with the price of the cabin. It cost us an additional ~$250 dollars and the deposit and dates we were transferring were never picked up like Leslie had promised costing us the $100 shipboard credit for a total loss of ~$350. Disney guest relations would not budge and would not admit to their error. I had asked if I could at least get the price of the cabin on deck 5 inside and was told "no". If Leslie had let me know of this potential outcome I would have made the deposits for all 4 in my family while on the Magic which would have prevented this problem. An email to Disney guest relations was not returned. And yes, I was very nice. I am still angry that Disney did not offer me anything. I was not as interested in the ~$350 loss as I was in their admittance to the mistake and any gesture(such as a small credit of $25) and apology would have been acceptable especially since we have cruised with them 5 times prior to these cruises. The cabin is split as most everyone knows and consists of 2 sinks and a 4 ft. tub/shower. The beds have pillow tops and are raised like a more traditional bed so your luggage can be placed underneath. This allowed Disney to design the cabin with less drawer space which frees up more common space. We are picky about our beds but were very comfortable in these/we had lots of pillows (RCI is stingy with the pillows and we have been known to bring our own when cruising with RCI-their staff has acted irritated with us that we even ask for an extra pillow or 2). Disney uses wonderful H20 bath products. Since you pay more I expect better than RCI who use shampoo/conditioner combos in pump containers installed on the side of the shower.

I have read a review that notes the public areas were always crowded. The kids pool areas are always crowded but the Quiet Cove pool area is not especially on deck 12 and 13. I would routinely be on deck 13 above the pool with maybe 10-15 people in an area large enough to play soccer or football in. You can find seclusion if you know where to go and the times to go. Even the kids pools are slow late in the afternoon. We book the 8:30 dining time so I can take my daughter to the pools after the crowds have dissipated and so that we do not have to rush to get ready for dinner and shows. The promenade deck (deck 4 for the uninitiated) is also a great choice for relative exclusivity. It is important to note that the overall vibe is very different on 3nt, 4nt, and 7 nt cruises. Fewer people leave the ship on 3nt cruises since they have less time to experience everything the ship has to offer and this makes the common areas more crowded for longer periods of time. The 4nt trip was less crowded on the Nassau port day and the Aquaduck was easier to get on. The Aquaduck is also open when leaving port at Nassau so you can get a view of the water and island while riding. Check the Aquaduck times and you can figure out times to ride when it is not crowded by using some common sense. You may not want to shower before dinner or be willing to take another shower after dinner since the Aquaduck operates at night sometimes including times before, during, and after the pirate deck party and fireworks show. Getting back to the Quiet Cove pool area - Disney dropped the ball big time with this area. It is bland compared to RCI's solariums and too small. The bar is next to the pool and the blender whirs routinely. The afternoon band is not appropriate for this area. I would rather listen to the beautiful piped in sounds, such as the spanish guitar music, rather than the steel drum band. All of the hot tubs look like after thoughts. They do have glass sections in the bottomes so you see down to the ocean below but they are aesthetically unappealing. I like the adult pool area on the Magic and Wonder better and RCI's solarium pools are far better than Disney's adult pool areas. The kids pools have movable decks that cover the pool so Disney can throw deck parties including their awesome pirate party with Jack Sparrow and ensemble. I still think they could have managed better kids pool designs. Nemos reef water play area for little kids is smaller than RCI's area but my wife noticed it is covered so moms don't have to worry about sunburn. It is very nice with its own little slide on the stingray from Nemo's reef. The Mickey slide was popular with my 7 year old. My 15 yr old son enjoyed the teens own private pool and hot tubs. Peter Pan and Stitch came to play video games with the teens. My son was playing football with Peter Pan who selected Michigan while my son selected Alabama(RTR Julioooo). My son asked him if he was from Michigan. Peter Pan deadpanned with a straight face and said "uh, NO!! I'm from Neverland!!" The teens loved it. They have Ipod docking stations, foosball, and movie theater in the teen area. The other movie theater(Buena Vista Theater) shows 3-D movies regularly although I do not watch movies on cruises-I can do that at home-my family loves the movies and popcorn they provide. Read more