When is big too big? When it's Carnival Magic. This was my sixth cruise (4 on Carnival), and this is the only one I did not enjoy. I had also been to the three ports before (Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan) and had enjoyed them, but this was a very different experience. The larger dock needed for this ship has prompted huge commercial ventures; one has to walk through a mall to get to the excursions.

First the activities...what activities? Trivia, trivia, trivia, karaoke, trivia, trivia, trivia, bingo, trivia, trivia...you get the drift. Where was information about the ports? Shopping info only. Where were games? Where were crafts? (Maybe kids got those). Where were movies on hot afternoons? There was plenty of space to hold activities, but it was all locked up during the day. On other cruises, I've enjoyed reading on Lido deck during the day, but the music was so loud and there were so many people that this was impossible.

Service...this was the most sullen and uncommunicative crew I've experienced. Maybe it was management's fault or maybe they just had too many people to serve. I could feel the bar staff cringe when I showed my bottomless bubbles card because they figured I wouldn't tip...and they were right. There were a few personable waiters in the restaurant, but not enough. They did their work, but they didn't interact with the passengers. Read more