Submitted by: The Stockwell Family
Ship: The Disney Magic
Date of Cruise: November 1 - 8, 2003
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Category: 9 - Outside Cabin
On a scale of 1 - 5, 5 being best:
Embarkation: 5
Ship's Public Area: 5
Cleanliness of the Ship: 5
Formal Dining Food: 5
Buffet Food: 4
Room Service Food: 4
Restaurant Service: 4
Stateroom/Cabin: 5
Stateroom Service: 5
Activities & Entertainment: 4
Children's Program: n/a
Ports of Call: 3
Debarkation: 4
Overall Rating: 4
Be Sure to Try: Palo's!!! It is a must for everyone IMHO. The service and food is simply incredible!!! Snorkeling at Castaway Cay, shows, movies in the theaters.
General Tips: Book your cruise as early as you can unless you're hoping for a Florida Resident discount. Unlike other cruise lines, Disney's price only goes up as it gets closer to the cruise date. There is never any "last minute sales". We booked both of our Disney cruises a year prior to the actual cruise and we did not regret it one bit. Be sure you make your Palo's reservations as early as possible. You are only allowed to book one dinner and one buffet per stateroom. After trying it, we only wish we had more nights available to go.
Dollarless Tips: If you're interested in taking excursions that does not take a full day, such as the city tours, glass bottom boats, stingray city, etc., consider booking them at the port rather than through the ship. It is often considerably cheaper.
If you're going to purchase anything on the islands from the street vendors, offer to purchase it 30 - 50% of the asking price (unless you're looking to buy a t-shirt), and don't be shy to counter offer if they offer a higher price. We've been to the Caribbean's/Bahamas 4 times now and have been able to purchase things at around 50% of asking price most of the time.
Extra Comments and Suggestions: Study your ports of call prior to your cruise. Each port have their unique specialties. It's best to be prepared prior to arrival to make the most out of the port.
