With 249 days until its newest “Fun Ship,” the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, sets sail, Carnival Cruise Lines today revealed a peek through the porthole at some of the ship’s unique spaces and fun features.
From Carnival’s first-ever pub, featuring its own private label beer, to an authentic trattoria that brings the heritage of Carnival’s Italian captains to the table, to an expansive outdoor sports complex featuring the first-ever ropes course and outdoor weight-lifting area on a cruise ship – along with cruising’s first gargantuan water dump bucket – Carnival Magic is destined to be the most innovative “Fun Ship” to date. Carnival fans can journey to the Carnival Magic’s new online home, www.carnivalmagic.com, to see and learn more about this 3,690-passenger vessel.
Carnival Magic offers vacationers a variety of innovative and inspirational opportunities for fun, relaxation and enjoyment including:
RedFrog Pub – An exciting new concept, the RedFrog Pub offers a laid-back Caribbean vibe with island-inspired snacks and drinks, including ThirstyFrog Red, a private-label draught beer brewed especially for Carnival Magic. Located on Promenade Deck 5, the 100-seat indoor/outdoor pub is a convivial place where guests can relax, meet new friends, sip a frozen cocktail, and nosh on Bahamian conch salad, grouper fingers, firecracker Jamaican chicken wings, and other Caribbean favorites. RedFrog Pub will also offer tastings of top-rated rums of the Caribbean and a collection of the region’s best beers. With a nod to Carnival Magic’s Caribbean itineraries which kick off in November 2011, RedFrog Pub’s décor is decidedly British West Indies meets Key West, evoking the warmth and friendliness of a local island watering hole. Nautical-themed interiors with rich wood details, vibrant tile work, portholes, and images of ships at sea, along with foosball and shuffleboard tables and a jukebox, complete the playful pub atmosphere.
Cucina del Capitano (“The Captain’s Kitchen”) -- An homage to Carnival’s rich Italian lineage – all of the line’s captains are Italian and many Carnival ships, including Carnival Magic, are built in Italy – Cucina del Capitano is a delicious dinner-time option with made-to-order Italian favorites in comfortable, relaxed surroundings. Here, guests can dine on hand-made pastas, risotto and fresh-from-the-oven Italian specialties – many served family style – complemented by a wine list specializing in Italian vintages. Many of the dishes and recipes were hand-selected by Carnival’s captains. Framed archival photographs, many from the captains’ personal collections, table arrangements that invite conversation, wood-beam ceilings, and ornate wrought ironwork recreate the ambiance of a cozy Italian home, while warm, attentive service makes diners feel like they’re part of the family. Truly an unforgettable dining experience. Dinner carries a nominal fee. During the day, the space is utilized as a casual made-to-order pasta bar with items offered on a complimentary basis.
SportsSquare – Sports junkies rejoice. Taking Carnival’s popular outdoor recreation areas to an entirely new level is SportsSquare, which features the cruise industry’s first ropes course where thrill-seeking guests can traverse across nets suspended above Spa Deck 12 and offering spectacular views to the sea nearly 150 feet below. Surrounded by an eighth-mile jogging track, the expansive SportsSquare complex also includes the first outdoor weightlifting area on a cruise ship, along with Carnival’s first two-level miniature golf course, a Vita exercise course, a lighted multi-purpose court for basketball, volleyball and soccer, along with ping pong and foosball tables. A full bar with a large flat-screen display is available for those who just want to relax and check out the sports action in the area or on TV. Carnival Magic’s other top-deck amenities include the splash-tastic WaterWorks aqua park that will offer even more thrills with an exhilarating “Twister” spiral water slide, as well as the new Aqua Play splash park designed for youngsters and their families, featuring a gigantic, 500-gallon “dump bucket” and a host of other wet ’n wild features. Resort-style pool areas offer the perfect venue for catching rays or some Zs.
Cruisers will also find a variety of signature “Fun Ship” elements on Carnival Magic, including:
Expansive Family-Friendly Spaces – The ultimate family vacation, Carnival Magic offers more than 19,000 square feet of space catering to kids and families, including dedicated spaces for children (Camp Carnival), ’tweens (Circle “C”) and teens (Club O2), with organized activities and enthusiastic counselors for each group.
Serenity – The ideal space for some adult-only “me” time, Serenity offers comfortable chaise lounges and chairs, hammocks, colorful umbrellas and two jumbo-sized whirlpools, along with full bar service specializing in frothy, icy concoctions.
Cloud 9 Spa – Guests in the mood for a workout or some personal pampering can visit this stunning and sophisticated facility. At the Cloud 9 Spa, troubles melt away as guests soak in the soothing thalassotherapy pool, unwind in the elaborate thermal suite or just take in the elegant, serene surroundings.
Stateroom Innovations – With 1,845 staterooms, Carnival Magic offers a wide array of accommodation types, including two-bathroom/five-berth cabins and connecting staterooms that hold particular appeal to families; cove balcony cabins closer to the water line; and spa staterooms providing special access and benefits.
Food, Glorious Food – Whether its authentic delicacies from India and China, a full-service meal in an elegant, two-level dining room, a late-night slice of pizza, an exquisite meal in a classic American steakhouse, or just a burger by the pool, Carnival Magic offers a tantalizing array of international cuisines sure to satisfy every palate.
Dazzling Entertainment – From a laugh-out-loud Punchliner Comedy Club, live bands along the promenade, Superstar Live Karaoke where guests sing to channel their inner rock star fronting a four-piece band, or dazzling production shows incorporating the latest special effects, nights are truly special aboard Carnival Magic.
Carnival’s Seaside Theatre – This 270-square-foot LED screen and poolside seating is the perfect spot for guests to sit back, relax and watch classic and first-run movies, sporting events, news, concerts and other programming, either during the day or night.
Ocean Plaza – A place to see and be seen, Ocean Plaza is a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue where guests can dance to live music and enjoy specialty coffees and sweets – even freshly made milkshakes. Full bar service, specializing in martinis and mojitos, is also available.
The Lanai – Taking the traditional cruise-ship promenade to new heights, The Lanai is a half-mile, open-air promenade encircling Promenade Deck 5. Here, guests can stroll while enjoying spectacular ocean vistas, curl up with a good book, soak up some sun in a comfortable deck chair, or relax in one of four cantilevered whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides.
Fun Hub – Available on any guests’ Internet-connected laptop or at dozens of convenient locations throughout the ship is the Fun Hub, a social network and comprehensive shipboard intranet portal that provides access to a variety of information on Carnival Magic’s services, facilities and daily activities. Carnival Magic will also offer bow-to-stern Wi-Fi and cell phone service.
Carnival Magic’s many unique innovations are highlighted in an interactive micro-site, www.carnivalmagic.com, which features a full-screen virtual tour, exclusive images and videos, construction footage and more. The site also contains details on a series of unique and exciting contests and promotions Carnival will offer for fun fans to add their personal touches on Carnival Magic leading up to the ship’s maiden voyage.
The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic is slated to debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 – Oct. 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the port’s largest year-round cruise ship.
