Before you book your next Carnival cruise, take a peek inside one of Carnival Magic’s balcony cabins and find out if it’s the right cabin for you.
Planning a cruise on Carnival Magic and can’t decide which cabin to choose? You’re not alone. Picking the right room can make all the difference between a good cruise and a great one.
I haven’t sailed with Carnival myself yet, but my friend Dawn spent a week soaking up the Caribbean sunshine aboard Carnival Magic. I asked if she’d share what it was really like staying in one of the ship’s balcony cabins.
If you’re thinking about booking a balcony cabin on Carnival Magic, here’s Dawn’s honest review to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your next adventure at sea.
A little bit about Carnival Magic
Entering service in 2011, Carnival Magic is a dream class ship. With 1,845 cabins , spread over nine decks, she can carry around 3,700 guests.
Itineraries she sails include the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada and New England.
In 2021 she had a makeover and was given a new lick of paint to bring her into line with the newer Carnival ships and their blue paintwork.
Balcony cabin on Carnival Magic
I booked a midship balcony room for my family’s cruise around the Caribbean. This area is the most stable part of the ship and it also has the advantage of being near all the facilities.
We were allocated cabin 6298 which was a category 8B cabin that could accommodate three people.It was a great location, just a 30 second walk to the nearest lift.
Cabin layout and space
When you enter the cabin there is a narrow corridor with the bathroom on one side and a three-door closet on the other.
The closet has plenty of space to store clothes with two full-length hanging areas and 3 shelves behind the third door. On the inside of one of the doors, there is also a full length mirror. Life jackets are stored on the shelves at the top of the closet.
Moving onto the main area of the cabin there is a sofa bed, a small table and a desk area. This area makes the room feel quite spacious and is a nice place to sit and relax.
There were three of us staying in this cabin and in the evening the sofa was converted into another sleeping area.
The desk/dressing area has four drawers on one side and a cupboard that houses a fridge on the other. We stored cans of soft drinks that we brought on board here. A small stool is provided so you can sit at the desk/dressing table. Above there is a large mirror, perfect for putting on make-up or drying your hair.
Next to the fridge is more storage, there are two shelves behind the door with an electric safe on the top one. A small flat-screen TV sits on the wall.
The remainder of the room is taken up by the bed. This is actually two single beds that can be configured into a double.
On either side of the bed are two small nightstands both with a built-in lamp. There is a small storage area underneath. Above the bed is a light switch which controls the main lights in the room and a huge colourful painting.
Balcony
The bed is next to the balcony. There is a large window, ideal for lying in bed and watching the waves, and a single pane door that leads onto the balcony.
The balcony is a reasonable size. Two chairs are provided, one of which reclines and a small square table. Perfect for a bit of fresh air and to enjoy the sea views.
Bathroom
The bathroom is fairly small but not a problem. You are not in it for long!
In the corner was the shower, complete with a shower curtain not a plastic panel. Next to this was the toilet and then the sink area.
The shower had a handrail on one wall so you could steady yourself if needed. You could move the shower head up and down if required. Shower gel and shampoo were provided in bottles attached to the wall. There was no conditioner so if you like to use that, it’s best to bring your own.
The sink area was large with plenty of space on either side. There were two small shelves under the sink where extra toilet paper was kept. You could probably also store some small items here.
A large mirror was above the sink and there were five shelves around the mirror providing more than enough space to store toiletries.
One thing to watch out for in this cabin is the small step up to get into the bathroom. It is easy to miss this!
Power sockets
As one of the older ships in Carnival’s fleet, she shows her age a little when it comes to plugs and sockets. They are limited to the desk area of the room. There is one US and one European one.
If, like me, you are traveling from the UK, then you will need an adapter to be able to use them.
The last word
This cabin turned out to be just what we needed. It was comfortable, close to everything, and had that lovely balcony where we could relax and enjoy the sea views.
The ship does show her age in places, but that didn’t take away from the experience. If you want a cabin that’s near the action but still gives you space to unwind, I’d definitely recommend this one or another nearby on Deck 6 midship. It was the perfect base for our week in the Caribbean, and I’d happily stay there again.
Have you stayed in a balcony cabin on Carnival Magic or another Carnival ship? I’d love to hear what you thought in the comments below