CruiseLineFans: The Carnival Magic is the Cruise Ship of 2011

LONDON, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Carnival Magic hit the waters this week for the first time on the first of May with a 9-day Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona. The 100th ship in the Carnival family is a 130,000 tonne marvel of ship design and on board experience. In light of this, CruiseLineFans will highlight some of the ship's best features and additions cruise guests can expect to enjoy while on board.

Dining:

Dining and cuisine on board the Carnival Magic has seen some serious upgrades and additions for the newest ship in the Carnival fleet. The Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub has its own signature draft beer, ThirstyFrog Red, which debuted to massive success –the guests drank the 9-day supply in just one day and Carnival has airlifted more in to satisfy demand. Also available is the Cucina del Capitano a new Italian dining experience that celebrates the heritage of Carnival captains and delivers this experience right at the diner's table.

Amenities:

The countless on board experiences available on the Carnival Magic will delight children, parents and grandparents alike. But, if it all seems too much and you want to ensure a relaxing cruise vacation, the Carnival Magic is still your ship.

Like its sister ship, the Carnival Dream, the Carnival Magic is also home to the expansive and seductive Cloud9 Spa. The Cloud9 Spa includes many complimentary services like steam rooms and aerobic equipment, plus Thalassotherapy soak pools, Thermal Suites and a full service Salon.

The Ocean Plaza, lovingly known as the "Fun Hub" on the Carnival Magic is another example of a growing trend in cruise ship design – the social hub. Just like modern social networks online, real life connections and experiences are being created on the Magic at the Ocean Plaza. The Plaza is open day and night, and is lined with coffee shops, bars, Internet cafes, shops and other meet-up locations.

Activities:

Not to be outdone by the Royal Caribbean Oasis and Allure of the Seas, Fun Ship designers at Carnival have created and installed some amazing activities centres including SportSquare, open-air recreation complex with SkyCourse, the very first ropes course and outdoor fitness centre at sea. Guests can also use the two-story miniature golf course (the only one of its kind at sea), play foosball and have a go on the Ping-Pong tables.

The WaterWorks aqua park is an impressive sight with its 312 foot long waterslide. This elaborate, family-friendly water-soaked extravaganza will keep you and the kids well-hydrated and entertained for hours.

Ports and Destinations:

The Carnival Magic made her world debut during a 9-day Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona. The Magic will continue to take guests on a series of Mediterranean cruises from May until October 2011. Ports visited will include Monte Carlo, Messina, Rome, Naples, Palma, Marseilles, Venice and Dubrovnik.

Upon completion of these 7, 9, and 12-day cruises, the Carnival Magic will make her way to Galveston, TX, to take passengers to the Eastern and Western Caribbean for the 2012 season, which will be Carnival's first complete season of Mediterranean cruises since 2008. Executives from the company have already reported strong booking from UK, Russian and German passengers.

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SOURCE CruiseLineFans