Ahhh, the Prime Steakhouse. How do you want your meat cooked? The chefs are exact.
You say rare, and they do it rare.
The atmosphere is quite intimate, but the lighting is not photogenic.
I started with ahi tartare, then Lamb Chops, and THEN chocolate.
A morning pull of the drapes and we are in Cozumel.
Seven ships are in port today, and those only the ones I can see.
Figure from 15 to 20 thousand passengers hitting the shops. For most wants, the pier stores will provide. If you go into town, the merchants will be more persuasive and may get on your nerves. Most tourists think with the amount of people buying, negotiating will be a wasted effort. Not so. Remember, at the moment you are the customer; the merchant wants an on the spot sale like now. Bargain!
I have no idea how many VW taxis are in Cozumel, there must be hundreds, but this is must more fun.
On Magic, inspection is an every day duty.
By the way, talking about inspection this ship got 100% perfect before we sailed.
Not all left the ship for town. The splash area still dumped water on one and all.
There is a lookout stationed at the bottom of the slides. He radios when the slider splashes down to let the top sentry know the next can get in the tube.
Deck service is prompt
and the Carnival marketing team has come up with a unique drink container.
Some caught up on the news and weather on the big screen which features movies at night.
One thing I’ve noticed is a number of people paste or hang things on their cabin door. It’s kind of fun to see what’s along the hall,
never the less, I wonder if it’s not so much a want for decoration, but a way of locating where they live.
I’ve tried hard to find something to whine about on Magic. It’s the sovereign duty of a travel writer to tell about the bad as well as the good. I finally did.
At the beginning of each cruise, Carnival provides tooth paste, body wash, deodorant, etc. all are samples of retail products. On Magic there are about 8 or 9 different items. Included is a small plastic envelope of Q-tips; not a retail sample. They are not full size and “Q” is probably too far along in the alphabet to properly describe them.
When they were used up, I asked my room steward Ovi for a replacement envelope.
“I can’t give them to you. You have to buy them at the store.”
OK, I tried that and couldn’t find any Q-Tips.
As we docked in Cozumel, I asked Ovi again, making it clear, that I really wanted them and he should get them for me.
“You get them first day and no more.” Ovi emphasized.
I went off a bit and doubted that Carnival was so frugal that they couldn’t part with another envelope of 6 mini-tips.
Ovi, scowling, pulled out his phone.
“I’ll have to make a call.”
When I returned to my cleaned cabin there was a tray of goods,
but no Q-tips.
Oh no, here I had been overly stern with Ovi, and it was a miscommunication. I found him, apologized profusely, and explained to him what I meant. I gestured showing cotton at two ends connected by a skinny thingy.
“Yes”, Ovi said, “Q-tips. They won’t let me have any.”
OK, I mean, with the amount Carnival buys, those must cost a few pennies. But factor this in. A Margarita on the rocks costs $10.06. But, of course, that includes salt.
Finally I got a chance to get to the Punchliner comedy club. It was the early show, open to all, including children. Out came John Wesley Austin and blew me away.
Charming, funny, kids and parents and me laughing. Except for the woman next to me. Not even a smile. She probably thought it was supposed to be the art auction.
The Carnival Magic is an amazing ship. Next is the Destiny, amazing plus. When you compare cruise prices, and what you get for your money, there is an easy choice. Carnival Magic.
Tomorrow we dock in Galveston. At 7 AM the ship starts to empty. By 10 AM all will be heading home, except for one. He’s gong to keep cruising, no matter how long it takes, until he hits the Jackpot.
There are two incentives to make this trip. Galveston Texas is a fascinating small city, and Carnival’s new ship, Magic soon starts sailing from there with me aboard.
and Galveston also raised the level of the ocean facing part of the island. Yup, raised it. But, Ike came a few years ago and frustrated by all this, Ike’s water was forced into the bay, and, yes, the lower part of Galveston got very damp. The salt water killed the roots of most of the island’s Oak trees, but hey this is Galveston. The wood from removed dead oaks has been made into lovely bowls, and some of the still standing dead remains, cut to about 6 feet tall have been beautifully carved.
It is rumored to be haunted, especially on the 5th floor. My room was on the fifth floor. I was, of course, not concerned, but late at night I heard a barely audible moaning. It was a woman’s voice. My pulse doubled and I thought “Wow, it’s true”. Then I remembered the huge wedding party in the hotel earlier. Oh well.
splash around,
The new Magic holds 3690 passengers. We will be full for the cruise, but tonight is Gala night for half of Texas to explore the ship, eat, and overnight. The booze was free for all. Late at night some staggered down the passageways putting their card keys into slot after slot.
I couldn’t get my lights on. I pushed button after button. Frustrated, I pushed a button with a little green light on it really hard. It went into the wall. The green light went out, but no other light turned on. Wait, what’s this slot? Ahh, slide your key into it and lights on! Whee ha. Take your key when you leave and lights off. Brilliant energy saver. (Just thinking, is brilliant the right word, I mean the lights go out. Perhaps clever?)
