The Carnival Magic is an impressive cruise ship that offers a wide array of amenities and activities to its passengers. One popular feature that many guests look forward to is the availability of pools onboard. The Carnival Magic has a total of three pools, each offering a unique experience for guests to enjoy. The main pool, located on the Lido Deck, is a hub of activity and is often bustling with passengers looking to relax, swim, or participate in poolside games and events. This pool is surrounded by lounge chairs and offers a great atmosphere for both adults and children. For guests looking for a more serene and peaceful experience, the Carnival Magic also offers the Serenity Pool.

Carnival Magic deck 10 plan (Lido-Pools-Cabins)

The aft Tides Pool deck area has 1 swimming pool, Tides Bar, 2 Jacuzzis/Whirlpools, 2 poolside bars.

RedFrog Rum Bar is an outdoor poolside bar with best Caribbean rums, bottled Caribbean beers (Presidente, Kalik, Red Stripe, Corona, Corona Light, Dos Equis), draft beers (ThirstyFrog Red brew, Presidente brew), Red’s Beer Cocktail, frozens, cocktails, mojitos, margaritas, soft beverages. The bar also sells beer buckets and Carnival souvenir glasses. Draft beers are served/priced in pints (19 oz / 560 ml) and tubes (101 oz / 3 L).

BlueIguana Tequila Bar is an outdoor poolside bar for Mexican drinks (brews, frozens, cocktails, margaritas). BlueIguana Bar’s menu has draft beers (Modelo Especial, Dos Equis), bottled beers (Sol, Tecate, Corona, Pacifico), Beer Cocktail, beer buckets, Mexican tequilas, non-alcoholic frozens, soft drinks. Draft beers are served/priced in pints (16 oz / 470 ml) and tubes (101 oz / 3 L). The bar also sells Carnival-logoed souvenir glasses. On seadays are staged drink-mixing competitions between both bars (RedFrog and BlueIguana).

Lido Marketplace (menu, complimentary, 825 seats) is the ship’s self-service buffet restaurant for open-seating Breakfast (7:30 am - 12-noon /made-to-order omelet station), Lunch (12-noon - 2:30 pm), Dinner (6-9:30 pm /Good Eats buffet) and for Late Night Snacks (11 pm - 1 am). Good Eats buffet menu is a Main Dining Room dinner alternative offering steaks, prime rib, grilled chicken, pastas, salads, desserts, daily Chef’s Special. Lido Marketplace consists of various take-away food stations and themed food bars. Among those are Carnival Deli (sandwiches, draught beer dispenser), Indian Tandoor (lunch), Mongolian Wok (stir-fry, made-to-order Asian food /you choose the ingredients), Mexican Bar (burritos/wraps, chicken, beef, shrimp, salsa, toppings), The Captain’s Pasta Bar (choice of 3 pastas, 4 sauces, 12 toppings), Salad Bar (35 items), Pizzeria (24-hour), Chef’s Choice Bar (international cuisine /different menu each day), Hot and Cold Buffet (stir-fry, pastas, carving station), Grille (ham-cheese-veggie burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken fritters/sandwiches, sauteed mushrooms/onions, sauerkraut, Chili con Carne, homemade tortillas-chips-salsa), Dessert Bar (incl sugar-free items). There are also (self-serve, complimentary, 24-hour) tea/coffee station and machines for soft ice cream and yogurt. Chocolate Extravaganza Buffet (complimentary) is on the last seaday (7-day and longer cruise itineraries) and offers chocolate smorgasborg, chocolate fountain, cakes (incl pear, orange, cheesecake, dry fruit, diet).

Carnival Deli (complimentary, open between 11 am – 11 pm) offers hot/cold sandwiches and sides and has a draft beer dispenser (for ThirstyFrog Red and Bud Light).

Pizzeria del Capitano (complimentary, 24-hour, self-serve) is equipped with a wood-fired oven and offers fresh-baked pizzas (Margherita, Pepperoni, Napolitana, Capricciosa, Calzone), pan pizza, Caesar salad, also made-to-order pies.

Indian Tandoor (complimentary, open between 12-noon - 2:30 pm) menu has grilled meat (cheesesteak, chicken legs, kebabs, fish), salads, curries, naan breads, rice, dhals.

BlueIguana Cantina (menu) is a complimentary poolside (self-serve) fast-food bar with Mexican cuisine. The Cantina is open for Breakfast (7:30-10:30 am) and Lunch (12-noon - 2:30 pm) and offers fresh-made tacos, burritos (wrapped/topped-to-order), tortillas (wheat, jalapeno), chips, salsas, toppings. Breakfast burritos are with scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, ham, hash browns, tomato, cheese, iceberg lettuce, topping (pico de gallo, crema fresca, salsa /tomatillo, roasted tomato). Lunch tacos include pork, chicken, fish. Bluelguana Cantina has a separate condiments bar with salsas, hot sauces, lettuce, onion, cheese, lime, watermelon, jicama, black beans, corn, coriander, tomatillos, tomatoes.

Guy’s Burger Joint (menu) is Carnival’s signature burger bar by the US celebrity Guy Fieri (Food Network). The bar is complimentary and open for lunch and dinner (between 12 noon – 6 pm). The menu includes specialty burgers (Plain Jane, Straight Up, Pig Patty, Chilius Maximus, The Ringer), also made-to-order burgers, hand-cut fries, condiment bar. The ingredients include 80-20 beef patties, buttered buns, melted cheese, mushrooms, lettuce, onions, pickles, tomato, Donkey Sauce (mayo), crispy bacon patty, spicy onion rings, chili, BBQ sauce.

The ship has 2 main swimming pools – the smaller Tides Pool (aft, quieter, open between 8 am - 12-midnight, served with drinks by Tides Bar /soda, wine, frozens, cocktails, beer/buckets) and the bigger Beach Pool (forward/midship, open between 8 am - 10 pm, rimmed with shallow water, tiered seating, Seaside Theatre).

• Each of the swimming pools has 2 whirlpools (large-size hot tubs), expansive sundecks (sunbathing areas with blue lounger chairs), shaded seating areas (open-sided huts with large umbrellas). Both pool areas are served by their own fast-food bars (complimentary) and drink bars (a la carte priced).
• The Beach Pool’s sundeck is the place for watching shows, concerts and live sporting events (daily) and 1 or 2 film screenings (nightly, with free popcorn) shown on the Carnival Seaside Theatre - the giant outdoor LED screen (sized 12 x 22 ft / 3,7 x 6,7 m) overlooking the midship pool deck area.
• Among the daytime activities and entertainment options are playing bingo, deck games, fun contests (hairy-chest, “Miss Carnival”), trivia quizzes (music, sports), classes (scrapbooking, breakdancing), DJ and live music (Calypso band, solo guitarist/singer), cocktail mixing demos (by the ship’s master mixologist), ice-carving demonstration, “Groove for St Jude” (fundraiser).
• In the evenings, the pool deck hosts themed deck parties (with live band music) and a signature laser-show featuring trippy videos (on the LED screen) backed by loud music, dynamic laser lights and a smoke/fog machine. Carnival cruise ships have a tradition once per sailing their hotel staff to create an army of towel animals and place them on the pool deck to greet guests in the morning.
• Carnival’s Swimming Pool rules and restrictions include – no lifeguards on duty (signage), parental supervision required for kids under 13, wet surfaces (caution), showers required prior to pool use. Not toilet trained children and kids in diapers/swim diapers are not allowed. Also prohibited are jumping/diving (too shallow), horseplay, smoking/eating, entering with glass containers.

Lido Deck cruise cabins from 10201 to 10291, of which Inside (categories 4H, 4J) and the rest are Balcony staterooms (categories 8F, 8E).

All about the Carnival Magic

The Carnival Magic was built in 2011. It's considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,004 ft long and 122 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 14-story building.

The Magic can hold 3,690 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Magic has a space ratio of 35. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship has less space per person than average.

The Magic is one of three Dream-class ships currently sailing with Carnival. Dream-class ships were the first Carnival ships to feature an extended, exterior promenade area. This large area has hot tubs and extra seating that's away from the hustle and bustle of the main Lido pool area. In addition, this class of ship saw the introduction of the first ropes course at sea and the Sports Square. The Magic is very similar to its sister-ships; Dream and Breeze, although each ship may have some differences.

For guests looking for a more serene and peaceful experience, the Carnival Magic also offers the Serenity Pool. This adults-only pool is located on the ship's top deck and provides a tranquil oasis for passengers to unwind and soak up the sun. With its comfortable loungers and peaceful surroundings, this pool is an ideal spot for quiet relaxation.

Carnival Magic Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Carnival Magic. You have 34 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 20 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 14 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. 59% of the dining options are included which means if you're watching your budget, you won't feel like you're missing out by not going to a lot of extra fee dining places.

In addition to the main pool and the Serenity Pool, the Carnival Magic also features a dedicated pool area for children known as the WaterWorks. This area includes several pools and slides, designed to provide hours of fun and excitement for younger guests. Parents can feel at ease knowing that their children can enjoy a safe and supervised water play area while onboard. Overall, the Carnival Magic offers a variety of pool options to cater to the different preferences and needs of its passengers. Whether guests are seeking an energetic and vibrant pool atmosphere or a more serene and peaceful experience, there is a pool onboard that can accommodate their desires. With its range of pool options, the Carnival Magic ensures that every guest can make the most of their cruise vacation and enjoy a refreshing dip in the water..

Reviews for "A refreshing dip: the pools of the Carnival Magic"

1. Michelle - 2 stars - I was highly disappointed with the number of pools on Carnival Magic. The ship boasts of being a fun-filled vacation experience, but I found that the limited number of pools did not cater to the number of guests on board. The main pool area was always overcrowded, making it impossible to find a spot to relax and enjoy a swim. To make matters worse, there were constant long lines for the water slides, which made the experience even more frustrating. Overall, I felt that the lack of adequate pool facilities took away from the enjoyment of my cruise.

2. John - 1 star - The Carnival Magic fell short in terms of its pool offerings. With so many guests on board, I expected there to be more than just two small pools. The pools were always packed with people, and finding a lounge chair was a real challenge. Not to mention, the water in the pools felt unclean and not properly maintained. It's disappointing that a ship of this size and reputation didn't prioritize providing ample pool options for its guests. If you're looking for a cruise with a variety of pools to choose from, I would not recommend Carnival Magic.

3. Lisa - 2 stars - I was frustrated by the lack of pool options on the Carnival Magic. The two main pools were always overcrowded with loud and rowdy passengers, making it difficult to relax and enjoy the poolside experience. Additionally, the pools were quite small for the number of guests on board, leaving little room for swimming or having any personal space. The lack of alternative pool areas or quieter spaces made it challenging to find a peaceful spot to unwind. If you're looking for a cruise with ample pool options for a more tranquil experience, I would suggest exploring other options rather than Carnival Magic.

A tour of the pool deck on the Carnival Magic