Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic Arrive in Galveston, Texas for Winter Cruise Season

Disney Cruise Lines' Disney Magic Sailing From Galveston, Texas for the Winter.

September 22, 2012, the Disney Magic arrived in Galveston, kicking off the Disney Cruise Line inaugural season sailing from the Port of Galveston. To salute its arrival to the Lone Star State, the Disney Magic donned a Texas-sized cowboy hat on the ship’s funnel as crew members and Disney characters waved from the upper decks of the ship. In 2012 and 2013, Disney Cruise Line will sail from Galveston on a variety of itineraries to the Caribbean and Bahamas, with some cruises taking guests to Walt Disney World Resort and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Breeze Has Private Concert With Maroon 5

Everything is bigger in Texas, including Carnival Cruise Lines’ celebration for the U.S. debut of its newest ship, Carnival Magic. Today Carnival announced it has teamed up with three-time GRAMMY Award-winning band Maroon 5 to perform an exclusive concert to welcome the line’s newest “Fun Ship” to its year-round homeport of Galveston, Texas. On Sunday, November, 13, 2011, set to the backdrop of the spectacular new Carnival Magic from Pier 21, thousands of fans of Maroon 5 and Carnival will be treated to a free, ticketed concert by the multi-platinum group the day before the new vessel sets sail on its inaugural U.S. voyage.

Carnival Magic, which entered service in May in Europe, will make its transatlantic voyage to arrive in Galveston on November 13. That afternoon, lucky invited guests will enjoy a fantastic performance from the globally recognized group known for hits like “Moves Like Jagger," “This Love,” “She Will Be Loved,” “Wake Up Call” and “Makes Me Wonder.” Free tickets for the performance will be distributed through various channels, including Carnival’s Facebook page, which will feature a contest that asks fans to record a video of their best dance moves for a chance to win two tickets to the concert, along with round-trip airfare, hotel, ground transportation and spending money. Carnival’s Facebook fans in Texas, along with readers of the popular blog written by Carnival’s Senior Cruise Director John Heald, will have additional opportunities to win, and tickets will also be given away through select Texas radio stations.

“We wanted to do something big and memorable to mark Carnival Magic’s U.S. debut and what better way to celebrate than to bring together fans of music and fans of Carnival, along with our partners in Galveston, for an exceptional afternoon of fun and entertainment,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines’ president and CEO. “We’re thrilled to kick off year-round Caribbean cruising on the newest and most spectacular ship sailing from Texas.”

Adam Levine, Maroon 5 frontman and coach on the hit NBC series “The Voice,” said, “We’ve played every kind of venue imaginable across the world, but we’ve never helped to launch a new cruise ship. We’re excited to work with Carnival and to be part of the Carnival Magic celebration for fans in Texas.”
Following the concert, Carnival will host several thousand travel agent partners on board Carnival Magic for an evening of dining and entertainment. On November 14, the ship will launch its Caribbean cruise program which will feature two different week-long itineraries from Galveston, including seven-day western Caribbean voyages to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, and week-long eastern Caribbean cruises to Nassau, Freeport, and Key West.

As the line’s newest ship, Carnival Magic offers a host of innovations, including the RedFrog Pub, a colorful Caribbean-inspired watering hole featuring its own private label draught beer; Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian restaurant that brings the heritage of Carnival’s captains to the table; and SportSquare, an expansive open-air recreation complex with the first ropes course and outdoor fitness area at sea. Other features include a WaterWorks aqua park with a 312-foot-long spiral water slide and other attractions; The Lanai, a wraparound promenade with an outdoor barbeque area and whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides; and Ocean Plaza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue.

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Carnival Magic Offers a Number of Firsts to the Carnival Fleet

Carnival Cruise Line has just introduced the new Carnival Magic. The ship features a number of firsts for the cruise line including the new SportSquare. The SportSquare is an outdoor recreation areas which consists of the SkyCourse - a 230 foot rope course suspended above the deck. The SkyCourse proved very popular during the ship's introduction and can handle over 1,400 people per day.

The second area on the Carnival Magic is the SkyCourt which provides a large screened in area where passengers can play basketball, volleyball or football. On-board the Carnival Magic, passengers can play during free time play or take part in orchestrated completions.

There also is the SkyFit which is an outdoor weight training area and miniature golf course.

The WaterWorks Area on the Carnival Magic is also a family favorite with it's PowerDrencher. This mini outdoor water-park has an over sized bucket that can hold 300 gallons of water and tips over on bathers below every few minutes. The kids were having a blast.

For those looking for an inside activity, there is Carnival's first Pub at sea - the Red Frog Pub. The Pub is exclusive to the Carnival Magic. The Red Frog has a Caribbean theme and has it own signature beer - the Thirsty Frog Red Beer. In the spirit of the finest pubs found around the world, passengers are able to play darts, checkers and chess. The food in the Red Frog Pub is available at an extra fee.

The Carnival Magic has a new specialty restaurant on-board - the Cucina del Capitano- which offers Italian Specialties served family style.

The Carnival Magic brings many new experiences to cruise passengers and if successful, we may see these features retrofitted on other ships in the fleet.

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Carnival Magic, Carnival Triumph from Galveston

June 26, 2010 - Carnival Magic, which is slated to debut in Europe in May 2011 with a host of innovative facilities and features, will offer two different week-long itineraries from Galveston, including seven-day western Caribbean voyages to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, and week-long eastern Caribbean cruises to Nassau, Freeport, and Key West.

Carnival Magic will offer many exciting amenities including a spectacular water park, an exclusive adults-only retreat, a wrap-around promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides, and expansive spa and children’s facilities. Also featured will be a variety of stateroom choices, including deluxe ocean view accommodations with two bathrooms, some of which feature five berths and hold particular appeal for families; cove balcony cabins located closer to the water line; and spa staterooms that provide special access and benefits. A number of new innovations are scheduled to be announced in the near future.

Prior to launching year-round Caribbean service from Galveston, Carnival Magic will operate a series of seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona May 1 to Oct. 16, 2011; followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to Galveston departing Oct. 28, 2011.

Also being deployed to Galveston is the Carnival Triumph which will operate year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises beginning Oct. 6, 2011, becoming the newest and largest ship to operate a year-round short cruise program from that port. Four-day cruises depart Thursdays to Cozumel, while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays and visit Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. Carnival Triumph offers many guest-pleasing features and amenities, including nearly 500 balcony staterooms which are very popular among consumers and typically not available on short cruises.

Expanded Capacity from New Orleans

Carnival Conquest will reposition to New Orleans for year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning Nov. 13, 2011. The ship will offer three different week-long Caribbean options from New Orleans: a new western Caribbean program featuring Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, an eastern Caribbean itinerary to Key West, Freeport and Nassau, and exotic western Caribbean cruises to Belize, Roatan and Cozumel.

Carnival Ecstasy will operate year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean voyages from New Orleans beginning Sept. 22, 2011. The ship underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation last year that added an expansive water park, tropical-style main pool area, adults-only retreat and 98 balconies to existing staterooms. On the Carnival Ecstasy’s new itinerary, four-day cruises departing Thursdays visit Cozumel, while five-day cruises departing Mondays and Saturdays call at Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.

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Royal Carribbean Announces Cruise From Galveston and New Orleans

May 7, 2010 - Royal Caribbean International announced the cruise line’s exciting winter 2011-12 Caribbean cruise season aboard Voyager of the Seas from New Orleans, La., and Mariner of the Seas from Galveston, Texas. Voyager of the Seas will debut in New Orleans as the largest and most innovative cruise ship to homeport in the city, and offer a third convenient Gulf Coast city to embark on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Vacationers can choose from 45 sailings aboard Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas from November 2011 through April 2012, which comprise seven distinct itineraries that call at eight unique Caribbean ports. The two ships augment the already-announced short Western Caribbean cruises aboard Jewel of the Seas from Tampa. Royal Caribbean’s winter 2011-12 Gulf Caribbean cruises are now open for booking.

“With our return to New Orleans in winter 2011, Royal Caribbean will offer three vibrant and convenient Gulf Coast cities to embark on a memorable family vacation or winter getaway,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Our ships offer guests the widest array of exclusive onboard amenities and offer something for everyone and every age. Throughout, all guests will enjoy the Royal treatment, delivered by every member of our renowned friendly and engaging staff and crew.”

Guests of Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas also have a wide range of exciting shore excursions to enhance their cruise vacation for an additional charge. Guests can enjoy a fun-filled day at the beach sunbathing and swimming on the "Playa Mia Deluxe Beach Break" in Cozumel, Mexico, or swim with the graceful Southern Atlantic stingrays at the world-famous Stingray City on "Stingray City Sandbar Swim & Snorkel" in Grand Cayman. For the more adventurous, guests can soar through trees from platform to platform on the “Chukka Canopy Experience” at the new cruise port of Falmouth, Jamaica.

Voyager of the Seas begins the new season from New Orleans on November 12, 2011, offering vacationers seven-night Western Caribbean cruises sailing every Saturday from the city’s newly renovated Julia Street Cruise Terminal. Mariner of the Seas will take over for Voyager of the Seas at Galveston and offer two alternating seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries. A special nine-night Western Caribbean itinerary, departing November 11, 2011, will kick off Mariner of the Seas’ inaugural season at Galveston and an eight-night holiday cruise will depart on December 18. A six-night cruise, departing on January 2, 2012, will offer vacationers a relaxing and rejuvenating post-holiday getaway.

Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas are two of the world’s 10 largest and most innovative cruise ships at sea. Both ships feature the cruise line’s iconic rock-climbing wall, the Studio B ice-skating rink, nine-hole mini-golf course, an in-line skating track, a full-size basketball court, and the Royal Promenade, a boulevard of boutiques, restaurants and lounges and bars. Voyager of the Seas features the cruise line’s signature Portofino Italian restaurant, while Mariner of the Seas offers a second specialty restaurant option, Chops Grille steakhouse.