Carnival Magic: La Romana, Bonaire & Aruba

January 27–28: Driving to Port Canaveral

We left around 1 p.m. Friday and spent most of the day on the road. McDonald's supplied one meal, and a Buc-ee's stop near the end of the drive handled gas before we checked into a Save Smart Inn in St. Augustine.

With about two hours remaining Saturday morning, we left around 8. At Buc-ee's, I tried a brisket-and-egg taco and Beaver Nuggets before we took the scenic route past Kennedy Space Center toward Port Canaveral.

Embarkation was the longest we had experienced. We waited nearly two hours before the line began moving and boarded around 1:30. After muster, I joined my sister, brother-in-law, and nephews for a cheesesteak lunch. Our Deck 2 rooms opened around 2:30.

The ship did not sail until about 7 p.m., while we were at dinner. My first meal included cured salmon, chicken parmesan, a cheese plate, and a banana split. A liquor tasting followed, then I watched part of a Batman movie before turning in around 10.

January 29: First sea day

Our first sea day started with open-seating breakfast, followed by the Fun Aboard, Fun Ashore presentation and an art auction with complimentary champagne. The auction was informative but stretched close to two hours. Tea time turned out to mean ordinary unsweet tea unless we purchased another variety.

I only had Guy's Burger fries for lunch, then relaxed until dinner. Filet mignon, clam chowder, pumpkin soup, and fruit were followed by a Jason Anders comedy show and Chiefs–Bengals football on the outdoor screen. Pizza made it back to the room before bed.

January 30: Amber Cove becomes another sea day

We ate corned beef hash and parfait while approaching Amber Cove. The port and another ship were visible, and Carnival Magic appeared ready to dock before it began backing away. In the theater, we learned that the call was canceled.

Because this was not a scheduled sea day, the replacement activity list felt limited. My brother-in-law and I entered a real cornhole tournament played to 11 and won it. We also played Rook and bought a bucket of 16-ounce beers that lasted several days.

Dinner included wild-boar barbecue, mango cream soup, linguine with Italian sausage, and pineapple. Deal or No Deal, the arcade, more cards, and a comedy show filled the evening.

January 31: Countryside and beach in La Romana

La Romana became our first actual port. That morning, we changed from a walking-and-cavern excursion to an open-air countryside-and-beach tour—and the change worked in our favor.

The early stops introduced Dominican products: how chocolate is made, fresh samples, and cigars rolled by hand. We then drove through sugarcane fields to a rail-loading area, where we tried fresh cane and rum made from it while learning how the crop moves from field to train.

At a country house, we could buy coconut drinks with rum and sample fruit, coffee, and mamajuana. A beach stop finished the outing before we returned around 3 p.m.

Guy's Burgers became a late lunch. Dinner brought broccoli-cheddar soup, buffalo cauliflower with truffle sauce, seafood Newburg, and cappuccino pie, followed by Rook and a whiskey tasting.

February 1: Bonaire after dark

Because Carnival Magic did not reach Bonaire until 1 p.m., we had time for oatmeal, bacon, parfait, and a little ship activity. I won $100 from a claw machine, although the machine eventually got it back before the cruise ended.

Our sightseeing excursion made quick stops at the salt flats, a lighthouse, several smaller landmarks, and a beach. The tour itself felt less eventful than other options might have been, but returning near sunset and watching windsurfers gave the day a strong finish.

We walked from the ship to a brewery, where I quickly tried a Bonaire Blonde, then bought a Curaçao beer from a nearby shop. Ice cream and candy completed the downtown walk. The late 10 p.m. departure made Bonaire feel different from a normal daytime port.

Dinner was alligator beignets, onion soup, cornmeal chicken, and a cheese plate. I went to bed early for Aruba's 7:30 a.m. excursion.

February 2: Off-road Aruba

I woke at 5:30, drank coffee, and watched sunrise during docking. I misjudged the meeting time and arrived without my ticket, but someone provided a replacement and I made the excursion.

The open-air jeep ride was bumpy and fun. Stops included rock formations, the Natural Bridge area, gold-mill ruins, a church, the California Lighthouse, and a beach. Aruba's cacti and rugged, wind-shaped north coast made the island feel unlike the previous ports.

I tried a mango-chili beer and a stroopwafel along the route. Afterward, we walked through town, stopped for coffee, and received some local currency as change. I started feeling sick and returned to the ship for curry and pizza.

The afternoon included basketball, chess, and mini golf. Dinner was escargot, pumpkin-lentil-chorizo soup, veal parmesan, and chocolate panna cotta, followed by comedy from Russ Nagel and Derrick Eason.

February 3–4: Two days at sea

The first return sea day included huevos rancheros and parfait for breakfast, followed by chess, mini golf, basketball, the arcade, made-to-order pasta, and tea time. On the last formal night, I posed for one photo before prime rib, lobster, pork tart, oysters, and crème brûlée. We ended with a beer tube and Rook.

The final sea day was looser: a burger and parfait for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and frog legs, jerk pork, and baked Alaska at dinner. I used my complimentary drink on a White Russian, played arcade games, mini golf, and cornhole, then watched Black Adam on the outdoor screen.

February 5: Home

We left the ship and began the drive home, fitting in one last Buc-ee's stop before the trip officially ended.