Cruise Spotlight
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Carnival Magic vs Celebrity Equinox
The Carnival Magic was built in 2011. It's 2 years newer than the Equinox, which was built in 2009 and renovated in 2019.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Magic is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,004 feet long and 122 feet 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. It's about the same size as the Celebrity Equinox.
Number of Passengers
Carnival Magic holds 29% more passengers than the Equinox based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Magic has less space per person compared to the Equinox.
| Carnival Magic | Celebrity Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Dream | Solstice |
| Gross Tonnage | 128,000 | 122,000 |
| Length | 1,004 | 1,033 |
| Beam/Width | 122 | 121 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,690 | 2,852 |
| Crew | 1,386 | 1,290 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.7 | 2.2 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 35 | 43 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Magic has seventeen different dining options like Seafood Shack, Pizzeria del Capitano, and Blue Iguana Cantina. Of those options, fifteen are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other seven options have an additional fee.
The Equinox has seven fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Oceanview Cafe, Sushi on Five, and Le Petit Chef at Qsine. nine of these restaurants are complementary and the other six have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Magic might be a better choice. It has 70% more dining options than the Equinox.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Magic might be a better choice then the Equinox. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Carnival Magic | Celebrity Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 17 | 10 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 15 | 9 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 7 | 6 |
| % of Included Options | 59% | 40% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The Carnival Magic has 3 fewer bars than the Celebrity Equinox. The Magic has 11 bars like Alchemy Bar, Plaza Cafe and RedFrog Rum Bar. On Magic, you can grab a drink at 14 different bars such as Cafe al Bacio, Il Secondo Bacio and Martini Bar.
| Carnival Magic | Celebrity Equinox |
|---|---|
| •Alchemy Bar • Atrium Bar • BlueIguana Tequila Bar • Casino Bar • Escape Bar • Play it Again Piano Bar • Plaza Cafe • RedFrog Pub • RedFrog Rum Bar • Spotlight Lounge • Vibe Dance Club | •AquaSpa Cafe • Cafe al Bacio • Casino Bar • Craft Social • Ensemble Lounge • Il Secondo Bacio • Martini Bar • Mast Bar • Oceanview Bar • Passport Bar • Pool Bar • Quasar • Sky Observation Lounge • World Class Bar |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Magic serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship. The Equinox serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
You can check out recent the bar menus for the Magic and the Equinox below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Carnival Magic has a total of 2 pools and 8 hot tubs.
Celebrity Equinox has more pools than the Magic and fewer hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? two of the hot tubs are adults only on Magic.| Carnival Magic | Celebrity Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 2 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 0 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 8 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 6 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Magic, 73% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Equinox, only 67% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Carnival Magic | Celebrity Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✗ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beyond the Podium Talk Series | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bingo | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Club | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hot Glass Show | ✗ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lawn Club | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✗ |
| Outdoor gym | ✓ | ✗ |
| Outdoor movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ropes course | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✗ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Carnival is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Celebrity, on the other hand, is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Carnival Magic | Celebrity Equinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $16.00 | $18.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $3.00 | $4.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.75 See drink menus | $8.00 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $83 - $88 Learn more | $55 - $99 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $18.70 to $23.80 per device per day | $19 to $30 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
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