From Carnival:
Carnival Cruise Lines’ latest “Fun Ship,” the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, is set to raise the bar on shipboard entertainment with some of the most spectacular shows ever seen at sea.
In addition to three spellbinding stage shows that feature detailed sets and costumes, state-of-the-art video technology and sophisticated special effects, Carnival Magic offers an array of entertainment choices at various venues throughout the ship, including everything from solo singers and comedians to live bands and engaging audience participation.
“On Carnival, it’s all about giving our guests choices, and Carnival Magic is our most entertaining ship to date,” said Senior Vice President of Guest Operations Mark Tamis. “With our most fun and diverse entertainment lineup ever, we are offering something for everybody.”
A Magical Extravaganza
The first production show, “Destination: Unknown,” is the largest show ever staged on a Carnival ship and the latest in Carnival Cruise Lines’ arsenal of hits. It stars Jason Byrne, award-winning “magician extraordinaire” and Las Vegas headliner. The mood is set before guests even enter the Showtime theatre with high-tech special effects, and as the houselights dim, full-stage silk drapes fall into view and quickly disappear into the floor or fly into the wings to reveal the full cast of singers and dancers. Then Byrne, the show’s star magician, appears out of thin air piloting a helicopter mid-stage. What follows is a mystical and magical circus full of masterful illusions made possible by the Showtime theatre’s state-of-the-art, unparalleled technology. This is a can’t-miss show stopper that’s sure to entertain the whole family.
Grooving Through the ’70s
The 1970s were more than just disco music and polyester bell-bottoms, and “The Groove Line” is a funky journey through the city streets and iconic discotheques of that era. Choreographed to the tunes that shaped a generation and featuring artists such as KC and the Sunshine Band, The Jackson Five and Sister Sledge, this show will have guests on their feet and carry them back to the heyday of the 1970s.
It’s a Game Thing
“Win! The Game Show” is a wild and crazy parody of television’s most popular game shows. The different and twisted games comprise a travelogue that guides the audience to exotic and exciting places, from a NASCAR-style race track to the Las Vegas Strip. With opportunities for audience participation and a fabulously catchy soundtrack featuring songs by Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Eagles, Shania Twain and Ricky Martin, this show is sure to be a major hit with guests.
More Entertainment Options
Carnival Magic’s two new venues help to take the line’s reputation for diverse, at-sea entertainment choices to a new level. Cucina del Capitano (“The Captain’s Kitchen”) not only boasts singing and dancing waiters and waitresses alongside a barrel of Chianti on wheels, but also has a loop of 65 hand-selected, Italian-themed songs.
Meanwhile, each evening as the sun sets, patrons of the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub can kick back to live acoustic guitar and vocals as they relax on swing-gliding chairs or amuse themselves with any number of bar games, such as foosball, a tabletop shuffleboard, darts, puzzles and more.
Ocean Plaza is the central entertainment hub of the ship. Here, sip on a latte from the coffee shop, delight in an ice cold beer or indulge in a frozen concoction. By day, this is the place to surf the web, gather with friends or enjoy fun trivia contests led by the cruise staff. By night, the fabulous indoor/outdoor space turns into a whole different world with entertainment acts taking the stage and guests dancing the night away.
Also featured on the Carnival Magic is the Punchliner Comedy Club, which highlights a wide variety of comedians offering both family-friendly and adult-only performances nightly. “Superstar Live” takes karaoke to a whole new level by offering wannabe starlets, crooners and rockers the opportunity to perform accompanied by a live band and backing singers.
Additionally, a variety of solo performers and musical ensembles can be found in different locations throughout the ship, providing musical entertainment spanning a wide range of musical genres.
More Shows in Texas
Upon arrival at Carnival Magic’s homeport of Galveston, Texas, two more shows will be added to the ship’s entertainment lineup. The first is guest favorite “Carnival Legends.”
For those who have dreamed of performing with a live band dressed as Tina Turner, Michael Jackson or Cher, this is the opportunity to make that a reality. During the “Carnival Legends” show, guests don authentic, highly detailed costumes of their favorite singer and perform one of the artist’s signature tunes, backed by a talented 10-piece orchestra and full complement of dancers. After rehearsing with the Carnival Magic’s band and production show dancers, it’s “showtime” as the would-be stars take to the stage and strut their stuff to a packed audience.
Currently showing on Carnival Triumph, “A Kiss Goodnight” is drawing capacity crowds for each adult-only late-night show and is set to do the same on board Carnival Magic. The show features the slight-of-hand and close-up magic of house magician Mark Miller and featured magician Jason Byrne alongside the table magicians who work the room prior to showtime. Cue the music and dancers grace the stage in alluring costumes, moving in and out of the shadows to create a sensual and beautiful atmosphere like no other.
The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic is slated to debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 – Oct. 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the port’s largest year-round cruise ship.