Douglas Ward
An informal, colorful, adults-only ship for British cruisers
The Ship. Magellan (formerly Grand Holiday) is a rather boxy-looking, all-white vessel, although CMV has managed to soften its looks with a bow to stern stripe. It does, however, have a distinctive swept-back wing-tipped funnel.
The salt-water swimming pools are quite small, as are the hot tubs, but the open deck and sunning space atop ship is decent. There is an exterior walking area, although it doesn’t wrap around the front of the ship. When the ship was originally built, the interiors had a Broadway theme. Now it’s more about famous explorers, so the decks are named after oceans, seas, and explorers including Amundsen, Columbus, and Magellan. There are numerous public rooms (with British names such as Hampton’s, Kensington, etc.) on two main entertainment decks, and these flow from a wide indoor promenade. Unusually, the Neptune Observation Bar is aft. Still, you can see where you’ve been!
This ship is best suited to British mature-age adults seeking a low-cost cruise experience. The good: the staff escort to your cabin when you embark; there are large public lounges and open spaces; the staff are friendly; and the decor is appealingly non-glitzy. The not-so-good: there is no walk-around promenade deck outdoors, although the outdoor space itself is reasonably good; there are many slim pillars in public rooms; a lot of chairs in the two restaurants have no armrests; many of the low-back tub chairs have no back support. Note also that the cabin walls are paper thin, so you can almost hear your neighbor brushing their hair! Also, the air conditioning tends to be overly cold throughout the ship.
Accommodation. There are just four cabin categories: Suite with balcony; Junior Suite with balcony; exterior cabins; and interior (no-view) cabins, in 15 different price grades. The standard outside and interior cabins are plain but functional units (although the bedside reading lights are poor) and they provide all the basics including a small vanity/writing desk. TV sets are typically placed high in one corner and are not easy to see. The bathrooms are practical, with decent-size shower enclosures. Wall-mounted dispensers provide body soap and shampoo.
Dining. There are two main restaurants: Kensington (in the center) and Waldorf (aft – with some nice ocean-view tables at the back). Both are large, have low ceilings and raised center sections, and feel cramped. Remember that this really is banquet-style catering, so standardization and cooking on a large scale is the norm. Several traditional British favorite dishes are part of the offerings. Also, the wine list is very limited, and there are no wine waiters.
Raffles Bistro is a self-serve buffet area that provides all the basics (except service and enough seats), although its layout is old in style, which makes the venue seem more like a canteen than a bistro. Still, it’s adequate for a quick meal.
Entertainment. The Magellan Show Lounge is the venue for colorful, low-cost production shows and cabaret acts, but note that pillars obstruct the views from several seats. Most lounges and bars also have live music. There are two discos – one large, one small overlooking the ship’s single swimming pool.
Spa/Fitness. The Jade Wellness Center is located on an upper deck, but the fitness room is on a different deck. Some fitness classes are free, while some may cost extra. Book early for massages, facials, or other beauty treatments, because time slots go quickly.