Magellan to Europe

Formerly a Carnival ship, Magellan underwent a considerable refurbishment before joining Cruise and Maritime Voyages. At 45,000 tons and carrying 1300 passengers, she offers twice as much space per passenger as her fleet mate, the beloved Marco Polo.

Inside, there is a beautiful interior promenade, with windows facing out over the sea. Lined with sidewalk cafes and lounging areas, it ls abutted by a string of bars and clubs that make this area popular, especially after dinner. This is a kind of maritime crossroads that is the heart of the ship.

There are two main dining rooms, plus an upper deck lido café, the offer up very good, British accented cuisine for most main meals. Burgers and fries can be had from a grill that adjoins the mid ship, two level pool and lido area.

Another focal point is a large, circular outdoor bar that makes a great vantage point, overlooking the aft pool and hot tubs. On sunny days it is the perfect lounging spot to enjoy a cocktail.

Right aft is a wonderful, partially covered 'lawn' area, sprinkled with comfy tables, sofas and chairs, that looks right over the stern.  It is a very popular area both by day and night. Several levels up, an aft facing Sana spa covers an extensive area at the back of the main promenade deck.

Cabins, both inside and outside, are the same size- around 137 square feet. There is a good amount of storage space. My outside room had a really good shower, too. There are a small handful of balcony suites, located up forward on the highest decks of the ship.

Magellan on the whole is a very comfortable, spacious ship but-as with Marco Polo- there is not enough musical entertainment on board in general. This is surprising, considering how many different venues there are aboard the ship, and it is certainly something that needs to be addressed in the future. While she is bigger than the Marco Polo, Magellan remains intimate enough in her own right. Like her fleet mate, she is an adults' only vessel, and offers great value for money.