I was lucky enough to be invited to the Magellan ship naming ceremony recently. Not only the latest edition to the Cruise & Maritime fleet but also the flagship of the company, and what a lovely ship she is.
From the moment you first board her you can tell you are going to be met with a welcoming smile from the many officers and crew and what a lovely warm and inviting feeling. She is a mid-sized ship carrying around 1,250 passengers in one of her 726 spacious cabins. She is an easy ship to get around and navigate, so you'll be pleased you won't be spending days getting lost or looking at deck plans!
From Deck 4 through to 7 are passenger cabin decks, decks 8 and 9 are the main restaurants (Kensington and Waldorf) both providing the same menu, both very spacious with a lovely ambience. She has numerous bars and lounges some with panoramic seating and lovely observational areas to just sit and watch the world go by, all very elegantly appointed with a warm atmosphere. The Magellan Main Show Lounge features a double height seating area again with lots of space and a huge stage for the evening entertainment.
The outside decks (10, 11 and 12) are very impressive featuring 2 swimming pools, 3 jacuzzis together with 3 deck bars - the Lido Bar in particular on Deck 10 looks fantastic and you can imagine sitting in the idyllic Caribbean Islands whilst sipping the odd cocktail in the sun.
The food - what a culinary experience! Something I was not expecting but never the less delighted! From the Pate, to the Caesar Salad, the Champagne Sorbet to the Surf and Turf and the Baked Alaska - yes I managed to eat it all! All exceeded my expectations and so looked after by our friendly waiters.
Magellan reminds of an age of cruising when there was no such thing as a climbing wall - just excellent food, wonderful service, and a lovely intimate feeling funnily enough coupled with a sense of space! You can imagine lazy days at sea being relaxed and informal, enjoying a cocktail in one of the lounge bars, reading a novel in the library or relaxing and enjoying a massage in the wellness and beauty centre. Put simply, she provides a truly traditional cruise experience at its best - what a gem!
