Disney Magic Western Caribbean Cruise Review – Day 1: February 6, 2026

You would never guess it, but we’re off again! I know, huge shocker. Try to contain your amazement. Finishing off what’s been a good streak the past few months, we’re back on the Disney Magic, this time sailing out of Galveston, Texas, and heading through the Gulf of America on a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise. We’ll experience a few firsts on this voyage, so while there will be some repeats from our recent Southern itinerary in regard to the ship, I’ll do my best to skip over any repetition and focus on different aspects of the ship and the new happenings we encounter.

A few of the key elements for this journey are:

• First embarkation from Galveston, Texas
• Port call at Progreso, Mexico, including an excursion to Chichén-Itzá
• Marvel Day at Sea

I’m sure some are wondering why, since we live so close to all the Floridian ports, we would fly to another state to cruise. And it’s a valid question. The simple answer is we were chasing the Magic, quite literally. After our first time on her last November, we fell in love not only with the ship but the crew onboard. Between the dining service team we had, the concierge hosts, and all the way up to the Cruise Director and Chief Engineer who arranged a private tour of the engine room, it was exceptional through and through. Even the quaintness of the smaller ship made a lasting impression that we couldn’t wait to experience again.

With the transient nature of the Magic’s current itineraries and her frequent changes between home ports, we wanted to book something before she makes the transition through the Panama Canal for a quick stop in San Diego before heading north to Vancouver for the summer Alaskan season. In fact, the embarkation immediately following our Southern sailing repositioned to Galveston from San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is definitely the most active ship in the fleet, as it traverses both coasts.

Cruising out of Gavelston, Texas

Foregoing the luxury of driving to port the day of embarkation for a Port Canaveral sailing, we flew into IAH, Bush International Airport, in Houston on Thursday to prepare for our Friday boarding. If air travel is required for you to cruise, I would always recommend arriving the day before, if not sooner. I constantly see people ask in cruise groups if they’ll be able to make the ship if their flight arrives at 10am the day of embarkation. Don’t be that person. One little delay at the airport, a missed shuttle, or traffic can be the difference between spending your time at sea or watching the ship pull away without you. News flash – they are not holding this ship because your flight was late. Save yourself the stress and extend your vacation an extra day or two in order to ensure you are onboard with time to spare.

Much like those that fly into MCO, Orlando International Airport, and have approximately an hour drive to get to the port, we caught an Uber from the airport to get to the Hilton Galveston Island Resort. With afternoon traffic, it took closer to an hour and a half but was a decent ride and our driver was very nice.

The Hilton Galveston Island Resort is a Disney-affiliate hotel. Basically, all that means is that you can book the hotel stay at the same time as the cruise and all the reservations are linked together. There is also a Disney-specific shuttle that runs from the hotel to the port on embarkation morning. They had three departure times available: 9:15, 11:15, and 1:15, costing $20 per person. While not bad, the times didn’t really line up for our boarding group, so we opted to grab another Uber for the 15-minute ride across the island for $10.

The hotel itself is located right on Seawall Blvd., running along the coastline with a nice sand beach and a number of breakwaters to walk out onto. With plenty of eateries to choose from, including a Landry’s Seafood, Rainforest Cafe, and IHOP within a block, to go along with the resort restaurant and bar. If you wanted to venture a little further in either direction, there were any number of resorts and places to grab something to eat or drink.

It’s not a bad selection, and I would definitely recommend this as a single-night stopover prior to jumping aboard the ship. Even with it being Mardi Gras weekend, the area wasn’t too crazy-yet, and if the weather had been a little warmer, it would have been perfect for an evening stroll along the beach.

Return to the Magic

Let’s take a quick refresher about the Disney Magic:

• Maiden Voyage: July 1998
• Ship’s Registry: Bahamas
• Magic Class
• Gross Tonnage: 84,000
• Passenger Capacity: 2700
• Crew: 950
• Decks: 11
• Staterooms:875
  • 262 Inside
  • 229 Ocean View
  • 384 Verandah
• Captain: Michele Intartaglia
• Cruise Director: Ann Evans
• Most recent dry dock refurbishment: April 2023

The two changes of note are Captain Michele and Cruise director Ann taking over for Captain Marco and Joel, respectively.

Western Caribbean Cruise (from Galveston)

Dates: February 6 – 10, 2026
Homeport: Galveston, Texas, USA
A short Western Caribbean getaway with stops in popular Mexican ports.

Night	Port	Country	Times
1	Galveston, Texas	USA	12:00 am to 3:00 pm
2	At Sea	–	–
3	Cozumel, Mexico	Mexico	11:15 am to 6:00 pm
4	Progreso, Mexico	Mexico	10:30 am to 6:00 pm
5	At Sea	–	–
–	Galveston, Texas	USA	Arrival

From our scheduled pickup time of 10:30, we pulled up to the porters right at 10:45 and were welcomed into the queue for Concierge guests in boarding group 1. The doors opened into the terminal promptly at 11:00, and we completed final check-in and were seated in the waiting area by 11:10. Boarding proper began at 11:30, and we were soon aboard. From leaving the hotel to being aboard in right at an hour, it couldn’t have been timed out much better. Which is good, because the waiting area in the terminal itself was nothing to get excited about.

Much like the airplane hangar terminal in San Juan, this was merely an open area with chairs spread out. There’s hope that Disney will have a more dedicated terminal in the future, as there are plans to make Galveston a permanent home port for a ship TBD in 2027. While rumors are that it’ll be one of the newer Wish Class vessels, no official word has been released, contrary to any internet rumors that swear they know!

Embarkation Lunch at Animator’s Palate

As soon as we entered the Atrium, Diogo and Alyss from the Concierge team welcomed us back, then escorted us to our welcome lunch in Lumiere’s. This is one of the exclusive offerings for Concierge guests and has a separate menu than is served for sit-down lunch in Animator’s Palate.

While dining, the hosts came around to each table to introduce themselves and review the amenities we could enjoy throughout the week. Alyss playfully walked up to our table and slyly stated, “nothing has changed,” while feigning walking away. This is part of the familiarity and friendly atmosphere that we enjoy. For us, it’s only been a few months since we last saw them; however, they have seen literally thousands of guests in that same time. The fact that they remember repeat guests the way they do is a testament to their dedication.

As she made her way to the table next to us with a similar greeting, we leaned over and asked if they were also on the Southern itinerary in November, as they looked familiar. In fact, they were! We spent much of the remainder of the meal conversing with them and comparing our past cruises and other travels. There is no better way to find out about new places to explore, or just reinforce a desire to check off those bucket list destinations, than to talk to someone who has been there.

From there, we had plenty of time to go check out our room and then spend a little time in the lounge before enduring the outdated muster drill and heading up for the Sail-A-Wave Party. You can check out those videos below. I’ll do a deeper dive into the stateroom and concierge offerings in a later post.

Disney Magic 1 Bedroom Concierge Stateroom with Verandah (8548)

For this trip, we’re staying in a  Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah #8548, located midship on Deck 8. This is one of the most spacious and well-appointed accommodations onboard, offering a true “home away from home” experience with elevated finishes and all the perks that come with Concierge-level cruising.

Perfect for families who want room to spread out or couples looking to cruise in comfort, this 614 sq. ft. suite blends classic Disney style with thoughtful design. Inside, you’ll find a separate master bedroom, a large living area, and a private verandah that brings in plenty of natural light and ocean views. The decor features original artwork, vintage Disney touches, and warm, burnished wood panels throughout, giving the space a refined but cozy feel.

One of the standout features is the oversized 1.5-bathroom layout. The main bathroom includes a whirlpool tub and premium spa products, while the additional half bath makes mornings and evenings far more convenient. The suite also includes a walk-in closet, a wet bar stocked with sodas and water, and an in-room media library for relaxing downtime.

Of course, staying in a suite is about more than just the room. Concierge guests enjoy Signature Concierge Services, including assistance with booking Port Adventures, Palo dining, and spa treatments well in advance. You’ll also receive priority check-in, boarding, and tendering, along with exclusive access to the private Concierge Lounge and sun deck on Deck 12, where complimentary snacks, drinks during select hours, and a quieter retreat await. Added touches like Frette 300-thread-count linens, a pillow menu, and complimentary Basic Surf Wi-Fi round out the experience.

Suite details at a glance:

• Sleeps up to five guests
• 614 sq. ft. including the verandah
• Queen bed, double sleeper sofa, and a wall pull-down single bed
• Private verandah with patio furniture and childproof locks

Be sure to watch the full stateroom tour video below for a detailed walk-through of the space and a closer look at what makes this suite so special.

Disney Magic Suite 8648 Video Tour

Disney Magic Sail a Wave Party

Dinner at Animator’s Palate on Disney Magic

When dinnertime rolled around, we were greeted by another familiar face, Cristiano. We had made the request when we booked to be seated in his section and were happy it was granted. Unfortunately, our favorite head server, Kendall, is on vacation and won’t be back for another few weeks, so we’ll have to catch him on a future sailing. Also missing was our beverage server, Areal, as he was assigned to another dining rotation and wasn’t paired up with Cristiano this week. We’ll keep an eye out for him to say hi through the week.

Taking his spot is Resto, who got off to a solid start, along with Bruno as our head server. We can tell it’s going to be another great team.

Animator's Palate Dinner Menu

This is one of those dinners where the food almost takes a back seat because Disney animation is happening all around you. Characters pop in, scenes come to life, and suddenly dinner feels more like a show you get to eat your way through.

Available on: Disney Fantasy, Dream, Wonder, Magic, Adventure

Specialty Cocktails +

Key Lime Margarita

Casamigos, Licor 43, fresh lime juice, and Citrónge

Mirage

Fresh yogurt, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and magic (non-alcoholic)

Appetizers +

Prosciutto, Mozzarella, and Tomato Bruschetta

With fire-roasted bell peppers and balsamic vinegar

Smoked Salmon Carpaccio

With capers, finely chopped shallots, pink peppercorns, and a dill honey mustard dressing

Fried Spiced Calamari

Served with a lemon-garlic mayonnaise

Chicken Bastilla

Moroccan-spiced shredded chicken wrapped in phyllo dough, sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon, served with a vegetable almond slaw

Soups and Salads +

Clam Chowder

With sourdough croutons

Couscous Salad

With dried cranberries, toasted almonds, chickpeas, cherry tomato, cucumber, cilantro, and a lime dressing

Chilled Mango and Papaya Soup

Flavored with passion fruit

Arugula and Baby Spinach Salad

With sliced red onions and a sherry wine dressing

Bread Service +

Freshly Baked Carrot and Scallions Loaf

Served with cumin and cilantro dip

Main Course +

Penne Arrabbiata

Penne pasta tossed in spiced tomato sauce with basil and garlic shrimp

Pan-Seared Halibut

With smashed minted green peas and shredded potato cake, served with a white wine chive cream sauce

Mesquite Grilled Chicken Breast

On wilted spinach and crushed sweet potatoes, served with cream of corn and bacon sauce

Pork Tenderloin Wellington

Wrapped in mushroom duxelle, crêpes, and puff pastry with gratin potatoes, roasted baby vegetables, and a rich Bordeaux wine sauce

Grilled Strip Loin

With cheddar cheese and onion smashed baked potato, roasted green asparagus, tomato, and a red wine jus

Vegetarian +

Spinach, Sweet Potato and Lentil Dhal

Served with jasmine rice and tamarind chutney

Paccheri Pasta

With tomato sauce, roasted eggplant, and parmesan

Lighter Note Offerings +

Mango Chicken Salad

Oak leaf, lollo rossa and orzo pasta with grilled chicken breast, mango slices, and a cilantro dressing

Grilled Grain-fed Sirloin Steak

Served with garden vegetables and your choice of steamed white rice or baked potato

Slow-roasted Breast of Chicken

Served with garden vegetables and your choice of steamed white rice or baked potato

Oven-baked Filet of Salmon

Served with garden vegetables and your choice of steamed white rice or baked potato

Of course, being embarkation night, it was a bit hectic, so we had only a little time to catch up with Cristiano, with promises for more time over the next few nights. He did confirm a bittersweet rumor we had heard, that his wife, Soria, whom we had as our Palo server last time, was no longer on the ship. He assured us it was part of their plan and would fill us in with the details when time allowed.

The menu tonight had some items we haven’t seen before, mixed with a few we have, so we’re not sure if they are rolling out a new menu or if it’s just one we missed while doing specialty dining last time. Either way, it was plentiful in options to get the week rolling.

Between us, we had a good sampling of the menu, and everything was good. I can’t say anything stood out above the rest, with the only notable item being the halibut, which was a bit meaty and on the dry side.

Our desserts of choice were the Mango Cheesecake and Kahlúa Crème Brûlée. The cheesecake was light and fluffy, with just a hint of mango glaze on top. Nothing overpowering, just right. The crème brûlée offered a rich coffee flavor and paired well with a cup of decaf to finish off the meal.

There isn’t any dinner theater here, as the venue itself is the star. As you enter, you’ll notice all the colors are monotone, and as the meal progresses they become vibrant with color, almost as if they were being painted while you eat. By the time dessert is served, the entire room is a colorful tapestry.

Concierge Exclusive Merch on Disney Magic

After dinner concluded, we made a direct line for the gift shops, as they have brought back an exclusive line of items for Concierge guests, including beach towels, Corkcicle insulated mugs, pins, and Christmas ornaments. We’ve heard these items come in limited quantities and often sell out in the first few days, so we made sure to check them out right away.

We ended up walking out with a pair of beach towels for the pool, as well as two of the mugs to add to our ever-growing collection. The towels are huge and could almost work as a couch blanket!

Tangled the Musical on Disney Magic

To cap off the night, it was time for some live entertainment.

Starting with the Broadway-style production of Tangled. We really enjoyed seeing this for the first time last November, as it is exclusive to the Magic, and it proved to be our favorite show on this ship. This was another great performance and did not disappoint. I noticed that many of the cast members were different, including the leading lady herself and her beau. There was no mistaking, though, that Mother Gothel was the same actress, as once again she nearly stole the show.

The finale for the evening was an adults-only performance by magician Jessica Jane. Having studied for over three decades and rubbed decks of cards with some of the greats of the past half century, she put on an amazing show. She was a perfect blend of charisma, humor, and energy to keep the night going. There was plenty of audience participation in this show as well, so be prepared if you’re sitting in the first few rows! It’s too bad she only had a half-hour set.

I would absolutely recommend looking her up and seeing what she has online or any future shows. As a student of magic history with an obsession with Houdini, she incorporated stories of growing up with a magician’s assistant for a mother and even attending a “magic camp,” where some of her counselors included none other than David Copperfield and David Blaine. Talk about having some iconic tutelage.

As always, a full and eventful embarkation day, but we’re just getting started. Tomorrow, we’ll be spending a Marvel Day at Sea as Disney Cruise Line brings back one of its premier sea day events. Thanks for checking in, and we’ll see you in the Multiverse.

Daily Planner

Personal Day-By-Day Disney Magic Cruise Review: