Carnival Miracle Review

Hi All,

As I do with every cruise, I wanted to post a few quick points about the cruise I just returned from on the Carnival Miracle. Background about me: I've been on 30+ cruises and I'm Plat with Carnival. I haven't been on any CCL ships since they revamped their loyalty program, so maybe some of my comments in this area have already been discussed:

The good:

- The Brunch Menu - If you haven't seen it already, open seating breakfast and lunch have been merged into Brunch with a new menu. I have to admit, this was one of the highlights of sea days. Normally with breakfast and lunch during sea days, it was always a rush to make it there before you close and the food menu was exactly what was on the Lido deck, just presented nicer. This isn't the case now...I'd recommend if you are hungry during a sea day, definitely try this menu at least once. In fact, I think they should expand this menu to port days if possible.

- Loyalty Perks - As a Plat, the direct access to the purser's desk and the wash/fold service is great. I also used the priority debarkation, which worked quite well...I was the second off the ship. I'd recommend that for the Carnival Logo item, you get to choose your item. I received binoculars, which are nice, but if I get another pair on next next cruise, it won't be nice...

- Casino Staff - Quite friendly, good service, fun way to LOSE my money. :(

Could be better:

- Taste Bar - I think the idea of replacing the sushi bar with the Taste Bar is a good one, but it's a bit hidden near the entrance to the sports bar. It was quite nice on the second night to go there and listen to Jazz music while snacking, but they only seemed to have the live music setup one time. I'd recommend that they keep the taste bar open every day and put some sort of Jazz or live music near it. Either way, the small portions are a great snack...

- Staff Recognition: I think CCL needs to implement a program for it's diamond and plat members to give instant recognition to high performing staff. It's been 1.5 weeks since I was on-board and I not yet received a comment card to recognize staff. If CCL should move to a program that is similar to the airlines. When you reach a preferred status on the airlines, they give you 2-4 vouchers that you can give to airline staff throughout the year. When a staff get these, they can be redeemed for a gift card or other perk. The only reason I recommend that this be for Diamond/Plat is to not dilute the amount of vouchers.....Doesn't seem like comment cards are doing it anymore..

In-different

- Chef's Table - This is the second time I did the Chef's Table. To be honest, the first time was better. If you have never done this before, I HIGHLY recommend it, but the Chef is the person that makes or breaks the Chef's table. The current Chef on the Miracle was good, but I wasn't "WOWed" like the last time. They also cut out the cookbook, which I thought was a nice touch.

Just a few brief thoughts from my side. No problem to answer any additional questions if you have them!

Did you happen to notice where they moved the sushi bar to?

Thanks for the review! We'll be on the Miracle in October and looking forward to it. How was your service in the MDR both for brunch and dinner? Also, did you access your room upon boarding and get your luggage earlier?

Did you happen to notice where they moved the sushi bar to?

The sushi 'bar' is no more. There is usually some sushi at the Asian station in the buffet area.

Did you happen to notice where they moved the sushi bar to?

The sushi bar IS the taste bar. It looks exactly the same except they don't serve sushi there anymore. They do serve sushi every day on the lido deck at dinner, but it's hard to find. It's tucked away near close to the coffee shop, not in a main buffet line. You can also find meats and cheeses there if you are interested.

Thanks for the review! We'll be on the Miracle in October and looking forward to it. How was your service in the MDR both for brunch and dinner? Also, did you access your room upon boarding and get your luggage earlier?

Service in the MDR for brunch was slow at times. It really depends if you go at a peak time or if you go between breakfast and lunch. We went four times to brunch and I'd say that 2 were quick and 2 were slow.

In the MDR for dinner, the service was the same as always. Not bad, but nothing exceptional. We had a great head waiter that was able to accommodate some special requests that we had, but at times you could tell the waiters were tired and just wanted to be be done with the day. Overall it was as expected.

We boarded the ship in NYC around 2:30ish. There were ZERO lines...which was excellent. We immediately walked on and went straight to our rooms. Our luggage showed up after the muster drill around 4:30. Quite fast compared to when you drop your luggage off in the mass lines around 12:00. If you are leaving from Manhattan, I recommend to enjoy the day in the city and board late....especially if it's not a nice day and you can't lay out on the deck...better to be in NYC.

Thanks for posting. Will be boarding Wednesday.

Thank you for taking time to write your review.

Service in the MDR for brunch was slow at times. It really depends if you go at a peak time or if you go between breakfast and lunch. We went four times to brunch and I'd say that 2 were quick and 2 were slow.

 

In the MDR for dinner, the service was the same as always. Not bad, but nothing exceptional. We had a great head waiter that was able to accommodate some special requests that we had, but at times you could tell the waiters were tired and just wanted to be be done with the day. Overall it was as expected.

 

We boarded the ship in NYC around 2:30ish. There were ZERO lines...which was excellent. We immediately walked on and went straight to our rooms. Our luggage showed up after the muster drill around 4:30. Quite fast compared to when you drop your luggage off in the mass lines around 12:00. If you are leaving from Manhattan, I recommend to enjoy the day in the city and board late....especially if it's not a nice day and you can't lay out on the deck...better to be in NYC.

Thank you!

Thank You for your review, I am thinking of going on this ship once she comes to my side of the country.

So far I have only read good things about the Miracle

I hope they all come with her :D

I will be back on the Miracle for my 3rd time in just a few weeks. Love the ship but honestly will be happy to have another in NY Port soon. I live on LI and got spoiled just driving over the the ship and my vacation has started. Rather than 2 days dealing with airports and flying to and from the port. I love the Miracle and sure you will too.

*I heard the sushi bar is still on the Miracle just was moved to Lido deck somewhere.

Hello,

It looks like there are a lot of food choices for lunch and especially for dinner. The place that interests me the most is Nick and Nora's Steakhouse. I saw a link someone posted to their menu and really can't decide what I would like to eat. Maybe I'll just have to ea there more than once.

Connie

Hello,

 

It looks like there are a lot of food choices for lunch and especially for dinner. The place that interests me the most is Nick and Nora's Steakhouse. I saw a link someone posted to their menu and really can't decide what I would like to eat. Maybe I'll just have to ea there more than once.

 

Connie

We also did Nick and Nora's when we were on the Miracle. It was good, but I didn't think it was great. That said, I'm a bit of a critic: I travel for work and eat at good steak restaurants weekly. In my opinion, it's in line with a Ruth Chris or Mortons. If you don't get a chance to do good steak houses much, I totally recommend it. I haven't had a chance to eat any of the entrees other than the steak. I'm sure the fish and pasta may also be good.

I will be back on the Miracle for my 3rd time in just a few weeks. Love the ship but honestly will be happy to have another in NY Port soon. I live on LI and got spoiled just driving over the the ship and my vacation has started. Rather than 2 days dealing with airports and flying to and from the port. I love the Miracle and sure you will too.

*I heard the sushi bar is still on the Miracle just was moved to Lido deck somewhere.

I heard from my travel agent that NCL is home porting their newest ship (being built now) in NYC year round. It will be cool to have a new ship in NYC. The Miracle is nice, but it isn't the newest. I just booked the Breeze out of Miami...will see if it is a different experience from the Miracle.

I heard from my travel agent that NCL is home porting their newest ship (being built now) in NYC year round. It will be cool to have a new ship in NYC. The Miracle is nice, but it isn't the newest. I just booked the Breeze out of Miami...will see if it is a different experience from the Miracle.

Starting next Spring NCL will have the Breakaway, being built now, sailing from NY.

We just got off the Miracle and it was a really nice cruise. The weather was perfect....I mean, how can you beat 8 days of sunshine???

We ate at the steakhouse and I thought it was amazing! I had the spice rub rib-eye and it was soooooo good. Well worth the cost!

I must say that I miss the Lido deck band....it's just not the same with the DJ playing hip-hop :(

Welcome Back! Thanks for sharing your experiences so quickly!:)

I will be back on the Miracle for my 3rd time in just a few weeks. Love the ship but honestly will be happy to have another in NY Port soon. I live on LI and got spoiled just driving over the the ship and my vacation has started. Rather than 2 days dealing with airports and flying to and from the port. I love the Miracle and sure you will too.

*I heard the sushi bar is still on the Miracle just was moved to Lido deck somewhere.

What CCL ship is replacing the Miracle out of NY?

 

What CCL ship is replacing the Miracle out of NY?

The Splendor will be replacing the Miracle in NYC as of March 23, 2013. :)

The Splendor will be replacing the Miracle in NYC as of March 23, 2013. :)

Thanks. Guess I should have known that, but trying to keep up with 3 roll calls and other things on CC, I must have not noticed. With CCL moving Miracle from NY, and Legend from Tampa, only Spirit class left on East Coast will be Pride in Baltimore I guess. I checked their web this am and see that Paradise is moving to Tampa, but no 7 day cruises offered.:(

Hi, I'm looking for info on the Sushi currently on Miracle. I understand it has been move to the lido deck when the taste bar was implemented. Could you tell me anything about this area (is there more than was previously offered at the sushi cart?) Thanks for your input....I am booked on the Miracle April 2013

Hi All,

 

As I do with every cruise, I wanted to post a few quick points about the cruise I just returned from on the Carnival Miracle. Background about me: I've been on 30+ cruises and I'm Plat with Carnival. I haven't been on any CCL ships since they revamped their loyalty program, so maybe some of my comments in this area have already been discussed:

 

The good:

- The Brunch Menu - If you haven't seen it already, open seating breakfast and lunch have been merged into Brunch with a new menu. I have to admit, this was one of the highlights of sea days. Normally with breakfast and lunch during sea days, it was always a rush to make it there before you close and the food menu was exactly what was on the Lido deck, just presented nicer. This isn't the case now...I'd recommend if you are hungry during a sea day, definitely try this menu at least once. In fact, I think they should expand this menu to port days if possible.

 

- Loyalty Perks - As a Plat, the direct access to the purser's desk and the wash/fold service is great. I also used the priority debarkation, which worked quite well...I was the second off the ship. I'd recommend that for the Carnival Logo item, you get to choose your item. I received binoculars, which are nice, but if I get another pair on next next cruise, it won't be nice...

 

- Casino Staff - Quite friendly, good service, fun way to LOSE my money. :(

 

Could be better:

- Taste Bar - I think the idea of replacing the sushi bar with the Taste Bar is a good one, but it's a bit hidden near the entrance to the sports bar. It was quite nice on the second night to go there and listen to Jazz music while snacking, but they only seemed to have the live music setup one time. I'd recommend that they keep the taste bar open every day and put some sort of Jazz or live music near it. Either way, the small portions are a great snack...

 

- Staff Recognition: I think CCL needs to implement a program for it's diamond and plat members to give instant recognition to high performing staff. It's been 1.5 weeks since I was on-board and I not yet received a comment card to recognize staff. If CCL should move to a program that is similar to the airlines. When you reach a preferred status on the airlines, they give you 2-4 vouchers that you can give to airline staff throughout the year. When a staff get these, they can be redeemed for a gift card or other perk. The only reason I recommend that this be for Diamond/Plat is to not dilute the amount of vouchers.....Doesn't seem like comment cards are doing it anymore..

 

In-different

- Chef's Table - This is the second time I did the Chef's Table. To be honest, the first time was better. If you have never done this before, I HIGHLY recommend it, but the Chef is the person that makes or breaks the Chef's table. The current Chef on the Miracle was good, but I wasn't "WOWed" like the last time. They also cut out the cookbook, which I thought was a nice touch.

 

Just a few brief thoughts from my side. No problem to answer any additional questions if you have them!

The taste bar doesnt really offer more just different. I personally prefered the sushi bar. They still have sushi up in the asian section of the buffet.

+1 on the previous post. I don't think the sushi is different or better/worse, it just moved to the Lido from where it was at the taste bar. I had the sushi one night and I thought it was good, nothing great, but that's very objective.

As I say in my review, I liked the idea of the taste bar...it could be expanded to more nights.

Thank You for your review, I am thinking of going on this ship once she comes to my side of the country.

So far I have only read good things about the Miracle

I hope they all come with her :D

we are on it Sept 17 leaving Vancouver to Hawaii and then to Los Angeles ... seeing as how you are on the "wet coast " I assume you are from around here lol ... the prices are pretty good ...

Thanks for posting some of your thoughts on your cruise. Welcome back.