Just Home From The Miracle

Hi everybody! Halos, thank you for warming the ship up for us...you did a good job, cause the cruise was great. I didn't get time to read your review, but I'm sure it's a good one, so I won't need to write one & bore people with my repetition). Well, our grandsons had a WONDERFUL time! They were awestruck when they boarded (it was their first cruise). The younger guy turned 16 on Nassau port day, and I had sneaked into their cabin and decorated with streamers, etc. etc. and we ordered him a cake. He and his 19 year old brother rode jetskis and had a lot of fun to say the least. We all liked the Paradise Island beach (enter next to the old Sheraton hotel near Atlantis). Water was beautiful. It was our 5th time to Nassau, but the kids were never there so they loved it. Freeport....ugh....yikes. What can I say??? Momma always said, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all", but I HAVE to warn you...We took a van to the Port Lucaya beach by the Westin hotel. Beautiful area, but so much seaweed we couldn't swim. Guess a storm came through before we got there. Not much else going on there...lots of refineries and industry. By the way, our first port was Canaveral, and we got on a FUN BUS for 6.00 pp day pass, and went to Ron Jon's Surf shop and the beach. It was fun!

As far as passengers, I find that on many different cruiselines, people are really nice. Sometimes they're shy and sullen and once I say hello, they respond with a smile. My grandsons and I sang in the Kareoke lounge every night, I did the lounge-crawl, and we loved it all. It was funny because the younger guy was 15 for the first 3 days of the cruise, and he could only go into the disco up until 11 p.m. Then he turned 16 and he was allowed to go in after 11 p.m. He was drumming his fingers waiting for his birthday! The doorman reads everyone's proof, which is a good thing, in my opinion. Speaking of kids, I've read some posts regarding kids being loud, rude, etc. and I really have to give my review here on that subject. I didn't see any kids being wild or rude (well, I did see a couple of screaming kids, but the parents took control and stopped them right away, THANK GOD). I did get very very aggravated with a few pax who were probably in their forties...yakking and yakking during the debarkation talk (I always have something to learn, so I go). Same thing in the Murder Mystery play...Yakking and yakking...I kept moving so I could sit away from them, and would you believe it...I moved TWICE near other blabbers! They were oblivious to anyone, only thinking of themselves. Well, I said I wouldn't write a review, but...(TALK ABOUT BLABBING....LOOK AT ME! Before I say goodnight, I'd like to tell my friends here that my fur-baby, Arnold, was fine while I was away, and he is as good as new after his operation, running around like an idiot again. See you after I do tons of laundry, grocery shopping, and mail sorting....ugh. bye for now, Mary

Thanks Sea-Cruise. We leave on the Miracle on July 17, just 13 days! Yea!!

We hear she is beautiful. We have an extended balcony room on the Verandah Deck, #7204. It should be nice.

Thanks for taking the time to write your review and if there are any tips you can offer, please do!

Thanks!

:D

Hey!!!

I'm so glad you and the boys had a great time...I knew you would. I thought of you as I was getting off the ship. I was SO jealous!!!

I have never wanted so badly to stay on a ship as I did the Miracle!!

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Freeport. Isn't it strange, that was our favorite stop?!

In Port Canaveral, we went to Coco beach (which was OK...just like any other east coast beach, and since I live 6 miles from one, it was no big deal to us). We spent 3 hours there and then went back to the ship. In Nassau, we went to Blue Lagoon, which was nice...but nothing to write home about...the snorkeling there was not good at all, but the hammocks were a nice touch!!. When we went to Freeport, we did the Snorkel tour and THAT was awesome!! We all had such a great time, and from what I saw of Freeport vs Nassau...all of us thought Freeport was nicer. I guess it all depends on which excursions you take and what parts of the islands you go through...so it's all relative.

What did you think of the ship??? Isn't it amazing????? How was your wait staff and cabin steward??? How was your weather?? Please give us more details when you get yourself settled. I know how long it takes to catch up after getting home!!!!

Please get back to us and let us know how Arnold is doing too!!!

Angel

We also just came off the Miracle and thought it was the ugliest and most uncomfortable ship we've ever been on. We went in with a positive attitude, determined not to compare it to other ships, but there was no comparison at all, and we came off sorely disappointed. I couldn't even write a review because the positives would be so sharply overshadowed by the negatives.

Valentina: Sorry your cruise wasnt what you thought it should be. But what was your biggest dissappointment?

Serene - My sister and I just put together our thoughts regarding the Miracle, which I'll post separately b/c it is very long. We did have a good time, even if it sounds negative, b/c we're the type of people who make the best of things, and we did have fun, we just KNOW that cruising is better than this ship.

We also just came off the Miracle and thought it was the ugliest and most uncomfortable ship we've ever been on.

How was it uncomfortable???

I understand that the decor is very different and some might think it ugly...but I'd like you to explain how could you be uncomfortable. I'm looking forward to your posted review so you can make clear what made you so disappointed. Don't leave us hanging!!

Thanks valentina: I seen you ccruised before so you know whats it supposed to be like so I know you are not a first time cruiser. I would like to hear all you have to say---the good-the bad and yes..even the ugly. I am cruising the Miracle in February.

Halos: Remember= cruising to each person is different, you can both eat the same dining room food and each will walk away with a difference of opinion. (yep-it does happen.

serene,

halos and I have been discussing these differences in the thread where I posted my review. i think our different experiences boils down to the individual weeks we sailed. The ship was at full capacity this week. As well, it is the first week school is out in the northeast. This had to contribute to the crowdedness and the seemingly over-extended staff.

my mom has been on many more cruises than I have, so she has even more to compare this experience to. Both she and my sister, who traveled along with me, help me write this review, so it is our shared experience.

There were many positive things too...I tried to write a balanced review which included both sides of our experience. it wasn't a bad cruise, just a disappointing one.

serene,

I must have been very fortunate. Valentina's having a less than competent wait staff is the 2nd complaint I've seen on a review for the Miracle.

My wait staff actually made my trip!! I was just lucky, I guess!!!

John & Christina, You will be leaving on my DH's birthday! Have a great time! I know you will. You will enjoy the balcony. Being I had to buy 2 cabins, I could only afford the obstructed views, but really, we were so very happy with them. The only way they were obstructed was if you sit down on the chairs out there and look down. Otherwise, it was great!

Halos, Wish we had snorkled in Freeport! I could have kicked myself for not doing that! Yes, the weather was sunny each day. The waitstaff was wonderful (booth 192). The birthday cake was only 3.95. The food was very good..we were surprised at the variety. We liked the ship because it was a PARTY decor. You would think you're down a rabbit's hole at the Mad Hatter's lounge. It's an Alice in Wonderland decor. There are plexiglass stairs hanging about 100 ft up over the atrium (to Nick & Nora's) yikes! The gym is a 2 story high room with beautiful, large hot tub, saunas, etc. Theater is European motif crystal chandeliers, Phantom of 0pera masks with glowing eyes holding back draperies, etc. We have seen subdued motifs on other ships, but they wouldn't have matched the upbeat party atmosphere of this ship, and as you know, that's why we chose this one (introducing the guys to cruising). They both want to go back. I won 200 in the casino (actually 150 ahead) cashed in, went to the shops and got the boys stuff, + gifts for my childhood pal who babysat Arnold. Lots more to do on Carnival than HAL, NCL, & Princess. We boarded about 1:00 p.m. (long lines, but no problems)..Getting off was tough due to immigrants & dead beats being paged. Once the 'self assist' was called, we went down to the gangway, off the ship, rolled the luggage right through customs (gave the card to the officer) & went right out street level. No escalators, no elevators, etc. straight to street/curb where son inlaw was waiting. BTW We noticed that they had more buffets than other ships..more to choose from, and longer buffet serving times, therefore the staff is very overworked. Good job considering long hours and types of food preparation. If anyone wonders: Taxis are VERY plentiful at the Bahamas ports...Don't worry too much about that. At Atlantis, we never got to see the public aquarium because when we inquired, the guard intimidated my husband into not going downstairs to view it...but tried to talk him into paying 29.00 pp (x4). DH just coaxed me to leave and go to the beach. Also, we left hubby's tuxedo & dinner jacket home (he gained weight recently), & that was OK because 98% wore a suit or sport jacket on formal nights, so he & grandsons fit in fine wearing sport jackets & dress slacks w/ties. I was glad about that! (We were Main Seating by the way. Don't know amount of tux/gowns at 2nd seating though...could have been lots). Oh yes..If you like Sushi, the bar is set up each day next to Frankie & Johnnie's lounge (near McGuire's) from 5 to 8 pm and it's free of course. Well friends, have fun!

Sea-cruise

Because we were in that smaller room off of the Bacchus Restaurant, there were about 8 to 10 (maybe?) tables of 8...and I didn't get to see how folks were dressed in the dining room. I do know that in the Ariadne Room where we ate, there was one family with a little boy (maybe he was 2 or 3 years old??) and they had him in a little tux on both formal nights!! I have never seen anything so adorable in my life!!! Other than that, I really didn't look at what folks wore and I swore I would take notice with all the battles on this board about jeans in the dining rooms!!! LOL! We were having such a great time, I didn't have time to look!!

We had obstructed balconies as well...we had 4 cabins (#'s 5165,5169, 5173 and 5177)

Did you get lost on the ship a lot??? I did!! It took me a week to figure it out, but I am directionally impaired!!

The ship motiff was very different...but I loved it! The Mad Hatters Ballroom was especially cool (as long as you don't drink too much while in there...the wavy floors will have you falling on your butt!!) I loved Gatsby's Garden!! I really enjoyed that ship. I wish I were back on it right now!!

You would have been rolling on the deck laughing at me if you saw me the first day...I walked right into one of those sliding glass doors, forhead first, and got whacked so hard I stumbled backwards...not once, but TWICE!! The sensors didn't sense me...hahaha. I had a mark on the bridge of my nose for a day..from my sunglasses. The kids thought it was GREAT fun! They laughed their a**** off. I honestly think that was the highlight of the trip for them. I also tripped over one of the raised doorframes on the bottom of a door. (I HADN'T EVEN HAD A DRINK YET!!) When I saw that floor in the Mad Hatters lounge, I thought..."Oh GREAT...this is going to be another embarrassment for me" but I was ok in there. I'm the type of person who can't wait to see everything and do everything, so I am always in a hurry. (One of my friends said she doesn't want me to die before her, because she wouldn't want to go to my funeral...She'd be afraid I'd jump up out of the casket and run away).

It took me a long time to find everything too, at first. I kept getting turned around, going aft instead of forward. We were in 5166 and 5168 with a door between the cabins. Orlando was the steward. He was very nice. I gave him extra money the first day and asked him to remove the refrigerator contents and he did. I put my wine in there. I had to call maintenance to have them remove the balcony divider, and they did that the 2nd day while at sea. I don't think Orlando had the tools for the job. Chloe (kareoke) asked me to go out for the American Idol contest. I declined because I said, "THAT would be sick...a 60 year old Idol". The pax started yelling "NO IT WOULDN'T...LOOK AT MICK JAGGER" (Yikes....what a thought). Anyhow I didn't do it, coward that I am. But I sure enjoy singing, so I had a good time. They use to take us on tours of the engine room years ago, as well as the galley and bridge, but lately I see that they only do the galley. When we were on the Infinity to Hawaii, we were invited to tour the bridge (2001..her 1st Hawaii sailing). Wow, how the technology has changed!! We saw maps where they can track a person in their cabin. Not a picture of a person, but it's a dot. They also know if the water is left on in the cabin, if there is a problem with too much heat, etc. It's uncanny. My hubby told me, (in front of the Captain no less), to "behave myself" in the cabin from now on. He thought he was pretty funny. Well, I won't rattle on and on like we old people do...I don't want to get clumped in THAT catagory yet.

We sailed in march, wow a great ship. Ilna and Onika our wait staff were terrific and made the dining experience great. We didn't worry about having the proper spoon to stir our tea and coffee, we don't let that bother us at home, and wouldn't on the ship. As for the lido deck, I never had a problem finding an elevator and avoiding the diners.

Great ship, great crew, oh, I almost forgot, I did get tired of people acting like the staff were their slaves for the week.

Jim

How right you are about those who treat the staff like slaves. It only shows that they themselves must feel inferior to co-workers the remainder of the year, so they probably want to strut during their vacation. :( How sad for them.

Man,

You guys are so right about how people treat the staff!!! Jeeze!

The worst thing about it is that some of the staff act realy timid and even scared...as if they were slaves!!

I was walking out to the adult pool through the Horatio dining area one morning. There was a waitress with a tray of juices and cofffee and she was pouring for folks at a table. The cart was in my way and I couldn't get through so I was just waiting patiently for her to be done. When she saw that she had 'made me wait' she became so, so distraught, apologizing up and down for being in my way. I wanted to just hug her and tell her it was OK....of course I didn't grab her like I felt inclined to (they'd have locked me up!) but I told her that 'it was fine, she was doing her job and I appreciate how hard they all work.' She didn't seem to feel better after I said this, but apologized once more.

To be honest...it broke my heart and I went out to the pool and told my husband, girlfriend and her husband what happened. Her reaction stayed with me for a while. She almost acted like a beaten puppy.

Very sad.

I was talking to our assistant waitress, Elena, and she said she will get to go home "next week" (this week) to see her family, whom she hadn't seen for 7 months. I asked if she will return to ships' service and she said, "oh...I hope I do not have to do this :confused: but I will see if I can stay there". I felt so badly for her, I was glad that we had patience when she forgot things that we asked for throughout the week. It wasn't anything worth getting undies in a wad over anyway. To be honest, halos, if you remember my mention of taking care of my parents for years while they lived with us. After years and years of emergency trips to the hospitals and life-support and tube feedings :( everything since then is a gift and a pleasure:o I'm glad that you and some others feel this way too. What the heck, on a cruise I'm waited on, so it's always a plus. Well, catch you on another topic I guess. Mary

I've got to agree with you, Halos & Sea-Cruise about the staff. We've been blessed with WONDERFUL wait staff, & room stewards in the past. We would see them during the day on the Lido deck, and ALWAYS stop & talk to them. I tried to make a point of saying thank you for all that they do to make our vacation go so smoothly.

I am looking forward to getting on the Miracle in October. (to say the least!) Will not try to set my hopes too high. Does anyone know who will be the cruise director by then? I hear Todd Wittmer will be on another ship by then.

I'm sorry to say that Todd is leaving the Miracle..he was great.

I have no idea who is taking over.

Keep and open mind. A lot of a cruise is what you make of it. Being on the Miracle was heaven to me. I loved it...but to be honest, I am extremely easy to please. It takes a lot to upset me or disappoint me.

Someone on this board said that she thought I'd be happy on a row boat in the Bermuda Triangle. She may have been right.

Have a great time!!!