I agree, the longer the cruise the calmer the crowd and less children. I love kids.... however I do not want a bunch of kids running up and down the halls at all hours of the night. (have seen it happen)
Our son started cruising with us at the age of 3 and he loved camp carnival. He always made new friends at each age, and had that one special friend. We would take him out of school so we would not be sailing with an overabundance of children. We talked with the school and his teachers and would bring a homework package on every sailing. 1 1/2 hours of homework each day in the library and when we got home he would do a book report on our trip and the different ports.
If he wasn't at camp carnival he was with us. Too many parents let their children run wild on the ships.
Have also been on the Miracle twice before, and you either love it or hate it. IMO every ship has it's own look, just lie in people and the ports we see... if they all looked the same it would be boring. Besides, this is they way ships looked back in the day... gaudy, crazy, colorful, loud, whatever you want to call it, but just remember you are able to cruise to see it, and most of the population is not.
Every ship has it's own personality, some like old aunt Gladys, and some like that person you know who dresses to the nines.