Glory vs Miracle

We're looking at two cruises next fall which have the same four ports (Cayman, Belize, Honduras & Cozumel). The Glory leaves from Miami on a Saturday while the Miracle leaves from Tampa on a Sunday. The price is close enough that is a nonfactor.

I see that the Glory is larger but what other differences are there? Probably no Guys Burgers and such on the Miracle, but surely there is some draw to the smaller ship or it wouldn't still be running the route.

We sailed the Dream this spring and had a good time. We are a couple in our 50s if that matters.

Any help/advice on which to take?

We're looking at two cruises next fall which have the same four ports (Cayman, Belize, Honduras & Cozumel). The Glory leaves from Miami on a Saturday while the Miracle leaves from Tampa on a Sunday. The price is close enough that is a nonfactor.

 

I see that the Glory is larger but what other differences are there? Probably no Guys Burgers and such on the Miracle, but surely there is some draw to the smaller ship or it wouldn't still be running the route.

 

We sailed the Dream this spring and had a good time. We are a couple in our 50s if that matters.

 

Any help/advice on which to take?

I prefer the Spirit class ships and the Miracle is my favorite. There are fewer lines on the smaller ships but most of the same amenities as the Glory. When booking a balcony be alert that the least expensive are obstructed view. We found the aft rooms to be about the best, 2 or 3 cabins back from where the cabins jog out. The first on gets windy on the balcony. The Extended balconies are bigger but are sunk into the side of the ship a little bit so don't extend out as far as the regular balconies fore and aft.

Tampa is a great port. It is small so give a little time for those leaving to clear the area and traffic will be easier. There is a long sail away through the bay and somewhere around 6-6:30 you go under a large bridge. It's pretty cool to be on one of the upper decks.

We too are in our 50s and enjoy cruising a couple of times a year. I like Guys but I don't miss it that much when on a ship that doesn't have one. The old style grill seems to be open longer and has more variety.

We went out to see the Island on our first trip to Honduras but after that we just get a cabana on the beach and enjoy the beach and shopping area right there in the port.

If you don't mind a hike through the jungle carrying an inner tube the Cave Tubing in Belize is great!

Miracle

Prefer the Spirit class over the Conquest class.

Spirit class, IMHO, has a better passenger flow. Can't beat the French Door Interior or Obstructed Balcony cabins. All the decks go thru as the single MDR is all the way aft, the galley is a deck below. Only bad thing would be the decor in Frankenstein's. He is very prominent in our Chef's Table picture.

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On the Dream we really enjoyed the live music on the promenade deck. Will they have an area like that on either of these ships? A bar like area with live music - other than a piano bar.

Funny - We did "not-quite-back-to-back" cruises on Glory and Miracle in 2014, a Western on Glory and Alaska on Miracle and the review I wrote compared the two ships at that time. Before that, we had one cruise on Miracle and four on Glory. My review is at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2098938. When we first started sailing we preferred the Conquest-class (Glory) over Spirit-class (Miracle), but we really like the Spirit-class ships. We're under three weeks to a cruise on Pride.

This is so good to hear about the Miracle. We are sailing from Long Beach to Tampa, 14 days through the Panama Canal in January. We definitely will not miss Guys as my wife does not eat beef and I thought they were meh. Almost half the passengers of the Dream class ships. We were on the Spirit many years ago and barely remember the layout. The new Serenity area looks beautiful and has an adult pool.

On the Dream we really enjoyed the live music on the promenade deck. Will they have an area like that on either of these ships? A bar like area with live music - other than a piano bar.

Miracle has live music in the Casino, by the Alchemy Bar, Atrium, and the Red Frog Pub.

After my cruise on the Miracle this past September I vowed never again on a ship without a Guy's burger and Blie iguana cantina. This September I'm sailing on Glory.

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Wow, you are going to base your cruise on a mediocre, overcooked burger. I know we might be in the minority but we thought Guys was a step above Freddies and that isn't saying much. We are excited about our Miracle cruise with almost 1/2 the guests as our last Dream class. BTW, loved the Magic.

Everyone is titled to their own opinion. I think the burgers are excellent. I dislike Carnival's lunch buffet and want options to sea day brunch.

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Everyone is titled to their own opinion. I think the burgers are excellent. I dislike Carnival's lunch buffet and want options to sea day brunch.

 

 

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I can see this. I thought Carnival's buffet was borderline inedible (on Glory) and ended up at Blue Iguana and Guys many times. Blue Iguana for breakfast burritos is awesome!

I am torn on my advice.

On one hand - I love the Spirit class ships - they are a great size with a great layout (no having to work around the galley going from one end to the other); they have a great serenity area at the aft with both a pool and a hot tub and they have a retractable roof over the pool. I like the layout of the various bars and areas on the interior and the dining rooms are just at the aft on 2 levels.

But the Miracle doesn't have the Dive in movie screen (as far as I'm aware), Guy's, or Blue Iguana. Those are things I do love about Carnival.

The Glory has those things but it's a different layout.

Okay, if it was the Pride or Glory - it would be the Pride all the way. But the Miracle or the Glory - I'd say go for the Glory!