First Time Cruiser just off the Miracle!!

I have a couple of hours before my train leaves NYC so I thought I'd leave a few comments. I was on the May 6-14 cruise on the Miracle with stops in Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

As a first time cruiser I have nothing to compare this one to. But, as a person (family) that takes a vacation to a new destination every year, this was AMAZING!! The ship was beautiful, and my family (me, DH, and DS8) found our way around very quickly. The decor was nice and well taken care of for the most part.

I had booked a guaranteed inside room and was not assigned until we arrived to check in. We were given 4130- which was a French door room!! Nice little upgrade for us and I loved having it! The room was in great condition and our room steward Alicia was great. We never had to ask for anything.

The food was great for the most part. Since we had early dining we only made it a few nights to dinner. The rest of the time we ate on the lido. Our server in the Bacchaus dining room was great- very funny! We had a booth to ourselves which was nice since we didn't make it often. The food on lido wasn't amazing, but it was very good. I definitly did not go hungry and there was a lot of variety. Everyone that worked in the dining areas was very friendly and helpful.

My DS8 participated in Camp Carnival and loved it. He was mainly

there in the evening when they would have different parties and games. He made a couple great friends and cried this morning when we had to leave. The caretakers at Camp Carnival were very friendly and remembered my son's name from the start.

The shows were good. We didn't go to a lot of them, but managed to see

Ticket to Ride, the comedy juggler, and 2 comedians. They were overall very good. I wish we would have seen more, but we were so exhausted each

night and ended up just going to the lido and relaxing.

We never had a big issue with chair hogs, especially on the smoking side of the ship. Also, even if all the chairs around the pool were taken, there was usually no one on the sun deck.

My DS8 loved the waterslide. We had amazing weather, although leaving out of NYC we had one day out and one day back that was a bit chilly. Every other day was sunny and warm.

Our ports were beautiful!! I wanted to hide on Half Moon Cay and just stay there forever! We didn't do any excursions. Grand Turk we used the beach and rented a snorkel (the right side is much less crowded). Half Moon we ha another beach day. The BBQ was also great. Even with all the people there we never had to wait for a tender or food. Nassau we walked to the straw market, Fort Fincastle, and the Queen's Staircase. Nassau

is a beautiful city and the people are so friendly!

I think that covers most things. I will be home tomorrow to answer any questions. I can't wait to get my pics onto my computer and go through them. Had an amazing time and can't wait for our next cruise!!

I have a couple of hours before my train leaves NYC so I thought I'd leave a few comments. I was on the May 6-14 cruise on the Miracle with stops in Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

 

 

As a first time cruiser I have nothing to compare this one to. But, as a person (family) that takes a vacation to a new destination every year, this was AMAZING!! The ship was beautiful, and my family (me, DH, and DS8) found our way around very quickly. The decor was nice and well taken care of for the most part.

 

I had booked a guaranteed inside room and was not assigned until we arrived to check in. We were given 4130- which was a French door room!! Nice little upgrade for us and I loved having it! The room was in great condition and our room steward Alicia was great. We never had to ask for anything.

 

The food was great for the most part. Since we had early dining we only made it a few nights to dinner. The rest of the time we ate on the lido. Our server in the Bacchaus dining room was great- very funny! We had a booth to ourselves which was nice since we didn't make it often. The food on lido wasn't amazing, but it was very good. I definitly did not go hungry and there was a lot of variety. Everyone that worked in the dining areas was very friendly and helpful.

 

My DS8 participated in Camp Carnival and loved it. He was mainly

there in the evening when they would have different parties and games. He made a couple great friends and cried this morning when we had to leave. The caretakers at Camp Carnival were very friendly and remembered my son's name from the start.

 

 

The shows were good. We didn't go to a lot of them, but managed to see

Ticket to Ride, the comedy juggler, and 2 comedians. They were overall very good. I wish we would have seen more, but we were so exhausted each

night and ended up just going to the lido and relaxing.

 

We never had a big issue with chair hogs, especially on the smoking side of the ship. Also, even if all the chairs around the pool were taken, there was usually no one on the sun deck.

 

My DS8 loved the waterslide. We had amazing weather, although leaving out of NYC we had one day out and one day back that was a bit chilly. Every other day was sunny and warm.

 

Our ports were beautiful!! I wanted to hide on Half Moon Cay and just stay there forever! We didn't do any excursions. Grand Turk we used the beach and rented a snorkel (the right side is much less crowded). Half Moon we ha another beach day. The BBQ was also great. Even with all the people there we never had to wait for a tender or food. Nassau we walked to the straw market, Fort Fincastle, and the Queen's Staircase. Nassau

is a beautiful city and the people are so friendly!

 

I think that covers most things. I will be home tomorrow to answer any questions. I can't wait to get my pics onto my computer and go through them. Had an amazing time and can't wait for our next cruise!!

Great to read your review! It's so refreshing to see a nice review from a first timer. And even more to see someone that likes Nassau. Everyone puts it down, and I have always loved it.

Sounds like your first cruise was a good experience and I hope you look into doing it again!

We can't wait for our Carnival Cruise on the Miracle. We have to wait until November, but it'll be our second time on The Miracle. This time to Aruba.

Its always great to read a review from a "first-timer". No other cruise comparisons, no other cruiseLINE comparisons, just plain unabridged feeling about the whole event. Thank you.

We were on the same cruise. We did the same one with same itin (and cabin) same time last year. We also cruised Miracle in 2008. Had a FANTASTIC TIME as always. Love the Spirit class ships! Food was great. We didn't go to any shows. We mostly hung out with buddies at the casino bar. Wish I was back at the chocolate buffet right now!!! :D

Thanks for the review! We'll be sailing on her in a month, and my DS(8) & (13) are really looking forward to it. This will be their 3rd cruise, and have already enjoyed the camps on the last 2. Glad you had a good time...:)

Also, how long did it take you to wait and tender over to Half Moon Cay?

Thanks!

Karen

I'm like your son...I cry on the morning we have to leave too:D

Welcome home. Thanks for the mini review. I will be on the Miracle 8/2 same itinerary.

Glad you all had fun! We leave in two weeks! 16 days!

I have a couple of hours before my train leaves NYC so I thought I'd leave a few comments. I was on the May 6-14 cruise on the Miracle with stops in Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

 

 

As a first time cruiser I have nothing to compare this one to. But, as a person (family) that takes a vacation to a new destination every year, this was AMAZING!! The ship was beautiful, and my family (me, DH, and DS8) found our way around very quickly. The decor was nice and well taken care of for the most part.

Glad you enjoyed the Miracle. She is my favorite ship so far. Do you remember if Malcolm Burn was the cruise director? He was the last time we were on the Miracle and we thought he was fabulous.

Glad you enjoyed the Miracle. She is my favorite ship so far. Do you remember if Malcolm Burn was the cruise director? He was the last time we were on the Miracle and we thought he was fabulous.

Malcolm "woohoo" Burn is still there. We just got off also:)

Glad you liked the Miracle - we LOVED it!

We love The Miracle also, that was a very nice review. We will find out next week if The Miracle is staying here in NYC for 2012. I really hope she stays, hopefully with some new ports of call.We've sailed 3 times on The Miracle and have our 4th one booked in October.:) Glad you had a great 1st cruise, welcome back and start planning your next cruise.

BLAHHHH....I have after cruise blues and it breaks my heart that the ship has sailed without me....:( Wonder what happened to Capt. Volpi. I really liked him. He was always mingling with the pax. Tendering to HMC: you have to go to the theater to get a ticket. We are platinum so we automatically got on the next available tender but there was hardly any wait for anyone. I honestly can't remember exactly how long it was, but maybe 10 minutes??? Be sure to sit on the lower level of the tender. We sat on the top and the sun is HOT! Also, we went about 10am and came back to the ship about 2. We had no wait for tender or long lines getting back on the ship. Worked out perfectly.

I'm waiting for the May, 2012 cruises out of NY. See every other port of embarkation posted, but nothing for NY. This was our 3rd trip on the Miracle and tho we LOVE the ship, I kind of hope they put a different ship here next year so we can have a little variety!

We were told that the Miracle is staying but they are trying to figure out where she will dock. I think because of the Disney Magic being in, it throws things off. They are not sure if she will dock in Red Hook, Brooklyn or Manhattan.

Malcolm "woohoo" Burn is still there. We just got off also:)

Malcolm is a great guy. DW was picked to be in his silent flm skit. It was hilarious.:D

Great Review! We sail same ship, same itinerary on 8/26. I can't wait!!!:)

totally love the spirit class boats! but we have never left from nyc. what was weather like the first 2 days as you made your way down to the warmer climate? was the pool water ice cold?

totally love the spirit class boats! but we have never left from nyc. what was weather like the first 2 days as you made your way down to the warmer climate? was the pool water ice cold?

We were on the same time:) It was cold and rainy the first day and a half. By the 2nd full sea day, it started warming up. On the way home it got cold on the last sea day. No one was really outside.

We live about 20 minutes from the cruise terminal in Manhattan and I can tell you that we have cruised from there in AUGUST after leaving our house in 90* weather with high humidity and it can still be "chilly" sailing out! :eek: Just bring a sweat shirt/jacket and you'll be fine. As AJ said, our lst sea day was crummy and last day was cloudy and cool with a chilly wind. You just never know.

We live about 20 minutes from the cruise terminal in Manhattan and I can tell you that we have cruised from there in AUGUST after leaving our house in 90* weather with high humidity and it can still be "chilly" sailing out! :eek: Just bring a sweat shirt/jacket and you'll be fine. As AJ said, our lst sea day was crummy and last day was cloudy and cool with a chilly wind. You just never know.

thanks for the advice. i'm also close to port. 38 years in queens and now 2 in malverne long island. but always a mets fan

thanks for the advice. i'm also close to port. 38 years in queens and now 2 in malverne long island. but always a mets fan

What a small world!! We are neighbors:D

We love The Miracle also, that was a very nice review. We will find out next week if The Miracle is staying here in NYC for 2012. I really hope she stays, hopefully with some new ports of call.

I was wondering the same thing. I keep checking for July 2012 but nothing shows for NYC. It was our first cruise and we really had nothing to compare it too, but anything I had ever read about the Miracle was always great. The convenience of sailing out of NY is a plus. I anxiously await news about the summer of '12. A new itinerary would be good, though I really loved ours, and would book it again for sure.

Keep the review coming :)

BLAHHHH....I have after cruise blues and it breaks my heart that the ship has sailed without me....:( Wonder what happened to Capt. Volpi. I really liked him. He was always mingling with the pax.

Karen: Capt Volpi is on the westcoast I think. He was at least on one my mexican riviera cruises but not sure which one. Maybe on the Spirit which has since left the westcoast. I love the Spirit class ships. I haven't been on the Miracle or Legend yet but I've been in Spirit twice and Pride once.

Karen: Capt Volpi is on the westcoast I think. He was at least on one my mexican riviera cruises but not sure which one. Maybe on the Spirit which has since left the westcoast. I love the Spirit class ships. I haven't been on the Miracle or Legend yet but I've been in Spirit twice and Pride once.

Thanks. I usually don't pay much attention to Captains, but Volpi was a favorite of mine. We always seemed to be in the same place at the same time, and no, I never asked him who was "driving" the ship. :eek::p He was on the Miracle when we sailed last May, so he must have been switched right after that. We have been on the Spirit 3x and just did the Miracle for the 3rd time! :cool: Also the Legend, but not the Pride. Spirit class is our favorite too! ;)