Disappointed in miracle cruise

[joy1rn]

We just got off the Miracle yesterday. We have cruised 8 times and this was the most boring cruise EVER! First of all 90% of the cruisers were over age 65. The entertainment is BORING and there is no variety. They have karaoke every night for hours and about 4 different cruisers took turns singing old boring songs. There was a woman on a piano in lounges and played the same songs over and over as did a man on a guitar moving around to various lounges. The disco DJ played 50's and 60's every night!!! The shows were just ok in the theater. During the day a couple sang to recorded music the same songs every day at the pool. There was 1 band that was ok. The daytime activities were mostly trivia games in lounges and things geared to the elderly. We spoke to many of the 10% of us under age 55 and they all agreed they were in bed by 10pm due to boredom and couldn't wait to get off the ship. The food was not good either. We were also late getting into every port in the morning which screwed up our excursions and they were cut short in Panama and Costa Rica. I have cruised Carnival 5 times, this was the worst. We will look to other lines in the future.

[bakechef]

This time of year, a longer cruise, and you will get an older crowd and a cruise tailored to them.

 

I have sailed this time of year on another line and it was similar, but we took it as a perfect chance to unwind and relax. There wasn't much to do on that cruise, but we still enjoyed it.

[karen116]

We just got off the Miracle yesterday. We have cruised 8 times and this was the most boring cruise EVER! First of all 90% of the cruisers were over age 65. The entertainment is BORING and there is no variety. They have karaoke every night for hours and about 4 different cruisers took turns singing old boring songs. There was a woman on a piano in lounges and played the same songs over and over as did a man on a guitar moving around to various lounges. The disco DJ played 50's and 60's every night!!! The shows were just ok in the theater. During the day a couple sang to recorded music the same songs every day at the pool. There was 1 band that was ok. The daytime activities were mostly trivia games in lounges and things geared to the elderly. We spoke to many of the 10% of us under age 55 and they all agreed they were in bed by 10pm due to boredom and couldn't wait to get off the ship. The food was not good either. We were also late getting into every port in the morning which screwed up our excursions and they were cut short in Panama and Costa Rica. I have cruised Carnival 5 times, this was the worst. We will look to other lines in the future.

 

Oh wow - i've been on the Miracle twice and loved it both times, however, we sailed during the summer and i have to say it wasn't boring. Maybe your cruise was boring because of the time of year? Were you with a group?

[salty dingo]

I went on that exact same cruise in November, to Panama and Costa Rica. I did not find anything boring about the cruise. Granted, entertainment is not very important to me.

 

Still, what I saw of it was fine. The food was good, and the ports were all on time. I just had no complaints about the Miracle.

[splash_in_the_water]

eh, i can see where you would have been bored. i get bored on sea days especially. i think the trivia could be better. booze costs too much to just get wasted. exploring the ship only takes a couple days.

 

so there;s always food i guess. sucks you were disappointed though.......there's always next year kids..

[fig414]

We were on a 8 day on Miracle in November and I have to admit it was the quietest cruise we ever had. IMHO the problem was that is was Wednesday to Thursday. I believe this is more conducive to people who have more free time on their hands ie. retirees. Our 1st Miracle was Saturday-Sunday and it was way livelier. We are 50 and the ship was our oldest yet. Frankie & Johnnies was NEVER crowded. We like the nightlife and from now on will stick to weekend to weekend cruises. You don't have to take more than 5 days vacation.

[gargoyle999]

Hey..at least you made it to Panama! I booked that itinerary for last Feb on the Miracle and it developed propulsion issue so didn't make it. Then I booked it again for this Nov and the Miracle's itinerary changed. I'm mad. After we are done with the 5 cruises we have booked on Carnival between April and Nov '11, I'm not going to sail them ever again either. :p

[G'ma]

3 on Miracle.....

 

OP's experience has nothing in common with the good time I've had on that ship.

 

P.S. How can anyone be "bored" on a SHIP?

 

Just wonderin'.

[NJCruiser23]

We just got off the Miracle yesterday. We have cruised 8 times and this was the most boring cruise EVER! First of all 90% of the cruisers were over age 65. The entertainment is BORING and there is no variety. They have karaoke every night for hours and about 4 different cruisers took turns singing old boring songs. There was a woman on a piano in lounges and played the same songs over and over as did a man on a guitar moving around to various lounges. The disco DJ played 50's and 60's every night!!! The shows were just ok in the theater. During the day a couple sang to recorded music the same songs every day at the pool. There was 1 band that was ok. The daytime activities were mostly trivia games in lounges and things geared to the elderly. We spoke to many of the 10% of us under age 55 and they all agreed they were in bed by 10pm due to boredom and couldn't wait to get off the ship. The food was not good either. We were also late getting into every port in the morning which screwed up our excursions and they were cut short in Panama and Costa Rica. I have cruised Carnival 5 times, this was the worst. We will look to other lines in the future.

What do you expect when you cruise this time of year. There are usually more older people that are able to cruise this time of year. Younger people will usually cruise at different times along with families. Maybe choose a different time next time.

[scperk]

Just go try NCL and see what you get........you'll be back....:)..Dennis

[Froufie]

Cruised the Miracle twice and I would not describe it as boring at all? I agree with one of the previous posters - how can you be bored on a cruise ship - Make your own fun if you have to! I also don't think it's the time of year - just off the Valor and LOTS of young people onboard as well as families of all ages......and I would not call an 8 day much longer than a 7 day cruise??? so don't think it should attract this older retired crowd??? If the entertainment was repetitive and not to your liking I hope you mentioned this on your comment card!

[NCTribeFan]

Yeah, did my 2nd Miracle in December - Panama, CR & Belize.

 

LOVED IT!

 

But then, I don't cruise for the entertainment. I cruise to get to the ports.

 

We like late dining, and after a full day in port, I'm not looking for a lot of activity after dinner. I usually pay a visit to the casino for a little while, have a drink, and get some sleep.

 

Ticket to Ride is the only show I've seen on a cruise since my previous Miracle cruise two years earlier (4 cruises in between). I don't go to karaoke for the reasons the OP mentioned - too many people who think they would've been stars "if only" they'd had the chance, and use karaoke as their own personal professional-singer fantasy. I much prefer the bad singing, too-much-to-drink performances!

 

I'm in my mid-50s, and I thought the crowd on this last cruise was very, very old. Very old. But it isn't surprising. The longer the cruise, especially when kids are in school, is going to have a lot of people who aren't working and don't have to worry about school vacations. That = retirees.

 

On sea days, I like to relax. My preferred method of relaxation is reading, whether in the sun on a deck away from the pools somewhere, at an outdoor table, on my balcony, or somewhere semi-quiet inside. I don't care about the happenings on the ship.

 

A visit to the hot tub in the spa and/or some time in the sauna or steam room is also one of my newer favorite things to do on a sea day. I'm just not into the group participation stuff. I don't need nor want constant stimulation. I want to relax!

 

So, Miracle was ideal for me. Four sea days, so plenty of relaxation time, plus three wonderful ports. I would do that cruise again tomorrow, if I could. What I really want, though, is to the a B2B with the "Saints" itinerary and the new itinerary. I could happily spend 16 consecutive days on Miracle!

[Lineaway]

Until you have experienced a Costa cruise, you have no idea how boring it can get. Our cruise on HAL was a rockin party compared to Costa.

[steveaaaaa]

3 on Miracle.....

 

OP's experience has nothing in common with the good time I've had on that ship.

 

P.S. How can anyone be "bored" on a SHIP?

 

Just wonderin'.

 

Same old stuff. I have seen all the main shows, can't stand the newlywed game anymore,bingo is a joke,have casino and slots everywhere,where I live.We have great nightclubs at home where we get to choose the bands to listen to,not being forced to listen to the Korean/philipean/japanese version of American songs.The food had gone down hill,the trivia has become a joke when B2B cruisers were there last week(why they can't do different stuff I don't know).We have a pool at home,large excercise facilities at the country club along with golf and a variety of other sports available.

So whats left on ship? The ports are great!

This is my last year cruising for awhile.All points are gone now or will be in OBC.

 

Steve

[golfadj]

We booked this cruise and went Feb 2008.

 

It was an older crowd but had a great time.

 

Only little problem was this was just before we went platinum and for first time in our cruising history had to do late seating.

 

We dealt with it and was a fun cruise.

 

Doing basically same itinerary on Freedom next week.

[crazydaisy90]

funny - there were 6 of us on the same cruise - late 50's, early 60's and we had a blast. No problems with our excursions, food was great, didn't participate in a lot of the activities b/c we were making our own fun. We do agree that the entertainment needs improvement and updating. Sorry us old folks slowed you down :D

[CWcruisers]

I was on this cruise with NCTribefan in Dec. In fact, we met on the Miracle in 2007 and this was our reunion cruise.

 

As for the age factor, I think the proximity to Miami and the 8 day itinerary has a lot to do with it. Seems the 8 day cruises are better priced as working folks tend to take one week vacations. There are tons of transplanted retired folks in Miami with nothing better to do than hop on a ship.

[cruiserdad3boys]

I cannot believe that you had a bad time on the cruise? What is wrong with you? What did you expect? Dancing monkeys? I was the one that had the "Cruise from Hell" last month, so how could you have had one worse then me??

 

I posted my cruise details and was RIDICULED for posting MY OPINION!! How can you do the same?

 

Old people are great! In fact I am standing next to one now! They just smell a little funny, but if you wore Ben Gay and drank Geratal Complete, you would to!!

 

But anyway...I am just joking about this response...seach my original post on my cruise from hell....sorry to hear you were taken over by the Geriatric Boat.

[TheDINGOateMyBaybay!]

I have a friend that just did the Panama about a week before you did. Although she did have a good time, she said she wished that she would have known that she would have been the youngest person on the ship by about 20 years and that she would have booked a different itinerary. I didn't even know she was going until she was already on the ship otherwise I would have warned her.

 

 

We just got off the Miracle yesterday. We have cruised 8 times and this was the most boring cruise EVER! First of all 90% of the cruisers were over age 65. The entertainment is BORING and there is no variety. They have karaoke every night for hours and about 4 different cruisers took turns singing old boring songs. There was a woman on a piano in lounges and played the same songs over and over as did a man on a guitar moving around to various lounges. The disco DJ played 50's and 60's every night!!! The shows were just ok in the theater. During the day a couple sang to recorded music the same songs every day at the pool. There was 1 band that was ok. The daytime activities were mostly trivia games in lounges and things geared to the elderly. We spoke to many of the 10% of us under age 55 and they all agreed they were in bed by 10pm due to boredom and couldn't wait to get off the ship. The food was not good either. We were also late getting into every port in the morning which screwed up our excursions and they were cut short in Panama and Costa Rica. I have cruised Carnival 5 times, this was the worst. We will look to other lines in the future.

[halos]

We just got off the Miracle yesterday. We have cruised 8 times and this was the most boring cruise EVER! First of all 90% of the cruisers were over age 65. The entertainment is BORING and there is no variety. They have karaoke every night for hours and about 4 different cruisers took turns singing old boring songs. There was a woman on a piano in lounges and played the same songs over and over as did a man on a guitar moving around to various lounges. The disco DJ played 50's and 60's every night!!! The shows were just ok in the theater. During the day a couple sang to recorded music the same songs every day at the pool. There was 1 band that was ok. The daytime activities were mostly trivia games in lounges and things geared to the elderly. We spoke to many of the 10% of us under age 55 and they all agreed they were in bed by 10pm due to boredom and couldn't wait to get off the ship. The food was not good either. We were also late getting into every port in the morning which screwed up our excursions and they were cut short in Panama and Costa Rica. I have cruised Carnival 5 times, this was the worst. We will look to other lines in the future.

:eek:

LOL!! There goes CCL's party reputation!!

I TOTALLY believe it is the itinerary that draws a boring crowd. We sailed through the canal on Celebrity. This was the only 'boring' cruise we have eevr taken.

It wasn't too bad. It was the only cruise I ever took that I came back feeling rested. :D

[*Luv2Cruz*]

Oops dup

[*Luv2Cruz*]

We were on a 8 day on Miracle in November and I have to admit it was the quietest cruise we ever had. IMHO the problem was that is was Wednesday to Thursday. I believe this is more conducive to people who have more free time on their hands ie. retirees. Our 1st Miracle was Saturday-Sunday and it was way livelier. We are 50 and the ship was our oldest yet. Frankie & Johnnies was NEVER crowded. We like the nightlife and from now on will stick to weekend to weekend cruises. You don't have to take more than 5 days vacation.

That's why I setup my CC Group for Saturday-Sunday!;):rolleyes::cool:

[Socref124]

We just got off the Miracle yesterday. We have cruised 8 times and this was the most boring cruise EVER! First of all 90% of the cruisers were over age 65. The entertainment is BORING and there is no variety. They have karaoke every night for hours and about 4 different cruisers took turns singing old boring songs. There was a woman on a piano in lounges and played the same songs over and over as did a man on a guitar moving around to various lounges. The disco DJ played 50's and 60's every night!!! The shows were just ok in the theater. During the day a couple sang to recorded music the same songs every day at the pool. There was 1 band that was ok. The daytime activities were mostly trivia games in lounges and things geared to the elderly. We spoke to many of the 10% of us under age 55 and they all agreed they were in bed by 10pm due to boredom and couldn't wait to get off the ship. The food was not good either. We were also late getting into every port in the morning which screwed up our excursions and they were cut short in Panama and Costa Rica. I have cruised Carnival 5 times, this was the worst. We will look to other lines in the future.

 

So sorry you had a bad experience on the Miracle. Sounds like a totally different ship than the Miracle we were on a month ago. I guess the demographics of the passengers can change the "Fun" aspect of a cruise. The entertainment was fantastic on our cruise, the shows were excellent, especially the Ticket to Ride and the Generations shows and the Silent Film skit. The disco played current music too. Yes there is karaoke every night and the place was jammed with people. Let's see now, 80% of your Carnival cruises have been good but you are going to another line, correct?:confused: If you were so bored, why didn't YOU do something to break the boredom? The Miracle has a galley tour, an art auction, the casino, three pools, mini golf, a twister slide, a piano bar, cruise director talks (port shopping) and my favorite, spending some time with my wife alone in our cabin under the sheets. They even had an arts and crafts class two or three times with the guy showing passengers how to make stuff. We have been on the Miracle twice and didn't have the problems you mention either time. Perhaps we choose to look at the good points and not dwell on the negative points. Good luck on whatever cruise line you choose. I really hope you have better experiences in the future. I hope you don't take this as me slamming you because I am not. I feel for you and am just comparing our expeerience in Jan to your experience.

[hazeleyez3]

I am sorry you didn't have a good time. Could it be that the age wasn't as big a problem as the way the people were? By that I mean I know of plenty of "older" people who will enjoy themselves the same way younger folks do, and depending on how they look you may not even know they fall in the "older" people category.

 

I do have 1 question, what types of activities were you looking for? Most all activities that are on all lines you list below.

 

Same old stuff. I have seen all the main shows, can't stand the newlywed game anymore,bingo is a joke,have casino and slots everywhere,where I live.We have great nightclubs at home where we get to choose the bands to listen to,not being forced to listen to the Korean/philipean/japanese version of American songs.The food had gone down hill,the trivia has become a joke when B2B cruisers were there last week(why they can't do different stuff I don't know).We have a pool at home,large excercise facilities at the country club along with golf and a variety of other sports available.

So whats left on ship? The ports are great!

This is my last year cruising for awhile.All points are gone now or will be in OBC.

 

Steve

[CrusinCyndi]

If you think the Miracle was to boring and quiet for you, try HAL or NCL. Ive been on the Miracle before and am leaving on her in less than a week from now. Last time on her was wonderful. Looking forward to being on her again. I found her to have more interesting things to do then HAL and NCL, and NO, I am not an "older person". It's nice to not have a bunch of "party animals" running around the ship at all hours. That being said, the Miracle was hopping compared to cruises I have taken on HAL and NCL. Maybe you should try a different Carnival ship during the summer months, or around the holidays and see if things are livelier.