Just off the Miracle - 8 days to Grand Turk, Half Moon & Nassau!!!

[Michylicious]

Embarkation - Arrived at the Pier around 11:15 and we were on board by Noon. It was very smooth and comfortable. The weather was absolutely fabulous in New York for sail away. The only critical point would be that in good weather, Princess throws a way better sailaway party.

 

Food - Awesome! Carnival is the best cruise for food I've been on since Celebrity in 2000. The dinners in the dining room were always good and meats were well cooked. Their Caesar salad is amazing and the Bitter N Blanc is the best dessert I've ever had. We ate in the dining room 5 nights of the 8 - 2 of the nights we missed were because we went to Nick & Nora's steakhouse. It was such a romantic atmosphere and the food was phenomenal. The only complaint I got was the 24oz Porterhouse my boyfriend ordered was very ripe with connective tissue. The buffet was always pretty good - no complaints at all. I love the pizza and ice cream available 24/7.

 

Service - Didn't know our waiter's name by the end of the cruise, but loved our bar waiter, Dragan. The waiter we had and the assistant didn't have much personality. I didn't encounter any issues with service, but I do find Princess to be a little better. Our cabin steward, Lilith, and her assistants were very effective and couldn't have done better.

 

Entertainment - Saw a few shows that were pretty good. One night a ventriloquist/comedian was advertised, but instead there was a really great comedian/juggler named Marcus Monroe. We also caught 1/2 of a show where the cruise director, Malcom (who I was not impressed with) pulled people out of the audience to perform - it was OK. The Ticket to Ride Beatles show was awesome and the Legends show was also entertaining.

 

By the pool, it didn't seem as active or fun as Princess which I found odd. The Hair Chest contest brought some very interesting surprised when a man came out in a Borat-like swimsuit. We also found the Quest game show and the Love & Marriage game to be quite funny.

 

Room - Loved our 8E Balcony toward the back of the ship. Occasionally you could hear chairs moving from the aft pool above, but nothing that would disturb my sleep.

 

Ports -

Grand Turk - hung out at Margaritaville all day. Wasn't impressed with the beach, but the pool was awesome! Such a fun party atmosphere.

 

Half Moon Cay - best port on this cruise! My b/f & I took a walk down the entire beach and around the whole island. The BBQ was pretty standard for food and it was nice to put our drinks on our sail & sign.

 

Nassau - our excursion got canceled, so we wound up shopping, going to Atlantis then ending the day at Senor Frogs where the drinks were strong and plentiful!

 

Ship- loved this ship! I was skeptical since I had been on much larger ships in the past, but the decor and the rooms were really nice. I never really felt like I was on a smaller ship because there was so much to see and do, from the Piano Bar to the Casino (with awesome guitarist) to the Sports Bar to Karaoke. I would definitely do a Spirit class ship again.

 

Spa - Did the couples massage which was very nice, although very expensive! It was a nice little treat though.

 

Overall a great vacation and sorry to be home!!!

 

Feel free to ask any questions!!!

[Kerryman50]

Thanks for the review, my DW and I will be taking this same cruise later this year. We can't wait to visit HMC, and by your description it should be fantastic.

[yogimax]

Thanks for taking the time to post a great review!

[freddymale]

Thanks for the review, my DW and I will be taking this same cruise later this year. We can't wait to visit HMC, and by your description it should be fantastic.

 

hmc ..when you walk on the beach..it's like walking on powder

[Woodfaerie]

Family just got home earlier today from this cruise. OP, we must have been almost neighbors as we were an 8E/ 3 rooms away from the back of the ship. Sadly, the setting up of the deck chairs on the rear lido woke us up each morning- a few times just past 6 a.m.

 

Half Moon- we learned that the Bahama 18 year old drinking age doesn't apply here! DS (19 years old) was so psyched to be able to order a few beers but was denied for being a minor. Must be cos its Carnivals private island and they have the 21 year old rule. The beach just keeps getting better. Rented a clam shell for the first time which was a savings grace for our peachy skinned DD to escape into. Worth the $17. HMC sun is HOT!!

 

Grand Turk- last time we went it was ripped apart by hurricane Gustav. There was nothing there but very choppy swimming. WOW!! have things changed! After a dip in the ocean, we headed over to Margaritaville and had the time of our lives!!! What fun in the beautiful sparkling pool and non stop fun. (and yes, our DS was able to order his beer, much to his delight) A 10 on a scale of 1-10 for fun and sun. Its that kind of energy we needed on the ship!

Nassau- the usual. I wish it wasn't on so many itineraries.

Staff- outstanding in all areas.

Cruise director- room for improvement based on the CD's from other ships.

Food- Delish with wonderful variety.

 

Where the heck is the music??? There was apparent lack on the outer decks for most of the trip. Nothing to get you in the mood during embarkation either.

Ship- We prefer the Fantasy class. (We love the outside seating on that class ship. ) However, finding my way around the Miracle is a piece of cake for this directionally challenged cruiser. But the best part of the Miracle is that its out of NYC and we don't have to pay for air fare!!

 

The Capitan- what a great sense of humor in his announcements!

Good value, nice itinerary.

 

I am wondering if any one has an answer to what happened as we headed to dock in Nassau??? I almost rolled out of my bed! It was very early, somewhere between 5-6 a.m. I swear, it seems like we ran aground or hit something.

[Crusin Karen]

We were on the same cruise. Absolutely fabulous week. Only thing I realized was "missing" was the farewell party (aka free drinks) that seemed to replace the Welcome Aboard party. BTW, the WAP was a joke...there was really no "party" but just people ordering drinks at the various bars on Promenade for $1 off. They did announce the officers in the atrium later in the evening. We hung out at the casino bar most nights to listen to Bill and the great bartenders there. A new drink, The Cruiser is OUT OF THIS WORLD, but at $8.95 pre-tip way too pricey. We have sailed with Capt. Volpi once before and he is a wonderful Capt. He wandered the ship frequently. We saw him almost every day. Once at the pool with an ice cream cone.:p Last day the Chief of Staff was at the water slide talking to pax and taking pictures of people! A PERFECT week!! :)

[AmongTheStars]

Add another one to the list of people on this cruise.. we also had a blast.. but with some complaints

 

We disembarked today and I never once met our steward, needless to say he's lucky I didn't remove the auto tips.. we would get back to our room and if I had left anything on the bed he would throw it in the corner on the floor to make the bed, I was seriously irked by this.

 

Our waiter was downright irritating, the same corny 'jokes' (if thats what you want to call them) every single night and it was just annoying.

 

Our group happened to get the Private Oasis at HMC.. talk about a PERFECT day, minus the wind it could not have been any better.

 

On a side note, that guy in the Hairy Chest Contest in his Borat attire was spoken to by the cruise staff about his 'inappropriate behavior' during the contest.. if you noticed they didn't replay it at all throughout the week and I'm assuming was probably left off the DVD. Personally, I thought it was hysterical.

 

Gotta send mad props to Freddy the casino host as we spent a decent amount of time there, super nice guy, you rock Freddy!

 

I enjoyed Malcolm as our CD, he was around but not in your face.. definitely could have lived without Sparkles and Buttercup, they were a little much for me. Loved Captain Volpi's sense of humor, he had us cracking up after every announcement.. "And a don't forgeta your sunscreena or you will be a miserable-a" love his accent! Ha.

 

I was also curious about that little incident going into Nassau.. I felt it also, woke both of us up in our cabin, but no one else that I had spoken to about it seemed to notice anything. It was a very abrupt, back and forth rock, not the typical side to side. Odd.

 

Michele and Karen, it was awesome meeting you both!

[JYeagersGrl]

Thanks for the review I cruise the miracle in 23 days! I believe captain volpe was on the legend when we sailed 5 years ago and I remember really liking how funny the announcements were.

[freedom2009]

Thank you for the great reviews!!!

 

Anyone stay in a suite???

[papanh]

great reviews we love the Miracle and Captain Volpi, have sailed twice with the captain and just love his sense of humor.

Papanh