Fantastic MIRACLE to Bermuda - 9/27 LOTS of photos & food porn warning

[cruisenanny]

Clocks were set an hour ahead last night, so this is what i saw from our balcony after I got back from the gym!! Looks like it's going to be a nice day, YAY!!

 

Ok folks, I have got to do a few chores:( Back later with more!

[cruisenanny]

So after having breakfast in the MDR & reading the newspaper & funtimes for the day, we walked around outside finally!! It was very nice out & I was surprised that after a crappy first day at sea, there seemed to be no chair hogging!! There were chairs everywhere.

[cruisenanny]

Ladies, I don't know if you wonder about the condition of the public bathrooms like I do, but if you do, you will appreciate this next set of pics. The only bathroom I was in all week that wasn't PRISTINE was the one up on the lido deck in Horatio's. Avoid if you can.

Spotless

High power hand dryers, yay, cuz I have better things to do than wait for my hands to dry!! If you're the silly type, you can really coax some interesting, ummm, "noises" just by positioning your hands certain ways LOL these are powerful hand dryers indeed.

AND... the best thing ever, little towels by each door so you don't have to touch handles if you prefer not to!! I was impressed.

[Buffettfan 225]

Ladies, I don't know if you wonder about the condition of the public bathrooms like I do, but if you do, you will appreciate this next set of pics. The only bathroom I was in all week that wasn't PRISTINE was the one up on the lido deck in Horatio's. Avoid if you can.

Spotless

High power hand dryers, yay, cuz I have better things to do than wait for my hands to dry!! If you're the silly type, you can really coax some interesting, ummm, "noises" just by positioning your hands certain ways LOL these are powerful hand dryers indeed.

AND... the best thing ever, little towels by each door so you don't have to touch handles if you prefer not to!! I was impressed.

Thanks for posting the little extras and public bathroom--I am a dental hygienist and always using paper towels at door and backing my way out to not touch. Hope they finally got smart and put a trash receptacle there.

[cruisenanny]

We did some reading in Gatsby's garden, great quiet spot.

And snapped a few more pics in the area. Here, the dramatic entrance into the Phantom Theatre.

And this was the staircase down to Mad Hatters Ball, from outside the Phantom Theatre.

Us hanging out back on the lido deck, before we decided to have a hot dog & chicken fingers for lunch, yummm..

[cruisenanny]

Thanks for posting the little extras and public bathroom--I am a dental hygienist and always using paper towels at door and backing my way out to not touch. Hope they finally got smart and put a trash receptacle there.

Yes! There was a trash can in a convenient spot in every bathroom:)

[cruisenanny]

So, after the lido lunch it was... you guessed it, nap time! I think I napped on the balcony for a bit this day. Then time for in room cocktails, getting ready for dinner, etc.. Tonight was the "oddball" menu they throw in for the 8 night cruises.

We both had the NY strip and they were EXCELLENT, a WOW dish for both of us. I also got a side of the mac & cheese I had heard great things about. It was kind of bland but had a great creamy texture. Good enough that I tried it again later in the week..

Chris had the vanilla bread pudding for dessert & LOVED it, me not so much.

I had the almond phyllo rolls and they were AMAZING, yep, another WOW dish for me!! It was a good night in the MDR for sure.

 

After dinner we went to see The best of Marcus Monroe, comedian juggler.

He was pretty good & did some clever stuff. We left a few minutes early to go catch Marc Theobald in the Punchliners comedy club, another funny one!

Chris joined me tonight in a froo froo drink, pina coladas, very good.

After this we snuggled up for the night, Bermuda was tomorrow & we were hoping for the best. Ophelia was headed there as a cat 2-3 storm:(

[Crusin Karen]

Oh, your pictures bring back SUCH good memories...:) Interesting to read about the different foods they serve now. I would have loved to have had that mac and cheese. :p What's the "oddball menu?" A bit OT~hope you don't mind, but our DS and his DW just had a baby boy (Connor James, Grace Elizabeth's brother! :D) and I wanted to buy them a bottle of champagne. The Barefoot champagne would be really neat...do you recommend it? Is it "fairly reasonably" priced? TIA and can't wait to hear about BEAUTIFUL BERMDA (been there 6x!)

[cruisenanny]

Oh, your pictures bring back SUCH good memories...:) Interesting to read about the different foods they serve now. I would have loved to have had that mac and cheese. :p What's the "oddball menu?" A bit OT~hope you don't mind, but our DS and his DW just had a baby boy (Connor James, Grace Elizabeth's brother! :D) and I wanted to buy them a bottle of champagne. The Barefoot champagne would be really neat...do you recommend it? Is it "fairly reasonably" priced? TIA and can't wait to hear about BEAUTIFUL BERMDA (been there 6x!)

 

Hi Karen! First of all, huge congrats on the birth of your Grandson Connor!! The Barfoot Pinot Grigio bubbly was just a spur of the moment "fun pick" for us and YES, I do recommend it. It was very good, pleasant bubbles, fruity & just a little bit sweet. I believe it was under $20, so VERY reasonable for a bottle of champagne.

I called the 8th night menu the "oddball" menu, but I guess it really isn't. Its just that Carnival usually does their fleet wide 7 day menu in order from day 1 to 7 (for a 7 day cruise, of course) but with the 8 nighter, that menu just gets thrown in the mix on a surprise day. This cruise it was day 3.:)

I tell you, this was our 9th time to Bermuda & it just never gets old for me! LOVE IT!

Bermuda days 1, 2 & 3 coming up tomorrow...

Lots to share, and a SPOOKY surprise or two:D

[wendymac]

Loving your review! We are planning to go to Bermuda next fall, so really looking forward to more of your review...thank you :)

[cruisenanny]

Loving your review! We are planning to go to Bermuda next fall, so really looking forward to more of your review...thank you :)

 

My pleasure, more to come very soon! You will love Bermuda, it is such a beautiful island!

[snookymom]

I'm enjoying your review. We loved our Bermuda cruise so I.m anxious for you to get there!

[cruisenanny]

We were awake for our sail into Bermuda, but it was to dark for any photos. Plus there isn't that much to see when arriving into the dockyard. (Sailing into Hamilton is much more picturesque.)

View from our port side balcony, we got lucky that we were facing the dockyard.

We didn't rush off the ship this morning & shortly before we left the Captain announced that due to hurricane Ophelia we may have to leave early the next morning. He said that, unfortunately, we would not know if we were leaving UNTIL the next morning....

OKAY, what do you most want to do when you may only have 1 day in Bermuda?

Well, we always rent the highly controversial scooters of death. (seriously though, they are NOT for the inexperienced rider, Bermudians drive on the wrong side of the road:eek: lol AND they really are crazy drivers on very narrow roads) So for us, this meant we would do a whirlwind tour of the whole island today.

Off we go...

We rode straight through to St Geroge, about 50 minutes & 20 miles or so, the dockyard & St George are on opposite ends of the island.

The center of St George, where you can see the bit of water in the second pic is where they do the "dunking of the wench" each afternoon. Funny to see at least once.

[cruisenanny]

Next we will ride all the way out to the eastern tip of the island, another 5 minutes or so, to the Ft St Catherine & glass beach area (we didn't stop there this trip, but last time we were there, the sea glass was plentiful & old).

On the way out of St George, an old church that was never finished.

Fort St Catherine & surrounding areas, off in the distance

Clearwater beach, out past the airport, also on the east end of the island.

[Crusin Karen]

We also always rented mopeds. (went to Bermuda 6x) DH would drive and I would sit behind him. Just a WORD OF CAUTION to anyone who does this: if you look at the basket on the back of the moped, your back will be right up against it. Bring a towel or something as a "cushion." One time I forgot and I had horrible bruises and aches and pains from "rattling" on the basket. :eek::eek:

[CamaCama]

Bermuda looks beautiful, never been there. Enjoying your miracle review!!

[cruisenanny]

Next we rode back to Hamilton, located in the center of the island, this city is definitely the business hub of the island.

We arrived just in time to catch HAL's Veendam leaving port.

A few churches in the center of the city. I am fascinated by the churches & the corresponding graveyards of this island. You will see my 3 SPOOKY favorites later in the review.

[micdee]

Great review so far. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I too am currently doing a review of the Pride to Bermuda, and never knew how long it would take to do.

[cruisenanny]

Great review so far. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I too am currently doing a review of the Pride to Bermuda, and never knew how long it would take to do.

Oh thanks! I will definitely have to check out your review too!! It does take a long time but I am really enjoying getting it all down before I forget the details. BUT... I still have one unpacked suitcase and I STILL haven't grocery shopped lol going within the hour, I swear!!! We have been eating eggs, ramen & pizza for 3 days now:eek::D

[Cruiser_SG77]

This truly is an excellent review, I can't wait for more! Thank you so much for taking the time to post it! :)

[JaniceB]

Great pictures, can't wait for more.

 

My DH would probably love to rent the scooters. He is an experienced motorcycle driver and has experienced driving in Europe. Thanks for the tip about the towel.

[cruisenanny]

We rode back to the dockyard via the South Shore road. This is where all the INSANELY beautiful beaches are, Elbow, Horseshoe Bay, Warwick Long Bay & our personal favorite, Jobsons Cove (accessed from the Warwick Long Bay "exit" off of South Shore Road, a tiny hike but soooo worth it) In these photos you can see all of the sand trails that lead from beach to beach, if you are just willing/able to hike to them. Aside from the top three that I named above, most have no more than a few people on them, if any, including Jobson's Cove. Pure HEAVEN on earth.

So here are a few photos from this road.

 

OOPS! Forgot we went to Fort Hamilton this day, before heading back to the dockyard. Will post all of that later, off to the grocery store, yuk:rolleyes:

[cruisenanny]

double post

[jmwg49]

Loving your review!!!! Memories!!!! I want to go back so badly!

[critcatny]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post all this. I know how long it takes b/c I had posted a review of a past cruise we took. We were on this same cruise with you and I'm loving re-living it through your pictures and review. I just havent had the time to do one myself yet. We absolutely loved Bermuda and were glad that we were able to stay the full 3 days. This was our 2nd time on the Miracle and loved it as much this time too. Anyone have any questions....just ask.

Thanks again.