20somethingguy

How much does a flight cost?

I'm sorry, can you be a bit more detailed? Where to? Where from? What time of year?

This was my favorite bar aboard the Miracle in June. The theme is, Martinis and Cocktails infused with fresh fruit juices and herbs.

High quality liquors, flavorful drinks, a mix of bitter and sweet drinks, and unlike any experience at a bar I've been to.

If you see Yelizabeta on Carnival Miracle, you're in good hands!

The dining room temperature is one of those things that will vary depending on the weather outside and what the A/C is set to.

Be sure to wear layers if you are worried you'll get cold.

I'm thinking of returning them to Amazon and going second-hand next.

I loved being able to see farther than others (especially as we sailed past Cabo on our way to Puerto Vallarta). Also looked at the stars on the nights there were no clouds.

I definitely recommend getting binoculars for a cruise. My 7x50's performed well in bright light and low light (night).

Out of curiosity how was The Red Frog Pub and did they have the did menu as of yet in there?

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I loved the ship.

Honestly, I don't know if the Red Frog Pub has a food menu yet. I stepped in, looked around, and went back to the Alchemy bar.

The Alchemy bar is my favorite bar on ship! If you like martinis and cocktails with fresh, fruity, herbal and fun ingredients, check it out! Ielizabeta from Ukraine is a bartender there and she knows how to make a great Remedy.

Would you know were the FTTF go to check in?

We came to the terminal around 10:30 and they were still doing check-in outside. There was a FTTF sign and a specific line. You bypass the snaking zig-zag everyone else lines up in. We were able to get to a desk within a few minutes (but we were early too).

I have a couple: first, what was the time difference on the ship vs. on shore? We are trying to plan excursions and want to make sure we have the time correct.

 

Also, which nights were formal/cruise elegant? I'm hoping they are both sea days!

Hi Katiebug,

Thanks for bringing this up. The ship runs on ship-time. The ship-time was LA local time on embarkation day (when you board), then went forward one hour at 1am (basically, you move your watch forward 1 hour before going to sleep the first night). On Thursday, the fun times asks you to move your watches back one hour for Friday. In Puerto Vallarta, we were only 1 hour early from local PV time. In Cabo, we were on local Cabo time.

Disclaimer: Side story...DBF and I put the continential breakfast door hanger outside our door to be delivered at 8-8:30am ship time, forgetting to go forward 1 hour. Needless to say, I ignored the door knocks and realized when they called that we forgot to set out watches forward! I answered the phone, asked what time it was, and found out it was already 8:15am ship time. We got our breakfast and apologized to the server. She said it happens all the time.

Back to the questions.

On our itinerary, the 1st elegant/formal night was the 1st fun day at sea (Sunday) and the last was the evening after we departed Cabo :-( Not sure who chose to do that, because many people who went ashore were extremely tired after leaving Cabo. DBF and I went up to Lido deck to eat at the buffet (I perfected the "2nd napkin to handle serving spoons" trick by the 3rd day).

Please wash your hands before and after eating from the buffet if you touched any serving handles or common surfaces. No one wants to get confined to their cabin or worse, get everyone else sick, thus ruining your vacation. Please take this warning. They had hand sanitizer stations entering the buffet that were always stocked, but its not a substitute for washing your hands with soap and water (10-20 seconds vigorous rubbing with soap, not a quick rinse).

I know that Cruise Critic was redirecting to a random spyware/trojan bogus website today (I was struck with it), so I think that's why no one is responding. I scanned my computer, found no viruses, so chalk it up to a bad scammer's attempt to extort money from us cruisers (kinda like in Cabo....I'll tell you all about it in my review). But if you have any questions, please ask!

-Brandon Q

Hi everyone,

How's it going? I'm fresh off the boat for the 6/27 7 day sailing of the Carnival Miracle out of Long Beach, CA.

We went to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (MEX) and Cabo San Lucas, Baja (MEX).

I have a lot of things to catch back up on at home, so the day-by-day review will come soon, I promise (with pictures!) *insert amazed Ooooing here*

In the meantime, if anyone has questions about the itinerary, the ship, the experience onboard, Faster to the Fun (FTTF for short) or anything else related to my cruise, shoot!

I will try my best to answer throughout the day and sit down later to go through and answer questions I missed.

I want this thread to be judgement, name-calling, and personal-attack free, please. We are talking about vacations, right? Keep it nice and respectful.

Looking forward to questions,

-Brandon Q

Thanks for all of the viewpoints and advice.

I ended up going with Bushnell Marine 8x50 individual eye focus binoculars.

I'm going on the cruise this week and will try to report back after the cruise (if I remember to).

Thank you, SadieN and Heartkrazy.

It's my first cruise, so I greatly appreciate the info and advice!

I'll head to the terminal by 10 then roll with what happens. I hear embark/disembarkation can be pretty hectic and unpredictable.

Hi fellow cruise critics,

DBF and I are going on the Miracle Saturday 6/27 and purchased FTTF.

Boarding is "scheduled" for 1:30-3:30.

When do ships on this itinerary usually start boarding? When should we get to the terminal if I want to board right after the groups/Diamonds/Platinums?

Our itinerary is 8 day (PV, Cabo).

Thanks in advance!!!

5 days! Mexican Riviera, first cruise!!! Can't wait!

A downside to gift cards is that you do have to give them cash or a debit/credit card at embarkation.

During the cruise, you can apply gift cards to settle the balance, but it will take time (1-7 days after Carnival settles that transaction) for the card holds to be cleared.

I have no idea how long it would take to get a cash deposit back, but I've heard refunds are in the form of a check mailed after the cruise.

My understanding is that you can buy Cruise Cash through the online fun shops, up to $500 per stateroom.

The money will be automatically loaded onto your S&S card at embarkation. It won't show up on your billing for the cruise, so print out receipts and bring them with you just in case there is an issue.

Not sure if they still require a deposit when you check-in at the terminal. :-/

Haha, oh yeah! Good idea. Thanks, Sadie.

Hi everyone.

Cruising aboard Carnival Miracle in 8 days (6/27/15) and want suggestions on which binoculars to buy.

What size? Brand? Dual focus or each side focus individually?

My price point is $50-$150.

I'm likely to order soon on Amazon since the cruise is next week and we leave on the 26th to LA.

Thank you all in advance!!!

P.S. I have done a search on CC but I want the most recent opinions here.

Yikes. I don't have any first-hand knowledge on the 110% price guarantee, but for an ES price guarantee claim, I had to call 3 times. Somehow, they had no record of the claim I submitted online.

I'd call and ask what is the status. If you can, get proof of the price (screenshot). It's harder for Carnival to backpedal that way. In my experience, they worked with me more since they knew I had proof and could send it in. No way to get out of it on their end.

Check out the latest Carnival Cruise Line news from Cruise Critic:

 

Carnival Ship Changes Cruise Itinerary Due to Storm

Thank you, Laura. I was wondering about this very cruise.

Read a story on NBC News about Hurricane Blanca that is headed towards Cabo San Lucas on the West side of Mexico.

The hurricane has weakened to a category 1 as it approached Cabo. Earlier, the hurricane was a category 4.

Did the 7 day Miracle sailing leave on Saturday from LA towards Cabo/PV? I wonder if they will have to miss the port call/switch the itinerary around.

I hope everyone is doing ok on the ship. The seas will be very choppy until this clears :-(

So, what are the big differences between breakfast on port days and sea day brunch?

It wasn't intentional. I was trying to reply and hit the wrong button.

My bad.

Use the clothesline in the shower.

To answer the original question, yes, its very possible that it will blow away.

Also, a smoldering cigarette butt can blow in and set the clothes on fire. It has happened before.

Please don't leave your clothes on the balcony unattended.

Oh no! That bites!

Let us know what they offer after seeing the damage. Good luck!

I highly doubt it. Carnival.com and GoCCL.com both say it's unlimited soda and juice, served by the glass (soda 16 oz/ juice 10 oz). GoCCL.com, the TA's version of carnival.com, lists out all of the drinks included and bottled water wasn't listed.

Links:

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/bottomless-bubbles

GoCCL.com: https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/shipboard_knowledge/fountain_funcard.htm

Notice that the report says all of this is happening in the state of Jalisco, not directly in Puerto Vallarta.

I know it's a risk going to Mexico right now, but as long as I stick to tourist areas, not flaunt wealth, and pay attention to the consulate warnings, I think I'll be fine.