famof4togo

We just got off the Miracle and had a GREAT time...if a little rust and wear and tear isn't going to ruin your experience you will have a great time!!!!  

Yes I was trying to remember properly....to the best of my recollection there were lockers, but if not they DEF had a place to leave your items because I know we brought a backpack that we didn't have on the excursion.  You get a quick lesson before you head off and that is the same place you come back to, to look at pics etc...so it shouldn't be an issue.

They do not allow you to take photos but they do take photos of you to sell you afterwards.  You are not allowed to bring your phones with you on the ziplines.

Yes its on an open deck upstairs so while you are away from those down at the beach you are open to others getting messages (not individual rooms etc).  Anything goes but most stay in their bathing suits for their messages.

We too were in Cabo last week and saw whales daily.

I agree that Stone Island is only so-so....that being said it is where we go simply because we never find anywhere else that interests us much.  So my answer is because "its the best option available".

20 minutes ago, PattiPB said:

Thank you for your review!!! I'm on the Miracle in a week, and definitely hoping for a fun and lively experience. How long was the tender line going to and from Cabo?

We have sailed on Carnival many times and for a Spring Break cruise it just wasn't as lively a trip...I am sure that depends on who is on board but pretty much the only places going off after 10pm were the Casino and the Club....places that I usually expect a crowd (Alchemy bar before dinner / piano bar late night) were not going off like I am used too...even poolside during the day was more subdued the normal...a good time to be had still of course....hubbys theory is the "fun" people are anti-shot LOL.

Tenders were from 10:45am to 5:15pm... priority going to excursions.  We were able to go get tender tickets starting at 9am that morning, Deck 3 by the piano bar, we went right about 8:45am and the line was super long, past the shops.  We got a 11:15 tender.  They did ask us to bring our vaccination cards but we were not asked to show them at any point.  We took a water taxi over to Mango Deck for $10 a person round trip.   Line to get back on ship around 4:30pm was very short.

Just a follow up....we were able to move my son up to the club with his friends...I simply explained all his friends were in the higher club and she moved him up with little to no hesitation.

Just off the Miracle and masks were required inside and even outside dining seating in both Cabo and Ensenada.

Just off the Miracle, no masks required for children, and they did once again have Night Owls available.  Our boys LOVED their club and went every night and met many friends.

Any questions, please ask....

We just returned from a 5 night cruise on the Miracle.  Myself (age 41) and my son (age 11) traveled with a group of other mothers and my sons friends.   We stayed at the Hotel Maya the night prior which I could not recommend more, they have a "park and sail" package which for $219 we got a balcony room with a view, parking and transportation to the ship its a great deal and a nice place to stay.  Its so cool to wake up and see the ship from the balcony!  We took the 10:30am shuttle to the ship and we were on board the ship by 11:15am without incident.  New muster is the best thing ever...Yes the ship is almost 20 years old so manage your expectations but in no way did the wear and tear distract from our experience.  Our balcony cabin was standard and we found the crew to be fantastic all the way around.  THE FOOD - I would agree the food in the dining room has gone down hill a bit but there are still plenty of yummy food to be had....the every night steak was absolutely horrible and embarrassing frankly but we did enjoy the calamari, pasta dishes and soup dishes....we ate at the MDR the first two nights and our service was excellent.  We enjoyed our breakfasts and brunch in the MDR.  However, overall we all preferred the quick eat options...between a small group of 11-13 year old boys they probably consumed over 100 Guys burgers and the Blue iguana, pizza and sandwich spots were a great hit!  We did not eat at the buffet.  The boys enjoyed going to their "club" but the actual club itself was a bit run down and lacking in entertainment...but they met many friends to go "pal around with".  Lots of basketball and mini putt.  Only one of the two waterslides were running and the water pressure was so lacking that they had to push themselves down most of the slide.  ENTERTAINMENT - This I found lacking...there were only 2 comedians on board and their shows were redundant.  We missed the poolside activities such as harry chest and bellyflop, thought they did have a few games poolside during the day.  The production shows were very lacking and while there was trivia's and other activities during the day I did not feel they are quite up to the standard of previous cruises.  We played bingo, we participated in trivia, we watched the Love and Marriage show, Deal or no deal and they now had a "adult" game show which was a watered down version of Quest.  We did have lots of fun gambling (tripped my money), the piano bar and the night club.  I was not a fan of the CD she is new and seemed to be trying a bit too hard.  I received a enjoyable message (no hard sell) and we had a great meal at the steakhouse.  Our children had the time of their lives....they immensely enjoyed their freedom and stayed out most nights till 3am and stayed up together all night the final night...they met many friends and plan to stay in contact....to them all night pizza and ice cream was perfect.  CABO was fantastic - we spent the day at Mango deck and the beach.  One thing to note the very first tender was at 10:45am so do not plan an early excursion.  ENSENADA the boys went on a deep sea fishing trip of which they enjoyed and caught a lot of fish, us gals just took the shuttle ($4 roundtrip) into town to do some shopping / eating.  OVERALL it was a great getaway!  I would not say the ship was as "lively" as previous cruises and they were not as many kids as I had anticipated for a Spring Break trip.  I will definitely cruise again but do look forward to our next trip being on the Panorama to experience a newer ship with more amenities. 

4 minutes ago, AMediator said:

Well we went ahead and purchased it.  But we are  not thinking we need to drink 15 alcoholic drinks a day to make it worth it.

 

It was more the comparison. We know we will be drinking many alcoholic drinks in a day on a vacation.  But this also for us includes coffee and soda, etc.  We had preorders of $300+ without the cheers package without coffee, and drinks.  

 

Which means that really we paid another $300 not think about it for 5 days and do what we want. 

 

Worth it already. 

Good Choice the less worry and fun of trying new drinks is worth it!  ....See you onboard tomorrow....we also have Cheers so likely at the bar LOL....

First off thank you all for making my time before our cruise so fun and educating!!!!!!  We leave in a few hours for our cruise tomorrow and I can't wait!

I have Cheers on our upcoming cruise...Ive always been a Vodka drinker and am well versed in what I like.  However, I am very new to both rum and tequila so I need advise on what brands to request for both rum and tequila that are "top shelf".

If it matters it would be for mixed drinks...not straight up.

TiA

10 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

If you aren’t up the night before your cruise Covid test, tagging ducks and drinking white claw, can we even be friends?! 😜

Mine was red wine but yep same lol

16 minutes ago, scottb21009 said:

I am taking my wife and 2 kids (11 and 14) on this same cruise in mid-April. I have a question about the soda package. Do you have to pay for soda at dinner in the MDR? I seem to remember reading somewhere that even if you have the unlimited soda package, you still have to pay for them at dinner.

 

Thanks.

 

If you have the soda package you do not have to pay for soda at any point including in the MDR.

We successful tested last night! We didn't have issues using our phones.  I was confused at one point my luckily my 11 year old is much more tech savvy then me and helped me out lol.

52 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

The food that fuels the negative Covid test vibes. 

I'm testing in about 10 minutes...good luck to you!!!

23 minutes ago, CheckersMidwest said:

We were in a Havana Cabana on the Horizon May 19. They didn't have the Magic Buttons on it but that would have been great!

We sail the Panorama in July. Thanks for the info. (And Yay on Pepsi!)

OK this is a new one to me...what are the "magic buttons" ??????  TIA

1 hour ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

So.... one can get tested now between 2 and 3 days (48-72 hrs) prior? When did that change?  I noticed the 72 hours in the Verifly app, but still thought that Carnival had a 2 day window.

 

Tom

Three days is now ok if you are boosted.

2 hours ago, mikehoncho said:

I appreciate the information and find it surprising.  While you took it in stride and your kids found it to be no big deal, I suspect it will be a very big deal for others (and their children) who have patiently waited for the masks to go away.  Enjoy your trip and thanks again.

Exactly!! My kid "just" got the ok to not wear his mask at school...he burned his in our firepit...he has no desire to wear one again and would avoid his club to not have to again.

I am not a smoke and have no dog in this fight but...the point is valid and true.  The ONLY way the casinos will become non smoking is if/when the non smokers spend more money in the casino then the smokers.  So to those non smokers who want a smoke free casino...your best (sole) course of action is to spend more money in the casino....talking about it will not persuade any change.

Interesting...do you recall if it was all age groups?

3 hours ago, Kineticoh20 said:

Best pizza in San Diego hands down is Bronx Pizza.

Featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives a few times if you want to check it out beforehand.

OP....any impression on the CD?  Comedians on board?  Production shows?  TIA

2 minutes ago, she_the_cougar said:

I just got back on Saturday from a cruise with my Girl Scout troop! All the kids who had one parent with them had their passport and a notarized letter from the non-traveling parent giving them permission to travel. All the kids who had no parents with them had their passport, a notarized letter from both parents giving them permission to travel, and a notarized Limited Power of Attorney giving me, as the trip leader, explicit permission to travel with them in the United States and Mexico and to make medical decisions for them.

 

The kids were asked to show their passports at check-in and at Customs at the end of the trip, but only one kid was asked to show additional paperwork. Her mother actually happened to be one of our trip chaperones, so I called the mom over from where she was helping another stateroom of kids check in, and she showed her passport to the Carnival agent who'd asked for additional documentation. That agent did not ask for the notarized letter from her non-traveling parent, or any additional paperwork showing their relationship, etc. 

 

The chaperones all went to and from the ship at port with varying amounts of kids, and all any of us ever had to show were our Sail and Sign cards. 

 

We had a marvelous time, and I hope you do, too!

Glad you guys had a good time!!!  I hope the girls made some memories they will never forget...and didn't get into too much trouble with the boys LOL