Miracle Mexican Riviera Mar 31,2013

[Ted W]

Just got back from a 7 day to Mexico on Miracle. Had a great time. Miracle is a sister to Spirit, identical deck plans, just a different theme. We spent 2 days in CABO, excellent 90 degree weather, crystal clear and 1 day in Puerto Vallarta, 90 degrees, a little muggier, but great. As always, the majority of everything was very good. a couple of things I noticed were:

 

No more ice cream cones....have to use a bowl....Cost savings, or mess control?

 

No free playing cards from Guest Services. You have to buy them from the Casino for $1. The issue is once on board, I never have cash, and their availability is very limited.

 

Steakhouse went up $5 per person from last year.

 

My room steward was not that great. We had a small ice chest with water and soda that I had to remind him daily to fill with ice, was awkward.

 

All trivial stuff. My biggest issue were all the unsupervised kids 6-16 running out of control. It felt like the parents just turned them loose and never checked what they did. Several smaller kids just sitting in the elevators pushing buttons and being a trip hazard. Kids running across the loungers and using them as trampolines. The area around the pizza bar late at night, after midnight was so loud and rowdy, we had to eat in a different dining area. The whole time, none of the Carnival staff did anything. I had 2 kids with us, 14 and 16.........they were appalled as well. They really need a curfew, and the parents need to be parents. This is not a 7 day baby sitting service.

 

The last issue I have is the price, I know the value for the dollar. But when you buy 2 soda card, a cheers card, and pay the tips, I have over $800 invested before we leave the dock. We are Gold Members, but I think we are going to have to find a cheaper vacation alternative.

[Cruizinman]

Just got back from a 7 day to Mexico on Miracle. Had a great time. Miracle is a sister to Spirit, identical deck plans, just a different theme. We spent 2 days in CABO, excellent 90 degree weather, crystal clear and 1 day in Puerto Vallarta, 90 degrees, a little muggier, but great. As always, the majority of everything was very good. a couple of things I noticed were:

No more ice cream cones....have to use a bowl....Cost savings, or mess control? :eek:

 

No free playing cards from Guest Services. You have to buy them from the Casino for $1 :eek:. The issue is once on board, I never have cash, and their availability is very limited.

 

Steakhouse went up $5 per person from last year.:eek:

 

My room steward was not that great. We had a small ice chest with water and soda that I had to remind him daily to fill with ice, was awkward.

 

All trivial stuff. My biggest issue were all the unsupervised kids 6-16 running out of control. It felt like the parents just turned them loose and never checked what they did. Several smaller kids just sitting in the elevators pushing buttons and being a trip hazard. Kids running across the loungers and using them as trampolines. The area around the pizza bar late at night, after midnight was so loud and rowdy, we had to eat in a different dining area. The whole time, none of the Carnival staff did anything. I had 2 kids with us, 14 and 16.........they were appalled as well. They really need a curfew, and the parents need to be parents. This is not a 7 day baby sitting service.

The last issue I have is the price, I know the value for the dollar. But when you buy 2 soda card, a cheers card, and pay the tips, I have over $800 invested before we leave the dock. :eek: We are Gold Members, but I think we are going to have to find a cheaper vacation alternative.

 

OP, seems like you have had the Fun for All experience ;)

[Cavners5]

Did the menus change? And did the Fun Times change or are they the same as the Splendors ?

[Love my butler]

Maybe drink a little less and vacations won't be so spendy?

[ccruisequeen]

Kids issue probably due to spring break. That should be cured now until school out for summer

[elklemi]

For the two days in Cabo did you stay at the pier overnight or go back out to sea at night and dock again in the morning?

[azpilot]

For the two days in Cabo did you stay at the pier overnight or go back out to sea at night and dock again in the morning?

 

Cabo is a tendering port, so you go out to sea each night and come back to tender the next day.

[crewsweeper]

I'd be curious if you kept track of the number of sodas and alcoholic drinks you and your family consumed versus what you might have consumed without the cards, say using a past cruise as a guide. Were the savings there? If so, then the preboarding $ were $ well spent. If you didn't really get your $ worth even while consuming a few more drinks than you otherwise would have done, then next time skip the preboard $ extras.

[jsfromsc]

On one of our cruises we had kids tossing ice cream cones from the Lido down onto our aft balcony. I wonder if that is the reason they took the cones away. I don't care if it's Spring Break or not. Kids should not be allowed to run rampant. I imagine if one of those kids had been hurt while running across the loungers, the parents would have been looking for some kind of compensation from Carnival. I try to plan my cruises for times when most kids are in school. I can understand why the staff is reluctant to confront guests regarding their behavior, but you'd think someone from security would put a stop to the kids that are misbehaving in a manner that is dangerous to themselves and other guests.

[jsmac3]

We were on the Miracle repositioning cruise prior to OPs cruise. At the beginning ice cream cones were available but towards the end of the cruise I didn't see any. Same for the hand sanitizers in the buffet - they were removed.

 

It was a 15 day cruise - someone may have scewed up and failed to re-order.

[Dizzkitty]

We were on the same cruise and were so frustrated with the kids in the elevator situation!!! They were jammed packed with kids sitting on the floor of the elevators just riding them up and down, when the doors would open they would freeze in a pose then laugh as the doors closed. It made for a very long wait at elevators at times.