Miracle Review

[goaliemomsr]

:eek: :) :p :D

Pre-cruise - we flew into Tampa on Saturday and stayed in the Tampa Marriott Waterside. The cab fare from the airport to the hotel was $20.00. Beautiful hotel. It wasn't cheap - I believe with tax and fee's it was about $160.00. We had a balcony room overlooking the pool and canal. We took the trolley from the hotel to Ybor City. The Trolley was $3.00 each, but was an all day pass - you could get on and off as many times as you liked. We walked around Ybor city for a bit and then ate a Greek Restaurant (I can't remember the name, but do have it written down some place). The food was wonderful.

 

We had dinner that night in the Waterside in the hotel. It was fairly good. And off to a relatively early bedtime to get ready for the cruise.

 

 

Embarkation: We took a very short taxi ride from the hotel to the port. We left the hotel around 11 am. Arrived at the port, dropped the luggage and proceeded to the check-in desk. Received a great surprise when we checked in and found out that we had been upgraded from an 8c to an 11 suite. Entitled us to Skipper Club as well. There were 2 wedding parties waiting to board and we were right behind them. We were on deck sipping foo foo drinks by noon. We were asked not to go to our rooms until 2 pm.

 

 

Cabin: Our cabin number was 6207. It was very big with 3 full closets, a full bath with a whirlpool tub and a bidet. A Vanity area with 2 sinks in the bathroom and a second vanity area - fully mirrored with a small chair/stool and a second sink directly outside the bathroom. A very nice sitting area with a leather couch and 2 upholstered chairs. The only complaint I have about the room is that when you pull the TV out to see it from the bed - the bed close to the window you can hardly see the TV because of the angle of it (yes, I know - we didn't go on the cruise to watch TV - but at night when we returned to the cabin we would put it on for awhile). The first few nights we were on the ship we couldn't figure out how to turn the light off inside the cabinet where the safe was - it acted as a night light - but was a little annoying - third night we found the switch outside the vanity area - purely by accident. I do have pictures of the room if anyone would like to see them - email me at timehastold@aol.com and I'll forward them along.

 

 

Our cabin steward Ahid was great - we hardly saw him, but when we needed him for anything extra he was right there and very helpful. Your cabin steward will also replace your carnival towels (the big ones you use on deck) if you leave them on the floor in the bathroom - with nice fresh, dry ones.

 

 

Dining Room - We had dinner every night except one in the Bacchus Dining Room. We were at table 394 and our wait staff was Miquel and David. They were great - we didn't want for anything - our water glass was filled constantly. The food was good, but never really excellent. There was one night that I didn't care for what I ordered (it was the Fettucini with mushroom cream sauce). The deserts were also good. We did order a bottle of wine one night that we didn't finish with our dinner and the next night when we arrived at our table, our bottle of wine was ready and waiting for us.

 

 

Fun Day at Sea: It was a good day for exploring the ship and getting our bearings on where everything was. I did spend a little time on the Sun Deck around late morning - had absolutely no problem finding a lounge chair to sit in. Played a little bingo, joined the slot tournament (made it the finals, but didn't win). Went to the sushi bar. Went to a wine tasting at Nick & Nora's (for an additional nominal cost) - it was actually $8 each and was 4 different wines (2 red, 2 white) and a small plate of cheese and crackers. It was very nice and now I have a new wine that enjoy drinking. This was the only day that we had breakfast in the Bacchus dining room and it was very good - I had eggs benedict!!! yum yum.

 

 

Grand Cayman: We did the Stingray and Snorkel with Captain Bryan. Here is a big hint - there is a one hour time difference. We were very early for excursion - directly in front of Captain Bryan's is an English Bakery - we sat very nice and enjoyed some very good coffee (actually couldn't find a decent cup of coffee on the ship at all - craving a Starbucks!!). It was so cool to stand in the ocean and have the sting rays swim around you. We really enjoyed this excursion - we didn't snorkel - stayed on the boat and watched - but those that did seemed to really enjoy it - why didn't we - slightly afraid of the water and it was pretty deep in the snorkel area. You can ask for life vests for both the stingray and snorkel part. Made it back to the ship with about an hour to spare - it had started to rain as we returned to the ship so we just boarded instead of spending anytime shopping. The tender was quick and easy both ways.

 

 

We even managed to get on the Carnival video even though we were not on the carnival excursion - their boat docked right next to ours at the stingray location.

 

 

Costa Maya: Chacchoben Mayan Ruins Tour with Ivan and David. This was a great tour. Ivan was our tour director and did a great job. BRING THE BUG SPRAY!!!!! They did have it - but by the time we knew the tour operator had it we were already bitten up!! We made our way to the Cat's Meow - this was the trickiest part of the excursion. It was $3 per person to take a bus over to Mahahual Village. When we arrived we ordered Mango Daiquiris - watch out - they are pretty strong - but very enjoyable. The people who run the Cat's Meow are from Australia. We didn't have anything to eat there. It's about an hour or so ride from Mahahual to the Ruins. Ivan provided us with alot of information on the ride to the ruins and it was very interesting. The ruins themselves were beautiful (but buggy). We choose this tour because of the reviews on this board and were very happy that we did. When you arrive at the ruins there is a gift shop area were you can haggle the price - big hint here - really look at what your buying - read the labels - alot of the items were imported from China and Taiwan and not local handicrafts. If there is no label - look at the item - you'll know if they removed it, it isn't made in Mexico

 

 

Belize: We did the cave tubing with Coral Breeze. It was a tremendous amount of fun and I was very happy that we did a private excursion instead of the Carnival excursion. The Carnival groups were very large and I felt much more comfortable being in a smaller group where our guide really kept us together. Our guide – Carlos (Speedy) Gonzales was very enjoyable. We had to hike about 20-25 minutes to the cave opening carrying the tubes. By the time you reached the point to enter the river, you were really ready to cool off. The cave was pretty cool – the water was great and Speedy made sure that our group stayed together and safe. There were a number of guides on the edge of the river and on the edge of the cave making sure that everyone was moving along safely. We were told that the water was pretty deep in points, but for most of the trip down the river it seemed that Speedy was on foot (in the water) pulling us along and at some points you really had to pick your butt up out of the water to not bang it on the rocks. Again, we weren’t with the carnival group, but at the end of the ride there was the carnival photographer snapping pictures and we were able to get pictures.

 

 

Cozumel: Thank you to these message boards - we left the ship and took a taxi to downtown Cozumel. Cost was $6,00. We went to Cinco Del Sole and Pancho’s Backyard. We had lunch at Pancho’s and the food was great – truly enjoyed the guacamole and the HUGE pina colada. We shopped in Cinco Del Sole and then took another cab ride back to the ship, dropped our packages off, had a drink and returned to the pier for more shopping. Found the best deal on t-shirts for souvenirs to bring home for everyone. There were plenty of excursions to go on, but it seemed that mostly everyone either spent their time at Carlos and Charlie’s or Senor Frogs.

 

 

Fun Day At Sea: Pretty relaxing day – packed our suitcases (omg, this was the worst part of the trip – went with 2 suitcases, came home with 3) I had packed a duffel bag into my large suitcase when I left on the trip and it was a good thing I did. I would have never fit everything back into 2 suitcases. We had lunch at Horatio’s and dinner in the dinning room. Picked up some of the pictures we had taken on the ship, played a little in the casino and spent the day relaxing.

 

 

Disembarking: Couldn’t have been simpler - We were up early, showered and dressed by 8 am. Finished packing up our carry on bags (had put our luggage out the night before to be delivered to the terminal). Went up to Horatio’s and had a nice breakfast. They called the self-assist and then the early flyers and then EVERYONE Else! It was quick and simple - we checked out the shuttle provided by Carnival to go to Tampa Airport and the cost was $18.00 per person. We opted to grab a taxi outside the port and joined up with another couple also going to the airport and the cost was $20.00 for all of us and our luggage.

 

 

CONCLUSION: We had a great time on the cruise. This was only my second cruise and I’m hooked. There were a few things I wasn’t thrilled with - I felt like I was offered the same thing every night in the dinning room. Understanding that they are preparing meals for 2500 people and it is difficult to offer a very large selection – there wasn’t any single dinner that I would say was fabulous or stood out. They were good and served as we ordered them.

 

 

We did get a facial at the spa and it was more a sales pitch to buy the product instead of the relaxing facial we were looking for. I also had a polish change and it cost $15.00 - here in New York I get my manicure and pedicure for $21.00 – so the price was a little ridiculous.

 

 

Slamming doors as mentioned in other threads was a bit annoying – but we ran into a problem with our neighbors leaving their outside balcony lights on all night. I’m a very early riser and enjoyed sitting out on the balcony in the dark watching the sunrise, but the other balcony lights did interfere. I would have asked my neighbors to turn them off, but never actually saw them – so I left a note in their mailbox and from there on in; the lights were off at night.

 

 

If anyone has any specific questions please feel free to ask – or would like pictures of our cabin, please feel free to send me an email at timehastold@aol.com.

 

:)

[momofzeke]

Costa Maya: Chacchoben Mayan Ruins Tour with Ivan and David. This was a great tour. Ivan was our tour director and did a great job. BRING THE BUG SPRAY!!!!! They did have it - but by the time we knew the tour operator had it we were already bitten up!! We made our way to the Cat's Meow - this was the trickiest part of the excursion. It was $3 per person to take a bus over to Mahahual Village. When we arrived we ordered Mango Daiquiris - watch out - they are pretty strong - but very enjoyable. The people who run the Cat's Meow are from Australia.:)

 

Why was it tricky to get to the Cat's Meow? Are busses hard to find? We are considering David and Ivan's tour when we go on the Miracle in March.

 

Great review!

 

Thanks!

[goaliemomsr]

the tricky part is that when you walk all the way through the shopping area when you leave the ship - there are no signs to direct you where to go to get a cab and/or bus - it was very disorganized and you had to buy your tickets for the bus at a little stand right outside the port - this is the point that all of the excursions meet - it's really not clear which way to go and it is very hot and people (cruise people) where confused and a little bit ruffled around the edges. It would be very easy to get on the wrong bus. You just really need to pay attention to where you are going. Finding the Cat's Meow was simple once we got off the bus - David was right there waiting for everyone - I really recommend the tour - it was really good.

 

 

David's bus took us right back to the port - so there was absolutely no confusion on that side of the tour.

[kay_renee]

Hi,

We are booked on the Miracle January 1st.

We are taling the ruins tour with Ivan and David too. What time did you get back to the ship. We are considering doing the ruins and lagoon tour with them, I was wondering if we will have enough time. David said there would be plenty of time, is he correct? We are taking the beach break with Coral Breeze as well, what time did you get back to the ship that day?

Which days are the formal nights?

Thanks for the information, sorry for so many questions.

Brenda:o

[goaliemomsr]

we had plenty of time - probably about an hour before the ship sailed - as they dropped us off right at the pier - it was wonderful and we really enjoyed it.

 

Formal nights were Monday (also Captain's cocktail party) and I'm thinking Thursday - but I can't remember - but it had to be because Friday we were in Cozumel until 9:30 (and it doesn't say in the capers_

[AUTUMN SUN]

Hi,

We are booked on the Miracle January 1st.

We are taling the ruins tour with Ivan and David too. What time did you get back to the ship. We are considering doing the ruins and lagoon tour with them, I was wondering if we will have enough time. David said there would be plenty of time, is he correct? We are taking the beach break with Coral Breeze as well, what time did you get back to the ship that day?

Which days are the formal nights?

Thanks for the information, sorry for so many questions.

Brenda:o

HELLO. WE ARE ALSO ON THE MIRACLE 1/1/06. TAKING THE TOUR WITH DAVID AND IVAN. WE ARE ALREADY BOOKED. SEE YA THERE!!:D