Had a great time on the Miracle (Panama, Costa Rica, Belize)

[toledo]

The Miracle definately deserves the Glass Eagle award! Most of the staff was very efficient and friendly. The ship was clean and well laid out. We even liked the dining room food, giving it an overall grade of A-. The Lido deck food was good, but it was usually very crowded. I'd recommend breakfast and lunch in the dining room on some days for some peace and quiet. The pizza was not very good. We do recommend the sushi, which can be found set up late afternoon on deck 3. The bartenders do a great job, if you can stand listening to one of the singers as you wait for your drink. We heard more than one guy "attempt" to sing. Why can't they find some people with talent in that area? The dancers were very good and "Ticket To Ride" was fantastic. Lenny Halliday as our cruise director and the first one we've liked during our 3 cruises. He's British with a fairly normal sense of humor. The captain of the ship has absolutely NO humor. That guy was clearly in need of a vacation himself. During the Captain's cocktail party, he reprimanded some members of the audience for being too loud. It was spring break so we had a fair number of kids on the ship, primarily teenagers. We had 3 with us and the Club O2 activities were much bettter this time. They all had so much fun. This cruise really isn't the best for young children or the elderly, in my opinion. The ports are geared more towards "extreme sports". We had at least 3 people taken off the ship for medical reasons, one by Coast Guard helicopter. Embarking took 20 minutes, with 15 of those standing right at the desk. Their little laptop computer kept "jumping" while they attempted to imput our names. We carried our own luggage off the ship and it took all of 20 minutes. Overall, this was a very good cruise with very interesting ports.

[KatSt]

The Miracle definately deserves the Glass Eagle award! Most of the staff was very efficient and friendly. The ship was clean and well laid out. We even liked the dining room food, giving it an overall grade of A-. The Lido deck food was good, but it was usually very crowded. I'd recommend breakfast and lunch in the dining room on some days for some peace and quiet. The pizza was not very good. We do recommend the sushi, which can be found set up late afternoon on deck 3. The bartenders do a great job, if you can stand listening to one of the singers as you wait for your drink. We heard more than one guy "attempt" to sing. Why can't they find some people with talent in that area? The dancers were very good and "Ticket To Ride" was fantastic. Lenny Halliday as our cruise director and the first one we've liked during our 3 cruises. He's British with a fairly normal sense of humor. The captain of the ship has absolutely NO humor. That guy was clearly in need of a vacation himself. During the Captain's cocktail party, he reprimanded some members of the audience for being too loud. It was spring break so we had a fair number of kids on the ship, primarily teenagers. We had 3 with us and the Club O2 activities were much bettter this time. They all had so much fun. This cruise really isn't the best for young children or the elderly, in my opinion. The ports are geared more towards "extreme sports". We had at least 3 people taken off the ship for medical reasons, one by Coast Guard helicopter. Embarking took 20 minutes, with 15 of those standing right at the desk. Their little laptop computer kept "jumping" while they attempted to imput our names. We carried our own luggage off the ship and it took all of 20 minutes. Overall, this was a very good cruise with very interesting ports.

I'm glad you had a good time. We did the same ports on the Liberty last year, except instead of Belize we stopped in Costa Maya. It was before the hurricane's hit (obviously). The ports are very different.

 

Now we're going on the Mircale in June. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. We've heard so many good things about the ship and are very excited about the upcoming cruise.

[scgssny]

The Miracle definately deserves the Glass Eagle award! Most of the staff was very efficient and friendly. The ship was clean and well laid out. We even liked the dining room food, giving it an overall grade of A-. The Lido deck food was good, but it was usually very crowded. I'd recommend breakfast and lunch in the dining room on some days for some peace and quiet. The pizza was not very good. We do recommend the sushi, which can be found set up late afternoon on deck 3. The bartenders do a great job, if you can stand listening to one of the singers as you wait for your drink. We heard more than one guy "attempt" to sing. Why can't they find some people with talent in that area? The dancers were very good and "Ticket To Ride" was fantastic. Lenny Halliday as our cruise director and the first one we've liked during our 3 cruises. He's British with a fairly normal sense of humor. The captain of the ship has absolutely NO humor. That guy was clearly in need of a vacation himself. During the Captain's cocktail party, he reprimanded some members of the audience for being too loud. It was spring break so we had a fair number of kids on the ship, primarily teenagers. We had 3 with us and the Club O2 activities were much bettter this time. They all had so much fun. This cruise really isn't the best for young children or the elderly, in my opinion. The ports are geared more towards "extreme sports". We had at least 3 people taken off the ship for medical reasons, one by Coast Guard helicopter. Embarking took 20 minutes, with 15 of those standing right at the desk. Their little laptop computer kept "jumping" while they attempted to imput our names. We carried our own luggage off the ship and it took all of 20 minutes. Overall, this was a very good cruise with very interesting ports.

 

 

I am glad that you had such a good trip. It sounds like the captain needs some love! :rolleyes:

 

What excursions did you take in Panama and Costa Rica? We are cruising there in Nov with our children (8&6) and several other families. Any insight would be appreciated, thanks.

[toledo]

In Panama, we did the ferry through the canal. DH, DS17, and I enjoyed it, while DS13 and DD17 thought it was very boring. Costa Rica was our favorite excursion. We went with Charlie Soto and okeydokie tours and did zip lining and the Tortuguara Canals. Look under the ports of call section for more info on his tours.

[dec2007w3boys]

In Panama, we did the ferry through the canal. DH, DS17, and I enjoyed it, while DS13 and DD17 thought it was very boring. Costa Rica was our favorite excursion. We went with Charlie Soto and okeydokie tours and did zip lining and the Tortuguara Canals. Look under the ports of call section for more info on his tours.

Great news on the Costa Rica excursion, that is the one I am planning. My family will be with Sean's family (Hi Sean!) on Freedom this Thanksgiving. In Panama, we are looking at stopping at the canal and then taking a river canoe ride to an indian village - I am hoping this will be neat for my boys - 11, 9 & 5.

[scgssny]

Great news on the Costa Rica excursion, that is the one I am planning. My family will be with Sean's family (Hi Sean!) on Freedom this Thanksgiving. In Panama, we are looking at stopping at the canal and then taking a river canoe ride to an indian village - I am hoping this will be neat for my boys - 11, 9 & 5.

 

Hey Lisa - 233 to go!:D I will have to look into the excursion.

 

I got a fair amount of feedback on the port thread I stated. It seems that some tour companies will try to combine tours if their numbers are down and then you end up either late or waiting for the other tour. I will go back and make sure that this is not one of the tours that they have had trouble with, in the past.

 

I have been on many cruises and I have never booked an excursion with a private company. I have done things on my own, but not with another group where I didn't have control. I know that it is more money when you book with the cruiselines, but I am on vacation and I don't want to be concerned about anything. I would rather pay the extra money and relax. Carnival just doesn't have many options at these two ports.

[vacruizer]

Thanks for the review. Panama, Costa Rica, and Belize are my three favorite ports so far and we are seriously considering the Miracle on this itin. for our 2010 cruise depending on if it's still scheduled that way by then. I loved the 4 sea days on our last cruise and really seem to enjoy the ports like these that aren't over-developed yet. We are more into stuff like history and hiking than shopping and bars so these ports are perfect for us.

[Cruiser from MS]

We also did this cruise on the Liberty and loved it. We were on the Miracle this past January and we were extremely disappointed in this ship. The Liberty is beautiful and well laid out, the Miracle is pretty and not so well laid out, much more crowded.

[dec2007w3boys]

Hey Lisa - 233 to go!:D I will have to look into the excursion.

 

I got a fair amount of feedback on the port thread I stated. It seems that some tour companies will try to combine tours if their numbers are down and then you end up either late or waiting for the other tour. I will go back and make sure that this is not one of the tours that they have had trouble with, in the past.

 

I have been on many cruises and I have never booked an excursion with a private company. I have done things on my own, but not with another group where I didn't have control. I know that it is more money when you book with the cruiselines, but I am on vacation and I don't want to be concerned about anything. I would rather pay the extra money and relax. Carnival just doesn't have many options at these two ports.

 

233 - -ugh, only if spring would arrive in Ohio, that would help the days go faster. :) I will check the port boards again. Thanks!

[vacruizer]

We also did this cruise on the Liberty and loved it. We were on the Miracle this past January and we were extremely disappointed in this ship. The Liberty is beautiful and well laid out, the Miracle is pretty and not so well laid out, much more crowded.

 

Funny - we thought the exact opposite. We loved the Liberty as well but thought the Miracle was much easier to navigate and seemed less crowded.

[scgssny]

233 - -ugh, only if spring would arrive in Ohio, that would help the days go faster. :) I will check the port boards again. Thanks!

 

 

Spring, what is spring. It has been so long that I don't remember what 40 degrees feels like.

[toledo]

There was ONE problem with our Carnival sponsored Panama Canal ferry tour and that was the return bus ride. After the first two locks, somehow a boat got in front of us and we were delayed at the third lock. We just sat there waiting for about 40 minutes. It's a two hour drive back to the ship so we were late. The busses drove like crazy to get us back which was very scary. Carnival called and got us police escorts. Here's all these guys riding around on mopeds, trying to stop traffic for us. I was afraid for them, as well. We got back about 20 minutes after the ship was supposed to sail. I think this was really poor planning on Carnival's part because often times their ferry must wait at the locks. They'll end up shortening the tour ( 2 locks instead of 3 ) after one of their return busses crashes, which is bound to happen at some point.

[KG1924]

We also did this cruise on the Liberty and loved it. We were on the Miracle this past January and we were extremely disappointed in this ship. The Liberty is beautiful and well laid out, the Miracle is pretty and not so well laid out, much more crowded.

 

I was on the Miracle in March and felt the same way. I had only been on Royal Caribbean prior to this trip and I felt that the layout was much better on those ships in comparison to the Miracle. I like the ship, but didn't feel like it flowed as well. I too felt it was crowded during the day, but a night it was a ghost town!

[vacruizer]

There was ONE problem with our Carnival sponsored Panama Canal ferry tour and that was the return bus ride. After the first two locks, somehow a boat got in front of us and we were delayed at the third lock. We just sat there waiting for about 40 minutes. It's a two hour drive back to the ship so we were late. The busses drove like crazy to get us back which was very scary. Carnival called and got us police escorts. Here's all these guys riding around on mopeds, trying to stop traffic for us. I was afraid for them, as well. We got back about 20 minutes after the ship was supposed to sail. I think this was really poor planning on Carnival's part because often times their ferry must wait at the locks. They'll end up shortening the tour ( 2 locks instead of 3 ) after one of their return busses crashes, which is bound to happen at some point.

 

ROTF - I feel sorry for the guys on mopeds - traffic in Panama doesn't stop for anything - including stop signs or other large vehicles.:eek: We only had a 10 minute bus ride to and from the train station and more than once I thought we weren't going to make it! We were probably a good hour late departing Panama - our tour was fine but the Panama City and Canal tours that had long bus rides were very late returning.