First Cruise on Carnival Miracle

Been on 4 other cruises on Norwegian ships. Never been on Carnival. Leaving in two months. Can't wait. Anything I should know.

Thanks

I hope you have a fantastic time!! I can't think of anything specific you'd need to know about crusing Carnival, but I'm sure if you poke around these boards enough you'll find out lots of good info.

Been on 4 other cruises on Norwegian ships. Never been on Carnival. Leaving in two months. Can't wait. Anything I should know.

 

Thanks

She is our favorite! If you sailed on the NCL Jewel, the Miracle flows very much like that ship.

Welcome to CC!

We loved the Miracle! Feel free to check out the review in my sig, it was a Bermuda itinerary, but there are still tons of food & ship pics.

Been on 4 other cruises on Norwegian ships. Never been on Carnival. Leaving in two months. Can't wait. Anything I should know.

 

Thanks

Welcome to CC! You will love the Miracle! Easy ship to get around on and leaving out of a great port. If you want to see some pictures and read my review of her click on the link in my signature!

I love the Miracle. Great layout.

We just sailed her a couple of weeks ago. If you're a non-smoker, watch out for smokers or smoky areas. There's a tone of places where this is a problem on the Miracle. If you have a balcony and your next door neighbors smoke, you will enjoy it too and Thank them for the free cancer. People are allowed to smoke on the Lido deck on the starboard side but some would wander around smoking elsewhere. Also, smoke doesn't know boundaries. Most of the entertainment lounges / bars / clubs allow smoking. The casino is a smoke cloud! We enjoyed the cruise but wished we weren't subjected to cigarette smoke.

It'll take you less than a day to check out the entire ship and locate your bearings. It's big but not too big. I can give you a lot of pointers since everything is quite fresh for me. Let me know what you're looking for and I can help answer your questions.

Been on 4 other cruises on Norwegian ships. Never been on Carnival. Leaving in two months. Can't wait. Anything I should know.Thanks

When is your cruise date?

We just sailed her a couple of weeks ago. If you're a non-smoker, watch out for smokers or smoky areas. There's a tone of places where this is a problem on the Miracle. If you have a balcony and your next door neighbors smoke, you will enjoy it too and Thank them for the free cancer. People are allowed to smoke on the Lido deck on the starboard side but some would wander around smoking elsewhere. Also, smoke doesn't know boundaries. Most of the entertainment lounges / bars / clubs allow smoking. The casino is a smoke cloud! We enjoyed the cruise but wished we weren't subjected to cigarette smoke.

 

It'll take you less than a day to check out the entire ship and locate your bearings. It's big but not too big. I can give you a lot of pointers since everything is quite fresh for me. Let me know what you're looking for and I can help answer your questions.

I thought I read that smoking was allowed on only one outside deck in a small area, in one bar that was actually not in use during the day, in a small section of the casino, a small area at the casino bar, and of course on the private balconies. I don't smoke ( ex 40 year smoker ) but my son who is cruising with me on the 30th does. I will interested to see if he can puff his heart out although everyone else said no.

Most of the entertainment lounges / bars / clubs allow smoking.

Really? Sailed on the Miracle for the past three years, and the only lounge that allows smoking is the Jazz Club. Even the Casino never seemed that smokey. As to balconies, always have had one and never had a problem with smokers.

We just sailed her a couple of weeks ago. If you're a non-smoker, watch out for smokers or smoky areas. There's a tone of places where this is a problem on the Miracle. If you have a balcony and your next door neighbors smoke, you will enjoy it too and Thank them for the free cancer. People are allowed to smoke on the Lido deck on the starboard side but some would wander around smoking elsewhere. Also, smoke doesn't know boundaries. Most of the entertainment lounges / bars / clubs allow smoking. The casino is a smoke cloud! We enjoyed the cruise but wished we weren't subjected to cigarette smoke.

 

It'll take you less than a day to check out the entire ship and locate your bearings. It's big but not too big. I can give you a lot of pointers since everything is quite fresh for me. Let me know what you're looking for and I can help answer your questions.

Geezz! Those outdoor smokers will get you every time! Damn them!

:rolleyes:

I thought I read that smoking was allowed on only one outside deck in a small area, in one bar that was actually not in use during the day, in a small section of the casino, a small area at the casino bar, and of course on the private balconies. I don't smoke ( ex 40 year smoker ) but my son who is cruising with me on the 30th does. I will interested to see if he can puff his heart out although everyone else said no.

Yes, smoking on one side of deck but people tend to wander. Enforcement is not strong.

Smoking is allowed in Frankenstein Lab discotheque on the upper floor but in a closed room, smoke travels and is detected downstairs.

Casino is a smoke zone. So much so that smoke is detected in the hallways outside the casino since they don't have doors separating the casino from the public areas.

Smoking is allowed in private balconies but if you are downwind from fellow smokers, you will get it. We paid a lot of money for our balcony room and we couldn't enjoy it as much due to smoking neighbors.

Smoking is also allowed in other bars such as Frankie and Johnny's and Sam's Piano bar. Since, McGuire's bar is connected to the casino and has an access to it, smoke is in there too!

Unlike dogs which you can train, smoke travels any which way as the wind blows regardless of which small section or location it's allowed.

Really? Sailed on the Miracle for the past three years, and the only lounge that allows smoking is the Jazz Club. Even the Casino never seemed that smokey. As to balconies, always have had one and never had a problem with smokers.

I guess you lucked out then. We are not the only complainers about this from last week's cruise. Met several people on-board who expressed the same concerns. It was prevalent. Jazz Club is definitely smoking but the discotheque and other locations have smoke zones too.

When is your cruise date?

Thanks, July 1

July 1st

That's funny, I went on the Jewel last July

Yes, smoking on one side of deck but people tend to wander. Enforcement is not strong.

Carnival is not know for it's security .:p

Smoking is allowed in Frankenstein Lab discotheque on the upper floor but in a closed room, smoke travels and is detected downstairs.

I've been on the Miracle and I just can't picture this area?

Casino is a smoke zone. So much so that smoke is detected in the hallways outside the casino since they don't have doors separating the casino from the public areas.

I know casinos tend to attract smokers.

Smoking is allowed in private balconies but if you are downwind from fellow smokers, you will get it. We paid a lot of money for our balcony room and we couldn't enjoy it as much due to smoking neighbors.

I have always had a balcony never noticed any smoke unlesss I actually saw the smoke.

Smoking is also allowed in other bars such as Frankie and Johnny's and Sam's Piano bar. Since, McGuire's bar is connected to the casino and has an access to it, smoke is in there too!

This news to me. In a way good news without the smokers these bars have been reported to be prety empty.

Unlike dogs which you can train, smoke travels any which way as the wind blows regardless of which small section or location it's allowed.

True but until smoking is made totally illegal that is always going to be an issue. I am sure there were areas on the ship that were smoke-free.

i DO NOT doubt your experience at all. Everyone's perception is different. I hope you enjoyed your cruise otherwise.

Smoking is not allowed in Sam's Piano Bar. I only WISH it was.

Is this a smoking on Miracle thread or a questions about the Miracle since the OP is sailing on her for the first time thread? There is more to the Miracle than smoking.

Only one Main Dinning Room

Ice Cream 24 hours a day

Easy flow on any deck from forward to aft

No big screen TV on lido deck

Adults only Serenity Deck

Good food

Friendly staff

Moderate size ship that is easy to get around

Fun things to do

Plenty of quiet areas if you need them

Ice Cream 24 hours a day

Steak house that is worth the up charge

Nice entertainment venues for almost any taste

Bingo

Casino

24 hour pizza

Drinks of the day

Comfortable beds

Very nice staterooms

24 hour room service

Did I mention Ice Cream 24 hours a day?

Do they do any type of deck walk for breast cancer during the sailing?

Is the buffet open 24 hours, pizza or just ice cream?

Any arts and crafts on sea days?

No smoke free nights in casino on formal nights?

Any local entertainment on board before sailing from San Juan?

Washers/dryers on every deck?

How good are the blow dryers provided? And where in the cabin are they located?

How many outlets in cabin approx.?

Can you write in items on room service menu for breakfast....like chocolate milk, etc.?

On non-sea days, how easy is it to get a seat in buffet area?

Trays in buffet area?

Any speciality night buffets, etc. held on deck during sailing?

San Juan on a Sunday...shops opened or not?

Thanks.

MARAPRINCE

One more question, a/c and heat controls in cabin? Triumph only had a ceiling regulator for the amount of a/c.....could not be totally shut off.

MARAPRINCE

Thanks, July 1

We're on the same sailing :)

Do they do any type of deck walk for breast cancer during the sailing?

I didn't come across any organized deck walks. They did have some small sessions for weight loss, strength, etc in the gym. We would usually hit the gym first thing in the morning or do laps on deck 10 (deck above Lido).

 

Is the buffet open 24 hours, pizza or just ice cream?

Buffet is not open 24-hours. Pizza is available 24 hours in Lido, and often other types of food like burgers, hotdogs, fries, etc are available as well until around midnight. The ice-cream is a self-service thing done with the soft-serve machines available in Lido next to the DJ stage. In my opinion, the soft-serve ice cream is just okay and good for a quick fix but it's not great ice-cream. You are better off getting ice-cream from the dining room or room service, or even at the Fountainhead Cafe (for charge) located on forward deck 2. I would strongly suggest getting your desserts late night from the Fountainhead Cafe such as cakes, cookies, etc. Cake slices costs about $2.25 and they are huge slices. My family would get 1 slice of chocolate cake and it would be plenty for the 4 of us.

 

Also, your meals in the dining room are filling and plenty especially since you can order multiple starters and entrees. When it's time to order your desserts there, tell them you want it to go, and they will slap a lid on it to bring to your room or consume anywhere on the ship.

Any arts and crafts on sea days?

The computer/library room has some games available for your family to use. There is also a small game room right across the Fountainhead cafe which has 2 cabinets of games and puzzles. The room is nice and cozy too. I didn't see any specific arts and crafts sessions except for the towel folding demonstration where they show you how to make those towel animals which you'll find in your room every evening.

 

No smoke free nights in casino on formal nights?

There is no such thing as smoke free night in the casino. It's smoking all the time in there. You'll see what I'm talking about!

 

Any local entertainment on board before sailing from San Juan?

If you are asking about local from PR on-board to entertain, no! There are entertainers on-board all the time. In fact, the entertainers usually get rotated at the ports, meaning the guy who entertained you from NYC to SJ will get off there and another would come on. They he or she gets off at St. Thomas, and so on. Do you know what you plan to do in SJ?

Washers/dryers on every deck?

Washer and dryers are available but not on all decks. We used one on deck 7. I can look up my stuff and give you specific details on this. By the way, it's quite expensive to use the washer and dryers on the ship as compared to a local laundromat. Wait till you have enough to do a full load or two. Do you have a balcony room?

How good are the blow dryers provided? And where in the cabin are they located?

The blow dryers are weak, small, and inefficient. They will do the job eventually but with effort. It is located in the top drawer of the vanity desk and it is plugged in through the drawer to the back. So, it's a little tough to pull it as far as you want. You can't unplug it to plug elsewhere as it is connected via a tiny power box. Also, the blow dryers tend to heat up and cease working quickly because they get filled up with hair from previous users. Bring your own. My wife did.

 

How many outlets in cabin approx.?

Great question! Only 1 outlet and it is located at the vanity desk. I brought a travel 3 socket plug and a long extension cord. I plugged the 3 socket plug into the 1 power outlet, then plugged the extension cord to it which I was then able to extend to the bed area. I used it to plug my cpap machine, my iPhone, my daughter's iPod, etc. Make sure you bring at least and extension cord.

 

Can you write in items on room service menu for breakfast....like chocolate milk, etc.?

Yeah, you can. It already has most of the basic stuff on it, but you can write stuff. If you like chocolate milk and cereal, grab them in the morning from Lido and bring to your room. On day one, have your Head Room Steward unlock the fridge in your room so you can store a few things to keep cool like milk.

 

On non-sea days, how easy is it to get a seat in buffet area?

On non-sea days (port days), it's very easy! A good amount of passengers get off for excursions and personal activities. Some stay back on the ship to enjoy some quiet time in the pools, etc.

 

Trays in buffet area?

Yes, trays available in the buffet area.

 

Any speciality night buffets, etc. held on deck during sailing?

Yes. They mix it up every now and then. You'll have a Caribbean night, Chocolate buffet night, etc.

 

San Juan on a Sunday...shops opened or not?

We were there on Monday. But, I've been told that since the area caters to tourists and depends on tourists, the shops are open on Sunday.

 

Thanks.

You are welcome!

 

MARAPRINCE

Hope I was able to answer your questions.

One more question, a/c and heat controls in cabin? Triumph only had a ceiling regulator for the amount of a/c.....could not be totally shut off.

 

 

MARAPRINCE

Yes, there is one control in the room for A/C / Heat.

i DO NOT doubt your experience at all. Everyone's perception is different. I hope you enjoyed your cruise otherwise.

Overall, we did enjoy our cruise. We loved the crew and the shore trips.