Just off the Miracle to Hawaii 12/6 - 12/21

[susie8862]

Must we nitpick about THAT, too? "Irritant" or "allergen", it's all the same. My wife becomes PHYSICALLY ILL when exposed to cigarette smoke. Migraines, vertigo, gasping for air, etc. Need I go on, or do you get my point???

 

Um, it is not the same at ALL and you are the one that posted your wife was "HIGHLY allergic". I was not nit picking, but making false statements just isn't right. Yes, I am in the medical field.

[susie8862]

Never said such a thing. Don't put words into my mouth please. I meant that THERE WAS NO VARIETY from day to day. It was rice/pasta with a few "side" dishes like mashed potatoes or half-cooked vegetables. There was no creativity. Rice Pilaf, Rice and Broccoli, Rice and Beans, or pasta, penne, bowties and... pasta. Were you there? No.

 

Wrong again...this is exactly what you said. We all know how to read:

 

You basically had two choices EVERY SINGLE day at the buffet: Rice or pasta, and/or some mystery meat selection swimming in mystery sauce.

[goaties]

I also don't remember turning around for a sick passenger.

 

:)

I stated on the October 15 day cruise to Hawaii we had to turn around and take a person back. 5 hour delay. We sound like we had a much nicer time than you all did. We had looked at going in December and i am so GLAD we went in October.... We had a great group and a great Halloween party and meet and greet and slot pull and so many other things going on. We had a free drink party also....

Carnival did it up for us all on board. Free drinks and i mean lots of them for the party for all on the ship. Beer and mixed drinks. I had never seen that... that cost money....

[sternfanla]

I did read that wrong Goaties. I now know i was not that out of it on the cruise.

[Taters]

Never said such a thing. Don't put words into my mouth please. I meant that THERE WAS NO VARIETY from day to day. It was rice/pasta with a few "side" dishes like mashed potatoes or half-cooked vegetables. There was no creativity. Rice Pilaf, Rice and Broccoli, Rice and Beans, or pasta, penne, bowties and... pasta. Were you there? No.

 

We ate most of our meals in the main dining room on this cruise and there was an amazing amount of variety. The buffet is not that great, IMHO, but is ok for snack time or the very occassional breakfast.

Edited December 23, 2014 by Taters

[reesegirl]

I thought the miracle had a decent buffet. I think I uploaded these pictures correctly. If you do not see something delicious to eat then I can not imagine what could make you happy

[loubetti]

17 foot seas are not that big for a cruise ship. Back in 2011 on the Pride we ran into a storm that had the swells completely covering the window in our ocean view Rivera deck cabin. When the ship crested a wave the water was shooting up over the bridge. The Captain had to slow the ship down to 10 knots to keep the movement manageable. The atrium elevators were shut down and the comedy club got flooded.

We loved the experience, a cruise is what YOU make of it.

 

I love rough seas!

 

Carnival's ships are cruise ships, not ocean liners, their hulls are not built for it. 17' foot seas will affect them greatly. Building a Carnival ship with an ocean liner hull would cost easily 40% more. This is why we only have one ocean liner left in the world, Queen Mary 2 (owned by Carnival). I've been on her and QE2 in much rougher seas, and we slowed down to 25 knots, not 10! No flooding, no elevators shut down, but open decks were often closed off to pax due to 60-75 knot winds over them. Still, many folks will never have their sea legs or stomach for it. It is what it is.

 

As to food/cuisine and this "you're cooking for 2000+ people" assertion, how is Cunard and Celebrity able to do it, and both mostly put out outstanding food everywhere on board?

 

Is it a "you get what you pay for" deal???? Perhaps so.:cool:

[got2bachef]

We were on the same cruise with a totally different experience. Had a very nice time but will say not one of our best cruises.

 

My criticism of Carnival is they should not be sending Miracle to Hawaii with a damaged engine only capable of 18-19 knots. If everything breaks exactly right they make the itinerary.

 

We started off two hours late and if no damage we go 22 knots and make the itinerary. The capt and crew were not at fault but the ship should either have done a different itinerary or they should have fixed the problem.

 

Crew did a fine job and they did make the best of a bad situation. Do not believe we had 17 foot seas but did have some rocking but nothing that bad. Not Carnival's fault that a women passenger became violent and hopefully she will not get on a cruise ship again.

 

Thought the food was basically good with some misses but that is to be expected when cooking for over 2000 people.

 

we are also just off Miracle and I share your opinion. The crew was great! Entertainment was awesome! Loved all the Holiday events, My son won the Ugly Christmas sweater contest! Never knew of any drunk fool in the Casino, I actually won $400 .... Loved the live music, Hawaiian dress night was fun, But do wish The Beards would have changed our itinerary before sailing due to the propulsion issues. We made the best of it. and didn't let it ruin our trip, just wish we would have seen more of Hawaii.

[Tempo]

We too just got off the Dec 6 2014 to Hawaii. It is to bad Carnival can NOT do what is good for the passengers. Back in April of 2014 they new of the propulsion issue, at that time on the 9-18-2014 (16 day cruise) they had the exact same problems in Maui and the passengers where compensated with $50.00 OBC and a 25% FCD. This is all on Cruise Critic and USA Today with a Google search. Why in the world would they have and other trip with the same troubles?? When they new the Miracle could not keep up with the speed and get there on time.

The best people as far as the crew goes where in the Casino, they where right on top of all the problems and the casino hostess made all the right moves without having to go to someone and check. The MDR was an other story, we had anytime dinning and I was first in line to get in and found out that some of the window seats where blocked out on there seating chart even before we got in?? We took and other seat and I watched the one that was blocked out. When we where finished and hour and 15 min. later the table was never used??

Next time we go I will have to check more carefully on the ships condition and if the (suites) are making the decisions just to make money.

[SadieN]

we are also just off Miracle and I share your opinion. The crew was great! Entertainment was awesome! Loved all the Holiday events, My son won the Ugly Christmas sweater contest! Never knew of any drunk fool in the Casino, I actually won $400 .... Loved the live music, Hawaiian dress night was fun, But do wish The Beards would have changed our itinerary before sailing due to the propulsion issues. We made the best of it. and didn't let it ruin our trip, just wish we would have seen more of Hawaii.

 

Heard about your son's carrot placement:eek: lol

 

The Miracle has sailed to HI several times (April, September, October, December) since the propulsion problems became apparent and the December cruise was the only one with drastic change of itin during the cruise.

If not for the weather and seas you would have made it to ports as scheduled.

[love my grandkids]

Heard about your son's carrot placement:eek: lol

 

The Miracle has sailed to HI several times (April, September, October, December) since the propulsion problems became apparent and the December cruise was the only one with drastic change of itin during the cruise.

If not for the weather and seas you would have made it to ports as scheduled.

 

Must strongly disagree.

 

In order for us to do the original itinerary everything would have had to go perfectly. How often does that happen?

 

First we left two hours late due to slow loading of supplies. Second most of the trip the weather was fine.

 

We went 18-19 knots for the vast majority of the cruise. Wonder how fast earlier ones went after suffering propulsion problems?

 

Based on what our experience was the ship is not capable of doing this run until it is repaired.

 

BTW they only got around to telling us they were changing the itinerary Wednesday late afternoon four days into the cruise. I am sure they knew of this well before than.

[SadieN]

Must strongly disagree.

 

In order for us to do the original itinerary everything would have had to go perfectly. How often does that happen?

 

First we left two hours late due to slow loading of supplies. Second most of the trip the weather was fine.

 

We went 18-19 knots for the vast majority of the cruise. Wonder how fast earlier ones went after suffering propulsion problems?

 

Based on what our experience was the ship is not capable of doing this run until it is repaired.

 

BTW they only got around to telling us they were changing the itinerary Wednesday late afternoon four days into the cruise. I am sure they knew of this well before than.

 

Our cruise went off without any problems until Hilo, where we had two medical emergencies. We got into Ensenada late, but earlier than the new time stated.

 

Remember the Swine Flu cruises in 2009? Those had major issues on the West Coast with re-routing. Hawaii is similar with lack of cruise docks. California and the rest of the West Coast got slammed by a series of storms. That weather pattern is called the Pineapple Express for a reason. Unfortunately your cruise was fighting against it.

 

Carnival took a huge financial hit planning, then cancelling a Luau for the second try in Maui.

[got2bachef]

Must strongly disagree.

 

In order for us to do the original itinerary everything would have had to go perfectly. How often does that happen?

 

First we left two hours late due to slow loading of supplies. Second most of the trip the weather was fine.

 

We went 18-19 knots for the vast majority of the cruise. Wonder how fast earlier ones went after suffering propulsion problems?

 

Based on what our experience was the ship is not capable of doing this run until it is repaired.

 

BTW they only got around to telling us they were changing the itinerary Wednesday late afternoon four days into the cruise. I am sure they knew of this well before than.

 

Also, why if we left at the original scheduled time from Hawaii, did we still end up 5 hours late into Ensanada, with perfect sailing all the way??? I believe the propulsion problem has worsened since the Oct. sailing.

[Tempo]

Heard about your son's carrot placement:eek: lol

 

The Miracle has sailed to HI several times (April, September, October, December) since the propulsion problems became apparent and the December cruise was the only one with drastic change of itin during the cruise.

If not for the weather and seas you would have made it to ports as scheduled.

 

Here is USA todays comments:

One of industry giant Carnival's 24 ships is experiencing a propulsion problem that has left it unable to travel at top speed.

 

In a statement, Carnival says the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle has had to slow its maximum speed from 21 knots to 18 to 20 knots, depending on wind and sea conditions, due to what it is calling a "technical issue."

 

Carnival says all safety and hotel systems on the ship are operating normally, but the slower speed will force changes to more than a dozen of the vessel's upcoming Alaska and Hawaii sailings. A repair to fix the problem won't be done until the Carnival Miracle enters a drydock in early 2015 for previously scheduled maintenance, the line says.

 

RELATED: Carnival to offer longer cruises from Texas

PHOTO TOUR: Inside a Carnival ship

 

In a post on his Facebook page, Carnival senior cruise director John Heald says the company considered sending the ship to a drydock immediately for repairs but concluded that would disrupt the vacations of too many customers as it would have resulted in entire cruises being canceled. Executives decided to keep the ship in service operating modified itineraries "primarily to avoid the cancellation of Alaska vacations for thousands of our guests, and that may have included your cruise," Heald writes.

 

Voyages that will be impacted include:

 

-- Alaska cruises on May 6 and May 13. A stop in Sitka, Alaska will replace a scheduled call in Skagway, Alaska.

 

-- Alaska cruises from May 20 through Aug. 26. The scheduled call in Ketchikan, Alaska will be canceled. Calls in Juneau, Alaska and Victoria, B.C. will be extended.

 

-- A Hawaii cruise on Sept. 18. The scheduled two-day call in Maui will be shortened to a one-day call, with the ship staying into the evening on that single day. The sequence of ports also will change.

 

Carnival says Alaska cruises scheduled for April 28 and Sept. 2 will not be affected. The port sequence will change for the the Sept. 10 sailing, but all the scheduled ports will be offered.

 

The problem with the Carnival Miracle comes just over a year after a string of technical issues on Carnival vessels left many Americans questioning the reliability and safety of cruise ships. Carnival has since begun spending hundreds of millions of dollars to make its vessels more reliable.

 

Customers booked on the affected cruises between May 6 and Aug. 26 and the Sept. 18 sailing can cancel the voyages without penalty and receive a full refund, Carnival says. Should customers want to go ahead with the modified trips, they will receive a $50 per person on-board credit and a 25% discount on a future cruise as compensation.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

Must strongly disagree.

 

In order for us to do the original itinerary everything would have had to go perfectly. How often does that happen?

 

First we left two hours late due to slow loading of supplies. Second most of the trip the weather was fine.

 

We went 18-19 knots for the vast majority of the cruise. Wonder how fast earlier ones went after suffering propulsion problems?

 

Based on what our experience was the ship is not capable of doing this run until it is repaired.

 

BTW they only got around to telling us they were changing the itinerary Wednesday late afternoon four days into the cruise. I am sure they knew of this well before than.

 

The speed difference due to the azipod bearing issue is only 2 nautical miles per hour. And the normal speed on a Pride class ship is 21 nauts. Your claim that the ship was not capable of doing the Hawaii run until it was repaired is shown to be inaccurate because you went and you got back. This ship completed the Alaska tour in the spring and summer, Hawaii before that and the Mexican Riviera after that. Several other ships are sailing with the same azipod issue and completing their voyages. This ship is going into drydock in March where the azipod issue will be fixed, just like it was on the Pride in November. To blame all the issues on your cruise on a issue that reduces normal speed by 2 nauts is as bogus as it gets.

[flahagan]

We did the 15-nt Hawaii cruise from Vancouver to Long Beach in Sept. last year and had extremely rough seas coming and going due to Pacific hurricanes. Half of the sea days the decks were closed and some days we could barely stand up on the upper decks.

It seems this is what you can expect when sailing across the Pacific. We still had a good time, the crew and the food were great.

Would we do it again, probably not. It was a bucket-list thing, glad we did it but wouldn't do it again. Too many other places to explore.

[love my grandkids]

The speed difference due to the azipod bearing issue is only 2 nautical miles per hour. And the normal speed on a Pride class ship is 21 nauts. Your claim that the ship was not capable of doing the Hawaii run until it was repaired is shown to be inaccurate because you went and you got back. This ship completed the Alaska tour in the spring and summer, Hawaii before that and the Mexican Riviera after that. Several other ships are sailing with the same azipod issue and completing their voyages. This ship is going into drydock in March where the azipod issue will be fixed, just like it was on the Pride in November. To blame all the issues on your cruise on a issue that reduces normal speed by 2 nauts is as bogus as it gets.

 

First of all my claim was ship only able to do advertised itinerary if everything broke perfectly.

 

Most of the time I looked we are going about 18. 5 knots so lets do the math.

 

Left Sat at 6 pm and got to Hilo Thursday at 2 pm

 

That is 116 hours times 2.5 knots or 290 nautical miles. Add 2 hours for being late at 21 knots and lets add 42 more nautical miles for total of 332 miles.

 

Seems to me that makes the difference between getting to Mauai or not.

[13cheermom]

Just wondering if this is typical for the seas to be this rough for this time of the year? We are from east coast and have been considering a Hawaiian cruise, and debating the best time of year to take this kind of cruise. Any accurate information would be greatly appreciated!:)

[boaterette]

By the looks of this thread' date=' more than just person next door had a different opinion than you. I knew it was a bs thread when you stated there were only 2 items on the lido buffet. Everyone might not enjoy food on carnival's buffets, but they'll all agree there are many options to like or dislike.[/quote']

 

Hate to argue with you but I have been on over 20 carnival cruises and there buffet at night sucks.

[boaterette]

How were the hula lessons and the ukelele lessons and the lei making? Were they all at no charge?

[PathfinderEss]

Sorry OP that your cruise was not all that you hoped it to be.

[Taters]

Just wondering if this is typical for the seas to be this rough for this time of the year? We are from east coast and have been considering a Hawaiian cruise, and debating the best time of year to take this kind of cruise. Any accurate information would be greatly appreciated!:)

 

It is the ocean and Mother Nature can change things as she pleases. Weather is never certain...

[got2bachef]

How were the hula lessons and the ukelele lessons and the lei making? Were they all at no charge?

 

They were free, but get there early, they ran out of Ukeleles and the craft classes filled up fast, I didn't get to do either...:(

[love my grandkids]

Just wondering if this is typical for the seas to be this rough for this time of the year? We are from east coast and have been considering a Hawaiian cruise, and debating the best time of year to take this kind of cruise. Any accurate information would be greatly appreciated!:)

 

25 cruises, mostly Caribbean, and we didnt think the weather was that bad. As a matter of fact not one show was postphoned due to weather.

[SadieN]

Just wondering if this is typical for the seas to be this rough for this time of the year? We are from east coast and have been considering a Hawaiian cruise, and debating the best time of year to take this kind of cruise. Any accurate information would be greatly appreciated!:)

 

 

The Alaskan current is very strong. Even in smooth seas some movement is always felt. The storms made it worse.