All Things Miracle!!!!

[cruizer4662]

Hello all, just wondering who is the curent Mtr'd in the dining room right now........:o

 

Suresh is the Maitre d'

[cruizer4662]

Can't remember his name because he did NOTHING to impress...........only interrupted the evening with an announcement and never made a rounds of the tables.

 

Ah, don't you remember, he was the one that came around the tables the last night. I guess he was hoping for his envelopes!!!:D

[chitown cruisers]

Ah, don't you remember, he was the one that came around the tables the last night. I guess he was hoping for his envelopes!!!:D

NOPE....never made it to our table....I was expecting him at least that one night!!

 

NO envelope for you sir!!! But I did have envelopes for the dining staff and bar waiter.

[sundaebob]

Hiya, yes that's right...we did go in June. :D It sure does seem like June is ages ago. :( We don't have any cruises in the works at the moment but I do know that I will have lots of cruises in my future. I absolutely love it!!!

 

Ohhh definitely try her out of NY next spring. Nothing like sailing out of NY. I'm a born and bred NYer and I just loved sailing down the Hudson past the Statue and under the bridge.

 

I love to hear about Miracle since i am planning sailing Miracle 12/9/07. Legend 12/8/06, Fantasy 9/07/06, Conquest 10/2005, Victory 10/2004,Triumph 2003, Fascination 2002.

[Name game]

In just under two weeks I will be sailing on the Miracle. I just can't wait anymore. The Spirit Class ships are my favorite and it's been too long since I've been on one.

[TallyRockChick]

I just got off the Miracle on Wednesday and My husband and I had a great time. Everyone was so nice and friendly, the staff and the passengers. We usually go on Royal Carribean and I feel the service was actually better on Carnival. My only complaint was the food at the buffet, it was not that good and wasn't kept hot. The buffet on Royal Carribean was much better. Also, the buffet ended at 2:30, when a lot of excursions didn't get back until 3 or 4, on those days the buffet should be open later, I have never eaten that many hambergers in my life, because only the grill was open. But I think the dining room food was better than RCCL and we had the best waiter ever!! Antoni from Indonesia is the best. All in all we had the best time ever. I am going through major cruise withdrawl right now! Can't wait until the next one. If any one has any questions about Panama, Costa Rica or Belize, let me know.

 

Lori

 

Hi Lori! We are sailing on your itinerary 3 weeks from today (yayyyy!) and I would LOVE to hear about Panama, CR and Belize. Did you do any excursions there? Any places or stores to make sure to see or stay away from? How was the weather for you guys? Any info of that nature would be great!

Also, did you go to Nick and Nora's Supper Club at all? Which night would you suggest going to N&N? I dont want to miss a good dinner in the dining room, ya know? ;)

[fooshrock]

Let's see, excursions: in panama we booked a excursion, but it got cancelled, so we went out side and just hired a cab driver, he took us to the Canal, a nice resort where you could go swimming and to a house with a zoo in the back yard...The zoo was so much fun, it had monkeys and a jaguar and parrots, etc. and I got to hold a monkey which I loved. The supermarket in the port was really inexpensive if you need to buy anything...and if you smoke cigarettes they were only $1.45.

 

In Costa rica we booked an excursion with okey dokey tours and we went on a boat ride in the tortogeura canal which was pretty and you see alot of wildlife, on a nature walk, where we got to hold a sloth, to the banana plantation (which I could have done without) and to a restaurant at the beach that was really good.

 

In belize we went cave tubing with major tom. It was just my husband and I and our guide Charlie Chan was the best, I highly recommend him. Cave tubing was alot of fun. Shopping in the port was good. The have alot of designer bags (bootleg) and a pharmacy you don't need a prescription for ;)

 

The weather was really nice the whole time. We only had one day of rain and it was a sea day. We went to Nick and Nora's on the second formal night because the dining room menu wasn't that impressive. It was good, but to be honest the pay restaurants on Royal Carribean were better. I wasn't that impressed with the service either. You can view the dining room menu on the tv and it updates after 12:00 a.m. for the next day, we made our reservation for N&N on the same day we went and it wasn't very crowded at all.

 

We had a great time and I'm sure you will too. Go to Karaoke with Marina it's really funny!

 

Any other questions, just let me know!

 

Lori

[cruisingwiththegang]

I just got off the Miracle on Wednesday and My husband and I had a great time. Everyone was so nice and friendly, the staff and the passengers. We usually go on Royal Carribean and I feel the service was actually better on Carnival. My only complaint was the food at the buffet, it was not that good and wasn't kept hot. The buffet on Royal Carribean was much better. Also, the buffet ended at 2:30, when a lot of excursions didn't get back until 3 or 4, on those days the buffet should be open later, I have never eaten that many hambergers in my life, because only the grill was open. But I think the dining room food was better than RCCL and we had the best waiter ever!! Antoni from Indonesia is the best. All in all we had the best time ever. I am going through major cruise withdrawl right now! Can't wait until the next one. If any one has any questions about Panama, Costa Rica or Belize, let me know.

 

 

We are going on that same itinerary in April.

We are considering going with Charlie Soto in Costa Rica, what did you do there? And how was it?

In Belize my son wants to go to Sting Ray Alley, did you hear anything about there? Some of us are going to go Cave tubing in Belize. Sounds like fun.

In Panama we are thinking about seeing the canal by ferry.

Any info that you have or any recommendations?

[MDR Cali Cruisers]

Was Larry still in the piano bar for your sailing? Just curious as unfortunately I have not read any positive reviews about him. Either way, can't wait to get on the ship!! :D Thanks!

[chitown cruisers]

Was Larry still in the piano bar for your sailing? Just curious as unfortunately I have not read any positive reviews about him. Either way, can't wait to get on the ship!! :D Thanks!

we had Larry 2 weeks ago. BRUTAL!!

[runcassrun_07]

we had Larry 2 weeks ago. BRUTAL!!

Was the band any good and are they the Music Manilia?

 

Cassandra

[chitown cruisers]

Was the band any good and are they the Music Manilia?

 

Cassandra

We stopped in Sams to listen to Larry.....he was horrible. I'm not an expert but I know alot about music. I'm one like the one friend you have who everyone ask "who's this band?" or the "name of the song?" I usually have some idea. It would take me almost 3/4 to the whole song to figure out what Larry was singing.

 

We then heard this rockin' comming from Frankie and Johnnies.....Music Manila......they are another 4 man Philipine band who do a good job at playing Classic rock. I have no problem sitting listening to them all night. I don't think I can say they are as good as Music Boardwalk or Music Unlimited.....this is just because their accents seemed a bit stronger. They sound good and look like they have fun doing what they are doing.

[NCTribeFan]

chitowncruisers did a really lengthy review from the 1st sailing out of FLL. Future Miracle cruisers need to read that thread. Tons of info (Larry is the piano guy; Music Manilla is now longer on the Miracle).

[Name game]

Oh no, not Larry. If so many don't like Larry then why is he still there? Music Manilla is now on the Miracle or no longer on the Miracle?

I guess the people on my upcoming cruise will just have to take over the piano bar, and the piano. We can't be any worse than Larry. ;)

[lynn247]

No one has said anything about the air conditioning on the Miracle. Is that because it was not an issue for anyone?

 

We were on the Legend 3 years ago and I froze my butt off in the upper level diningroom as well as in the casino. I was miserably cold. We Left the diningroom before the first formal dinner was over. The following year we were in the lower level diningroom and although it was cold, it was not quite as bad as the upper.

 

Since we will be on the Miracle next month, I need to know, PLEASE, should I buy one of those beaded sweater sets for formal night, or will my beaded sleeveless outfits be OK. How about a 3/4 sleeve light weight stretch velvet set? (Or do you NOT wear velvet while sailing in the caribbean in the winter???):confused:

[MDR Cali Cruisers]

we had Larry 2 weeks ago. BRUTAL!!

Yeah, I remember reading that in your review and I know Cruise Cat posted about him in his review on the Miracle out of NYC. I keep hoping someone new will be on the ship before we board on 11/23. Thank goodness for all the alternative entertainment. :)

[Dewaco]

It appears Larry is still the piano bar guy. I'll stop in and check it out, but he hasn't gotten a lot of compliments. Oh well. It's not like I won't be able to find anything else to do with my time!

 

Just returned from a 8 day Western Caribbean on the Miracle. Yes, Larry is still the piano bar entertainer (if you can call him that). I was on the Destiny in May, 2006 and Steve Brisley was the Piano Bar Entertainer and did an outstanding job. I expected the same on the Miracle and that does not seem to be the case. Too bad - a good piano bar entertainer can make for a fun evening.

 

I also feel that the dining room food sacrificed quality of food for quantity of food. Again, comparing to the Destiny experience, which was wonderful quality and small portions, the food on the Miracle was nothing to rave about. Regardless, we ate in the dining room every night and enjoyed the first class service.

 

The food on the Lido deck actually exceeded my expectations.

[TallyRockChick]

Just returned from a 8 day Western Caribbean on the Miracle. Yes, Larry is still the piano bar entertainer (if you can call him that). I was on the Destiny in May, 2006 and Steve Brisley was the Piano Bar Entertainer and did an outstanding job. I expected the same on the Miracle and that does not seem to be the case. Too bad - a good piano bar entertainer can make for a fun evening.

 

I also feel that the dining room food sacrificed quality of food for quantity of food. Again, comparing to the Destiny experience, which was wonderful quality and small portions, the food on the Miracle was nothing to rave about. Regardless, we ate in the dining room every night and enjoyed the first class service.

 

The food on the Lido deck actually exceeded my expectations.

 

Did you go on any excursions?? Which ones did you choose? How were they? We leave 3 weeks from yesterday on the same itinerary!

[Dewaco]

We stopped in Sams to listen to Larry.....he was horrible. I'm not an expert but I know alot about music. I'm one like the one friend you have who everyone ask "who's this band?" or the "name of the song?" I usually have some idea. It would take me almost 3/4 to the whole song to figure out what Larry was singing.

 

We then heard this rockin' comming from Frankie and Johnnies.....Music Manila......they are another 4 man Philipine band who do a good job at playing Classic rock. I have no problem sitting listening to them all night. I don't think I can say they are as good as Music Boardwalk or Music Unlimited.....this is just because their accents seemed a bit stronger. They sound good and look like they have fun doing what they are doing.

 

Got off the Miracle on Wednesday, November 7.

 

Music Manila was great - good music - lots of people dancing.

 

Larry was and is horrible. He should be replaced.

[jaja]

hi

as I remember, I brought a shawl to the Miracle dining room (as I do for every ship)-as sometimes it is cold....

[Dewaco]

Did you go on any excursions?? Which ones did you choose? How were they? We leave 3 weeks from yesterday on the same itinerary!

 

In Panama - we went on the Panama Canal tour - long drive there and back (2 hours), but really enjoyed being on the Canal and going through 3 locks. If you haven't been to the Panama Canal, you would enjoy the history and experience.

 

In Costa Rica, we went on the Nature and Traditions Excursion. Again a long drive (why can't they park the ship closer!) and then a guided walk through a part of the jungle at a family owned Eco-Centre - good tour - not as much activity as we hoped - but the lunch was great and we learned a lot.

 

Belize was where we decided to try the Land Rover and Cave excursion. Lots of fun - you can drive your own Land Rover through a jungle "road" - very wet and muddy - a real fun ride. Neither my friend or I know who to drive a stick shift and we were provided with a driver. We were happy - as the guy behind us hit a tree. (Hint - stay in the ruts!). Then we went to a Mayan cave and then off to a beautiful location on the river for lunch. Good food and rum punch. Afterwards, we all got on a speed boat that took us through the river, out into the ocean and all the way to the ship. The ship anchors quite a way out from the port. We had time so we boarded the boat and immediately got on a tender to visit port for about an hour.

 

The tours were lengthy - mostly because of drive time. So, if you are not keen on long bus trips, look for something closer to the port.

 

We did enjoy all the excursions that we took. We were looking for ones that were a bit more active, but were not disappointed with the ones we chose.

[scperk]

I hope the band Music Manila is the same one that was on the Victory last year..They were called Music network then and they were really good..We are going on the Miracle on Feb.27..can anyone tell me what is on the sky deck at the front of the ship( is that the topless area)..My DW likes to lay out topless and We have never been on this class of ship.Is the rear pool open air or is there a roof.......Dennis

[Island Annie]

Absolutely LOVED the MIRACLE! Like you said the crew & the service on this ship is outstanding. It was definitely one of my favorite Carnival cruises:-)

 

Annie loves cruizin:-)

[Seas*Silver*Stars]

Did you go on any excursions?? Which ones did you choose? How were they? We leave 3 weeks from yesterday on the same itinerary!

 

Hey TRC! We just got off the same cruise and we went on 3 awesome excursions I would recommend. We were looking for things that were pretty active and exciting. These were all booked through Carnival.

 

Panama - Kayaking and Lock Tour. The drive to the kayaking spot is not that far and it goes by pretty quick. The tour guide talks about Panama on the way there. You go to a hotel to change and get ready for kayaking. It is a nice clean place. The tour lasts about an hour. We saw some wildlife including a monkey and a sloth. If you go on this tour, definitely wear clothing you don't mind getting wet. The water from the paddles sprays on you a little. You also have the opportunity to change, so if you want, bring a change of clothes. Afterwards, you go to the locks for about 45 minutes. The guide gave us banana muffins and water to snack on the way. The locks are neat. More interesting than I thought...

 

Costa Rica - Whitewater Rafting. This was a great excursion! A bus takes you to the tour operator's headquarters to prepare for the rafting trip. The location is sort of far, about 1 hour and 20 minutes from the port. The ride out there goes by fast since the guide talks about Costa Rica and you get to see the Costa Rican countryside. Once everyone is ready, a school bus takes you down a seriously bumpy dirt road to the rafting spot. If you are prone to car sickness, make sure you are up to date with Bonine (I took one everyday anyway and was fine). They explain the rafting commands and within a few minutes you are off on the raft. The trip down the river varies depending on the river's current speed and water level. Ours was a little over an hour. It was so much fun, but I wouldn't recommend it if you have any physical ailments or if you are afraid of water.:) Also, I recommend wearing a bathing suit with something over it (I wore terrycloth shorts and a tank top over my suit). You will get soaked. Bring a change of clothes and a towel. After the trip is over, you go back to the tour operator's shop where you can change. You can even shower there if you want. They serve AWESOME Costa Rican food as you change and wait for the bus to go back to the port. It is included in the tour so there is no charge unless you want beer. The food really was outstanding - and drink the coffee. It is phenomenal.

 

Belize - Discover Scuba. If you have any interest in trying scuba, I would recommend this excursion. It was a blast. You leave the Miracle right on the dive boat and they take you to an island where their dive shop is located. You watch a short video and take a very easy & short verbal true/false quiz. Then you get back on the dive boat and they take to a shallow area to practice. Once everyone passes the practice, you go to a deeper area for the open dive. It is about a half hour or so. The instructors follow closely and they are very good. We saw so much underwater, even though the seas were rather rough. This is another excursion where I would recommend you are up on your sea sick meds and are in decent physical shape. They also provide light refreshments. We had pineapple, watermelon and sweetbread cookies with water or juice. And, last but not least, wear a bathing suit and a shirt over it so you are protected from the dive gear.

 

You guys will have a blast!! This was a great cruise!!!

 

P.S. - I'll be posting a full review of our cruise soon!

[TallyRockChick]

Seas* - Thanks so much for the info! Im very much looking forward to your full review!