Carnival Miracle 12/01/07 Review - The Good, The Great and the AWESOME...

[ladylonghorn]

Nope that's all I needed. Can't wait for a spa visit!!

 

As far as the luggage, I think I'll pack 1 small suite case that we can carry on with us with a couple of staple items.

 

Thanks again for the great review!

[djcellini]

Hello Miss Brandy,

 

How are you,It's down to 9 days till I'm on the Miracle, lolll, Btw have a Happy New year........ :D

[Sgrgirl20]

Hey! Thanks for the review and pictures :) I loved going through the post. Along with djcellini - me and my family will be cruisin on her in 9 days.

[TallyRockChick]

Hey Brandy, Your review was great. I'm glad I don't have internet access at work or I would be laughing more than you laughed at Bruce pre cruise. The Miracle is terrific, our itinerary was fantastic, and the people we met on board were even better.

 

Hi Tracy!! I just got an email from Andrea with some of her pics from the cruise and she said that you guys might be cruising again together next year. You guys should so go on the cruise we are going on 12/7. Miracle again, St. Maartin, St. Lucia, St. Kitts. I would love to cruise with ya'll again.

[cruzegirl]

Heres a view with the ship in the background

After ooh-ing and aah-ing for a little while and taking more pics then were necessary, we decided we wanted to grab some food! Oscar said there was a really good place to eat real close to the port so since he never steered us wrong before, we hopped in the van and were off.

The original place we were going to go was closed so Oscar pointed us in a direction of a restaurant on the other side of the park square. As we unloaded we paid Oscar his money and tipped him PHAT! We called our tour the local/backwoods tour. It was the BEST!

This is the restaurant. It didnt have a sign or antyhing, we called it the red roof place.

After walking a little bit we noticed Oscar was walking with us! He wanted to make sure we got to the right place and let the people know he brought us there. He even helped pull a table up to make the table larger for the 7 of us. Before I get into the food I really really want to give mad props to Oscar. Yeah, at first we were a little sketched out, but who wouldnt be? It was worth the risk. He really was the best tour guide we could have asked for and he was worth WAY more then the money we paid. Not only was it a personal tour and not a caravan having to wait for 50 people to finish, but it really seems like he just LOVES his job. The dude took us to his house for crying out loud! I could not praise any tour that Oscar gives more and it is WORTH IT to venture out and not book with the ship. The man is great at what he does and is just a great man in general and any business that I can say I brought him will make me happy for the rest of my life. Its food in that cute little baby's mouth!

If anyone has any other questions about the tour, Oscar, or needs any contact info for him, I will be more then happy! Just let me know...even though his website is just a Google away!!

Now for the food...

This place is straight up authentic. The girl taking our order tried her best to speak her broken English just as much as me and Lex tried to speak our broken Spanish and it all turned out good.

Andrea ordered a Diet Coke and the girl looked at her crazy! She didnt understand. This is why:

In Costa Rica its called Coca Cola LIGHT! Who knew??

Lex got the Arroz con Pollo (chicken with rice) and it was seriously the best we have ever had anywhere.

 

The sauce he's putting on is homemade picante sauce. The guy that put it on our table said "picante....MUY picante" and I said "muy?" and he said "SIIIII". I guess its real hot. They put it in little mini Johnny Walker Red bottles which we cracked up about.

I got the fried plantains which when they came she looked at me like "is this what you wanted?" and I said "PERFECTO!" They were perfect. Delicious! Especially with some of the picante on um!

 

Not only was the food GREAT but it was CHEAP too! Both mine and Lex's meals, including 2 Cerveza Imperials were $6 each. 2 beers and a plate full of food for $6? The US needs to adopt that trend!

After lunch it was time to shop. Lex was looking for cigars, I wanted a tanktop with Costa Rica on it and some coffee for my dad. Upon leaving the restaurant we were attacked by various kids asking for money. They seemed to follow us down the street. One snapped my arm with something when I told him no, the little poo poo head!

We went into various stores and ended up finding everything we wanted. The kids were swarming, and at the end when we were about done a group of 3 crowded me as I was getting my change for my tank top. They were saying "one doller? Please" and I basically told them that if I give one of them I would have to give all of them and they were like "ok". I said SHARE and I gave them $1 and walked off. A couple secs later one of the kids said that the other kid took the money and wasnt sharing. I told him "sux for you, go beat him up".

Then we walked into the market place at the port and saw everything we bought in the street stores for cheaper, but it wasnt cheap enough to care much so we continued and went on to the ship.

When we were waiting in line to get back on the ship, there was a Carnival dude standing there with wet cool towels to cool off (which I had never seen before and it was a very nice touch).

Then we were back on the ship! But not before I could take this beautiful pic

 

Since it was still pretty early (we had to be back on board at 3:30) we decided to head out to the pool where I proceeded to take a FANTASTIC nap in the sun. After a couple hours it was time to go get some sushi and then go back to the room to get ready for the past guest party...

 

Brandy,

Your review rocks girl.... I am laughing so hard.... And that kid you talked about, what a brat. lol....They can be annoying. We got the cool washcloths in St. Kitts on our Miracle cruise. They sure are nice when it's boiling out.....:D

[cruzegirl]

The Maitre D is Suresh and the CD is Brent. Brent was actually really good and quite funny. I liked having a younger CD. My fave people that were running things though were PeeWee and Beef. They were quite funny as well. Beef had this way of using making fun of people as his comedy relief which was pretty messed up but still funny. Peewee was just a cutie.

The Maitre D, well we saw him a couple of times throughout the nights and it kinda looked to us like he skipped our table. Like because we were younger he wasnt gonna come by. I was a little offended not gonna lie. Finally on the night before the last night (ya know, the night before you are supposed to bring tips for him) he finally came to our table to say hey. It was obvious. We decided to tip our servers really well instead of the MD. Im sure he wont mind.

 

I'm with you. I did not care for Suresh at all. I don't recall him ever coming by our table in the back, unless it was when I went potty once. lol... But his talking during the meal ticked me off. He's start with, "ladies/gents, sorry to interrupt your meal".... Then freakin don't..... we were all screaming for him to stop.... I refused to tip him for that and other reasons.....

[cruzegirl]

And now for one of the best parts of sea days....ICE CREAM SUNDAE BAR! Lucky us, they used the ice cream machines that were at the Orpheus pool so they were easily accessable and I could wait till no one was there. Behold my frozen yogurt concoction!

 

what I was looking at while I was enjoying my sundae - its MELLLLLLTING

heres a pic of Lex eating his burger and fries

 

Then it was time for the waterslide again. This time I brought my underwater camera that I bought to bring on the cave tubing excursion in Belize (of course, more on that later). We also took video going down the slides of each other (the one not sliding would film the one that was sliding) and they were hilarious!

 

The slide was tons of fun for us too.... I got going really fast on several occasions.... Just rocketing.... But couldn't walk on the deck..lol.... slipped and fell but was caught by one of the officers there...:D

[ON3DANCE]

I love your name! Unfortunately it hasnt been so for some time, but theres always next year. I think thats 4 years in a row that Ive had to say that and I just do not like it!

 

NCT- dont worry, theres plenty for your 21 DD to do...I just havent gotten there yet.

Greatest review of the Miracle. We sail on 1/10/08 and I am now psyched!!!!! Hubby and I are in the geriatric group, but when that disco music starts..............well, let's see who the old people are. We will out dance them all!

 

Thanks again for the wonderful review!!! I hope I get picked to play Fear Factor!!!

 

Off to see your pics..........

 

Barb, Boca Raton, Fl

[cruzegirl]

Yeah, this cruise was elderly abundant. They all were with the same group for the most part too. They all had the same red keychain thingys around their necks. There were others that werent with the group too...but I would literally say that about 45% or more of the sailing was geriatric. Im not sure if it was the movement of the ship or what, but they all walk in a zig zag motion which makes it virtually impossible to maneuver around them when they are being slow.

This sailing didnt have very many kids but the ones that were there were very well behaved. Barely saw them at all!

 

Brandy,

Loved your overall review. Felt like I was back on the Miracle. Loved that ship.

We had alot of gerries on our cruise too. An acquaintance had asked me to pay attention to if the ship was handicapped friendly. I was afraid I'd forget but there were so many folks with canes, walkers and wheelchairs, I remembered....lol.....

Our laughter of the cruise was the BOB group. The leader wore the most outrageous outfits and hats with lights on them....lol.... It was crazy. I think they must of had 50 rooms or better.... I believe I was told that he was a travel agent and this was his group. He was over the top to say the least....

[ON3DANCE]

I wanted to ask you about the things to do in St. Kitts etc.

 

What did you guys do in each port? I was wondering if you researched your own off ship excursions. A few years ago on a Celebrity ship, I booked my own tours..........are there any you can recommend?

 

LOVE ALL YOUR PICS!!!!!!! Thanks!

[btyko]

Hey Brandy, Your review was great. I'm glad I don't have internet access at work or I would be laughing more than you laughed at Bruce pre cruise. The Miracle is terrific, our itinerary was fantastic, and the people we met on board were even better

 

You laughed at Bruce?

 

What do you mean I'm funny?...You mean the way I talk? What?...Funny how? What's funny about it?...You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me...I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

 

Joe Pesci in Goodfellas is my hero.

[TallyRockChick]

On3dance - I wish I could be of more help to ya, but thats not the itinerary we went on. We went on the Exotic Western to Panama, Costa Rica and Belize. The next cruise we are going on is going to be next December on that Eastern Itinerary. Sorry!

 

Bruce - there you go again....LOLOL! I love me some Goodfellas!

[djcellini]

Hello Miss Brandy, how was your New Year.......

 

I'm good, only one week till I cruise on the Miracle, can't wait, So I hear from others that the matr'd sucks lolll, he should have taken lessons from the past matr's Stipe, who was the original dude, that guy was the best and nicest person one will ever meet.....

 

I'm used to horrible matr'd's and could careless about what thay say.....

 

Your waterslide pics are so funny, that think kicked my butt the few times I went down it, there is a trick to going down it, I hope you know..... :D

 

So what else is new with you....

[kato92]

Hello Miss Brandy, how was your New Year.......

 

.....

 

Your waterslide pics are so funny, that think kicked my butt the few times I went down it, there is a trick to going down it, I hope you know..... :D

 

..

 

 

 

Do tell the secret.....;)

[TallyRockChick]

You gotta lean back on your shoulders and push on your heels, essentially lifting your butt up in the air. Thats the only way to go down and not only not get stuck, but actually go FAST! That last curve on the slide is SO much fun when you are going as fast as you can!

 

Hey DJ - New Years was great. Im so jealous that you get to go on Miracle so soon. It feels like a distant memory that we were on her. I cant believe it was a month ago yesterday that we were sailing away.

[djcellini]

Hey Miss Brandy,

 

Thats good you had a nice New Year, I can't wait, one more week and I'll be on the Miracle...... :D

 

Hows the weather in FL anyways I hear that the nites are cold and such, and the days are in the 60's right now, thats what the grandparents said and they are in Palm Beach, anything is better than cold New England weather.....

 

Heres the trick I figured out for the waterslide, you need to really get a good fast start, then cross one leg over another and cross your arms and arch your back a lil off the water and boy you can fly, I was going so fast I almost pissed myself lolll jk jk, so there you go...... :D :D

[TallyRockChick]

Im not sure about down south but its colllllld here in Tally. It was 20 something this morning and the high is 47 today. Its supposed to get down to 17 tonight I believe. COLD!

[djcellini]

Im not sure about down south but its colllllld here in Tally. It was 20 something this morning and the high is 47 today. Its supposed to get down to 17 tonight I believe. COLD!

 

Brrrr thats cold, I might as well stay here then lollll jk jk, Ill bypass FL and go straight to St Marrten lol.... :D Because I know it has to be warm there......

 

So you like my lil secret about the waterslide, I guess not because you said nothing about it ,loll...... :p

[djcellini]

1 hour 29 mins till I'm offically on vacation and on the Miracle, bring her on I say........... :D :D :D

[scsunshine]

Hi Brandy

You do rock :cool: . I spent 3 hours last night reading your reveiw and looking at your pics.

We heard last year that you could no longer bring ever non-alcoholic drinks and coolers on board. It sounds like ya'll did with no problems. We are flying in sail day, and we normally take "water aka vodka" with us. If we can get a cooler on board, I will take a colapsable cooler and fill it when I get to FLL and then check it with our bags at the boat. Did you have a cooler or just carry it on in you bag?

Thanks for all your help. I am a seasoned Carnival cruiser, but it seems like every year things change.

Mel :)

[TallyRockChick]

Hi Mel....glad you liked the review! ;)

We put the cooler (collapseable) and the alchi in our baggage, locked them, and checked them. So technically we didnt "bring" it on board. The staff brought it on board for us! You cant bring an actual bottle of alchi on the ship with you unless its wine. But we checked that too. We didnt bother putting our alchi in different containers, just put the bottle it came in in our luggage and that was that.

You CAN bring a cooler on board with you and you can bring sodas and water with you too. I saw people walking on the ship with one of those golf course rolling coolers, so thats no prob, as long as you can open it up and show security whats in there is legal to bring aboard. Ive also seen people check their rolling coolers as well, but I wouldnt really trust that because staff can be pretty rough with the bags. Hope that helps!:D

[davethomasowns]

Hello!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your review of the ship. Glad you had a great time! I am really close to booking the March 6th cruise of the same itinerary and ship. I hear a lot of good things about the Miracle, and it leaves exactly one day after my girlfriends birthday (It's a surprise gift for her) so it sounds like the perfect one for us. She also has always wanted to see the Panama Canal.

 

Insignificant question, but was the casino large? Did you notice if they have a Texas Holdem table or not?

 

Thanks

Shane A

[TallyRockChick]

Hi Shane! Thanks about the review. If you want to look at all my pics of the cruise I posted a link in the review so you can take a better look at some things. Its pretty much chronological by days except for the underwater camera pics from the water slide and cave-tubing are at the end.

The casino was pretty big! Lots of slots everywhere and a section of tables. I did not see a dealt holdum table, but I heard that there was a computerized one. We started out at the blackjack table and lost big and then finished out at the craps and roulette table and won big! Hope that helps. Let me know any other questions.

[b&bw2]

Excellent review, I am looking so forward too my Cruise in July.

[sheri18]

Heres where the underwater camera came in. The pics are crappier but they still came out pretty good.

We had a little walk to get to the start point. We carried our tubes most of the way until we had to cross a part of the river and then the boys took all of our tubes. I coulda made it the rest of the way with my tube but they were holding like 4-5 tubes each, I couldnt imagine!

This is a view of where we started out

Me and Lex at the top of the hill getting ready to drop in.

I got to be at the head of our chain of tubes. We were in 2 rows and we all linked together our row by putting feet under armpits. Some people might be weirded out by that but I saw WHO CARES?? Well, Lex's feet were under my armpits, but I still wouldnt have cared if I had a strangers.

It was pretty funny too because Richard would bring us to the end of the ledge and put the tube in the water and would hold our arms and drop us butt first into the tube but some of the ladies didnt let go and Richard went in to the water a couple times. Funny!

And heres our chain building up and getting in the water.

The water was kinda chilly but once you were in it, it was fine...till you went under a drippy part in the cave and then it gave you a chill again. They dubbed me the screamer because every time I got splashed or dripped on I shreaked!

Thru the first cave and theres the light at the end

The 2 chains were linked together by us holding on to the tubes next to us. Im not really sure how it happened but in the first cave, one of the the people in my chain's tubes popped. Richard immediately acted and gave up his tube and he just swam and walked the rest of the way. I thought that was really great. Some of the way he would hold on to my feet and pull us along as he swam and kept us centered in the caves. They had forgotten our headlamps in the other bus but Timmy and Bernard both had big flashlights and those provided enough light. I actually liked it better without much light. What I DIDNT like was when they turned the lights off and splashed us all. They said "we TOLD YOU it was a fully wet tour!"

 

 

 

again awesome review........how many people were in you group?......how did you book them....i am very nervous about the caves...is it safe ect...., were would you leave a change of clothes and how would you change......i am sure i have more questions.....