Great for the money, but certainly not a luxury cruise.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
The process was quick and effortless. Parking was a nightmare, but that was the ports problem and not Carnival's.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The food was pretty good, but the main dining room was sensory overload. With the purple "grape" lights, the loud music, and the gaudy, late 1980's Las Vegas style decorating coupled with the constant vibration of the engines that could be felt through the floor and the table, it just wasn't the dining experience we've come to expect on a cruise ship.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
There just didn't seem to be much of a variety for activities. If you like trivia, this is definitely the ship to sail on. There were more trivia events than anything else. The mini-golf was a fun diversion, the pool deck was nice, but in general it was a bar cruise. Everyone was just getting drunk. I'm not opposed to that when I'm on vacation, but I would have preferred other options as well. Still, this wasn't a bad cruise. It just wasn't an amazing cruise.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The small groups were wonderful! Sitting in the bars listening to the live music was a lot of fun and the variety they performed was impressive. The production shows, however, were another story. The set design was fantastic, the costume design missed the mark, the entertainers worked really hard and were quite talented. 88-keys was a poorly conceived show. It didn't flow well, it suffered under a lack of performers, and it didn't allow the entertainers to show off what they could do. Every once in a while a brief glimpse of brilliance followed by long periods of boredom.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
For the most part, the service was incredible. It felt like there was still a staffing issue because lines were longer than expected.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship was in good shape and it was very clean. The decor, however, was over the top. If you like that sort of thing it's great. I prefer a calmer, more relaxing mood.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Because we took a short, spur-of-the-moment, 4-day jaunt, we opted for an ocean view cabin on a lower deck. It was a nice room. Plenty of closet space, well maintained and an unobstructed view out the large window. The only complain is the lack of outlets. There was one outlet in the cabin. Bring a power-strip if you use electronics. There isn't any place else to plug in. One item at a time.
Ship tip
We sometimes take short cruises off the California coast because we live close by. The trips are inexpensive and make for a nice time to rejuvenate. The Miracle doesn't give a great vibe for rejuvenation. It's a bit frenetic. I realize that Carnival advertises that they are "FUN SHIPS" and that part is true.
Don't just get off the ship and plan on walking around downtown Ensenada. Yes, it is close enough to walk, that's not the problem. I felt like I'd been assaulted by the hard sale techniques used by the locals. The small children begging for your money will just break your heart. It's dirty, crowded, and doesn't feel particularly safe. Book an excursion. We booked a craft beer tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. My adult daughter had never been to Ensenada before and wanted to do some shopping. After the tour, our guide dropped us off downtown. We stayed about 15 minutes before deciding to walk back to the ship.
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