This was a great experience and I'm so glad we decided to cruise to Alaska. We had a naturalist on the cruise who had some very informative presentations and who also had morning walks around the ship looking for whales. Having him aboard definitely enhanced the experience.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
I just achieved Platinum status on this cruise and that status made embarkation so much better! Usually, it's not a long wait and things go along smoothly, but being able to get on the ship early was awesome!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The main dining room was outstanding. The food was wonderful and the service was excellent too. We ate in the dining room for breakfast and dinner every day of the cruise. I especially liked the yogurt parfait for breakfast. I wasn't as crazy about the selection on the buffet, but I enjoyed Guy's Burgers and the salad bar very much for lunch.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We enjoyed playing mini-golf, playing cards in the card room, and relaxing by the pool. For me, it was too cold to do much outside on this cruise.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
I particularly enjoyed listening to a singing duo called Blue Velvet. They were by far the best singing group on any cruise I've been on. I hope to see them again. I also enjoyed the stand up comedy.
Children's Programs
We don't have young children
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff all over the ship was top-notch. Our room steward was so attentive and made sure we were happy. The waitstaff at our table was also very accommodating and so friendly! Everyone was always smiling and welcoming.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I love the layout of the Carnival Miracle and it's sister ships, the Legend and the Pride. It's the perfect size ship and so easy to find my way around. The common areas were very well maintained and always clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was a nice size and clean, thanks to our room steward. There were a couple of electrical problems and clogged sink drain upon embarkation, but most of it was taken care of in the first 24 hours. The bathroom light didn't want to turn on, so we just left it on so that we wouldn't have to worry about it. Also, if there was an exhaust fan in the bathroom, it was not working.
Ship tip
Pack warmly! I was wishing I had packed a few more sweaters.
This was a pretty port with lots to do without taking an excursion. A whale watching excursion would have been fun, but we didn't do an excursion here. We walked down to Pier 39 and watched a street performer, did some shopping, and watched the sea lions play. We also ate a a restaurant called Cholita Linda and the food there was really yummy! The views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge were great and we got lots of pictures.
We did a whale watching excursion here. We took a 15 minute bus ride to the boat that took us out to see the whales. The boat was nice, but the windows fogged up so much that we couldn't see the whales or take pictures of the from inside the boat. It was cold and raining that day, so we froze outside trying to get pictures. I definitely recommend bringing a waterproof camera because the rain ruined our camera that was not waterproof. We did not lose the pictures, so that was a relief! Also bring a raincoat. We did a little shopping after the excursion and ate lunch at the Red Dog Saloon. A lot of the shops were the same shops you find in the Caribbean (Del Sol, EFFY, etc). The Red Dog Saloon looked like an old time saloon and our bus driver had told us some of the history of it, so that was fun. The food was alright.
This was my favorite port. There was a lot of local shopping and the White Pass train ride was thrilling and beautiful! We also ate at a restaurant called the Red Onion. It started out as a brothel and they kept the theme going. They also had a museum upstairs depicting the history of the Red Onion.
We did not book an excursion here. We did walk all the way to Hoonah and back and the walk is not worth it at all. Hoonah is a tiny, rundown town with nothing to do. I recommend getting off the ship long enough to see bald eagles (they nest in the treetops close to the dock) and go down to the shore to see all the colorful starfish in the water. There were a few shops close to the ship where you could pick up some nice souvenirs.
Beautiful views of mountains and blue ice in the water. We didn't get off the ship, but we saw plenty of the blue ice floating in the water and the mountains all around us. It was breathtaking. Many people on board saw humpback whales here.
I loved this port! There were so many shops right next to the dock with lots of wonderful local art! You could also take a taxi to see the town, but I was perfectly content in the little shops by the ship. This port also has the smallest Walmart in America, if you are interested. Several people visited the Walmart to get some things they were missing on the cruise (chips, soda, etc).
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