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Carnival Miracle Deck Plans & Reviews

carnival cruise miracle reviews

Carnival Miracle

carnival cruise miracle reviews

Activities & entertainment

  • Alchemy Bar
  • Art Auction
  • Basketball Court
  • Dance Classes
  • Deck Parties
  • Evening Kids Programs *
  • Fitness Center
  • Fitness Classes *
  • Fitness Studio *
  • Green Eggs n Ham Breakfast *
  • Groove For St. Jude *
  • Hot Tubs (3)
  • Ice Carving Demonstrations
  • Internet Café *
  • Jogging Track
  • Photo Portraits *
  • Seuss-A-Palooza Parade & Storytime
  • Spa Carnival® *
  • Spa Parties *
  • The Raven Library
  • Venus Salon *
  • White Party
  • Wine Tasting *
  • Wizards Video Arcade *
  • Waterslides
  • Circle "C"®
  • Camp Carnival®
  • Comedy Shows
  • Dr. Frankenstein's Lab Dance Club
  • Gotham Lounge
  • Lip Sync Battle
  • Live Nightly Music
  • Mad Hatter's Ball Lounge
  • Mr. Lucky's Casino *
  • Phantom Main Lounge
  • Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Ariadne Room Restaurant Annex - American
  • Bacchus Dining Room - American
  • Asian Corner - Asian
  • Cherry On Top - Candies *
  • Buffet - Casual
  • Grille - Casual
  • Horatio's Lido Restaurant - Casual
  • Fountainhead Café - Coffee & Pastries *
  • Lido Café - Coffee Bar *
  • Salad Bar - Healthy Fare
  • Taste of the Nations - International
  • Taste Bar - Light Bites
  • Alchemy Bar - Martini Bar *
  • Sam's Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
  • Pizza - Pizza
  • Odyssey Bar - Pool Bar *
  • RedFrog Pub™ - Pub *
  • Deli - Sandwiches
  • Skybox Sports Bar - Sports Bar *
  • Nick & Nora's Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
  • Excellent 36
  • Very Good 14
  • Terrible 12
  • All languages ( 86 )
  • English ( 86 )

Upcoming itineraries

The map for this itinerary is not available at this time.

Carnival Miracle

carnival cruise miracle reviews

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line |

carnival cruise miracle reviews

Find a Cruise on Carnival Miracle

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Like other Carnival ships, the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle boasts activities and entertainment geared toward travelers of all ages. Thanks to a renovation in 2020, the ship features upgrades like Guy's Burger Joint, WaterWorks, RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Cantina and more. The ship also received a minor refresh to interior and exterior spaces in 2022. 

Even with the added venues, a nearly 2-to-1 guest-to-crew ratio ensures service is a priority. And compared to other Carnival ships, Miracle offers a higher percentage of cabins with ocean views. While Interior staterooms provide more wallet-friendly digs, Ocean View, Balcony and Suite category cabins offer more space and scenery. All cabins come equipped with flat-screen TVs and 24-hour room service.

During days at sea, grown-ups can enjoy poolside lounging or the adults-only Serenity Retreat, while kids ages 2 to 17 can play at age-specific programs.  There are also entertainment options like the Punchliner Comedy Club, the SkyBox Sports Bar and the Seuss at Sea program. Once the family works up an appetite, they'll have their pick of the main dining room, the Lido buffet, a specialty steakhouse (for an extra fee) and more.

Carnival Miracle departs from Galveston, Texas ;  Los Angeles  and  San Francisco  to destinations in the Caribbean, the Panama Canal,  Hawaii , Mexico , and Alaska . 

Pros & Cons

Many passengers appreciated the spacious cabin quarters

Specialty restaurants cost extra

  • Expert Rating » 4.0
  • Traveler Rating » 3.9
  • Health Rating » 5.0

Carnival Miracle ranks # 6 out of 25 Carnival Cruise Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

  • # 2 in Best Cruises to Hawaii
  • # 6 in Best Carnival Cruise Line
  • # 9 in Best Cruises to Mexico
  • # 18 in Best Cruises to Alaska
  • # 24 in Best Cruises for Families
  • # 43 in Best Affordable Cruises

Carnival Miracle offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

carnival cruise miracle reviews

Carnival Miracle contains 12 decks. Find out which features are available on each Carnival Miracle deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 2717 guests have reviewed Carnival Miracle , giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Carnival Miracle

Carnival Miracle cruise ship

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

  • Los Angeles (Long Beach-San Pedro, California)
  • Tampa (Florida)
  • Galveston (Texas)
  • San Francisco (California)
  • Dover (England)

Carnival Miracle current position

Carnival Miracle current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 54.30990 N / -130.85490 W) cruising at speed of 10.2 kn (19 km/h | 12 mph) en route to CAPRR > USSFO. The AIS position was reported 5 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Miracle

Carnival Miracle current cruise is 11 days, round-trip Alaska . The itinerary starts on 03 Jun, 2024 and ends on 14 Jun, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Miracle

  •   Itineraries
  •   Review
  •   Wiki

Carnival Miracle Itineraries

Carnival miracle review, review of carnival miracle.

The 2004-built Carnival Miracle cruise ship is the 4th/last of the SPIRIT-class CCL liners, with sisterships the fleetmates Legend , Spirit and Pride , as well as Costa 's liners Atlantica and Mediterranea . The USD 375-million liner was last refurbished in 2020.

The vessel (IMO number 9237357) is currently Panama- flagged (MMSI 354277000) and registered in Colon .

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian ). 

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

Carnival Miracle cruise ship

The 2124-passenger ship Carnival Miracle and her Spirit-class sisters represented some significant firsts for Carnival: amazing alternative steakhouses found on each Carnival new-build thereafter and onboard wedding chapels. Spirit-class cruise ships also offer an awesome 80 % ratio of outside cabins, as well as lots of nice little touches - such as museum-quality artwork and "designer" martinis.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Miracle staterooms (1062 total, in 28 categories) include 50 Suites, 634 Balcony, 171 Oceanview and 215 Inside cabins. The ship has 17 wheelchair-accessible cabins but no Spa cabins. Most cabins are sized 185 ft2 (17 m2). Most cabin balconies are sized 40 ft2 (4 m2). Suites are 4 types (Grand, Vista, Ocean, Junior), the largest are Grand Suites (300 ft2 / 28 m2 plus 115 ft2 / 11 m2 terrace).

The boat has 12 passenger decks , of which 6 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Miracle's main restaurant for dinner is the Bacchus Dining Room, which is named after the Greek god of wine. There is only one dining room on all Spirit-class ships, while even older Carnival ships feature two main restaurants. However, the two-deck-high Bacchus easily accommodates all guests in two seatings or on a flexible basis, via "Your Choice Dining" program. Nick and Nora's, situated under the skylight in Carnival's red funnel, offers unforgettable dinner that is worth the $30 charge considering the exquisite atmosphere, extra-attentive service and the quality of the meals. Horatio's lido buffet is a one-level restaurant boasting full breakfast and lunch buffets. It is also a casual dinner alternative and late-night bistro. A sushi cart is set up each afternoon outside of Maguire's Bar with rotating options like shrimp, assorted rolls and salmon, all free of charge. Sake is also available, unfortunately not complimentary.

Carnival Miracle cruise ship

Follows the complete list of Carnival Miracle restaurants and food bars.

  • Bacchus Restaurant (1122-seat aft Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings, or “Your Time Dining”; offers “Seuss At Sea” themed breakfasts for $5; with the 36-seat Ariadne Room restaurant annex).
  • Nick and Nora’s Steakhouse (744-seat reservations only restaurant, serving seafood and prime beef steaks; with dance floor and stage for live performances)
  • Horatio’s Lido Buffet Restaurant (1396-seat self-service restaurant with complimentary food stations; operates as dinner bistro in the evenings)
  • Sushi Bar (complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Still, Joe Farcus always has a theme, and Carnival Miracle's is "fictional icons" - passenger hallways feature drawings of popular literary characters such as Robin Hood and Robinson Crusoe (and the more darken Belgian detective Hercule Poirot). The lobby and atrium are called after the Metropolis of "Superman" fame, and there is also a Gotham lounge, which gets its name from "Batman".

Carnival Miracle cruise ship

The 3-level main show lounge on Carnival Miracle is fashioned after "The Phantom of the Opera" and Paris Opera House. The elaborate production shows include a high-energy popular music medley from the last decades, called "Legends", as well as a Beatles-themed production. Frankenstein's Lab is ship's 2-deck disco. It received new carpeting and furniture as part of the recent refurbishment.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Miracle lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

  • Mad Hatter’s Ball Lounge (425-seat, hosts Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch)
  • Dr. Frankenstein’s Lab Disco and Nightclub (211-seat, 2-level Dance Club)
  • Phantom Theatre (1400-seat, 3-level main show lounge, also used for movies, bingo games, game shows)
  • The Joker Card Room (30-seat)
  • Fountainhead Cafe (28-seat specialty coffee bar and patisserie)
  • Taste Bar (serves complimentary appetizers); Maguire’s Bar (10-seat sports bar); Sam’s Bar (88-seat piano bar); Snack Bar; Towel Bar; Gotham Foyer Lounge and Bar (100-seat)
  • Frankie and Johnnie’s Jazz Club (425-seat jazz lounge)
  • Mr. Lucky’s Casino (108-seat, served by Lucky’s; with 6-pocket Legend Pool Table)
  • Miracle Atrium Metropolis Lobby (11-deck high midship open area with dance floor and stage, served by Metropolis Lobby Bar)
  • Jeeves Lobby Lounge (23-seat wine bar)
  • Gatsby’s Garden Interior Promenade (23-seat)
  • The Raven Library and Internet Cafe (17-seat, 24-hour Internet computers)
  • Wedding Chapel (30-seat)
  • Kane’s Way Upper Promenade (55-seat)
  • The Fun Shops (offers “Bon Voyage” items, duty-free liquor, jewelry, fashion boutiques, souvenirs, logo items); Formalities Shop (tuxedo rentals, special occasion gifts); Studio Photo Gallery and Shop
  • Wizards Video Games Arcade (24-hour)
  • Circle C (kids' lounge complimentary area with video games, parties, movies, planned activities)
  • Camp Carnival (aft located kids' lounge area with complimentary kids programmes and supervised activities)
  • Spa Carnival complex (with Steam Rooms, Saunas, Whirlpool, 10 Treatment Rooms, Venus Beauty Salon and Fitness Center)
  • Sirens Pool; Ulysses Pool (with Sky Dome sliding roof). Both pools are served by Odyssey Bar
  • Serenity (adult-only relaxation area with Whirlpool, Pool, Bar and sunbathing area with lounges)
  • Club O2 (teens club lounge with video games, movies, karaoke, and themed parties)
  • Aqua Park (with 72 ft Twister Waterslide, pool play area, jets, fountains, splash pools).
  • Volleyball-Basketball Court; 9-hole Mini Golf Course; Jogging Track, Shuffleboard.

Itineraries

Carnival Miracle itinerary program is based on departures from Los Angeles (Long Beach CA) and week-long roundtrip Hawaii and Mexico Riviera cruises to Puerto Vallarta , Cabo San Lucas , and Mazatlan . There were plans for Carnival Miracle to be repositioned to Asia (China, early 2018), but those were later canceled. In 2018-2019, the ship operates on 7-day Western Caribbean cruises from homeport Tampa .

In Tampa, Miracle joined Carnival Paradise (operating 4-8-day itineraries) to Caribbean and Cuba. Both ships had combined annual passenger shipping capacity from Tampa around 280,000. The 7-day Tampa cruise departures are on Saturdays or Sundays. Itineraries visit Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman Island, Roatan Island (Mahogany Bay) and Belize City. The 6-day itineraries offer day-long port stays in Cozumel, Belize City and Costa Maya (or Roatan). The 8-day Panama Canal cruises (departures 2018 - April 14, Sept. 8) and 2019 (Feb 2, April 6) offer partial transition and stops in Costa Rica (Limon) and Grand Cayman Island. A special 14-day "Carnival Journeys" itinerary (roundtrip Panama Canal cruise from Tampa) was scheduled for December 2, 2018, visiting Cozumel, Limon, Panama Canal (transit), Cartagena Colombia, Aruba, Curacao, Jamaica (Montego Bay).

Starting December 1, 2019, Carnival Miracle is homeported in San Diego CA for a 3-month season to Hawaii (14-15-day) and Mexico (5-7-day). In 2020, for the first time, Carnival offers roundtrips from San Francisco CA with Carnival Miracle cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico (itineraries lengths 4- to 15 days). The ship returns to homeport Diego for winter 2020-2021 schedule (3- to 15-day voyages). With San Francisco, Carnival had a total of 19 homeports in North America. The San Francisco homeporting starts on March 19, 2020, and includes 4-day weekend cruises to Ensenada (departing Thursdays, returning back on Mondays). 5- and 6-day itineraries visit Ensenada, San Diego, and Catalina Island .

In 2021, Carnival Miracle had planned 10-11-day roundtrips to Alaska from San Francisco . The other Carnival Alaskan ship was Carnival Freedom (homeported in Seattle WA ). However, due to the Coronavirus crisis and Canada's extended (through 2022) ban on cruise ships, CCL's entire Alaska 2021 program was canceled.

The ships 2024-205 schedule (fall-winter-spring/beginning October 16th, 2024) includes roundtrips from Galveston Texas with itineraries ranging 9-10-11-12 days.

Carnival Miracle - user reviews and comments

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Carnival Miracle cruise ship

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Carnival Miracle Wiki

Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade was done in 2015. Miracle is Carnival's last SPIRIT-class liner, with sisterships Legend , Pride , Spirit and also Costa Atlantica and Costa Mediterranea .

The vessel was christened by godmother Jessica Lynch (retired US Army private). The inaugural cruise/maiden voyage started from Jacksonville Florida on February 27, 2004. The 3-night Bahamas itinerary visited Freeport . In summer 2004, Carnival Miracle was deployed on the East Coast USA for 7-day roundtrips from NYC New York and Baltimore Maryland , and in November started a year-round homeporting in Tampa Florida .

The vessel (Kvaerner Masa-Yards Helsinki Shipyard hull number 503) was delivered by STX Finland on January 17, 2004. It has volume 85942 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 7089 tons, max draught 8 m. The powerplant is based on 6x Wartisla marine diesel engines (model 9L46C) with combined output 62,37 MW (83640 hp). The propulsion is based on 2x Azipod thrusters with combined output 35,2 MW (47200). The registered shipowner is CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC, while the registered manager is CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES INC.

Staterooms with oceanview are 80%, of which 80% have private balconies. The vessel has an 11-story Metropolis Atrium featuring a ceiling is made of ruby-red glass. Miracle ship's interior design theme is "fictional icons" (done by Joe Farcus). There are drawings of the famous Robinson Crusoe, Robin Hood and Hercule Poirot. Miracle's cruise passengers can visit the Gotham Lounge – a name taken from the Batman movie. On board, there are a wedding chapel and alternative steakhouse. In January 2012 the Miracle ship was refurbished and more trendy Carnival's features were added, like the Serenity adult deck.

In March 2013 the ship was repositioned through Panama Canal from New York to California to replace Carnival Splendor there. There was a plan for Miracle to be deployed to Asia in spring 2017 for roundtrips from China (year-round Shanghai port departures). However, this decision was revised, and Miracle stayed in North America. According to CCL's' ship deployment schedule, the Carnival Asia-based ships were Carnival Splendor (repositioned from Miami to China in spring 2018) and Carnival Spirit (during 2017-2018 winter season only). Both ships were to be homeported in Shanghai.

As part of "Carnival Journeys" itinerary program (offering longer enrichment-themed voyages), in 2017 (September 2-16) Carnival Miracle had scheduled a 14-day Alaskan roundtrip from Los Angeles/Long Beach CA . This was CCL's ever first Alaskan roundtrip itinerary from California. It also included CCL's maiden visit to Icy Strait Point/Hoonah and a full-day passage through Glacier Bay .

The list of onboard activities included Alaska-themed cultural and culinary events and themed seminars (photography, arts, crafts, cooking, celestial navigation).

The Alaskan shore excursions included hiking, sea kayaking, canoeing, helicopter flightseeing tours, lake snorkeling. Next is shown the itinerary's call ports (dates and times).

Prices started from USD 1630 pp (double occupancy interior cabin rates).

Carnival Miracle refurbishments review

The ship's last drydock refurbishment was in 2022 (October-November). The scheduled maintenance and class works were conducted at Vigor Shipyard in Portland OR . The works also included hull cleaning and coating/repainting with Carnival’s new livery (red-white-blue, introduced on the flagship Mardi Gras ), also works on both stabilizers and the bow thrusters, plus some hotel updates.

During drydock 2020 refurbishment (February 14 - March 4, done in Freeport Bahamas ) were conducted regular maintenance works, repairs, cabin renovations. The USD 40 million drydocking project also included adding to the vessel Carnival's signature Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades - Guy’s Burger (Lido deck), Blue Iguana Cantina (Lido), Carnival WaterWorks (deck 10), Red Frog Rum Bar (deck 3).

Refurbishment 2015

The list of deckplan changes after the ship's “Fun Ship 2.0” drydock 2015 refurbishment (in March) includes:

  • adding new bars – RedFrog Pub (best Caribbean rums and beers selection), Alchemy Bar (the liquor pharmacy with resident mixologists), SKYBOX Sports Bar
  • new shop (Cherry On Top) - premium candy store
  • new entertainment program - Playlist Productions (4 evening shows with live band music performances /popular pop and rock songs). The names of the shows are 88 Keys, 80's Pop To the Max, Heart Of Soul, Getaway Island.
  • new kids' fun venue (Seuss at Sea /by Dr. Seuss Enterprises) – kids library, family-themed activities, storytelling
  • Hasbro The Game Show (playing classic board games in giant versions). The list of games features Connect4 Basketball, Yahtzee Bowling, Sorry Sliders.
  • Spin U (DJ Academy) - teens-only DJ training program /by DJ IRIE, nominal fee PP applies) – DJ 101 level US$20, DJ Master level US$100, Private Lesson US$125.

INSIDER

Carnival is known for ultra-cheap cruises. I sailed on its new ship — and I'm not sure that's completely true.

Posted: June 2, 2024 | Last updated: June 2, 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Carnival Cruise Line is well known for its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-stateroom-compared-margaritaville-vs-explora-journeys-2023-11">relatively affordable fares</a>.</li><li>But my recent Carnival Firenze cruise was filled with enticing pay-to-play amenities.</li><li>Even the complimentary venues had up-charged options, making it easy for travelers to blow past their budget.</li></ul><p>If you aren't careful, your Carnival cruise could quickly become as expensive as an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oceania-six-month-around-the-world-cruise-new-luxury-ship-2024-3">Oceania</a> one.</p><p>Peruse any of the "US' most budget-friendly cruise lines" lists, and you're sure to find <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-cruise-new-private-island-celebration-key-royal-caribbean-cococay-2024-5">Carnival</a> somewhere near the top. In 2024, its most affordable itinerary is $164 per person for a four-night sailing from Miami — more than $20 cheaper than Royal Caribbean and Norwegian's least expensive ones.</p><p>That's about $40 a day for food, accommodations, onboard entertainment, and the ability to see several destinations in one vacation.</p><div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-ultra-cheap-cruises-but-endless-up-charged-amenities-2024-6">Business Insider</a></div>

  • Carnival Cruise Line is well known for its  relatively affordable fares .
  • But my recent Carnival Firenze cruise was filled with enticing pay-to-play amenities.
  • Even the complimentary venues had up-charged options, making it easy for travelers to blow past their budget.

If you aren't careful, your Carnival cruise could quickly become as expensive as an Oceania one.

Peruse any of the "US' most budget-friendly cruise lines" lists, and you're sure to find Carnival somewhere near the top. In 2024, its most affordable itinerary is $164 per person for a four-night sailing from Miami — more than $20 cheaper than Royal Caribbean and Norwegian's least expensive ones.

That's about $40 a day for food, accommodations, onboard entertainment, and the ability to see several destinations in one vacation.

<p>Well, not quite.</p><p>You'll be met with a flurry of tempting up-charged amenities the moment you board <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-cruise-lines-private-island-beach-destination-celebration-key-photos-2024-2">Carnival's ships</a>. So, if you're prone to giving into these little luxuries, you can kiss your budget goodbye. </p>

Sounds like a steal, right?

Well, not quite.

You'll be met with a flurry of tempting up-charged amenities the moment you board Carnival's ships . So, if you're prone to giving into these little luxuries, you can kiss your budget goodbye.

<p>I paid $735 for a solo interior cabin, including optional gratuities.</p><p>If that sounds relatively expensive, you'd be right. Carnival Firenze is the company's latest vessel, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-caribbean-icon-of-the-seas-trip-price-expensive-2023-11">newer cruise ships</a> generally command a pricing premium.</p><p>It's also worth noting that I had booked it less than 10 days before embarkation. Oops.</p>

I went on my first Carnival cruise in mid-May: a four-night sailing from Long Beach, California, on Carnival Firenze.

I paid $735 for a solo interior cabin, including optional gratuities.

If that sounds relatively expensive, you'd be right. Carnival Firenze is the company's latest vessel, and newer cruise ships generally command a pricing premium.

It's also worth noting that I had booked it less than 10 days before embarkation. Oops.

<p>Mass-market <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-industry-business-model-changing-bad-news-for-travelers-2023-4">cruise lines have been increasingly slapping fees</a> on on-board amenities and activities. I knew excesses like alcohol, WiFi, and specialty dining would cost extra, as is typical across the industry.</p>

I thought I knew what to expect when it came to the cruise industry's 'pay-to-play' game.

Mass-market cruise lines have been increasingly slapping fees on on-board amenities and activities. I knew excesses like alcohol, WiFi, and specialty dining would cost extra, as is typical across the industry.

<p>Cocktails were generally about $13, while beers and seltzers were about $9 each. Specialty restaurants like teppanyaki and Italian cost about $40 per person, while the steakhouse was $49.</p><p>None of these were surprising. Even premium cruise lines charge extra for higher-end restaurants and beverages.</p>

The only one I fell for was WiFi, of which the premium package cost me $85 for all four nights. I was there for work, after all.

Cocktails were generally about $13, while beers and seltzers were about $9 each. Specialty restaurants like teppanyaki and Italian cost about $40 per person, while the steakhouse was $49.

None of these were surprising. Even premium cruise lines charge extra for higher-end restaurants and beverages.

<p>Even complimentary dining venues dangled tempting dollar sign-afflicted dishes — including the buffet, where guests had to pay for chicken wings.</p>

But on Carnival, it felt like almost everything beyond the bare minimum carried an additional fee.

Even complimentary dining venues dangled tempting dollar sign-afflicted dishes — including the buffet, where guests had to pay for chicken wings.

<p>Craving a lobster roll? The dinnertime Seafood Shack booth (which otherwise has free breakfast and lunch options) sells one for $18.</p><p>Looking for some pizza? You could grab a free pepperoni slice at the pizza stand — or pay $6 for the fancier Korean barbecue steak pie.</p>

Want an empanada? The Empanadas and Pie kiosk sold them for $1.50 apiece.

Craving a lobster roll? The dinnertime Seafood Shack booth (which otherwise has free breakfast and lunch options) sells one for $18.

Looking for some pizza? You could grab a free pepperoni slice at the pizza stand — or pay $6 for the fancier Korean barbecue steak pie.

<p>I had been craving a juice for breakfast. Too bad it was $5 (in the complimentary main dining room, no less).</p><p>I would've loved some popcorn during the evening movie showings. A bag costs $4.</p><p>During our second stop in Ensenada, Mexico, I briefly considered taking the shuttle from the port to downtown. However, that would've been another $4.</p>

That darn dollar sign symbol tormented me morning to night, on and off the ship.

I had been craving a juice for breakfast. Too bad it was $5 (in the complimentary main dining room, no less).

I would've loved some popcorn during the evening movie showings. A bag costs $4.

During our second stop in Ensenada, Mexico, I briefly considered taking the shuttle from the port to downtown. However, that would've been another $4.

<p>The daily schedule denoted pay-to-play events with a small dollar sign symbol. "Tea Time" didn't have one, so off I scurried, excited for some free mid-afternoon caffeine and sweet treats. </p><p>You can probably guess where this story is headed.</p><p>After I took my seat, a waitperson arrived at my table with an organized box of tea bags, giving me just enough time to review my options before announcing they were $1.50 each. On principle, I declined.</p><p>A few minutes later, he returned to my table to let me know that he did, in fact, have some free options stashed behind the up-charged bags. They were the same as those available in the buffet: Lipton and Bigelow's green tea.</p>

But the most egregious 'incident' came during afternoon tea.

The daily schedule denoted pay-to-play events with a small dollar sign symbol. "Tea Time" didn't have one, so off I scurried, excited for some free mid-afternoon caffeine and sweet treats.

You can probably guess where this story is headed.

After I took my seat, a waitperson arrived at my table with an organized box of tea bags, giving me just enough time to review my options before announcing they were $1.50 each. On principle, I declined.

A few minutes later, he returned to my table to let me know that he did, in fact, have some free options stashed behind the up-charged bags. They were the same as those available in the buffet: Lipton and Bigelow's green tea.

<p>I knew he was kidding, but for a split second, I was worried he wasn't. At that point, I expected almost everything I wanted to come with a price tag.</p>

During breakfast, one of the servers joked that my croissant and Lipton tea would cost $20 each.

I knew he was kidding, but for a split second, I was worried he wasn't. At that point, I expected almost everything I wanted to come with a price tag.

<p>But not being immediately upfront about the $1.50 tea bag and otherwise free options felt unecessarily deceitful.</p><p>In the company's defense, not everything had a price tag. Fun activities like the mini-golf course, waterslides, and fear-of-height-inducing ropes course were complimentary and great for forgetting how annoyed I was about "tea gate." </p>

Carnival, I get it. Get that bag, sis!

But not being immediately upfront about the $1.50 tea bag and otherwise free options felt unecessarily deceitful.

In the company's defense, not everything had a price tag. Fun activities like the mini-golf course, waterslides, and fear-of-height-inducing ropes course were complimentary and great for forgetting how annoyed I was about "tea gate."

<p>Many new giant cruise ships have fun amenities like rock climbing walls, exhilarating slides, and even virtual reality arcades. While they're obviously designed for children, I'll admit I enjoy these onboard activities — they help pass the time.</p>

Carnival is just following the industry trend.

There's a reason onboard spending has skyrocketed over the last year. Mass-market cruise lines have been increasingly adopting a model reminiscent of budget airlines: offer a low base fare and present a slew of irresistible amenities at an additional price.

<p>While there, guests can step into a harness to traverse one of the ship's most adrenaline-pumping activities: Crown's Edge. Expect to dangle 154 feet above the ocean when the floor unexpectedly drops from under your feet.</p>

Competitors like Norwegian and Royal Caribbean are repeat offenders, too.

On Norwegian Prima , mini-golf costs $10 per person, while the VR arcade sets guests back $29 for one hour.

On Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas , mini-golf is free! But walk slow if you decide to spend money on the ship's part-agility, part-ziplining course. It costs $49 to participate — and could be completed in a minute or so.

<p>But if you're a pushover who easily gives into temptation, be sure to develop a backbone before you <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-cruise-line-longest-itinerary-31-day-transpacific-photos-2023-2">cruise with Carnival</a>.</p><p>If you don't, mai tais and movie popcorn costs could add up quicker than expected.</p>

So yes, going on an ultra-cheap Carnival cruise is possible if you’re like me, stubbornly unwilling to spend extra.

But if you're a pushover who easily gives into temptation, be sure to develop a backbone before you cruise with Carnival .

If you don't, mai tais and movie popcorn costs could add up quicker than expected.

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IMAGES

  1. Carnival Miracle Full Ship Tour and Walk Through

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  3. Jim Zim's Carnival Miracle cruise ship review

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  4. Carnival Miracle Amenities, A Review Of The Fun Ship

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  5. Carnival Miracle Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

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VIDEO

  1. Unforgettable Moments on the Carnival Miracle Cruise

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  4. Carnival Miracle Tour of Decks 10, 11 & 12

  5. Mr. Lucky's Casino Carnival Miracle Dec 2021

  6. Carnival miracle cruise trip 2022 San Francisco to Ensenada via Catalina island

COMMENTS

  1. Carnival Miracle Cruise: Expert Review (2023)

    Editor Rating. 4.0. Very Good. Overall. David Swanson. Contributor. One of Carnival Cruise Line's most comfortable ships, mid-sized Carnival Miracle is a good bet for cruisers of all ages who are ...

  2. Carnival Miracle

    Carnival Miracle - Deck Plans, Reviews & Pictures - Tripadvisor. Carnival Miracle. 86 reviews. 1-800-764-7419 Website. All photos (2,224) Traveler ( 98) Common Areas ( 1,355) Dining and Bars ( 521) Itineraries for this ship.

  3. Carnival Miracle Reviews from Travelers

    Sail date: May 13, 2024 / Traveled as: Couple. Ship: Carnival Miracle. Pros: - Great value - Nice way to see Alaska - Convenient embarkation port (San Francisco) - On-board band was awesome! - Amazing onboard crew who were friendly and diligent. Cons: - Terrible food. Slow lines and food quality was low. - Many evening shows were boring fillers.

  4. Carnival Miracle Passenger Reviews

    Love this Alaskan get away! Highly recommend the 11 night cruise! Pros: - Great value - Nice way to see Alaska - Convenient embarkation port (San Francisco) - On-board band was awesome! - Amazing ...

  5. Carnival Miracle Reviews, Ship Details & Photos

    Carnival cruises are all about laidback fun, and Carnival Miracle embraces the brand's spirit with fantasy-inspired spaces, creative restaurants, and thrilling activities. Whether it's a trip down the ship's corkscrew Twister waterslide or a chance to win a giant game of Connect 4 at Hasbro, The Game Show, this Spirit-class ship has activities and entertainment to please travelers of all ...

  6. Carnival Miracle Review

    Rankings. Carnival Miracle ranks # 6 out of 25 Carnival Cruise Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings. #2. in Best Cruises to Hawaii. #6. in ...

  7. Carnival Miracle Cruise Review by CliffordCruiser

    Overall rating: 5 out of 5. 4 Night Catalina & Baja Mexico (Los Angeles Roundtrip) Sail date: March 03, 2024. Ship: Carnival Miracle. Traveled as: Family (older children) Reviewed: 3 months ago. Four-night cruise going to Catalina Island and Ensenada Mexico. 5 out of 5.

  8. Carnival Miracle Cruise Reviews (2022 UPDATED): Ratings of Carnival Miracle

    See what 686 cruisers had to say about their Carnival Miracle cruises. Find candid photos and detailed reviews of the Carnival Miracle cruise ship.

  9. Carnival Miracle Review

    Carnival Miracle Cruises: Read 1360 Carnival Miracle cruise reviews. Find great deals, tips and tricks on Cruise Critic to help plan your cruise.

  10. Carnival Miracle Cruise Review by pttygua

    Read the Carnival Miracle review by Cruiseline.com member pttygua from May 12, 2022 of the 4 Night Baja Mexico (San Francisco Roundtrip) cruise. ... Carnival Miracle Cruise Review to Mexico Share. Tweet. pttygua . Contributor Level: Deck Hand Cruises: 7+ cruises. Review: 1. Helpful Votes: 23. Overall rating:

  11. Carnival Miracle

    Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship Review Carnival Miracle is seen here approaching the Bahamas. Photo courtesy of Carnival. The 88,500-ton, 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle feels downright cozy compared to the line's newer ships. Fun and festive, her design inspiration comes from fictional icons, marrying marble, tile mosaic, wood veneers ...

  12. Carnival Miracle Cruise Review by marcyhorwitz3

    Overall rating: 4.6 out of 5. 15 Night Carnival Journeys - Hawaii (Los Angeles Roundtrip) Sail date: October 14, 2023. Ship: Carnival Miracle. Traveled as: Family (older children) Reviewed: 7 months ago. Carnival miracle was a great ship and the crew were wonderful. 5 out of 5.

  13. Carnival Miracle

    Find a Cruise. When we say that Carnival Miracle takes you to another world, we mean that in every sense. This cruise ship features incredibly fun onboard spaces inspired by elements of fantasy. See photos, onboard activities, staterooms, deck plans, and itinerary options. Book your Carnival Miracle cruise today!

  14. Carnival Miracle 2024

    These are my thoughts on my experience on the Carnival Miracle while I was embarked on a 14 day cruise to Alaska. This was my first time sailing from Long Be...

  15. Carnival Miracle Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    The 2004-built Carnival Miracle cruise ship is the 4th/last of the SPIRIT-class CCL liners, with sisterships the fleetmates Legend, Spirit and Pride, as well as Costa's liners Atlantica and Mediterranea.The USD 375-million liner was last refurbished in 2020.. The vessel (IMO number 9237357) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 354277000) and registered in Colon.

  16. Carnival Miracle Amenities, A Review Of The Fun Ship

    The mid-sized Carnival Miracle is a Spirit-class ship with a passenger capacity of 2124. Built in 2004, Carnival Cruise Line refurbished the Miracle's amenities when it went into dry dock in 2020, giving it some fun ship upgrades. Its whimsical design contrasts greatly with classic lines like Celebrity Cruises.

  17. Carnival Miracle Cruise Review by ishelbycruisin

    Sail date: May 24, 2024. Ship: Carnival Miracle. Cabin type: Balcony. Cabin number: 7209. Traveled as: Couple. Reviewed: 2 days ago. Great ports except we were to dock in Juneau. We got stuck on tenders instead. The line to get back was just under 2 hours wait for tenders.

  18. Carnival Miracle Cruise Review by tdaly

    Verified Review. 10 Night Alaska (San Francisco Roundtrip) Sail date: June 26, 2023. Ship: Carnival Miracle. Cabin type: Balcony. Cabin number: 8251. Traveled as: Family (young children) Reviewed: 8 months ago. Overall, if you are not necessarily looking to have fun on the ship and just get port to port, then the Miracle is fine.

  19. Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship: Overview and Things to Do

    Relax at the Spa. Carnival Miracle offers lots of spaces for adults to relax in serene settings. Take, for example, the ship's updated spa, which is only open to cruisers ages 18 and up. There ...

  20. Carnival Miracle Cruise Review by eddielove66

    Overall rating: 3.3 out of 5. Verified Review. 15 Night Carnival Journeys - Hawaii (Los Angeles Roundtrip) Sail date: February 17, 2024. Ship: Carnival Miracle. Cabin type: Balcony. Cabin number: 6143.

  21. Carnival Miracle Reviews

    Age and Pregnancy Restrictions. Minimum age to sail: Infants must be at least 6 months old to be eligible to travel. Pregnancy Restrictions: Carnival will not accept passengers who will have completed more than 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation. Traveling with minors: Guests under the age of 21 years must be accompanied by a relative or guardian of 25 years of age or older.

  22. Carnival is known for ultra-cheap cruises. I sailed on its new ship

    Peruse any of the "US' most budget-friendly cruise lines" lists, and you're sure to find Carnival somewhere near the top. In 2024, its most affordable itinerary is $164 per person for a four-night ...

  23. Carnival Spirit Cruise Ship Review

    Carnival Cruise Line; Carnival Spirit Review; Carnival Spirit Review. 4.5 / 5.0. Editor Rating. 1,077 reviews. 1 Award. Write a Review. Overview ... Carnival Pride and Carnival Miracle) and it ...

  24. Cruise Search: Find Your Perfect Carnival Cruise

    Book your Carnival cruise online using our convenient cruise search. Find a cruise based on date range, home port, destination & duration. Get started!

  25. Carnival Jubilee Cruise Review by ablaze

    7 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip) Sail date: June 01, 2024. Ship: Carnival Jubilee. Cabin type: Balcony. Cabin number: 12386. Traveled as: Large Group. Reviewed: 9 minutes ago. As most will tell you from jubilee, it's just too big. Too many people.