We cruised the Miracle over Spring Break. We have cruised Royal Caribbean 3 previous times and selected the Miracle because it was recommended by a family member. Suffice to say, the grass is not always greener.
On the positive side, the embarkation and debarkation in Tampa were phenomenal. Much easier than the insanity that is Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Once we got on board however, the difference between the previous Royal Caribbean cruises and this cruise became very evident.
The cabins are very nice and most of the cabins have balconies, which is a nice feature. We had 2 cabins for the five of us. If we had tried to cram us all into one, it would have been every uncomfortable. When we arrived at our cabins, the annoyances began. The first thing I saw were 2 beach towels laid on the counter wrapped with a notice that clearly stated that I was responsible for the towels and I would be charged $22 for each towel not in my cabin at the end of the week. Every time we went to the pool deck, I had to be on towel watch to make certain that my kids did not lose the towels or someone else did not take them. I never had this experience on Royal Caribbean. I found this to be very petty and it did not give me a good first impression. Additionally, there is a mandatory 15% gratuity added to all bar service. A gratuity by its nature should be optional, a reward for good service. I am usually a 20% tipper, so the staff lost out to me, but it is the point.