We just returned from the Miracle (8 day Caribbean out of NYC). Last year we had booked the Voyager OTS out of Galveston for 2/3/08 but complications from surgery in December forced us to cancel. We then booked the Carnival Conquest for 5/4/08 in its place (same itinerary). About three weeks prior to the Conquest cruise, I noticed a mention of a do-wop cruise in a CCer's signature. DH had been interested in doing a do-wop so I asked for information from her looking toward a 2009 booking. She sent me the contact info and when I called they had just had a cancellation (wow, what timing!)on a balcony cabin for this year's cruise. I told DH it was out of NYC, was a do-wop cruise, and went to Tortola, all things he had recently mentioned he'd like to do. He got on the phone and booked the airline and all of a sudden we had two cruises booked in one month.

The Conquest cruise was just about perfect and we were really looking forward to as good a time on the Miracle. As I do the review, I will compare certain aspects to the Conquest.

The TA booked us at a Comfort Suites in Queens and I converted the reservation to use my Choice Hotel points. We flew in to LGA and aside from a rude flight attendant in first class, the flight was uneventful. The shuttle from the hotel picked us up quickly. He was very helpful, offering tips on where to eat close to the hotel. The hotel was on the edge of a residential, commercial area with a large Jewish cemetery across the street. We ate at a neighborhood restaurant/bar and walked through the neighborhood on the way back to the hotel. We asked at the desk about how best to get to the pier and were told we could take the subway (What!) or use a car service as taxis were not allowed to pick up guests on the property. I'm not sure whose rule that is. On Sunday morning, after breakfast, we called down for the car service and the driver was there within 20 minutes. Upon nearing the pier, traffic got really bad and was stacked up on the Hudson Parkway (forgive me if the terminology is not exactly right). He worked his way through the traffic on the inside lanes and was able to get us up to the luggage drop-off. We later found out that in addition to there being three ships in that day, there had been a wreck near the pier and the Norwegian Spirit had run into the dock that morning, delaying Miracle's arrival. All during the cruise we talked to people whose rides to the pier (taxis or even family members) dropped them off several blocks from the pier leaving them to haul their luggage. One couple was 89 years old and their son even made them walk. Some passengers from the Spirit helped them with their luggage. Read more