Second time to enjoy the Miracle. Picked this cruise because ports included Panama and Costa Rica. After purchase, Carnival sent a 4:00 a.m. email notifying us they were experiencing propulsion problems, were canceling these two ports, and substituting two stops in Mexico. They weren't forthcoming enough to advise us that the contract terms gave us 24 hours to cancel our cruise, but it didn't really matter because we were with a group of friends, and because of schedules and flights already purchased, we decided to make the best of it.

We understand some things are beyond Carnival's control, that cruising requires a certain amenability to change, but it did tick us off when they only compensated us for this change to a much shorter and less appealing itinerary by paying a $50 per cabin credit. Wow.

Embarkation was worse than last time. Check out what it takes to use the VIP check-in. No line. Read more