I don't know where to start, but I want to make this review short and sweet....this was our 4th cruise and first and last time on Carnival. Learning that instead of leaving from Tampa, we would be bussed to Ft. Lauderdale due to hurricane, should have been a clue that this was not the best of beginnings for our vacation. However, we know that you can't control mother nature and at least we would still be able to leave on our vacation. We traveled with a party of 13, 7 of whom were first-time cruisers. To these 7 people, we had thoroughly convinced them that this would be a vacation of a lifetime. Wow...were we mistaken.

I first want to comment on our cabin which was a balcony room and which was absolutely wonderful....comfortable beds, spacious bathroom...clean and well-maintained. Room service was great. Embarkation and debarkation went well. Ports of call were wonderful. Food was acceptable, but not on par with Royal Carib.

Now, let's get down to the nitty gritty. If you're looking to sail on a ship with high standards, then the Carnival Miracle is not for you. Of the 2,300 passengers, 500 of them were kids. And I mean the run amuck, unsupervised kind. From running up and down the halls, knocking on peoples's door, up til all hours of night and early morning...those kind of kids. Both swimming pools filled to capacity with kids. We had to resort to the "adult" pool at the back of the ship which was no bigger than a large hot tub and where no activities were going on. Ship designers...get real...how do you accommodate over 2,000 people with 3 very tiny pools. The pool in my own backyard is larger than those! Read more