I have cruised several times before, over a number of years. Our last cruise was on Celebrity, which we really enjoyed. We selected this cruise based on different criteria than in the past: first, I did not want to fly. I travel a lot for work, and could not face a vacation that started at the airport. Second, we wanted at least a 7 day cruise. Finally, we had a couple of weeks in August that worked with our schedules. So only the Carnival Miracle met all of our planning needs. So, I guess Miracle selected itself for us.
For our vacation, all we wanted was relaxation. I did not really care about the ports, but was excited about the 4 sea days. I love cruising, and this was very appealing to me. So, this fed into my idea that we would be on our cruise for sun, food, rest, and not having to make any decisions at all. Overall, I'd say that we got what we wanted from this cruise.
Here are some detailed thoughts:
Terrific cabin! Loads of storage. Huge bathroom. Wonderful sepration of spaces, which makes it feel like a small apartment. And, the balcony is extraordinary! Definitely get this cabin if your budget allows. Plus, it was at the back of the ship, quiet, and convenient to everything we needed (adult area, Horatio's).