Carnival Miracle

Launched in 2004, Carnival Miracle is the last of four Spirit-class Carnival ships, together with Carnival Legend, Spirit and Pride. Miracle's building cost is US$375 million. The ship was last refurbished in 2015.

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian). Carnival Cruise Lines has Corporation's largest fleet as both a number of vessels and GT tonnage (ship sizes and capacities). CCL has over 1/5 of the cruise industry's worldwide market.

The 85,942-ton, 2,124-passenger Spirit Class cruise ship Carnival Miracle and her Spirit-class sisters represented some significant firsts for Carnival: amazing alternative steakhouses found on each Carnival new-build thereafter and onboard wedding chapels. Spirit-class cruise ships also offer an awesome 80 % ratio of outside cabins, as well as lots of nice little touches - such as museum-quality artwork and "designer" martinis.

Cruise itinerary program

Carnival Miracle itinerary program is based on departures from Los Angeles (Long Beach CA) and week-long roundtrip Hawaii and Mexico Riviera cruises to Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlan. There were plans for Carnival Miracle to be repositioned to Asia (China, early 2018), but those were later canceled. In 2018-2019, the ship operates on 7-day Western Caribbean cruises from homeport Tampa.

In Tampa, Miracle joined Carnival Paradise (operating 4-8-day itineraries) to Caribbean and Cuba. Both ships had combined annual passenger shipping capacity from Tampa around 280,000. The 7-day Tampa cruise departures are on Saturdays or Sundays. Itineraries visit Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman Island, Roatan Island (Mahogany Bay) and Belize City. The 6-day itineraries offer day-long port stays in Cozumel, Belize City and Costa Maya (or Roatan). The 8-day Panama Canal cruises (departures 2018 - April 14, Sept. 8) and 2019 (Feb 2, April 6) offer partial transition and stops in Costa Rica (Limon) and Grand Cayman Island. A special 14-day "Carnival Journeys" itinerary (roundtrip Panama Canal cruise from Tampa) was scheduled for December 2, 2018, visiting Cozumel, Limon, Panama Canal (transit), Cartagena Colombia, Aruba, Curacao, Jamaica (Montego Bay).

Starting December 1, 2019, Carnival Miracle is homeported in San Diego CA for a 3-month cruise season to Hawaii (14-15-day) and Mexico (5-7-day). In 2020, for the first time, Carnival offers roundtrips from San Francisco CA with Carnival Miracle cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico (itineraries lengths 4- to 15 days). The ship returns to homeport Diego for winter 2020-2021 schedule (3- to 15-day voyages). With San Francisco, Carnival had a total of 19 homeports in North America. The San Francisco homeporting starts on March 19, 2020, and includes 4-day weekend cruises to Ensenada (departing Thursdays, returning back on Mondays). 5- and 6-day itineraries visit Ensenada, San Diego, and Catalina Island.

In 2021, in Alaska Carnival Miracle will be joined by Carnival Freedom (homeported in Seattle WA).

Cabins

Carnival Miracle has a total number of 1062 cabins (of which 56 Suites, 626 Balcony rooms) in 28 grades. Most Carnival Miracle staterooms are 185-sq. foot insides (213), oceanview (167) and balcony (626, with verandas of 40-85 sq.feet). There are also 56 Suites and 16 wheelchair accessible cabins, but no Spa accommodations. Suites include separate sitting areas, refrigerators, spa bathtubs (whirlpools), double sinks and large balconies with two tables, sun loungers, and sitting chairs. Extra services for suite guests include priority embarkation and disembarkation.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Miracle's main restaurant for dinner is the Bacchus Dining Room, which is named after the Greek god of wine. There is only one dining room on all Spirit-class ships, while even older Carnival ships feature two main restaurants. However, the two-deck-high Bacchus easily accommodates all guests in two seatings or on a flexible basis, via "Your Choice Dining" program. Nick and Nora's, situated under the skylight in Carnival's red funnel, offers unforgettable dinner that is worth the $30 charge considering the exquisite atmosphere, extra-attentive service and the quality of the meals. Horatio's lido buffet is a one-level restaurant boasting full breakfast and lunch buffets. It is also a casual dinner alternative and late-night bistro. A sushi cart is set up each afternoon outside of Maguire's Bar with rotating options like shrimp, assorted rolls and salmon, all free of charge. Sake is also available, unfortunately not complimentary.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Miracle restaurants and food bars.

• Bacchus Restaurant (1122-seat aft Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings, or “Your Time Dining”; offers “Seuss At Sea” themed breakfasts for $5; with the 36-seat Ariadne Room restaurant annex).
• Nick and Nora’s Steakhouse (744-seat reservations only restaurant, serving seafood and prime beef steaks; with dance floor and stage for live performances)
• Horatio’s Lido Buffet Restaurant (1396-seat self-service restaurant with complimentary food stations; operates as dinner bistro in the evenings)
• Sushi Bar (complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Still, Joe Farcus always has a theme, and Carnival Miracle's is "fictional icons" - passenger hallways feature drawings of popular literary characters such as Robin Hood and Robinson Crusoe (and the more darken Belgian detective Hercule Poirot). The lobby and atrium are called after the Metropolis of "Superman" fame, and there is also a Gotham lounge, which gets its name from "Batman".

The 3-level main show lounge on Carnival Miracle is fashioned after "The Phantom of the Opera" and Paris Opera House. The elaborate production shows include a high-energy popular music medley from the last decades, called "Legends", as well as a Beatles-themed production. Frankenstein's Lab is ship's 2-deck disco. It received new carpeting and furniture as part of the recent refurbishment.  

Follows the complete list of Carnival Miracle lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Mad Hatter’s Ball Lounge (425-seat, hosts Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch)
• Dr. Frankenstein’s Lab Disco and Nightclub (211-seat, 2-level Dance Club)
• Phantom Theatre (1400-seat, 3-level main show lounge, also used for movies, bingo games, game shows)
• The Joker Card Room (30-seat)
• Fountainhead Cafe (28-seat specialty coffee bar and patisserie)
• Taste Bar (serves complimentary appetizers); Maguire’s Bar (10-seat sports bar); Sam’s Bar (88-seat piano bar); Snack Bar; Towel Bar; Gotham Foyer Lounge and Bar (100-seat)
• Frankie and Johnnie’s Jazz Club (425-seat jazz lounge)
• Mr. Lucky’s Casino (108-seat, served by Lucky’s; with 6-pocket Legend Pool Table)
• Miracle Atrium Metropolis Lobby (11-deck high midship open area with dance floor and stage, served by Metropolis Lobby Bar)
• Jeeves Lobby Lounge (23-seat wine bar)
• Gatsby’s Garden Interior Promenade (23-seat)
• The Raven Library and Internet Cafe (17-seat, 24-hour Internet computers)
• Wedding Chapel (30-seat)
• Kane’s Way Upper Promenade (55-seat)
• The Fun Shops (offers “Bon Voyage” items, duty-free liquor, jewelry, fashion boutiques, souvenirs, logo items); Formalities Shop (tuxedo rentals, special occasion gifts); Studio Photo Gallery and Shop
• Wizards Video Games Arcade (24-hour)
• Circle C (kids' lounge complimentary area with video games, parties, movies, planned activities)
• Camp Carnival (aft located kids' lounge area with complimentary kids programmes and supervised activities)
• Spa Carnival complex (with Steam Rooms, Saunas, Whirlpool, 10 Treatment Rooms, Venus Beauty Salon and Fitness Center)
• Sirens Pool; Ulysses Pool (with Sky Dome sliding roof). Both pools are served by Odyssey Bar
• Serenity (adult-only relaxation area with Whirlpool, Pool, Bar and sunbathing area with lounges)
• Club O2 (teens club lounge with video games, movies, karaoke, and themed parties)
• Aqua Park (with 72 ft Twister Waterslide, pool play area, jets, fountains, splash pools).
• Volleyball-Basketball Court; 9-hole Mini Golf Course; Jogging Track, Shuffleboard.