Cruise Ship Review: Carnival Miracle

Carnival Miracle gracing the high seas with sleek form.
Photo Credit: New York Cruise Guide
http://www.newyorkcruiseguide.com/carnival-miracle.html

She is full of spirit and has countless reasons to be. Joining Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet in 2004, Carnival Miracle has been sailing with non-stop fun, food, and festivities for a little more than half a decade. Carnival Miracle is a personal favorite for so many reasons, let me tell you why. For starters, Carnival Miracle operates for the cruise line where it all started for me, Carnival! I’ve garnered so many memories with the “Wal-Mart of the cruise line industry,” and anytime I sail a Carnival Cruise Line ship, she dazzles me and makes me feel right at home (especially with the 24/7 pizza and ice cream). I also love this vessel because she is related to one of the coolest sister-hood of ships I’ve ever sailed: the Spirit Class.

I absolutely adore the Spirit Class, and I’m glad Carnival Cruise Line has them on the high seas (Carnival’s Spirit Class vessels also include Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Pride—which docks 15 minutes from my house at The Port of Baltimore)!  This particular class of ships bring the high-spirited Carnival fun we all know and love, but in a sleek and elegant fashion—especially Carnival Miracle. The Lido deck on-board is just out of this world spanning most of the ship and showcasing a ‘cruisemazing’ swimming pool that has been plopped in by my out-of-shape body many times, haha. She also sails with a larger-than-life three deck high water slide, located on her aft, that will definitely raise your ‘Fun-O’ meter and get you drenched!

What about the food, you ask? What can I say? It was absolutely awesome! I know many cruise lines serve lobster, and they do a great job with it—but there is nothing like a lobster on a Carnival Cruise, and Carnival Miracle is no exception to that rule. The main dining room, Bacchus, is a grape-vine full of some ‘cruisetacular’ dining selections. I’m serious about the grape-vine, the entire dining room is covered in light fixtures that resemble the Marvin Gaye tune… okay maybe not exactly Marvin Gaye’s hit single, but it sure does look like a grape-vine is caressing the cruisers when they dine in the lovely decorated room. Don’t like grape-vines? No problem, that’s why Carnival Miracle picked up Nick and Nora and placed them right into her beautifully designed funnel!

Nick and Nora’s is the steakhouse on-board, and sits inside the ship’s attractive whale tail (reservations and a cover charge are required for this dining room—trust me, it’s worth it). Now I am not really big on cruise ship shows, but when I sailed Carnival Miracle, the cast on-board did an awesome tribute to The Beatles! That sparked my interest in other shows being performed, and they were truly ‘cruisetacular!’ If you’re grabbing some of those 24/7 available favorites, taking in a show, standing in awe of the ‘cruisetastic’ 11 story atrium, or burning some calories in the state-of-the-art gym facility, you’ll be sure to fall in love with Carnival Miracle. She sails away with 4.4 out of 5.0 from me, and I’d love to sail her again soon. Be sure to book your next ‘cruisetacular’ vacation on this ship—she truly is some kind of ‘Miracle!’ Your ship awaits, and it just might be this one--Bon Voyage!

Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Sky

Norwegian Sky at sea.
Photo Credit: http://www.ncl.eu/agents/bildmaterial.php?g=55&show=1

Issued into service in 1999, Norwegian Sky has been a gracing the high seas, dazzling thousands, for a little more than a decade. In 2004, Norwegian Sky was renovated and transformed into Pride of Aloha. While Pride of Aloha, she operated under NCL America Line sailing the Hawaiian Islands all year round. After servicing NCL America for four years, she was transferred back into the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet and rechristened with her original name. Upon her return to Norwegian Cruise Line, she has been servicing the Bahamas from Miami alternating three and four night cruises.

Sister to Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Sky boast a very vibrant décor and sails with a vivacious and inviting staff and crew. When she returned to the Norwegian cruise Line fleet, she kept the design she acquired when she was Pride of Aloha—the Hawaiian themed motifs truly make you feel you’re sailing the paradise of the pacific (including the hull work on the exterior of the ship which is a beautifully designed lei). Norwegian Sky offers ten dining options as well as ten bars and lounges. In addition to those great amenities, she sails with five hot tubs [Jacuzzis], two swimming pools, and even a separate children’s pool. If you ever plan to voyage to the Bahamas, Norwegian Sky would come as my top recommendation.

Norwegian Sky’s cruise rates are extremely reasonable—the perfect place to have a weekend getaway for the right price. I have seen prices for three night Bahamian voyages, as low as $109.00 per person (four night cruises have been priced as low as $129.00 per person)! Be sure to check out the Norwegian Cruise Line’s website (www.ncl.com) for the latest deals they are offering for sailings on Norwegian Sky. Overall, Norwegian Sky gets 4.4 out of 5.0 from me and is one of my all-time favorites, hands down. Take a cruise on this beautiful vessel to the Bahamas, and begin to enjoy nothing but sky!