Carnival Miracle offers escapism at sea
Ship Review by Michael Coleman, April 2008
It may be cruise travels ultimate escape . . . literally.
Public areas and rooms aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle come to life thanks to design elements inspired by characters from novels, songs, poems, myths, movies and Broadway.
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As such, the onboard ambiance evoked from such themes provides a welcomed, almost whimsical escape from the ordinary as passengers kick back en route to Caribbean destinations year-round from Fort Lauderdale or New York.
The ships lobby and 11-story atrium are named after the Metropolis of Superman fame. The lobby bar area is dubbed the Jeeves Lounge, after the fictional butler of P.G. Wodehouses novels. The foyer is the Batman-inspired Gotham Lounge.
The Miracles lower promenade is called the Fountainhead, from the Ayn Rand novel, while the upper promenade is called Kanes Way from Orson Wells film Citizen Kane. The card room? Appropriately dubbed The Joker, from Batman fame.
The main dining room and its annex take their names from mythology. Bacchus, the Greek god of wine, lends his to the dining room, while the restaurant annex is named after his wife, Ariadne. The ships casual dining Lido Deck area, Horatios, takes its cue from the C.S. Forester stories about the Napoleon-era British naval captain Horatio Hornblower.
Nick and Noras, the ships outstanding supper club, is named after detectives Nick and Nora Charles, characters created by Dashiell Hammett. The venue, high atop the atrium, features a huge black and white image of the New York City skyline, circa 1930, as its centerpiece. This reservations-only specialty restaurant ($30 per person) is not to be missed.
It will take passengers a couple of days and nights to enjoy all of Miracles pleasant nuances. The famous monikers, however, appear at just about every turn. Look for The Phantom Lounge, Mad Hatters Ball show lounge, and a dance club dubbed Dr. Frankensteins Lab to excite the senses. It resembles an old gothic castle in ruin with faux stone walls.
The casino is called Mr. Luckys, after the 1943 Cary Grant movie, and the ships sports bar – Maguires takes its title from the Jerry Maguire movie. It features autographed photographs of famous athletes adorning the walls and Babe Ruths original minor league baseball contract encased in a laminated tabletop.
But theres more to this ship than just a few catchy room names. Much more.
Miracle boasts 16 lounges and bars, four swimming pools, an expansive 13,500-square-foot spa, indoor and outdoor promenades, a wedding chapel, ship-wide Wi-Fi Internet access, cell phone service, 24-hour pizza and ice cream.
The ship hosts three different youth programs – Camp Carnival for ages 2-11, Circle C for 12- to 14-year-olds, and Club O2 for older teens complete with facilities, activities and counselors.
Miracle also features hundreds of staterooms with private balconies ideal for scenic Caribbean cruising. Each features the Carnival Comfort Bed with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.
It is here where one enjoys the ships final escape of the day: nodding off to Dream Land.
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Eucerin or Lubriderm but if u want to kill germs just wash your hands (learned this from a news program a few yrs ago). Too many chemicals in those antibacterial products
I made a web page with them, it’s free and very easy, but you have little control over how it looks like, but to start it’s very good, email me and I’ll send you a link to my web page if you’re interested I’m a freelance artist doing illustration/design as well.