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Not Impressed by
Christine L from Worcester, Ma Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: Nothing Cons: The smell and decor of the ship The Miracle was dingy, smelly and decorated in very poor taste. I was very disappointed. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodThe food was always served barely warm in the dining room.
Although the food up on deck was always very good. Stateroom QualityIt worked Ship Staff QualityOur stateroom staff was excellent, dining staff not so good. Entertainment & ActivitiesNot much going on... 
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Belize City, BelizeWe went to the beach and zip line place. Disgusting!!!!!
Costa Maya, MexicoThe hurricane hit there hard, but we had a fantastic time there. We were treated like royalty, it was beautiful on the beach and very relaxing.
Don't Miss: A massage on the beach.....ahhhhhhhh. Cozumel, MexicoWe love to just shop there.
Don't Miss: Senior Frogs is fun Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, HondurasWe went zip lining at the Pirates of the Caribbean, that was fantastic.
Also, Tabyana Beach is one of the best I've ever been to. I highly recommend it.
Don't Miss: Tabyana Beach  0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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  A good cruise for the money by
Lori M from Charleston, SC Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: our room, ports of call, ships staff Cons: HUGH ITENERY CHANGE! For our first cruise it was a wonderful experience. A little too pushy with the alcohol, but otherwise a great experience. Could use a little more to do for people who do not drink or gamble. I did find that it is alot cheaper on excursions to get them in port. Around 1/2 the cost. All the ones we went on were very reliable. The ships decor was great. We were suppose to go to Panama, they said there was a propulsion problem, we didn't believe that, but we had a great time with the ports we went to. Ship QualityVery clean, everyone always willing to help. Dining/FoodFood was wonderful, our waiter was great. Could use a little more variety with the breakfast buffet. I highly recommend a late nite pizza with a stroll on the deck. Stateroom Qualitymore storage than I thought there would be!!! Always clearn! Ship Staff QualityAlways around to help and clean up. They really go out of their way. Unless you want a room upgrade, then you have to be one of those ones yelling at everyone to get one. I'm not that kind of person, so I left the line. Entertainment & ActivitiesMost of the time the shows were good, just one did not enjoy the singer they had. I love the way they interacted the children in the show. Children's ProgramsMost of the time I saw kids having a great time with camp carnival. Only downfall is letting children in the hot tubs. No room for adults. 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Miracles Can Happen by
Jim H. from Boston, MA Sailing date: Aug 2008Pros: Ship layout, staff, cabin, pool areas Cons: length of time to eat in dining room I have just returned from taking a family cruise on the Carnival Miracle. This was the 13th cruise for my wife and I and our 2nd Carnival cruise after first sailing with the cruiseline in 1990. This was the 5th cruise for my children and their first on Carnival.
We are really glad that we gave Carnival another shot and were very pleased with our cruise. The trip exceeded our expectations and we hope to sail again on Carnival someday soon. Ship QualityI found that the Carnival Miracle was the cleanest ship that I have ever been on. I enjoyed the public areas and never felt crowded. This surprised me given that over 2,000 people were on board. I found that the ship was easy to navigate and really enjoyed the spacious open decks. This ship has the best open spaces in which to get sun, relax, read, and enjoy the ocean. Dining/FoodI found that the buffet was far superior to the other ships that I have been on. The variety of food, pizza, and layout of this area made breakfast and lunch enjoyable. For lunch, there is a NY style deli, Asian food station, salad bar, and also places for the hot items of the day. There is a grill area for fries, onion rings, hamburgers, and other grilled items. The supper club, a 30.00 per person cover charge was a wonderful dining experience and well woth the money. The food was delicious and service reminded me of a 5 star exclusive restaurant. The main dining room exceeded our expectations in terms of the quality of the main course food. The appetizers were adequate but small in size. Our head waiter was excellent however, we had 3 assistants in 8 days and therfore our dinners took almost 2 hours a few times. I rate dining good overall and we were pleased and never hungry. Stateroom QualityWe have stayed in inside cabins, ocean view cabins, and suites with balconies in the past. We were fortunate to stay in a suite on NCL last year. Our 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, living/dining area, and balcony complete with butler and concierge service was an amazing and unforgettable experience. The Carnival Miracle does not have anything like this but we were able to book a Category 11 suite, midship for the 4 of us. I thought that after having about 575 sq. feet, that this would be difficult. Thankfully, I was wrong. This suite has 2 closet areas, plenty of drawers and counter space for our things. The bathroom had a Jacuzzi tub and double sink area that was granite. This bathroom was plenty big for us. We especially loved the large balcony with lounge and two smaller chairs. The storage areas were great and I found that we were very comfortable in this cabin. The wall of windows and balcony door combined with the light wood tones and mirrors made the room seem larger. Ship Staff QualityI commend the staff and crew on the Carnival Miracle for providing a wonderful cruise experience for me and my family. I found the staff that we encountered to be friendly and were always smiling. The staff that we received services from always greeted us by name and went out of their way to be sure that we were satisfied. The staff we met appeared to like their jobs and I never encountered any negativity from anyone. Entertainment & ActivitiesCarnival calls their ships funships for a reason as there is a lot to do. During the day, there are trivia games, horseracing, pool games, funny contests, and other fun things to do on the ship. In addition to the games, there is bingo offered at least one per day. I prefer the way that Carnival does this by offering the old poke through cards. I like that one can choose to pay for the cards by cash or on their sign and sail card and found that 20.00 for three cards much better than the other lines that I have sailed on. Carnival has live music and singing, karaoke, and several different shows in their lounges and in the theater. I appreciated the classical violin and piano music in the atrium during the dinner hours. My wife, kids and I like to attend the various production shows when we are on a cruise. We enjoy good theater and have seen shows on Broadway and many of the latest musicals and stage productions. The shows were very good and we enjoyed them. Children's ProgramsWe have cruised for the last 4 years as a family. We like to do things as a family but we have found that the kids programs on ships are a nice way to balance the family time and the adult time. We have appreciated the other kids programs on our past cruises. We feel that we have found the Platinum standard of Kids programs after my children have experienced Camp Carnival for the 9-11 year olds and the 12-14 year olds. My 10 year old daughter explained that the 9-11 year old camp by saying Dad, they treat us our age here! She loved the program and highlights the build a bear, pizza making, t-shirt painting, games, scavenger hunt, and going to the shows with her friends in the camp assigned seating. My 13 year old son told me that this was the favorite of his five cruises. He found that the Circle C club had plenty of games and activities that he enjoyed. The camp counselors did their best to make sure that these hard to please kids' were enjoying themselves.
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Grand Turk IslandGrand Turk was our third and final port of call. We were at this stop from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm. The Cruise welcoming center has new shops to purchase souvenirs and also houses Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville. This place has one of the largest pools that I have ever seen. The pool has a swim up bar and there is a DJ that plays music and hosts silly contests. In addition to the pool, the place has a flow rider that allows you to show off you surfing skills for a fee right next to the pool area. Margaritaville also has and a nice beach but it is a bit rocky and the water was not a blue and clear as in St. Thomas. We decided to rent a cabana by the pool for the day through Carnival the shore excursion desk. We needed to book these on board the ship and for 99.00 for the day we thought it was well worth the price. These ten cabanas have room for 4, a fresh water outdoor shower, and a place in the shade in addition to some lounges that can be placed in the sun. It was wonderful!
San Juan, Puerto RicoWe have been to San Juan before but not for many years. We arrived at 3:00 pm and left this port at midnight. We took the kids and walked around Old San Juan for a bit and did some shopping. After less than 2 hours we were back on board. i know that this cannot be changed but it would have been nice to arrive at this port earlier than 3:00 pm. There really is not a lot to do with kids in the evening in San Juan.
Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasWe have been to St. Thomas before and most recently in 2006. We decided to follow the advice of a fellow cruiser and go over to Coki Beach which is right next to Coral World. We really enjoyed this beach with white sand and clear blue water. The beach has a reputation of being a good place for snorkeling. The locals sell you dog biscuits to feed the fish with and in about one minute there are fish of all sizes and colors all around you. This is a beautiful bay beach and has no waves. We had a wonderful day at Coki Beach and would like to return there some day.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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"Just what I needed..."I liked t by
Helaine I. from New York Sailing date: Jul 2008Pros: I liked the relaxed feeling that I had while cruising.Th Cons: The feeling of sea-sickness the first day at sea. The ship was run very professionally. All the info that I needed to make good choices on the boat was available to me through discussion,postings, or on the t.v.The staff was helpful. Ship Quality
Dining/Food
Stateroom QualityI was confused about the term extended balcony. It appears that all the balconies were allextended ones.The term was misleading and denoted a better quality than the other balconies. Ship Staff Quality
Entertainment & Activities
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Grand Turk IslandGovernors beach was quite pretty.
San Juan, Puerto RicoI found the area a little seedy.There were some derelics in the street.The stores were closing shortly after we arrived aand I felt rushed.
Don't Miss: None Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasThe jeep tour and excursion were great,informative and fun.The
Don't Miss: The scenic jeep abd beachtour. 1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Cruising from NY by
Kim from NJ from NJ Sailing date: Apr 2008Pros: The convenience, the destinations, the staff Cons: The fact that the kid's club was at the front of the ship The ship was decorated very gaudily-esp the main dining room. Over the top doesn't do it justice. But of course its something you get used to. Because of the set dining times...the lines waiting to get in every night were very long. The ship was very clean tho & the staff always very friendly. IWe did think that considering the length of the cruise...8 nights.....that the time in the destinations would have been scheduled better. To arrive in SJ at 3-you don't get off the ship til after 4-things start to close. St Thomas we arrived on a Sun-which meant the shops closed at 1 & Tortola...had to leave at 2, so onboard by 1. Each destination in some way felt rushed. Ship QualityLoved the slide-the pools were on the small side, but nice there were 3. It would have been better if the kids pool was at the back...this way all the kids things were together. Having the slide & the baby pool above the adult only pool, was a bit ridiculous! Dining/FoodWe traveled w/ others & what we ate was very good-but they tended to order the red meat dishes & each & every time...the meat was as tough as hide. Horatio's offered a very good variety every day. Would have been nice if they had cookies out in the evening. Always had to take some at lunch for later. Stateroom QualityThe cabin was very clean & comfortable, a lil small. The bathroom was a nice size & the shower was great! We were in cabin 8217 & we never quite figured what was above us....but ALL NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT, there was banging, scraping of what sounded like furniture across the floor. So loud at times-it woke you up from a sound sleep. :( I would have rated it excellent otherwise. Ship Staff QualityOur room steward was just great-his name was Chatchai & he made our stay very fun! Always remembered our names, always willing to help. Wait staff too were just great. Andy remembered our meal preferences every night & Dede made my son 2 origami's which he loved. Nyonmar was just a doll. Entertainment & ActivitiesUnless there was a show going on-not a lot to see in the evening. The "acts" they had...were nice to listen to..but not all that entertaining. Would have been nice if they brought in someone who you could really have fun w/ & enjoy instead of just hear in the background. The shows were very good tho-we enjoyed them all. Children's ProgramsAs mentioned earlier...having Camp Carnival at the front of the ship-offered the kids an experience in getting seasick. I didn't hear of any of them getting actually "sick", but they all looked quite green when it was time to pick them up. When the activities were held elsewhere they were all right as rain. They had a nice variety of activities for them to do & take home projects which made it special for them. I especially liked the Memory Book given-great idea! The staff were nice-but not overly friendly or bubbly-which would have been better.
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Road Town, Tortola, B.V.I.Tortola was very nice-we took the 2.5 hour tour-arranged on our own-as MUCH cheaper. Takes you to the hilights of the island & nice pictures spots along the way-dropping you off at Cane Garden Bay for an hour. If you had more time-he would stay there longer, but as we were leaving at 2-only had the hour. The views were stunning, the beach was nice. It was narrow & because of that a lil crowded-def worth seeing tho. Got dropped off in town to run into Pusser's quickly-but felt very rushed. Road Town is only about a 10-15min walk from the port, not bad. Just wish we had more time there. Oh...& when I spoke initally to the tourist info people-I asked them about the British phone box I had seen advertised online when you look up Tortola-takes your picture every 15 seconds & we thought great for the people back at home. Well...no one knew of it! 4 different people were asked & not 1 knew of it! Its advertised on the site but not 1 tourist info officer heard of it---very strange.
San Juan, Puerto RicoSJ was nice. We opted to just walk to the fort & got a feel for the streets. Typical port town. The fort was interesting, but could have had a few more things to do interactively. Wanted to go to El Morro as well-but didn't have enough time before it closed.
Charlotte Amalie, St. ThomasWe LOVE St Thomas! Have been there before so knew what to expect. Havensight had a nice range of shops & all very clean. Nice port. We rented a Jeep as there were 4 of us & it was MUCH cheaper & more fun then getting a cab-very reasonable! Saved a lot of $ w/ all that we saw. Drove to Coral Bay-enjoyed that & then on to Magen's Bay-which is just the best. Drove down to the far end where there were far less people & enjoyed the beautiful beach. Toward the end we went down the more populated side for lunch-very expensive-then again, having lunch w/ "that" view-totally worth it! And a quick mention of "Udder Delight"- a small dairy farm on the road to Magen's. They make delicious & good priced alcoholic shakes! YUM! :-)
Don't Miss: MAGEN'S & UDDER DELIGHT 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Can't wait to go again next Christmas!! by
Kristen L. from Boston, MA Sailing date: Dec 2007Pros: staff, food, entertainment Cons: cigar smoking in McGuires Bar during Pats/Giants game This is my second cruise with Carnival in six months. This trip was even better than the last. From the second we stepped on the ship and were greeted with complimentary champagne to the second we begrudingly left, I had a fantastic time!! The social hosts were great- very funny and entertaining ("Big Sexy" & "Beef" were hysterical- although I'm not sure they meant to be all the time!) The food was incredible. Every night our waitstaff exceeded our expectations and were incredible, always bringing seconds or alternatives just in case. The room was spacious- perfect for three peopple. The New Years Eve deck party was great- the staff did a great job. I can't say enough about how helpful/friendly the staff was- they truly made this a vacation to remember. All in all, great vacation, can't wait to go back! Ship QualityWhile the layout takes a bit of getting used to, the ship is beautiful, always clean, and very accessable once you learn your way around. Dining/FoodI can't say enough about the food. We were accommodated on the type, location of the table we wanted, and couldn't be more happy with the service we received. Stateroom QualityRoom was much more spacious than that of the Triumph. Very clean, and comfortable, with lots of storage space and mirrors. Our room steward was great- always lots of fresh towels!! Ship Staff QualityThe staff continuously went above and beyond. Everyone is super-friendly. From the omlet chef, to the Lido deck bartenders, the waitstaff in the Bacchus dining room, and most importantly- the social hosts. Also, the Captain was very visable and friendly to all guests, something which I thought was a great addition. All great!! Entertainment & ActivitiesEntertainment was great- particularly ejoyed the Liars Club. Great job Erin & Beef! 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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A few kinks, but it was a fun cruise. by
A Traveler from Merrillville, IN Sailing date: Nov 2007Pros: The excursions Cons: Bacchus Dining Room service. Photo Department staff. Several people complained of the Pursor's office overcharging accounts, me included. The Pursor's staff was very friendly, but the accounting was questionable.
Miracle's group coordinator was very professional and she went the extra mile to assure that the group leaders had everything we needed to make our groups' cruises memorable. She was one of my high points. Kudos to her.
The photo department staff was rude to a few in my group. The group coordinator did try to advocate the situation for us, but when I went back to talk to them on her instruction, they didn't budge, nor did the director of this department. Consequently, they lost a lot of our intended sales.
The cruise director and activities directors were fun and personable. Kudos to them. Because of them, we had a ball. Ship QualityThe Bacchus Restaurant's dining chairs were tattered and in need of reupholstering. My waitress was a bit rude and arrogant.
The layout of the ship (stateroom corridors) was challenging and required a lot of walking from activity to stateroom, and I have a good sense of direction.
One of the hot tubs was out of service the entire 8-day cruise. Someone was constantly working on it, but to no avail. I wasn't able to secure a spot in the hot tub until I last full cruise day. Dining/FoodThe food was good, but I've had better dining on Carnival ships. The dining times were perfect. I like the variety offered by Horatio's, but the layout was confusing and in 8 days, we never got it down. We just had to keep circling with our trays to find the cuisine we liked. Then we had to circle again to find a spot to sit and dine.
As always, 24-hour pizza, salad and ice cream were a real hit. Stateroom QualityWe had a balcony stateroom. There were 3 of us in the stateroom and we were comfortable. We LOVED the balcony. I don't ever want another stateroom without a balcony. I've been spoiled. Our cabin steward was friendly and accommodating. Ship Staff QualityTwice, we witnessed the assistant waitress flustered and in tears, we presumed from encounters with our waitress. Our waitress consistently served our table last, even though we were usually the first to be seated for dinner each night. We thought it was because our group was all women. We were told to wait until everyone arrived. We had no way of knowing if the entire group chose to eat in Bacchus or Horatio or Nick and Nora's. So, it wasn't fair to sit and waite for an entire group, who, sometimes, were sick or tired and stayed in their rooms. We were always first to arrive and last to leave. Our bar waiter was also arrogant and challenged our orders. Some settled for a beverage they really didn't wait just to avoid being contentious.
I can't say enough good things about the Group Department Coordinator, the Cruise Director and the Activities Directors. They're who made our cruise a lot of fun, despite little incidentals. They far exceeded my expectations. Entertainment & ActivitiesI didn't attend any shows, except the Talent Show. Most of the others didn't grab my attention. I did sit and enjoy music in the Jazz Club after dinner on the formal night. It was nice and relaxing.
As always, the game shows were hilarious!
The excursions offered a lot of variety. It was fun discussing the possibilities with my group or my roommates, deciding whether we wanted to do something as a group, a few small groups or individually. We were able to do all of the above between the three ports of call. The tour guides were professional informative, warm and friendly. Children's ProgramsI didn't have a child, personally, in Camp Carnival, but one of the lady's in my group did. Her son loved it. He hardly spent time with us or his mom. Most of his time (by his choice) was spent with the Camp Carnival group. I've never heard anything negative from any of my friends who've utilized this service. 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Accomidations were great; food wasn't! by
Raymond L from Danville, NH Sailing date: Jan 2007Pros: Location and interior of stateroom Cons: Food, food service, dining logistics Location of room couldn't have been better. Food in main dining room left a lot to be desired as well as most other dining locations. Casual breakfast was the only consistantly good meal. Crewmembers were courteous and helpful except for dining staff. Ship QualityDecor of ship interior was hideous especially the main dining room. Dining/FoodOn a "formal" night we were unable to find alternate dining arrangements as the casual dining room was closed except for pizza Stateroom Quality
Ship Staff QualityHad to ask for ice many times, had to ask for minibar to be restocked as it wasn't every day
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Belize City, BelizeNothing to write home about
Don't Miss: Air Boat Ride Costa Maya, MexicoDon't remember much about it. Must have been very ordinary.
Cozumel, MexicoNo big deal
George Town, Grand CaymanIncredibly expensive. Tourist trap restaurant food was atrocious
Don't Miss: Beach and butterfly farm 3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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4th cruise & going by
Diane G from Everett MA Sailing date: Mar 2007Pros: the service Cons: being tendered in to ports This is our 4th Carnival cruise and our first time on the Miracle. While the Victory is our all time favorite ship so far the Miracle is up there. Carnival staff are always friendly and helpful. The shows are fantastic & fun. I am always amazed on the guests talent shows - there are some pretty incredible singers out there and it is fantastic that they get to show there stuff to a REAL audience. There is always so much to do on a the ships (if you want to). Ship Qualitywhile I did like most of the ship the cabin hallways were a little annoying Dining/FoodWe have never had an issue with the food on ANY of the carnival ships we have traveled on & the Miracle lived up to the standards Stateroom QualityWe always choose an inside cabin because we feel with all the activities on the ship we are very rarely in our room. These rooms are small but they are perfect for us. We are a family of 4 and there is plenty of room for all our stuff & for us to move around Ship Staff Qualitythe ship staff was always friendly and corteous. We were always greeted with a good morning/day/evening. If you even remoted looked confused someone was there to help you even before you ask. That goes for the people on shore before & after the cruise as well as the ship staff. One of our wait staff saw our littles getting a little bored during dinner so he came over and showed them a really cool trick with a soda can that they could take back to school with them and show their friends. Entertainment & Activitiesthere is entertainment for everyone - my girls love the Vegas style shows Children's ProgramsMy 8 year old is a very shy person and rarely leaves my side other than to go to school - she was in camp carnival almost everyday and cried when she had to come out for the madatory lunch & dinner breaks
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Belize City, BelizeWe did not book an excursion at this port and it was probably a big mistake. Due to the high crime we were STRONGLY not to leave the highly secured port area. We did take a city/rainforest tour, it was not at all what we expected - this is a very poor country.
Costa Maya, MexicoAgain we did not book an excursion at this port either but we did find a nice deal on a beach for $25.00 it included use of kayas, beach chairs, all day snacks, lunch & an open bar. This was a very fun and relaxing day for both adults & kids. For an additional cost we rented wave runners. The kids were also allowed to jump off a tower (about 30ft) & also a lower pier. The water wasn't as pretty as some of the carribean ports we have been to but it was nice.
Cozumel, MexicoThis is our second time visiting Cozumel - a vast difference from our first trip. Since this area has been hit with the hurricanes they have been rebuilding - I think when it is done it will be really nice. We went to Chankanaub Park to snorkel & swim with the dolphins. The best experience ever.
Don't Miss: Chakanaub park. - I personally think this is the best area it is still rebuilding but snorkeling & the dolphins are so much fun. 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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A wonderful time for all by
Tamara W from Southbury, CT Sailing date: Feb 2007Pros: The beautiful weather, abundant sun chairs, great food Cons: The room steward didn't seem to know that there were three of us in our room, didn't make up the third bed the first night. The ship was very large and spacious. Pleanty of places to explore. Great music in different rooms. Ship QualityVery clean, pleanty of elevators to go floor to floor. Dining/FoodDid not pay the extra money to dine in the supper club. The food was very good. Stateroom QualityHad a balcony stateroom for three people, was a bit crowded. The room should be for two people. The balcony was great. Ship Staff QualityEveryone on the ship was super friendly. Entertainment & ActivitiesThe shows in the evening were excellent, especially the last show called Ticket to Ride, a show with beatles songs. The jazz trio was wonderful. Lots of excursions to pick from. Children's ProgramsMy daughter is 17 and wasn't allowed to go into the disco after 11:00 p.m. which was very disappointing. There was nothing for her age group to do after that time. That was the one dissapointment.
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Belize City, BelizeWe left the ship to get on a boat and go snorkeling to two sites. The boat ride was 45 minutes to the reef. The reef was not very pretty not very many fish. Very disappointing. The next site we saw stingrays and a reef shark, the water was only 4 ft. deep there.
Costa Maya, MexicoThis port is made especially for cruise ships. We took a bus about 40 minute ride to a beach club where we got to ride in a two person boat and ride around for about 20 minutes. These boats are fast! Then we docked in the middle of the ocean and snorkeled for about 25 minutes. The reef was beautiful and abundant colorful fish. Very nice. We then got to get back in our boats and ride back to the beach. Very fun.
Cozumel, MexicoDid not book an excursion on this island. Instead, we walked in town and then took a taxi to Senior something beach club. The people there were super nice and the club was clean with a great beach. Spent the day there and then took a taxi to Ernesto's resturant. They are the first to invent the fahitas. They were delicious.
George Town, Grand CaymanWe went on the off road jeep tour, It was nice to see the island by jeep but the places they took us was very boring. Could have been much better. Went to margaritaville resturant which was fun atmosphere but the food was not that great.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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