SLOW TRAVEL
Carnival Miracle Upgrade Brings More Left Coast Fun
Carnival Miracle now sails year-round from California on three different week-long Mexican Riviera itineraries. Visiting interesting ports along the way, the 2,124-passenger ship stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas in a variety of combinations. This spring, Carnival Miracle will undergo an extensive refurbishment to add a number of new features as Carnival Cruise Line continues it’s FunShip 2.0 initiative, now in its third year. Let’s take a look at what west coast cruise travelers will see on board after the Carnival Miracle upgrade has been completed in March.
RedFrog Pub is a Caribbean-inspired lounge featuring the region’s best rums and beers enjoyed in a distinct British-West-Indies-meets-Key-West atmosphere. On tap: Carnival’s own ThirstyFrog Red.
Seuss At Sea brings a unique way to entertain kids with an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises including fun activities like the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends, Seuss-a-Palooza Story Time, and more
Alchemy Bar is a vintage-themed cocktail “pharmacy” where mixologists “prescribe” concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients. Creative names include “Forty is the New Twenty” and “Restorative Basil Drop”
Hasbro, The Game Show is an audience-participation favorite featuring larger-than-life adaptations of the company’s iconic and popular games with titles like Connect4 Basketball, Sorry Sliders, and Yahtzee Bowling
Cherry On Top is best described as a “candy and more store” that celebrates the joys of simple indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun fanciful gifts and novelties, custom apparel and more.
New SPORTS Bar is a sports lovers’ paradise where guests can catch live sporting events and check out scores on the real-time 24/7 sports ticker.
Spin U started with a partnership with legendary Miami Heat spinmaster DJ IRIE, Carnival’s official DJ who has entertained crowds from South Beach to Las Vegas. The fun DJ academy provides aspiring spin-masters ages 15-17 with all they need to know to “hit the decks” and rock the club.
Also on Carnival Miracle, one of the few ships to sail year-round from the west coast, and part of the Funship 2.0 initiative to be completed March 7-21, 2015:
- Serenity adults-only retreat,
- Punchliner Comedy Club presented by George Lopez,
- a classic American-style steakhouse serving prime cuts of beef and other gourmet cuisine,
- Nine-hole miniature golf course,
- 14,500-square-foot health and wellness center, and
- The Taste Bar offering bite-size samples from popular Fun Ship 2.0 dining venues.
Interesting Itineraries With Overnight Calls At Fabulous Places
Not all that long ago, cruise lines had all but abandoned Mexico, branded unsafe via drug lord-induced crime far away from where cruise ships stop. Now, cruise lines are coming back to Mexico and visiting some of the most beautiful places on the planet. Carnival Miracle will sail three different week-long itineraries that include:
- A three-port itinerary featuring Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas;
- A two-port option that includes a stop in Cabo San Lucas, along with a two-day overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta;
- A day-long visit to Puerto Vallarta, along with a two-day call at Cabo San Lucas.
Available to book now, Carnival Miracle will also offer 15-day Hawaii cruises round-trip from Long Beach departing Oct. 17 and Nov. 28, 2015, and Jan. 16, 2016, along with a special one-time 13-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing Jan. 31, 2016.