Any typical Carnival cruisers that have cruised on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line?

I am looking at taking a 2 night cruise on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line (on the Grand Classica). I had never even heard of this cruise line until I came across it the other day. I have been trying to find a short cruise to fit in a trip I'm already taking to FL in November for a wedding but haven't been able to find one with Carnival (or NCL or Royal) that fits my timeline and is in my budget. Then I came across this 2 day cruise that will probably end up saving me money over staying on land and fits perfectly within my already booked flights and the wedding I am attending.

I'm pretty much ready to book at this point but just wanted to see if anyone who typically cruises Carnival has tried this cruise line and how different it was or if there is anything I need to be aware of. There didn't seem to be much info on the boards for the cruise line specifically.

I cruised on the Elation pre it's recent upgrade and am assuming it would be similar to that but was hoping to get some thoughts from people who have actually cruised both.

I haven't and I have seen their promotional to come cruise with them and they look legit. I know on their discussion board there are some reviews that might help.

Those who booked directly through cruise line have mostly positive reviews . Those who booked through one of the timeshare companies not so much. They use a former Carnival and Costa ship. I would not hesitate to sail with them for a quickie

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We sail mostly Carnival and did one of these cruises as a quick get away in-between. In general it was not bad. The embarkation process is a little strange but doable. Don't forget to set your dinner reservations at stands before you get on the ship. Also, if you drink, but the coupon books on board. the drinks are expensive if you don't. Food was about the same. Show was terrible. Like a middle school dance recital.

Ship is very open for a small ship. Very grand looking. Rooms are about the same or larger than Carnival.

I haven't, but might as an add on to another cruise in the near future, since they waive the solo supplement.

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/19259-bahamas-paradise-eliminates-single-supplement-fees.html

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I have sailed on Carnival predominantly as well as a couple other ships. I have sailed on the Grand Bahama cruise line 3 times and I have enjoyed each time I ha e cruised. It's a nice getaway which breaks up my year between cruises on a major line. It has it's good parts and it's bad parts but all.in all for what you pay, you get a good cruise. I normally buy a groupon for the cruise when it comes up and then book directly with the cruise line. I have never had to deal with any timeshare issues. All in all for a quick 2 day getaway, I give it a thumbs up.

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Since there is a forum for them here, right above this board, I am surprised you haven't been able to find anything about them. EM

My DB and SIL did it once and said it was fine. If I did it, my DH and I would want to spend 2-4 nights in Freeport and not just do the cruise part. DB and SIL winter in Palm Beach every year so very convenient for them to sail on this ship that sails from Palm Beach. SIL did say she talked to someone several times before booking and got different answers each time, so a bit of a trial for them to make a final decision because it seemed a bit rinky dink. In the end, it worked out ok and she booked directly with the company not through a timeshare.

We have sailed Carnival almost 30 times now. Since we only live a couple hours away from Palm Beach we have done those cruises before. We were recently on the Costa ship.....didn't like it at all. The old Carnival ship was fine. Going forward, we'll spend the extra money and stick with Carnival.

We’ve sailed Carnival five times and Bahamas Cruise once. We thought the food was comparable, though a smaller buffet. The shows are not as good, but fine. Enjoyed the magician. The dining rooms are fancier than on the Vista and Horizon and we liked that. The library was so pretty. We sailed on the former Carnival ship and so because it was older the pool and lido deck were smaller, but, it was still good. If it fits your schedule just right, I’d do it.

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Sailed when was called Celebration Cruise line on the old ship. We stayed 2 nights in Freeport. Perfectly fine for a quick get away. Agree with purchasing drink coupons. But say go for It! If you don't like it it's only 2 days.

We've heard of them and have sailed their "grandparent company" back in the 90s.

The current incorporation started off as Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, then became the Celebration Cruise Line, and is now known as Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. Not sure if the actual people that are owners have changed, but either way they seems to favor changing the corporation name frequently.

If you notice my signature I do not count these as cruises. This company is tied into timeshares and travel clubs for their "Win a Cruise Vacation" raffles that everyone that enters seems to win and as a cheap add-on for their property owners. To fill the ship on any given sailing they do open cabins to anyone wishing to pay "normal prices" for the cruise. Usually the people that received it as a freebie find themselves stuck in high pressure seminars on the seaday trying to get them to buy the timeshare they will be shown once in the Bahamas or to buy into a Travel Club to get supposed discount on lodging worldwide.

The general public that does buy the cruise will be approached several times to have their cabin fare refunded and a free resort day if they wish to go through the same seminars the "Free Cruise Winners" are experiencing. As long as you can say no repeatedly it's an OK diversional cruise. But to us it was never more than just a oversized, overnight ferry to the Bahamas.

We sail mostly Carnival and did one of these cruises as a quick get away in-between. In general it was not bad. The embarkation process is a little strange but doable. Don't forget to set your dinner reservations at stands before you get on the ship. Also, if you drink, but the coupon books on board. the drinks are expensive if you don't. Food was about the same. Show was terrible. Like a middle school dance recital.

 

Ship is very open for a small ship. Very grand looking. Rooms are about the same or larger than Carnival.

Thanks for the info! So before embarking you have to make dinner reservations you can't just walk in the main dining room or make reservations on the ship?

I have sailed on Carnival predominantly as well as a couple other ships. I have sailed on the Grand Bahama cruise line 3 times and I have enjoyed each time I ha e cruised. It's a nice getaway which breaks up my year between cruises on a major line. It has it's good parts and it's bad parts but all.in all for what you pay, you get a good cruise. I normally buy a groupon for the cruise when it comes up and then book directly with the cruise line. I have never had to deal with any timeshare issues. All in all for a quick 2 day getaway, I give it a thumbs up.

 

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That's exactly what I'm looking at it as, a way to break up the year between my two bigger cruises haha.

Since there is a forum for them here, right above this board, I am surprised you haven't been able to find anything about them. EM

As I said in the original post, I haven't been able to get MUCH info from the specific cruise line forum here, right above this board. Page two goes back almost an entire year, and this specific ship just started sailing a few months ago. I was also looking for some comparisons from people who had sailed both, hence the title of the thread.

We've heard of them and have sailed their "grandparent company" back in the 90s.

The current incorporation started off as Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, then became the Celebration Cruise Line, and is now known as Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. Not sure if the actual people that are owners have changed, but either way they seems to favor changing the corporation name frequently.

 

 

If you notice my signature I do not count these as cruises. This company is tied into timeshares and travel clubs for their "Win a Cruise Vacation" raffles that everyone that enters seems to win and as a cheap add-on for their property owners. To fill the ship on any given sailing they do open cabins to anyone wishing to pay "normal prices" for the cruise. Usually the people that received it as a freebie find themselves stuck in high pressure seminars on the seaday trying to get them to buy the timeshare they will be shown once in the Bahamas or to buy into a Travel Club to get supposed discount on lodging worldwide.

The general public that does buy the cruise will be approached several times to have their cabin fare refunded and a free resort day if they wish to go through the same seminars the "Free Cruise Winners" are experiencing. As long as you can say no repeatedly it's an OK diversional cruise. But to us it was never more than just a oversized, overnight ferry to the Bahamas.

While not a megaship...certainly not an oversized ferry either https://www.bahamasparadisecruise.com/grand-celebration.php

As I said in the original post, I haven't been able to get MUCH info from the specific cruise line forum here, right above this board. Page two goes back almost an entire year, and this specific ship just started sailing a few months ago. I was also looking for some comparisons from people who had sailed both, hence the title of the thread.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2639290

Or this one

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2641955

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Did you see this review?

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2639290

 

Or this one

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2641955

 

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I did read both reviews yesterday, neither compare the cruise to Carnival. I'm used to reading 25+ reviews for a ship and knowing much more about a cruise line before I book a cruise. I read nearly every thread on the first page and a half of the board, clearly that's not much information compared to other boards. I'm confused why people are thinking I didn't already read that board when I referenced it in my post and how I hadn't found much information there. Am I not allowed to ask the opinions of people who have been on both cruise lines to get some comparisons to the only cruise line I'm used to?

I did read both reviews yesterday, neither compare the cruise to Carnival. I'm used to reading 25+ reviews for a ship and knowing much more about a cruise line before I book a cruise. I read nearly every thread on the first page and a half of the board, clearly that's not much information compared to other boards. I'm confused why people are thinking I didn't already read that board when I referenced it in my post and how I hadn't found much information there. Am I not allowed to ask the opinions of people who have been on both cruise lines to get some comparisons to the only cruise line I'm used to?

I didn’t think you read it, because I didn’t see that you actually posted any questions on that board. There are people on that forum that have sailed on Carnival that would be more than willing to help. What you will get here is lots of possibly old or inaccurate info. Rather than up to date things on the main board.

I bet if you ask this same question on that board you will get lots of information. Because there are way more people over there that have cruise on Carnival than people here that have cruises BPCL.

Plus that might help future cruisers that have the same query.

Hope you have a great cruise if you decide to sail with them

Over 100 cruises since 1978, more than 30 on CCL and did the Classica 2 mons ago and loved it. Lots and lots of public area and very spacious lounges with great entertainment. Can't go wrong do it. Stormy

I am looking at taking a 2 night cruise on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line (on the Grand Classica). I had never even heard of this cruise line until I came across it the other day. I have been trying to find a short cruise to fit in a trip I'm already taking to FL in November for a wedding but haven't been able to find one with Carnival (or NCL or Royal) that fits my timeline and is in my budget. Then I came across this 2 day cruise that will probably end up saving me money over staying on land and fits perfectly within my already booked flights and the wedding I am attending.

 

I'm pretty much ready to book at this point but just wanted to see if anyone who typically cruises Carnival has tried this cruise line and how different it was or if there is anything I need to be aware of. There didn't seem to be much info on the boards for the cruise line specifically.

 

I cruised on the Elation pre it's recent upgrade and am assuming it would be similar to that but was hoping to get some thoughts from people who have actually cruised both.

Its a cheap 2 day cruise...how much are you really risking by going? If I had a few days to kill (or lived in florida) I would give it a try without hesitation.

I didn’t think you read it, because I didn’t see that you actually posted any questions on that board. There are people on that forum that have sailed on Carnival that would be more than willing to help. What you will get here is lots of possibly old or inaccurate info. Rather than up to date things on the main board.

I bet if you ask this same question on that board you will get lots of information. Because there are way more people over there that have cruise on Carnival than people here that have cruises BPCL.

 

Plus that might help future cruisers that have the same query.

 

Hope you have a great cruise if you decide to sail with them

I guess I know that as someone who cruised on NCL once, I haven't went to that board in a few years, but check the Carnival board fairly regularly. If someone were to post asking for a comparison between the two, they would only get my answer if they posted here. I assume there are way more "Carnival cruisers" that have tried a Bahamas Paradise Cruise than the other way around. I was specifically looking for the opinion of people who typically cruise Carnival.

My first cruise was on the Carnival Sunshine, and my second was on the Grand Celebration.

Carnival will have more amenities obviously, but for a ship of the Celebration’s size it is not exactly feature poor - the ship has two pools, several hot tubs (one of which is on the adults-only top deck, in the Oasis - their version of Serenity), a casino, a couple of lounges, a gorgeous library, duty-free shop (great deals on logo merch!) and a spa. The outdoor dance club on Deck 11 has cornhole boards out during the day, and ping pong tables just up a deck from the main pool. There’s even a kids club with arcade games as well.

Food is a bit of a weak spot - the Forward Dining room essentially operates as a steak house, and charges extra. The aft dining room does fixed time dining, and the menu is not very big. The buffet is a bit small for lunch and dinner, but the ship does offer burgers poolside on embarkation day, and barbecue as a “late lunch” on days in Freeport, both of which are good. I also was pleased with The Bull (priced a la carte) which operates poolside in the evenings and offers gourmet burgers (think more like Red Robin than Guy’s Burger Joint).

The production show the first night was kind of odd, but I really liked the production show the second night (“Let’s Dance”). You can even learn from the onboard illusionist how to perform some of his tricks (and he’ll gladly sell you his book). I didn’t try it, but there’s also a champagne breakfast.

Being a smaller ship, you will feel some vibration on the lower decks. I stayed on Deck 5 (Deck 2 using Carnival’s current nomenclature) and felt lots of vibration pulling into port in Palm Beach. The cabin really isn’t much different from any of the oceanview cabins in Carnival ships built in the 1990s.

I booked directly through the cruise line. Never was I approached by anyone regarding a time share.

You do book excursions and dining at the terminal, but you have to remember how small the lobby is on a Holiday-class ship. If you do stay on Deck 5 (Mercury), just carry your luggage to your room rather than checking it.

Breakeven on the drink coupons is around 6 drinks - drinks like mudslides or pina coladas will set you back around $11 each. I actually had the soda package, and it was no problem getting drinks at any of the bars, and you even get a mug (although you don’t have to use it).

The ship never felt crowded outside of muster drill (which was indoors) and I sailed on Labor Day Weekend.

One thing that was odd was that my TV kept coming on in the middle of the night. Be sure to mute it before you turn in for the night.

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My first cruise was on the Carnival Sunshine, and my second was on the Grand Celebration.

 

Carnival will have more amenities obviously, but for a ship of the Celebration’s size it is not exactly feature poor - the ship has two pools, several hot tubs (one of which is on the adults-only top deck, in the Oasis - their version of Serenity), a casino, a couple of lounges, a gorgeous library, duty-free shop (great deals on logo merch!) and a spa. The outdoor dance club on Deck 11 has cornhole boards out during the day, and ping pong tables just up a deck from the main pool. There’s even a kids club with arcade games as well.

 

Food is a bit of a weak spot - the Forward Dining room essentially operates as a steak house, and charges extra. The aft dining room does fixed time dining, and the menu is not very big. The buffet is a bit small for lunch and dinner, but the ship does offer burgers poolside on embarkation day, and barbecue as a “late lunch” on days in Freeport, both of which are good. I also was pleased with The Bull (priced a la carte) which operates poolside in the evenings and offers gourmet burgers (think more like Red Robin than Guy’s Burger Joint).

 

The production show the first night was kind of odd, but I really liked the production show the second night (“Let’s Dance”). You can even learn from the onboard illusionist how to perform some of his tricks (and he’ll gladly sell you his book). I didn’t try it, but there’s also a champagne breakfast.

 

Being a smaller ship, you will feel some vibration on the lower decks. I stayed on Deck 5 (Deck 2 using Carnival’s current nomenclature) and felt lots of vibration pulling into port in Palm Beach. The cabin really isn’t much different from any of the oceanview cabins in Carnival ships built in the 1990s.

 

I booked directly through the cruise line. Never was I approached by anyone regarding a time share.

 

You do book excursions and dining at the terminal, but you have to remember how small the lobby is on a Holiday-class ship. If you do stay on Deck 5 (Mercury), just carry your luggage to your room rather than checking it.

 

Breakeven on the drink coupons is around 6 drinks - drinks like mudslides or pina coladas will set you back around $11 each. I actually had the soda package, and it was no problem getting drinks at any of the bars, and you even get a mug (although you don’t have to use it).

 

The ship never felt crowded outside of muster drill (which was indoors) and I sailed on Labor Day Weekend.

 

One thing that was odd was that my TV kept coming on in the middle of the night. Be sure to mute it before you turn in for the night.

 

 

Sent from my eye phone using a three legged yak FFS

This is a perfect comparison!! Thanks so much for sharing! We live in Palm Beach and have never sailed this line but always talk about it as a quick weekend getaway between our Carnival sailings. This definitely helped!

Went with friends had a great time. Was a nice getaway.