Jump to content

Carnival Paradise--Did I make a mistake?


Beachfrog
 Share

Recommended Posts

Taking mom on her first cruise. Carnival Paradise out of Tampa. After booking, I am finding all the negative reviews on this older ship. ugh! We are not stuffy people and can make a party out of any situation, but I so want this to be a memorable (in a good way) for mom. Please share with me the good things about the Paradise so I will feel better. Thanks!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally, I love the Fantasy class ships. Less people, seems like you get to know the other passengers more so than being lost in a crowd in the bigger ships.

 

The only difference I can tell is that there is no steakhouse, or pay restaurants, which is fine with me. There is still a casino, shows, comedy club, piano bar, atrium, Lido deck with buffet and pools, main dining rooms, etc. The Paradise has not been upgraded to include Guy's burgers/Blue Iguana, but still has plenty of options for lunch. Also, waterworks has not been upgraded so the slide is an older type slide which goes directly in the main pool, if that is a big deal. Not for me.

 

I have sailed Paradise two years ago and will again next month and looking forward to it. Bigger and newer isn't always better. I am going to bet you will have a wonderful time. Happy cruising.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just came back from paradise. Extremely clean. Great crew, very friendly. We had a great time and have been on many carnival ships. It really is whatever you make of it. Yes, larger ships may have more bells and whistles, but we did not have enough time to do everything on the ship. Tampa embarkation was efficient. Best advice is to go with an open mind and have fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you look you'll usually find only negative comments posted on almost everything. Just the nature of people to spend a few minutes to complain but rarely spend the time when things go as expected. We've been on Paradise recently and had great time. We've sailed her several times and we'd do it again and probably will. Tampa port is great in/out.

 

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been on 3 cruises. The first was Carnival Ecstasy before It got all the upgrades (there was waterworks, but no Guys burger). It is the 2nd oldest ship and we had an amazing time! We just got off Carnival Fantasy last month, the oldest ship, and again, it was an amazing time! We were also on Carnival Pride in February, good ship! But not new by any means.

 

In 6 months, we will be on Carnival Vista. I'm excited to try the newer ship, but my heart is on the smaller, older ships! Don't let the age of the ship scare you! It is so much fun!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You will have a fantastic time. The Paradise was the first cruise ship I ever set foot on and I was very impressed. Your mom will have nothing to compare it to so I imagine she'll be impressed as well. I've sailed on bigger ships and actually prefer the smaller Carnival vessels for the intimate feel.

 

 

 

We sail fairly often on the Imagination and Inspiration, sister ships to the Paradise, and always have a great time. Please come back and let us know how it was for you.

 

 

 

Completely agree with all of this! We've sailed the Paradise and three of her sisters repeatedly over the years.

Some like bigger and newer. But this isn't necessarily better. Need to decide what best for you. We can entertain ourselves so we don't need ropes courses or special movie screens to make a cruise enjoyable.

The biggest complaint many have is the bathroom vanity. It's puny and barely practical, but this hasn't stopped us from booking two more cruise on her sisters in CA.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't let the sticks-in-the-mud get you down. I went on my first ever cruise on the Paradise, and I had a ton of fun. I always have a lot of fun on every cruise my wife and I go on. The cruise is what you make it. Always go in with an open mind and a smile on your face :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you! Thank you! I so very much appreciate your positive responses. You made me feel better! We leave November 2, so, yes, it is before the ship goes to dry dock. I guess that is why I am worried. I can handle stains and worn. (Hell, I'm stained and worn! ;)) As long as the people around us are enjoying themselves, then life is good. We are so excited about this trip! My mother has been packed since June!

 

I will let you know how the trip went!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

DH and I have been on 41 cruises on both older and newer ships. We love them all. Sailed on the Paradise in May and doing it again in Nov. The ship is in great shape with a nice crew and good food. Even though there isn't a Steakhouse, you can still order some of the Steakhouse selections in the main dining room for a $20 charge. Happy cruising!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A cruise is what you make of it. Many people may not know how old the ship is and have big expectations of what they will get. We have been on eight or nine Carnival ships but not anything that old in a long time. Just don't expect the experience you would have on any cruise lines newer ships. To a new cruiser with no expectations, they should have a wonderful time. Can't remember anytime we have not had a great cruise on Carnival.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife and I sailed the Paradise as our first cruise and have been on 2 other Carnival ships the Freedom and the Valor and the steakhouse and Guys burgers will be missed I appreciate the smaller ship and we are going again on the Paradise in 2 months

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you! Thank you! I so very much appreciate your positive responses. You made me feel better! We leave November 2, so, yes, it is before the ship goes to dry dock. I guess that is why I am worried. I can handle stains and worn. (Hell, I'm stained and worn! ;)) As long as the people around us are enjoying themselves, then life is good. We are so excited about this trip! My mother has been packed since June!

 

I will let you know how the trip went!

 

Thank you for this post ...booked this cruise as a quick surprise getaway for Mom's 75th bday.... I take all reviews with a grain of salt and have never had a bad cruise but was still a little concerned ....posts like this made me feel better...I'll look forward to what you have to say when your return ....we leave 11/30.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I too, think you'll have a FANTASTIC time aboard "Paradise". Yes, she is a smaller, older ship, but that doesn't take away from her many positive things, and the fact that she is smaller, means fewer people, less lines, and less walking. You and yours are in for a great cruise.

 

"SKY"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My daughter and I cruised on the Paradise just two weeks ago. We did the 5 night Key West and Havana,Cuba itinerary. I,too, had some reservations when we booked but was pleasantly surprised. We are experienced cruisers - she's done 50 and I've got her beat with 54 - and have cruised on big, medium and small ships. We've sailed on old Chandris, Dolphin, Premier's Big Red Boat, NCL, Celebrity, Princess, HAL, Carnival and RCCL. The Paradise held her own with all of them!

The MDR food was great. Wine list was not extensive but was not priced sky high. Entertainment was some of the best we've seen - Latin themed and 80's music shows. Cruise director and staff were everywhere and doing a great job. Housekeeping was efficient and friendly. All public areas were clean and well cared for. The casino was not smoky and you could actually walk through and breathe normally! There was a variety of music in different venues - all were worth listening to. The buffet was small but well stocked. Two lines were actually outdoors near the pool on the Lido. They offered burgers, etc and the Mongolian Wok dishes. Pizza Pirate was open 24 hours and the pizza was always fresh.

 

What wasn't great? Well, the cabins were old school. No refrigerator, no hair dryer. Very basic, but clean and well taken care of. We had ordered bottled water and had to ask for an ice bucket and get a bucket of beers from the bar on the first day to hold extra ice. A real sacrifice! LOL!

 

I think you will enjoy your time on this ship. I would sail on the Paradise again if I found an itinerary that interested me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just got off the Paradise..I have only been on bigger/newer ships..was so pleasantly surprised..the ship was clean, well maintained..entertainment was the notch..Cruise director was Jaime Dee..one of the best..crew was friendly, we had the best servers ever..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Paradise was my very first Carnival cruise waaay back in 2003 when the Paradise was a non-smoking ship. And what a trip we had! The food, the entertainment, the service was amazing. Fast-forward 14 years and more than 16 Carnival cruises later, we have moved on to NCL's newer ships, as we saw the Carnival product change and especially the food decline steadily from what it had been a decade and a half ago. That said, I recently advised a coworker of mine on his family's first cruise (they booked an older Carnival ship) and he came back with raving reviews of the food, the accomodations, the service. I firmly believe that Carnival is a good product that delivers value for the dollar, especially for new cruisers. After many years sailing Carnival and enjoying their staff, state rooms, and entertainment, we have moved on almost entirely because of food quality. Having said that, some of my best cruise memories and some of the most fun I've ever had was on a Carnival cruise ship. Our voyages on the Paradise, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Victory, and the Miracle and the Liberty rank among my best cruises ever. Happy sailing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...