Carnival Paradise Review 5/2017

So just returned from the four day Carnival Paradise cruise to Cozumel. We hop on this regularly just to get to Mexico and back. It's more or less like a ferry to us so we don't expect the service and quality we would get on a bigger ship. We did sail on Vista in December and it was great. I just wanted to leave our $.02 to help anyone considering the Paradise.

As been mentioned before, this is an older ship. Yes it's outdated a bit, old and a little rusty. And occasionally smells a little poopy. But again, we usually pay about $500 for my wife and I and last month when we took our two kids, we got on for under $700 for the four us - plus we won the Bingo jackpot on the last day so it was a super cheap cruise. So my point is, for the money, just don't expect much. It's what we consider a bare bones cruise. We are fitness freaks, so we don't drink or go for the food - we go to simply relax and catch up on book reading.

So this is about our 8th time on this particular cruise and have to say this was the worst. The majority of our past cruises were without incident. This time, not so much. Starting off Thursday when we boarded at 11 am we headed to our room. It was ready but of course our luggage hadn't arrived - even through we are faster to the fun. For some reason, our luggage never arrives early, even though it is supposed to. When we arrived at our room, we had a letter advising there was an issue with the embarkation door that had to be repaired and we'd be hanging around in Tampa until 10:00 pm. Ok, fine. Not like we were going to do much for the next 10 hours other than lounge. I have to be honest though, it was a bit irritating after a few hours listening to the ship yard workers and machines and all that. Off to dinner at 5:45 pm and we had a great view from our window of the terminal lol. Would have preferred open ocean, but wasn't in the cards this time.

So we noticed the spring break crowd had thinned out since our last cruise in March. Except for the room directly next to us. We were in M197 and in M199, about 12 college age people from NJ decided to use their room as the meeting place. Needless to say, Thursday night involved NO sleep. Finally called guest services around 3 am and they sent security up to chat with them.

Friday was a relaxing day starting out in the gym breakfast and lounging on the Serenity Deck. We were so tired that around 1:30 we decided to go take a nap before dinner. Just as we laid down, our spring breakers decided to head to their room as well! No naps. We out for a stroll to see what was happening in the lobby and popped in to guest services and asked if there was anyway we could move rooms. Was told they were full but would see what they could do and they'd let us know. So dinner was great as usual (we had table 219 with Salmet as our server - second time with him and he is fabulous). Knowing we were getting up early to head off ship to Nachi Cocom, and the lack of sleep the night before, we got to bed pretty early - around 8. At 1:00 am, our spring breakers returned, drunk and fighting. The girls were crying and the guys sounded like they were going at it. Then it sounded like they were about to come through our wall when one guy through the other guy into the wall. Enough. Called security and they came up and broke up the group. Can't fall back asleep now. Think we finally did around 3ish.

So got up Saturday, hopped our cab and made it to Nachi for a day of relaxation. Of course, we had to be with ANOTHER group of spring breakers from TX who obviously heard about the all you can drink special. So our quite Nachi visit turned into an MTV realty show. By the end of the day it was a very loud place. Saving grace was the lack of a crowd so we were able to head down the beach to some private loungers.

Back to our room Saturday evening and find a note from guess services that our new room is available. Yay! Moving to M172, across the hall. Pack up, move and yay a good nights sleep finally!!

Sunday was the usual lay on deck and then partake in some of the trivia games. Didn't hit Bingo this time since I figured we used up all our Bingo luck on the last cruise.

Got back into Tampa at 8 am, off the ship at 8:30 and home by 930. Love the quickie cruise out of Tampa, but was disappointed in the lack of respect from our spring break neighbors.

So again, due to age of this ship, don't expect five star amenities or service. If you like to drink yourself to death, great ship for you. If you like to go and relax, hang out on serenity deck and you'll be fine. Will probabyl be going again next month to take the kids over to Mr Sanchos. Hope the spring breakers are gone by then lol!

Thanks for the review. It reminds me how hard is to know just when to call and complain. A little patience often has the problem take care of itself and then other times it just makes it worse.

We love home port cruising too.

Thanks for the review.

We were also on the same cruise.

We knew this was an older ship without all the bells and whistles. We have been in the paradise two times prior, and had a five day booked on it for sept.

This was probably one of the worst cruises we have been in in a while.

We were not bothered by being in port till 10pm. Saved me money by not going to the casino. Our biggest issue was service. In the main dining room the waiters were excellent but the food was subpar. We sent back dishes several times. Food was not cooked correctly or dishes came out that we did not order. Bar service was horrible. Almost all the bars were packed and usually took 30 minutes or more to get your order placed. Bar service at the shows weren't much better. I think there was a newer crew on board and haven't gotten everything figured out yet.

Regardless we still had a good time, but once we were home we changed our cruise in September to another ship.

Thanks for the review.

We sailed her in January, and look forward to sailing her again. I love the Fantasy class, and this ship in particular still feels like what cruising was back before all the bells and whistles started coming out.

Thanks for the review.

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Thanks for posting. It appears to me that about 95% of the problems you experienced could have/would have happened on any ship. (The rowdy Spring Breakers) Not much you can do about that, except don't sail during Spring Break. Glad to hear that you did indeed get assigned another cabin. Too bad it didn't happen sooner.

"SKY"

Enjoy the Paradise for a quick trip. Never had any problems with "neighbors" - but that would definitely make a cruise less enjoyable.

Glad you haven't let it prevent you from sailing her again!

When does Paradise go into dry dock?

I'm sorry you had a noisy time of it. I'm going on Paradise in the fall, so pre-dry dock. I'm reassured to hear that service was good, though. Selfishly, I'm hoping that in the fall we won't have as many of the spring breakers.

Thanks for the review!

Thanks for the review. I have a journey cruise booked for Dec. so not expecting spring breakers. Have seen a decline in the food for a while now. Just got off the Fantasy and service was great. Lots of kids onboard but they seemed to hang out on the Lido Deck. I'm a little worried about a 10 day on and older ship, but it is booked so I'm going to give it a try. Thanks again for the review.

:cool:

Thanks for the review. I have a journey cruise booked for Dec. so not expecting spring breakers. Have seen a decline in the food for a while now. Just got off the Fantasy and service was great. Lots of kids onboard but they seemed to hang out on the Lido Deck. I'm a little worried about a 10 day on and older ship, but it is booked so I'm going to give it a try. Thanks again for the review.

Spring breakers don't want to spend the money on a longer cruise should be a nice mellow cruise.

Appreciate the feedback.

:cool:

Spring breakers don't want to spend the money on a longer cruise should be a nice mellow cruise.

Triton is 100% right. The longer the cruise, the older the crowd. ;) You won't find spring breakers on the 10 day cruise, and I'd bet that it'll be a fantastic voyage. As a matter of fact, I'm looking into it myself! (Yep,,,I'm OLD!) LOL

"SKY"

When does Paradise go into dry dock?

February 2018 for 30ish days

Thanks for the report!

February 2018 for 30ish days

Thanks, that's a long dry dock. She needs it badly.

I was on the Paradise in November & have a 5 day booked for June 10th. This will be my 20tj CCL cruise but last November was my first time on the Paradise. I was pleasantly surprised and I really enjoyed myself. This was the first time in many years that I had been on one of the smaller ships and thought I would miss the amenities, but it was nice being on a smaller ship - didn't feel so crowded. We ate in the MDR every evening - there were 9 of us - and just about everything I ordered was pretty good - at least as good as the other ships.

I normally would not go on a summer cruise, especially one that was less than 7 days, because of the # of kids that will no doubt be on board. This time it's only my sister and I & we got a Bounce Back casino rate, so we will spend way too much time in the casino on sea days & hopefully spend most of the 2 port days in the Serenity area. We've been to Cozumel & Costa Maya numerous times - so we may get off just to walk around, but for the most part we'll stay onboard enjoying the peace & quiet - and of course the CHEERS package.

Thanks for the review. I have a journey cruise booked for Dec. so not expecting spring breakers. Have seen a decline in the food for a while now. Just got off the Fantasy and service was great. Lots of kids onboard but they seemed to hang out on the Lido Deck. I'm a little worried about a 10 day on and older ship, but it is booked so I'm going to give it a try. Thanks again for the review.

Triton is 100% right. The longer the cruise, the older the crowd. ;) You won't find spring breakers on the 10 day cruise, and I'd bet that it'll be a fantastic voyage. As a matter of fact, I'm looking into it myself! (Yep,,,I'm OLD!) LOL

 

"SKY"

Guess I'm also 'old'? Very interested in the december journey cruise as well - despite the smaller ship and lack of 'bells and whistles' - the ports are great (and have never done the panama canal yet!) and I too am hoping for an older/less noisy crowd!

Hope to see you both onboard! :)

We'll be on Dec Journey - soooo looking forward to it!! Cruising with two more couples we cruise with frequently, Panama Canal a first for all of us. Like the Fantasy class ships a lot - never been disappointed.

We'll be on Dec Journey - soooo looking forward to it!! Cruising with two more couples we cruise with frequently, Panama Canal a first for all of us. Like the Fantasy class ships a lot - never been disappointed.

Feel free to drop by and say hello! :)

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