A First Time Cruiser's Review: Carnival Paradise 7/14/12-7/19/12 (LOTS of Pics)

[Gemynii]

Okay... I'm going to try to get this review done as quick as I can. I know how nice it is not to have to wait weeks for a review to be finished. Keep in mind that this is the first time I've done this and I still feel like I'm rocking and swaying, so bear with me.

 

I'm currently uploading all my pics, so I'll get started with listing some stuff that I found very useful while at sea and other stuff that I didn't use at all...

 

Useful Items:

 

Bonine! - I got the one a day chewable kind. DH and DD didn't need them, but I definitely experienced some queasiness.

Fabreeze - Came in handy when those small bathrooms were not so fresh.

Binder Clips - Used to hold the towel to the chair on our first sea day (which was extremely windy) and to keep papers left in our room together.

Empty Foldable Bag - Packed flat in our suitcase and used to carry off our souvenirs.

Pop-up Hamper - Obviously used for dirty laundry. We kept it hidden away in the closet.

Post It Notes - To leave notes for each other in the room.

Snorkeling Gear (Mask & Snorkel only) - For excursions in both ports.

AA Batteries - Our camera runs on regular batteries and I took so many pics that I had to change them 3 times.

*don't laugh* Dark Colored Doggie Poo Disposal bags - (For Women Only) Those little provided bags are thin paper.

3 Plug Outlet - Charged multiple electronics

First Aid Kit - I also added the single packs of headache/pain meds, sinus meds, Pepto tablets, Tums and cold/flu meds to the kits.

Conditioner - I used the provided shampoo and body wash, but between the salt air/water and the wind, my hair needed conditioning.

Insulated Coffee Mug - This saved DH from having to make multiple trips to the beverage station.

Refillable Wide-Mouth Sports Bottle - Also to avoid trips to the beverage station (didn't want to leave my lounge chair unoccupied).

Small Notebook and Pen - I didn't end up using it for taking notes, but used it for keeping score while playing cards.

18 16.9oz Bottles of Soda - 6 each for the 3 of us.

Small Battery Operated Alarm Clock

Mints and Gum

Hand Sanitizer

Chapstick with SPF

Plenty of Sunscreen

Assorted Sizes Ziplock Bags

And... A well packed toiletries bag

 

Did Not Used (but would still pack in the future):

Disposable Poncho - We got lucky and it didn't rain while we were in port

Small Flashlight - Didn't end up getting up in the middle of the night

Travel Size Detergent - Surprisingly, we did spill any food or drinks on ourselves.

Stain Stick - same as above

Drink Mixes - We found the water, tea, lemonade and coffee provided on the ship to be enough.

Highlighter - Didn't highlight anything on the Fun Times. Not being on a schedule was more enjoyable.

Tablet/eReader - Never found time to read

Duct Tape (wrapped around a card to take up less space)

Safety Pins

Mini Sewing Kit

Small Nail Kit

Ear Plugs

Binoculars

 

Up next... Embarkation

[Captain Carnival]

Great Start!!

I'm sailing on PARADISE in 115 days and I am anxious to see some great pics of the ship!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Nice job ..

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day

 

We arrived at Capital Parking at 11am. They have rates of $3.99 per day and I used a promotional code to get a day free. We ended up paying $21 total. They provided transportation to the cruise terminal and dropped us off right in front. The ride from the parking lot to the port was about 5 mins.

 

The porters picked up our checked luggage, we tipped them $5 for three suitcases and then we headed to the door. The person at the door checked our boarding pass and passports (DH had a passport, DD and I had passport cards) and we headed inside.

 

The first stop was the line to set up and receive our Sail and Sign card. We had ours set up for cash and there was no one in line ahead of us, so it only took about 5 mins to be called and receive our cards. We had received $130 OBC from price drops and I had called a week before to add another $100 credit, so they didn't require that we add any more. Sis and her family went through the long credit card line, but it still only took them about 15 mins to get through.

 

Cash line on the right, Credit Card line on the left (Cash line was as long as CC line 10 mins later):

 

I took a pic of the Paradise outside the window while waiting on sis

 

Getting closer

 

Up the stairs to the gangway

 

Almost there

[SharkCruiser24]

Can't wait to hear about your vacation!! I liked your used and not used list!! I always pack highlighters too, but last time I didn't use them. I guess it depends who you sail with, my mom and I use them, my dad and I don't, and last cruise it was just my dad and myself.

[Gemynii]

Great Start!!

I'm sailing on PARADISE in 115 days and I am anxious to see some great pics of the ship!

 

Thanks. Since you've been on some of the newer ships, I'm not sure how you would like Paradise... although I see that you've been on some other Fantasy class ships, so I assume they are very similar. I thought the Paradise was just the right size for a first cruise as I did not feel overwhelmed by it.

 

Nice job ..

 

Thank you.

[Gemynii]

Can't wait to hear about your vacation!! I liked your used and not used list!! I always pack highlighters too, but last time I didn't use them. I guess it depends who you sail with, my mom and I use them, my dad and I don't, and last cruise it was just my dad and myself.

 

Thank you. I may have over-packed :o, but since we drove, I didn't have to worry about baggage fees. I went by the saying "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it".

[DEBnGAB]

Awwww :) Cant wait to read more!

 

Sailed the Paradise many times while she was out here on the West and lots of good memories!

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

As you can see by the time stamps on the pics, from the time we parked our car until we stepped on the ship was about 45 minutes. Overall, I found the embarkation process to be very easy.

 

DH ended up boarding before me, so I snapped a pic of him going through the door

 

Our first view of the atrium/lobby area on deck 7 (this is also where you will disembark from).

 

 

We headed up to the Lido buffet (Paris Restaurant) located on deck 10 Aft. We met up with my Mom and her BF who had arrived earlier and had gotten a table for our group.

 

We set down our carry-ons and I decided to try the Mongolian Wok since I had heard so much about it. I got mine with the Tai Barbecue sauce and was not impressed. Sis tried the Szechuan (sp?) and said it was much better. It was also less spicy even though the posted sign said the opposite.

 

The announcement came at 12:30 that the rooms were ready, so we grabbed our bags and headed down. We were booked in room M134 which is a category 6C (oceanview) room located on Main deck (deck 5). I had originally booked a 4C (interior) room, but was able to upgrade for only $100 more total. I also decorated the door :p.

[sjcruiser]

Thanks for the review and photos, can't wait to see the rest. I'm glad someone in my party packed a sewing kit as it was a lifesaver on formal/elegant/Captain's night!!!

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

DH thought I was crazy for taking so many pics, so I took one of him in the room. Our room had the two twins made king and one upper.

 

The upper folds up against the wall. There was a little black button on the left that you had to push to lower it. TV was a small flatscreen in a mounted box.

 

Hallway with closet area (bathroom across from closet)

 

Vanity (you can see the bathroom door in the mirror as well as the little black button on the upper)

 

My mom had a surprise waiting for us in the room.

[ibcnusoon]

I subscribed, looking forward to reading the rest of your review, especially through the eyes of a first-time cruiser. We will be cruising with first-timers in November!

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

Now for the bathroom. The toilet was scary. The suction was crazy. It was also very loud and we could hear when our neighbor flushed.

 

The shower was a good size. The shower curtain is cloth. Unfortunately, our water pressure sucked! Both mom and sis said theirs was great over on the starboard side.

 

Shampoo and Body Wash are provided in dispensers in the shower. As I stated in my "used" list, I brought my own conditioner.

 

The cabinet over the sink was huge and my stuff only took up about a third of the space.

 

Here's what we got in the gift basket. Some shampoo and conditioner, two samples of toothpaste with two packets each and some Listerine breath strips.

[Gemynii]

I subscribed, looking forward to reading the rest of your review, especially through the eyes of a first-time cruiser. We will be cruising with first-timers in November!

 

Thanks. My mom and her BF have cruised many times before. Sis and her DH went on one small 3 day cruise that they won but didn't enjoy since it was during a hurricane. I can tell you from a viewpoint of a first timer sailing with a seasoned cruiser (mom) to not try and get your friends to do certain things at certain times. All I heard was "you need to go to this" or "make sure you're here at this time". The least enjoyable part of our cruise was someone else trying to put us on a schedule.

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

Some more pics from around the ship...

 

Bar and piano in the atrium

 

Glass elevators

 

Gym located on deck 12

 

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

The pool was already crowded at 2:30pm. DD was the only one of the three of us to actually go in the pool and hot tubs.

 

Judging by the number of people in the pool, I think the towels on the chairs were theirs.

 

Pool Stage

 

Whale Tail

 

Edited July 20, 2012 by Gemynii

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

View of the Port of Tampa

 

Pool, hot tub and kiddie pool located on deck 11 Aft

 

The basketball court is also located on deck 11 Aft

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

The announcement for the muster drill came at 3pm. We were in zone 3, so we headed to the Leonardo Lounge located on deck 9.

 

Mom's BF fell asleep, so she had some fun and sis and I snapped pics to use for blackmail later.

 

After the demonstration on how to use the lifejackets and what to do in case of emergency, we headed to our lifeboat station located on Lido deck 10.

 

View of Channelside from lifeboat station 12

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

After the muster drill, it was time to grab a DOD. For embarkation day, it's the Funship Special. I thought it was yummy.

 

Bon Voyage!

 

People were so happy to sail away, they were dancing on the deck.

[ata1976]

Subscribing!

 

Can't wait until our Paradise cruise.

Edited July 20, 2012 by ata1976

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

After sail away, we headed back to the room to try and unpack some. This was waiting when we got there. Umm... not quite sure what it is.

 

Pic of the window in our room.

 

The single outlet located next to the vanity.

 

At 6:15pm, we were almost to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, so we went up to watch.

[keystonemama]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

As you can see by the time stamps on the pics, from the time we parked our car until we stepped on the ship was about 45 minutes. Overall, I found the embarkation process to be very easy.

 

DH ended up boarding before me, so I snapped a pic of him going through the door

 

Our first view of the atrium/lobby area on deck 7 (this is also where you will disembark from).

 

 

We headed up to the Lido buffet (Paris Restaurant) located on deck 10 Aft. We met up with my Mom and her BF who had arrived earlier and had gotten a table for our group.

 

We set down our carry-ons and I decided to try the Mongolian Wok since I had heard so much about it. I got mine with the Tai Barbecue sauce and was not impressed. Sis tried the Szechuan (sp?) and said it was much better. It was also less spicy even though the posted sign said the opposite.

 

The announcement came at 12:30 that the rooms were ready, so we grabbed our bags and headed down. We were booked in room M134 which is a category 6C (oceanview) room located on Main deck (deck 5). I had originally booked a 4C (interior) room, but was able to upgrade for only $100 more total. I also decorated the door :p.

 

Glad you had a great time, nice door decorations! Flip-flops are southern girls ruby slippers!, lol

Can't wait for more!

Happy Sailing,

[Gemynii]

Glad you had a great time, nice door decorations! Flip-flops are southern girls ruby slippers!, lol

Can't wait for more!

Happy Sailing,

 

Thanks. I did have a great time. Vera remembers you and your family and said "Hi". She said that a lot of people knew her on sight before she served them and I said that you had made her famous in your review. She was pleasantly surprised by this news.

 

I wore the heck out of my flip flops! I wore them most of the time, especially when my feet started to swell a bit.

 

That reminds me that I forgot something on my "Useful Items" list. I packed some Diurex water pills... just in case. Thank goodness I had them.

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

Almost to the Sunshine Skyway.

 

The front of the ship had no problem clearing.

 

I was standing under the whale tail and started to get nervous at this point.

 

OMG! DH was standing back on deck 11 Aft and he said it looked like it was going to hit. He thought I was crazy to stand under the whale tail.

 

That was really close.

[Gemynii]

Embarkation Day Cont.

 

View of Serenity on deck 9 Aft from deck 11 Aft. We never did go there.

 

Smoking area on deck 11 Aft starboard side.

 

Random pic

 

We had an escort out of Tampa Bay.

 

There was a cool little island with a lighthouse that we spotted as we were leaving the bay.