Just off Paradise 4 day to Cozumel .... Anyone have any questions????

[RecoveryDude]

Hi, Just sailed out of Tampa 9/10 on Carnival Paradise for the 4 day to Cozumel ... I will be posting a full review but figured I would throw it out there in case any of you had any specific questions I might be able to answer ---

 

Jeff aka Recovery Dude

[wytyger1]

Hi Jeff,

 

Thanks! We sail in November.

Do you recommend any particular excursions? We're currently looking at 'Mr. Sanchez' in Cozumel but have seen other similar ones and wondered if one was better than the other. Any tips on excursions would be great! One of us wants to visit the stingrays. One of us is a little leery of that. We were considering something in Grand Turk but haven't narrowed it down yet.

 

Also, did you go to the ship's piano bar? If so, did it draw a good crowd? We like piano bars.

 

What's the best place/station to eat? Very glad that this ship has the all-night pizza! We've enjoyed that on our other 2 Carnival cruises.

 

We're walkers. Which deck is good for walking?

[CruisingGatorGirl]

We were also on this sailing :)

 

I can answer a couple questions.

 

we went to the piano bar twice and loved it. We thought the food was mediocre to poor. However we had a blast. We were on for a bachelorette party and had a great time! Food was not high on the priority list ;) we went to a day all-Inclusive called nachi cocom. Service and staff on board the Paradise were all friendly and wonderful. The smell of cigarette smoke was pretty bad. We hung out a lot near the casino and Rex nightclub which is a heavy smoke area. I would sail on the Paradise again for a quick get away for a party, such as a bachelorette party. However if I wanted a relaxing trip and good food, less smoke, etc. I would cruise on a different line, such as celebrity.

Edited September 16, 2015 by CruisingGatorGirl

[crusinpsychRN]

Just went 8/31 on 5 day.

 

Piano bar was usually hopping after 5pm. They also do trivia there so there is that crowd as well. Only 6 stools at the bar for smoking and area where you can stand. That was just stupid.

 

Need fans on Lido, gets really hot up there even when sailing.

 

Room steward S L O W!!! First sea day cabin done at noon, one night he was so late I told him to forget it, just please give me ice. They have 25 cabins. I've always had cabin done during dinner time. Not this time.

 

2 great shows, Steve the CD can really play the fiddle!

 

Food not so good but they did have a good Mongolian wok and their Lido burgers were better than average but not Guy's! Lots of people liked chateaubriand. No crème brulee. I ended up coming up with my own concoctions on Lido. Room service was very prompt and accurate. The shrimp salad and roast beef sandwich were great!

 

Trivia was all new to me. Some were total guesses. Got a ship on a stick I gave to the guys who weren't playing but gave me a great answer in Scattergories!

 

I had a great time. She looked a lot better than the last time I was on her before dry dock. This is dumb, but last time I was on a floor with orange hallways, this time on one with blue and it -- believe it or not -- made it so much nicer.

[ladygal4.4]

Did you ever solve your Monster drink and ice chest problems?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[evandbob]

Hi, Just sailed out of Tampa 9/10 on Carnival Paradise for the 4 day to Cozumel ... I will be posting a full review but figured I would throw it out there in case any of you had any specific questions I might be able to answer ---

 

Jeff aka Recovery Dude

 

Hey Jeff, how was the seaweed in Coz? My last time there earlier this year I went to Passion Island and it was a stinking mess. In January I was in Playa across the way and there were tons of seaweed onshore. I realize tides and currents change, and I'm hoping when I go back to Coz, this time to Nachi in Oct and then Nov, I'll find clean beaches. What was your take?

[RecoveryDude]

Ok - We went to Mr. Sanchos for the ATV adventure and the Jet Skiing - Both were AWESOME, we had reservations thru ShoreExcursioner website in advance - no problems there - ATV was cool, tho we did NOT go on the beach like the description said, just back in the jungle trails - it was good for $39 but any more than that it would have been overpriced. The JET SKI was AWESOME!!! I did a lot of research and this is the ONLY place where you don't have a "guide" that you have to follow ... you can just drive where you want as long as you stay within the boundries that they show you, which is a huge area, probably a mile or so. We went for 30 min. They were VERY FAST. A couple times I past the boundry, cause the beach clubs look the same, lol.

 

As for anything else about Mr Sanchos, we didn't stay there to eat, drink or do anything else, but some friends we met on the boat, and shared a cab with, told me they go there every time - they said they have the best food of any of the all-inclusive places - the coconut shrimp are supposed to be fabulous. They also have a pool bar where the stools are literally in the pool so you are in the pool, sitting on a submerged bar stool sitting at the bar. It's pretty cool. They have a few pools and also an infinity pool and the beach is awesome too! it cost about $12 for the cab there.

 

We also had the cab driver take us to the downtown post office after Mr Sanchos so we could GET OUR PASSPORT STAMPED from Cozumel.

 

After that we shopped at the complex where the ship was, and ate at Panchos Backyard (Highly recommend! Great authentic Mexican food, and it's right there where all the shops are at the port you will dock in) - also shopped ... I bought my first diamond at Diamonds International!

 

We never went into the Piano bar but passed by and it always looked jumpin - we spent more time by the casino at the bar there that had the band, and also the Rex nightclub.

 

Hope this answers your questions......

 

Keep them coming!

 

Jeff aka Recovery Dude

[RecoveryDude]

:)

Hey Jeff, how was the seaweed in Coz? My last time there earlier this year I went to Passion Island and it was a stinking mess. In January I was in Playa across the way and there were tons of seaweed onshore. I realize tides and currents change, and I'm hoping when I go back to Coz, this time to Nachi in Oct and then Nov, I'll find clean beaches. What was your take?

 

We were at Mr. Sanchos and at the beach and in the water to Jet Ski, and I don't remember seeing seaweed - I mean it might have been there but if it was there was not enough for me to think "damn, that's a lot of seaweed" LOL - So I would say that either it floated away, or the CCL people paid someone to get rid of it to avoid bad PR, lol. :)

 

Thanks!

 

:)Jeff aka Recovery Dude

[evandbob]

Did you ever solve your Monster drink and ice chest problems?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

excellent memory!

[RecoveryDude]

PS - I didn't think the food was "poor" --- Actually I was quite happy with the food, and glad to be on one of the last Lobster cruises - We ate every night in the MDR, Look for my FULL REVIEW and you will see menus from every night as well - The Lido buffet was good too - the MEXICAN MIDNIGHT BUFFET was really awesome!!!! The 24 hour pizza was great too, I liked the chicken salad and the calzone.

[CruisingGatorGirl]

Hey Jeff, how was the seaweed in Coz? My last time there earlier this year I went to Passion Island and it was a stinking mess. In January I was in Playa across the way and there were tons of seaweed onshore. I realize tides and currents change, and I'm hoping when I go back to Coz, this time to Nachi in Oct and then Nov, I'll find clean beaches. What was your take?

 

 

We were at Nachi Cocom and do not remember seeing a lot of seaweed. I even paddle boarded all over the place and never saw clumps of seaweed anywhere :) it was beautiful.

[RecoveryDude]

Did you ever solve your Monster drink and ice chest problems?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

HAHA, I didn't know you were talking to me ... but YES!!!!! I was able to take on (8) of the 16oz Monster Energy drinks in my carry on and security didn't bat an eyelash in Tampa!!! By buddy also had 8 and no one said anything to either of us.

 

As for the cooler. I got this one (not sure if you can see this picture) but if you go to Amazon and search for "Coolerz" you will find it. Worked great. big enough for 4 monsters and 4 bottles of water. Cabin Stew kept full of ice every day. Thanks for asking!!!!

[ladygal4.4]

Sweet! Glad it worked out!!!!

[wytyger1]

Cool! I see lots of positives about Mr. Sanchez. Thanks for your input.

[jen&samcantwait]

HAHA, I didn't know you were talking to me ... but YES!!!!! I was able to take on (8) of the 16oz Monster Energy drinks in my carry on and security didn't bat an eyelash in Tampa!!! By buddy also had 8 and no one said anything to either of us.

[/img]

 

Luck of the draw I guess. We just got back from the Ecstasy out of Miami. Hubby had 4 single 16oz in his & Nephew had 8 in his. Son's bag had to be searched (electronic Vape cigarette) the 3 of us stood there waiting w/ him. Then security said must have been Hubby's bag, they looked similar. I tried telling him, no, it was Son's bag that got called out, but he searched anyway and said the 4 he had were too big, more than 12 oz. At least we were able to get the 8 on that the Nephew had in his bag.

[RecoveryDude]

Wow, that's unfortunate. Im hoping I have a similar experience in Baltimore when I leave from there in February

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[awtorrey]

Hey there RecoveryDude... I have a question. I'm going on the 5 day to Grand Caymen and Cozumel in January and want to know if they have Friends of Bill W meetings on the Paradise. I did an 8 day trip from Fort Lauderdale in January where we had meetings every day! A great group of people... there were about 8 of us. We did a little bit of reading and just talking about our stories and how to handle the challenges on board a cruise. One woman was 6 months sober and on her first cruise and she was very nervous, but did great.

[tammyae29]

Was there a formal night?

[bubbles4ever]

We went on the Paradise in August. I had fun but as far as the ships I've been on this one is at the bottom of my list. I wasn't that impressed over all with the ship or the entertainment.