I booked my first cruise on Paradise two days ago

[Anonymous Number]

Carnival Paradise 10/15-10/19.

 

My 30th birthday is October 17, which is a Wednesday. I figured I wouldn't be too valuable, or effective, at work that entire week anyway, so I finally set some of my vacation time for that week. :D

 

Originally, I was planning to book one of the Penthouse Suites, but settled for a 6C on the same deck. ($1000 less, and, first cruise, who knows how much time we'll actually spend in the stateroom.... Though morning coffee and evening drinks with a cigar on the balcony would have been nice on sea day).

 

Naturally, I have a few questions, but I'll try to stay away from the ones where the both the question and answers are subjective (like "What to pack?":

 

I've searched here, but haven't actually found many postings about Paradise, or the cruise itself. I've read the reviews, but it seems like every other one is reminiscent of Circus-Circus in Vegas. Has anyone here been on this cruise recently? What was your onboard experience like?

 

Compared to original embarkation, how long does reembarking at at the ports take? If you buy alcohol at a port, where do you turn it in, and when do you get it back?

 

Did I make any mistake by booking a port side stateroom, on the upper deck, close to the bow?

 

I know Paradise used to be a non-smoking ship, with the very possession of smoking material being a fine and kicked off the ship at the next port. In public ares, is smoking allowed? Where? Say I wanted to buy some drinks and smoke the afore mentioned cigar while watching the sunset, are there any places to do that?

 

In Ensenada, I'm assuming we will go through customs? Is it likely I can get my passport stamped as a souvenir? (And the same upon return to Long Beach?)

 

Thanks everyone. When I first started considering a cruise, it was many of the posts here that helped me make up my mind. Well, the posts and the cost:benefit for two people vs., say Cancun, Costa Rica or Italy.

:D

[lancemib]

My wife and I did this cruise a few months back and had a great time. The ship is older but kept up nicely and the crew was amazing. At Catalina, you take a tender and the process was very well organized. Just go to the Lido deck and get a tender ticket. Once your number is called you proceed to the tender for the trip to the island. There can be a line for the tender going back to the ship but we didn't find it too bad. In Ensenada, you just walk off the ship any time you want. On returning, you go through customs, but it's very quick and painless. I also enjoy an occassional cigar and found areas on the port side of the Lido deck (right near the bar)where it was allowed. I'm not sure about other areas, but I know that in February, the Casino was non-smoking. Any other questions that I can help with, just let me know.

[Kurbanfan]

Carnival Paradise 10/15-10/19.

 

My 30th birthday is October 17, which is a Wednesday. I figured I wouldn't be too valuable, or effective, at work that entire week anyway, so I finally set some of my vacation time for that week. :D

 

Originally, I was planning to book one of the Penthouse Suites, but settled for a 6C on the same deck. ($1000 less, and, first cruise, who knows how much time we'll actually spend in the stateroom.... Though morning coffee and evening drinks with a cigar on the balcony would have been nice on sea day).

 

Naturally, I have a few questions, but I'll try to stay away from the ones where the both the question and answers are subjective (like "What to pack?":

 

I've searched here, but haven't actually found many postings about Paradise, or the cruise itself. I've read the reviews, but it seems like every other one is reminiscent of Circus-Circus in Vegas. Has anyone here been on this cruise recently? What was your onboard experience like?

 

Compared to original embarkation, how long does reembarking at at the ports take? If you buy alcohol at a port, where do you turn it in, and when do you get it back?

 

Did I make any mistake by booking a port side stateroom, on the upper deck, close to the bow?

 

I know Paradise used to be a non-smoking ship, with the very possession of smoking material being a fine and kicked off the ship at the next port. In public ares, is smoking allowed? Where? Say I wanted to buy some drinks and smoke the afore mentioned cigar while watching the sunset, are there any places to do that?

 

In Ensenada, I'm assuming we will go through customs? Is it likely I can get my passport stamped as a souvenir? (And the same upon return to Long Beach?)

 

Thanks everyone. When I first started considering a cruise, it was many of the posts here that helped me make up my mind. Well, the posts and the cost:benefit for two people vs., say Cancun, Costa Rica or Italy.

:D

 

Welcome to cc!

The Paradise is a great ship. She is much more mellow decor wise compared to other Carnival ships.

I believe there is no smoking in the casino on the 4 day cruise. But there are many areas that have smoking.

As far as bringing booze on the ship from ports...that's a crap shoot. You will have to put everything thru the xray and if they see booze they will tell you to take it over to security. But if they are not paying attention just simpy pick it up and walk away to your room (did I just say that:eek: )

You only go thru custom when you return to Long Beach. Sorry no stamp.

[OceanDreamin]

Welcome to CruiseCritic!

 

I will be on that same cruise as you on the Paradise. Come on over and join our rollcall for the October 15 sailing. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=606494

[Schasz]

I will also chime in with my welcome to the OP. Paradise was where it all started for me, as it was my first cruise...Shari had gone on NCL. Back when we went on the Paradise it was a non-smoking ship and we took her for a New Years Eve cruise out of Miami. It was truly a memorable New Years that year.

 

Have a super time on the Paradise.

 

John & Shari

[Peto]

Papas and Beer !

[Kurbanfan]

Mango Mango.......

[Anonymous Number]

My wife and I did this cruise a few months back and had a great time. The ship is older but kept up nicely and the crew was amazing. At Catalina, you take a tender and the process was very well organized. Just go to the Lido deck and get a tender ticket. Once your number is called you proceed to the tender for the trip to the island. There can be a line for the tender going back to the ship but we didn't find it too bad. In Ensenada, you just walk off the ship any time you want. On returning, you go through customs, but it's very quick and painless. I also enjoy an occassional cigar and found areas on the port side of the Lido deck (right near the bar)where it was allowed. I'm not sure about other areas, but I know that in February, the Casino was non-smoking. Any other questions that I can help with, just let me know.

 

Unfortunately, and against both common sense and my doctor's wishes, I'm a smoker.

 

I'm kind of shocked, though, that smoking isn't allowed in the casino. Before I booked I had read something that said Carnival reversed its no-smoking stance because "smokers gamble more." Now, if only they would have scantily dressed cocktail waitresses and free drinks. :D

 

I do have to ask what the ship is doing from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. the next morning going from Long Beach to Catalina. I haven't been back to Catalina since my 5th grade 'graduation' field trip, but I know the ride over didn't take [counting on fingers] THAT long. :p I'd make that the formal night, were I in charge. Does Paradise have a planetarium?

[Anonymous Number]

Welcome to cc!

The Paradise is a great ship. She is much more mellow decor wise compared to other Carnival ships.

I believe there is no smoking in the casino on the 4 day cruise. But there are many areas that have smoking.

As far as bringing booze on the ship from ports...that's a crap shoot. You will have to put everything thru the xray and if they see booze they will tell you to take it over to security. But if they are not paying attention just simpy pick it up and walk away to your room (did I just say that:eek: )

You only go thru custom when you return to Long Beach. Sorry no stamp.

 

Is there no place to turn alcohol purchases in to collect them after returning? I thought one of the Ensenada winery excursions includes a "free" bottle of wine.

 

I've read all about getting hooch on board during first embarkation. :cool:

[Anonymous Number]

Papas and Beer !

 

Yep. Though my trip mate will be a female. And I've seen video on Youtube. Though we'll be there on a Wednesday.... And are you talking Rosarito or Ensenada? :D

 

Mango Mango.......

 

Absolutely.

[Anonymous Number]

Welcome to CruiseCritic!

 

I will be on that same cruise as you on the Paradise. Come on over and join our rollcall for the October 15 sailing. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=606494

 

Reported for duty. :)

[firefly333]

Is there no place to turn alcohol purchases in to collect them after returning? I thought one of the Ensenada winery excursions includes a "free" bottle of wine.

 

I've read all about getting hooch on board during first embarkation. :cool:

 

You go thru a xray machine when you return from ports. Gotta make sure you didnt pick up a bomb ya kow.

 

They will have a desk by the xray machine where you turn in your hooch and will get it back the last night of the cruise.

[lostaddict]

Welcome to cc!

The Paradise is a great ship. She is much more mellow decor wise compared to other Carnival ships.

I believe there is no smoking in the casino on the 4 day cruise. But there are many areas that have smoking.

 

we sailed on her a few months ago, and I know I smoked my heart out in that casino. I'm pretty sure that casino is not smoke-free. The areas I know of that were "okay to smoke" are on the lido deck in areas where signs are posted, in the Rotterdam bar, and in the casino. I'm pretty sure those are your only options though.

[phroggie]

I do have to ask what the ship is doing from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. the next morning going from Long Beach to Catalina. I haven't been back to Catalina since my 5th grade 'graduation' field trip, but I know the ride over didn't take [counting on fingers] THAT long. :p I'd make that the formal night, were I in charge. Does Paradise have a planetarium?

 

The difference is that on your graduation field trip, they didn't take you out of US territorial waters so they could fire up the casino. (Or at least I hope they didn't.)

 

Even though they're taking a very long route to Catalina, they hope to more than make up the extra fuel costs in the casino.

[luv2cruise777l]

we sailed on her a few months ago, and I know I smoked my heart out in that casino. I'm pretty sure that casino is not smoke-free. The areas I know of that were "okay to smoke" are on the lido deck in areas where signs are posted, in the Rotterdam bar, and in the casino. I'm pretty sure those are your only options though.

 

I was on the 3 day recently and it did have smoking in the Casino but from what I have heard that the 4 day they don't allow smoking in the Casino.

[boaterette]

we sailed on her a few months ago, and I know I smoked my heart out in that casino. I'm pretty sure that casino is not smoke-free. The areas I know of that were "okay to smoke" are on the lido deck in areas where signs are posted, in the Rotterdam bar, and in the casino. I'm pretty sure those are your only options though.

 

Were you on the three day or the four day?

[Forchunut1]

We did the winery tour on our cruise in June and were each able to bring our wine onboard without it being confiscated. In all my cruises, that is the first time they didn't take my bottles of "whatever".

 

I wouldn't say this was a "party" cruise by any means, but it definitely had more young single adults from California who were vacationing than on other cruises. No problems at all - everyone was well behaved and having a great time. Just not as many families as we are used to seeing on cruises. I think it is because of the shorter length.

 

But, overall it was a great cruise.

[Anonymous Number]

The difference is that on your graduation field trip, they didn't take you out of US territorial waters so they could fire up the casino. (Or at least I hope they didn't.)

 

Even though they're taking a very long route to Catalina, they hope to more than make up the extra fuel costs in the casino.

 

lol... No, no casino on that trip. It was just Catalina Express over to the island, anyway.

[Anonymous Number]

I was on the 3 day recently and it did have smoking in the Casino but from what I have heard that the 4 day they don't allow smoking in the Casino.

 

Its weird that they'd allow smoking on weekends when more families with children are likely to be onboard. Though children shouldn't be in the casino anyway. :confused:

[blkbrnfam]

My first two cruises were on the Paradise. 05 and 06. My husband and I were hooked after that. Will be taking my third Paradise cruise Feb. 08. Looking forward to that one also.

[Anonymous Number]

We did the winery tour on our cruise in June and were each able to bring our wine onboard without it being confiscated. In all my cruises, that is the first time they didn't take my bottles of "whatever".

 

I wouldn't say this was a "party" cruise by any means, but it definitely had more young single adults from California who were vacationing than on other cruises. No problems at all - everyone was well behaved and having a great time. Just not as many families as we are used to seeing on cruises. I think it is because of the shorter length.

 

But, overall it was a great cruise.

 

I'm actually glad to know its not a "party" cruise. I'm down for a good time, but I'm not into crazy drunken rowdiness. :D

[PaddleAddict]

I'm hoping to take the three-day version of this trip in December, so please post a review when you get back.

 

Also, Happy 30th Birthday! (I just turned 30 this month... in fact, the December cruise is for me and two girlfriends to celebrate all of our 3oth birthdays.)

[Anonymous Number]

I'm hoping to take the three-day version of this trip in December, so please post a review when you get back.

 

Also, Happy 30th Birthday! (I just turned 30 this month... in fact, the December cruise is for me and two girlfriends to celebrate all of our 3oth birthdays.)

 

I will certainly post a review. Will this be your first cruise?

 

Thanks for the b-day wishes, and the same to you.

[PaddleAddict]

I will certainly post a review. Will this be your first cruise?

 

Thanks for the b-day wishes, and the same to you.

 

 

It will be my first Baja Mexico cruise, fourth cruise over all (my third is coming up in Oct!!).

[Anonymous Number]

It will be my first Baja Mexico cruise, fourth cruise over all (my third is coming up in Oct!!).

 

Cool. I'll definately let you know how it is, or post an actual review.