Carnival Paradise

The 1998-built Carnival Paradise cruise ship is the 8th/last of CCL's Fantasy-class liners, with sisterships Fantasy (the first in the series/1990-built), Elation, Imagination, Inspiration plus the "balcony ships" Fascination, Sensation, Ecstasy.

The vessel (IMO number 9120877) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 355833000) and registered in Colon.

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian). 

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

The 2200-passenger ship Carnival Paradise is one of the oldest Carnival liners, with building cost USD 300 million. Carnival Paradise was industry's first and only all-non-smoking cruise ship.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Paradise staterooms (1061 total, in 25 categories) include 78 Suites, 98 Balcony, 526 Oceanview and 359 Inside cabins. Most cabins are sized 170-185 ft2 (16-17 m2). CCL Paradise ship has 32 wheelchair-accessible cabins (ADA staterooms adapted for passengers with disabilities). The largest (Grand Vista Suites) are sized 350 ft2 / 33 m2 plus 60 ft2 / 6 m2 terrace and accommodate up to 5 passengers. Grand Suites feature large sitting areas and spacious bathrooms (with whirlpool bathtubs, separate shower), VIP services and amenities.

The boat has 14 decks, of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 6 with cabins.

During drydock refurbishment 2018, a total of 38 new cabins were added, of which 2x Grand Vista Suites, 22x Junior Suites, 2x Scenic Oceanview, and 12x Interior. A total of 98 balconies were added to existing staterooms, which were upgraded to 230 ft2 / 21 m2 sized balcony cabins. The number of passenger staterooms was increased from 1026 to 1064, which increased the boat's passenger capacity from 2052 to 2128 (max 2462 to 2554).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Paradise features two main dining rooms, Destiny and Elation. During dinner, both offer feature set seating, with early meals at 6 p.m. and late at 8:15 p.m. Carnival's open seating option, "Your Time" dining, is available between 5:45-9:30 pm. Tables in Your Time dining section are "first-come, first-serve" - better arrive early if you are looking for a two-top. Paradise's menus feature starters (including soups, salads, and appetizers), main courses and desserts. A vegetarian starter and main course are always available, but better ask about the vegetable soups, most of which use chicken stock bases. The sugar-free orange cake is among the low-calorie items, designated with "Spa Carnival" symbol.

Don't miss the chance to visit The Paris Cafe on Lido Deck, as it is one of the prettiest cafeteria-style restaurants at sea. At night it transforms into Seaview Bistro, an upscale version of the cafeteria-style service, with menu items from ship's main restaurants, presented to the passengers who prefer to dine casually. 

Unlike other Carnival ships, there is no specialty restaurant or Supper Club onboard Carnival Paradise. However, as is also available on all of the Fun ships is Chef's Table - a dining experience that affords a dozen guests a multicourse dinner with a private cocktail reception, a tour of the galley and a master chef. This dining option takes place in a non-traditional venue, like the library or the galley, and can be booked onboard for US$75 per person.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Paradise restaurants and food bars.

• Elation Dining Room (650-seat, forward Main Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings, or “Your Time Dining”; offers themed breakfasts - “Seuss At Sea”, for $5 cover charge)
• Destiny Dining Room (658-seat, aft Main Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings).
• Paris Lido Buffet Restaurant (722-seat, complimentary self-service restaurant with various food stations; operates as a bistro in the evenings).
• Sushi Bar (complimentary)
• BlueIguana Cantina (poolside Mexican fast food bar / complimentary)
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar
• Guy’s Burger Joint (poolside burger bar / complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Though built in 1998, cruisers won't make the mistake that Carnival Paradise is an old ship. Carnival company did its best to spiff it up by adding a devoted teen and tween clubs, adult-only sun deck tucked away on the aft deck and further Evolutions of Fun upgrades, which include the addition of more waterslides and a refit pool place. Two production shows take place in the Normandie Lounge each night. The two-deck, 1,300-seat theater offers stadium seating and bar stools on the balcony. Besides the Las Vegas-style song and dance revues, it hosts illusionists, comedians, passenger talent show, and the Gender Showdown. Daytime activities include country line dance classes, trivia, and bingo. Paradise's secondary venue for entertainment is the Queen Mary Lounge, featuring karaoke, "R-rated" comedy shows and art auctions.

Use of the Fitness Center is complimentary. Some yoga classes are organized for a modest fee. The top deck offers a jogging track. 8 times around the deck equals 1 mile. Every afternoon live musicians entertain the public at the main pool. But the best thing on Carnival ships is the Serenity. This special adults-only area features 120 comfortable lounges and two whirlpools.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Paradise lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Paradise Atrium Plaza (7-deck high midship open area served by Plaza Lobby Bar)
• Internet Cafe (24-hour Internet computers room)
• Normandie Theatre (1300-seat, 2-level main show lounge)
• Paradise Boulevard Promenade and Bar (230-seat)
• Cafe Il De France (58-seat specialty coffee bar)
• Leonardo Lounge and Bar (109-seat, with karaoke and dance floor)
• Rex Disco and Nightclub (230-seat Dance Club)
• Rotterdam Bar (92-seat cigar bar with piano)
• Cherry On Top (Carnival's signature candy shop)
• Alchemy Bar (Carnival's “cocktail pharmacy” lounge served by professional mixologists)
• RedFrog Rum Bar (frozens, beers, Carnival’s private label ThirstyFrog Red/draught beer)
• Queen Mary Lounge and Bar (540-seat, hosts Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch)
• Art Gallery; Photo Gallery and Shop (digital platform / Pixels-brand); Formalities Shop (tuxedo rentals, special occasion gifts); The Fun Shops (offer “Bon Voyage” store menu, souvenirs, watches, jewelry, logo merchandise, duty-free liquor, fashion boutiques / Guess Store, Pandora Store)
• Circle C (kids' complimentary club lounge with movies, video games, parties, planned activities)
• 24-hour Video Games Arcade; Club O2 teens' lounge for movies, karaoke, parties
• Majestic Casino (450-seat, served by the 38-seat United States Bar)
• Serenity (adults-only sundeck with padded lounges, hammocks and two Whirlpools).
• Paradise Lido Pool area; Aft Pool area; Carnival WaterWorks Aqua Park (features the 4-deck high Twister Waterslide, two racing waterslides, fountains, jets, splash pool, kids area)
• Camp Ocean (marine-inspired play area for children 2-11 with more than 200 ocean-themed activities)
• Camp Ocean (kids' club lounge with complimentary supervised program, indoor and outdoor playground areas)
• Carnival WaterWorks (aquapark with the 300-ft long waterslide Twister, 2x 82-ft long racing mini-slides, kids splash zone)
• Spa Carnival (Spa and Fitness complex with Relaxation Room, Steam Rooms, Saunas, Massage Rooms, Beauty Salon, Gymnasium with Aerobics Studio)
• Basketball/Volleyball Court, Jogging Track, Tennis Tables, 9-hole Mini-Golf Course, Bocce Court, Shuffleboard.

Itineraries

Carnival Paradise itinerary program is based on 4- and 5-day short Western Caribbean roundtrips from homeport Tampa FL to Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

• The boat's Cuban itineraries were inaugurated on June 29, 2017. The program offered 4- and 5-days roundtrips from Tampa to Havana (4-day) and to Havana with Key West Florida (5-day). Both included overnights in Havana City.
• Also operated were 4-day (Tampa to Cozumel Mexico) and 5-day (Tampa to Cozumel, Isla Roatan/Mahogany Bay, and Key West FL/or Grand Cayman). Cuban ports were included in itineraries with length up to 8-days (with partial Panama Canal transition).

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the CCL ship Paradise was paused for 2 years (between March 2020-2022). The restart was scheduled for March 12, 2022 (Tampa to Western Caribbean).

The vessel was constructed by STX Finland (at Kvaerner Masa-Yards/Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki) under yard/hull number 494. It has volume 71925 GT-tons, DWT/deadweight 6894 tons, max draught 8 m (26 ft). The powerplant is based on Wartsila marine diesel engines (models 12ZAV40S and 12V38) with total power output 47,52 MW.

Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade was done in 2015. Paradise was Carnival's and the world's first-ever (until 2003 - the only one) completely non-smoking passenger ship. Curiously enough, the vessel was even constructed and built by non-smoking personnel. It had the "No Smoking" sign under the name, and also on both hull sides. Paradise was supported by groups for anti-smoking and cancer prevention. The poor revenue of the non-smokers (who were not drinking or gambling as much as the smokers) forced Carnival to paint over the "No Smoking" signs and to change this "non-smoking cruise ship" into a regular Fun Ship in December 2003. Paradise is very attractive to younger cruisers due to its affordable, more casual and shorter voyages.

MS Paradise was (still is) a very "green" vessel featuring a revolutionary new dry-cleaning system (significantly reducing the hazardous chemical runoff) along with the fleet's new "enviro-engine" (diesel-electric propulsion). Paradise is of Carnival's oldest (Fantasy-class) vessels, with sisterships Ecstasy, Elation, Fantasy, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Sensation. The vessel was christened by Paula Ann Zahn (US journalist, newscaster, anchor at ABC, CBS, Fox, CNN).

The ship used to sail to Baja California out of LA (visiting Catalina Island, and Ensenada, Mexico), but at the end of 2011, she was repositioned through Panama Canal to Florida (replacing there the Inspiration ship). Paradise is scheduled to receive the new "Fun Ship 2.0" upgrades in 2015 adding several revolutionary new venues, bars, lounges, dining options and entertainment specials making her one of the best cheapest Fun Ships in the Carnival fleet.

Due to scheduled drydock refurbishment projects, in September 2020 CCL canceled all planned for 2020 and 2021-Q1 itineraries for 4 ships.

• Carnival Magic itineraries from Miami Florida were canceled from November 7, 2020, through March 13, 2021 (1st departure).
• Carnival Paradise itineraries (25 total) from Tampa Florida were canceled from November 2, 2020, through March 19, 2021 (1st departure).
• Carnival Valor itineraries from NOLA New Orleans were canceled from November 2, 2020, through April 29, 2021 (1st departure), including two Transatlantic crossings - from NOLA (January 25) and from Barcelona (February 26).
• Carnival Spirit itineraries from Brisbane Australia were canceled from December 6, 2020, through May 16, 2021 (1st departure is on June 12 / repositioning cruise from Singapore to Brisbane).

Carnival Paradise refurbishments review

The list of deckplan changes after the ship's 2018 drydock refurbishment (February 22 - March 25, done in Freeport Bahamas) includes:

• A total of 38 new cabins were added, of which 2x Grand Vista Suites, 22x Junior Suites, 2x Scenic Oceanview, 12x Interior. Balconies were added to 98 cabins (on decks 5-Main, 6-Upper, 7-Empress). This changed the vessel's passenger capacity from 2052 (max 2606) to 2128 (max 2554).
• (Lido Deck 10) Guy’s Burger Joint was added (complimentary poolside dining venue serving hand-crafted burgers and fresh-cut fries )
• (Lido Deck 10) BlueIguana Cantina was added (complimentary poolside Mexican eatery for fresh-made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas, with salsa bar and a variety of toppings). Also here was added BlueIguana Tequila Bar (Mexican-themed outdoor bar for frozens and beers).
• (Promenade Deck 9) Alchemy Bar was added (Carnival's “cocktail pharmacy” lounge with professional mixologists and made-to-order drinks). Also here was added RedFrog Rum Bar (rum bar for frozens and beers, serving Carnival’s private label ThirstyFrog Red /draught beer).
• (Promenade Deck 9) Cherry On Top was added (bulk candy store, also selling Carnival Cruise Lines logo apparel, gifts, toys)).
• (Verandah Deck 11) the old Camp Carnival (kids complex) was redesigned and transformed into Camp Ocean (playground area for kids ages 2-11, with fun interiors and over 200 ocean-themed activities / science-oriented, arts, and crafts). Also here (aft) was installed the Carnival Waterworks aquapark with Splash Zone for kids, 2 mini racing slides (82ft / 25 m long ), Twister Waterslide (300 ft / 91 m long).
• (Deck 14) the 9-hole Mini-Golf Course was relocated and redesigned (added bocce court).
• Retail Shops were completely redesigned and upgraded with new brand boutiques (Guess Store, Pandora Store). The Photo Gallery was replaced with a digital platform (Pixels-brand).

Various technical enhancements were implemented, including shoreside power capabilities.

Routine maintenance works included new hull coating. During refurbishment 2018, the crew area was also renovated.

Drydock 2021

In 2021 (September-October) Carnival Paradise was drydocked at Navantia Shipyard (Cadiz Spain), mainly for general maintenance (technical and routine) works as well as repainting (receiving CCL's new livery).

Drydock 2023

The ship's last drydocking was in 2023 (October 10-28) conducted at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport. The two-week project included regular maintenance and classification works, as well as updates and renovations of passenger staterooms and public areas.

Serenity Deck (adults-only sundeck) was renovated and received a central Jacuzzi/hot tub.

The Casino was expanded, the Piano Bar was updated, and the main public areas were renovated.

The windows,  tiling, and carpets in all passenger staterooms were replaced.

Cuba cruise itineraries 2017

In 2017, Paradise became Carnival Cruise Line's first ever ship to visit Cuba. All itineraries are with round-trip departures from Florida (Tampa).

• Itineraries (4- and 5-night in length) started in June 2017, and all include overnight stays in Havana.
• The first Carnival cruise to Cuba was scheduled for departure on June 29.
• The 4-night itinerary's departure dates in 2017 were scheduled for June 29, July 13, August 24, September 7 and 21, October 5 and 19, and in 2018 - May 3.
• The 5-night itinerary's departure dates in 2017 were scheduled for August 14 and 28, September 25, October 9.
• 4-night cruises are to Havana exclusively, while 5-day cruises additionally visit either Key West FL or Cozumel Mexico.
• Carnival's Cuba cruise deals require a valid passport.
• Prices started from USD 450 pp (4-day itinerary Tampa to Havana) and USD 550 (5-day itineraries).

At the end of August 2017 were added new Cuban itineraries for season 2018:

• 5-day Tampa to Havana and Cozumel / Key West (departures February 17, July 2, September 5)
• 6-day Tampa to Havana and Grand Cayman (departure August 26)
• 8-day Tampa to Havana, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel (departure August 18)
• All new itineraries again included Havana overnight stays.

Itinerary change 2017

As the ship was experiencing a technical issue affecting its maximum cruising speed, the regularly scheduled itinerary was changed for the following Tampa Florida departure dates in 2017 - March 13 and 27, April 10 and 24, May 8 and 22, June 5.

In the new itinerary, Grand Cayman Island was substituted with Mexico (Costa Maya and Cozumel). The Cozumel port stay was extended with 5 hours. Passengers were compensated with USD 25 per person shipboard credit.

Follows the revised itinerary with port times:

• Day 1 (Monday) Tampa FL (departure 4 PM)
• Day 2 (Tuesday) Day at Sea
• Day 3 (Wednesday) Cozumel (arrival 8 AM/departure 8 PM)
• Day 4 (Thursday) Costa Maya (arrival 7 AM/departure 3 PM)
• Day 5 (Friday) Day at Sea
• Day 6 (Saturday) Tampa (arrival 8 AM)