| Overview
When Carnival's Paradise, the eighth and last of the cruise line's very successful Fantasy class of ships, was in the planning stages, it was decided it would be distinctive in one way: The ship would feature an entirely non-smoking environment. Indeed, Carnival was so serious about its commitment to a smoke-free ship that the cruise line even extracted promises from its Finnish shipyard that workers would never light up during the building process (a daunting request). And when Paradise debuted in 1998, its exterior was dominated by a gigantic non-smoking icon firmly affixed to its forward bulkhead above the bridge. The ship was a smash success, attracting grateful passengers who flocked to its alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages out of Miami.
But though roughly 25 percent of Americans smoke, after six years of these weekly voyages, even its stalwart non-smoking clientele were getting weary of the same routes. The policy was prohibitive in attracting a wider audience -- especially the group and meeting business -- and so this year Carnival decided to abandon Paradise's non-smoking specialty and redeploy the ship to California. (Why, we wondered, didn't Carnival at least experiment with a non-smoking environment in California, where the ratio of smokers to non-smokers is one in seven?)
The ship is still the most restrictive in the Carnival fleet, with smoking prohibited in the dining areas, main show lounge, aft cabaret lounge, library, the Rex Dance Club, the Leonardo Lounge and along the Promenade.
The abandoning of the no-smoking policy means that Paradise is a completely "new" ship to many of the passengers who will sail it. And its new assignment fits in with Carnival's strategy for fellow Fantasy-class ships. Seven of these vessels, which include Fantasy, Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination and Inspiration, as well as Paradise, are tapping into the short-cruise market -- the fastest-growing segment of the industry -- from various homeports around the United States (only Elation will continue with a seven-night schedule).
Fantasy-class ships are the workhorses of Carnival's fleet, holding 2,054 passengers in a mid-sized 70,367-ton ship with few balcony staterooms (and a distinctive indoor promenade) -- and Paradise is no exception. The ship now sails three- and four-night cruises from its new home in Long Beach, California (replacing Ecstacy, which was transferred to Galveston).
The weekend cruise that we sailed was filled to capacity, and this was only three weeks after the route commenced. There were several large groups, and more smokers than we thought would be onboard. There were also hundreds of children (it was a holiday weekend), many of whom could have used more adult supervision, and several rowdy, rude young adults who overindulged in alcohol and delighted in wreaking havoc for both the crew and other guests.
Still, Paradise remains a beautiful ship, spiffy-clean, easy to navigate, and filled with the attributes -- tons of activities, great food, Camp Carnival for kids, wonderful pools and sundecks, first-rate entertainment -- that draws guests to Carnival again and again
Cabins
Spartan and dorm-like, Paradise's sleeping quarters are fine for sleeping and showering but not particularly comfortable for cocooning. It works out though, since the objective is to get you out on deck where this "Fun Ship" really shines.
Standard rooms are spacious enough, at an average size of 185 square feet, and have ample storage and closet space. Each cabin has a small desk with five nice-sized drawers, a closet with shelves on one side and hanging space on the other, an open storage area, twin beds that can be made into a queen, a 19-inch television, a stool at the desk, a small round coffee table and a small chair. The predominant color in the cabins is an orangey-coral with red highlights; the ceiling is coral, the Formica desktop is coral, the little coffee table is coral. The spreads and window treatments are a mix of pink, orange, blue and purple, and the carpeting adds dark grey and light blue to the underlying coral color.
One corner of the cabin has a built-in box that is used for extra blankets and the life jackets. When the beds are configured as a queen, the person on the inside has no access except to climb over the outer bed. Above the box and angled into the corner is the television, which does not swivel but instead faces the center of the room. It's almost impossible to view comfortably from either bed when they are configured as twins, and the lone chair is too uncomfortable for relaxing.
Television programming is minimal, with three network stations from the eastern U.S., one movie channel for adults and one for children, and several in-house channels with information about shore excursions, shipboard activities and shopping.
The standard bathrooms are also spacious, with a roomy shower, sink with storage space above for makeup and other necessities, and an explosively loud vacuum toilet. Considering the riotous colors of the room decor, the pastel tiles are soothing. In fact, compared to the pre-molded plastic bathrooms that are being utilized in many new ships, these add an air of elegance to the cabins. Hot water is plentiful and the water pressure great; the cloth shower curtain does tend to billow and cling, but otherwise the shower is excellent.
Note: Carnival has partnered with companies that provide sample sizes of their items including Crest toothpaste, Johnson & Johnson dental floss, Bic razors and Listermint mouthwash. The three/four day turnover is so stressful on cabin attendants, though, that our "basket" did not arrive until the evening of our second day, leaving us with nothing but the pump shower gel and shampoo/conditioner combo, mounted inside the shower, for washing. The towels are rough and worn, and there are no washcloths provided, but you can get them if you ask.
Cabin lighting is poor on several fronts. In order to use the desk/vanity, for example, the entire cabin has to be lit with over-bright fluorescent lighting. The wall-mounted bedside lights present their own problems. If the beds are perpendicular as twins, one of the lights is on the side wall rather than overhead, and since they are not adjustable, this presents a major problem for that bed's occupant if he or she wants to do any reading. The other side of the wall has two lights over what would be the pillow area, but they are low enough so that if you prop yourself up to read, your head or pillow ends up covering them.
The extra-large Category 12 suites are located midship on Deck 6 (Upper Deck), and are nicely furnished with a bar, large sofa and full-sized whirlpool tub. The balcony is deep and wide, perfect for lazing around outdoors on warm days. The Category 11 suites are slightly smaller, located forward on Deck 11 (Verandah Deck) and, although similarly furnished, have a smaller balcony and no whirlpool tub.
Hint: Even though there are no prized aft balcony cabins, there are aft cabins with windows over the stern wake. Some of them are handicap-accessible rooms with a modified configuration and less closet space, but most are the same as the side cabins, albeit with a different (and unique) viewpoint.
Family
Carnival's Fun Ships are made for families, with activities that encompass all age groups. There are games and contests for everyone to enjoy together, and there is Camp Carnival, located in the Children's World complex at the top of the atrium. Offered free of charge from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m, the three-room facility has arts and crafts, computer stations, walls with multiple monitors for movies and cartoons, a separate section for toddlers and babies, and well-trained staff supervising the children.
There is no "name" for each age group a la Disney's program; they are broken out into age-appropriate groups depending on how many take advantage of the program. A highlight is Camp Carnival's dining option, which allows parents to dine without the kids and the kids to dine with their playgroup.
One area where Carnival is rather unique among family-oriented cruise lines is that it accepts toddlers, from age two, into the program -- even if they aren't toilet trained (and staffers will change diapers).
Carnival also offers babysitting for children under two at an additional charge (plan to pay about $6 per hour). There is a teen program as well, which features pool parties and special excursions.
Gratuity
Standard gratuities of $10 per night per passenger are charged to your shipboard account (and can be adjusted); the service personnel, especially the room stewards and stewardesses, work extra hard to turn the cabins for two cruises per week and deserve any extra they receive. Tipping for room service at delivery is expected (and appreciated) by the service staff.
Photos appear courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines.
Fitness and Recreation
Being inside Paradise's extensive gym facility feels as though you have fallen into a box of Good & Plenty candy. The large room, located forward and overlooking the ship's bow, has a pink and black color scheme that is neither invigorating nor restful. The equipment is extensive and modern, though, and we really like the saltwater whirlpool accessible from both the men's and women's locker rooms.
The Nautica Spa and salon services are run by Steiner's of London and offer a wide array of treatments from massages to facials to the best bargain at sea -- the Frangipani Scalp and Shoulder massage, 25 minutes for $26. Other treatments include body wraps, salt-scrubs and sports massages in smallish medicinal-looking treatment rooms.
There are two adult pools, each with two hot tubs; the Lido pool has Carnival's signature twisty slide and is the more active and loud of the two. The aft pool on Deck 11, though, is quiet and rarely crowded, with a gigantic deck apron for sunning. The children's pool is located aft on Deck Nine, is accessed through the Queen Mary Lounge, and is so hidden that it's rarely used at all.
There's a jogging track on Deck 12, basketball hoop, golf cage and Ping-Pong tables. Several classes and group workouts are offered during the day in the gym; Pilates and yoga are offered for a small extra fee.
Hint: Topless sunbathing is allowed at the base of the stack, located aft and accessed via a stairway from Deck 11. No cameras are allowed, including cell phone cameras, and security will confiscate them if they are found.
Dress Code
Casual during the day, resort casual in the evenings, with one formal night per cruise. No shorts, swim suits or tank tops allowed in the restaurants in the evenings.
Public Rooms
Joe Farcus, Carnival's long-time designer, chose "Ships of the World" as the theme for Paradise. He was feeling sentimental about this being the last of the Fantasy line, so he infused the public spaces with nostalgia, too, hence rooms like the Normandie Lounge, the Queen Mary Lounge, the America Bar and the Rotterdam Lounge. He tipped his hat to his employer by naming the indoor walkway the Carnival Boulevard and the two dining rooms, Destiny and Ecstasy, for Carnival ships.
The six-deck high atrium is cozy and comfortable, with Italian floral blown-glass panels and large replicas of enameled Faberge eggs on pillars. The turquoise eggs, about a foot tall, are lighted from within and are found in the elevator lobbies throughout the ship, adding a further touch of nostalgic elegance.
One of the most interesting spots on board is the Blue Riband Library, filled with memorabilia from ocean liners of the past. The Blue Riband was a symbol, in the 1800's and the early 1900's, of the fastest ship at sea and could only be flown by one ship at a time, so as each new ship was built, the Riband changed hands. The library itself is a charming room, a lovely place to sit quietly or to meet with friends -- though, consistent with other Carnival ships, the book selection is minimal and the glass cases remained locked throughout our cruise.
The ship's lounges and bars really distinguish the Paradise, though, with enough active and festive places to enjoy group conviviality and enough quiet spaces to enjoy conversation. The America Bar, with blown-glass Stars and Stripes, is the ship's piano bar, which gets loud and chummy later in the evening but is a great pre-dinner meeting spot for those dining in the Ecstasy dining room. The Rotterdam Bar tends to be a quiet pre- and post-dining spot for wine before and liqueurs after dining in the Destiny restaurant. The African themed Rex disco stays open until the wee hours, and its lion-head symbol's eyes flash with the beat.
The window banquettes and seats along Carnival Boulevard allow guests to sit quietly and watch the goings-on without participating, or to enjoy a coffee and pastry from the Ile de France Cafe. The United States Bar, located in the promenade just outside the casino, has a funny little stage behind it and up high, in which a lone country-western singer serenades with his guitar, looking as though he will topple off at the next swell.
Our favorite is the Paradise Bar, located in the atrium, with its light filtering through the glass panels above. A classical trio plays in the evenings, and a glass of wine here, with the strains of Mozart or Vivaldi and the rosy glow of the setting sun is a perfect adjunct to a busy day and the promise of an active evening.
The ship's Internet center is located in the atrium, adjacent to the Paradise Bar. There are several stations on high counters with barstool-like chairs. Although the ship is equipped for wireless access, the cost of using the ship's computers rather than your own laptop is considerably less. Packages range from 25 cents a minute to 75 cents with no pre-purchased options; the lowest cost for wi-fi is 40 cents per minute with a $100 package.
Dining
In a nod to lines that offer at-will dining, Paradise, which still has set-time dining for supper, is now offering four seatings in its two main dining rooms, the midship Elation and the aft Destiny. Which dining time you are assigned will dictate which room you are in and which floor you are on. We, for example, had the 8 p.m. slot, downstairs in the Destiny dining room, while the 5:45 p.m. crowd was able to finish upstairs without being rushed (Ecstasy's dining times are 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.).
A three- or four-night cruise still offers the same dining traditions as any longer cruise, with a Captain's Gala formal night dinner (complete with lobster tails) on the second night, an excellent wine selection, a well-rounded menu each night and crazy, wonderful entertainment by cheerful waitstaff who stop service for a few minutes each evening to make people smile, sing, dance, and laugh.
The menu selections were excellent each evening, with a fresh fish option, beef, chicken and a specialty of lamb or pork. The breads and rolls were warmed, salads creative, and desserts -- usually the weakest part of any shipboard meal -- were excellent as well. The food was appropriately spiced and arrived hot and quickly. The four dining times help in this regard, as the galley staff has fewer meals to prepare at any one time. We particularly loved the cream of pumpkin soup and the mixed lamb dish, a deliciously spicy mix of stewed shank and grilled loin with vegetables. There is also a low-carb option and a low-fat option for those who are really disciplined.
The Paris Cafe on the Lido deck is one of the prettiest of this type of cafeteria-style restaurants at sea, and the way the stations are broken up makes for few lines and few bottlenecks. Lines flow well, and the fare, typical buffet food, is nonetheless quite good, whether it's omelets for breakfast or roast pork loin and fresh pasta for lunch. At night it is transformed into the Seaview Bistro, a more upscale version of the same cafeteria-style service, but with menu items from the main restaurants, presented to those who prefer to dine casually.
We did have to wait for service on one day; no one was behind the counter at a busy lunchtime for quite some time while the line backed up and guests began to grumble, but once served, the meal was excellent. The salad and dessert bar are located in a circular station in the middle of the room, away from the hot food counters, which allows people to pick through the little tomatoes and cucumber slices without causing a backup for hot meals.
Carnival's light-as-air, bubbly-hot pizza is served at the back of the Paris Restaurant, 24 hours a day, with freshly made Caesar salad.
Hint: If the pizza that is pre-sliced looks like it is a bit old, ask for a fresh one. It takes about five minutes, and is worth the wait. The server behind the counter will happily oblige.
Hint Number Two: For a real treat, choose to sit outside on the covered aft deck right behind the pizza bar. There are two of these promontories, one on each side of the ship, overlooking the children's pool. They are little known and little used, and offer a haven of privacy overlooking the stern wake.
Carnival remains one of the few cruise lines to still offer midnight buffet every night of the cruise. One of the nights is the Grand Gala Buffet, a beautiful display of culinary craft with exquisite chocolate confections, fruit and vegetable carvings and ice sculptures. Another night had crepes and sundaes as the late-night offerings, along with hot and cold savory items. These buffets are held in the Paris Cafe, which also has a bar at the back, opposite the 24-hour pizza station.
On the Lido Deck, in front of the Paris Cafe and behind the main pool, there is a daytime (noon to 6 p.m.) grill for hamburgers, hot dogs, cold sandwiches, fruit, salad and sweets which include pastries and cakes. Most are self-serve, although the hot sandwiches are presented upon order. There is a condiment station and a drink station in the same area.
One of the nicest little bonuses on this ship is the sushi stand, open from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. every evening. It's small, with only one server, and the line forms early and lasts quite awhile. Californians tend to be familiar with and really enjoy sushi, so this is just an added benefit (complimentary sushi? WOW!), even if the offerings are fairly standard tekka maki (tuna roll), California roll and spicy tuna hand rolls. They are served fresh with ginger, wasabi and shoyu and the little stand was a huge hit with everyone who tried it.
The Ile de France Cafe, location on Carnival Boulevard, offers great specialty coffees for an a la carte charge, along with cookies and chocolate confections (dipped strawberries and milk shakes).
Room service is streamlined and efficient, with excellent continental breakfasts (including smoked salmon and bagels) and cold items for the rest of the day. Carnival's room service menu is standardized fleetwide, so our favorites were on it, including the usually wonderful roast beef and brie on a baguette sandwich. Why someone in Paradise's kitchen would choose to slather half a jar of yellow mustard on it is beyond us, but otherwise the 24-hour service is a great benefit and luxury.
Suite guests are entitled to an expanded room service menu that includes a choice of hot breakfast items and dishes from dining room offerings.
Entertainment
Carnival's entertainment options are always topnotch, and Paradise is no exception. We anticipated fewer quality offerings on a three-night cruise, but were proven wrong. The production shows in the main theater, Normandie Lounge, were great fun and professionally presented. After-hours one can find music of one sort or another in each of the 10 lounges and bars on Paradise. There's a full casino with slots and 12 tables, all of which were going strong during the day at sea and in the evenings. The American Bar's sing-along piano was great fun, as was the hokey karaoke in the Queen Mary Lounge, located aft along the Promenade. The Rex Disco goes all night with beat-heavy music and carefree revelers. There's a teen disco, too, Spirals, but it didn't seem crowded when we peeked in.
The comedy show is presented twice: The earlier one is G-rated for families; the midnight show is definitely adults-only fare.
Our favorite of all was the exquisite classical trio, playing each evening in the atrium and setting the mood for the night ahead.
Daytime activities are equally extensive, with the usual Carnival "Fun Ship" offerings around the Lido pool (including, of course, the Hairy Chest Contest) and games, trivia contests, bingo and art auctions in venues all over the ship. There is never, ever a dull moment on Paradise.
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