carnival paradise cruise reviews

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Carnival Paradise Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Paradise

Activities & entertainment

Art Auction *
Beauty Salon *
Blue Riband Library
Dance Classes
Deck Parties
Rex Dance Club
Majestic Casino *
Evening Kids Programs *
Fitness Center
Fitness Classes *
Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast *
Groove For St Jude *
Ice Carving Demonstrations
Internet Cafe *
Massage Rooms *
Photo Gallery *
Photo Portraits *
Whirlpools (5)
Relaxation Room *
Seuss_A_Palooza Parade and Storytime
Retail Shops *
Spa Carnival *
Spa Parties *
Steam Room *
Video Arcade *
White Party
Wine Tasting *
Waterslides
Serenity _ Adults_Only
Circle C _ Tweens Club
Camp Ocean _ Kids Club
Club O2 _ Teens Club
Comedy Shows
Leonardo Lounge
Live Nightly Music
Normandie Main Lounge
Destiny Dining Room - Main
Elation Dining Room - Main
United States Bar - Casino Bar *
Paris Lido Restaurant - Buffet
BlueIguana Cantina - Mexican
Guys Burger Joint - Pool Grill
BlueIguana Tequila Bar - Pool Bar *
RedFrog Rum Bar - Pool Bar *
Cafe Ile de France - Coffee & Pastries *
Taste Bar - Light Bites
Rotterdam Bar - Martini Bar *
America Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
Room Service *
Excellent 38
Very Good 18
Terrible 23
All languages ( 119 )
English ( 118 )
Spanish ( 1 )

Upcoming itineraries

The map for this itinerary is not available at this time.

Carnival Paradise

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Carnival Paradise

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 3297 guests have reviewed Carnival Paradise , giving it a rating of 3.8 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

For my first trip it was great

Apr 25th, 2024

Really enjoyed myself for my first cruise planning on and doing another one real soon with carnival

Traveler Type

1 cruise (first)

Not so impressed with overall accommodations.

Not happy with room accommodation. Layout primarily

2-3 cruises

Wonderful Bahamas Celebration

Apr 24th, 2024

Great experience cruising with family on the Carnival Paradise! We loved Bimini and look forward to returning there! Joe's Conch shack was a fun experience with good food! Conch fritters were great! Nice bakery next door also. Gorgeous, natural beauty in Bimini!

4-6 cruises

Home sweet home on the Paradise! Our 6th cruise on this oldie but a goodie ship… And you can’t beat sunny cool days in Grand Cayman & Cozumel. What a great spring break cruise in 2024!

Apr 21st, 2024

• Spring break cruising out of Tampa is first class. We typically stay in Orlando where the hotels are cheaper. Sailing under the Skyway Bridge is memorable. Western Caribbean ports of call are fun & usually have great weather. Do yourself a favor – book a room on the Paradise & go have some fun in the Caribbean sun!

Family (older children)

It was nice, but could have been a lot better.

Apr 18th, 2024

Not getting to go on my excursion was a big let down. Having carnival offer me a shortened alternative worse option for more money was an even bigger let down!

Singles/Friends

Cruise to the Bahamas

Apr 15th, 2024

Although it was a fairly short 5 day cruise, overall, a very good cruise. Good food, excellent service and good time away. We renewed a friendship with Catherine, a dining room server whom we first met in October/2022 on the Carnival Panorama out of Long Beach, California. A delightful young lady who sang for us on 2 occasions after dinner. It was great to see her again! We also enjoyed the Platinum/Diamond reception with the Captain and Senior Officer's on day 5. Our cabin steward was attentive and very efficient. The cruise director was high energy and kept everyone informed. She did a great job! This cruise was a good bang for the buck, and I would recommend it to anyone. Well done Carnival!

Paradise on the Carnival Paradise

Apr 13th, 2024

I was with a group from my office, they squeezed 20 of us into 2 side by side round tables for dinner

Large Group

Another fantastic trip on the Carnival Paradise

The Grand deck is over rated, only 2 elevators go to it and it is just another balcony room

An old classic ship

I enjoy cruising and the Paradise is one of my favorite ships

19th cruise on the Paradise

Apr 12th, 2024

I really enjoy the Paradise, this was my 19th cruise on the ship. Cozumel is a very enjoyable destination.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Help Centre

Carnival Paradise Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Paradise

Activities & entertainment

Art Auction *
Beauty Salon *
Blue Riband Library
Dance Classes
Deck Parties
Rex Dance Club
Majestic Casino *
Evening Kids Programs *
Fitness Center
Fitness Classes *
Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast *
Groove For St Jude *
Ice Carving Demonstrations
Internet Cafe *
Massage Rooms *
Photo Gallery *
Photo Portraits *
Whirlpools (5)
Relaxation Room *
Seuss_A_Palooza Parade and Storytime
Retail Shops *
Spa Carnival *
Spa Parties *
Steam Room *
Video Arcade *
White Party
Wine Tasting *
Waterslides
Serenity _ Adults_Only
Circle C _ Tweens Club
Camp Ocean _ Kids Club
Club O2 _ Teens Club
Comedy Shows
Leonardo Lounge
Live Nightly Music
Normandie Main Lounge
Destiny Dining Room - Main
Elation Dining Room - Main
United States Bar - Casino Bar *
Paris Lido Restaurant - Buffet
BlueIguana Cantina - Mexican
Guys Burger Joint - Pool Grill
BlueIguana Tequila Bar - Pool Bar *
RedFrog Rum Bar - Pool Bar *
Cafe Ile de France - Coffee & Pastries *
Taste Bar - Light Bites
Rotterdam Bar - Martini Bar *
America Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
Room Service *
Excellent 38
Very Good 18
Terrible 23
All languages ( 119 )
English ( 118 )
Spanish ( 1 )

Upcoming itineraries

Cruise Ships
Carnival Paradise

Carnival Paradise ®

Dining & Activities
Past Guest Photos
Sails From:

We broke the mold after we made this one. The final Fantasy class cruise ship ever created, Carnival Paradise is proof that there's plenty of fun to be found long before you reach your dream destination. This ship remains classic Carnival — fun-packed from bow to stern — but on the other hand, we've never stopped adding fresh new features. So now you can grab something cold, or sweet… or maybe even hot, at JavaBlue ™ Café. Meet the new Cloud 9 Spa ™ , featuring a full menu of, ahhh, spa treatments. We also added a Bonsai Sushi Express ™ , so you can take your fresh sushi, sashimi, rolls and more, to go, someplace fun. By the way, on Carnival Paradise you'll find great times in and near the H2O courtesy of pools, hot tubs and even a Carnival WaterWorks ™ waterpark featuring a huge spiraling slide, plus a pair of racing slides. At Seuss at Sea ™ the characters always make a splash with an interactive storytime and parade, plus this ship features three age-perfect youth programs. Great live entertainment, like The Punchliner Comedy Club ™ , Playlist Productions ™ and piano bar, happens up on stage… bravo! If you're talking tasty classics, you're going to find two of our top casual spots: Guy's Burger Joint ™ , featuring the goods from Guy Fieri, and BlueIguana Cantina ™ , with authentic south-of-the-border taco/burrito goodness. Refreshments — and good times — abound with RedFrog Rum Bar ® and BlueIguana Tequila Bar ™ . And a little closer to home (well, your vacation home), Carnival Paradise features even more balcony staterooms than before. Feel that breeze! Spend a vacation aboard Carnival Paradise, and you'll find a little slice of cruise paradise at sea.

71,925 Gross Tonnage
2124 Guest Capacity
855 Length In Feet
920 Onboard Crew

INSIDE THIS SHIP

Just like a delicious cake, your ship is made of layers. Find out which fun ingredients — staterooms, dining, activities — go into each deck.

YOUR STATEROOM

Every room includes:

Dedicated stateroom attendant
Soft, cozy linens
Plenty of closet and drawer space
In-room safe for valuables
Stateroom climate control

Interior Upper/Lower

Scenic ocean view.

Your Scenic Ocean View stateroom aboard Carnival Paradise provides the best view of the sea that lies ahead of the ship, with views unlike any on land. And you'll get more of them, too, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of looking-glass for gazing at the natural wonders of the sea... and let's not forget sunrise and sunset.

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space; not to even mention some of the best stern-side views you'll find anywhere. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon Carnival Paradise's gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you're looking to cruise aboard Carnival Paradise. Any time you're in your room, you're just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Grand Vista Suite

If you’re looking for the greatest room on the ship, look up. The Grand Vista Suite is the biggest, located on the uppermost deck… and all this altitude has a way of also elevating the view. As do floor-to-ceiling windows that make sure nothing gets in the way. Even more convenience and comfort come standard, like a huge balcony made for stretching out, a tub that’s great for doing the same, a convenient walk-in dressing area, plus VIP check-in.

Amenities exclusive to suites:

Priority check-in and boarding
Priority Main Dining Room time assignment
Priority debarkation at homeport, and ports of call requiring a water shuttle or with arrival times later than 9:30 Am
Two large bottles of water
Pillow-top mattress

Plus, every room includes:

Grand Suite Extended Balcony

When you go for one of the largest, most luxurious rooms — and balcony — available on Carnival Paradise, you get a room designed to suit your desire for comfort, inside and out. Add VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity and you can begin to see just how extraordinarily comfy the entire experience can be.

Grand Suite

A Grand Suite aboard Carnival Paradise features even more space than the standard suite — plenty of room in your room! This stateroom is loaded for an unparalleled experience: VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity.

Junior Suite

As you step into a Junior Suite aboard Carnival Paradise, you can't help but feel that you're stepping into luxury. With VIP check-in, more indoor space for stretching out and an outdoor balcony made for fresh air and great views, try a Junior Suite for a private oasis away from home.

Junior Suite (Obstructed View)

ONBOARD ACTIVITIES

Onboard dining, where to for you.

This ship is always visiting great vacation spots. Where will your next vacation take you?

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

TAG & THEY'RE IT!

Carnival Cruise Lines

Review of Carnival Paradise May 7-12, 2022

By JennKach , May 20, 2022 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Bravo! What an excellent review! Thank you for sharing. Much of what you say is reflected in many posters. Regarding Nachi Cocum: I agree. That was the highlight of our cruise, when we sailed last year. Good job! 👍

cruisingguy007

1 hour ago, JennKach said: Raunchy behavior however was not hard to find. Groups of people took over the hot tubs, letting everything hang out, twerking, slapping each other on the behind and filming it all. The language was horrible and this was all in front of families with kids. They were downing pitchers in the tub

Maybe it's just me but this is one of the reasons I love Carnival. 😁

1 hour ago, JennKach said: There were at 4+ cabins traveling together and they loved to gather and talk at high volume in the corridor, or in each other’s rooms with the doors open and music blasting. For the amount of times they woke me up after midnight, I wish I could have ordered them 6am room service as pay back. Another cabin (again middle aged women) in my hall had security there a couple times for smoking, setting off the smoke alarm, and leaving the balcony door open which caused a loud whistle in the hall driving everyone nuts late at night. Lots of pot smoking going on too all over the ship. Security showed up again chasing a group of teenagers running up and down our hallway

These are things I dislike about Carnival but it certainly keeps it interesting and entertaining. Certainly not boring. 😄

1 hour ago, JennKach said: There was a fight one night at the casino bar.

Completely unacceptable/ghetto. 🤨

Enjoyed your honest review, sounds like you made the most of it and rolled with the punches. Thanks for taking the time to drop a review. It's appreciated.

cyclist_guy1

just curious - isn't cruisecritic.com forums considered social media?

ZoeyVictoria

We were on the same cruise. We enjoyed the cruise, but we had it booked again for August 27 and changed to another ship and date once we got home. Our experiences were quite different from yours.

I am 69, my SO is 73, and we traveled alone. We live just less than an hour from the port, which is one of the reasons we were on this particular ship. This was my 74th cruise, with 26 being on Carnival.

Embarkation: We arrived at 10:15 and pretty much just slowly walked through the process. There were problems with our boarding passes twice, but I believe they were due to inexperienced port employees rather than the printing on our passes as they claimed. Our boarding group A1 was called just a few seconds before we finished at the last desk.

Dining: We enjoyed the MDR because we ate as soon as it opened, found a great team the first night, and had it set up to just go directly to the same table every night. The food was surprisingly better on this cruise than in most past MDRs. We did not enjoy the buffet, though. I stood in the omelet line four mornings because there was nothing on the buffet I would eat and the arepa at the Blue Iguana that I used to love was disgusting on this cruise.

Cabin: We were booked in a porthole cabin but received a complimentary upgrade to an ocean view with a larger window a few days before the cruise. We couldn’t believe the amount of time we spent at that window, even stopping there for a few moments on our way back to bed from the bathroom in the middle of the night. We actually spent more time there than we normally do on balconies, and the rebooked August cruise is now an ocean view.

Ports: We took the chairlift (Magical Flying Chairs) to the beach in Mahogany Bay and found shady chairs under trees. That was after a very confusing and disorganized wait in the Diamond and Platinum waiting area for priority debarkation, which we believe was due to an employee being late for work. There has been some dredging since our last visit there, resulting in a sharp drop off in the water. In Cozumel we went to Nachi Cocum’s younger relative, Del Mar Latino. It is on the waterfront, walking distance from the ship with no beach but with a pool and a view of the waterfront. A small area, maybe 30 loungers, and adults only. The included food, drinks, and hospitality are every bit as good as Nachi Cocum, at a price of $29. Very easy, pleasant day.

Observations: We did not experience the upsetting behavior that you saw, though we saw many interesting outfits. People watching was spectacular on this cruise 😂 . We found the people to be about the same as on other cruise lines/ships as far as being friendly. We enjoy speaking to people casually, but are not looking for new friends to spend great amounts of time with.

Our biggest problem with this cruise is that it was LOUD! The volume seemed to be higher than usual in the theaters, the lido deck, and the buffet. We usually enjoy some time around the pool deck, but it was just too loud this time. We searched for quiet places in the shade to watch the water or read, but literally the only outdoor place is Serenity. Arriving in the afternoon was pointless, so we arrived really early (before 8 a.m.) one morning. We left about 11:00 and took our things with us because it is so rude and unfair to hold chairs that we wouldn’t be using for hours. So no quiet place that afternoon, either.

Our other problem was the limited food options. We prefer ships with a better layout in the buffet, more casual options, and a steakhouse.

We enjoyed the short drive to the port, being on the top deck as the ship passed under the Skyway bridge, the MDR experience (not the norm for us), the ports, the shows (Epic Rock is my favorite cruise show), and the crew. But otherwise, I think we have outgrown the Fantasy class of ships. We will use Royal Caribbean for our easy Tampa cruises and stick to larger ships on Carnival.

Guest BasicSailor

1 hour ago, cyclist_guy1 said: just curious - isn't cruisecritic.com forums considered social media?

It used to be in the past, now there are only a few old chest thumpers hanging here trying to kick a dead mule around for debatable purposes 🙃

That's a fair and respectable review. Thanks for taking the time to report.

I have all ides she (Paradise)will be the next one on the hatching block.

I appreciate the two reviews. DH and I cruise on the Paradise tomorrow. We are Diamonds, but I think this will probably be our last Carnival cruise. We have 4 Holland America cruises booked and are 4 Star Mariners. Our last 3 Carnival cruises have been less than satisfactory, although free for the most part.

We cruised twice on Carnival in February, Liberty and Elation, and had a horrible encounter with a drunk man who threatened to throw my DH overboard on the Liberty! He wouldn't leave us alone and DH was starting to look for Security when the drunk left and we didn't see him again. We sailed on the Magic 2 weeks ago and discovered Carnival just isn't for us anymore. Passengers were loud, drunk, constantly using crude language, and rude to me when I was using my rollator to get around. Food was marginal at best. The crew, however, was fantastic.

We are much more suited to Holland America with its elegant ships, superior cuisine, friendly and disability aware passegers, and wonderful crew. We are looking forward to our free Holland cruises in our lovely suites with the many perks that Carnival does not provide.

As far as our Paradise cruise that sails tomorrow, we'll just have to hope for the best.

13 minutes ago, Djptcp said: I appreciate the two reviews. DH and I cruise on the Paradise tomorrow. We are Diamonds, but I think this will probably be our last Carnival cruise. We have 4 Holland America cruises booked and are 4 Star Mariners. Our last 3 Carnival cruises have been less than satisfactory, although free for the most part. We cruised twice on Carnival in February, Liberty and Elation, and had a horrible encounter with a drunk man who threatened to throw my DH overboard on the Liberty! He wouldn't leave us alone and DH was starting to look for Security when the drunk left and we didn't see him again. We sailed on the Magic 2 weeks ago and discovered Carnival just isn't for us anymore. Passengers were loud, drunk, constantly using crude language, and rude to me when I was using my rollator to get around. Food was marginal at best. The crew, however, was fantastic. We are much more suited to Holland America with its elegant ships, superior cuisine, friendly and disability aware passengers, and wonderful crew. We are looking forward to our free Holland cruises in our lovely suites with the many perks that Carnival does not provide. As far as our Paradise cruise that sails tomorrow, we'll just have to hope for the best.

Diamond members ,free cruise . Please do a review when you return.. Interested in your findings 😉

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Carnival Paradise Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Paradise

Excellent 38
Very Good 18
Terrible 23
All languages ( 119 )
English ( 118 )
Spanish ( 1 )

CruiseMapper

Carnival Paradise cabins and suites

Carnival paradise staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Carnival Paradise cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Carnival Cruise Line en-suite amenities and services.

The Carnival Paradise cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

Grand Vista Suite

Layout (floor plan), grand suite, junior suite, aft extended balcony cabin, balcony cabin, scenic oceanview, oceanview cabin, porthole cabin, interior cabin, small interior single cabin, carnival paradise cabins review.

The Carnival cruise ship Paradise has a total of 32 wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers) and no Spa cabins (with exclusive access to Spa Carnival facilities). The number of all cabin categories is 25.

Connecting rooms ("family cabins") are in the following grades: 2 beds (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 6E, 8B, 8C), and 2-3 beds (6B, 6C, 6D). Handicap staterooms (32 total) are in categories GS-Grand Suie (4), JT-JS-Junior Suite (2), also Balcony (4), Oceanview (10) and Interior (12).

During the CCL Paradise ship's drydock refurbishment in 2018 were added 38 new cabins, of which 2x Grand Vista Suites (GV), 22x Junior Suites, 2x Scenic Oceanview (6J), 12 Interior. Balconies were added to 98 existing cabins (on decks 5-Main, 6-Upper, 7-Empress). This changed the ship's passenger capacity from 2052 (max 2606) to 2128 (max 2554).

Follows the review of Carnival Paradise staterooms as amenities, furniture, and complimentary services:

Carnival Paradise Suites (Grand Vista, Grand, Junior) have 1 King bed (convertible to twins), double sofabed (Grand) and single sofabed (Junior), living area (walk-in closet, drawers, vanity table, chair), private bathroom (WC, shower, whirlpool bathtub, double sinks), private balcony (table, patio chairs). Category OB-Junior Suites are with an obstructed view.

Both Grand Vista Suites (GV category/forward on Deck 14) have walk-in closets, floor-ceiling windows (bow views), step-out balconies (low tables, patio chairs). Category ES is Grand Suite with Extended Balcony. Cabins with Extended Balcony are with aft-location and larger verandas.

Both Scenic Oceanview cabins (forward on deck 14) feature floor-ceiling slanted windows with bow views. Standard Oceanviews have a large picture window, twin beds (convertible to queen), bathroom (shower), living area. Some have bunk beds (Pullman) for 3rd/4th person.

Oceanview cabins have a large picture window, twin beds (convertible to queen), bathroom (shower), living area. Some have bunk beds (Pullman) for 3rd/4th person.

Interior cabins with windows have one Porthole Window (category PT), 2 twin beds (convertible to queen), bathroom (shower), living area (vanity, seating). Small Inside cabins have bunk beds (upper/lower Pullman beds), living area (vanity, chair), bathroom (shower).

All Carnival Paradise staterooms offer as standard/complimentary amenities a living area (vanity, seating), smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand-movies, bookings-reservations, Room Service ordering), direct-dial phone, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), hairdryer, en-suite bathroom (WC-toilet, shower, single sink-vanity, bathrobes, bathroom amenity basket/replenished upon request), custom-made beds (Carnival Comfort Bed System), beach towels, mini-bar/fridge, individual air-conditioning, complimentary 24-hour room service. Bibles (Gideon version) are provided upon request.

The Carnival’s Sail & Sign card (cashless onboard credit account) doubles as stateroom key. The S&S credit program allows charges on purchases and tips/gratuities directly to a personal account throughout the Carnival cruise. The card has a designated owner and must be utilized for all money transactions on the ship as cash is accepted as a form of payment only at the casino. These cards are provided to all passengers (incl minors) immediately upon boarding the ship. Balance updates are provided at Guest Services desk (at any time). They can also be checked via the smart TV in each stateroom.

Depending on satellite reception (Carnival Paradise location at sea), the complimentary in-cabin TV programming includes the following channels: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN (Domestic, International, Espanol), TCM (classic movies), cartoons (Boomerang, CN), TNT, TBS. There are 2 complimentary movie channels showing a film every 3 hours (both starting at 12 noon). One shows all-time favorites (PG -13 rated) and the other shows all-time family favorites (G / PG rated). The following TV channels are Carnival-themed and also complimentary: Fun Finds TV, Cruise Director, Fun Aboard, Park West Art, Shore Tours, Ship Position, live cam views (webcams positioned forward and on lido deck), Audible Funtimes, Photo, Music. Sporting events (ESPN, ESPN 2) are shown only on big screens – at the ship’s Sports Bar and Seaside Theatre (not in cabins/suites). All the TV’s connection ports are intentionally disabled, which makes impossible to connect it with personal devices (cameras, DVDs, USBs, iPods, gaming consoles, etc).

Bathroom amenities vary each time, so it’s advisable you bring your own. Samples may include toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, body lotion, razor, antiacids. There is a wall-mounted dispenser in the shower stall (for liquid soap and shampoo). Electric power outlets are located in the desk/vanity area – one 110 V outlet (3-pronged, USA grounded) and one 220 V outlet (European standard). The bathroom’s 2-pin plug can be used only for electric razors.

The new Carnival beds are Europe-manufactured exclusively for the company. The ensemble includes custom pillows (trademarked “New Generation Pillows”, 100% cotton), duvet (100% hypoallergenic, ultra-fine, satin-striped), cover, deluxe sheets (high-quality cotton), pillowcases (ultra-fine, satin-striped), 8-inch / 20 cm spring mattresses (trademarked “Carnival Comfort”). Alternative (non-allergenic) bedding is also available. It includes 100% polyester blankets, sheets and pillowcases (60/40 cotton-polyester) and New Generation Pillows (100% cotton). Note: Trundle beds don’t have Carnival Comfort mattresses.

Carnival-logoed Beach Towels are provided in each cruise accommodation for passengers to take ashore. Beach towels are also available for purchase (at $22). Bathrobes (2) are provided in all suites. Additional bathrobes are provided upon request. For all other cruise accommodations, bathrobes are provided (upon request) during the turndown service on the first evening. Bathrobes can be purchased at $49 (adult size) and $24 (children sizes /2-4 yo and 6-8 yo).

Life jackets are used in cases of emergency only (not at the ship pools). Lifejackets are located within passenger/crew cabins (in the closet). They are available in 3 sizes – adult, child, and infant. Each of the cabins has a safe (located in the closet) with approx dimensions (inches/centimeters) – width (10/25), height (9/23) and depth (8/20). Cabin safes can be accessed by any magnetic strip card. It is advisable not to use a valid credit card (or driver’s license), but an old expired card (or some rewards card) instead. Some safes are with a keypad (personal code). Safes can be opened also by the ship’s security.

All cruise cabin and suite mini-bars are stocked with premium liquors ($6-9,25), beer ($6,25), energy drinks ($5), soft soda/beverages ($2), bottled water ($3,75). In-cabin babysitting is not available (read more at Camp Ocean below). Cribs in cruise cabins are provided complimentary (upon request). In Main Dining Rooms are provided complimentary high chairs and booster seats.

Smoking in cabins/suites and on their balconies is prohibited. On Carnival Paradise, smoking allowed areas (cigarettes /incl electronic cigarettes) are Rex Nightclub (disco /not allowed on the dance floor), Casino (designated areas), Casino Bar. Smoking (incl of cigars and tobacco pipes) is allowed on designated outdoor areas on Deck 10 starboard (main pool area).

Funville@Sea is free of charge Intranet service providing information on onboard activities and events schedule, bar and restaurant menus, deck maps, Fun Times (newspaper), FunAshore (tour guides), Carnival cruise news, itinerary-related weather reports, onboard social network (tracking/messaging other passengers). The complimentary service is available via the Infotainment system (in all cabins) and also at the FunHub stations around the ship.

Current Carnival Paradise gratuities (per day per person) are USD 12,95 (for standard cabin passengers) and USD 13,95 for suite passengers. The list of perks for all suites includes: priority embarkation/debarkation/tendering (all ports), priority main dining room reservations, complimentary bottled water in cabins, a complimentary bag of laundry (one per cruise), enhanced turndown service.

Since 2017, Carnival Cruise Line offers a new program allowing ship passengers to customize their steward service by choosing to have the cabin serviced in the morning, at night or both (twice a day). All guests can choose from a list of additional cabin amenities, among which are bathrobes, extra pillows, blankets, closet hangers. All guests can also specify how often the bed linens to be changed during the cruise. Your personal preferences can be selected from a services menu card left in each of the ship’s staterooms. By default, if you make no selections on the card, your room service steward will service the accommodation twice daily.

You can see all the furniture details on Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Paradise cabin plans in the above table.

Cruise Ship Room Service

In 2016, Carnival Cruise Lines rolled out fleetwide for-fee (chargeable) room service menu, which items can be ordered 24/7. The new menu still has free of charge items – hot and cold sandwiches, salads, desserts, beverages, Continental Breakfast selections. At extra cost (ranging between USD 1,50 and 6) are items that include shrimp, also sushi, pizza, quesadillas, cheesesteaks, chicken wings/tenders, fries. Bar drinks orders through room service are at regular bar menu prices (no extra fee added).

Complimentary room service menu

Continental Breakfast (upon request)
Sandwiches are served with potato salad, coleslaw, potato chips/pretzels, bread (white, whole wheat, rye, gluten-free). The list of sandwiches includes Tuna Salad, Roast Turkey, Ham & Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Reuben (corned beef, Swiss cheese).
Salads – Garden, Caesar, Vegetable Platter (with dips)
Desserts – cheesecake, cookies, chocolate cake
Beverages – juices (tomato, orange, apple, grapefruit), tea (hot, iced), hot chocolate, milk, soft drinks (club soda, ginger ale, tonic water, coke, and sprite /also diet)
Beers – domestic (Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Samuel Adams), imported (Heineken, Corona, Stella Artois), also available are beer buckets and wines by the bottle.

For-fee room service menu

The following items are available for ordering 24 hours but are at an additional charge.

Chicken Wings ($5) – choice of Honey BBQ, Teriyaki, Garlic Parmesan, Buffalo Sauce, Caribbean Jerk
Chicken Tenders ($5) – choice of sauce (BBQ or Honey Mustard)
Firecracker Shrimp ($6) – fried with chili ginger, served with fries
Chicken Quesadilla ($5)
Philly Cheesesteak ($5) – served with fries
Pan Pizza ($5) – handmade and baked-to-order (Cheese, Pepperoni, Ham, and Pineapple)
French Fries ($1,50), Sweet Potato Fries ($2), Banana Split ($4).

Continental Breakfast room service menu

The following items are available for ordering free of charge.

Cereals and Fruits – Banana, Melon, Frosted Flakes, Special K, Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Fruit Loops, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Bakery – toasts (white, wheat, gluten-free), danish pastries, muffins, croissants, bagels
Yogurt – plain, strawberry, peach, raspberry
Drinks – juices (orange, apple, tomato, grapefruit), hot tea, milk (also skim and chocolate), fresh coffee (regular and decaf)
Half-and-half (milk-cream), butter, margarine, cream cheese, jelly (grape, diet, strawberry, guava), honey, orange marmalade.

Carnival Paradise cabin and suite plans are property of Carnival Cruise Line . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Carnival Paradise Rescues 27 People Adrift At Sea

April 22, 2024

On Sunday, April 21, around 2:30 pm local time, Carnival Cruise Line’s Paradise rescued 27 Cuban nationals who were adrift at sea and signaling for assistance.

Carnival Paradise’s bridge team spotted the vessel while en route from Tampa to Roatan, Honduras, and turned the ship around to rescue them. All were taken aboard, offered food and were examined by the medical team.

Both the US Coast Guard Sector Key West and Roatan officials were notified.

The Carnival Paradise is expected to arrive in Honduras on Monday, April 22.

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Carnival Jubilee ship review: A guide to Carnival's third Excel Class cruise ship

Editor's Note

When Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Jubilee debuted in December 2023, it became the third ship in the line's Excel Class , closely mimicking sister ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. Although there are more similarities than differences among the three, Carnival has still found a way to make Carnival Jubilee innovative and fun by tweaking a few of the offerings.

The ship shares Carnival's "zone" concept with its two older sisters, meaning it has dedicated areas for dining, drinking, entertainment and outdoor fun, including Bolt, a top-deck roller coaster. The biggest differences on the newest iteration are in two reinvented zones, Currents and The Shores; respectively, they take the place of The French Quarter and La Piazza on Mardi Gras , and The Gateway and 820 Biscayne on Carnival Celebration .

On my voyage, the ship carried 5,676 passengers, plus crew. This meant it wasn't at capacity, but it still felt loud and crowded, and often was fraught with lines. However, the service was generally excellent, with an exceedingly friendly crew.

The vessel is also a ton of fun, featuring two new shows (one with a football tailgate theme and the other with an onboard wedding plot), plenty of daily activities and so many fantastic dining options — many of them free — that it'll make your head spin.

Here's the rundown on what you can expect on board so you can determine if Carnival Jubilee is right for your next sailing.

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Carnival Jubilee overview

Carnival Jubilee is a megaship, coming in at 183,521 tons and carrying up to 6,631 passengers at full capacity. It's tied with Carnival Celebration for the title of the largest ship in Carnival's fleet.

The vessel offers weeklong Caribbean voyages on a regular rotation from its home port in Galveston, Texas, meaning you'll find a healthy dose of Texas-style fun on board (more on that later). In fact, Carnival is so dedicated to keeping the ship in the Lone Star State that it had a Texas star painted on the ship's hull.

Carnival Jubilee's demographics run the gamut from families with young kids or extended family groups to groups of friends, couples and even solo cruisers (even though it doesn't have any cabins for singles). True to the rumors about Southern hospitality, the people on my cruise were some of the warmest and most polite I've ever encountered; fellow passengers were saying "excuse me," allowing others to go first in line and generally being more courteous than I've found on sailings from other places.

The ship is divided into six zones, where passengers can find a mix of bars, restaurants, live performances, water-filled fun and exhilarating activities like a ropes course, minigolf and, of course, the Bolt roller coaster . Here's a bit about each zone.

Carnival Jubilee zones

Grand Central: This bustling area rises up three decks — decks 6, 7 and 8 — and replaces the traditional atrium found on older Carnival vessels. The focal point is Center Stage, a starboard-side (on your right when facing the front of the ship) secondary theater that's home to events like bingo during the day and song-and-dance performances at night.

Surrounding the stage are tons of seating options, as well as JavaBlue Cafe, which serves coffee and snacks; Cherry on Top candy shop; the Center Stage and Grand View Bars; and Bonsai Sushi and Teppanyaki. It also serves as an access point for the onboard shops, Piano Bar 88, The Punchliner Comedy Club and the Jubilee Casino.

Currents: Currents is one of the other main social hubs on Carnival Jubilee. It starts on Deck 6, just aft of Grand Central and features two new bars. The Golden Mermaid has gilded decor and a custom-designed mural depicting mermaids and lots of hidden Easter eggs (look for SpongeBob SquarePants references). Meanwhile, Dr. Inks, Ph.D., is a bar based on the fictional character Dr. Inks — an octopus with academic credentials. Both bars have excellent drink menus.

Also in the space is Emeril's Bistro 717, a New Orleans-style, for-fee eatery developed by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.

On the wall above Dr. Inks, window-shaped screens provide a show for anyone passing through the length of the Currents promenade area. Programming rotates between underwater adventures, nature scenes and even artwork produced by passengers and kids from St. Jude's Children's Hospital. For a better view, head up one deck to the Alchemy Bar.

The Shores: If the Currents zone is the underwater-themed area of the ship, The Shores on Deck 8 is what you get when you pop your head above the metaphorical surface. Inspired by boardwalks and beaches, The Shores offers two walk-up food counters: Beach Buns (Carnival Deli on other ships) and Coastal Slice (the equivalent of Pizza Pirate or Pizzeria del Capitano). Offset by colorful, blinking carnival-style lighting, the venues all but scream, "Step right up!"

Other venues in the area include the Marina Bar for cocktails and coffee, complimentary Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano and for-fee seafood eatery Rudi's Seagrill, created by food pop artist chef Rudi Sodamin.

Summer Landing: From The Shores, continue aft on Deck 8 to reach Summer Landing. It's an indoor space that encompasses Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, a Guy Fieri barbecue joint with its own microbrewery and live music; the Heroes Tribute Lounge, which honors members of the military; and soft-serve ice cream.

Outside, the area continues with The Patio, which features a pool and hot tubs, and neighboring The Watering Hole, a bar that serves the space.

Lido: A mix of food and fun, the Lido zone fans out on decks 16 and 17 around the ship's main Beach Pool, which serves as the center of the action. Around and above it, you'll find outdoor movies, dedicated teen hangouts, a video arcade, a two-story version of the RedFrog Tiki Bar, cruiser favorite BlueIguana Cantina, extra-fee Seafood Shack and Street Eats street food.

On the upper deck is the popular Guy's Burger Joint, which is oddly set a bit farther away from the action on Excel Class ships. Farther afield on Deck 16, passengers can check out Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken restaurant or venture to Lido Marketplace, the ship's complimentary buffet.

The Ultimate Playground: If you're looking for alfresco thrills to keep you busy, The Ultimate Playground is the place to be. It comprises a miniature golf course, a basketball court, a ropes course and the line's signature WaterWorks water park, all of which are free.

Of course, the highlight of this zone is the Bolt roller coaster. It's an added-fee experience during which passengers (one to two people per ride) zoom twice around the track on a motorcycle-style vehicle that allows you to throttle up or down to a speed that suits you.

What I love about Carnival Jubilee

Grand central.

Grand Central is one of my favorite spots on board. Although it's often loud, busy and difficult to navigate, especially on sea days, it's a prime place to sit and people-watch. I found myself gravitating there repeatedly to enjoy coffee or a snack from the nearby JavaBlue Cafe while watching the cast from that night's show rehearse at Center Stage — something you can't usually do on other ships.

Plus, the space is a bit of a throwback to the days when interior designer and architect Joe Farcus was responsible for Carnival's ship decor. The decor is midcentury modern style meets '80s quirk, featuring a pink and teal color scheme, fun light fixtures and a bar with colored mirror accents.

I'm not generally someone who cares about alcohol. Give me one or two pina coladas on a weeklong cruise, and I'm good to go. However, the massively creative options on the menus at both the Golden Mermaid and Dr. Inks, Ph.D., bars are absolutely worth a shoutout.

For the wow factor, the best drink I had was A Pearly Bubble. Found on the menu at the Golden Mermaid, it's a mix of gin, St-Germain liqueur, white cranberry juice, dragon fruit and lime juice. It was a bit too dry for me, so I didn't care for the taste; however, you won't want to miss the presentation, which involves a giant bubble atop the drink. It pops when you poke it, leaving behind a tiny poof of smoke.

For taste, which I know is subjective, my favorite is the Crimson Catch (Swedish Fish candy-infused vodka, lime juice, pomegranate liqueur, white cranberry juice and Swedish Fish candy). I prefer sweet drinks, and this hit the spot.

It's not unusual for the line at JavaBlue to snake around the corner and down the hall at peak times. The staff members try their best to keep things moving, but if you don't feel like waiting 10-15 minutes for a cuppa, head upstairs to Deck 8's Marina Bar instead.

There, you can order any of the same coffee beverages you'll find at JavaBlue but in far less time. If you're feeling more like a cocktail, you can grab one of those, too. On my sailing, the bartenders were phenomenal and even remembered that I prefer non-dairy milk with my lattes.

Bolt roller coaster

Cruise fans know that Carnival brought Bolt, the first-ever roller coaster at sea, to Mardi Gras in 2021. Carnival Jubilee offers the same ride — the third of its kind on a cruise ship — in the deck 18, 19 and 20 Ultimate Playground area.

Pay a fee to ride, and you (or you and a friend) can navigate two laps of twists and turns around the ship's funnel as you use the throttle and hyper-boost buttons to try to break the day's speed record. (Yes, you'll be timed, and don't forget to smile for a photo.) The ocean views from above are totally worth the cost.

What I don't love about Carnival Jubilee

There's no easy way to say this: The ship almost always feels crowded. If you want to enjoy it when it's not, you'll have to stay on board during port calls just to find some space to yourself. Many restaurants and walk-up counters have near-constant lines, particularly at the complimentary venues during peak dinner times every evening.

It's so common for JavaBlue to be backed up throughout the day that an easy-to-miss sign directs passengers to other locations where they can grab a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, lines at the onboard deli and pizzeria counters frequently snake so far down Deck 8 that they block the entrance to seafood restaurant Rudi's Seagrill. One night, as I was dining at Rudi's with some of my travel companions, we joked that the lines were dangerously close to melding with the line for the nearby guest services desk.

And it isn't just a problem with dining. I arrived 15 minutes early for a magic show at the Punchliner Comedy Club, and I couldn't find a single available seat in the entire place. On another night, I showed up on time for Family Feud Live in the ship's theater, and it was a standing-room-only situation. The sizes of the performance venues are generally way too small for the number of passengers wishing to watch the shows.

My cabin had some of the best soundproofing I've experienced on a new ship in a long time — I had balcony accommodations near an elevator bank and heard nothing when I was in my room. However, a couple of passengers told me they could hear noise from Bolt in their balcony cabin on Deck 15.

Most other places on board seem to be excessively loud. Even on port days, when most passengers are ashore, the public areas are filled with loud music that makes it hard to find a quiet escape. Some of it is understandable. After all, Carnival vessels are known as the Fun Ships, but some of it seems unnecessary.

One example is the Dr. Seuss-themed Seuss-a-palooza Parade that makes its way through the Currents zone once per sailing. I happened to be sitting at a table in the area when the festivities kicked off. I decided to stay to see what it was all about, and I'm sorry I did. As costumed Dr. Seuss characters arrived, Carnival staff asked the children to scream solely for the sake of screaming. Ear-piercing shrieks reverberated throughout the space, which was also blocked off to passengers trying to pass through.

The excessive upselling

Combining noise with the annoyance of hawking alcohol, the roving waiters visited every table at Chibang! — the ship's hybrid Mexican-Asian restaurant — one night while I was having dinner there. Their goal was to push Rumchata shots on everyone. Whenever somebody bought one, the waiter would demand that they yell "Shot, shot, shot!" before downing it. This was extremely disruptive and added to the already loud atmosphere.

One afternoon later in the sailing, two different crew members approached me a total of six times in less than half an hour while I was having lunch on the Lido deck. The first five times, I simply said, "No, thanks." After the sixth time, I had enough and told them nicely but firmly to stop asking me. I found the high-pressure sales tactics excessive and irritating when all I wanted to do was eat my meal in peace.

The inconsistencies

Oddly, there were some discrepancies on board that I was surprised to see on a ship that's been sailing for several months.

The first couple had to do with differences between the Carnival HUB app and the daily Fun Times printed schedule. On one occasion, the app said Seafood Shack opened half an hour earlier than it did, while the paper version of the daily schedule had the correct information. Another time, the printed daily had the wrong theater show listed for that night; the correct one was posted in the HUB. On another day, the printed schedule was missing part four of a four-part show, which did show up on the agenda in the app.

In terms of food and drinks, I had a strange experience at Chibang! when I ordered spring rolls. Usually, they don't have meat in them, nor was meat listed as an ingredient on the menu. When the waiter took my order, he said, "Spring rolls with chicken." When I asked him about it, he said he could request for them to be made without it, but that doesn't explain why something with meat in it wouldn't have meat in its list of ingredients. If I were a vegetarian or vegan, it would have concerned me.

As for drinks, I ordered a Snapping Pop at Dr. Inks., Ph.D. It was completely different — different color, different taste and different presentation — from what I received when I ordered the same drink on a sailing two months prior. I was told the drink had to be changed for several reasons. However, the old ingredients were listed on the menu, meaning passengers weren't getting what they thought they ordered.

Carnival Jubilee cabins and suites

Carnival Jubilee offers cabins in the usual varieties: insides with no windows or balconies, ocean-view accommodations with windows, balcony cabins with outdoor veranda space and suites that include additional perks. These include priority check-in, boarding and disembarkation; preferred dinner times in the main dining room; pillow-top mattresses; two large bottles of water and bathrobes; and extra square footage.

Within those categories, Carnival Jubilee offers three types of special cabins. First is Family Harbor, which offers nautically themed cabins that sleep up to five people and rooms that can be connected via an interior door. Families booked in Family Harbor cabins have access to a dedicated Family Harbor Lounge, which offers daily breakfast, snacks and drinks, as well as board games and TVs with a selection of movies and video games. They also receive a free night of babysitting in the kids club so parents can enjoy some alone time.

The second special cabin type is the Havana Cabana. Done up in bright, tropical colors, these rooms offer extended outdoor lounge space and private access to the Havana Pool and Bar area.

The third type is Cloud 9 Spa cabins. With calming seafoam green and yellow decor alongside extras like Elemis toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, these are some of the most relaxing cabins on any ship. These guests also receive priority spa appointments and free access to fitness classes and the onboard thermal suite.

Suites in all three of these special accommodation types also give passengers the suite perks mentioned above.

Excel Suites, Carnival Jubilee's highest-level accommodations, receive all standard suite perks plus additional ones. These include complimentary access to the private sun deck at Loft 19, priority cabana reservations at Loft 19, concierge services, guaranteed reservations at most extra-fee restaurants, free room service, upgraded toiletries, fruit and sparkling wine upon embarkation, a free soft drink package, free in-room movies, an in-cabin coffee machine and complimentary laundry service .

Standard amenities in all rooms include a queen bed that converts to two twins on request, bedside shelving with reading lamps and USB outlets, a desk and vanity area, a sofa or chair, a closet and drawers for storage, a safe for valuables, a house phone and a hair dryer.

Bathrooms feature a toilet, sink and shower with a door instead of a curtain. Complimentary toiletries are basic: bar soap for handwashing and dispensers of shampoo and shower gel mounted on the wall in the shower.

On my sailing, I stayed in a balcony cabin, which was elegantly decorated in neutrals with blue accents. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of storage space. I appreciated touches like ample vanity mirror lighting, adjustable shelving in the closets and a surplus of USB outlets throughout the room, including near the vanity and beside the bed.

Speaking of the bed, it was exceptionally comfortable, and I was excited to find that the TV across from it had a sizable selection of free movies (as well as newer releases for a fee). The TV also allows you to watch select live channels and shipboard programming and to check your onboard bill.

Dislikes for me include a shower door that opens toward you instead of into the shower, making the already tiny bathroom even tighter. I also didn't like the "SNOOZIN'" door hangers, which often got caught in my door when I closed it; I would've rathered a "do not disturb" button like many other new ships have.

I also would have liked a taller table on the balcony, but it only had room for two chairs (not lounger-style) and a small drinks table.

Carnival Jubilee offers 82 accessible cabins in a mix of types and categories: inside, ocean-view, balcony and suite, as well as rooms in the Family Harbor, Havana Cabana and Cloud 9 Spa categories.

Within those 82 options, there are fully accessible accommodations with access to both sides of the bed and rooms that are fully accessible with single-side access to one side of the bed, which work well for passengers who use wheelchairs and scooters. Ambulatory-accessible rooms provide accommodations for people who walk with the help of assistive devices like canes or walkers.

Fully accessible rooms are stair-free, flat-threshold cabins, which offer wider (32-inch) doorways, turning space and bathrooms equipped with grab bars and shower seats.

There are no solo cabins on Carnival Jubilee.

Cabin cleaning is limited to once per day. Unless you specifically request your cabin steward to come at night for turndown service instead of earlier in the day, your room will be made up in the morning. Hang the "SNOOZIN'" card on the outside of your door, and no one will bother you — but your room won't be cleaned that day.

Carnival Jubilee restaurants and bars

Carnival jubilee food.

One of the best ways Carnival provides value to its customers is through its food offerings. Complimentary dining abounds on Carnival Jubilee, and the variety of cuisines is impressive. You'll find more free options on Carnival ships than on just about any other fleet's vessels, and they're actually tasty. It's entirely possible to eat only food that's included in the cruise fare and not feel like you're missing out.

Excellent added-fee options include steak, seafood and teppanyaki, which might be worth trying if you're celebrating a special occasion or feeling like a splurge.

Dinner reservations are recommended for many eateries, even the main dining rooms. You can make them by visiting your restaurant of choice or by using the HUB app. If you don't make one, you might find yourself waiting 20 minutes or more for a table at peak times. If you make a reservation through the app, you'll receive a notification to report to the host stand when your table is ready.

In my experience, waiters were diligent in asking about dietary requirements and restrictions. However, it was disappointing to see that many menus weren't marked with specific options for vegetarians, vegans and people who can't eat gluten.

The ship has two main dining rooms: Atlantic Restaurant (Deck 6, mid) and Pacific Restaurant (decks 6 and 7, aft).

One of them is dedicated to passengers who select Your Time Dining, which lets you eat anytime between 5 and 9 p.m. (The dedicated YTD restaurant can vary by sailing, depending on how many people choose that option.)

Both serve the same menu for dinner, but only the larger Pacific Restaurant is open for Sea Day Brunch on sea days and breakfast (but not lunch) on port days.

I very much enjoyed an omelet with hashbrowns at Sea Day Brunch and salmon during the formal night dinner in the Pacific Restaurant. I also had a wonderful time at two special events — complimentary afternoon tea and an extra-fee Dr. Seuss-themed Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast — held in the Atlantic Restaurant.

Tip: If you're a vegetarian or a fan of Indian food, don't miss the daily Indian dish on the main dining room menu.

The buffet is the other free food option that's a staple on just about any cruise.

On Carnival Jubilee, the Lido Marketplace on Deck 16 is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, but I found it largely uninspired and lacking in variety. The French toast I had for breakfast and the mahi mahi I had for dinner were tasty, but there are definitely better no-charge venues on board.

A little-known fact is that, at least for the inaugural season, passengers can dine at Mexican-Asian restaurant Chibang! and the Italian Cucina del Capitano, both on Deck 8, for free. Cruisers with YTD can eat there for dinner anytime; those with set seating can dine there after 7:45 p.m.

At Cucina del Capitano, I was exceptionally pleased with the spaghetti carbonara I ordered. The nachos and spring rolls are don't-miss items at Chibang!

Unfortunately, both the service and atmosphere at Chibang! are lacking. The space is simply packed with tables — so much so that there were only about two inches between my table and the one next to me, even though I was dining alone. It then took nearly 10 minutes for a waiter to bring me water and another 10 before someone came to take my order.

Also on Deck 8 are Coastal Slice and neighboring Beach Buns, which respectively replace the pizza and deli counters found by the pool on most other Carnival ships.

The former bakes several different types of pies nearly around the clock, and they're scrumptious. The latter whips up hotdogs, soups and a variety of sandwiches. (I was pleasantly surprised by the grilled ham and cheese.) Lines for both counters are often long, but I promise it's worth the wait.

Two great staples in the ship's outdoor Lido zone are the BlueIguana Cantina (Deck 16), where you can find yummy tacos and burritos throughout the day, and Guy's Burger Joint (Deck 17), which is the place to grab some of the best burgers at sea via Carnival's partnership with chef and TV personality Guy Fieri.

The breakfast burritos at BlueIguana are fantastic. My pick from Guy's is the Chilius Maximus — an 80/20 ground chuck patty with cheese, chili, onion rings and barbecue sauce.

Guy Fieri isn't the only celebrity affiliated with Carnival's free food.

Shaq's Big Chicken , a restaurant backed by basketball great Shaquille O'Neal (who is also Carnival's CFO, chief fun officer), is perfect if you have a hankering for some fried chicken. In addition to chicken strips, sandwiches and fries, the counter-service venue also serves breakfast. Do yourself a favor and try the chicken and biscuit combo with fries.

If you're seeking a between-meal snack or light bite, try the JavaBlue Cafe on Deck 6 in Grand Central. The cafe offers a sizable menu of specialty coffee beverages and tea, as well as free and for-fee snacks.

Breakfast pastries, bowls and English muffin sandwiches, as well as all-day options like salads, sandwiches, wraps, empanadas and calzones, are complimentary; cookies, doughnuts, cupcakes and cheesecake cost extra.

As a sucker for soft-serve ice cream, I was a frequent visitor to the three soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt machines on decks 8, 16 and 17. At some point, I lost count of how many cones I ate.

Since there are no toppings, I recommend you snag a bowl of dry Froot Loops from the buffet during breakfast, and stash them in your cabin to mix with your ice cream later. Or grab cookies from the buffet for a DIY ice cream sandwich.

Carnival Jubilee has so many places to eat that I ran out of time to try them all on my weeklong sailing.

I missed Fresh Creations, a salad station in the adults-only sun deck area on Deck 18, and Street Eats, a set of three street food-style walk-up windows on Deck 16 near the main pool. The walk-up windows include Steam Dream, which serves dumplings; Time Fries, offering creative takes on french fries; and Sizzle, a grill that specializes in kebabs and other dishes.

Extra-cost food

My favorite onboard dining experience of the whole sailing was at Emeril's Bistro 717 in the Currents zone on Deck 6. A version of this chef Emeril Lagasse-affiliated spot is on each of Carnival's Excel Class ships, bearing the hull number of the original vessel for which the new one is named. Simply walk up to order at the counter, have a seat and a waiter will take over from there.

During my visit, I ordered a pound of stone crab claws in garlic butter (market price) with red beans and rice ($3) and a brie bowl ($6). The food was fabulous, and the service was friendly. My only complaint is that, apart from a claw cracker, there were no other tools available to get to the crab meat. (I asked.) My waiter had no bibs or wet wipes to offer, which left me a bit messy afterward.

The food item I most recommend you try when sailing on Carnival Jubilee is an order of beignets at Emeril's. Pillows of soft fried dough coated in powdered sugar with chocolate and strawberry sauces for dipping are $5 for an order of six.

My second favorite experience was a calm, quiet and uncrowded lunch at Bonsai Sushi on Deck 8. I partook in edamame ($3) and a California roll ($8). It was fresh, tasty, filling and reasonably priced.

Another excellent dinner during my voyage occurred at Rudi's Seagrill (Deck 8), an upscale seafood restaurant named for chef and pop artist Rudi Sodamin. The lobster macaroni and cheese was the perfect indulgence to start my meal, and I followed it up with a delicious crab cake.

I wasn't overly hungry when I sat down, but the $49 cover charge ($15 for kids) would also have included a soup or salad and a dessert if I had wanted them.

No Carnival sailing would be complete for a carnivore without a visit to Fahrenheit 555, the onboard steakhouse . On Carnival Jubilee, it's adorned in neutral tans, dark browns and red tones.

The menu has several types of meat — including steak, of course, as well as lamb chops and chicken — and seafood items like fish and lobster tail. I went with a 9-ounce filet mignon, which was cooked to perfection. It came alongside several sauces and sides of broccoli and crinkle-cut fries for $49 ($15 for kids).

My two most disappointing extra-fee food encounters on Carnival Jubilee were Seafood Shack (Deck 16, in the Lido zone, near the pool) and room service.

The first one opened late, and despite my order being the first one of the day, it still took more than 20 minutes to be served. I chose a single crab cake for $15. When I received it, the bun was soggy, and no garnishes or sauces were offered until I went back to the counter to ask for coleslaw and tartar sauce, neither of which helped the flavor.

It didn't hold a candle to the crab cake from Rudi's, and I ended up abandoning most of it.

Room service, which comes with a la carte fees (except for free Continental breakfast), set me back almost $20 for a chicken quesadilla, chicken fingers with curly fries and a chocolate chip cookie, which I ordered sometime around 2 a.m.

Everything arrived quickly and at the right temperature. The fries and cookie were great, but the chicken fingers were rubbery and full of gristle. When I tried to order the quesadilla without chicken, I was told they were already made, which seems strange. Shouldn't room service be made to order?

Again, I couldn't fit every single restaurant into my time on Carnival Jubilee, so I missed out on Bonsai Teppanyaki, where chefs grill your food right in front of you, complete with corny jokes. I also missed Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, another Guy Fieri creation that serves barbecue fare, wings and microbrewed beer made right on the ship (lunch is free). I couldn't make it to Chef's Table, an exclusive multicourse small-group dining experience that's the most pricey meal on board, either.

Carnival Jubilee bars

Drinks are priced individually unless you have a Cheers beverage package that includes alcohol.

My favorite bar on Carnival Jubilee is the Marina Bar in The Shores zone on Deck 8. It offers a menu of adult beverages, but it also serves the same specialty coffees you'll find at JavaBlue, which often has a long line.

This nautically themed outpost is next to a popular access point to the outer decks, so the only downside is that you might be blasted with hot air while your drink is being made.

Unique to Carnival Jubilee are two new bars in the Deck 6 Currents zone.

The Golden Mermaid is a nod to treasures one might expect to find under the sea, and a mural on the opposite wall depicts underwater scenes, including mermaids. (For some "Where's Waldo"-style fun, try to spot a miniature likeness of the ship, a pair of custom sneakers and references to SpongeBob SquarePants.)

The menu of drinks is noteworthy, too, featuring names like From Far Seas and Atlantis Potion. My favorite, though, is A Pearly Bubble — a blend of gin, St. Germain liqueur, white cranberry juice, lime juice and dragon fruit that's as much for show as it is for taste.

The second new bar is Dr. Inks, Ph.D. In addition to a fun selection of cocktails — some of which involve candy — the bar's theme is tied to an animated octopus named Dr. Inks. She has a Ph.D., pet butterflies and extensive collections of both books and fashionable eyewear. Every so often, she'll appear on the screens above the area to chat.

Cruiser-favorite Alchemy Bar — where white-coated apothecaries prescribe drinks to heal what ails you (try the Cucumber Sunrise) — and the bar at Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse returned to Carnival Jubilee after finding success on other Carnival ships.

Besides beer that's brewed right on board — which you can order by the glass, flight or growler, or in cocktails — you can snag one of several whiskies or interesting cocktails like a smoky watermelon margarita and a black bourbon fizz. I tried a bacon Manhattan, but the taste wasn't my favorite. I also wasn't impressed with how long it took a bartender to ask for my order, especially since it wasn't particularly crowded.

I'm not a huge drinker, so I didn't personally try cocktails from the Center Stage Bar (Deck 6) or Grand View Bar (Deck 7) in Grand Central. The former features a bit of a retro vibe, and the latter is backed by a giant light-up wall that looks like wave.

I also missed out on the RedFrog Tiki Bar, a two-deck (decks 16 and 17), hut-style setup that replaces the RedFrog Rum Bar found on many other Carnival ships' pool decks. It's where you'll find the most quintessentially tropical menu of mixed drinks on board.

Other outdoor bar options include The Watering Hole near Summer Landing on Deck 8, the Serenity Pool Bar on Deck 18 in the adults-only area and the Loft 19 Bar on the exclusive Loft 19 sun deck. (Access is free for passengers booked in suites or anyone who reserves a cabana for anywhere from $250 to $500 per day.)

Back inside, Deck 6's Piano Bar is where passengers can order a tipple while an onboard pianist tickles the ivories. Make your way up a deck, and you'll find the Limelight Lounge, which serves as a secondary performance space and trivia outpost.

Go one deck farther, and you can choose between the Havana Bar, which serves Latin-themed cocktails, and the Heroes Tribute Lounge, which has a special menu of drinks dedicated to military members.

Carnival Jubilee entertainment

Carnival jubilee activities.

Carnival Jubilee offers a full roundup of daily activities on each voyage.

Passengers might choose to head to the casino, play bingo, enjoy an alcohol tasting, participate in a sports tournament, go on a digital scavenger hunt, mingle at a deck party, play minigolf, take a dance class, learn towel folding, or attend a spa, jewelry or shopping seminar.

Particularly notable are the rotating animations that pop up throughout the Currents zone during each voyage.

If you show up during "Soundwaves Jukebox," you'll see synthesizer-like graphics pulsating to the music on the giant screens above the space.

"Change the Currents" will allow you to view underwater scenes from different areas of the world, including the Arctic and swampy Everglades; other experiences take you on an underwater adventure in a submarine and display ocean-themed artwork drawn by kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Some of my personal favorite pastimes on board included trivia, pool deck movies, for-fee culinary classes and a particularly relaxing massage. (Watch out for discounts early in your sailing or on port days.)

In addition to treatments, the Cloud 9 Spa offers salon services and a thermal suite — access to which is free with the purchase of a pass or a spa treatment — with a thalassotherapy pool, heated tile loungers, a sauna and two steam rooms. The adjacent fitness center is on the small side but features for-fee personal training and organized fitness classes, as well as equipment that's free for passengers to use.

Looking to find a group of like-minded travelers on your sailing? Check out meetups for solo travelers, singles, veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ community listed in the daily program.

If you're interested in spending time outdoors working on your tan by the pool, you can do so at one of five onboard pools.

There's the Havana Pool (private access for cruisers staying in Havana Cabanas) and the Patio Pool, both on Deck 8 (the latter with hot tubs); the Beach Pool and Tides Pool on Deck 16 (also with hot tubs); and the Deck 18 adults-only Serenity Pool (with hot tubs). There's also a hot tub at Loft 19 on Deck 19, which charges a fee for access.

Cabanas are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Prices vary by sailing, but on my voyage, they were $500 per day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pool lifts accommodating up to 300 pounds are available for passengers with limited mobility.

On Deck 18, you'll find Waterworks, which offers waterslides and a splash area for kids.

Kids and adults who aren't afraid of heights will enjoy the top-deck ropes course, which offers two options for different levels of skill and bravery. The Bolt roller coaster, a minigolf course and a basketball court are also found in the SportSquare area within the Ultimate Playground zone.

Additional activities for youngsters take place in Camp Ocean, Carnival's kids club , which splits children into four groups: Turtles (up to 2 years old), Penguins (2-5), Stingrays (6-8) and Sharks (9-11).

Fun pursuits on the daily schedule might include arts and crafts, themed parties, science experiments, games and story time, depending on the age group.

Camp Ocean also has an interactive space wall, where astronauts lead kids on virtual expeditions, complete with a ceiling that lights up like the night sky to show the constellations.

Kids can also attend Build-A-Bear workshops, march along in a Dr. Seuss-themed parade led by the Fox in Socks and Thing 1 and Thing 2, and listen to the Cat in the Hat read stories.

Tweens and teens have their own dedicated hangout spaces. Activities here are less structured, and participants can come and go as they please. Plus, an onboard arcade offers video games for a fee.

Carnival Jubilee shows

Entertainment on Carnival Jubilee is a combination of passenger favorites from other ships and new shows that you'll only find on this vessel.

Of the performances, I most enjoyed two main-theater shows that are also found on some other ships in the fleet. "Celestial Strings" is a mix of classical and modern pop instrumentals partnered with ethereal costumes and sets; "Soulbound" is a song-and-dance performance with a Victorian steampunk vibe, set in what feels like New Orleans, during which a soul-stealer tries to mess with a twisted love story.

Another excellent show is "Rio Carnival," which occurs at Center Stage in the Grand Central zone instead of the main theater. Although the first half felt a bit shaky and slightly boring to me, the second half redeemed it all, featuring a parade of dancers and aerialists dressed in flamboyant costumes synonymous with Rio de Janeiro's Carnival.

The ship's two new shows are just OK. The first, "Dear Future Husband," is a song-and-dance theater show with a plot that involves a couple taking their closest friends on a cruise for a combination bachelor/bachelorette party and wedding. Musical numbers befit the wedding theme and include Bruno Mars' "Marry You" and, of course, Meghan Trainor's "Dear Future Husband."

After the performance, a "reception" (read: dance party with a DJ and visits from the cast) is held in one of the ship's public areas. When I saw this show several months ago, the reception was in the Limelight Lounge. On this more recent voyage, Dr. Inks, Ph.D., served as the reception location.

The second new show is the "Lone Star Tailgate." Drawing on Texas' love for all things football, Carnival has created four indoor/outdoor "quarters" of fun to mimic the four quarters of a football game. When I sailed, the first quarter, which is all about pool deck games for kids, was held on one sea day, and the other three were held on another sea day.

The second quarter involves pool deck games where passengers have to dress up in football gear to complete team races.

During "halftime," the ship's theater singers and dancers put on a show on the pool deck, dressed in team colors to support the fictional Carnival University — the team cruisers are supposedly cheering on during the festivities.

The third and fourth quarters occur in the Summer Landing zone; passengers can rope hay bales, participate in a hot wing-eating contest at Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse and follow it up with music from a live band.

Don't miss the audience participation-style game shows like "Family Feud Live," "Deal or No Deal" and the "Love & Marriage Show." The first pits two family teams against one another to guess popular answers to survey questions; the latter tests couples to see how well they know one another, often resulting in hilarious answers.

Other entertainment during my sailing included several day and nighttime comedy acts, an absolutely phenomenal magic show (be sure to arrive at the Punchliner Comedy Club at least 30 minutes early or you won't find a seat) and "We Are One," a farewell show that focuses on togetherness.

Carnival Jubilee itineraries and pricing

Through at least April 2026, Carnival Jubilee offers two seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries out of its Galveston home port on a regular rotation. Both types of sailings begin and end in Galveston and visit Mahogany Bay in Roatan and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico with three sea days mixed in. The only difference between the two itineraries is the order in which the port calls and sea days occur.

At the time of publication, prices started from $709 per person ($101 per person per night) for an inside cabin or $919 per person ($131 per person per night) for balcony accommodations.

What to know before you sail on Carnival Jubilee

Required documents.

If you're a U.S. citizen on a cruise that starts and ends in a U.S. port, you'll need a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification to sail. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, also are acceptable.

Passports must be valid for at least six more months. For cruises from international ports, you'll need a passport. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. All this said, we recommend checking Carnival's website before sailing for up-to-date requirements.

Related: Which documents do you need for a cruise?

Carnival Jubilee passengers will automatically have $16 per person per day added to their onboard bills. Cruisers staying in suites will pay $18 per person per day. (Children younger than 2 are exempt from gratuities.) An 18% gratuity is also added to bar and cafe bills, spa treatments and the cover charge of the Chef's Table.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Carnival Wi-Fi is generally fast and reliable, and Jubilee features StarLink connectivity. However, don't be surprised if you find yourself repeatedly and automatically disconnected, which is annoying.

Packages have increased significantly in price in recent years, and each plan is only for one device. (You can log out of one and into another with the same account, but you can't connect more than one simultaneously unless you buy additional plans.)

Three package tiers are available: Social (access to most social media and airline websites and apps for $18 per day or $126 for a weeklong cruise), Value (same as Social, plus access to financial and news websites and apps for $23 per day or $161 for a week) and Premium (everything from the Social and Value packages plus Skype access and video calling for $25 per day or $175 for a week). Passengers can also choose 24 hours of Premium access for $35.

Carnival claims that its packages don't allow FaceTime, iMessage or streaming from popular apps like Netflix and Hulu. However, TPG writers have had success using all of those services with the Premium package.

Carnival Jubilee is also the first ship in the fleet to offer 5G cellphone connectivity, which means faster speeds when you connect using your cellphone's plan. But be warned: If you don't have a special plan that allows you to connect at sea without roaming, you could be looking at hefty fees when you return. Generally, it's best to keep your phone in airplane mode when you sail.

Related: 5 things to know about cruise ship Wi-Fi

Carry-on drinks policy

Passengers can carry on one bottle of wine or Champagne per person (21 years and older); this will incur a $15 corkage fee for consumption in public areas. Each person can also bring up to 12 standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic beverages like juice or soda. Alcohol-free drinks in plastic and glass bottles aren't allowed.

Related: Can I bring my own alcohol on a cruise ship?

Smoking policy

Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is allowed but only in designated outdoor areas on Deck 8 mid-ship on the starboard side. Smoking is also allowed on the starboard side of the casino, but it's for cigarettes only. All types of smoking are forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies.

Related: Cruise line smoking policies

Carnival Jubilee has self-service pressing rooms on decks 4, 5, 9, 14 and 15 with ironing boards and irons that are free to use. There are no self-service laundry facilities, though. Instead, passengers can send out their clothing for washing, pressing and dry-cleaning for a per-item fee.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry

Electrical outlets

Carnival Jubilee has standard North American 110-volt outlets in its cabins, as well as plenty of USB ports. In my balcony room, I had three standard outlets and four USB lightning ports by the vanity. There was also a USB port (non-lightning) on either side of the bed, just below the reading lamp.

The currency on Carnival Jubilee is the U.S. dollar. The ship also operates without cash. Passengers link credit cards to their onboard accounts or put up a set amount of cash to charge against, using their keycards as a means of making purchases. The only time you might want to have some bills handy is for tipping your room steward, bartenders, room service delivery people, luggage porters or shore excursion guides.

Drinking age

You must be at least 21 years old to drink alcohol on Carnival Jubilee.

Carnival Jubilee does not have a specific daytime dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

During the evenings, the official dress code is pretty laid-back. Most nights are designated "cruise casual," which means just that — khakis or jeans, polo shirts, sundresses and the like. Super casual items such as cutoff jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts are supposedly not permitted, but I saw plenty of them in the dining rooms during dinnertime on Carnival Jubilee.

Each weeklong cruise will schedule two formal nights — known as "elegant nights." If you're bound for the dining rooms, men are expected to turn up in dress slacks and a dress shirt, preferably with a sports coat or even a suit. The suggested attire for women on such nights is cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses. Passengers who wish to avoid dressing up can enjoy dinner in any of the casual eateries aboard.

Related: What to wear on a cruise – all about cruise line dress codes

Bottom line

Sure, Carnival Jubilee carries a lot of people, and it can feel crowded and cumbersome to learn your way around at first.

However, it offers new ocean- and beach-themed zones, delicious food, creative cocktails, friendly crew members, comfy cabins, outdoor thrills, Texas charm and a marquee packed with fun daily diversions and nighttime shows. You'll find it's an affordable Caribbean vacation that speaks to just about any traveler who enjoys a large-cruise-ship experience.

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Travel | Port Canaveral chalks up record month amid…

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Subscriber only, travel | port canaveral chalks up record month amid growing cruise demand.

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas arrived to Port Canaveral to home port for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Port Canaveral saw just under 800,000 cruise passengers move on and off its ships in March as part of a record year that keeps topping expectations.

That set a one-month record for the port with an average of nearly 25,600 people a day around 93 cruise ship calls. March is traditionally one of the strongest months of the year for the port with its spring break traffic.

It also marked the halfway point of the fiscal year that began in October 2023. Six months in, the port has seen 3.9 million passenger movements from 479 ship calls.

“The industry itself is very, very strong right now,” said Port CEO Capt. John Murray at the port commission meeting on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of expansion plans. The companies are starting to reorder ships again after the pandemic.”

NCL details new dining on Canaveral-bound Norwegian Aqua

That includes more ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, which has been sending its new vessels to Port Canaveral as they debut including next year’s Norwegian Aqua.

“So a lot of great things, a lot of great things, a lot of enthusiasm and I can say that the industry is 110% of what it was prior to the pandemic,” Murray said. “They are back and booming right now. So we’re fortunate to be taking advantage of that here at the port.”

Operating revenue for the year is already at $98 million, which is $3.6 million above budget. It also means the record projection of $187 million in operating revenue through the end of the fiscal year in September is likely to get surpassed as well.

Ship capacity is determined to be at 100% if each stateroom is occupied by two passengers, so ships sailing with families, for instance, will push capacity above 100% and in turn increase revenue for the port from the cruise lines as well as add to an uptick in parking charges.

Royal Caribbean to send massive Utopia of the Seas to Port Canaveral

One of the big drivers has been the addition of a second Oasis-class vessel by Royal Caribbean so that the port hosts two of the largest cruise ships in the world.

Allure of the Seas joined Wonder of the Seas last fall to begin short three- and four-night sailings to the Bahamas, and will continue that until the debut of Royal’s new Utopia of the Seas this summer. Since arriving, it has added more than 650,000 passenger movements to the port’s growing tally.

The port has been home port to 13 ships from Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and MSC Cruises, and is set to welcome its first ships from both Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises this fall.

Port Canaveral plots timeline to take over marina for new cruise terminal

Right now it has six cruise terminals, but is beginning the work to eventually build a seventh later this decade. During an interview earlier in April at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach, Murray said the key to growth for the port will be a shift in how the port gives access to each terminal, such as how it plans to operate its seventh terminal.

“It’s going to be multiuser. It’s not going to be a single-use facility. That’s going to be how our concept of operations would be going forward,” Murray said. “The only way you’re going to get good utilization of a terminal is if you can put multiple brands in there and not have it dedicated to just one user.”

That’s how it runs several of its terminals now including Disney Cruise Line at Cruise Terminal 8 and Carnival Cruise Line at its newest terminal, Cruise Terminal 3.

“If they’ve got seven days a week at one terminal and they’re only using three, maybe four days, that’s not high utilization,” Murray said. “Yet, it’s a facility that we’ve got blocked out that we’re not getting any benefit from it for the investment we’ve made.”

He notes Cruise Terminal 10, which gets used by three brands, gets used six days a week.

Murray said with newer and bigger ships on order from all the major lines, the demand is just going to continue to spike for parking space at Florida’s big three ports.

“I think the point now for all of the major brands is finding somewhere to operate,” Murray said. “Because there’s only Miami, [and] we all know how full Miami is; Everglades, [which has] limited capacity or opportunity for growth; and we have more land, but you know, it’s not all going to get committed to the cruise industry.”

“So the question is, how do we allow more opportunities for the cruise lines to operate? This is one — get high utilization out of the terminal.”

More in Travel

From the big shows aboard some of cruising’s biggest ships to the quiet hush of charming Vero Beach. From dancing on the sands with Lionel Richie and Nile Rodgers in the Bahamas to driving into mud puddles off road in Florida’s “outback.” The October issue of “Explore Florida & the Caribbean” offers something for every traveler, from adventurers to deckchair readers. We’ll stand in the shadow of giant elephants and giraffes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, explore the $1 billion new old Pier Sixty-Six resort in Fort Lauderdale and swim with manatees in Crystal River.

The new issue of Explore Florida & the Caribbean takes you places

The immersive experience inside the Wizard of Oz Museum puts guests inside scenes from the fantasy novels in Cape Canaveral. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Things To Do | Central Florida’s Wizard of Oz Museum has ruby slippers, real Dorothy dress

Celebrity Cruises made its first trip to sister cruise line Royal Caribbean's private Bahamas island CocoCay this week.

Travel | Celebrity Cruises joins the party at private Bahamas island CocoCay

The St. Johns River Festival of the Arts returns to downtown Sanford April 27-28 with nearly 140 artists showing paintings, photography, sculptures, jewelry and more. (Courtesy Wellons Communications)

Things To Do | St. Johns River Festival of the Arts brings nearly 140 artists to Sanford this weekend

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COMMENTS

Carnival Paradise Cruise Ship Review
Carnival Paradise Ship Reviews: Read hundreds of Carnival Paradise cruise reviews. Find great deals, tips and tricks on Cruise Critic to help plan your cruise.
Carnival Paradise Cruise Reviews
1 - 10 of 990 Carnival Paradise Cruise Reviews. Not worth it. Review for a Bahamas Cruise on Carnival Paradise. Waterbuffalo26. 2-5 Cruises • Age 30s. Ship smelled like cigarettes and pot. The ...
Carnival Paradise Reviews from Travelers
Ship: Carnival Paradise. Although it was a fairly short 5 day cruise, overall, a very good cruise. Good food, excellent service and good time away. We renewed a friendship with Catherine, a dining room server whom we first met in October/2022 on the Carnival Panorama out of Long Beach, California. A delightful young lady who sang for us on 2 ...
Carnival Paradise
Carnival Paradise. 119 reviews. 1-800-764-7419 Website. All photos (1,403) Full view. Traveler ( 315) Common Areas ( 787) Dining and Bars ( 270) Itineraries for this ship.
Carnival Paradise Passenger Reviews
Read passenger reviews for Carnival Paradise. Cruise to the Bahamas. Apr 15th, 2024. Although it was a fairly short 5 day cruise, overall, a very good cruise.
Carnival Paradise Cruise Review by gpatmacmac
Carnival Paradise Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western Share. Tweet. gpatmacmac . Contributor Level: Purser Cruises: 4-6 cruises. Review: 1. Helpful Vote: 1. Overall rating: 4 out of 5. Verified Review. 5 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Sail date: April 20, 2024
Carnival Paradise
Carnival Paradise. 111 reviews. All photos (1,403) Traveller ( 315) Common Areas ( 787) Dining and Bars ( 270) Itineraries for this ship. Itinerary. 4 Night Cruise to the Caribbean.
Carnival Paradise Reviews, Ship Details & Photos
Carnival Paradise might have debuted in 1998, but one of Carnival's oldest ships has undergone some enhancements over the years with the latest being a month-long dry dock in 2018.Carnival Paradise is now equipped with the latest Funship 2.0 enhancements, including new cabins and venue upgrades. This large ship now offers even more activities to choose from, like the Twister waterslide, mini ...
Carnival Paradise Cruise Ship Review
Here is my review of the Carnival Paradise 3/26. My wife and I have cruised 36 times over 40 years starting with the Home Line in the 70s. We have seen many changes to cruising many good, many bad ...
Carnival Paradise
Find a Cruise. Carnival Paradise features a fun-packed vacation with fresh new updates both indoors and out, so you can enjoy a slice of cruise ship paradise at sea. See photos, onboard activities, staterooms, deck plans, and itinerary options. Book your Carnival Paradise cruise today!
Review of Carnival Paradise May 7-12, 2022
The suite was basically a balcony cabin on deck 12 with a little more space, priority boarding and disembarkation, and some cookies. Our cruise was the May 7 th Paradise 5 day sailing out of Tampa which visited Roatan and Cozumel. Normally I prefer a longer sailing but the girls have job responsibilities which limit time away.
Carnival Paradise Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review
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 ...
Carnival Paradise
To book call: 800-414-1531Website: www.cruisesit.comThis is a full virtual cruise of the Carnival Paradise cruise ship.Carnival Paradise is part of the Fanta...
Carnival Paradise
Carnival Paradise - Deck Plans, Reviews & Pictures - Tripadvisor. Carnival Paradise. 119 reviews. All photos (1,403) Traveller ( 315) Common Areas ( 787) Dining and Bars ( 270) Itineraries for this ship. Itinerary.
Carnival Paradise Cruise Review by rayash
Overall rating: 4.3 out of 5. Verified Review. 4 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Sail date: December 07, 2023. Ship: Carnival Paradise. Cabin type: Inside. Cabin number: U135. Traveled as: Family (older children)
Carnival Paradise
Carnival Paradise Cruise Ship Review Carnival Paradise, sailing into the sunset. Photo courtesy of Carnival. Classic Carnival, the 70,367-ton, 2,048-passenger Carnival Paradise debuted nearly 15 years ago as the final sister-ship in an eight-ship series with risqué names. Today, Carnival Paradise continues to provide a party-at-sea experience ...
Carnival Paradise: March 2023 Review : r/Cruise
Carnival Paradise: March 2023 Review. I just got off the Carnival Paradise yesterday. This was my first cruise since 2016. I've done pretty much all the main lines Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL and Princess. Also, my first one as a parent of a five year old. Overall, we had a great time.
Carnival Paradise Reviews
Age and Pregnancy Restrictions. Minimum age to sail: Infants must be at least 6 months old to be eligible to travel. Pregnancy Restrictions: Carnival will not accept passengers who will have completed more than 24 weeks of pregnancy by disembarkation. Traveling with minors: Guests under the age of 21 years must be accompanied by a relative or guardian of 25 years of age or older.
Carnival Paradise cabins and suites
The Carnival cruise ship Paradise has a total of 32 wheelchair-accessible cabins (for disabled passengers) and no Spa cabins (with exclusive access to Spa Carnival facilities). The number of all cabin categories is 25. Connecting rooms ("family cabins") are in the following grades: 2 beds (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 6E, 8B, 8C), and 2-3 beds (6B, 6C, 6D).
Carnival Ship Rescues 27 People Adrift at Sea in the Caribbean
Carnival Paradise is homeported from Tampa year-round, offering 4-, 5-, and 6-night Western Caribbean and Bahamas sailings. Depending on departure date and cruise length, the ship visits ports of ...
Carnival Paradise Cruise Review by djdarzvle
Verified Review. 5 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Sail date: May 30, 2022. Ship: Carnival Paradise. Cabin number: U106. Traveled as: Family (older children) Reviewed: 1 year ago. 3 out of 5. See the positive/negative summary.
Carnival Paradise Rescues 27 People Adrift At Sea
On Sunday, April 21, around 2:30 pm local time, Carnival Cruise Line's Paradise rescued 27 Cuban nationals who were adrift at sea and signaling for assistance. Carnival Paradise's bridge team spotted the vessel while en route from Tampa to Roatan, Honduras, and turned the ship around to rescue them.
Carnival Jubilee ship review: A complete cruise guide
When Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Jubilee debuted in December 2023, it became the third ship in the line's Excel Class, closely mimicking sister ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.Although there are more similarities than differences among the three, Carnival has still found a way to make Carnival Jubilee innovative and fun by tweaking a few of the offerings.
Carnival Paradise Cruise Review by Enyo1991
4 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Sail date: March 14, 2024. Ship: Carnival Paradise. Cabin type: Suite. Cabin number: U75. Traveled as: Family (young children) Reviewed: 1 month ago. This was our first cruise and we really enjoyed it. It was relaxing and we were able to drop our kids off at camp ocean which two of our three loved.
Port Canaveral chalks up record month amid growing cruise demand
Port Canaveral saw just under 800,000 cruise passengers move on and off its ships in March as part of a record year that keeps topping expectations. That set a one-month record for the port with ...
Last Minute Carnival Glory Cruise Deals
Find last minute Carnival Glory cruise deals on Cruise Critic. Find discount and big savings on Carnival Glory last minute cruises to destinations all over the world. Choose from a wide variety of ...
Carnival Paradise Cruise Review by debbiejoe
Carnival Paradise Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western Share. Tweet. debbiejoe . Contributor Level: Second Mate 142 Days Till Next Cruise Cruises: 7+ cruises. Reviews: 4. Helpful Votes: 42. Overall rating: 5 out of 5. 5 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Sail date: October 22, 2022
Carnival Paradise Cruise Review by carebear1972
Overall rating: 3.4 out of 5. Verified Review. 5 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Sail date: June 13, 2022. Ship: Carnival Paradise. Cabin number: M299. Traveled as: Family (older children) Reviewed: 1 year ago.

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INSIDE THIS SHIP

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ONBOARD ACTIVITIES

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Review of Carnival Paradise May 7-12, 2022

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