Carnival Paradise

The 1998-built Carnival Paradise cruise ship is the eighth and final vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s Fantasy-class, following sisterships Fantasy (the first in the series, built in 1990), Elation, Imagination, Inspiration, and the “balcony ships” Fascination, Sensation, and Ecstasy.

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

History - Construction and Ownership

Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) is a US-based cruise company, a trademarked brand, and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (the shipowner). CCL was established in 1972 by Ted Arison (1924–1999), co-founder of Norwegian Cruise Line.

CCL operates the Corporation’s largest fleet by number of vessels and gross tonnage (GT). In 2023, the brand accounted for approximately 9% of global cruise industry revenue and 19% of passenger volume. As of 2024, Carnival Corporation held a ~51% share in the US$64+ billion cruise market.

The 2,200-passenger Carnival Paradise is one of the fleet’s oldest ships, built at a cost of USD 300 million. She was also the industry’s first and only all-non-smoking cruise ship at the time of launch.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Paradise staterooms total 1,061 in 25 categories, including 78 Suites, 98 Balcony, 526 Oceanview, and 359 Interior cabins. Most cabins are sized between 170–185 ft² (16–17 m²). There are 32 ADA-compliant wheelchair-accessible staterooms. The largest accommodations are the Grand Vista Suites at 350 ft² (33 m²), with a 60 ft² (6 m²) private terrace and capacity for up to five guests. These suites feature large sitting areas, whirlpool bathtubs, separate showers, and VIP amenities.

The ship has 14 decks, 11 of which are accessible to passengers, with 6 housing staterooms.

During the 2018 refurbishment, 38 new cabins were added (2 Grand Vista Suites, 22 Junior Suites, 2 Scenic Oceanview, and 12 Interior cabins). Balconies were added to 98 existing staterooms, converting them into 230 ft² (21 m²) balcony cabins. Total staterooms increased from 1,026 to 1,064, raising passenger capacity from 2,052 to 2,128 (max from 2,462 to 2,554).

Shipboard Dining Options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Paradise has two main dining rooms, Destiny and Elation. Both offer set-time dinners (6:00 PM and 8:15 PM), along with Carnival’s “Your Time” open seating (available 5:45–9:30 PM). Seating for “Your Time” is first-come, first-served—early arrival is recommended for smaller tables. Menus include appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and desserts. Vegetarian options are always available. Be aware that some vegetable soups may have chicken stock bases. Low-calorie desserts, like the sugar-free orange cake, are marked with the “Spa Carnival” symbol.

The Paris Café on Lido Deck is a scenic, cafeteria-style venue. At night, it transforms into the Seaview Bistro, offering a more upscale casual dining experience with selections from the main dining room menus.

There is no specialty restaurant or Supper Club onboard. However, the popular Chef’s Table experience is available. This exclusive dinner includes a multicourse meal, a private cocktail reception, and a behind-the-scenes galley tour. It is held in a non-traditional venue like the library or galley and can be booked onboard for USD 75 per person.

Full list of Carnival Paradise dining venues and bars:

• Elation Dining Room (650-seat forward MDR with fixed or “Your Time” dining; themed Seuss At Sea breakfast for $5)
• Destiny Dining Room (658-seat aft MDR with fixed seating)
• Paris Lido Buffet (722-seat self-service restaurant; evening bistro service)
• Sushi Bar (complimentary)
• BlueIguana Cantina (complimentary poolside Mexican eatery)
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar
• Guy’s Burger Joint (complimentary poolside burgers and fries)

Shipboard Entertainment Options - Fun and Sport

Though built in 1998, Carnival Paradise feels modern thanks to extensive refurbishments. She features dedicated teen and tween clubs, an adults-only Serenity sundeck on the aft deck, and Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, including additional waterslides and a redesigned pool area.

The main entertainment venue is the 1,300-seat Normandie Lounge, spanning two decks with stadium seating and bar stools on the balcony. It hosts two nightly production shows, illusionists, comedians, guest talent shows, and game shows like the Gender Showdown. Daytime activities include dance classes, trivia, and bingo.

The Queen Mary Lounge serves as the secondary entertainment venue, featuring karaoke, “R-rated” comedy shows, and art auctions.

The Fitness Center is complimentary, with additional yoga classes available for a small fee. The top deck includes a jogging track—eight laps equals one mile. Afternoon live music is a regular feature at the main pool. The Serenity adults-only area offers 120 padded loungers and two whirlpools for relaxation.

Full list of lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues:

• Paradise Atrium Plaza (7-deck high, midship area served by Plaza Lobby Bar)
• Internet Cafe (24-hour computer access)
• Normandie Theatre (1,300-seat main show lounge, 2 levels)
• Paradise Boulevard Promenade and Bar (230-seat)
• Cafe Il De France (58-seat specialty coffee bar)
• Leonardo Lounge and Bar (109-seat; karaoke and dancing)
• Rex Disco and Nightclub (230-seat dance club)
• Rotterdam Bar (92-seat cigar and piano bar)
• Cherry On Top (candy and gift shop)
• Alchemy Bar (cocktail lounge with mixologists)
• RedFrog Rum Bar (frozen drinks and draft beers)
• Queen Mary Lounge and Bar (540-seat Punchliner Comedy Club and brunch venue)
• Art Gallery; Pixels Photo Gallery; Formalities Shop; Fun Shops (including Guess Store, Pandora Store)
• Circle C (club for younger kids with movies and games)
• Video Arcade (24-hour); Club O2 (teen club with karaoke and movies)
• Majestic Casino (450-seat, served by United States Bar)
• Serenity adults-only sundeck (loungers, hammocks, two whirlpools)
• Lido Pool and Aft Pool areas; WaterWorks Aqua Park with 4-deck Twister slide and two racing slides
• Camp Ocean (ages 2–11, 200+ themed activities)
• Spa Carnival (with relaxation areas, saunas, massage rooms, beauty salon, gym, aerobics studio)
• Sports areas include a basketball/volleyball court, jogging track, table tennis, mini-golf, bocce court, and shuffleboard

Itineraries

Carnival Paradise sails on short Western Caribbean roundtrips (4- and 5-day) from her homeport in Tampa, Florida, visiting ports like Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

• The ship’s Cuba cruises began on June 29, 2017, offering 4-day roundtrips to Havana and 5-day itineraries including Havana and Key West, all with overnight stays in Havana.
• Other itineraries included 4-day cruises to Cozumel, and 5-day voyages to Cozumel, Roatan/Mahogany Bay, Key West, or Grand Cayman. Longer itineraries (up to 8 days) featured Havana and partial Panama Canal transits.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carnival Paradise was out of service for two years (March 2020–2022). Her operations resumed on March 12, 2022, with sailings from Tampa to the Western Caribbean.

The vessel was constructed by STX Finland (formerly Kvaerner Masa-Yards) at the Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, under yard/hull number 494. It has a gross tonnage of 71,925 GT, a deadweight of 6,894 tons, and a maximum draft of 8 meters (26 feet). The propulsion system is powered by Wartsila marine diesel engines (models 12ZAV40S and 12V38), delivering a total power output of 47.52 MW.

The Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade was completed in 2015. Paradise was Carnival’s—and the world’s—first-ever completely non-smoking passenger ship (until 2003). Uniquely, she was even constructed by non-smoking personnel. "No Smoking" signage was displayed beneath her name and on both sides of the hull. The ship was supported by anti-smoking and cancer prevention groups. However, due to lower revenue from non-smoking guests (who tended to drink and gamble less), Carnival removed the “No Smoking” branding and converted Paradise into a standard Fun Ship in December 2003. She remains popular among younger cruisers for her affordable, casual, and shorter voyages.

MS Paradise is also recognized as an environmentally conscious vessel, featuring a revolutionary dry-cleaning system that significantly reduces hazardous chemical runoff, and a diesel-electric "enviro-engine" propulsion system. As one of Carnival's oldest Fantasy-class ships, her sisterships include Ecstasy, Elation, Fantasy, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, and Sensation. The ship was christened by Paula Ann Zahn, an American journalist and former anchor at ABC, CBS, Fox, and CNN.

Previously, the ship operated Baja California cruises out of Los Angeles (visiting Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico). At the end of 2011, she was repositioned through the Panama Canal to Florida, replacing the Inspiration. Paradise received the "Fun Ship 2.0" upgrades in 2015, which introduced new venues, bars, lounges, dining options, and entertainment, solidifying her status as one of Carnival's best-value Fun Ships.

Due to scheduled drydock refurbishment projects, in September 2020, Carnival canceled all planned 2020 and Q1 2021 itineraries for four ships:

• Carnival Magic sailings from Miami, Florida were canceled from November 7, 2020, through March 13, 2021.
• Carnival Paradise sailings (25 total) from Tampa, Florida were canceled from November 2, 2020, through March 19, 2021.
• Carnival Valor itineraries from New Orleans were canceled from November 2, 2020, through April 29, 2021, including two transatlantic voyages—from New Orleans (January 25) and from Barcelona (February 26).
• Carnival Spirit sailings from Brisbane, Australia were canceled from December 6, 2020, through May 16, 2021 (first departure scheduled for June 12—repositioning from Singapore to Brisbane).

Carnival Paradise refurbishments review

Deckplan changes following the ship’s 2018 drydock refurbishment (February 22–March 25 in Freeport, Bahamas) included:

• 38 new cabins added: 2 Grand Vista Suites, 22 Junior Suites, 2 Scenic Oceanview, and 12 Interior cabins. Balconies were added to 98 cabins on decks 5 (Main), 6 (Upper), and 7 (Empress), raising the passenger capacity from 2,052 (max 2,606) to 2,128 (max 2,554).
• (Lido Deck 10) Guy’s Burger Joint — complimentary poolside venue for handcrafted burgers and fries.
• (Lido Deck 10) BlueIguana Cantina — complimentary Mexican eatery offering burritos and tacos with a salsa bar. Also added was BlueIguana Tequila Bar — an outdoor venue for frozen drinks and beers.
• (Promenade Deck 9) Alchemy Bar — Carnival’s signature cocktail lounge with expert mixologists. RedFrog Rum Bar — serving rum-based drinks and ThirstyFrog Red draft beer — was also added.
• (Promenade Deck 9) Cherry On Top — a candy store also selling Carnival-branded gifts and apparel.
• (Verandah Deck 11) Camp Carnival was redesigned as Camp Ocean — a kids’ facility (ages 2–11) with ocean-themed activities, science, arts, and crafts. Also added aft was Carnival WaterWorks — a mini aqua park with a Splash Zone, two 82-ft racing slides, and a 300-ft Twister Waterslide.
• (Deck 14) The mini-golf course was relocated and redesigned with a bocce court addition.
• Retail shops were redesigned with new boutiques (Guess Store, Pandora). The Photo Gallery was upgraded to a digital Pixels platform.

Technical enhancements included the addition of shore power capabilities. Routine maintenance included hull coating, and crew areas were also renovated.

Drydock 2021

In September–October 2021, Carnival Paradise was drydocked at Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain for routine maintenance, technical upgrades, and repainting in Carnival’s new livery.

Drydock 2023

The ship’s most recent drydock was from October 10–28, 2023, at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport. This two-week project included routine maintenance and classification work, along with renovations to passenger cabins and public spaces. Updates included:

• Renovation of the Serenity Deck (adults-only) with a new central Jacuzzi/hot tub
• Expansion of the Casino
• Refurbishment of the Piano Bar
• Renovation of main public areas
• Replacement of windows, tiling, and carpets in all passenger staterooms

Cuba cruise itineraries 2017

In 2017, Carnival Paradise became the first Carnival ship to visit Cuba, offering roundtrip itineraries from Tampa, Florida.

• Itineraries (4- and 5-night) began in June 2017 and included overnight stays in Havana.
• The first cruise to Cuba departed on June 29, 2017.
• 4-night Cuba-only cruise departure dates in 2017: June 29, July 13, August 24, September 7, 21, October 5, 19; and in 2018: May 3.
• 5-night itineraries in 2017: August 14, 28; September 25; October 9 — including stops in either Key West or Cozumel.
• Carnival’s Cuba cruise packages required a valid passport.
• Starting prices: USD 450 pp (4-day) and USD 550 pp (5-day).

New Cuba itineraries were added in late August 2017 for the 2018 season:

• 5-day cruises to Havana and Cozumel or Key West (departing February 17, July 2, September 5)
• 6-day cruise to Havana and Grand Cayman (departing August 26)
• 8-day cruise to Havana, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel (departing August 18)
• All featured overnight stays in Havana.

Itinerary change 2017

Due to a technical issue affecting the ship’s maximum cruising speed, Carnival Paradise adjusted its itinerary for several departures from Tampa, Florida in 2017 — March 13, 27; April 10, 24; May 8, 22; and June 5.

Grand Cayman was replaced with ports in Mexico — Costa Maya and Cozumel. The Cozumel stay was extended by five hours. Passengers received a USD 25 per person onboard credit as compensation.

Revised itinerary with port times:

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