What to expect on the Carnival Cruise ship Paradise

What You Can Expect During Our
Redlands Alumni & Friends Cruise
Aboard the Carnival Cruise Ship Paradise

Everything you always wanted to know about Paradise
(*But were afraid to ask)

CARNIVAL PARADISE - BASIC STATS

70,367 tons
Passengers: 2,052
855 feet in length
103 feet wide
Decks: 9
Crew: 920
Elevators: 14
Registry: Panama
Entered service: 1998

Carnival Paradise is a majestic liner for all ages.
Aboard the six-story, glass domed vessel, there are lounging and entertainment options for the entire family.

The Paradise is Rated Super for People Who Want:
Non-stop entertainment, lively casinos, extensive deck space for sunning, large facilities for fitness/spa and children's activities, large cabins, good food, and very informal service. Especially recommended for families, singles in groups and first time cruisers.

Onboard Experience:
Identical in all but décor, Carnival Paradise is the eighth and last of the Fantasy-class sister ships (Fantasy, Fascination, Ecstasy, Inspiration, Imagination, Sensation & Elation).

These ships always seem to have something of interest going on, and thus are ideal for the up-and-at-'em style cruiser. Carrying 2,052 passengers, the ships are big enough to provide diverse entertainment, but tend to be deployed to the 3 and 4-day market in most cases. They have ample deck space for those whose idea of being entertained is basking in a warm sunshine glow, and separate facilities for passengers of all ages.

Having been launched in 1998, Carnival Paradise is not so full of neon, chrome and mirrors as her younger sister ships. But it's there if you know where to look, like at the Leonardo's Dance Club with her brass barstools and neon-rimmed mirrors and ceiling panels.

All of the public rooms recently received new sound and light systems to add a touch of excitement. Flat-screen televisions have been added to many lounges to keep up with sports and other events. The ship now has a specialty coffee bar, new art and photo galleries and purpose-built conference facilities.

Paradise now sails regular three and four-day journeys to the Mexican Riviera, departing from the port of Long Beach. If you are only familiar with the San Pedro port facilities, exploring the Long Beach port is highly recommended. On Friday, before boarding Paradise for the cruise, you could spend the day on the original Queen Mary I which is now one of the best maritime museums in the world.

Ideal as it is for the sort of person who likes to have loads of activities planned, Paradise also offers lots of out-of-the-way places to read or just contemplate the sea.

Decor:
Every Carnival ship, designed by fanciful designer Joe Farcus, has a unifying theme for the decor.

The unifying idea behind Paradise's interior decor is ships of the world - from the famous and infamous to the mythical and mysterious. You'll find the Rex Dance Club with its rotating mirror balls and ceiling mounted lava lamps, the Rotterdam Bar, the Normandie Theater and the Cafe Ile de France.

Public Rooms:
The ship consist of 9 decks with most of the public rooms concentrated on Atlantic, Promenade and Lido decks (decks 5, 6 and 7). The cabins are mostly concentrated on decks one through four; Riviera, Main, Upper (which is actually a lower deck 3) and Empress decks.

The ship's centerpiece is the seven-deck high Grand Atrium, bathed bronze and woods for a nautical touch, with jade green eggs sitting atop redwood pillars. You can stroll on the "Carnival Boulevard," or plop down into a soft banquette to ogle passers-by. The two-level, 1300-seat Normandie Theater at the front of the promenade presents live production shows, comedians, magicians, and passenger talent shows, with exemplary sight lines and good seating throughout.

The ship's most fanciful decor is in such entertainment venues as the popular America Piano bar, featuring an enormous circular piano which doubles as a bar for those who like to sing along. You'll also find a vibrant disco and cabaret lounge along the boulevard.

Upgrades in 2008 involved spiffing up the pool area, staterooms and some public rooms. These included a snazzy new pool area with teak decking, new umbrellas, a tile "beach" for the pool water to lap against and a new thatched roof for the hot tub. The kids will rave about "Carnival waterworks," the new water park featuring a 3-story tall and 300 foot long "Twister Water Slide." Another slide is three side-by-side tubes 82 feet long. This is all part of a waterpark with all kinds of sprays and other devices to keep both kiddies and adults cool and fresh. There's also a new nine-hole miniature golf course.

As if that isn't enough for the kids, "Camp Carnival" received a makeover, and the ship has new interconnecting staterooms for families.

The adults haven't been left out; there is a new "adults-only" area called "Serenity" with a deck of solid teak panels for soft cushioned loungers in sun or shady areas. Here, you will find 2 luxurious hot tubs, numerous chairs and private shade umbrellas, and table-side bellhop service.

New enhancements indoors include a coffee cafe with specialty coffees (for a price) but free pastries. There is also a new art & photo gallery and the atrium bar. New sound and lighting systems have been installed in every public room, and the ship now has flat screen televisions in several places to keep up with sports and other vital information.

The staterooms have received upgrades with new fabrics and finishings, and flat panel televisions for a more updated look and the important added space.

Other public areas include the Galleria shopping mall, the Virtual World arcade, and the ship's photo gallery. Cafe Ile de France Internet offers access for 75 cents per minute; for those who plan to spend more time on the computer, there are 100 minute packages available for $50 (50 cents per minute) and 250 minute packages for $100 (40 cents per minute).

Cuisine:
From the best pizza afloat (available 24 hours per day) to haute cuisine in the main dining room, Carnival really delivers on the food front!

Restaurants: Total Choice Dining provides for four dinner seatings in the main dining rooms, alternative Bistro dining every evening, and an increased number of service staff. Passengers are assigned a table for dinner in one of the two main dining rooms -- The Elation Dining Room on Atlantic Deck, mid-ship, or the Destiny Dining Room on Atlantic Deck, aft -- at one of four seatings; 5:45 p.m. or 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. The Destiny and Elation dining rooms offer high-end dining. The meals are multi-course, and options are available for guests with special dietary needs. There are very few tables for two in either of the two main dining rooms; expect to dine with four, six, or eight fellow voyagers. Both dining rooms are named after future Carnival ships that at the time were only a part of the founder's "imagination."
	You typically have a choice of six starters, a couple of salads, and six or seven main courses (e.g. pan-fried fillet of red snapper, sweet and sour shrimp, rack of New Zealand lamb and Beef Wellington). The menu also includes Spa Carnival selections for those trying to reduce their intake of calories, sodium, cholesterol, fat, or meat.
Additionally, the poolside Lido eateries are converted into Seaview Bistros between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. each evening, offering buffet dinner with no reservations or advance notice required. The informal Paris (T-shirts and shorts are OK) Restaurant on the Lido Deck offers both inside and poolside seating. All meals here are served buffet style, with open seating for all three meals. The Paris buffet offers indoor/outdoor open seating. At night, the restaurant is converted into the Seaview Bistro. Dinners continue to be served buffet-style. A variety of fish, meat, and vegetable dishes are on the menu. Other alternative eating options include a 24-hour pizzeria, a complimentary sushi bar and 24 hour room service, a coffee bar in the atrium and New York-style deli in the Lido restaurant.

Service:
Don't expect formality.

Indeed, expect wacky dances after dessert - and then to come back to your cabin to find that your cabin steward, cutup that he or she is, has left a towel folded to resemble a dog on your bed. The hi-jinx never stop!

Tipping:
Carnival automatically adds $10.00 per person per day in gratuities to your Sail & Sign card unless you're under two years old, and if you're reading this, you're probably not.

This includes $3.60 for the stateroom steward; $5.50 for the Dining Room team, and $.90 for service in the alternative dining rooms. Visit the purser's desk during the cruise to raise or lower this amount.

You may also prepay gratuities for all service personnel at a rate of $10.00 per person per day. On Cruises-to-Nowhere, gratuities of $10 per person per day must be prepaid.

A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to all beverage tabs. Tip the maitre d', room service, spa, casino and other staff as you deem fitting.

Entertainment: The prime entertainment venue is the 1,300 seat Normandie Theater		Karaoke draws big crowds to the Rex Dance Club.		During the evening, adults can escape to the Carnival Paradise Majestic Casino. If you're feeling lucky, you can try you hand at blackjack, roulette, craps, slots and much more.
	The Queen Mary Lounge offers a variety of dance-music combos from pop standards to even folk and country musicians.		A variety of dance music is spinning nightly in the Leonardo Disco. Regardless of what sort of music you like most, you're pretty much assured of hearing it.

By day, there are bingo and Trivial Pursuit contests, not to mention such highbrow events poolside as the men's hairy chest contest. Might one of our classmates win???

Cabins:
Because they were built just before the shift toward lots of verandahs, just the 26 demi-suites (250 square feet) and 28 full suites (400 square feet) have balconies.

However, during 2008 all of the staterooms in the class of smaller Carnival ships received a facelift including new flatscreen televisions, for example, a subtle change but one that lends a significantly different feel to the room while also adding a little extra space - which never hurts.

The cabins are among the largest in the cruise industry: inside measure 185 sq. ft, outside 190 sq. feet. Even in the minimum category inside or outside stateroom you'll still enjoy ample space. Cabins for four and five are understandably popular with families and get booked fast.

Oceanview staterooms and suites offer a mini bar, bathrobes, and fairly large bathrooms with a shower (with wand) and medicine cabinet. There are also 26 mini-suites (226sq.q. feet plus 36 square foot private veranda) and 28 suites measuring 350 sq. feet with 71 sq. foot balconies.

Fitness/Spa:
With no fewer than 12,000 sq. ft. devoted to fitness and spa facilities, these ships are a dream come true for those who like to keep in shape during their cruise.

The "Evolutions of Fun" upgrades in 2008 added more elegance and amenities.

The gyms have a private trainer and 35 state-of-the-art exercise machines. There's a day-long schedule of aerobics, as well as stretching, yoga, and Pilates classes (usually around $10 each), as well as body composition analysis and personal training sessions, $75 for 60 minutes. There's a full jogging track and a volleyball court. Women who want to sunbathe topless will find secluded areas in which to do so.

Those who prefer to skip shore excursions and snorkel on their own can rent equipment for $26 for three days.

Steiner's of London operates the ship's spa, which offers lots of different kinds of massage.

Kids:
If you want to, bring them along!

Carnival's celebrated Camp Carnival program offers a full schedule of supervised activities, from finger painting and singalongs for younger children to photography workshops, late-night movies, and pool parties for their older siblings. The ship's 2,400-square foot "Children's World" play areas are stocked with a computer lab, a climbing maze, an activity wall, and an assortment of toys, games and puzzles. When the kids are wanting some independence, parents can send them to one of the two teen-friendly "clubs," where they can enjoy late night movies, games, food, karaoke and dance parties! Circle "C" is for ages 12-14, and is highly monitored to ensure the saftey of your precious cruisers. Club O2 is for ages 15-17, and is moderately monitored to ensure the safety and budding independence of your teen cruisers.

The 2008 upgrade which included the nine-hole miniature golf course as well as a waterpark that is better than the larger Carnival ships. The Putt-Putt Golf Course will give you a chance to try your hand at golf on the gloriously lit sun deck. You can enjoy 9 intense holes of putt-putt, while making lasting memories in a breath-taking atmosphere. If you want to catch some sun and have a blast with people of all ages, you should head to the 3-story Carnival Paradise Twist & Shout water park. Here, the family can enjoy riding a twisty, turny water slide and a refreshing swim in Carnival Paradise's luxurious pool. The kids will love these supervised diversions, giving you plenty of time to relax by the pool.

Attire: Saturday is the "elegant" dinner night, a chance to dress up a bit. Most men opt to wear a dark suit.
	By day, nearly everyone wears shorts, T-shirt, sneakers/sandals, bathing suit, and a hat.