We don't take many family vacations. Before I booked our cruise, I read these reviews and researched the port (Tampa) and destination (Cozumel) to make sure that we made the best of our time and money. While I can't say we regret the decision, the best time we had was off the ship.

Of course everyone values different aspects of vacations differently, depending on age, interests and expectations. I think Paradise would be best suited for adults who aren't picky about details like decor and entertainment quality. If you like to gamble, drink, party, relax in the adult only areas, or eat lots of food this might be the ship for you. I didn't read many reviews of the Carnival Paradise from the perspective of a family with kids who want to spend a lot of quality time together, so I thought I'd share our experience.

Here's our family's pro's and cons: Read more