I've been reading these reviews, and I'm surprised to find that so many are negative. I totally disagree! I loved our stay on the Carnival Paradise!
Our embarkation went very quickly and smoothly. It's worth it to fill out the FunPass information in advance. Our cabin was very clean (we had one with a window. It got a little crowded when the pull-down bed was in use, but otherwise it was spacious. Since we got on the ship only an hour before sailing due to flight delays, the first thing we did was have dinner. Our waiter was very friendly and efficient -- she forgot my coffee, but I forget things, too. A lot of people have complained about the food --I thought it was very good, at least in the dining room. The chocolate melting cake is to die for. My daughter and I shared one, and we were fighting each other for the premium bites.
I thought the ship was very classy, even though it's a little older than most of the fleet. One of my favorite things were the little window benches -- what a great place to sit and read. The coffee shop was wonderful -- what a nice place to meet in the morning. My absolute favorite place was the Serenity deck. The lounge chairs were so comfortable, and since the weather was a little chilly, there weren't a lot of people out there. I love the ocean so much that I sat out there in long pants and a jacket. The atrium of the ship is really beautiful.