Carnival Paradise Review

Great time on the Paradise

Review for the Mexican Riviera Cruise on Carnival Paradise
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evilelf
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Mar 2011
Cabin: Interior
Traveled with children

This was my 12th cruise, my 9th with Carnival, and my first time on the Paradise. 2 adults (in our 50's), 2 children (10 & 11) and my wife's service dog Duncan. Our previous cruise was last year on the Carnival Splendor (no, not during the fire), which was our favorite ship so far. I will make a few comparisons to the Splendor in the review.We met our friends at the port at 11:45. They had flown down the day before from Washington. Since we had our service dog with us, embarkation was quick and easy, as we were handled through Special Services, and we were on the ship in about 20 minutes.Being a 3 day cruise, we didn't expect it to be relaxing, and we were right. Always something to do on the ship. We first checked with Guest Services as to the location of Duncan's litter box (it was in a great location, roped off and out of the way on the Lido Deck). We then went down to our cabin on the Main deck. It was still a bit early, but we went to the room to drop off Duncan's stuff which we had to carry on. Immediately met our room steward Roy, who was fantastic. He said he would lock the door as soon as the cabin was vacuumed to protect our stuff. After the first meeting, he always called us by name. This was the last cruise of his 6 month contract, and after it he was flying home to his family in Indonesia for a 2 month vacation.Then up to the buffet. Food was very good. We preferred the additional lunch areas on the Carnival Splendor (Tandoori area, Burrito bar...), but the variety was still great. Everything was clean, the service was friendly and everyone was smiling.The cabins on the Fantasy class ships, including the Paradise, have plenty of storage space, and are roomy for 2 people. With 4 people and the 2 bunk beds pulled down in the evening, moving around the cabin is much more difficult. Layout of the cabins on the newer ships such as the Splendor is much better, having a sofa/bed as your 3rd bed, and 1 bunk directly above the sofa/bed. But heck, you're not in your cabin that much anyway!Dinners were great in the main dining room. We had early seating in the Elation dining room, at table #100. Service was excellent. Food was very good. We especially loved the pork ribs, the lobster and shrimp, the stuffed mushrooms, and of course, the warm chocolate melting cake. And one of our girls LOVED the cheeseburgers at the grill, wanting them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Probably our least favorite item was the flat iron steak, which was very tough. Years ago, Carnival instead had N.Y. strip steak, which was always great, but I'm sure it was replaced due to the cost. On the Lido deck in the grill area, my wife loved the grilled chicken breasts. Many of the desserts on the Lido were just so-so.Room service was fine. Orders were correct and in a reasonable time.My daughters are 10 and 11, and had a great time. This was their third cruise. They enjoyed the pools, pool slide, hot tubs (though there were too many adults in them drinking), and the mini golf. They weren't too pleased with Camp Carnival, as they are at the upper age of the group (Camp Carnival is for 2-11 year olds), and they were bored there. They made friends on the ship quickly though and were always busy.For entertainment, we enjoyed most of the music onboard. I saw one of the R-rated comedy shows, and didn't enjoy it much. Saw SHOUT in the main showroom, and even though we had seen it previously on the Splendor, we really enjoyed it. We also liked playing the trivia games. Ensenada was uneventful. Been there so many times we probably wouldn't have even gotten off the ship if not to let Duncan see some grass. Just did a little shopping in the port area, and then got back on the ship.Disembarkation was easy. With my wife being disabled, and having Duncan, we could have been in the first group off, but instead waited until the last group with our friends. Why rush off when you can sit and relax on the ship for 2 more hours? We had no long lines to contend with. Getting off the Splendor was much worse last year, sort of like a cattle call.We were on the ship during one of the weeks of spring break. I was a little concerned about previous review I had read about everyone being drunk. Yes, there were many college age cruisers, and yes there was probably more drinking, but, with a few exceptions, MOST people were still pretty well behaved.One interesting thing...I have read some reviews which stated security does nothing about noise complaints. I was heading back to my cabin late one night with Duncan (probably after 1 a.m.), and saw a security officer outside a cabin talking to the people in it. I of course slowed down to hear what was being said. The security officer told them this was their 2nd complaint, and if they got one more, their sail-and-sign cards would be deactivated for all future purchase (such as BOOZE), and they would receive letters from Carnival telling them they would be banned from any future Carnival family of cruises. The cruisers complained that this was only their first warning that night (the second night of the cruise), and the security officer responded that complaints are not figured daily, but as a whole! 2 complaints was the limit! I'm glad to see security was taking this seriously.Things I liked most about the cruise: Friendliness of the staff, cleanliness of the ship, great food (lobster!), great service, free 24-hour room service (hear that, Royal Caribbean?), and how well the crew treated us with Duncan (ESPECIALLY Thelma in Guest Services - she was FANTASTIC)!And speaking of Duncan, thanks to all of our fellow passengers and the crew who treated Duncan AS a service dog, almost always ASKING FIRST if it would be all right if they pet him. As we told them, so long as I was walking with him, or my wife was in the wheelchair with him, it would be okay to pet him. But if my wife was walking with him, not to interfere with him as he was working. And thanks to the crew for placing the litter box for him in a nice out-of-the-way location, and in a non-smoking area. Previously on the Elation, the litter box was on a main smoking deck, and we always found it filled with cigarette butts.Things I liked least about the cruise: the flat iron steak in the dining room, some desserts were bland on the Lido deck, the 1 comedy show we saw, and Ensenada. I wish there were another port a 3-day cruise could visit, but realize that isn't possible on the west coast. All-in-all, none of this put any kind of damper on our enjoyment.Looking forward to going again next year on the Carnival Splendor! Duncan's 4th cruise, and my 10th, meaning we finally get free laundry on the ship!Richard

Cabin Review

Interior

Cabin 4C

Good size, quiet location, poor layout for 4 people.

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