There were 4 days at sea along with two days in port; making stops in Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. Before I booked the trip, I checked the reviews on Cruise Critic. Of the 442 evaluations that this boat has, 75% have been positive. Here are some highlights of my experience on the ship.
Food: The food was plentiful (as expected) and tasty. The buffet was very good and the dining room in the evening had a good variety of food. We had a table for four to ourselves all week, so that was a treat! “After hours” there’s a 24-hour pizzeria and ice cream station, and room service was prompt. I wouldn’t classify this ship as a culinary dream, but it was certainly roomy.
Drinks: The bartenders were very attentive and it was never a long wait to get a drink. As expected the drinks were expensive. But if you stick to lemonade, water, tea, juice, etc., you don’t need to spend more to stay hydrated. If you plan on drinking a lot, you might want to get one of their drink packages. You can save on cocktails, wine and soft drinks by purchasing them. There are lots of rules and fine print, so read up before you go.
Pools: I was not impressed with the ship’s pools. There is a main pool with a water slide that eats up some of the space. There were also some whirlpool sized pools (with cold water), but not the size for swimming.
Deck space – There were always plenty of loungers available on deck. They didn’t seem to have the usual “reserved chair” issues that many ships have. As the week went on I think there were more people hanging out inside so there were even more chairs available.
Rooms: We had an ocean view room with two single beds made into a king size bed. Noise from the ship was at reasonable levels and apart from some noisy neighbors a couple of nights there were no noise issues. The bathroom was sufficient and in general there were no problems with the room.
Entertainment: Admittedly, this trip was more about relaxation than nightlife. But we did attend some singing and dancing shows. Although the theater is smaller than many other ships, the performers were very talented and the shows were great. We also attended some comedy shows, which were amazing. Just be sure to leave the kids at home if you’re going to an adults-only show. They are not kidding when they say they are not suitable for families!
Time in Port: Time in port on Grand Cayman was brief. We paid $5 per person to take a shuttle to the nearby public beach. The water was warm, clear and refreshing. Nearby drinks cost a fortune, so be prepared.
We were in Cozumel, Mexico for about 8 hours. We arranged a tour through Carnival to go to a nearby all-inclusive Chankanaab Resort. There they had snorkeling, a Mayan tour, a sea lion show, lots of beach loungers and a swim up bar. Even though this was a self-guided day at the resort, they insisted on giving you an hour-long tour of the resort and organizing all sorts of group activities. The guide seemed more concerned with keeping you busy so you didn’t spend too much time at the bar. The resort itself was great, but I’d opt out of it next time.
Overall I think Carnival Paradise was excellent value for money. There will be a post soon on the travel devices you should have on your next cruise.
