Cruise Spotlight
Helping you find cruise ships you'll love
Celebrity Summit vs Carnival Paradise
The Celebrity Summit was built in 2001. It was renovated in 2019. It's 3 years newer than the Paradise, which was built in 1998 and renovated in 2023.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Summit is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 964 feet long and 105 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 11-story building. Compared to the Carnival Paradise, the Summit is 29% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Celebrity Summit holds about the same number of passengers as the Paradise based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Summit has more space per person compared to the Paradise. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| Celebrity Summit | Carnival Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Millennium | Fantasy |
| Gross Tonnage | 90,940 | 70,367 |
| Length | 964 | 855 |
| Beam/Width | 105 | 103 |
| Passenger Decks | 11 | 10 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,158 | 2,052 |
| Crew | 1,027 | 920 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.1 | 2.2 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 42 | 34 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Summit has 13 different dining options like Le Petit Chef at Qsine, Sushi on Five, and Oceanview Cafe. Of those options, 8 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 5 options have an additional fee.
The Paradise has 1 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, and Carnival Deli. 12 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 2 have an additional fee.
The Celebrity Summit has about the same number of dining options as the Carnival Paradise.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Paradise might be a better choice then the Summit. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Celebrity Summit | Carnival Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 13 | 14 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 8 | 12 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 5 | 2 |
| % of Included Options | 62% | 86% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Summit serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. The Paradise serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Paradise below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The Celebrity Summit has a total of 2 pools and 5 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only.
Carnival Paradise has fewer pools than the Summit and fewer hot tubs.
| Celebrity Summit | Carnival Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 2 | 1 |
| Pools - General Access | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 0 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 5 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 1 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Summit. Only 50% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Paradise, 73% of the activities are included at no additional cost.
| Celebrity Summit | Carnival Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✗ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bingo | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Club | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✗ | ✓ |
| Outdoor movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✗ |
| Splash park | ✗ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water slides | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Celebrity is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Carnival, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Celebrity Summit | Carnival Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.00 | $16.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% | 18% |
| Soda Price | $4.00 | $3.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 | $8.75 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $60 - $125 | $59.95 - $69.95 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $20 to $30 per device per day | $15.30 to $21.25 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
Articles Related the These Ships
About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.