All about the Carnival Paradise

Carnival Paradise cruise ship
Carnival Paradise

The Carnival Paradise was built in 1998. It was renovated in 2023. It's considered a small size ship. Coming in at 855 ft long and 103 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.4 football fields, as wide as 1.9 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 10-story building.

Carnival Paradise Overview

Carnival Paradise Size and Passengers

The Paradise can hold 2,052 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Paradise has a space ratio of 34. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship has less space per person than average.



Carnival
Paradise
ClassFantasy
Gross Tonnage70,367
Length855
Beam/Width103
Passenger Decks10
Passengers (double occupancy)2,052
Crew920
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.2
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)34
Carnival Paradise Space Ratio
30 34 52

The Paradise is one of two Fantasy-class ships currently sailing with Carnival. Ecstasy-class ships are the oldest in Carnival's fleet. There used to be 8 ships in this class, but only 2 remain. They're on the smaller side, making them easier to get around, but they might be missing a lot of the activities and features found on larger ships. These ships also aren't built with a lot of balcony cabins, making balcony cabins harder to get and more expensive. The Paradise is very similar to its sister-ships; Elation, although each ship may have some differences.


Carnival Paradise Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Carnival Paradise. You have 9 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 7 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 2 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. 78% of the dining options are included which means if you're watching your budget, you won't feel like you're missing out by not going to a lot of extra fee dining places.

RestaurantRestaurant TypeCostType of Food
Blue Iguana CantinaQuick serveIncludedMexican
Carnival DeliQuick serveIncludedSandwiches
Coffee BarQuick serveA la cartCoffee
Guy's Burger JointQuick serveIncludedAmerican
Lido BuffetBuffetIncludedBuffet
Main Dining RoomSit downIncludedMain dining room
Pizza PirateQuick serveIncludedPizza
SwirlsQuick serveIncludedDessert
The Chef's TableSit downFlat feeFoodie

Carnival Paradise Bars and Drinks

Rex Dance Club on the Carnival Paradise
Rex Dance Club on the Carnival Paradise

Carnival Paradise has 10 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail.

BarLocation
America Piano BarDeck 8 ForwardSee Menu
Atrium BarDeck 7 MidSee Menu
BlueIguana Tequila BarDeck 10 MidSee Menu
Casino BarDeck 9 MidSee Menu
Java Blue CafeDeck 9 MidSee Menu
Leonardo LoungeDeck 9 MidSee Menu
Punchliner Comedy ClubDeck 9 AftSee Menu
RedFrog Rum BarDeck 10 MidSee Menu
Rex Dance ClubDeck 9 MidSee Menu
Rotterdam BarDeck 9 AftSee Menu

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Carnival also serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Carnival Paradise

Lido Pool on the Carnival Paradise
Lido Pool on the Carnival Paradise

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 in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. 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 Carnival Paradise has a total of 1 pools and 4 hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Carnival
Paradise
Total Pools1
- Pools - General Access1
- Pools - Adults Only0
- Pools - Exclusive0
Total Hot Tubs4
- Hot Tubs - General Access2
- Hot Tubs - Adults Only2
- Hot Tubs - Exclusive0


cruise coloring book

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Carnival editions with featuring places Pizza Pirate and mini-golf.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Carnival Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Carnival Edition

Carnival Paradise Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Paradise. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Carnival
Paradise
Adult Only Relaxation AreaIncluded
ArcadeA la cart
BasketballIncluded
CasinoA la cart
Comedy ClubIncluded
Dr Seuss BreakfastA la cart
Fitness CenterIncluded
Jogging TrackIncluded
Mini golfIncluded
Splash parkIncluded
Water slidesIncluded

Cruise Costs

Carnival is 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.

The cost will also vary depending on the type of cabin you book. You can see the differences between the Carnival cabins and how to choose the best one here:

Carnival Paradise 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 understand what you might spend onboard a Carnival ship.

Carnival
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$16.00
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda Price$3.00
Domestic Beer Price$8.75
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$59.95 - $69.95
Learn more
Internet Plan$15.30 to $21.25 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

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