Carnival Paradise Resumes Cruises After Extensive Makeover
Carnival Paradise has returned to year-round cruise service from Port Tampa Bay following an extensive month-long dry dock that added a variety of spaces and innovations, including a water park, 38 new staterooms, 98 balconies added to existing accommodations, and an array of food and beverage concepts.
Carnival Paradise departed March 26 on a 5-day Caribbean cruise to Cozumel and Grand Cayman — part of the ship’s year-round sailings from Tampa that also include 4-day cruises to Cozumel and 5-day cruises to Cozumel and Mahogany Bay (Roatan), Key West, or Grand Cayman. The ship also offers 4- to 8-day cruises to Cuba featuring day-long and overnight calls in Havana, as well as visits to popular ports throughout the Caribbean.
“We can’t wait for our guests to check out the fantastic new features aboard Carnival Paradise, which returns to service better than ever offering an exciting combination of itineraries featuring top destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Cuba,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
The new features on board Carnival Paradise include:
- Guy’s Burger Joint: a free-of-charge poolside venue developed in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri serving hand-crafted burgers and fresh-cut fries enjoyed amid a décor that celebrates the chef’s California roots and love of car culture.
- RedFrog Rum Bar: a poolside watering hole offering the quintessential Caribbean vacation vibe with refreshing Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s own private label draught brew, ThirstyFrog Red.
- BlueIguana Cantina: a complimentary poolside Mexican eatery where guests can enjoy authentic freshly made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas, as well as an elaborate toppings and salsa bar.
- BlueIguana Tequila Bar: a fun and festive outdoor bar offering a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and tequila-based frozen drinks and beers, perfect for chillin’ by the pool.
- Camp Ocean: a colorful marine-inspired play area designed for kids ages 2 to 11 that showcases the wonders of the sea through engaging interiors and more than 200 ocean-themed activities and science-oriented programming.
- Circle “C”: designed for the 12- to 14-year-old set, this colorful space offers the perfect space for kids to chill and connect as well as enjoy dance parties, video games, and more.
- New Staterooms and Enhancements: Thirty-eight staterooms have been added — two Grand Vista suites offering floor-to-ceiling windows, 22 junior suites, two scenic oceanview, and 12 interior accommodations. Private verandahs have also been added to 98 existing accommodations, creating spacious new 230-square-foot balcony staterooms. All staterooms offer new island-inspired interiors with bright colors and soothing pastels inspired by the ship’s tropical itineraries.
- WaterWorks Aqua Park: Located on Verandah Deck, this expansive all-ages water park features an enclosed 300-foot-long Twister water slide full of twists and turns, two 82-foot-long racing slides, and a kiddie splash zone.
- Miniature Golf Course: A nine-hole miniature golf course has been relocated to Deck 14, providing a fun and relaxing pastime for families to enjoy in the fresh sea air.
- Retail and Photo Enhancements: The retail shops have been completely reimagined with a new design and enhanced product offerings with multiple branded boutiques, including Pandora and Guess. The printed photo gallery has been replaced with a digital Pixels-branded platform that allows guests to identify and purchase images via their smartphones or at a nearby kiosk.
In addition to Carnival Paradise’s short cruise program, Carnival’s Tampa-based offerings also include Carnival Miracle’s year-round 6- and 7-day cruises visiting the Western Caribbean, as well as 8-day voyages that include a partial transit of the Panama Canal.
Photos: Carnival Cruise Line; Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line