Website design By BotEap.comThey were 4 days at sea along with two days in port; making stops in Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. Before booking the trip, I checked the reviews on Cruise Critic. Of the 442 ratings for this boat, 75% were positive. These are some highlights of my experience on the ship.

Website design By BotEap.comFood: The food was plentiful (as expected) and tasty. The buffet was very good and the evening dining room had a good variety of food. We had a table for four to ourselves for the entire week, so that was a pleasure! “After hours” there is a 24-hour pizzeria and ice cream station, and room service was quick. I wouldn’t classify this ship as a culinary dream, but it certainly was comprehensive.

Website design By BotEap.comDrinks: The servers were very attentive and you never had to wait long for a drink. As expected, the drinks were expensive. But if you limit yourself to lemonade, water, tea, juice, etc., you don’t need to spend more to stay hydrated. If you plan to drink a lot, you may want to get one of their drink packages. You can save on cocktails, wine, and soft drinks by buying them. There are many rules and fine print, so read before you go.

Website design By BotEap.comPools: I was not impressed by the ship’s pools. There is a main pool with a waterslide, which consumes part of the space. There were also some pools the size of a hot tub (with cold water), but not the right size for swimming.

Website design By BotEap.comDeck space: There were always plenty of lounge chairs available on the deck. They didn’t seem to have the usual “reserved seat” problems that many ships have. As the week went by, I think more people hung out inside, so there were even more chairs available.

Website design By BotEap.comRooms: We had an ocean view room with two single beds converted to a king size bed. Ship noise was at reasonable levels and apart from some loud neighbors a couple of nights, there were no noise issues. The bathroom was sufficient and, in general, there were no problems with the room.

Website design By BotEap.comEntertainment: It is true that this trip was more relaxing than the night life. But we did attend some song and dance shows. While the theater is smaller than many other ships, the entertainers 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 unfamiliar!

Website design By BotEap.comTime in port: Time in port on Grand Cayman was short. 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.

Website design By BotEap.comWe were in Cozumel, Mexico for about 8 hours. We organize an excursion through Carnival to go to a nearby all-inclusive Chankanaab Resort. There they went snorkelling, a Mayan tour, a sea lion show, lots of lounge chairs on the beach, and a pool bar. Although this was a self-guided day at the resort, they insisted on giving you a one-hour tour of the place and organizing all kinds of group activities. The guide seemed more concerned with occupying it so he wouldn’t spend too much time at the bar. The resort itself was great, but I would choose not to do it next time.

Website design By BotEap.comOverall, I think Carnival Paradise was excellent value for money. A must-have travel gadget post on your next cruise is coming soon!