Carnival Paradise Review - March 28 - April 1 with pics!

[CruiserJul]

Started out around 9 and headed to breakfast in MDR today. Mostly because 1) I wanted to try the eggs benedict, sauce on the side and 2)we had free drink coupons to use up and they can only be redeemed at breakfast or lunch.

 

Sorry no pictures of breakfast. But they come around with a basket of pastries to pick from so I got one of those vanilla pastries that are so good. I ordered the eggs benedict and turkey bacon. DH got blueberry waffles and sausage. I really like my eggs - turkey bacon not so much. DH didn't care for the blueberry compote. Said it tasted like vinegar. For our free drinks we ordered something we could take back to the room and save for later...I got a Mike's hard lemonade and DH a Bud light.

 

There was a bunny hunt that morning where you had to find pictures of bunnies hidden around the ship. They also had an Easter trivia game and a dive for Easter eggs on the Lido deck. I also saw the Easter Bunny!

 

We went to the Love & Marriage show and I entered the slot tournament but did not win.

 

Went up to Lido to get my salad for lunch and there were a few decorations:

 

 

The Chocolate Extravaganza was going on too (not mentioned in Fun Times I might add).

 

 

 

Chocolate sushi - it's not good, don't try it.

 

 

DH's plate - not sure what it is:

 

[CruiserJul]

DH went to the art auction and I went to Lido to read for a while. Then I went to the gym and DH had his nap. After I got my froyo (see a pattern here?) we met up, got an adult beverage from our room and went to Serenity Deck for a couple of hours. It was pretty warm out there but the hot tub was not too hot. Just right.

 

For dinner this evening - the french onion soup:

 

 

The fruit cocktail:

 

The mahi mahi:

 

Veal Parmeson:

 

We didn't have dessert in the dining room. We knew we would have options up on Lido later and wanted to get to the comedy show.

 

The comedy shows were really good! We cashed out at the casino after loosing some, but not all, of my previous winnings.

 

The best thing that happened this day is we booked the Glory for next March! Yay! With the kids and it's a 7 day! 4 port days, 3 of which we have never been to. We received a $100 on board credit for booking onboard.

 

Well time to pack already but we did self-assist so no big hurry.

 

Towel animal but DH added the casino chips:)

[CruiserJul]

Boo! Sad day but we had extra time to spend in Florida today since our flight didn't leave until 6:30..more on that later...

 

They started letting people off the ship around 8:30 after rounding up these foreign people that took forever to go where they were supposed to go. We went up to Lido for breakfast around that time and surprisingly there was not much of a line. We were off the ship a little after 9.

 

We took a shuttle to the airport for $20 and rented a car from Enterprise. DH upgraded to a convertible! It was a perfect day for it. We cruised around and headed to Clearwater Beach & had lunch at Frenchy's Rockaway Grille right on the beach...it was so nice! They specialize in grouper. We got there at noon and just had to wait a few minutes for a table outside. We ordered a rum runner while we waited. Table was ready shortly thereafter. I had the grilled grouper tacos and DH ordered the fried grouper basket:

 

 

 

When we were done there was a long wait to get seated, so I guess we got there at the right time.After lunch we walked the beach. Such nice white, soft sand. The water was cool though. The place was packed since it is spring break time.

 

[CruiserJul]

After sitting on the beach a while we left for St. John's Pass - a nice little shopping area with restaurants.

 

DH took this picture - World's Largest Chicken Wing? Ok.

 

You can get fishing charters out of here and take other tours

 

Started back to the airport for our flight home. There was a long line at security but it went fast. The line that was the longest though was waiting for our food at Quiznos! 20 minutes! Really? We were the last ones to get on the plane because of this. Oh well, we made it home safe and sound by 9 that night.

 

Let me know if you have any questions. I wanted to get this review done in a day because I know what it is like to wait and wait for someone to finish their review! And we are finally having a nice day in Ohio, but I had to power through to get this done..lol.

[MrFunInTheSun]

Great review and pictures! Thanks for sharing your cruise adventure with us!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

[Scottohiocpa]

Good job on the review!

[SadieN]

Thanks for the review. The turquoise eggs always make me smile.

 

I've always been afraid to try that fried egg. I think it's supposed to be a Scotch Egg.

 

There is another laundryroom around cabin U154.

[2snorkel/cruisers]

Thanks for the wonderful review and pictures. We were on the Paradise last year Oct and I really liked the ship. It was nice to reminise and I'm glad you had a great time.

[CruiserJul]

Great review!! You're the first one I've seen mention fro-yo. I wonder if all the ships have it? We're doing Nachi in Cozumel also- cant wait! :)

 

All of the ships I have been on have frozen yogurt and ice cream machines. They are very popular!

 

You will have fun at Nachi! Have a great cruise!

[Seago2]

Thanks for the review. All the little towel animals around the pool- too cute.

[Scottohiocpa]

I've always been afraid to try that fried egg. I think it's supposed to be a Scotch Egg.

 

Well, I like SCOTCH;), but the egg just tasted like a regular hard boiled egg with breadcrumb breading.

[mommom of 7]

We love French's Rock away that is were we have happy hr & sunset weather permiting.:D

[battchief1]

Great review, thanks

[mosaic_mom]

Great review. Love your pictures too. It will help me pass the time until our turn on the Paradise in December.

 

What pier did the Paradise dock at in Cozumel?

[NCteacherlovescruising]

I thought I read something somewhere about this ship having a lot of smoking sections. Is this true? Did it smell like smoke?

[CruiserJul]

[quote name='mosaic_mom']Great review. Love your pictures too. It will help me pass the time until our turn on the Paradise in December.

What pier did the Paradise dock at in Cozumel?[/quote]

She docked at Puerta Maya. Enjoy your cruise!

[CruiserJul]

[quote name='TJV123']I thought I read something somewhere about this ship having a lot of smoking sections. Is this true? Did it smell like smoke?[/quote]

We are not smokers but if you are playing in the casino you can smoke there. Plus there was one place on deck port or starboard..I am not sure.
I don't recall smelling a lot of smoke. I thought it would be bad in the casino but it really wasn't.

[Fighterone]

[quote name='QUIGONATOR']Do you know where the laundry facilities were located on your deck or any deck? we are about to book but I do not want to be by a laundry room. I hope to find where they are on this boat usually the same place on each deck above each other[/quote]

I used the iron in the laundry room that is by E2. If you plan on doing a wash, be sure to bring some quarters. The machines don't take dollar bills. When you get the map of the ship, it will be indicated where the laundry rooms are.

[Scottohiocpa]

For those of you who want to see the ship go under the bridge, I think we were there 2 1/2 hours after leaving the dock.

[JaniceB]

Great review!

Totally agree that 8 seconds and Steve on the fiddle is a great show.

[Harrier1961]

Quick question. We are on the Elation in 2 weeks. I have not been on a Fantasy class ship since '97; which deck do you board the ship on?
No 7, is it (where the atruim is).
Thank you,
Andy.

[7leagueboots]

Nice pictures. Thanks.

[skittl1321]

[quote name='tinkerbell_82']Great review!! You're the first one I've seen mention fro-yo. I wonder if all the ships have it?[/quote]

I can't remember which of the three ships it was- but we kept getting ice cream and every once in a while didnt' think it tasted as good as the last time (my husband and I would always disagree whether it tasted good or not).

It was night 6 before we realized one side of the ship was ice cream machines and one side frozen yogurt. And they were labeled. I like ice cream, he likes fro-yo!

The two other ships had them side by side.

[CruiserJul]

[quote name='Harrier1961']Quick question. We are on the Elation in 2 weeks. I have not been on a Fantasy class ship since '97; which deck do you board the ship on?
No 7, is it (where the atruim is).
Thank you,
Andy.[/quote]

Yes, you board on the floor with the atrium - Empress Deck I think.

Have fun!

[Scottohiocpa]

Going through vacation withdrawl.