Carnival Paradise (formerly Paradise) is a Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was floated out on 29 January 1998, and christened as Paradise by Paula Zahn.[3] During 2007, in common with all of her Fantasy-class sisters, she had the prefix Carnival added to her name.[7]
Carnival Paradise in October 2021, wearing Carnival's new livery
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner | Carnival Corporation & plc |
| Operator | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Port of registry | Panama City, |
| Builder | |
| Cost | $300 million[2] |
| Yard number | 494 |
| Laid down | 1996 |
| Launched | 29 January 1998 |
| Sponsored by | Paula Zahn |
| Christened | 1998 |
| Completed | 1998 |
| Acquired | 29 October 1998 |
| Maiden voyage | November 1998 |
| In service | 1998–present |
| Refit | 2018 2023 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | in active service |
| Notes | [1][3] |
| General characteristics (as built)[1] | |
| Class and type | Fantasy-class cruise ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 260.60 m (855 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 31.50 m (103 ft 4 in) |
| Height | 115 ft 6 in (35.20 m) |
| Draft | 7.80 m (25 ft 7 in) |
| Decks | 13 (10 with passenger access) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | Two ABB Azipod propulsion units |
| Speed |
|
| Capacity | 2,040 passengers [5] |
| Crew | 920[2] |
| General characteristics (after 2018 refit) | |
| Tonnage | 71,925 GT[6] |
| Decks | 14 (11 with passenger access) |
| Capacity | 2,124 |
History
editCarnival Paradise was built to be the world's first completely non-smoking cruise ship and she was entered into service supported by several anti-smoking and cancer-prevention groups. "No smoking" signs were placed prominently on both sides of the ship and on the stern under the name.
Non-smoking rules were strictly enforced. No smoking materials of any kind were permitted aboard. If anything was seen or found, the passenger was fined $250 and put off at the next port, with their transportation home under the passenger's own expense. Due to poor revenue, Carnival decided to discontinue the smoke-free policy in December 2003, claiming that non-smokers tend to not drink or gamble as much as those accustomed to smoke.[8]
Scheduled to arrive at the Port of Long Beach, California, on 20 September 2004, her arrival was delayed due to several major hurricanes (see 2004 Atlantic hurricane season). Her cruise through the Caribbean and Panama Canal, and up the Mexican coast was further hindered by more hurricanes. After having skirted the bad weather with minimal inconvenience, Paradise arrived at the Long Beach cruise terminal in the early morning. Later that day, the non-smoking signs were painted over.[1][3]
In 2021, she was repainted into Carnival's new livery.
Service history
editStarting in 1998 to 2004, Carnival Paradise sailed 7 Day cruises to the Caribbean from Miami.
In 2004 she repositioned to Long Beach, California. After her arrival in Long Beach, she undertook 3-day and 4-day cruises to Ensenada, Mexico and Santa Catalina Island, California.
In late 2011, Carnival moved Carnival Paradise to Tampa, replacing the Carnival Inspiration, which went to California. Currently, Carnival Paradise takes 4 and 5 night voyages to the Western Caribbean and Bahamas. The ship also used to sail to Havana, Cuba and Key West, Florida on select sailings from 2017 to 2019.[9]
In 2018, she underwent a month-long dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas, which added a 14th deck to the front of the ship to accommodate 38 new cabins.[10]
In 2023, Carnival Paradise underwent another refit during her October dry dock which added new spaces as well as upgrades to the vessel.[11]
Gallery
edit-
MS Paradise. Night at the Ensenada, Mexico port
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The 18 and older REX Dance Club
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The pool area on the Lido Deck
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The America Bar, set for tea service
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Paradise from Avalon, Catalina
-
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Carnival Paradise in Carnival Cruise Line's new livery, 2021
References
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d Asklander, Micke. "M/S Paradise (1998)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 March 2008.
- ^ a b Ward, Douglas (2006). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 479–480. ISBN 981-246-739-4.
- ^ a b c Smith 2010, p. 46.
- ^ "Carnival Paradise Deck Plan". Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ Saunders, Aaron (2013). Giants of the Seas. Seaforth Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 9781848321724.
- ^ "Carnival Paradise (9120877)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ Dake, Shawn J. (January 2008). "Cruise Ships 2007 the year in review" (PDF). Ocean Times. 12 (1). Steamship Historical Society of America: Southern California Chapter: 2–8.
- ^ Dickinson, Bob; Andy Vladimir (2008). "Coming About". Selling the Sea (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-471-74918-9. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ^ "Carnival Paradise Itineraries". Cruise Critic. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- ^ Staff, C. I. N. (24 February 2018). "Carnival Paradise Undergoing Month-Long Refurb". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
- ^ Mayntz, Melissa (31 October 2023). "Second Oldest Carnival Cruise Ship Returns to Service". Cruise Hive.
Bibliography
edit- Saunders, Aaron (2013). Giants of the Seas: The Ships that Transformed Modern Cruising. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781848321724.
- Smith, Peter C. (2010). Cruise Ships: The World's Most Luxurious Vessels. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN 9781848842182.