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.[2] During 2007, in common with all of her Fantasy-class sisters, she had the prefix Carnival added to her name.[6]

Carnival Paradise
Carnival Paradise with Carnival's New Painted Livery
History
Panama
Name
  • Paradise (1998–2007)
  • Carnival Paradise (2007–present)
OwnerCarnival Corporation & plc
OperatorCarnival Cruise Line
Port of registryPanama City,  Panama[1]
Builder
Cost$300 million[3]
Yard number494
Laid down1996
Launched29 January 1998
Sponsored byPaula Zahn
Christened1998
Completed1998
Acquired29 October 1998
Maiden voyageNovember 1998
In service1998–present
Refit2018 2023
Identification
Statusin active service
Notes[1][2]
General characteristics (as built)[1]
Class and typeFantasy-class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length260.60 m (855 ft 0 in)
Beam31.50 m (103 ft 4 in)
Height115 ft 6 in (35.20 m)
Draft7.80 m (25 ft 7 in)
Decks13 (10 with passenger access)
Installed power
PropulsionTwo ABB Azipod propulsion units
Speed
  • 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (service)[5]
  • 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) (maximum)
Capacity2,040 passengers [4]
Crew920[3]
General characteristics (after 2018 refit)
Tonnage71,925 GT
Decks14 (11 with passenger access)
Capacity2,124

History edit

Carnival 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.[7]

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][2]

In 2021, she was repainted into Carnival's new livery.

Service history edit

Starting 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.[8]

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.[9]

In 2023, Carnival Paradise underwent another refit during her October dry dock which added new spaces as well as upgrades to the vessel.[10]

Gallery edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d Asklander, Micke. "M/S Paradise (1998)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 March 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Smith 2010, p. 46.
  3. ^ a b Ward, Douglas (2006). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 479–480. ISBN 981-246-739-4.
  4. ^ Saunders, Aaron (2013). Giants of the Seas. Seaforth Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 9781848321724.
  5. ^ "Carnival Paradise Deck Plan". Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Carnival Paradise Itineraries". Cruise Critic. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  9. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (24 February 2018). "Carnival Paradise Undergoing Month-Long Refurb". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  10. ^ https://www.cruisehive.com/second-oldest-carnival-cruise-ship-returns-to-service/114573

Bibliography edit

External links edit