Carnival Paradise
Sails from Tampa, Florida · Fly into TPA
Page updated
Carnival Paradise in Carnival's red, white and blue livery after its fall 2021 dry dock · Photo: Crew Center, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Carnival Paradise
Carnival Paradise is a Carnival Cruise Line cruise ship of the Fantasy class, in service since 1998. She measures 71,925 gross tons and carries 2,124 guests with a crew of 920. She sails Caribbean, Bahamas itineraries. We rate her 3.5 out of 5.
Carnival Paradise was the last of Carnival's eight Fantasy-class ships to be built, a mid-sized ship of about 71,900 gross tons with room for around 2,120 guests. She was floated out in Helsinki in January 1998, began sailing that November as Paradise and took the Carnival prefix in 2007. A month-long 2018 dry dock in Freeport added a fourteenth deck forward with 38 new cabins, and an October 2023 refit added further spaces. Today she offers a WaterWorks park with a spiral slide and twin racing slides, Cloud 9 Spa, JavaBlue Café and Bonsai Sushi Express, and she sails Western Caribbean and Bahamas cruises from Tampa.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 2,124
- Crew 920 · 1:2.3
- Entered service
- 1998
- Refitted 2023
- Length
- 261 m
- Longer than 67% of 575 ships
- Decks
- 10
Carnival Paradise is bigger than 56% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 72%. At 33.9 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 69% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
Ratings
- Cabins
- 3/5, fleet average 3.1
- Dining
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Entertainment
- 3/5−1.0, fleet average 4.0
- Service
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Pools & decks
- 3/5, fleet average 2.9
- Value
- 5/5, fleet average 5.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Carnival Cruise Line fleet average across 29 rated ships in service.
Sister ships: Fantasy class
Carnival Paradise is one of 2 Fantasy class ships. Carnival Elation (1998) is in service.
| Ship | Year | Gross tons | Guests | Space | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Paradise this ship | 1998 | 3.5/5 | |||
| Carnival Elation | 1998 | 3.3/5 |
Deck plans & cabin locations
Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026 · Published edition. Confirm the edition for your departure with the cruise line.
Explore the deck plans
What’s above your ceiling matters as much as the view. Compare the decks around your cabin, then use the location notes to build your shortlist.
No exact sailing-date window is supplied for this download. Confirm the cabin category, connecting doors, accessibility, view and refurbishment changes for your departure. Layout-based noise cautions are not confirmed disturbance reports; explicit obstructed-view flags are identified separately as operator-listed.
All decks
Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026 · bow to the right
Cabin-number search becomes available as verified cabins are mapped. All published deck diagrams are available below.


On this deck: Combined forward and aft diagrams









Cabins to avoid & quieter candidates
Deck 6 where accommodation overlaps vertically
Start with cabin sections on Deck 6
Compare a central room with cabins immediately above and below, away from lifts, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Check the exact three-deck footprint; category colour alone does not identify a quiet room.
Why we flag this
The ship-specific colour plans show substantial accommodation on Decks 5, 6 and 7. This is a layout-based starting point, not measured sound data or a guarantee of quiet. Check the source plan.
Deck 7 below occupied areas of Deck 8
Check Deck 7 beneath Atlantic Deck public spaces
Compare the room with dining rooms, the galley, lounges and public circulation overhead. Ask about early preparation and operating hours where the footprints overlap.
Why we flag this
The official Deck 8 plan shows dining, a substantial galley and forward public/entertainment spaces above portions of Deck 7 accommodation. The caution applies to specific overlaps, not every room on the deck. Check the source plan.
Location-based guidance, not measured noise or a guarantee of quiet. Flags identify areas to investigate, not every cabin on a deck. Check the exact room, connecting doors, accessibility and the plan for your sailing date. Native per-deck artwork extracted from the ship-named official PDF colour/category plan, checked 21 October 2026. Forward and aft diagrams are combined on a single deck image when the source splits that level. The full PDF retains category legends and any additional accessibility overlay.. Reviewed 2026-10-21.
Photos

Carnival Paradise in Carnival's red, white and blue livery after its fall 2021 dry dockPhoto: Crew Center, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
- CaribbeanEastern, Western and Southern Caribbean islands, sailing year-round from Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico
- Bahamasshort trips from Florida, often with a day on a line's private island
Home port: Tampa, Florida.
Flying in for your cruise?
Carnival Paradise sails from Tampa, Florida. The airport is Tampa International (TPA), with 3 lounges to wait in before you board.
- American Airlines Admirals ClubTPA Airside F4.2 ★
- Delta Sky ClubTPA Airside E3.6 ★
- International Club LoungeTPA Airside F3.6 ★
Quick answers
Which cruise line operates Carnival Paradise?
Carnival Paradise is operated by Carnival Cruise Line and belongs to its Fantasy class.
What are Carnival Paradise's sister ships?
Carnival Paradise is one of 2 Fantasy class ships. Carnival Elation (1998) is in service.
How big is Carnival Paradise?
Carnival Paradise measures 71,925 gross tons and 261 metres in length, with 10 decks.
How does Carnival Paradise compare in size with other cruise ships?
Carnival Paradise is bigger than 56% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 72%. At 33.9 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 69% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
How crowded does Carnival Paradise feel?
Carnival Paradise has a passenger space ratio of 33.9: 71,925 gross tons for 2,124 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Carnival Paradise feels comfortable for her size.
How many passengers does Carnival Paradise carry?
Carnival Paradise carries 2,124 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 920 (about 2.3 guests per crew member).
When did Carnival Paradise enter service?
Carnival Paradise entered service in 1998 and was last refurbished in 2023.
Where does Carnival Paradise sail?
Carnival Paradise sails Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. Her home port is Tampa, Florida.
Which airport should I fly into for Carnival Paradise?
Carnival Paradise sails from Tampa, Florida. Fly into Tampa International (TPA), which has 3 airport lounges listed on Lounge Frog.
Where can I find the deck plans for Carnival Paradise?
Carnival Cruise Line publishes the deck plans for Carnival Paradise; this page links to Deck plans (PDF).
How is Carnival Paradise rated?
Cruises Frog rates Carnival Paradise 3.5 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on value (5/5) and lowest on pools & decks (3/5).
Which cabins are good choices on Carnival Paradise?
For the “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026” plan, start with these quieter-location candidates: Deck 6 where accommodation overlaps vertically: Compare a central room with cabins immediately above and below, away from lifts, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Check the exact three-deck footprint; category colour alone does not identify a quiet room. Compare the exact cabin with the decks above and below, nearby lifts and connecting doors. These are layout-based suggestions, not a guarantee of quiet.
Which cabins should I avoid or check carefully on Carnival Paradise?
For the “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026” plan, review these flagged locations before booking: Deck 7 below occupied areas of Deck 8: Compare the room with dining rooms, the galley, lounges and public circulation overhead. Ask about early preparation and operating hours where the footprints overlap. These flags are not measured noise reports or a warning about every room on a deck. Read the sourced cabin advice for the evidence and any explicit operator warnings.
How can I check whether a cabin is under a pool, nightclub or theatre?
Find the cabin on the selected plan, then compare the same fore-and-aft position on the deck above and below. Check the full venue footprint, including outdoor seating, stages, service areas and entrances. Nearby activity can be a reason to investigate, but does not by itself prove a cabin is noisy. Use the cabin advice and its sources to distinguish layout cautions from operator warnings.
Where can I find Carnival Paradise deck plans?
Use this guide’s deck selector to compare the decks around your cabin and open available diagrams in the zoom viewer. The full ship PDF and source links are listed for each plan edition.
Which deck-plan edition applies to my sailing?
Select your sailing date before comparing cabin locations. Editions can change after a refit. These answers use “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026”, reviewed 2026-10-21. No exact sailing-date window is supplied for this download. Confirm the cabin category, connecting doors, accessibility, view and refurbishment changes for your departure. Layout-based noise cautions are not confirmed disturbance reports; explicit obstructed-view flags are identified separately as operator-listed.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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