Any tips or comments on Paradise 3 day Cruise

[cookingk9]

Would like any info, comments and tips on the 3 day cruise from Long Beach on the Paradise. I'm going with 15yr old daughter and 3 adults. This is my 1st cruise since I was little. Thought it would be a good start to see if everyone liked cruising. We will be driving to Long Beach since we live close by.

 

[SandyBeach]

They have a great parking facility at long beach...you may want to drop off your luggage before parking though. There are people and signs to let you know where you should be going. (Drop off is on the floor level ... the drive closest to the ship.) Tip the luggage handlers as they don't work for Carnival...better to be safe than sorry!

I've not been on that particular three day cruise...so I can't help much with that.

The Paradise is a nice sized ship...one of the Fantasy Class ships. We enjoyed our longer cruise on her when she was doing a different route. She's not the smallest ship in Carnival's fleet nor the oldest - but she is smaller and older. (Personally, they all look huge until you put it next to a mega liner!)

Ensenada is much cleaner than I expected. We saw a few chiclet kids walking around but a simple no usually had them going in another direction. When we were there we spent most of our time trying to get a phone to work as our son wanted desperately to speak to his girlfriend.

The only other statment I'll make...knowing I really haven't been much help...is - don't get frustrated because you can't do or get to everything on board ship that you want to. Our first cruise was four days and we got off being so frustrated because we felt we missed so much. In reality it just got us ready for our next cruise and we haven't stopped cruising since!

 

[devilkinder]

Hello and welcome!

I actually just did this cruise Dec. 15- 19, 2006...with a group of 16 of my family and friends. I loved it! It makes for a very nice getaway from reality!

This last time (I have done this one before) we the "La Bufadora" Tour through the cruise line, due to the fact that some members of our group were more comfortable booking through the ships than with doing it on our own. It made for a great day, the drive was nice also. There was shopping available there, but at the end of the tour they will also drop you off in town to do even more shopping! They also stopped at an old casino/convention center on the way back to the ship, very interesting and you get a free drink

The comedians were GREAT, and both of them did midnight "rated R" shows that were the best ever! So make sure to see those if you can, if not they also do family friendly shows after dinner that were great as well.

Just make sure that you enjoy yourselves, relax, have a drink, and wander the ship!

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask me!

Kiffen

 

[cookingk9]

[quote SandyBeach]They have a great parking facility at long beach...you may want to drop off your luggage before parking though. There are people and signs to let you know where you should be going. (Drop off is on the floor level ... the drive closest to the ship.) Tip the luggage handlers as they don't work for Carnival...better to be safe than sorry!

I read that if you can take your luggage on board without checking it through a baggage handler, you are better off. You don't have to wait for it to be brought to your room????

 

[devilkinder]

"I read that if you can take your luggage on board without checking it through a baggage handler, you are better off. You don't have to wait for it to be brought to your room????"

Yes, you are welcome to do this. We did it on our last 3 day cruise to Ensenada, and it makes getting off the ship a lot easier. I carried our suit bag and a roller. My bf carried 2 duffel type bags and a backpack. Once on the ship you can drop your luggage off at your cabin and roam the ship without worrying about your bags sitting outside of your door. Just make sure you can carry everything off by your self, so leave room for more stuff!

On the morning that you leave they will allow you to line up near the information desk around 7:30 am and 8:15 am. Then they will open the doors and off you go to customs. After customs you can just walk to your car/transportation and avoid the hassle off looking for your luggage.

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask away if you need any more help!

Kiffen

 

[cookingk9]

Any info on getting off the ship? I read it can get crazy with self assit and some say put your bags out the night before and debark when they call the color code. I want the fastest and least stressful way !!!!

 

[devilkinder]

The fastest way I know of is to carry off your own luggage, as long as you can carry it off yourself.

If you put your luggage out the night before you will be required to wait until your color tag is called, which there is usually many different color tags. I'm not sure about how they choose the color to be called, and in what order.

If you pack just what you need, then you should have no problems carrying off your own luggage.

Kiffen

 

[cookingk9]

[quote devilkinder]"I read that if you can take your luggage on board without checking it through a baggage handler, you are better off. You don't have to wait for it to be brought to your room????"

Yes, you are welcome to do this. We did it on our last 3 day cruise to Ensenada, and it makes getting off the ship a lot easier. I carried our suit bag and a roller. My bf carried 2 duffel type bags and a backpack. Once on the ship you can drop your luggage off at your cabin and roam the ship without worrying about your bags sitting outside of your door. Just make sure you can carry everything off by your self, so leave room for more stuff!

On the morning that you leave they will allow you to line up near the information desk around 7:30 am and 8:15 am. Then they will open the doors and off you go to customs. After customs you can just walk to your car/transportation and avoid the hassle off looking for your luggage.

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask away if you need any more help!

Kiffen[/quote]

Did you do an early check-in or ????? I read they have an early checkin at the queen mary. If you do this will you be able to take your bags to your room or do you have to wait for them to open the doors to the hallways that lead to the rooms

 

[devilkinder]

I haven't done this, but I have heard that it can be done.

I did not do an early check in, we just showed up, took care of our credit info., got our funpasses, and went onto the ship.

 

[Prelude]

If you carry on your luggage instead of having it check is it harder to bring on boozes? Do they x-ray or actually look in your luggage when u carry on? When u check?

 

[LHP]

[quote Prelude]If you carry on your luggage instead of having it check is it harder to bring on boozes? Do they x-ray or actually look in your luggage when u carry on? When u check?[/quote]

All luggage carried on must be small enough (or flexible enough ~~folding etc) to fit through the standard size xray machine like at the airports.

Yes, if you back liquor in any carried on luggage, it will be taken.
Only checked luggage gets through.

However, coming OFF the ship is totally different. No matter how big the suitcase...as long as you can handle it...you can carry it OFF!