I was on the Victory in August 2008. Here is a link to my photo album ...
http://www.cruise-addicts.com/photogallery/v/Carnival+Victory_001/
And here is a link to my review ...
http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/readreview.php?id=406
I did a Southern Caribbean cruise in April 2008 on the Serenade of the Seas. Here is a link to the photos I took (about half are of the ship and about half are of the islands) ...
http://www.cruise-addicts.com/photogallery/v/Serenade_001/
And here is a link to my review of my Southern Caribbean cruise ...
http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/readreview.php?id=358
The Victory is almost 50% larger than the Paradise. Also the Victory has balcony cabins while the Paradise does not. The water slide on the Victory is separate from the pool, while the water slide on the Paradise goes into one of the pool (that will change when the Paradise gets an upgrade in dry dock). I was in an ocean view cabin on the Paradise and a balcony cabin on the Victory, so I cannot compare apples to apples. The Victory also has a giant outdoor TV screen that can be seen from the main pool deck that the Paradise does not. The Victory also has one pool that can be covered when it rains (or snows). The Paradise can not cover any of its pools. I know that at least one of the Victory's pools are heated, while I don't believe any of the Paradise's pools are heated (thought the hot tubs are). I believe the Victory is about two years younger than the Paradise.
San Juan and St. Thomas are US territories. St. Thomas is very popular. I have not been to Dominica or St. Kitts. You can read my comments about Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Thomas and San Juan in my review of the Serenade of the Seas.
