Carnival Paradise
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Paradise is one of Carnival's 31 active ships and first entered service in 1998 with its most recent renovation in 2023. In terms of size, it comes in at 71,925 gross tons, 855 feet in length, and 10 passenger decks. On board, it supports up to 2,606 guests and approximately 920 crew members. The ship had an estimated build cost of $300 million and is flagged in Panama.
Carnival Paradise
Ship Stats
Year Built
1998
Last Renovated
2023
Tonnage
71,925 GT
Length
855 ft
Capacity
2,606
Crew
920
Cost
$300 million
Decks
10
Fantasy Class
Fantasy Class groups ships with similar design and onboard features within Carnival. The first ship introduced in this class was Carnival Elation (1998), followed by Carnival Paradise (1998).
Carnival Paradise Ship Age
Carnival Paradise entered service in 1998. Across Carnival's active fleet, the average build year is 2009 and across all major active cruise lines the average ship launch year is 2011. Ranked newest-to-oldest, this ship is 30 of 31 (newest ship = rank 1).
Timeline order: newest to oldest
- Carnival Paradise
Current ship
Carnival Paradise Renovations
Latest recorded dry dock / major renovation date: 2023.
Renovation details
The Carnival Paradise, a Fantasy-class ship, was last renovated in October 2023. This dry dock included a thorough interior refresh with new carpeting and décor, alongside the addition of the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge. Technical maintenance was performed, and the hull was repainted with Carnival’s colors. Updates kept the ship, carrying 2,124 passengers, modern with existing features like the WaterWorks aqua park and Punchliner Comedy Club, maintaining its appeal despite its 1998 debut. The next scheduled ship refurbishment will occur in April 2026. The Paradise will receive technical maintenance and the updated red-white-and-blue livery refresh to ensure the hull remains pristine.
Carnival Paradise Ship Size
Length and tonnage across Carnival's fleet
Carnival Paradise measures 855 feet (261 m) (vs Carnival fleet average of 992 ft) and has gross tonnage of 71,925 GT (vs fleet average of 121,145 GT). It ranks 31 of 31 by length and 30 of 31 by tonnage in Carnival's active fleet.
Passenger Capacity & Crew Size
Carnival Paradise vs Carnival fleet averages
Carnival Paradise carries 2,606 passengers (vs Carnival average of 4,085) and has 920 crew members onboard (vs fleet average of 1,226). That puts this ship at a passenger-to-staff ratio of 2.83:1 compared with Carnival's overall 3.33:1 average.
Passenger Capacity
2,606
passengers
Crew Members
920
staff members
Passenger to Crew Ratio
2.83 : 1
Carnival Avg
3.33 : 1
Carnival Paradise
Venues & Experiences
Explore dining, bars, activities, and onboard experiences available on Paradise.
Deck 10buffetParis Lido Marketplace
Deck 10buffetSalad Bar
Deck 9cafeCafe Ile De France
Deck 8main dining roomDestiny Dining Room
Deck 8main dining roomElation Dining Room
Deck 10quick eatsBlue Iguana Cantina
Deck 10quick eatsGuy's Burger Joint
Deck 10quick eatsPizza Pirate
Deck 10quick eatsThe Carnival Deli
Deck 9specialtyBonsai Sushi Express
Deck Plans
The Carnival Paradise has a total of 11 passenger decks. The lowest level available to guests is Deck 4. The highest passenger deck is Deck 15. Click below to access deck plans for the Carnival Paradise. The resulting page will provide a floor plan and summary of all things to do offered on that level of the ship.
Cruise Director
On duty now · Michelle O’Callaghan
The cruise director is the heartbeat of the ship... the person responsible for onboard entertainment, activities, and guest engagement from embarkation to farewell. Think emcee, social director, and morale officer rolled into one. Below you'll find the current cruise director's bio, followed by a full historical timeline of every director who has served aboard Carnival Paradise.
Michelle O’Callaghan
Michelle O’Callaghan is a Carnival Cruise Line cruise director known for her high energy, expressive hosting, and strong stage presence.
Michelle O’Callaghan Full ProfileCruise Director Schedule
- Previous
Cruise Director
- Previous
Cruise Director
- Current
Cruise Director
Frequently Asked Questions
Carnival Paradise quick answers covering size, capacity, deck plans, and what to expect onboard.
You will find the Carnival Paradise Casino on Deck 9 of the ship.
You will find the Carnival Paradise buffet on Deck 10 of the ship.
The Carnival Paradise, a Fantasy-class ship, was last renovated in October 2023. This dry dock included a thorough interior refresh with new carpeting and décor, alongside the addition of the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge. Technical maintenance was performed, and the hull was repainted with Carnival’s colors. Updates kept the ship, carrying 2,124 passengers, modern with existing features like the WaterWorks aqua park and Punchliner Comedy Club, maintaining its appeal despite its 1998 debut. The next scheduled ship refurbishment will occur in April 2026. The Paradise will receive technical maintenance and the updated red-white-and-blue livery refresh to ensure the hull remains pristine.
The ship belongs to the Carnival class of ships known as the Fantasy class.
The ship features 10 restaurants, 9 bars, 27 activities, 0 shows and 7 other venues for your enjoyment. You can click on our ship deck plans or details pages for a full list of activities, sorted by feature type.
The Carnival Paradise has a total of 11 passenger decks. The lowest deck is Level 4. The upper most passenger deck is Level 15.
We're often asked how many passengers are on the Carnival Paradise. The ship's capacity is 2,606. When comparing the occupancy to the average Carnival passenger capacity, you'll find that the average ship in the fleet holds 4,158 guests. Feel free to look at our graph above to see where this ship falls in line with all other live Carnival ships.
The Carnival Paradise was built in 1998. Carnival includes 31 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 1996 while the newest ship was built in 2028. The average Carnival ship is 17 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2007
Each of Carnival's ships offers a unique layout with features and activities catered to all. Whether the Carnival Paradise is right for you will depend on your individual preferences. Do you prefer a larger or smaller ship with many or fewer guests? Are you hoping for many family activities or entertainment options for an older clientele. Our deck maps layout and activities list provide a helpful guide to what you'll find on board. Feel free to explore the see if this ship is suited towards your preferences.
From end to end, the Carnival Paradise length equals 855 feet (261 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 31 active vessels in Carnival fleet, measuring 992 feet (302 meters). Please see our size comparison chart above to see how this ship falls in line with all other active ships in the fleet.