B2B Paradise from Tampa

[jimdalva]

I wanted to let everyone know that on our recent B2B on the Paradise Nov 8 / Nov 12, we never got off the ship. We received a letter the last sea day to come to service desk for a little paper work and new key cards and done! No customs and immigration . Interesting to note that in the Atrium at 10:25 I heard over the radio held by Carnival security, a TSA agent say 'anyone not off by 10:30 must stay on board until 2:00. Well that sent Carnival security into high gear clearing out some people sitting at the Atrium Bar who said ' We want to be last off the ship' . Security said you are last you must go now. Then he looked at me and I quickly said ' I'm staying B2B' --- For the next hour we saw an army of cleaners and movers, and by 11:30 new guests started to arrive. Got to give it to them they really work hard.

[hockeyluver]

wow, hope we have it that easy on our b2b in Feb.

[chipq]

You really have to give the crew credit for how fast they turn around the ship for the nect guests. Discovery or a similar channel had a show about the turn around if the RCI Oasis. It is incredible.

 

http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

[dad2kids]

wow, hope we have it that easy on our b2b in Feb.

 

my dw,ds,ds and i are also going on a b2b in Feb. on the 17 and 23 on the Glroy. which ship will you be on?

[hockeyluver]

my dw,ds,ds and i are also going on a b2b in Feb. on the 17 and 23 on the Glroy. which ship will you be on?

 

We are doing the 14th and 18th on the Victory

[JaniceB]

Overall how was your cruise experience? I am thinking about booking the Paradise, even thought about a B2B.

[jimdalva]

Overall how was your cruise experience? I am thinking about booking the Paradise, even thought about a B2B.

Overall our cruise was great. But to me every cruise is great. The Paradise is among the smallest and oldest ships but that doesn't show. It's very well kept, you can see cleaning and maintenance going on all the time. On our first leg the MDR was so so, the wait staff worked hard but fell short. The second leg at a new table our new wait staff excelled and it was much better. On the Lido deck we had a two piece 'electronic band'. A steel drum and a vocalist backed up by computer music. Not bad, but not like the old days, but better than just a DJ. The other band Blood Power was excellent, they played all over the ship. The line dances were at several deck parties, Macarainer, Cupid Shuffle ,Woble, ect and that was fun. Tendering at Grand Caymen was surprisingly easy. Any questions? Just ask

[martinchem]

Did they leave you a fruit basket and/or a bottle of wine or champagne?

[Tazstravelgirl]

Overall our cruise was great. But to me every cruise is great. The Paradise is among the smallest and oldest ships but that doesn't show. It's very well kept, you can see cleaning and maintenance going on all the time. On our first leg the MDR was so so, the wait staff worked hard but fell short. The second leg at a new table our new wait staff excelled and it was much better. On the Lido deck we had a two piece 'electronic band'. A steel drum and a vocalist backed up by computer music. Not bad, but not like the old days, but better than just a DJ. The other band Blood Power was excellent, they played all over the ship. The line dances were at several deck parties, Macarainer, Cupid Shuffle ,Woble, ect and that was fun. Tendering at Grand Caymen was surprisingly easy. Any questions? Just ask

 

We cruised Paradise in late October and have to say "Blood Power" was one of the highlights. They're fantastic!

[TVChick16]

I wanted to let everyone know that on our recent B2B on the Paradise Nov 8 / Nov 12, we never got off the ship. We received a letter the last sea day to come to service desk for a little paper work and new key cards and done! No customs and immigration . Interesting to note that in the Atrium at 10:25 I heard over the radio held by Carnival security, a TSA agent say 'anyone not off by 10:30 must stay on board until 2:00. Well that sent Carnival security into high gear clearing out some people sitting at the Atrium Bar who said ' We want to be last off the ship' . Security said you are last you must go now. Then he looked at me and I quickly said ' I'm staying B2B' --- For the next hour we saw an army of cleaners and movers, and by 11:30 new guests started to arrive. Got to give it to them they really work hard.

 

This is great to know! We are doing a B2B on the Paradise for New Years. It's our first B2B and we have the same cabin for both legs, so it will be even more exciting if they allow us to stay onboard during the transition.

[SkyMaster]

I too, cruised "Paradise" last month, and was really surprised at how GREAT a cruise it was. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of doing another "Paradise" 5 day in December! :DGlad you had fun, and perhaps I'll see you aboard one of these days. ;)

 

"SKY"

[Jimmy Geegitz]

I always wondered if u have to get off or not.

[jimdalva]

Did they leave you a fruit basket and/or a bottle of wine or champagne?

 

Yes how could I forget, we did get a bottle of champagne (which we brought home) and a basket of fruit (which was more than we could eat). A nice gesture but would have preferred a free drink.

[bkerber]

Overall our cruise was great. But to me every cruise is great. The Paradise is among the smallest and oldest ships but that doesn't show. It's very well kept, you can see cleaning and maintenance going on all the time. On our first leg the MDR was so so, the wait staff worked hard but fell short. The second leg at a new table our new wait staff excelled and it was much better. On the Lido deck we had a two piece 'electronic band'. A steel drum and a vocalist backed up by computer music. Not bad, but not like the old days, but better than just a DJ. The other band Blood Power was excellent, they played all over the ship. The line dances were at several deck parties, Macarainer, Cupid Shuffle ,Woble, ect and that was fun. Tendering at Grand Caymen was surprisingly easy. Any questions? Just ask

 

We have a private co. excursion planned for Grand Cayman at 9 a.m. We are worried we wont be tendered in time. What is the procedure and what time can you line up to get off the ship?

Thanks

[jimdalva]

We have a private co. excursion planned for Grand Cayman at 9 a.m. We are worried we wont be tendered in time. What is the procedure and what time can you line up to get off the ship?

Thanks

 

Our ship was cleared by 8:30. We went down and found no line, in the tender and 10 min were on shore.

[The4Cruisers]

We have a private co. excursion planned for Grand Cayman at 9 a.m. We are worried we wont be tendered in time. What is the procedure and what time can you line up to get off the ship?

Thanks

 

The CCL people will still work with you to help get you off the ship quickly. They did for us a couple of times at Grand Cayman when we booked a private excursion. Just go to the tender staging area and explain your situation. They'll probably slip you in right after the CCL excursion pax.

[JaniceB]

Overall our cruise was great. But to me every cruise is great. The Paradise is among the smallest and oldest ships but that doesn't show. It's very well kept, you can see cleaning and maintenance going on all the time. On our first leg the MDR was so so, the wait staff worked hard but fell short. The second leg at a new table our new wait staff excelled and it was much better. On the Lido deck we had a two piece 'electronic band'. A steel drum and a vocalist backed up by computer music. Not bad, but not like the old days, but better than just a DJ. The other band Blood Power was excellent, they played all over the ship. The line dances were at several deck parties, Macarainer, Cupid Shuffle ,Woble, ect and that was fun. Tendering at Grand Caymen was surprisingly easy. Any questions? Just ask

 

Thank you! I agree every cruise is great because I am on vacation!

[douglinc@msn.com]

We are doing a b2b on the Triumph begining 1-28. My unerstanding is that we would be escorted off the ship thru customs and escorted right back on. Sounds like it is much easier to just stay onboard. Hope it works that way for us.

 

Dou

[fivebewe]

We're booked on the Paradise 1/12/2013. How quick was disembarkment when you got back to Tampa? I'm wondering about booking an 11:00 AM flight. Is there a way to get off first & clear customs quickly? I figured we'd just catch a cab & head to the airport. The 11:00 AM non-stop beats a whole day of connecting flights.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks

[cruiseveteran2]

I wanted to let everyone know that on our recent B2B on the Paradise Nov 8 / Nov 12, we never got off the ship. We received a letter the last sea day to come to service desk for a little paper work and new key cards and done! No customs and immigration . Interesting to note that in the Atrium at 10:25 I heard over the radio held by Carnival security, a TSA agent say 'anyone not off by 10:30 must stay on board until 2:00. Well that sent Carnival security into high gear clearing out some people sitting at the Atrium Bar who said ' We want to be last off the ship' . Security said you are last you must go now. Then he looked at me and I quickly said ' I'm staying B2B' --- For the next hour we saw an army of cleaners and movers, and by 11:30 new guests started to arrive. Got to give it to them they really work hard.

 

Does it go back to the same ports on the second leg? Im willing to try a B2B with 2 5 day cruises in the near future.

[cruiseveteran2]

We're booked on the Paradise 1/12/2013. How quick was disembarkment when you got back to Tampa? I'm wondering about booking an 11:00 AM flight. Is there a way to get off first & clear customs quickly? I figured we'd just catch a cab & head to the airport. The 11:00 AM non-stop beats a whole day of connecting flights.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks

 

I flew on a 1130 flight from Miami last week, when i got to the airport (830) it was a madhouse with security, unless you fly first class you will be waiting for the security line. Luckly My ship was back on sat so I stayed a extra day to get to my flight earlyer. I wouldnt do it. Expecially if they changed gates like they did with me. I had to go alway from gate D6 to D32 with involved a tram. Not easy when your traveling with someone in a wheel chair.

 

Im sure tampa probably wont be as bad as miami since only one ship is there at a time and not 3-4..

[docs wife]

We're booked on the Paradise 1/12/2013. How quick was disembarkment when you got back to Tampa? I'm wondering about booking an 11:00 AM flight. Is there a way to get off first & clear customs quickly? I figured we'd just catch a cab & head to the airport. The 11:00 AM non-stop beats a whole day of connecting flights.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks

 

 

I wouldn't try it....Too often, the port gets closed due to rough water (ship can't make it back in under the bridge). Twice now, I have been "stuck" at sea and had to change late afternoon and evening flights to the next day.

 

If (when) I sail from Tampa again, I will book my flights for the day after the cruise returns (and then, probably could have made the earlier flights...lol)

[angelndscz]

Why would someone insist they want to be last off the ship? That was nice of you to explain to them you were on a B2B but it was non of their business. I don't get people. Do the get a gold sticker for being last?

[Ehpride]

We're booked on the Paradise 1/12/2013. How quick was disembarkment when you got back to Tampa? I'm wondering about booking an 11:00 AM flight. Is there a way to get off first & clear customs quickly? I figured we'd just catch a cab & head to the airport. The 11:00 AM non-stop beats a whole day of connecting flights.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks

 

You'd have to be at the airport by 9 am. The last time I flew out of Tampa, I waited in line at security for probably half an hour. You might be able to make it but it'd be stressful especially if the ship got delayed at all.

[RayJacki]

We are doing a b2b on the Triumph begining 1-28. My unerstanding is that we would be escorted off the ship thru customs and escorted right back on. Sounds like it is much easier to just stay onboard. Hope it works that way for us.

 

Dou

 

Both times that we HAVE NOT had to leave the ship for the B2B turnaround have been in Tampa (but on a cruise line other than CCL). We've had to debark then immediately reboard at all other ports.