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Cruise Carnival's Smoke-free Paradise

© By Tim Benford III

As a long-time cruiser, and non-smoker, I was very happy in November 1998 when Carnival Cruise Lines took a revolutionary step and launched the first totally smoke-free ship in the industry, the 2,052-passenger Paradise. In fact, we thought the idea was so good that my fiancée Kathy and I (also a non-smoker) decided a Paradise cruise would be a fantastic honeymoon, and it was! But I must admit, I thought the idea was risky business. After all, despite all the non-smokers out there, many of them have spouses or companions who do smoke. Would this unprecedented bold move actually work? Would Carnival Cruises be able to fill ship week after week with 2,052 non-smokers?

The answer is an unqualified yes. So much so that Carnival has announced it will operate a series of six Caribbean "Fun Ship" cruises of 10 and 11 days duration from Miami in 2002.

The Paradise offers a wide variety of dining, activity and entertainment options, all of which are enjoyed in a totally smoke-free environment and which, as honeymooners, all added to our overall enjoyment.

Interestingly, the interior décor of the Paradise pay nostalgic homage to some of the great ocean-crossing passenger lines of yesteryear with public rooms such as the Queen Mary Lounge, Rex Dance Club, Rotterdam Bar, America Piano Bar, and Blue Riband Library, named for the crossing speed record award presented to the fastest transatlantic ocean liner.

Dining options include a casual poolside eatery, the Paris Restaurant, featuring a 24-hour pizzeria and breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives, as well as the elegant Elation and Destiny formal dining rooms offering full-service multi-course meals. Complimentary 24-hour room service and a patisserie are also available (another bonus for honeymooners). Carnival's Total Choice Dining is the cruise industry's most comprehensive dining program of casual and formal choices at sea.

This magnificent ship also boasts three swimming pools, an expansive casino, a 12,000-squarefoot health club, a conference center, a duty-free shopping mall, and indoor and outdoor children's play areas, part of the line's "Camp Carnival" children's program. Obviously everyone onboard is not on their honeymoon.

The voyages, combined with the Paradise's popular eastern and western Caribbean cruises from Miami, provide non-smoking passengers with four different options for smoke-free cruising. "Since we introduced the Paradise, there has been an increasing demand for more smoke-free itineraries, and these exciting new 10- and 11 -day voyages provide even more choices for guests to enjoy this one-of-a-kind vacation experience" said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president.

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