Hello. Well, I have been on the Monarch twice since it has been refurbished. The last time was Jan 06 for the 4 day Baja. We just did our first Carnival on the Paradise for the 3 day Baja. We had to do Carnival, because the other couple we cruised with had a tight schedule, they had never cruised before. Otherwise, we would of booked the Monarch. We just did the 3 night Baja on the Paradise over New Years a few weeks ago. I tried to be unbiased. Overall, my husband and I much prefered the Monarch. The Monarch has a more classy, nautical theme. The dining room was MUCH classier. The food buffets had a much better selection, I thought the quality was the same. The Monarch rooms are smaller, but adequate. On the Monarch, the lifeboats are tucked down below, down on the lower level open decks. Now, on the Paradise, a HUGE dislike for me was the lifeboats hung out on the open deck above the pool deck. So, when you walked on the open deck above the pool, it was the highest full deck, there are all the lifeboats hanging off the edge, blocking alot of your view
. The pool deck has windows all around it, with no lifeboats blocking your view. I like to spend alot of quiet time on the open air decks, watching the world sail by, I felt like I was pretty much robbed of that. We did not like the dining room at all. The service was fine, and food good. The dining room major dislike was the decor, very cheesy IMHO, we actually sat in a booth. It immediately made me feel like I was in a regular restaurant, like it was nothing special. There are these lights on the ceiling on the Paradise, they would flash them on and off. Cheesy, once again is the only word I can think off to describe my thoughts. It almost had a disco effect, minus the music. The overall decor was much busier, than what I was used too, but it worked. I enjoyed the different decor in the bars. The spas on both ships are run by the same company. I spent alot of time in both ships spa, and they are the same. Anyways, I know it was only our first Carnival cruise, and I shouldn't judge Carnival on a 3 night party boat cruise over New Years, on one of there oldest ships. But, my husband and I both agreed it was our last Carnival cruise. Anyways, these are just my thoughts. I would be more willing to try Carnival on a newer ship, with there lifeboats hidden more discretely. Hope this helps,
Lil' Lori
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