carnival cruise in mobile al

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Mobile has been charming visitors since 1702, and today is a colorful, fun-loving city. It’s one of the oldest port cities in America, and just blocks from the Mobile Cruise Terminal is a vibrant, walkable downtown district undergoing a serious renaissance. Check out the restaurants, bars, breweries, cafés, galleries and shops — most locally owned — and meet the folks who run these businesses for a warm, Southern-hospitality welcome.

• The Mobile/Tensaw Delta is just minutes from the cruise terminal and offers kayak, canoe and sightseeing tours before you set sail on Carnival Fantasy.
• Enjoy traditional and contemporary takes on the fresh seafood and coastal cuisine that’s been spicing up Mobile’s restaurant scene.

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* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

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8-Day Bahamas Cruise

Fun with a capital F is what you can expect on a Carnival Cruise. With the largest fleet at sea Carnival offers sailings perfect for the whole family.

Bring the whole family for a sunny Bahamas cruise full of smiles, sandy beaches, and maybe a snorkel or two.

Located on the Gulf Coast of the United States and known as the 12th largest port in the country, the cruise port of Mobile Alabama is definitely one for history buffs.

• Carnival Spirit - Passenger Capacity: 2,124 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2001 Last Refurbished: 2018

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Carnival Spirit

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Mobile, Alabama

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Mobile, Alabama , Key West, Florida , Freeport, Bahamas , Nassau, Bahamas , Half Moon Cay (Little San Salvador Island), Bahamas

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8-Day Bahamas Cruise sailing on the Carnival Spirit

Departure dates: nov 2024 - mar 2026.

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From $1,064

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*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

Carnival reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel. Rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government taxes & fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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Carnival Cruise Line Opens 2024/2025 Sailings From Mobile, Alabama

Carnival Cruise Line announced today that sales for the brand’s 2024/2025 cruises departing from Mobile, Alabama on Carnival Spirit are now open! The sailings include Caribbean itineraries and a 12-day Carnival Journeys Southern Caribbean cruise.

“The sailings we’re opening today offer some great new choices for our guests and build on our plans for the Mobile community, where we’ve enjoyed a long and successful partnership,” said Fred Stein, Carnival’s vice president of revenue planning and deployment.

2024/2025 Sailings from Mobile, Alabama

E xotic Western Caribbean Cruise:

• 8-day cruise departing on October 26, 2024 
• Visits Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico

Bahamas Cruise:

• 8-day cruise departing on November 9 and 23, 2024 
• Visits Key West, Florida; Freeport, Nassau and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Western Caribbean Cruise: 

• 8-day cruise departing on March 15, 2025
• Visits Grand Cayman, Cayman Island; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Cozumel, Mexico

RELATED : Carnival Jubilee Will Feature Two New Sea-Themed Zones

Western Caribbean Cruise:

• 6-day cruise departing on April 6, 2025 
• Visits Cozumel, Mexico and Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan
• 5-day cruise departing on March 10, 2025
• Visits visits Yucatan (Progreso), and Cozumel, Mexico

Carnival Journeys Cruise:

• 12-day cruise departing on January 18, 2025
• Visits Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Aruba; Curacao; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Carnival Spirit will call Mobile its homeport this October. 

Carnival Journeys Cruises from Seattle, Washington 

The brand also announced two new Carnival Journeys departing from Seattle, Washington aboard the Carnival Spirit . This includes Carnival Cruise Line’s first-ever voyage from Seattle to Hawaii. Carnival Journeys cruises offer longer sailings, more destinations, and engaging activities and dining experiences. 

Carnival Journeys Hawaii Cruise:

• 15-day cruise departing on September 24, 2024
• Visits Honolulu, Kauai (Nawiliwili), Maui (Kahului) and Hilo, Hawaii; Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Carnival Journeys Panama Canal Cruise:

• 16-day cruise departing on October 9, 2024 
• Visits Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia; New Orleans

Will you be traveling on the Carnival Spirit? Let us know in the comments!

By Lily Ogburn 

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Carnival Spirit Begins Cruising From Mobile

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: October 7, 2023  - Last updated: October 9, 2023

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit has begun sailing from her new homeport in Mobile, Alabama to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Carniva l’s 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit has greeted the first passengers departing from her new homeport in Mobile, Alabama. With Spirit ‘s inaugural sailing from Mobile, the cruise line brings more variety in itineraries departing from the port.

Captain Salvatore Siviero and Carnival Spirit ‘s officers welcomed passengers as well as notable guests as they boarded the ship—including City of Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Visit Mobile president and CEO David Clark —for an onboard celebration led by Sarah Beth Reno , Carnival’s SVP of guest operations.

“It’s great to see another Carnival funnel amid the Mobile skyline today. We are truly pleased to continue our strong partnership of more than 21 years with the city of Mobile,” Reno said in a press release .

“ Carnival Spirit is the perfect ship to carry out this new cruise program for Mobile, offering more accommodation options and all that our guests expect to find on a ‘Fun Ship,’ along with longer itineraries that offer guests a wider range of destinations to explore.”

Spirit ‘s chefs created a jumbo version of Mobile’s famous MoonPie dessert, decorated with Carnival’s iconic whale tail funnel design, for the festivities. In Mobile, MoonPies are customarily thrown to onlookers during Mardi Gras parades. Mayor Stimpson cut the first slice of the enormous treat, which was then served to guests on board.

“Mobilians love to see a cruise ship on the waterfront, and Carnival Spirit is the best ship we’ve ever had. It will offer unparalleled itineraries and experiences and have a positive economic impact on the local retailers, restaurants, and hotels that serve Carnival’s guests,” said Stimpson. “It was a pleasure to personally greet the first guests today and kick off what I know will be a successful cruising season.”

Guests sailing on the inaugural voyage from Mobile will enjoy an eight-day Bahamas cruise featuring stops in Bimini, Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau. The ship will then sail a series of six- and eight-day voyages now through March 2024.

Related: 7 Best Beaches in Nassau Bahamas for Cruisers

Carnival has also opened cruises from fall 2024 to spring 2025 on Carnival Spirit from Mobile, featuring five-, six-, and eight-day itineraries, as well as a 12-day Carnival Journeys Southern Caribbean cruise—the first Journeys cruise scheduled from Mobile.

Carnival Spirit offers a wide range of amenities and many signature Carnival venues, including Alchemy Bar , Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse , and RedFrog Rum Bar . Guests will also have more choice of accommodations, with the ship offering twice the number of balcony staterooms offered on prior ships homeported in Mobile.

More news about Carnival Cruise Line

Do you love to cruise from Mobile? Are you excited that Carnival Spirit is now homeporting in the city? Let me know what you think in the comments!

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Carnival Mobile Cruise Reviews

1 - 10 of 103 Carnival Mobile Cruise Reviews

Sail Date: February 2024

Review for a Bahamas Cruise on Carnival Spirit

We wanted to see the Bahamas. The cruise left from Mobile, a very convenient port for us. Room was clean and comfortable. Steward did a great job. Food was way suboptimal. Not sure I have ever been on a cruise where the food was worse. Actually ate three times where I tried simple entrees or appetizers that were just awful. I have never left that much food on the plate. One bite was all it took. ... Read More

Sail Date: January 2024

Actually the Spirit cruise chose us! My husband and I won the cruise through Windcreek casino. This was our first time sailing, it was not a wonderful experience at all. I fell and injured myself and the staff cared nothing about it, they just tried to clean up their mess, and charge me $125 to see a doctor at medic, before even being concerned about my injuries. I as really hurt, in fact, ... Read More

Sail Date: December 2023

Cabin Type: Ocean View

It was my first time on a Spirit-class ship and I really think it's my favorite class I've been on. Even though it was a completely sold-out sailing, it didn't feel crowded at all. Most all the events we went to, we were able to get a seat without any problem - despite not showing up early. There was only one comedy show that we went to about 5-10 minutes before it started that was full and we ... Read More

Review for a Caribbean - Western Cruise on Carnival Spirit

I had high hopes for this cruise. Our last cruise on the Pride was amazing. But this was far from it. Never seem our cruise director. Wouldn't know what she even looked like. New menu is not good. Poor quality. Terrible taste. Overcooked or cold. Buffet was terrible. Breakfast was inedible. Eggs were water, bacon was raw, croissants was were stale. Good luck getting butter. Didn't even ... Read More

Sail Date: November 2023

Review for a Caribbean - Eastern Cruise on Carnival Ecstasy

We have cruised on the Ecstasy a few times. We will miss her as her last voyages are near. The staff is amazing and even though she is old and weary the ship is spotless. We witnessed staff dancing with and playing with the children on board and going above and beyond to make hem smile. Also crew assisted disabled passengers in a fun and kind way. The food was the highlight. Even the buffet food ... Read More

Sail Date: September 2022

Cabin Type: Balcony

Review for a Caribbean - Western Cruise on Carnival Ecstasy

I enjoy cruising, and it is not my first time of going on a solo cruise. In 2022, I started off the year on Carnival Valor on a New Years Eve cruise, followed by a Valentine's Day 8 day cruise on Carnival Freedom, and I have a birthday cruise already lined up for November on Carnival Horizon. I became listless and decided an end of the summer cruise would be fine, and booked within a month of ... Read More

Sail Date: August 2022

Cabin Type: Interior

I was invited on this cruise by family it was my 1st time & I loved it. I would hear people say how small ship was but to me was huge!! The check in process was very smooth, the food was delicious, the best coffee I've ever had. The entertainment was so great. I had so much fun!! Every employee I came in contact with couldn't do enough to make sure I had everything I needed. The energy that ... Read More

Sail Date: July 2022

Our room smelled like smoke, and we contacted Pande our stateroom attendant three different days of the five day cruise. The burgers and pizza was fine but the FINE restaurant food was total joke. People dressing up for food that’s like the western sizzler…please. Definitely not up scale at all. If your in to quantity of food it’s your cruise but if you want quality… this is definitely not it. ... Read More

Sail Date: May 2022

Cabin Type: Extended Balcony Grand Suite

Traveled with children

We love that there were now cruises out of Mobile! We had booked especially after 8-9 cruises were previously cancelled and tried a Jr. Ste unobstructed supposedly. There were several large cranes in view and a deck below. I Always try to check the view and what’s above/below but no indications of either issue. This was the smallest balcony I’ve ever had. Needless to say I only spent about 5 ... Read More

Sail Date: April 2022

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Mobile (Alabama)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Bahamas - Caribbean - Bermuda

Local Time 2024-03-30 01:01

Port Mobile cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Mobile, Alabama. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Port Mobile AL is Alabama USA's only seaport. It is located on Mobile Bay (Gulf of Mexico's inlet) which is formed by Fort Morgan Peninsula (on the east) and Dauphin Island (on the west). The city covers an area of approx 413 km2 (159 mi2) and has population around 195,000 (metro around 415,000).

Among the city's most popular tourist attractions are Bellingrath Gardens and Home, antebellum home Oakleigh Mansion, Cox-Deasy Cottage Museum and Battleship USS Alabama. Fort Conde is a partial replica of an original 18th-century French fort. Fort Gaines is the battle site of the famed Battle of the Bay in August 1864. Mobile is the birthplace of the USA's Mardi Gras (aka America's Family Mardi Gras).

Wildlife fans should visit Audubon Bird Sanctuary on Dauphin Island. Another fresh idea is boat touring Mobile Bay's estuary, home to over 250 species of birds, 230 species of fish and wildlife, including black bears, alligators, bald eagles, osprey.

Port Mobile Alabama

Port Mobile is a deepwater seaport (Alabama's only one) ranked in 2010 as the USA's 12th largest cargo port by tonnage (shipping trade volume over 55,7 million tons). The port is along Mobile River - where the river empties into the bay.

The port has deep-water terminals which all have direct access to Alabama's inland and intracoastal waterways. These waterways also serve USA's Great Lakes, and the rivers Ohio and Tennessee (via Tenn-Tom / Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway with length 377 km / 234 mi).

The port and all its facilities are owned and managed by Alabama State Port Authority. All public terminals can handle various types of cargo ships (including container / boxships , bulk and breakbulk carriers, Ro-Ro ships (roll-on / roll-off). The port also has private bulk terminal operators. All container, general cargo and bulk cargo terminals have dirrect access to two US interstate railway systems plus 5 "Class I" US railroads. The CG Railway (terminal railroad) operates from the Mobile Alabama port a rail ferry service to Coatzacoalcos (Mexico).

Mobile is USA's largest seaport for handling breakbulk forest products. McDuffie Terminal is among USA's largest coal terminals. It is also the country's largest import coal terminal. Mobile AL was ranked USA's 4th largest coal export port for 2012, with the majority of the exports being shipped to Europe and South America.

In the period 2010-2015, the port invested over USD 0,5 billion in redevelopment projects, including port infrastructure improvements, land acquisitions, warehousing, constructing new rail depots and inter-modal yards, also improvements and enhancements of cargo terminals (serving oil tankers and gas carriers) and cargo shipping vessels (containerized, bulk, breakbulk). A new rail ferry terminal and a new container terminal were also built. A new steel terminal was also built to serve Calvert Alabama's stainless and carbon steel processing facility. The McDuffie Coal Terminal was expanded.

On April 20, 2017, APM Terminals announced that THE Alliance ( container shipping companies group ) launches in May 2017 the AL4 trade route between Port Mobile and ports in Northern Europe. The AL4 route is a weekly container vessel service and links the ports Mobile AL,  Southampton England ,  Antwerp Belgium ,  Bremerhaven Germany ,  Le Havre (Paris France) , Veracruz Mexico, Altamira Mexico,  Houston TX ,  NOLA New Orleans , Mobile AL. APM Terminals Mobile opened in 2008 and reported a record year in 2016 (handling 277,307 TEU-containers).

On March 20, 2020, was completed APM Terminals Mobile's quay extension. The expanded berth now can handle two boxships (max 10K-TEU capacity each) simultaneously. The container dock extension was part of a USD 450 million project aimed to increase the terminal's capacity by upgrading and expanding all the port's marine and rail intermodal terminals. By this project, in 2020 also started works on shipping channel dredging and harbor improvements.

Mobile cruise port

Port Mobile ceased cruise shipping operations in October 2011, when  Carnival Cruise Line (homeporting vessels here since 2004) relocated  Carnival Elation  and stopped using the port, mainly due to rising fuel costs. In February 2013, Carnival Triumph  was stranded at sea for 4 days. Then the port opened its cruise dock for the disabled vessel, where its nearly 4000 passengers were disembarked.

• In late-September 2015, the city promised to put up USD 200,000 per quarter (USD 0,8 million per year) for marketing. The marketing fund was established with the city's money from parking revenue and used for marketing cruises leaving from Mobile. It was estimated that from parking fees, terminal / port fees and passenger charges, the city will have an annual profit ~USD 2 million on cruise ship operations. It was also announced that starting November 2016, Carnival Fantasy will offer a year-long 4-day and 5-day cruise schedule to Mexico leaving roundtrip from "Mobile Cruise Terminal".
• In September-October 2016, the port invested USD 4 million in new TSA equipment (security and baggage screening machines) installed on the terminal's 2nd floor.
• On November 10, 2015, Carnival Fantasy started its homeporting/turnaround service to Mexico. The 4-day itinerary departed Thursdays and visited Cozumel . The 5-day itineraries departed Mondays and Saturdays, visiting Cozumel and Costa Maya or  Progreso .
• In November 2016, Carnival Corporation signed a 13-month contract (thru December 2017) with Port Mobile AL. As all 2017 cruises were booked within a month, Carnival allowed travel agents to book itineraries out of Mobile into April 2019.
• In August 2017, Carnival signed a 1-year contract extension with the port (through December 2019). In October 2019, Carnival signed a 3-year homeporting extension (through November 2022) for Carnival Fantasy.

Since 2018, Carnival offers 7-day roundtrip departures from Mobile AL to destinations no longer limited to Caribbean Mexico. On April 25, 2017, the company officially announced that Carnival Fantasy will offer new itineraries with call ports in the Bahamas, Key West Florida , Grand Cayman Island/George Town , Costa Rica, Belize, Panama Canal . The new itineraries are longer than the ship's usual 4- and 5-night roundtrips to Mexico.

Since August 2021, Carnival Sensation is homeported in Mobile AL for Western Caribbean itineraries: 4-night (to Cozumel) and 5-night (Cozumel and Progreso). (For the first time ever) the boat docked in Mobile (at Alabama Cruise Terminal) on May 14, 2021.

Mobile cruise terminal

Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal is a 66,000 ft2 (6,130 m2) sized cruise ship facility with top-notch security, dedicated cruise parking area and covered lanes serving passenger pickup / drop off vehicles. The cruise ship terminal building is located in downtown Mobile City, in close proximity to hotels and restaurants.

The passenger terminal is just 0,5 mi (800 m) from Interstate 10 (USA's 4th longest highway) and just 6 mi (10 km) from the junction of Interstate 65 and Interstate 10.

Free shuttle bus service is offered between the cruise terminal and offsite parking lots at Mobile Civic Center.

Cruise Parking

The cruise terminal's parking allows pre-pay online payments (have a picture of the car's license plate). On-site payments can be done at kiosks located in the lift lobbies on each of the terminal's floors, and also at the offsite parking lots (at Mobile Civic Center). Know that these kiosks don't accept in cash bills larger than USD 50.

The cruise port's Premium Parking app also allows online payments. The parking services are also assisted via 24 hour phone line (1-844 236-2011).

Parking rates vary by parking period and vehicle size (car, minivan, truck, SUV, motorcycle). Height restricted vehicles are directed to an offsite parking lot (at Mobile Civic Center). All oversized vehicles are also directed to an offsite parking lot (at Mobile Civic Center).

• Rates for regular sized vehicles are USD 72 (4-day parking), USD 90 (5-day parking) and USD 126 (7-day parking).
• Rates for oversized vehicles (RVs / Campers) are USD 144 (4-day parking), USD 180 (5-day parking) and USD 252 (7-day parking).
• Rates for busses are USD 216 (4-day parking), USD 270 (5-day parking) and USD 378 (7-day parking).

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Carnival Spirit Review: My Experience on Her Second Cruise Out of Mobile, AL

Carnival has returned to Mobile, Alabama! Residents of Alabama have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Carnival Spirit for months.

The Carnival Spirit set sail on its inaugural cruise out of Mobile on October 6th, 2023. Cruisers aboard this first sailing visited Bimini , Freeport, Nassau, and Half Moon Cay . I had the opportunity to sail on the second voyage, visiting Mahogany Bay , Belize, Costa Maya, and Cozumel .

My family had a wonderful time on this cruise. Was it perfect? No. Was it a great vacation spent aboard a beautiful ship, creating memories that will last a lifetime? Absolutely.

Arrival in Mobile

You may have read my recent article, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of Carnival Spirit’s Second Cruise from Mobile. If not, maybe give that a read when you have time.

There, I went in-depth about the train wreck that was the Mobile Cruise Terminal. By now, Mobile is likely to be in a rhythm and have everything worked out. On October 14th, they did not. It was as if a baseball player had been called up to the Major League, directly from Little League.

After parking, things greatly improved. After going through priority check-in, we were on board within 15 minutes. My family was greeted by several smiling faces that we would recognize throughout the week. We were Home .

Day 1 – Embarkation

Immediately, we could see that the ship was decorated for the Halloween season. The lobby was full of Halloween garland, music, and a towering “Patch, the Pumpkin Pirate”! Patch was definitely the centerpiece of the lobby and set the tone for the entire cruise.

Note: Hiding ducks around Patch was pretty popular throughout the trip. In fact, I found a duck on Deck 3, while enjoying music in the lobby. Someone had carefully placed a duck inside the Halloween garland surrounding the Pixels area. Always look EVERYWHERE for hidden ducks! 

Since we had priority boarding, we were able to take our luggage directly to our cabin. Upon arrival, we met our amazing cabin steward, Rai. If you have the opportunity to cruise the Spirit, Rai is a Housekeeping Whisperer. He was literally in the hallway every single time we passed through. We could be gone for just a quick meal and upon our return, our room was perfect.

This evening we explored the ship and learned our way around. The Jungle Interior Promenade quickly became a favorite for us. This is a unique area that winds around the outer area of the promenade, while being indoors. The entire area is decorated like a jungle. This was another very popular area for hiding ducks.

Day 2 – Fun Day at Sea

Today was the perfect day to explore the Carnival Spirit. After sleeping in, we made our way to the Lido and sampled a variety of breakfast selections. The buffet this time of day is truly a breakfast lovers’ paradise. You will find breakfast meats, eggs, potatoes, Eggs Benedict (each day alternates between ham and salmon), cereals, oatmeal, grits, waffles or pancakes, juices, and coffee. For a spot-on breakfast burrito or huevos rancheros, visit Blue Iguana Cantina.

Today, we attended the Diamond Luncheon. The Captain and his officers were in attendance, as well as the Cruise Director, Erin. We enjoyed filet mignon, crab cakes, and deconstructed chocolate cake.

Apparently, this was the day for eating way too much. Tonight, we had reservations in the Steakhouse for my mother’s birthday. The service was impeccable and the food was perfectly cooked. A couple of us enjoyed the Surf & Turf, while my husband was in heaven eating his 18oz rib eye.

After dinner, we attended one of the Carnival Playlist Production Shows, 80s Pop to the Max. The Carnival entertainers performed their versions of Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Cindy Lauper.

Day 3 – Fun Day at Sea

Our second “Fun Day at Sea” was full of relaxation and–you guessed it–eating lots of food!

We started our day with another trip to the Lido buffet. After we indulged a bit too much, we grabbed a coffee and made our way to the Alchemy Bar area. This part of the ship has plenty of seating and was popular throughout the cruise. Here, we people-watched, read our books, and played crossword puzzles until lunchtime. We sampled a yummy cheeseburger from Guy’s Burgers for a late lunch.

Later, my husband and I introduced my parents to the game Phase 10. We played this game in the Alchemy Bar seating area. After playing through about half the phases, we all retired to our rooms for a nap.

We spent time exploring the ship this evening and paid special attention to The Fun Shops. We really enjoyed the shopping areas on this ship, especially the layout and space. There was a wide variety of merchandise and a lot of clearance items from the previous Alaskan cruises.

Tonight, we decided to check out the Serenity area. We enjoyed the clam shells and gazed at the stars at the back of the ship. I may or may not have snuck off to grab a freshly-made ham and cheese sandwich before returning to the comforts of the cushioned chairs. We highly recommend visiting the Serenity area at night. It’s not busy and it’s very peaceful.

Day 4 – Roatan

Unfortunately, today was a wet and rainy mess. The skies were gray and rain was steady all day long. We did not have an excursion planned today, so we did not rush to exit the ship. We leisurely enjoyed breakfast and another round of Phase 10.

Close to lunchtime, my husband and I decided to brave the weather. We walked around the lovely port of Mahogany Bay . Several local shops were open and the stores were pretty busy. The Craft Market was our favorite spot. Located near the end of the port shopping area, The Craft Market was akin to the Straw Market in Nassau.

The market was much smaller than the Straw Market but it had the same feel. Local merchants displayed their unique wares and were ready to make some deals.

Once we finished at The Craft Market, the rain started to pour down. We walked to the entrance of the Magical Flying Chairs, but the rain was just too much. At that point, we walked back to the ship and lounged around for the rest of the afternoon.

Day 5 – Belize

Today, we woke up to a bit of a surprise. We decided to sleep in and we were woken up by an announcement over the intercom by the Captain. The ship had lost power. We were already anchored outside of Belize but the cabin was dark and it was obvious that there was a problem.

For the next hour, we would receive several announcements and updates. While the power was out, we were unable to use the restrooms or use the main cabin lights. After a while, we were notified that the power was starting to be restored. Over the next bit of time, the lights were slowly turned back on. Eventually, we were able to use the restrooms and life resumed as previously planned.

The last time I tendered into Belize, I got sick while on the boat. None of us really wanted to deal with the choppy waters or tender boats today, so we opted to stay onboard.

The four of us enjoyed a round of mini golf. We had a great time and I highly recommend playing a round the next time you are onboard.

After our game, we visited the Blue Iguana Cantina for some lunch. I chose a bowl with steak rice, black beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, salsa verde, medium salsa, shredded cheese, and extra cilantro.

Day 6 – Costa Maya

Today, we woke up to the beautiful Costa Maya . We knew ahead of time that there would be a total of four cruise ships in port. If you aren’t familiar with Costa Maya, that is A LOT of people for that area.

After another delicious breakfast on the Lido, my husband and I decided to exit the ship. We walked with the masses towards the entrance of the port area. Once we arrived at the end of the pier, there was a bit of a “traffic jam”. It took a bit for the crowd to disperse. There were multiple tour operators soliciting vacationers to purchase tours for the day.

We made our way through the port area over the next couple of hours. It was so busy that the people were literally being “herded” through the shopping areas. There was zero extra space and it was one big sweaty mess by the time we made it through.

Related: Best things to do in Costa Maya on a cruise

After making our way back to the ship, we prepared for dinner. This evening, we decided to eat at Bonsai Sushi. This meal was fantastic and the service was excellent. Between the four of us, we tried the Tempura Roll, Bonsai Noodle Salad, Wagyu Kakuni, and a Bento Box.

Day 7 – Cozumel

Like many, Cozumel is my favorite port to visit. Luckily, the Carnival Spirit was the only ship at the Puerta Maya Pier. We had the entire port area to ourselves. It was fantastic.

We made our way through the duty-free shops and created mental notes of the possible purchases we could make on our way back to the ship.

My family went directly to our favorite Cozumel store, Los Cinco Soles. This store is always our pick for souvenirs and gifts for family. Los Cinco Soles isn’t your typical touristy souvenir shop. They sell artisanal crafts, produced by local artists. This is also the place for authentic Mexican vanilla. The prices are a bit higher here, but the quality is greater.

After looking around Los Cinco Soles, we visited Pancho’s Backyard. You can enter Pancho’s through one side of Los Cinco Soles, or you can enter by the outside patio area. We opted for a table on the sandy, beach-like area by the restaurant.

For the next couple of hours, we enjoyed each other’s company and noshed on appetizers. We sampled authentic guacamole, salsa, and freshly-made chips. The guacamole was so good, we ordered two rounds of it for our group.

Day 8 – Fun Day at Sea

We spent our last day at sea enjoying the beautiful Carnival Spirit as much as possible. After breakfast, we spent some time relaxing on our balcony. Our view was partially obstructed, but that never deterred us throughout the trip. A lifeboat was in our view, but only a small amount of the boat blocked any views.

We explored the Fun Shops more and thoroughly enjoyed our stress-free day at sea. The casino was our “home” for a majority of the afternoon.

If you enjoy the casinos on Carnival ships, the one aboard the Spirit is no different. The Casino Hosts are very friendly, there is a nice assortment of slots and table games, and plenty of activities were planned throughout the week.

Related: Best ways to enjoy sea days on a cruise

After enjoying one last Philly Cheesesteak sandwich from the Lido, we made our way back to our cabin to organize our luggage. Packing our bags is always bittersweet but a necessary evil of every cruise.

Luckily, we figured out how to get everything sorted and put away into our bags. We did not set any bags outside our room, as we planned to walk off the ship with all of our luggage.

Debarkation

We set our alarms for roughly 5:30AM. We wanted to have enough time to eat breakfast on the Lido one last time. After getting ready, eating breakfast, and gathering our luggage, we made our way to The Napoleon Room. This was the designated spot for Diamond card-holders to meet and leave the ship as early as possible.

After waiting close to thirty minutes, we were led off the ship by the Cruise Director, Erin. We quickly made our way through Customs and we were back to our car within fifteen minutes of leaving the ship.

This cruise was absolutely wonderful. There were a few hiccups along the way, but nothing that made our trip negative.

We’ve considered the Carnival Spirit for an Alaskan cruise next year, or another Caribbean cruise that visits Jamaica and Grand Cayman . Whatever we decide, we are sure to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Read more by Kristi: Best ways to spend a sea day on a cruise ship 10 Best tips for packing light for a cruise

Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (Sponsored)

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We had the same experience on this same cruise. Loved the ship and cruise but Mobile was the worst experience out of any cruise port we have ever departed from. We were held in an overflow lot for 1 1/2 hours past our check in time which was 10. Then instead of letting the lot where we were being held go the parking garage, we had to get behind a line of cars past interstate 10. We ended up parking on the top floor of the garage. (Uncovered parking). I swore I would never depart from Mobile again. They definitely need to get their act together. We love Carnival but not Mobile.

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Boondoggle no more: How Carnival’s return gives Mobile hope for cruise terminal payoff

• Published: Oct. 05, 2023, 6:30 a.m.

Pictures of the Alabama Cruise Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/[email protected]).

• John Sharp | [email protected]

Twelve years ago, the Carnival Elation set sail out of the Alabama Cruise Terminal for the last time leaving city leaders perplexed and holding the bag on what was quickly shaping up to be a massive waterfront boondoggle.

It would be another five years before the cruise line returned with another cruise ship.

Fast forward to this month, and a light is shining on the finality of the cruise terminal’s debt ahead of Friday’s arrival of the Carnival Spirit . If all things go according to plan for Mobile, the revenue streams during the duration of the Spirit’s stay in Mobile could come close to covering the remainder of the terminal’s debt.

It’s a rapid reversal of fortune for a city that, not too long ago, wondered if it was ever getting a cruise ship back to raise the revenues needed to offset the taxpayer’s obligations on the terminal’s annual bond note of $1.4 million to $1.8 million.

“It’s important to have a ship there,” said Councilman Joel Daves, who chairs the council’s finance committee. “If we don’t have one there, it doesn’t service the debt. And we just have to pay for it.”

Revenue potentials

Carnival Spirit (image provided by Carnival Cruise Line)

Under a five-year agreement with Carnival Cruise Line to bring the Spirit to Mobile , the city anticipates receiving a rough estimate of $3 million each year from a combination of wharfage, parking fees, and other income the cruise terminal brings in from hosting events and conferences during the off-season. Wharfage is the fee charged to dock the cruise ship at the Alabama Cruise Terminal.

The Carnival Spirit is set to operate for only six months – October to May – after which point it will be repositioned during the summer months for sailings in Alaska. The excursions from Mobile include five, six, eight, and 12-day trips. Destinations include sailings around the Caribbean Sea to such destinations as Key West, Fla.; Half Moon Cay and Nassau in the Bahamas; Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos and Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

The terminal’s debt is expected to expire in 2030, which is the same year Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s administration is eying the entire city being “debt free.” Around $11 million remains to be paid off on the original note to build the facility in 2004. The terminal’s debt is included in an overall bond package that the city believes will be paid off within seven years, saving about $50 million a year.

The agreement with Carnival Cruise Line could last to 2029, or almost up to the time that the terminal’s debt is paid off. The five-year agreement for the Carnival Spirit is a first in the 20-year relationship between Mobile and the Miami-based cruise giant. The agreement includes two one-year renewals with the company.

Joe Snowden, the city of Mobile's executive director of administrative services. (John Sharp/[email protected]).

Joe Snowden, executive director of administrative services with the City of Mobile, said the amount Carnival pays in wharfage is set to increase by 3 percent over the life of the five-year agreement, which means that even more revenues will come back into the city over the coming years.

But city officials also say they want to secure a year-round agreement with Carnival Cruise Line that will allow for more cruise ships and more revenues.

Operational costs remain a factor and estimates from recent years show that a six-month cruise ship would have a hard time breaking even. During fiscal year 2020, the terminal’s operating expenses were $2.1 million, which left around $1.1 million in gross revenues during a year in which cruising was halted during the onset of the pandemic. That amount was not enough to handle the entirety of the annual bond payment.

Before the pandemic, the city was getting around $6 million a year in annual gross revenues from wharfage and parking fees alone. That was reflected in having the Carnival Fantasy operating for 12 months out of the cruise terminal. The Fantasy operated out of Mobile from 2016-2020, ending its run amid the onset of the pandemic . Most of those excursions out of Mobile were to Cozumel and Progreso, Yucatan.

“I think we can support year-round (cruising),” Snowden said. “I’m continuing to engage with Carnival. We’ve approached Carnival to let them know that we can fill this ship.”

David Cark, president & CEO with Visit Mobile – the convention and visitors bureau for the city – said the city will have to “stay on its toes” to ensure Carnival is making a profit by having the Spirit sail from Mobile. He said that even with a five-year agreement, there is no guarantee that Carnival would not remove the ship and have it sail elsewhere if Mobile is not maintaining its competitive edge.

“They could give a 100-day notice if we are not showing demand and they have that right,” Clark said. “We need this thing for a long time.”

Developing relationships

Clark and his staff are focused on marketing and are making digital awareness and Google Analytics a key strategy in attracting people online to Mobile and a vacation aboard the Carnival Spirit.

“We are able to track impressions, click-throughs and are seeing if (online searches) are females or males or what their income demographics are,” Clark said. “Those are the things we are doing at a minimum every other week. It’s to make sure we are maximizing visibility in search engine marketing and brand awareness.”

In addition, Clark and his team are meeting “at least once a year” with Carnival staff. They are routinely attending trade shows and meeting with travel agents and stay in contact with industry insiders.

“Cruising from Mobile is not just waving a wand and people show up,” he said. “We know demand is extremely strong for the Spirit. It’s the best ship we’ve had, and it has the best itineraries. We had talked before to Carnival about wanting to have a ship with new itineraries (than the Carnival Fantasy, which left last fall) and that cruising is strong in Mobile, and demand is there. So far, so good in that theory.”

Related content: Mobile’s ‘unprecedented’ celebration as Carnival Ecstasy cruise sails for last time

Mobile’s interest in generating more cruising business is getting noticed, industrywide.

Longtime cruise industry analyst Stewart Chiron, known as the “Cruise Guy” who has been critical in the past about Mobile’s stature as a cruise city, said the city’s leaders should be proud about their efforts in keeping Carnival engaged and by securing a larger ship with longer itineraries than before.

“The proof is in the pudding,” Chiron said. “There is a newer and larger ship coming in and it’s booking at higher prices. The booking volumes are higher out of Mobile and the fact that Carnival came in with a newer, and larger ship than ever before has been based on the fact that they got them to sign onto a five-year deal instead of one-year renewal options.”

He said, “Those are tangible results. And (Mobile leaders) have worked very hard at trying to secure Carnival. They got devastated when Carnival pulled out of the city, and you can see the result of their efforts of not giving up and their perseverance is the fact that Carnival is pulling in and sailing on October 6 with the best and largest ship Mobile has ever had.”

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Carnival cruise ship catches fire after possible lightning strike

(CNN) – A Carnival cruise ship caught fire Saturday near the Bahamas.

Passengers say the Carnival Freedom was likely struck by lightning during a violent storm.

That, however, has not been confirmed, and the cause is still being investigated.

The ship sustained major damage to its exhaust funnel. Carnival says the fire caused the funnel to fall onto the deck.

The captain turned the ship toward an area with heavy rain to help put out the flames. It took about two hours to put out the fire.

There were no reports of injuries, but two firefighters were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

Passengers were able to attend dinner as planned on Saturday night, but the damaged deck area remained closed.

The ship returned to Florida on Monday.

Cruises on the ship that were originally scheduled to depart on Monday and Friday have been canceled as the ship undergoes repairs.

Carnival says passengers will get a full refund and a credit for a future cruise.

Copyright 2024 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

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Cruising From Mobile

 With the opening of over a dozen attractions, restaurants, bars, and shops in the last several years, Mobile is positioned to offer exciting experiences to cruisers before or after they set sail. Area hotels are offering great Park & Cruise packages - see the listings below for details and links to reservation pages.

Mobile AL Carnival Cruise Departures 2023-2024

You can prepay for parking now, click  here  for all the details, and secure your spot!

Click the VERY IMPORTANT CRUISER badge directly below for discounts at area attractions just for Carnival Spirit passengers, valid by showing your boarding passes.  Look for the badge in area shop and restaurant windows, too, for even more discounts for cruisers!

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• Mobile, AL 36602

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Residence inn, intown suites extended stay inn road, mobile alabama rv park, super 8 by wyndham, the battle house renaissance mobile hotel & spa, homewood suites by hilton mobile i-65/airport blvd, al, hampton inn/mobile i-10 bellingrath gardens, days inn & suites by wyndham, shady acres campground, la quinta inn & suites by wyndham mobile, upcoming events, kountry wayne - the king of hearts tour, mobile challenge of champions track meet, mozart’s requiem, kites over mobile, 2024 mobile chocolate festival, dixie division military vehicle show, the black jacket symphony - "purple rain", 24th annual alabama chef challenge, a latin rhapsody, where to eat, panera bread, dick russell's bar-b-q, wintzell's oyster house, the trellis room at the battle house renaissance mobile hotel & spa, honeybaked ham com, braided river brewing company, half shell oyster house, cotton state bbq, saucy q bar b q, find your alabama sweet spot.

Find the sweetest Alabama vacation spot perfectly suited just for you. Customize your next Alabama vacation by the type of experience you are looking for, then filter by the region of Alabama you want to visit. Don't know what your Alabama destination should be? Let our interactive location map be your guide. Now, where is your next Alabama Sweet Spot?

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Video shows Carnival Freedom on fire, again. Two upcoming cruises were canceled. Here's what to know

The Carnival Freedom 's next two sailings have been canceled after the cruise ship, based out of Florida, caught fire . Again.

Carnival initially said there were no expected changes in its schedule but on Sunday afternoon announced cancellations of the Monday and Friday cruises out of Port Canaveral, which come during a busy spring break period.

"Regrettably, the damage is more than we first thought, and will require an immediate repair to stabilize the funnel, resulting in the cancellation of the March 25 and March 29 cruises from Port Canaveral," according to a statement issued by Matt Lupoli, Carnival Cruise Line's senior manager of public relations. "The funnel has been stabilized for the ship’s return to Port Canaveral overnight to disembark guests, and then it will go to the Freeport shipyard on Monday afternoon to begin the required repairs."

This is the second time in less than two years this cruise ship's funnel has caught on fire and disrupted the schedule.

Carnival cruise fire: Carnival Freedom's next two cruises from Port Canaveral canceled after exhaust funnel fire

When did the Carnival Freedom catch on fire?

The fire broke out on the port side of the ship's exhaust funnel area at about 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Carnival said.

The ship was 20 miles off Eleuthera Island, Bahamas. It was intended to call on the Carnival private island of Princess Cay but had rerouted toward Freeport due to adverse weather.

"The ship’s fire response team was quickly activated, and the ship’s captain also turned the vessel towards the heavy rain in the area to maximize the efforts to put out the flames," an earlier Carnival statement said. The fire was put out by 5:20 p.m., the cruise line said.

Why did the Carnival Freedom cruise ship catch fire?

From Stormy Lee: “Tail on fire on Carnival Freedom. We were headed toward Freeport but it has now turned around headed back toward Princess Cays Bahamas” The fire has been extinguished and the passengers are safe. pic.twitter.com/fe1yipiq5Z — James Spann (@spann) March 23, 2024

Unknown at this time.

"Eyewitnesses reported the possibility of a lightning strike, and that is being investigated," Carnival said, "but cannot yet be confirmed."

Was anyone hurt in the Carnival Freedom fire?

The cruise line said there were no reports of passenger injuries, although two firefighting crew members were treated for minor smoke inhalation and part of the funnel fell onto Deck 10, according to Carnival.

There were about 3.700 passengers aboard.

Which Carnival Freedom cruises have been canceled?

While initially the cruise line said the schedule would not be affected, further investigation found more damage than suspected. Scheduled cruises for Monday, March 25 and Friday, March 29 have been canceled.

Can I get a refund for my canceled Carnival Freedom cruise?

"We sincerely regret the impact to our embarking guests, as we know they have been looking forward to their spring break vacation

Where is Port Canaveral?

Port Canaveral, Florida is located on a barrier island between the Banana River and the Atlantic Ocean just north of Cape Canaveral. The port is 54 miles from Orlando and 75 miles from Daytona Beach.

What is the funnel on a cruise ship?

A cruise ship exhaust funnel works as a smokestack to lift emissions away from the deck and from passengers and crew. They're often called stacks.

The Carnival Freedom debuted a new stylized winged funnel in October last year after a 16-day dry-dock refurbishment in Cadiz, Spain. Carnival cruise funnels are referred to as the whale tail.

Has the Carnival Freedom cruise ship caught on fire before?

A fire broke out in the funnel area in May 2022 while it was docked in Grand Turk. Three scheduled sailings were canceled while the ship was repaired at a shipyard in Grand Bahama.

The ship was carrying about 2,500 passengers at the time and a crew of about 1,100, according to the cruise line. There were no injuries reported.

Which cruise ship caught fire?

The  Carnival Freedom  caught on fire on Saturday, March 23.

The 110,000-ton vessel made its inaugural sail in 2007.  The Freedom, which has 13 decks, can hold up to 3,754 passengers and 1,150 crew members.

Has a Carnival cruise ship ever sank?

No. But one has been shipwrecked.

On Jan. 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia struck a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio. The ship, which was owned by a Carnival Corporation subsidiary, when the captain steered the 952-foot, 13-deck ship close to the shore to "impress the passengers" and tore a 160-foot gash in the port hull.

Captain Francesco Schettino was found guilty of manslaughter in 2015 and sentenced to 16 years in prison for the deaths of 32 passengers and crewmembers.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Carnival Freedom catches fire, cancels Monday, Friday Florida cruises

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Dothan family speaks about Carnival Freedom Cruise fire

DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) - What was supposed to be a relaxing time with family turned into a time of terror for some.

Matthew Johnson’s family came back from shopping and heard a loud noise on the ship.

“A few minutes after that, in the room, we had an alert on the overhead speakers from the captain that it was a fire on the ship on deck 10...they asked everyone to stay away from that area,” Johnson, who serves as the executive director of Ridgecrest Christian Academy in Dothan, said.

Johnson said he didn’t see it happen but was surprised at what he saw when he looked out his window.

”I looked outside to see if I see anything, and sure enough it was black smoke coming out. At that point, we didn’t know that the tail caught fire, we thought it was just a fire on the deck itself when they were describing it,” Johnson explained.

The exhaust funnel on the port side of the Carnival Freedom cruise ship caught on fire.

Johnson says his first thought was how he was going to tell his family what happened.

“We have kids at home back with grandparents. You know what, at what point do we let them know? Is this newsworthy? Will this make the news? We are kind of cut off from the world in a lot of ways. I had an internet plan for my daughter, so she could get some information out,” Johnson expressed.

It took about two hours to put the fire out. Thankfully, no cruise ship guests were hurt

Johnson says despite the fire and him being seasick for one day, this will not stop him from going on a cruise again.

“It was one of those floozy things, and it wasn’t anything that the cruise line could control. So, we would want to do it again. We kind of want to do one again because we heard so many good things about cruises. We think ‘Wow, lighting is not going to strike twice, right?’” Johnson said.

A similar situation happened in 2022 when the exhaust funnel on that ship caught on fire.

Carnival announced full refunds and future cruise credits for passengers scheduled to depart on the canceled cruises.

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