Cruise: Mobile
Carnival Cruise Line Returns to Mobile
Carnival Fantasy arrived at its new homeport of Mobile on November 9, to launch a schedule of year-round four- and five-day cruises to Mexico from the city-owned Alabama Cruise Terminal.
The ship's arrival was marked with a special invitation-only event that included a competition for charity featuring Carnival President Christine Duffy, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, President of the Mobile City Council Gina Gregory, and Carnival Fantasy Captain Bruno Palomba, as well as a maritime plaque exchange between cruise line and port officials.
Carnival Fantasy recently underwent an extensive dry dock during which it received many of the fleet's latest food and beverage innovations.
Following the event, the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy departed Mobile that afternoon on a sold-out five-day cruise to Cozumel and Progreso, kicking off a yearlong schedule of four- and five-day cruises to these Mexican ports.
"With its Southern charm, excellent terminal facilities and easy-to-reach location, Mobile is a terrific new addition to Carnival's homeport lineup and we're delighted to offer these convenient and affordable cruises to Mexico's most popular ports of call," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "From Mayor Sandy Stimpson and everyone at the City of Mobile to the Alabama Cruise Terminal team and the entire Mobile community, we are greatly appreciative for their partnership and the very warm welcome," she added.
Carnival operated a weekly cruise ship sailing from Mobile for seven years until terminating the service in 2011. The cruise terminal, which in its peak year of 2010 processed more than 181,000 passengers, has remained largely idle since Carnival’s departure.