Carnival Email Survey - Mobile, AL?

[wrigley80]

I would sail out of Mobile again in a second. By far the easiest embarkation that I have ever experienced. From the time I stepped foot out of the cab to the time I stepped foot on the ship was less than 10 minutes.

[JRock59]

I mean who spends 18 million dollars to buy a terminal, they can not afford, without any cruise line under long term contract????

 

 

LOL That's an easy answer...HOUSTON! The brand new Bayport cruise terminal has only been used a couple of times when Ike shut Galveston down. It was built w/o a contract with a Cruise Line in place. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Port-knocked-for-not-getting-public-input-on-3578260.php

[chill6x6]

This post reflects one big issue that Mobile has: PERCEPTION. Even though Mobile HAS attractions (as someone mentioned, Mardi Gras has been happening in Mobile before the more publicized New Orleans Mardi Gras), hotels, and nearby attractions including beaches and casinos, the general public outside of the local area doesn't KNOW what Mobile has to offer (and this has been blamed as one of the reasons why Carnival eventually pulled out in favor of New Orleans).

 

GREAT point! I think you are correct...it IS perception! I honestly didn't understand why CCL left in the first place. I mean like FOUR ships from THREE cruise lines operate out of NO from November thru April. Mobile sure help bridge the gap between NO and Jacksonville/Tampa.

[PunkinsDad]

We would love it if Carnival came back to Mobile!! I miss seeing that Carnival Funnel on my way to work in the mornings!! :)

 

For the poster who commented on problems in Mobile with ships larger than the Fantasy class, you are mostly correct. It's not the depth of the channel so much, the port routinely handles ships with a much deeper draft than cruise ships. It's about the size of the turning basin (upriver from the cruise terminal where the ship turns around, usually before docking at the terminal). The Fantasy class are the only CCL vessels that can turn there unassisted (without help from a tugboat). CCL isn't about to use tugs because of the extra cost.

 

I believe I did hear something about the port building a larger turning basin, but that was going to be quite a distance south of the cruise terminal. Larger CCL ships would have to back up the channel for quite a distance.

[mapsmith]

Might it also be that from Mobile to International Waters is a shorter time than from NO to International Waters. That means that Duty Free and Casino can open about an hour after Embarkation rather than have to wait until clearing the Delta then another hour???

[nofishforme]

I have cruised out of mobile 3 times and never had a problem with parking or a hotel Im not looking for things to do in or around Mobile i drive in the day befor the cruise is my vacation . I would like to see more 7 day cruise this time maybe even longer a couple times a year like to the southern carribean .I would be nice if mobile could get southwast airlines in there i think it would open up the client base. Maybe a non stop from Nashville to mobile i hate the 8 hr drive home but i will do it if i have to .. since new orleans will be getting the sunshine maybe they will send the elation back to mobile .. Oh well those are my hopes lets wait and see

[alabamaprincess]

With the Legend leaving for 6 months out of the year to go to Europe next year.....so (if Europe is successful) perhaps they are looking to replace some of those ports with a ship from Mobile.

 

 

And unfortunately, this clientele before did not spend enough money once they got on the ship. The ports that this cruise goes on is not one that requires ship excursions because the ports are so easy to do by yourself.

And if drawing from the Bible belt means less drinking and less gambling...that means the the top 3 money makers suffer.

 

So these are some of the negatives that Carnival would be looking at.

 

 

I personally have spent as much or more money on my cruises out of Mobile than I have on other cruises.

 

I have done excursions when we have been to Progresso. We did the ship board excursion to Merida to see the city and go shopping. We also went to one of the Mayan ruins, I believe it was the closest one that had a cenote. It is one of the few ports that you can go to Chichen Itxa and other ruins.

 

I believe there are more interesting excursion on a Western Carribean cruise than a Bahamian cruise. Lots of different excursion are available.

 

I have also bought bottomless bubbles, mixed drinks, bottles of rum from the gift shop and t-shirts and other items from the gift shops. I also have bought photos from the photographers.

 

I don't gamble, not a "moral issue," I just don't believe I'm going to win and would rather spend money on other things on board.

 

But I still manage to spend plenty of money when we sail on Carnival.

[vital1]

Never got the chance to sail out of Mobile. It's an equal distance to NOLA for me so it'd be about the itinerary. If they did a more "Eastern" itinerary I think it'd be great! Think about it, could they do Key West, DR, Turks and Caicos in the same amount of time as ships from NOLA do GC, Cozumel and Jamaica?

[alabamaprincess]

Never got the chance to sail out of Mobile. It's an equal distance to NOLA for me so it'd be about the itinerary. If they did a more "Eastern" itinerary I think it'd be great! Think about it, could they do Key West, DR, Turks and Caicos in the same amount of time as ships from NOLA do GC, Cozumel and Jamaica?

 

I think that would be great idea to offer some other ports that would attract more people. I also hope they will do some more 7 day cruises like they did before they moved the ship. They offered a couple of 7 day cruises in May, June or July and October.

[Gazelle2]

My wife and I have sailed several times on three different Carnival ships out of Mobile. We would do so again without question. We live in the Panhandle of Florida and it is only a two and a half hour journey from our driveway to the terminal.

 

I also wish that they could accommodate larger ships at the Mobile port but I have been up on several debarcation mornings and have watched the maneuvers in the turning basin. I understand completely why there is that kind of limitation.

 

Having said that, the Fantasy Class is one of our favorites and the Elation in particular is right near the top of our list. The downside to that class is, of course, that there are no balconies available unless you book a suite. The other side of that coin is that it is no more expensive for us to drive to Mobile and cruise in a suite than it is to drive to Fort Lauderdale or even New Orleans to cruise in a balcony stateroom since we would have to stay in a motel the night before the cruise.

 

I also agree with other posters that a few longer cruises would make cruising out of Mobile much more attractive. It seems to me that it would also make economic sense to Carnival in these days of high fuel prices since even the four and five day cruises out of Mobile had to cross the whole Gulf of Mexico twice. Adding additional days to go to extra ports like Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, or even Belize would certainly reduce the fuel-per-port ratio.

[alabamaprincess]

My wife and I have sailed several times on three different Carnival ships out of Mobile. We would do so again without question. We live in the Panhandle of Florida and it is only a two and a half hour journey from our driveway to the terminal.

 

I also wish that they could accommodate larger ships at the Mobile port but I have been up on several debarcation mornings and have watched the maneuvers in the turning basin. I understand completely why there is that kind of limitation.

 

Having said that, the Fantasy Class is one of our favorites and the Elation in particular is right near the top of our list. The downside to that class is, of course, that there are no balconies available unless you book a suite. The other side of that coin is that it is no more expensive for us to drive to Mobile and cruise in a suite than it is to drive to Fort Lauderdale or even New Orleans to cruise in a balcony stateroom since we would have to stay in a motel the night before the cruise.

 

I also agree with other posters that a few longer cruises would make cruising out of Mobile much more attractive. It seems to me that it would also make economic sense to Carnival in these days of high fuel prices since even the four and five day cruises out of Mobile had to cross the whole Gulf of Mexico twice. Adding additional days to go to extra ports like Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, or even Belize would certainly reduce the fuel-per-port ratio.

 

They have added more balcony rooms on a few of t he fantasy class ships when they did the Evolution of Fun upgrades during drydock. I know they added balcony rooms on both the Fantasy and the Fascination. I have been tempted a couple of times to book a balcony on the Fascination, I just haven't done it yet. I have cruised in the grand suite on both the Elation and the Sensation.

[KimtheCruiser]

Interesting! Have not received a survey, but we would love to sail out of Mobile again!

 

We found it very convenient - easy to drive down the day of the cruise - we never had a problem with embarkation, although my sister and brother-in-law usually did.

 

I organize a group cruise once a year, and I liked to do it out of Mobile - to support those businesses that are helped by the cruise ship there and to give my local peeps a chance to experience a cruise at a reasonable price.

 

NO is okay - but I would choose Mobile, given comparable ships and itineraries. I don't think Mobile Bay is deep enough/big enough for a ship much bigger than Fantasy class (heard that somewhere) - so I can't say I would ONLY cruise out of Mobile.

[alabamaprincess]

Interesting! Have not received a survey, but we would love to sail out of Mobile again!

 

We found it very convenient - easy to drive down the day of the cruise - we never had a problem with embarkation, although my sister and brother-in-law usually did.

 

I organize a group cruise once a year, and I liked to do it out of Mobile - to support those businesses that are helped by the cruise ship there and to give my local peeps a chance to experience a cruise at a reasonable price.

 

NO is okay - but I would choose Mobile, given comparable ships and itineraries. I don't think Mobile Bay is deep enough/big enough for a ship much bigger than Fantasy class (heard that somewhere) - so I can't say I would ONLY cruise out of Mobile.

 

I would love to cruise at least once a year out of Mobile but I would probably continue to cruise out of one of the Florida ports too. Jacksonville is also one of my favorite ports because it is close to my father-in-laws home so we can see him on our way down.

[msstatemom]

I would love to have a cruise line in Mobile again. I have cruised twice from there. I also cruise from New Orleans and probably still would at times. It really depends less on the cruise line and more on the itineraries offered.

[lucigo]

I agree that the balcony/suite issue is important and if they want to make Mobile work then they need to bring a fantasy class ship with the balcony upgrades in place. I would travel to New Orleans for an affordable balcony over a Mobile inside cabin or suite.

 

Best of all worlds for me would be an affordable balcony out of Mobile and more choices of ports, how about Key West, Roatan, and Cozumel. (Not necessarily on the same cruise!)

[alabamaprincess]

I agree that the balcony/suite issue is important and if they want to make Mobile work then they need to bring a fantasy class ship with the balcony upgrades in place. I would travel to New Orleans for an affordable balcony over a Mobile inside cabin or suite.

 

Best of all worlds for me would be an affordable balcony out of Mobile and more choices of ports, how about Key West, Roatan, and Cozumel. (Not necessarily on the same cruise!)

 

I agree I think having an itinerary with Key West would be a great addition. I also like the idea of Roatan, I've never been to Roatan but would love to go someday.

 

It would be great to have one of the fantasy class ship that has had all of the upgrades that the Fantasy and Fascination have already gone through. I would love to try an aft-wrap balcony.:)

[cruzzza]

It would be great to have Mobile back! The reason I never cruised out of there before was because all they had was the Holiday. I liked my cruises on the Holiday/Jubilee, but the ships were not very impressive. Plus, if Mobile only gets NOLA's leftovers, then it's less desirable. Why not bring a ship that has NOT sailed out of NOLA before? Some of us want a different ship as often as possible, not the same one over and over again. I would definately sail out of Mobile if they'd bring Calica back or HMC, no matter the ship.

[LUV CRUSIN]

Hi everyone:

 

It is so nice to see all the posts in favor of a ship in Mobile. So many people of Mobile want a ship here. We were so happy to have our nice terminal with a ship when they were here.

 

Hopefully someone at Carnival will read this thread and know we really would like a ship here. (We will take what we can get, but would really love to have one with balconies).

 

There are so many good suggestions here about itineraries. We truly loved Calica, Playa Del Carmen, also would love Key West and Bahamas. Since the ship left here, we have cruised out of NOLA and at this time have another one booked, but it is so much easier to have one here. We are only 15 minutes from the terminal and would cruise more often.

[alabamaprincess]

It would be great to have Mobile back! The reason I never cruised out of there before was because all they had was the Holiday. I liked my cruises on the Holiday/Jubilee, but the ships were not very impressive. Plus, if Mobile only gets NOLA's leftovers, then it's less desirable. Why not bring a ship that has NOT sailed out of NOLA before? Some of us want a different ship as often as possible, not the same one over and over again. I would definately sail out of Mobile if they'd bring Calica back or HMC, no matter the ship.

 

I hope we can get a different itinerary than an identical one that is going out of NOLA. It would be nice to offer an itinerary that is competive, not offered at another port in the gulf of mexico ports. People who are tired of the Cozumel/Progresso itineraries could come to Mobile and set sail.

 

I would imagine they will keep the Elation in New Orleans and maybe move one of the other Fantasy class ships into Mobile.

[frangran]

Agree entirely with those who love sailing from Mobile! We went 3 times in a year & a half -- and would LOVE the opportunity to do so again!

 

(I even promise not to complain about the itinerary if Carnival brings a ship back there.)

[msstatemom]

So are we to assume this survey was only sent to previous Mobile cruisers or just random Carnival customers? I certainly hope something is reported soon if this is a possibility. I am always looking to book my next cruise.

[LHP]

I took the survey and one thing that I commented that would make Mobile more attractive, to someone who usually cruises out of New Orleans, is the amount of additional traffic when NCL and RCCL are also in New Orleans.

 

Mondays are ok...but Saturdays and Sundays are a mess.

[chill6x6]

So are we to assume this survey was only sent to previous Mobile cruisers or just random Carnival customers? I certainly hope something is reported soon if this is a possibility. I am always looking to book my next cruise.

 

I thought it was strange that I DIDN'T get one as I've cruise CCL twice from Mobile AND NO...

 

Maybe I don't have enough cruises under my belt??

[jetskier]

Might it also be that from Mobile to International Waters is a shorter time than from NO to International Waters. That means that Duty Free and Casino can open about an hour after Embarkation rather than have to wait until clearing the Delta then another hour???

 

Ships out of NOLA can open their casinos and gift shops as soon as they are in mid-river. They do not have to be 12 miles out in the Gulf.

Dave

[jetskier]

They have added more balcony rooms on a few of t he fantasy class ships when they did the Evolution of Fun upgrades during drydock. I know they added balcony rooms on both the Fantasy and the Fascination. I have been tempted a couple of times to book a balcony on the Fascination, I just haven't done it yet. I have cruised in the grand suite on both the Elation and the Sensation.

 

 

That was one of the downfalls before, why take the ship out of Mobile when you could go to Tampa and NOLA to get a balcony. I dont know why they did not continue the program on the other 5 Fantasy class ships.

 

NO is okay - but I would choose Mobile, given comparable ships and itineraries. I don't think Mobile Bay is deep enough/big enough for a ship much bigger than Fantasy class (heard that somewhere) - so I can't say I would ONLY cruise out of Mobile.

 

The draft of the Magic and the Elation are around 27 feet. It is the length of the turning basin where the problem is. Now the Magic in Galveston backs in on about half of their cruises so a longer ship would not be a problem if the turning basin was completed south of the pier.

 

Dave