futaba951

NOLA will have CCL Conquest and the CCL Elation so they are gaining a extra CCL ship in November. And RCCL Voyager OT Sea also NCL Spirit is sailing out of NOLA in Nov.

 

Paul

Actually, Elation is replacing Ecstasy which just started sailing from NOLA last week. Ecstasy will move to PC, so yes, PC is the one gaining a ship as hawaiibound stated.

Part of my pension money is tied up in that port since the Retirement Systems of Alabama loaned it millions of dollars.

 

The city of Mobile bought out the remainder of the loan a couple of years ago. RSA is in the clear now. They do still own the rest of downtown Mobile, though!! :)

 

I guess if there was another hurricane in the Gulf they could use Mobile as a backup port.

I'd make them park at the mouth of the river and tender into the terminal. :p

Nothing is coming to Mobile to replace Elation. There was most certainly some behind the scenes issues that the public will never be aware of. Some of Carnival's reasoning sounds nebulous to many folks, but it's their ship and Mobile neglected to renew a current, ironclad contract with the cruise line. Oops!!

We stayed in Saraland, and spent the night and left our car in their parking lot and they shuttled us over and picked us up too!!! I can't recall the name of the hotel there but they all did the shuttle, it was only about 7 min to the port. if we ever cruise out of Mobile I would stay here again..

Microtel?

http://www.slide.com/r/XDKlGsFbxz_sqxv0mcz6cmQGq2_MuldI?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

Holiday as she looks now.

I had mentioned upthread that I imagined Fantasy would get the balcony additions at some point, but now I'm not so sure. This person told me that she was going to be sold/retired in 2012.

 

So, now I'm speculating that when the new terminal is built, that they will bring in a larger ship and Fantasy will be sold off.

 

She is the oldest in the fleet now, but looked to be in great condition, considering her age.

Based on the age of Holiday and Celebration when they left the fleet, I'd guess that Carnival plans on Fantasy being in the fleet for at least 5 more years. Besides, they have invested too much money in upgrades recently to kick Fantasy to the curb this soon. Also 5 years works out pretty well historically with how long Carnival uses their older ships in a developing port. My guess would be that Charleston can look to have Fantasy, or another Fantasy class ship for at least 4-5 years before Carnival begins thinking about a larger ship. Funny how Fantasy has been in Charleston two weeks, and already the upgrade rumors are swirling. :)

Those balconies really don't look all that bad. They must be starting to grow on me. :)

Did you see my link to the union pier cruise terminal website? I think that will give you the answer of what Charleston had to do to get Carnival home ported here.

http://shipmobile.com/photos.php

I don't know if you've ever sailed from Mobile, but these are photos of the terminal in Mobile. It still has the original gangway that was replaced by a new one, in these photos. It also has an attached parking garage. NOLA's new terminal is modeled after this one, but is larger.

Guess it depends which deck the are doing embarkation on if it will be the usual steep ramp set up.

 

I am not out of shap and I was tired when I got the the top with dragging my carry on behind me. I like the cruise terminals that have a waiting area after checking in that is upstairs and then an easy walk on.

The really nice, custom gangways aren't cheap. Mobile paid $2.6 million for a custom made, glass enclosed, articulating gangway from a company in Spain. The original one was glass enclosed as well, but only fit the Holiday. When Fantasy came to town Carnival required them to have one made that will fit any ship. Carnival also required them to build a crew lounge with phone and wifi and a 1900 sf warehouse for Carnival use at the pier. No telling what Charleston has been, and will be required to do to get and keep a ship.

When you go to the link below, click on VISTORS, then click on ACCOMODATIONS for a fairly comprehensive listing of motels, hotels and their respective contact info.

http://mobile.org/

Why to you come over to the Cunard board, to spy? You already know all Cunard people are overdressed, stuffy, old greybeards who are so darn snobby they wouldn't recognise a good hairy-leg contest if it can-canned right under their nose. What more is there for you to know?

 

Unless, of course, you secretly are intrigued with the mysterious libation that is Pol Acker....;)

Oh, we know what Pol Acker is. That's one of the activities onboard Carnival ships. Bottling up water out of the kiddie pools. Hence that funky flavor you all are raving about. The more you bottle, the bigger your OBC. (You know, kinda like inmates stamping out license plates.) In case your interested in the ingredients, search the Carnival boards under threads about kiddie pools and swimmy diapers. :p

Not a cruise but in 1980 on a flight from Tokyo to LA the Osmonds were on our plane. It was a charter flight(probably theirs). They were finishing up their world tour. Must have been over 200 of them. The whole fam damily. They filled up half the plane. Thank God they didn't sing for us. They did look like they were having a hellofagood time though.