Are Mobile cruisers losing out here ?

[stormgrey11]

So we got the cancellation letters for our 2 cruises booked out of Mobile. Our 6 day Thanksgiving cruise for Nov 2022 and our 5 day cruise for January 2023 were paid for and had a combined $700 OBC due to previous cancellations.

According to the letter, we will get a refund and are able to preserve existing pricing except in the case of a holiday cruise. So I guess we will lose the great price we were able to book this cruise for. We are not able tor rebook at the existing price as it is a cruise over the thanksgiving holiday. We will also lose our OBC of $ 700 but will get $ 100 if we decide to rebook ?

 

GUEST ADVISORY  CANCELLATION NOTICE  SAILINGS OCTOBER 15, 2022 THROUGH AND INCLUDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2023   February 3, 2022 Dear Carnival Guest, We want to update you on our deployment plans. Earlier in the week, we shared that Carnival Ecstasy would be repositioning to Mobile to operate your cruise. Unfortunately, as we continued to finalize our deployment plans, we determined the above referenced cruises will be cancelled.   We know this is disappointing news and apologize for the disruption to your vacation plans. We have a variety of other cruise alternatives and are confident you will find another Carnival cruise that is filled with an equal amount of FUN.  Our team is ready to discuss options and rebook you on another Carnival cruise right away.  Here’s what you should know:  A full refund of your cruise fare and any pre-purchased items will be automatically processed to your original form of payment.  There is no need to call us.  (Note: This also applies to Early Saver reservations. Refunds could take up to three weeks to process through your bank).   Should you wish to reschedule, your cruise rate will be protected on a comparable sailing, in similar accommodations. * Additionally, an onboard credit will be posted to your Sail & Sign® account on any cruise booked by February 28, 2023, as follows: 5 days or less – US$50 per stateroom  6 days or longer – US$100 per stateroom Please call your Carnival Personal Vacation Planner at 1-800-819-3902 or your travel advisor to reschedule your cruise.  We are still in the process of finalizing our deployment plans for sailings October 5, 2023 through and including April 27, 2024. These sailings have not been cancelled and are not eligible for the offer above.  Guests will receive an update at a later date. We sincerely apologize for this change and thank you for your understanding. We look forward to having you sail with us.

Sincerely,

Christine Duffy President, Carnival Cruise Line *Rate protection does not apply when rebooking holiday departures, cruises to Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, and chartered sailings. New booking must be of cruise duration not exceeding the number of days of the original booking.

[zeroed]

If I worked in the Mobile cruise terminal I’d start looking for a job now.  If Carnival bails out on Mobile for a second time and leaves the city holding the bill for the terminal and garage like they did last time,  there will never be a cruise ship there again. 
 

I really hope Carnival doesn’t abandon Mobile. 

[brilliantseas]

3 minutes ago, zeroed said:

If I worked in the Mobile cruise terminal I’d start looking for a job now.  If Carnival bails out on Mobile for a second time and leaves the city holding the bill for the terminal and garage like they did last time,  there will never be a cruise ship there again. 
 

I really hope Carnival doesn’t abandon Mobile. 

 

I really like cruising from Mobile. It is probably the easiest and most accessible port for those who are driving rather than flying in for a cruise. Mobile's challenge is that it doesn't have a major airport, and competes with New Orleans for MS, LA, and TX passengers. I've been trying to support the Mobile sailings, and was booked on Fantasy, then Fascination, and then Sensation in January. Somewhere along the line it went from a 6-night to a 5-night sailing, before cancelling entirely. I still haven't attempted to call to use my FCC due to the hold times. 

 

I really hope Carnival sends Elation or Paradise to replace Ecstasy and don't just give up on Mobile. 

[tidecat]

I think the fate of Mobile will be determined in Canberra, Australia. As long as Australia doesn't reopen, there will be tonnage available for Mobile.

 

I don't understand why Carnival Spirit is being moved out of Jacksonville a month after beginning there - not many other ships can fit under the bridge. That is the head scratcher to me, unless if Carnival is moving her to a new homeport that currently has no service like Norfolk or San Juan. If Spirit were being moved to Mobile, it would make sense to do it now and not in October.

[zeroed]

Mobile needs a boat with azipods like Elation or newer due to the small turning basin and relation to the terminal. The Elation used to be stationed in Mobile when they abandoned the city the first time leaving the city to foot millions for a suddenly empty terminal. It was a big deal to the city that Carnival not burn them again. 
 

In my opinion the cruise terminal should’ve been in Pensacola but somebody wanted his baseball stadium on that property instead of a what could’ve been a money making cruise port in a destination city with a decent airport.

[jasong38501]

9 minutes ago, tidecat said:

I think the fate of Mobile will be determined in Canberra, Australia. As long as Australia doesn't reopen, there will be tonnage available for Mobile.

 

I don't understand why Carnival Spirit is being moved out of Jacksonville a month after beginning there - not many other ships can fit under the bridge. That is the head scratcher to me, unless if Carnival is moving her to a new homeport that currently has no service like Norfolk or San Juan. If Spirit were being moved to Mobile, it would make sense to do it now and not in October.

I'm not really getting that either since Carnival has apparently now cancelled Australia cruises through the entire summer. And the other shoe to drop is the fate of Costa Magica when she gets transferred to Carnival. I have always had a hunch she will take Elations spot in Canaveral which would free her up for possibly Jacksonville or Mobile but I am not sure why we haven't heard more about her transfer to Carnival yet.

[TravelBluebird]

Total bummer; Mobile is the closest/easiest drive-to port for me. I am happy to fly in for cruises BUT due to cost and having to take 2 planes to most Florida ports (no directs from my small airport) having a drive-to option for spur of the moment and shorter “casino cruises” really appealed.

 

I cancelled my October Sensation cruise right before final payment (and right before Carnival cancelled the cruise..I could just see that cancellation coming. Really hope they give Mobile a permanent ship.

[CruiseHealing]

I’m surprised they did not send the Spirit to Tampa or PC, and move the Paradise or Elation to another port.  The Spirit class ship does well in Tampa, and PC seems to never have a Spirit class ship.

 

[elklemi]

8 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Total bummer; Mobile is the closest/easiest drive-to port for me. I am happy to fly in for cruises BUT due to cost and having to take 2 planes to most Florida ports (no directs from my small airport) having a drive-to option for spur of the moment and shorter “casino cruises” really appealed.

 

I cancelled my October Sensation cruise right before final payment (and right before Carnival cancelled the cruise..I could just see that cancellation coming. Really hope they give Mobile a permanent ship.

I agree with travelBluebird as Mobile is easy drive for me also so I do Mobile one year and Jacksonville the next and keep switching.  I would hate to lose Mobile and maybe Jacksonville if the moves seem to be all about the larger newer ships.  I am sure the Mardi Gras is amazing and after reading the reviews I have no interest in that experience.  Guess I am getting too old and Carnival may be moving me to permanent dry dock.

[MisterOJ2]

I really hope they put another ship back in Mobile. Not only is that an easy drive for me, it's also the best port for embarkation/debarkation I've ever been to.

Edited February 4, 2022 by MisterOJ2

[smokeybandit]

 

[ledges1]

Mobile is an easy port to drive and park. However, it is in direct competition with the N.O. 4 and 5 day cruises on a nicer ship. I was on the Valor this week and Cruise Director (Marty) specifically mentioned in an announcement to complete our cruise survey and say how wonderful cruising out of N.O. is and maybe Carnival would put a 3rd ship in N.O. I know he does not make decisions, but Carnival may want hime to prime the pump. Also, N.O. cruises can open the casino when the ship leaves the port. In Mobile, the ship has to leave Mobile Bay before it opens. That can be over 3 hours of casino time lost to Carnival on a Mobile cruise. With Carnival controlling cost and doing everything it can to increase revenue, this does matter. Unfortunately, Mobile has a lot of business negatives compared New Orleans. Mobile may get another ship in the future, but the local business environment and proximity to N.O. will be a detriment.

[TravelBluebird]

9 minutes ago, ledges1 said:

Mobile is an easy port to drive and park. However, it is in direct competition with the N.O. 4 and 5 day cruises on a nicer ship. I was on the Valor this week and Cruise Director (Marty) specifically mentioned in an announcement to complete our cruise survey and say how wonderful cruising out of N.O. is and maybe Carnival would put a 3rd ship in N.O. I know he does not make decisions, but Carnival may want hime to prime the pump. Also, N.O. cruises can open the casino when the ship leaves the port. In Mobile, the ship has to leave Mobile Bay before it opens. That can be over 3 hours of casino time lost to Carnival on a Mobile cruise. With Carnival controlling cost and doing everything it can to increase revenue, this does matter. Unfortunately, Mobile has a lot of business negatives compared New Orleans. Mobile may get another ship in the future, but the local business environment and proximity to N.O. will be a detriment.

 

That may all be true, New Orleans is a much longer drive from my area (Eastern Tennessee) so is basically a 2-plane fly-in port for us, as is Florida.  Charleston is actually my closest drive port mile wise, but hitting traffic to that destination a couple times makes Mobile an easier drive from where I am, Jacksonville is my next second closest port, drive-wise.  When I can drive I can take the shorter cruises and I can go spur of the moment; I don’t like to fly anywhere for less than a 7 day cruise due to expense and 2 flights each way  situation.

[slavigne5577]

57 minutes ago, ledges1 said:

Mobile is an easy port to drive and park. However, it is in direct competition with the N.O. 4 and 5 day cruises on a nicer ship. I was on the Valor this week and Cruise Director (Marty) specifically mentioned in an announcement to complete our cruise survey and say how wonderful cruising out of N.O. is and maybe Carnival would put a 3rd ship in N.O. I know he does not make decisions, but Carnival may want hime to prime the pump. Also, N.O. cruises can open the casino when the ship leaves the port. In Mobile, the ship has to leave Mobile Bay before it opens. That can be over 3 hours of casino time lost to Carnival on a Mobile cruise. With Carnival controlling cost and doing everything it can to increase revenue, this does matter. Unfortunately, Mobile has a lot of business negatives compared New Orleans. Mobile may get another ship in the future, but the local business environment and proximity to N.O. will be a detriment.

I would love love it if they brought the Dream back to N.O.!!!!!

[brilliantseas]

5 hours ago, CruiseHealing said:

I’m surprised they did not send the Spirit to Tampa or PC, and move the Paradise or Elation to another port.  The Spirit class ship does well in Tampa, and PC seems to never have a Spirit class ship.

 

 

I don't see them using a Spirit class ship in PC. The Spirit class was built to fulfill a special set of needs - they meet height requirements in JAX, TPA, BWI, are equipped with tender boats for small and far-flung ports on special itineraries, and have the domed pool area for cold weather sailing. They are also small enough to fit through the old set of locks in the Panama Canal and have the highest percentage of balcony cabins of any Carnival ship. You see them doing many of Carnival's Journey's sailings to Northern European ports, Alaska, Hawaii, etc. 

 

When Elation leaves PC, it'll likely be replaced with a Sunshine or Conquest class on the 4/5/5 sailings. If Carnival does a major deployment swap to free up Elation and Paradise for Jacksonville and Mobile, I expect Spirit to land in Tampa seasonally for the 4/5/5 sailings in the winter, before heading to Europe, Alaska, or New York for the summer. 

[brilliantseas]

2 hours ago, ledges1 said:

Mobile is an easy port to drive and park. However, it is in direct competition with the N.O. 4 and 5 day cruises on a nicer ship. I was on the Valor this week and Cruise Director (Marty) specifically mentioned in an announcement to complete our cruise survey and say how wonderful cruising out of N.O. is and maybe Carnival would put a 3rd ship in N.O. I know he does not make decisions, but Carnival may want hime to prime the pump. Also, N.O. cruises can open the casino when the ship leaves the port. In Mobile, the ship has to leave Mobile Bay before it opens. That can be over 3 hours of casino time lost to Carnival on a Mobile cruise. With Carnival controlling cost and doing everything it can to increase revenue, this does matter. Unfortunately, Mobile has a lot of business negatives compared New Orleans. Mobile may get another ship in the future, but the local business environment and proximity to N.O. will be a detriment.

 

I personally prefer the Fantasy class ships over the Conquest class. In fact, I avoid Conquest class at nearly all costs. If I'm sailing from New Orleans at the moment, I'm choosing the NCL Breakaway over Glory or Valor. If I'm looking for a 4-or-5 night, I'm going to Galveston for a Dream class ship, or to Mobile for the Fantasy class. If I'm flying rather than driving, I'm going to Tampa or Miami. 

[mz-s]

It all depends on Australia I think.

 

Mobile is going to stay, it's a good port for Carnival, but the ship they get depends on what happens in Australia.

[bobbyandali]

I think Mobile's future, after the 11 month suspension, is as a part time port. 

Not enough business there to put a ship there full time. Maybe an October - March season makes sense there.