Carnival to make an announcement in Mobile next week.

[futaba951]

Cruise ship announcement

7/20/2006</B>

 

Officials from Carnival Cruise Lines are expected in Mobile Monday for an announcement about the cruise ship business from Mobile.

The Holiday, which sails from Mobile, has been a success for Carnival, leading to speculation that Mobile could either receive a larger ship, or a second ship.

We've learned that other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, have made inquiries about sailing from Mobile.

[racer14]

That sounds like good news. I heard rumors last year that the Holiday was being replaced but then Katrina hit. I'd love for another ship to come to Mobile as it is only a few hours from home.

[DING-DING]

Any Idea Which Ship It is? I Live In Mobile And Would Love To See A 7 Day Cruise From Here:)

[ala-kat]

Really enjoyed my cruise from Mobile. My only question would be parking. As it is, it is fine. Not sure how things would be with another ship? Are there plans in place to address this?

[Brneyznfl]

Our local news just announced that the City of Mobile signed a contract with Carnival to keep the Holiday around for another 3 years. :)

 

(Cotton, I know you'll like that announcement ;) )

[Cruzman]

Speculation here is that Carnival will be home porting a Fantasy Class ship in Mobile which will be doing 7 day sailings, departing on Sundays. Earlier news reports that the city will build an adjacent parking garage as soon as they receive a commitment for a second ship.

[salty dingo]

How about a Central America cruise? Mobile is in a good location to get there. Maybe sail from Cozumel to Panama and back, with a port each day?

 

Mobile is an easy 10 hour drive from Charlotte. I always fly to Miami but 10 hours is on the edge of driving distance.

 

An even better idea would be a Carnival ship home-ported in Charleston!!

[echo]

Yes, Charleston. 2 1/2 hours for me!!

[jbhcw]

I'll go with a Carnvial ship in Charleston :) A five hour drive for us here in the Piedmont section of NC :D

[Yazoo cruiser]

out of Mobile, about the same distance for us as New Orleans, but The Mobile port is so much easier to get to and the people at the terminal just seem much happier and willing to help. Will be leaving on the Holiday on 8/28, our 6th on her.

[bguppies]

An even better idea would be a Carnival ship home-ported in Charleston!!

 

Count me in for the 15 minute drive to the docks.....:D

 

Bill

[cruzeluver]

Hey bguppies, we're neighbors! I'm about ten minutes from the port in Charleston. Would love to have Carnival homeport a ship here. My bank account may not like it, but.........:p

[pstow]

I'll go with a Carnvial ship in Charleston :) A five hour drive for us here in the Piedmont section of NC :D

 

I totaly agree.. that would be so nice.. only a 4-5 hour drive..

[richcrow]

futaba951,

 

Looking at your Avatar made me begin to wonder. Do you work at Northrop Grumman (it really is hard for me not to call it Ingalls)? I retired from there 4 yrs. ago after 32 yrs. of driving back and forth from Mobile to Pascagoula.:eek:

 

Richard

[momof4boys]

Keep us posted, please. We live in KC and since we cruise with our family and it is a BIG group---15 of us :eek: ---it is cheaper to drive. Mobile would be a days drive for us. (probably closer than Galveston which we have done the last two years!)

 

We would book a 7 day from Mobile in a heartbeat!

[futaba951]

futaba951,

 

Looking at your Avatar made me begin to wonder. Do you work at Northrop Grumman (it really is hard for me not to call it Ingalls)? I retired from there 4 yrs. ago after 32 yrs. of driving back and forth from Mobile to Pascagoula.:eek:

 

Richard

 

No, that is actually a concept drawing of the Navy's new LCS they are building at Austal USA. Check it out at Austal.com.

[mowrider]

We have done 2 cruises on the Holiday....live 10 minutes form the terminal. Will take whatever ship comes to this town ! (hope it's Carnival) We're doing the Glory in Sept.

[judyjbest]

Did we ever hear what the announcement was?

[rain_bowbrite]

I would love more ships in Mobile or Charleston. Both are a cool 5 1/2 hour drive away!

 

:D :D :D

[marty30907]

How about a Central America cruise? Mobile is in a good location to get there. Maybe sail from Cozumel to Panama and back, with a port each day?

 

Mobile is an easy 10 hour drive from Charlotte. I always fly to Miami but 10 hours is on the edge of driving distance.

 

An even better idea would be a Carnival ship home-ported in Charleston!!

 

Charleston is about 3 1/2 hours from home for us also!

[futaba951]

Did we ever hear what the announcement was?

 

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1153732593172180.xml&coll=3

 

Carnival has renewed their contract with the city of Mobile for a third year.

 

Also:

 

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1153819181197550.xml&coll=3

 

There may be some news in the next 3 months regarding a second ship in Mobile. This is unrelated to the Carnival announcement as it was in Tuesdays news.

[mowrider]

RCCL has been to Mobile to "measure" turn-around basin . Someone will be bringing another ship to my town ! HOORAY ! !

[MikeM711]

Staying Put for another Year

July 24 - Carnival Cruise Lines made an announcement today that was good news for the city of Mobile, but not the good news that many in the area wanted to hear.

The announcement was that Carnival has exercised their option for a third year to homeport Holiday at the Alabama port for 4- and 5-night cruises. This will keep the ship there through 2007. Carnival expressed confidence in the Mobile market, yet there was no expansion, as many wanted. Meanwhile, the city is continuing to aggressively market itself to other cruise lines as they have for years. We wondered if Mobile is such a great place, why isn't Carnival expanding there, and why other lines aren't rushing in. For Carnival's perspective, we talked with Terry Thornton, Carnival's VP of market planning.

[judyjbest]

Althought not the news we wanted to hear, I'm sure if Carnival is finding it profitable enough for another year, some other line will be willing to jump aboard. Let's hope they'll put a 7-dayer in there!

[futaba951]

Staying Put for another Year

July 24 - Carnival Cruise Lines made an announcement today that was good news for the city of Mobile, but not the good news that many in the area wanted to hear.

The announcement was that Carnival has exercised their option for a third year to homeport Holiday at the Alabama port for 4- and 5-night cruises. This will keep the ship there through 2007. Carnival expressed confidence in the Mobile market, yet there was no expansion, as many wanted. Meanwhile, the city is continuing to aggressively market itself to other cruise lines as they have for years. We wondered if Mobile is such a great place, why isn't Carnival expanding there, and why other lines aren't rushing in. For Carnival's perspective, we talked with Terry Thornton, Carnival's VP of market planning.

 

Dude, don't leave us hanging!! Tell us what Terry Thornton had to say. :confused: