Carnival schedules more seven-day cruises from Mobile

[mercedes]

News for folks looking for close-to-home cruises from Mobile: Carnival has confirmed there will be a series of seven-day cruises in 2010 from that city on the Carnival Fantasy. The cruises are not yet available at the Carnival website, but they are included in a new sales brochure.

The voyages will embark on May 8 and 15, July 3 and 10, and Oct. 23 and 30, 2010. Ports of call are Montego Bay (Jamaica), Grand Cayman and Cozumel (Mexico).

The seven-day sailings complement Carnival's four- and five-day western Caribbean departures from Mobile. The 2,056-passenger Fantasy, currently in New Orleans, moves to Mobile next November, replacing the 1,452-passenger Holiday – and representing a 41 percent capacity increase in the Mobile market.

A Carnival spokesman said reservations for the seven-day Mobile sailings will open late next month (you can book the shorter cruises now).

And speaking of teases, Oceania Cruises says it will launch a sale Jan. 7, in celebration of its fifth anniversary. Price reductions are supposed to be up to 72% on select sailings, plus free airfare on international itineraries. Specifics on pricing are to be announced next Monday - a spokesman declined to give more details.