No cruise ship for Mobile?

KeithnRita · March 10, 2011

Scuttlebutt has the Elation abandoning Mobile, with no replacement ship scheduled, and porting out of New Orleans beginning sometime in November. We were hoping other ships and cruise lines would eventually move in to Mobile, and now there will be none.

When we booked the Fantasy 2 years ago they announced the ship was moving to Charleston. Is a pattern developing here? :wacko:

sailingrose · March 10, 2011

RCI abandoned California because the ship's weren't sailing full. I guess Carnival is having the same problem with Mobile.

DebbieandJerry · March 11, 2011

I would also look at where the ships were stopping. Most of the ships have decided not to stop in the Mexican Riviera because of all the danger, killings, etc. I wonder if that is true for the stops out of Mobile.

As for New Orleans as a port, I LOVE IT. We were on the Sensation in October 2001 and New Orleans was one of our stops. We actually cruised down the Mississippi. It was quite an experience. Jerry and I have always said that we want to return to New Orleans.

DebbieandJerry · March 14, 2011

Read in the paper that Carnival pulled out of Mobile because they weren't making any money. The article said that even though the ships were full, they couldn't turn a profit.

KeithnRita · March 24, 2011

Read in the paper that Carnival pulled out of Mobile because they weren't making any money. The article said that even though the ships were full, they couldn't turn a profit.

The money thing must be what is spent on extras such as casino, photos, gift shops, specialty dining, etc. As far as the cruise prices go they are about the same as other 4 and 5 days cruises out of other ports.

sailingrose · March 24, 2011

Same thing happened to CA. Couldn't generate enough revenue. Bar, casino, shore excursions are all big $$ for the cruiselines.

Wendie · May 6, 2011

Most of those decisions are always going to be driven by the economy, even more so now. If the ships aren't fully booked, they aren't going to make the money they need to continue.

EddieJo · June 21, 2011

I am sad about the loss of the Mobile port. We are 3 hours from there. It is a wonderful terminal , comparing favorably with New Orleans.Unfortunately , the location may attract those who are not big spenders. Carnival made some noise about Mobile not being a tourist destination. I think that Gulfport MS. would be a great replacement port. The Conquest sailed from there while the Mississippi was being dredged so that she could sail into New Orleans.There are lots of hotels and casinos there, and 13 miles away in Biloxi.Gulfport Internationl Airport is also nearby.

KeithnRita · June 21, 2011

I am sad about the loss of the Mobile port. We are 3 hours from there. It is a wonderful terminal , comparing favorably with New Orleans.Unfortunately , the location may attract those who are not big spenders. Carnival made some noise about Mobile not being a tourist destination. I think that Gulfport MS. would be a great replacement port. The Conquest sailed from there while the Mississippi was being dredged so that she could sail into New Orleans.There are lots of hotels and casinos there, and 13 miles away in Biloxi.Gulfport Internationl Airport is also nearby.

We agree with you, Gulfport would make a great cruise port. It's only about at 10 hour drive for us. We are booked on the Elation for a 5 day cruise Sept 10 out of Mobile and will miss the city as a cruise port.