carnival cruise from mobile al reviews

Carnival Cruises

Review Highlights

“ we enjoyed going to Cozumel and Mexico the excursions were great and we had lots of fun we are going back this year... ” in 8 reviews

“ . Our swi m with dolphins excursion cancelled because of lightening ” in 2 reviews

“ This cruise had 3 sea days and 2 port days. ” in 2 reviews

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Mobile, AL 36603

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I love Carnival Cruises, so of course when we moved to Alabama, cruising out of Mobile was a no brainer. I booked the 6-day cruise that went to Cozumel and Belize. This cruise had 3 sea days and 2 port days. Usually, I am one that prefers more port days; however, we really wanted to be on the ship for New Years, because Carnival New Years parties are the best! The port here is small and a little annoying to navigate, but you can read my thoughts on that in my review of the port. The Carnival Spirit, which was the ship we were on, was awesome! We had excellent food, an amazing New year's and our room staff was amazing. They let me keep all my towel animals until the last day and I even got some new ones I'd never seen. The comedy club is my favorite part of Carnival cruises, besides their pizza, and the shows did not disappoint. There was a show pretty much daily. The productions, however, need to be updated because they were the same shows we saw back in 2021 on our Alaskan Cruise. That is not typical.

See all photos from Ashley S. for Carnival Cruises

If you're not cruising you are loosing. My family and I are avid cruisers. It's the best way for us to vacation and so affordable. The staff on these ships are close to workers in Disney. They are truly sweet people, and the hospitality is top notch. Carnival is one of the most affordable cruise lines as well. I can't wait to go on my next cruise next year.

See all photos from Quawnishia M. for Carnival Cruises

This port is smaller than any of the Florida ports but the parking is pretty convenience. Only downside is that they don't have many alternative less expensive parking options for cruises. The staff are kinda pushy when it come to getting your bags out of the car as soon as you pull up they come from everywhere. The fantasy regularly ports for this location and it is a smaller older ship dog ave many up the upgrades of the never ships but it gets the job done

Carnival fantasy

My very first cruise. The staff including those even walking through the dining room, guest services, housekeeping, on-boarding, and customs were ALL friendly and helpful. Marty, the cruise director, picked me to go on stage two nights in a row and that really made my cruise. I enjoyed the BINGO, but the announcer and Rico Suave talked too much side talk. The food was decent. The ice cream was my favorite part. Entertainment at dinner was cool - not my fave, bu some liked it. I just didn't like that the casino was on the same floor as the wedding I attended. Having a beautiful gown on only to have to walk through smoke was not ideal to me. The ship rocked often and it is very very old - however, the views were great and it was organized.

Participation medal with a view.

Pre Bingo stage fun! Acting out a Black Friday sale where the person in front of you grabs the last big ticket item!

A total blast. Would recommend for anyone. Love the Carib girl that does the show in the cat food lounge. Personally, I would add a fireside inn lounge with a fireplace or heaters on deck for wintertime & a field sobriety test "challenge" to promote sales... Really enjoyed viewing the Atari 2600 font located throughout the ship. Felt like a child again!!

More gold than a Trump hotel ....

Steak and eggs

I've taken a few cruises unfortunately this one could've been better. Carnival Fantasy is coming out of Mobile Alabama and during this time of year it's a little cold. That's expected. What was unexpected for me was how cold the ship was I ended up with a scratchy throat. During every one of our dining experiences we could never get lemonade but they stayed pouring us water. We ended up just ordering hot tea most of the time. The food was ok some of it was delicious and some of it was just ok. This ship is an older ship that has been refurbished. I can always count on Guy Burger and surprisingly the pizza was pretty decent. I enjoyed the ladies only pampering party and tea time was awesome. House keeping kept our room clean and stocked with towels. We ported in Cozumel Mexico and I had a fabulous time tasting tequila and real tacos. The tide was to rough so the beaches were restricted. Overall it was a great vacation but I definitely will be porting out of Florida and New Orleans next time.

See all photos from Tanya B. for Carnival Cruises

We really enjoyed our cruise the Fantasy Cruise Ship was awesome.. we enjoyed going to Cozumel and Mexico the excursions were great and we had lots of fun we are going back this year... AWESOMENESS

What is there not to love in a cruise? Entertainment for the whole family! From walking in to leaving the cruise ship, their entire staff went over and beyond to making my family's experience magical. The ship we sailed on was The Fantasy. Fantasy is one of the smaller ships and I prepared myself with that, but even being a bit smaller it did not make a significant difference and still managed to have plenty of entertainment. Comedy shows, bingo, concerts, pool, slides, gym, SPA, crafting classes and shopping where some of the activities that I did while on board on top of sleeping and sunbathing with a good book and a delicious Miami Vice. Food was great! There was so many options for food even for the pickiest of kids (looking at my son). Coffee, water, lemonade and tea available 24/7. The desserts was my dad's favorite, my mom was the drinks, and for me it was Guy's burgers! Pizza was not the best so I just stayed away from that area. The beds made this entire trip better! I almost am obsessed with the way the beds felt and after that experience I have become obsessed with white bedding and sheets just so I can feel that once again. Customer service was beyond our measures! The staff truly goes out of their ways to make the vacation so enjoyable! It makes that additional fee worth it since it just eases your vacation even about the things that you do not want to worry about. Pauly, our cruise director was amazing! He was so funny, heavily involved and made my family's vacation a breeze. We can't wait to book our next cruise!

I enjoyed this ship the events they had on the ship were a lot of fun the only I would have liked is if the ship were bigger and if they had better food options.

We took a cruise out of Mobile on February 24. I was very disappointed in this experience. Phone instructions...SO BAD! Ditto Carnival Hub instructions. Placing this info in the room would save guest services so much time and aggravation. Service: excellent Beds: excellent Entertainment: good, but limited. Some quality jazz, reggae, a techno dance room, African and world and/or local musicians would be great! Need staff who can make good coffee and a decent martini. One additional coffee bar would be great! Food: pretty good in the dining room. Esp. Salmon, lamb shanks. Prime rib was tasteless and tough. Breakfast was good. Sushi was excellent but limited. Oh please! Stop yelling information over the loud speakers. Put TVs around and continually run info. Duh. So much better. And, run the special announcements on the room TVs! Lost phone and it was recovered immediately by guest services. Sweet!

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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Carnival Spirit’s Second Cruise from Mobile

After a long hiatus, Carnival Cruise Line has returned to the great state of Alabama. With a large number of cruises already under its belt, Mobile eagerly awaited the return of cruisers to the newly renovated cruise terminal.

As soon as booking was available, my family promptly researched our calendars for the perfect week to depart. After carefully choosing, we settled on the second departure, leaving October 14th, 2023. This trip would take us to Cozumel, Costa Maya, Mahogany Bay, and Belize.

Fun Fact: The Carnival Spirit also travels to Nassau, Freeport, Bimini,  Half Moon Cay, and Key West. Check the Carnival website for official dates and destinations. 

Our reasoning was simple – Let’s give them one week to “get the kinks out” and get adjusted to cruises returning to Mobile. Should we have given them longer?

Keep reading to hear about The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of Carnival Spirit’s second voyage from Mobile, Alabama.

See cruises on Carnival Spirit

I cannot say enough to compliment the Carnival Spirit. The ship was beautiful and the staff was very attentive. The Carnival Spirit is a wonderful addition to Mobile and I hope that as many sail her that are able to.

Once we were onboard, we were greeted warmly by multiple crew members. Since we have priority boarding, the first thing on our list was a stop by our cabin. We quickly found our room, dropped off our carry-on luggage and met our steward, Rai. In 19 cruises, Rai was the best I have ever experienced. Each time we left our cabin, Rai was diligently working in the hallways and other rooms. By the time we returned to our cabin, Rai had tidied up the room and was on to other duties.

Food on the Carnival Spirit was plentiful and delicious. Casual choices like Guy’s Burgers, Blue Iguana Cantina, Chopsticks, and Bonsai Sushi were standout favorites. The Steakhouse provided the perfect setting for my mother’s birthday on the first elegant night.

Each day, the Carnival Spirit offered an abundance of activities for all age groups. Many of the activities were Halloween-themed and included pumpkin carving, trivia, dance classes, and more.

The casino was a bit on the smaller side and smoke-filled, yet fun and very enjoyable. The slots are almost all newer, digital games. If you like older reel slots, there were a few along the outer edges.

The Serenity Adult-Only Retreat was a perfect way to enjoy a bit of relaxation.  Each morning, the clamshells would begin to fill up. Be sure to get there early if you want one of these comfy places to enjoy some sunshine.

Personally, I love this class of ship. It wasn’t overly large, yet it included enough to keep everyone busy. The unique layout of the Spirit created a fun element for exploring, especially in the shopping areas and The Jungle.

Read more: See list of every current Carnival cruise ship here: newest to oldest

The cruise itself was amazing and it was difficult to come up with anything to fall into “The Bad” category. Two things made the trip less than perfect and I do not fault the cruise line one bit.

The first few days of our trip, the weather was less than desirable. Again, this isn’t something that a cruise line can control, only an observation.

Our day was very rainy and messy in Mahogany Bay. Everyone who chose to leave the ship took a poncho or used an umbrella. We wanted to walk to the beach area but the weather just didn’t comply. The next day, we arrived in Belize and the weather wasn’t quite sunshine and rainbows either. The water was pretty choppy and we opted to stay on the ship.

Before anyone had the chance to visit Belize, the Carnival Spirit lost power. We woke up to the Captain giving this announcement. For roughly an hour, our rooms were dark and we were unable to use the toilets. After a while, the Captain let us know that the power was being restored and things would be back to normal soon.

No one can control the weather and sometimes power is lost. This certainly did not ruin our trip but it was less than ideal at the time.

In Mobile, the nightmare happened. 

Mobile did not seem to be prepared. It was as if Mobile was brand new to dealing with cruise ship passengers. Traffic was backed up on the roads surrounding the perimeter of the parking deck. Local police appeared to be “lost”.

After being directed away from the parking deck area twice, we were finally led to an off-site parking area by the overpass. A police officer told us that they are not doing parking like they did in the past. That was evident at this point.

We sat in this parking lot for roughly half an hour. No one understood what was going on and instructions were non-existent. After a while, cars began to leave the parking lot and everyone lined up to get into the parking deck for a third time.

We were eventually able to enter the parking lot. The porters obtained our baggage and we were off to parking for the week. After entering the terminal, we could feel our vacation starting. The Mobile terminal staff did appear to have difficulty with crowd control. They had trouble dealing with Priority Boarding Lines and seemed overwhelmed.

After completing the check-in process, we were off to the beautiful Carnival Spirit . After checking in, we were in the lobby of the ship within 10 minutes.

Would I sail this ship again out of Mobile?

I absolutely would. My parents already have a second trip booked. Even though Mobile was ill-prepared for this go-around, we know things will improve and be back to standard protocol as before.

The “Ugly” won’t be permanent and the “Good” easily outweighs the “Bad” and the “Ugly”, any day of the week. My motto is and always will be – a less than ideal cruise is still better than a day at the office!

Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (Sponsored)

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Carnival Spirit Begins Cruising From Mobile

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: October 7, 2023  - Last updated: October 9, 2023

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit has begun sailing from her new homeport in Mobile, Alabama to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Carniva l’s 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit has greeted the first passengers departing from her new homeport in Mobile, Alabama. With Spirit ‘s inaugural sailing from Mobile, the cruise line brings more variety in itineraries departing from the port.

Captain Salvatore Siviero and Carnival Spirit ‘s officers welcomed passengers as well as notable guests as they boarded the ship—including City of Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Visit Mobile president and CEO David Clark —for an onboard celebration led by Sarah Beth Reno , Carnival’s SVP of guest operations.

“It’s great to see another Carnival funnel amid the Mobile skyline today. We are truly pleased to continue our strong partnership of more than 21 years with the city of Mobile,” Reno said in a press release .

“ Carnival Spirit is the perfect ship to carry out this new cruise program for Mobile, offering more accommodation options and all that our guests expect to find on a ‘Fun Ship,’ along with longer itineraries that offer guests a wider range of destinations to explore.”

Spirit ‘s chefs created a jumbo version of Mobile’s famous MoonPie dessert, decorated with Carnival’s iconic whale tail funnel design, for the festivities. In Mobile, MoonPies are customarily thrown to onlookers during Mardi Gras parades. Mayor Stimpson cut the first slice of the enormous treat, which was then served to guests on board.

“Mobilians love to see a cruise ship on the waterfront, and Carnival Spirit is the best ship we’ve ever had. It will offer unparalleled itineraries and experiences and have a positive economic impact on the local retailers, restaurants, and hotels that serve Carnival’s guests,” said Stimpson. “It was a pleasure to personally greet the first guests today and kick off what I know will be a successful cruising season.”

Guests sailing on the inaugural voyage from Mobile will enjoy an eight-day Bahamas cruise featuring stops in Bimini, Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau. The ship will then sail a series of six- and eight-day voyages now through March 2024.

Related: 7 Best Beaches in Nassau Bahamas for Cruisers

Carnival has also opened cruises from fall 2024 to spring 2025 on Carnival Spirit from Mobile, featuring five-, six-, and eight-day itineraries, as well as a 12-day Carnival Journeys Southern Caribbean cruise—the first Journeys cruise scheduled from Mobile.

Carnival Spirit offers a wide range of amenities and many signature Carnival venues, including Alchemy Bar , Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse , and RedFrog Rum Bar . Guests will also have more choice of accommodations, with the ship offering twice the number of balcony staterooms offered on prior ships homeported in Mobile.

More news about Carnival Cruise Line

Do you love to cruise from Mobile? Are you excited that Carnival Spirit is now homeporting in the city? Let me know what you think in the comments!

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8-Day Bahamas

Fun with a capital F is what you can expect on a Carnival Cruise. With the largest fleet at sea Carnival offers sailings perfect for the whole family.

Bring the whole family for a sunny Bahamas cruise full of smiles, sandy beaches, and maybe a snorkel or two.

Located on the Gulf Coast of the United States and known as the 12th largest port in the country, the cruise port of Mobile Alabama is definitely one for history buffs.

• Carnival Spirit - Passenger Capacity: 2,124 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2001 Last Refurbished: 2018

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Carnival Spirit

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Mobile, Alabama

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Mobile, Alabama , Key West, Florida , Freeport, Bahamas , Nassau, Bahamas , Half Moon Cay (Little San Salvador Island), Bahamas

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8-Day Bahamas sailing on the Carnival Spirit

Departure dates: nov 2024 - mar 2026.

From $1,064

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*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

Cruise rates are in US Dollars, average per person and based on double occupancy. Rates may vary by ship, stateroom type and sail date. Offer is for the cruise fare and includes required Cruise Fees & Expenses and Government Taxes & Fees and are assessed on a per guest basis for all guests according to the itinerary. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas and Panama. 

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8 - Day The Bahamas from Mobile, AL

Get to Know Carnival Spirit

Carnival Spirit is more than a ship, but an unforgettable vacation experience you’ll be reliving for a long time. Whether you’re after something that’s action-packed or just want to relax and unwind, this ship has what you’re looking for. (Our suggestion: choose both!) There’s heaps of fun to be had, and there’s definitely something in it for everyone; little ones, big ones and the whole family. We’re talking about a mini-golf course, two-deck fitness center, jogging track, Serenity Adult-Only Retreat ™ , pools, a spa and more. And playing it cool isn’t hard at WaterWorks ™ — after all, you’re among waterslides like Green Thunder — plus you can always cool down, or warm up, with a dip in our domed swimming pool. Keep the kids entertained with three age-appropriate youth programs that give them plenty of choice on activities and fun chances to make new friends. Our recommendation: sail hungry. After all, you’ll be enjoying meals in three-course style in the Empire Restaurant or just go ahead and build a meal with as many courses as you like at the casual-style, variety-packed Lido Restaurant. Speaking of casual, the trio of RedFrog ® Pub, Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina ™ each put their own delicious spins on flavor itself. To get a little fancy, sit down at Nouveau Steakhouse. To get a lot un-fancy — and we mean this in the most delicious way possible — check out late-night soft-serve (till midnight) or pizza (till 4 a.m.)! When the sun goes down, the fun’s over. Nope, just kidding! Carnival Spirit features bars and lounges, plus entertainment that’s great for when you’re feeling like live comedy, musical performances and more. Feel like helping out a little? All the vocal cords are encouraged to participate at the piano bar. Feeling lucky? The casino’s right over there. Carnival Spirit is no stranger to amazing vacations… and hopes you won’t be a stranger either!

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