Ecstasy is the first cruise ship to depart from Mobile in nearly two years. This five-day western Caribbean sailing is also part of the line’s Sailabration festivities for Carnival’s 50th birthday.
Carnival President Christine Duffy and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson hosted a 'back to fun' and 50th birthday event at the Alabama Cruise Terminal, cutting a ceremonial ribbon and officially welcoming the first passengers.
Seasonal sailings on Carnival Spirit
During the event, Carnival also announced its future plans for Mobile. The line will introduce a new seasonal six- and eight-day cruise program beginning Oct. 6, 2023, through March 30, 2024, with Carnival Spirit. Spirit’s new eastern and western Caribbean itineraries will expand destinations available from Mobile, including ports like Bimini, Half Moon Cay and Mahogany Bay, among others.
Bookings open March 9.
Intrroduced in 2001, Carnival Spirit is a decade younger than Ecstasy.
The deployment is a change from the year-round cruising Carnival previously operated from Mobile.
In late 2019, Carnival and the city signed a three-year extension, to November 2022. Carnival Fantasy previously served Mobile but during the pandemic shutdown in 2020, it was sold to the breakers for demolition.
'Economy is not operating to its full potential without a cruise ship'
Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson welcomed Carnival's return and noted that for more than a decade, cruises have brought visitors to the city from across the Southeast US, providing a boost to hotels, restaurants, attractions and dozens of other local businesses in the surrounding region.
'Simply put, Mobile’s economy is not operating to its full potential without a cruise ship in its harbor. We are fortunate to have had a great partnership with Carnival Cruise Line for several years, and as we celebrate Ecstasy's departure today, we look forward to many more,' he said.
The history
Carnival began operating a short series of cruises from the city in 2002 on Holiday. In 2004, when the Alabama Cruise Terminal opened, Carnival introduced a year-round program. Carnival Fantasy took that on in 2009, then Carnival Elation. The line exited Mobile from late 2011 until 2016, when Fantasy returned.
At the height of Fun Ship operations there in 2019, 2,508 people were sailing per cruise for an annual total of 187,013 passengers from the port.
Final Ecstasy cruise Oct. 10
Carnival Ecstasy sailings include four- and five-day western Caribbean itineraries through Oct. 10, with four-day cruises visiting Cozumel and five-day cruises visiting Cozumel and Costa Maya or Progreso. The ship will also operate a 10-day 'Carnival Journeys' cruise on Sept. 12, visiting Key West, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Ecstasy’s Oct 10 voyage will be its last as the ship will be exiting the fleet.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited.
Add Seatrade Cruise News to your Google News feed.  |
