Cruise: Mobile, Nanaimo
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
Carnival to Launch Year-Long Season of Cruises from Mobile in 2016
Carnival Cruise Line and the City of Mobile announced September 23 that the Carnival Fantasy will operate a year-long schedule of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico from the city-owned Alabama Cruise Terminal in the Port of Mobile beginning in fall 2016.
Carnival operated a weekly cruise ship sailing from Mobile for seven years until terminating the service in 2011. The cruise terminal, which in its peak year of 2010 processed more than 181,000 passengers, has remained largely idle since Carnival’s departure.
Prior to its deployment to Mobile, the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy will undergo a multi-million-dollar refurbishment that will add several elements of the cruise line's Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement program, including Guy's Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, two poolside watering holes, the RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, and the BlueIguana Cantina Mexican-themed eatery.
From Mobile, Carnival Fantasy will sail four-day cruises to Cozumel and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Costa Maya or Progreso from November 2016 to November 2017.
"Carnival Fantasy's four- and five-day cruises from Mobile provide consumers with an affordable way to visit stunning Mexican ports from a convenient homeport while offering our valued travel agent partners an exciting new short vacation option to market to their clients," said Christine Duffy, Carnival's president. "We've been working very closely with the port and city officials to make these cruises a reality and wish to thank Mayor Stimpson and his team for not only all their hard work, but also for creating a welcoming and positive environment that makes these cruises an attractive option for today's consumers."
"We are pleased and excited to welcome Carnival Cruise Line back to Mobile," said Mayor Sandy Stimpson. "This agreement has been a priority since the day we took office. It represents a win for our city, a win for Carnival and most of all a win for the thousands of consumers who can once again enjoy a great cruise out of one of America's greatest cities. We are building something special in Mobile, and this renewed partnership is evidence of that momentum."
Celebrity Solstice Returns to Nanaimo; More Calls Set for 2016
Celebrity Solstice returned to the Port of Nanaimo on September 21 during an 11-day cruise from Seattle through the Inland Passage to Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau, Alaska.
The ship is 1,041 feet long and can carry approximately 2,850 passengers and a crew of 1,500.
"The Celebrity Solstice is one of the largest cruise ships on the Inside Passage in 2015 and we welcome her back after a successful visit in 2014," said Port Authority President Bernie Dumas. "We just received great news that two more calls will be added to 2016 for a total of eight. I feel that this is recognition for the Central Island’s solid cruise program and our work with our local community partners, the DNBIA and Tourism Nanaimo and others to make all calls consistently exceptional."
During their 10-hour stay, Solstice’s passengers could opt for local and regional shore excursions to the Alberni and Cowichan Valleys and the Qualicum area. Tourism Nanaimo Travel Counsellors greeted passengers and pointed the way to photo opportunities with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in red serge. Special events included in cannon firings at Nanaimo’s historic bastion and Shakespeare by the Sea in the Waterfront Plaza sponsored by the Nanaimo Port Authority and Tourism Nanaimo. Complimentary shuttles transported passengers from the cruise terminal to the downtown area and its museums, galleries, eateries, and the Farmers Market.
Mr. Dumas estimates that "on average each cruise visit has an immediate impact of over $250,000 to the community and region."
Carnival Cruise Line and the City of Mobile announced September 23 that the Carnival Fantasy will operate a year-long schedule of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico from the city-owned Alabama Cruise Terminal in the Port of Mobile beginning in fall 2016.
Carnival operated a weekly cruise ship sailing from Mobile for seven years until terminating the service in 2011. The cruise terminal, which in its peak year of 2010 processed more than 181,000 passengers, has remained largely idle since Carnival’s departure.
Prior to its deployment to Mobile, the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy will undergo a multi-million-dollar refurbishment that will add several elements of the cruise line's Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement program, including Guy's Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, two poolside watering holes, the RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, and the BlueIguana Cantina Mexican-themed eatery.
From Mobile, Carnival Fantasy will sail four-day cruises to Cozumel and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Costa Maya or Progreso from November 2016 to November 2017.
"Carnival Fantasy's four- and five-day cruises from Mobile provide consumers with an affordable way to visit stunning Mexican ports from a convenient homeport while offering our valued travel agent partners an exciting new short vacation option to market to their clients," said Christine Duffy, Carnival's president. "We've been working very closely with the port and city officials to make these cruises a reality and wish to thank Mayor Stimpson and his team for not only all their hard work, but also for creating a welcoming and positive environment that makes these cruises an attractive option for today's consumers."
"We are pleased and excited to welcome Carnival Cruise Line back to Mobile," said Mayor Sandy Stimpson. "This agreement has been a priority since the day we took office. It represents a win for our city, a win for Carnival and most of all a win for the thousands of consumers who can once again enjoy a great cruise out of one of America's greatest cities. We are building something special in Mobile, and this renewed partnership is evidence of that momentum."
Celebrity Solstice Returns to Nanaimo; More Calls Set for 2016
Celebrity Solstice returned to the Port of Nanaimo on September 21 during an 11-day cruise from Seattle through the Inland Passage to Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau, Alaska.
The ship is 1,041 feet long and can carry approximately 2,850 passengers and a crew of 1,500.
"The Celebrity Solstice is one of the largest cruise ships on the Inside Passage in 2015 and we welcome her back after a successful visit in 2014," said Port Authority President Bernie Dumas. "We just received great news that two more calls will be added to 2016 for a total of eight. I feel that this is recognition for the Central Island’s solid cruise program and our work with our local community partners, the DNBIA and Tourism Nanaimo and others to make all calls consistently exceptional."
During their 10-hour stay, Solstice’s passengers could opt for local and regional shore excursions to the Alberni and Cowichan Valleys and the Qualicum area. Tourism Nanaimo Travel Counsellors greeted passengers and pointed the way to photo opportunities with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in red serge. Special events included in cannon firings at Nanaimo’s historic bastion and Shakespeare by the Sea in the Waterfront Plaza sponsored by the Nanaimo Port Authority and Tourism Nanaimo. Complimentary shuttles transported passengers from the cruise terminal to the downtown area and its museums, galleries, eateries, and the Farmers Market.
Mr. Dumas estimates that "on average each cruise visit has an immediate impact of over $250,000 to the community and region."
Passengers from Celebrity Solstice pose for a photo with Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the Nanaimo Cruise Terminal.
Photo/Nanaimo Port Authority
Back to AAPA Seaports Advisory
