Carnival Spirit Cruising from Mobile - worth it or not?

If you’re thinking about cruising from Mobile, Alabama - we’ll share what we learned - its sailings, how to get there, parking, hotels, and the boarding and debarkation process based on our recent cruise. Would we do it again?

[@dozerwillis1847]

Awesome video. Thank you for putting this together!

[@high-pov2670]

I've been on 30 Carnival cruises and have cruised out of Mobile in our pre-COVID life. You're video was on target and one of the more helpful videos I have seen. Most blow right through the details of this process, and you concisely covered the entire process. The only thing I might add is Mobile has an airport serviced by the major airlines for those that wish to fly in. Traffic in Mobile isn't the nightmare it is in other places (New Orleans terminal), so I prefer to stay at a hotel in the surrounding smaller towns. I have another cruise on the Spirit coming soon and I now know what to expect. Nothing much has changed. Thank you.

[@sightseewithjg6828]

Thanks so much for the feedback! It was a lovely cruise and our first time driving, so I thought it might be helpful for others considering to sail out of Mobile!

[@joemazing89]

Gotta give you a huge kudos for this video! Very informative and helpful! We will be going on our first cruise in a little over a year and it’s out of Mobile on the Carnival Spirit. We’ve seen a whole lot of videos on the ship itself which we’re nice but it was really amazing to see one on the terminal and what to expect! Thank you!

[@sightseewithjg6828]

Glad it was helpful!

[@laurendelaine3492]

It’s pronounced Moe-Bill. Just incase anyone travels here!

[@Purvis-dw4qf]

We just returned from the Spirit out of Mobile. We chose to stay at a Renaissance Hotel with cruise parking but we chose to use a paid golf cart shuttle. This was fairly quick and easy getting to and from the port. We arrived around 10:30 and had priority boarding so we sailed on the ship within 15 minutes. Debarking was also quick and easy with passports we didn't have to stop. We jumped into the golf cart and was back at the hotel in a snap.

[@sightseewithjg6828]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience with folks since we did not use a hotel and park option! Glad you had an improved debarkation experience as well!

[@jenniferjjwaits206]

Hello, we are taking the Spirit at the end of December to January (6 days to the Bahamas)...How was the cruise?

[@sightseewithjg6828]

@@jenniferjjwaits206 The cruise was very nice - Nassau is always fun as there is much to do. Bimini has beautiful waters for a beach day - but the wait is long for the tram and it is a long walk to town. Lots of fun activities on board - good music (I liked the electric violins), shows are good, cruise director Erin is fun and not many kids. I enjoyed the sea days and the cruisers seemed to be a good group of party-ers. All in all, a good break. Oh, and the food was better than I expected - better portions and lots of options.

[@northflwanderers]

Your Driving Direction map has an incorrect Highway Number. If driving from the Northern US the Interstate number is I-65, not I-165 as indicated. Not a huge deal but for those map challenged it might be confusing.

[@freespirit1975]

She's actually right although the 165 road sign in her video should be an interstate sign and not a state highway sign. Coming south on I-65, you should take the interstate spur I-165 to downtown. If you don't and continue south on I-65 you will end up at the junction with I-10 and will be about 10 miles west of downtown and the terminal.

[@lindariddle6973]

Is there covered parking? A parking garage?

[@sightseewithjg6828]

Yes, there are at least 2 levels that are covered parking and then 1 rooftop parking level in the garage that is adjacent to the cruise terminal. There is also a ground level parking lot available as well. Parking at the cruise terminal was very convenient.