Carnival Changes Mobile’s Ship for June; Stimpson Comments on Industry

Carnival Cruise Line has listed Mobile departures aboard the Carnival Sensation (formerly to be other Fantasy-class ships Fantasy, then the Fascination) starting June 3. Carnival lists the Sensation as having launched in 1993 as one of four upgraded ships in its class returning to service. Its changes include “additional balcony staterooms, as well as enhanced dining and entertainment options that are part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement program.”

Seatrade Cruise News recently quoted Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s comment on the 200,000-plus passengers annually who went through the Mobile Cruise Terminal before the pandemic: “These passengers translate directly to the generation of gross expenditures from hotel rooms, restaurants, local attractions and local retail totaling over $12 million. Additionally, Mobile’s economic sustainability has been weakened from the loss of direct and indirect cruise ship employment. The terminal directly employs 206 full-/part-time employees. In addition, other employment comes in the form of trucking/transportation, food /beverage suppliers, security, fuel/water suppliers, taxis/Uber/Lyft, Mobile Bay Bar Pilots, tugboat operators and Carnival support and logistics personnel…. Additionally, based on the close relationships with the local medical community, testing facilities and health department, Mobile and its terminal are optimally supported and positioned for success.”