Carnival Cruises to sail from Mobile this coming March

Nearly two years after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Carnival Cruise Lines is restarting operations in Mobile. Carnival told reporters that all 22 of its U.S.-based ships will be back in operation by March 2022. The Carnival Sensation sailing out of Mobile on March fifth. Mayor Sandy Stimpson said the city is thrilled by the news. He says cruising brings in $6 million in annual gross revenues to the city from wharfage and parking fees alone. Some of those funds are used to offset the existing debt on the Alabama Cruise Terminal. The facility is not expected to be paid off until 2030. The Sensation replaces the Carnival Fantasy which had serviced the area from 2016 to 2020. Click below for coverage of the Carnival Sensation by APR Gulf coast correspondent Guy Busby.