MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Carnival Spirit began boarding passengers Saturday morning for its first voyage after returning to Mobile for the 2024-25 season.

And there was a very nice welcoming committee at the cruise terminal.

Excelsior Band greeted passengers as they boarded the ship ready to embark on adventure

I asked a traveler where he was going.

“I don’t know,” he said. Honduras. “Wherever that boat takes me,” he said and smiled widely.

“The ship has run out,” said David Clark, president and CEO of Visit Mobile.

Clark says this may be a familiar story.

“Demand is actually very high on all cruises, so if you haven’t booked a cruise yet you really need to do that because a lot of them are selling out,” Clark said. he said.

There were also regular customers among the passengers.

“This is our second or third time going to Mobile,” said Amy Parker of Pensacola. Close to home. “We don’t need to go that far.”

“We took a cruise out of here in October last year,” said Cheryl Burt of Camden, Arkansas. I love this place. The food is great. People are great.”

Some arrived a day early and had the chance to visit Mobile’s attractions.

“We did some sightseeing,” said Krishna Sheppard of Hope, Arkansas.

When asked if there was anything he liked, he said, “Battleship Park.” Battleship. Great, yes.”

“We came and went to the Carnival Museum yesterday and it was amazing,” said Steve Burt of Camden, Arkansas. “It was amazing.”

The Spirit is scheduled to return to Mobile on November 3, ready to make more memories.

“We love traveling, we love Carnival, and we love this port,” said Sheila Faries of Lynn Haven, Florida.

There will be a shorter season this year.

Spirit will only be here until February because it will go into dry dock in March and April.

Copyright 2024 WALA. All rights reserved.