Carnival Valor to Restore Year-Round Cruises From Mobile in 2027

Carnival Cruise Line will restore year-round cruising from Mobile, Alabama, beginning May 15, 2027, when Carnival Valor becomes the port’s newest homeported ship. The deployment brings the first Conquest-class vessel to Mobile and is set to make Carnival Valor the largest ship Carnival has based in the city.

The return to continuous service marks Mobile’s first year-round cruise schedule since the pandemic-era pause in early 2020, expanding options for Gulf Coast travelers and adding capacity at the Alabama homeport.

Carnival Valor’s year-round Mobile schedule

From Mobile, Carnival Valor is scheduled to operate a mix of six- to eight-night cruises, with itineraries built around The Bahamas and calls at Carnival destinations. Carnival has highlighted visits to Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay as featured stops in the year-round program.

In addition to the regular rotation of weeklong and near-weeklong sailings, Carnival Valor is also slated to offer longer voyages and a holiday itinerary as part of the Mobile schedule.

Longer and holiday sailings planned from Mobile

Carnival Valor’s Mobile program includes two 14-day Carnival Journeys sailings, plus a seven-day Thanksgiving cruise.

14-day Carnival Journeys sailing departing September 26, 2027

The first 14-day itinerary, departing September 26, 2027, is scheduled to visit the following ports:

• Ocho Rios, Jamaica: The port is listed as one of the itinerary’s stops on the 14-day sailing.
• Cartagena, Colombia: Cartagena appears on the voyage’s published list of calls.
• Colón, Panama: The itinerary includes a scheduled visit to Colón.
• Limón, Costa Rica: Limón is included among the ports of call for the sailing.
• Cozumel, Mexico: Cozumel is listed as a stop on the 14-day route.
• Aruba: Aruba is included as one of the Caribbean calls.
• Curaçao: Curaçao is listed among the itinerary’s destinations.

14-day Carnival Journeys sailing departing January 16, 2028

The second 14-day Carnival Journeys itinerary, departing January 16, 2028, is scheduled to include the following stops:

• San Juan, Puerto Rico: San Juan is listed as a port of call on the 14-day itinerary.
• Montego Bay, Jamaica: The sailing includes a scheduled stop in Montego Bay.
• Amber Cove, Dominican Republic: Amber Cove appears on the itinerary’s published list of calls.
• St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas is included among the scheduled destinations.
• Aruba: Aruba is listed as one of the itinerary’s stops.
• Curaçao: Curaçao is included among the Southern Caribbean calls.
• Celebration Key: The itinerary also features a stop at Celebration Key.

Thanksgiving week sailing departing November 20, 2027

For holiday travel, Carnival scheduled a seven-day Thanksgiving cruise departing November 20, 2027. The itinerary includes Key West, Florida, Nassau, and Celebration Key.

Transition before the year-round restart

Before Carnival Valor begins year-round operations, Carnival Spirit is scheduled to homeport in Mobile seasonally from October 2026 through April 2027. Carnival also said Carnival Valor is scheduled to complete its New Orleans deployment in early May 2027 with short cruises before repositioning to Alabama to start service from Mobile on May 15, 2027.

Carnival said bookings for the Mobile year-round program are already open.

What Carnival and locals say the return means for Mobile

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, linked the return of year-round cruising to both demand and Mobile’s role in the company’s U.S. network. “Mobile has been an important part of the Carnival family, and we’re thrilled to mark the return of year-round deployment with our first-ever Conquest-class ship serving the market,” Duffy said.

Duffy also called the shift “a big win for our guests who love the convenience of cruising close to home,” and said Carnival Valor will bring “even more opportunity for fun” for the region.

Some local residents and businesses are also anticipating increased tourism spending tied to cruise traffic. “I think it will impact the economy tremendously,” said Kaye Heins, a Mobile resident. “With people coming in, booking hotels and restaurants, everybody will benefit from all of this happening within our city.”

Part of Carnival’s broader 2027-28 deployment updates

The Mobile announcement was included in Carnival Cruise Line’s 2027-28 deployment plans across several homeports. Carnival said Carnival Glory will continue three- and four-day cruises from Port Canaveral, and Carnival Conquest will keep sailing from Miami on three- to five-day itineraries.

For Mobile, the key change is the combination of a larger ship and a year-round schedule, with a calendar that includes six- to eight-night Bahamas-focused sailings, two longer Carnival Journeys voyages, and a Thanksgiving week itinerary starting in the second half of 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will Carnival Valor begin year-round cruises from Mobile?

Carnival Valor’s first Mobile departure, and the start of year-round cruising, is scheduled for May 15, 2027.

What destinations will Carnival Valor visit from Mobile?

Carnival said the ship will operate six- to eight-night sailings that feature The Bahamas and calls at Carnival destinations including Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Will there be longer cruises from Mobile on Carnival Valor?

Yes. Carnival Valor is scheduled to offer two 14-day Carnival Journeys sailings from Mobile, departing September 26, 2027, and January 16, 2028.

What ship will Carnival deploy in Mobile before the arrival of Carnival Valor?

Carnival Spirit is scheduled to homeport in Mobile seasonally from October 2026 through April 2027, before Carnival Valor begins year-round service the following month.