Impact of American Cruise Lines Could Surpass Carnival for Some Mobile Businesses

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – On Friday, tour guide Bella Myers led a group of passengers from the American Cruise Lines’ American Symphony through downtown Mobile. The experience included a blend of history and culinary delights, offering guests a unique perspective on the city.

As the cruisers walked up Dauphin Street, Myers shared some historical insights. “Like we talked about before, this is the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception,” she said. “It was originally built in – they laid the cornerstone in 1835.”

In addition to the historical tour, the passengers also enjoyed a variety of food. They sampled signature offerings from five Mobile restaurants, with a final treat from Three Georges Fine Southern Chocolates. This culinary journey was part of the Bienville Bites Food Tour, which has been around for nine years and guided two different groups of cruisers on Friday.

Owner Chris Andrews of Bienville Bites Food Tour believes the impact on his business will be significant, especially compared to the larger Carnival Cruise Line ships that have been based in Mobile. “I’ll see more people from American Cruise Lines today than I’ve seen from Carnival in the last two years,” he told FOX10 News.

Friday marked the American Symphony’s first-ever stop in the Port City as part of the inaugural Gulf Coast cruise. The eight-day itinerary takes guests between New Orleans and Pensacola. David Clark, president and CEO of Visit Mobile, explained that because Mobile is a destination and not a homeport for American Cruise Lines, the passengers will spend all day in town.

“There are some, you know, obviously with Carnival that tour the city and go to attractions and spend the night and spend a lot of money,” Clark said. “What makes this one the same and different is they’re gonna spend 12 to 15 hours in downtown. So that is attractive.”

Clark mentioned that the relationship between Visit Mobile and American Cruise Lines dates back six or seven years. He recalled meeting with company executives at a trade show in Miami. He emphasized that the passengers, who paid anywhere from $4,800 to $10,000 for a ticket, have disposable income. “They are here to spend money in our city. … People that have the propensity to spend money,” he said. “They are high on history and culture and attractions. And we have some really great tours set up for ’em, and itineraries.”

The Bienville Bites tour was one of a half-dozen excursions available for guests. Other options included a gator ranch, a trolley bus tour, a trip to the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship, and visits to the Mobile Museum of Art and Botanical Gardens. The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf, where the ship docked, was also on the list.

Passengers getting off the ship on Friday morning experienced one of Mobile’s most prominent traits – rain. However, Visit Mobile was prepared, handing out ponchos. “Things have been going great,” said Michael Dorie, the agency’s partnership and community engagement manager. “People have been loving it. We’ve been talking to lots of folks that this is the first time in our city.”

Pam Ogden and Deb Irvin are both American Cruise Lines veterans. However, neither had been to Mobile before. “This is my 14th tour with American Cruise Lines,” said Irvin, who splits her time between Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and Port St. Lucie, Florida. “And they advertised it last Christmas. And I called my two friends. I’ve known Pam since we were 3 years old; Barbara since we were 5 years old. And I said, ‘Do you want to go on the cruise?’”

Ogden, who made the trip from her home in Nebraska, said she loves sampling local cuisine. “You get the local, local input on food,” she said during a Bienville Bites stop at Ruby Slipper. “Nothing tastes the same in the middle of Nebraska as it does here.”