Vacations on a Budget: Carnival Holiday Cruise Out of Mobile, AL

After sailing on two other Carnival ships, I can attest that the cruise line provides exceptional value and service for the money. I took my first-time cruising parents on the Carnival Holiday for a four day sailing to Cozumel, and on the ride home, even my grumpy, tight-wade father was gleefully discussing our next cruise.

When I chose Carnival Cruise Lines, it was because my siblings and I were on a budget while planning my father's 60th birthday surprise in February. Guests usually get cheap cruises in the winter, because spring and summer are the peak travel seasons. Carnival offers great Caribbean cruise specials from December through February. You can get a great deal, and beat the crowds and heat at the same time. Travelers willing to drive to the boat by car make out even better.

When the trip was over, we'd spent about $125-160.00 per day per person. This figure includes driving, parking, room, board, activities, and gratuities. Cruises are mostly all-inclusive, and this feature helps travelers monitor their budgets. The cost of the cruise includes on-board entertainment and food, with the exception of gambling, shore excursions, specialty restaurants, alcohol, gratuities, and sometimes juice and soda.

Carnival gives each guest a Sail and Sign card, to which they bill the extra items at the conclusion of the trip. It's possible not to use the card. You have to activate it by securing your credit card to it or placing a certain amount of cash on it. If you want your Carnival Holiday cruise to stay cheap, use the card only if necessary, and check the bill that arrives nightly beneath your door. For a four-day cruise, they ask for $100. If you don't use it, you'll get a refund. You can also use it for your gratuities.

We didn't buy any shore excursions because the joy for us was the ship itself. The Holiday is comparable to a resort on water. When we first saw the ship, I noted was that it is smaller than others in the Carnival fleet are; however, my mother cried out that it was huge. Upon its first sailing in 1986, the Carnival Holiday actually was considered a large ship. It accommodates 1,452 passengers. We selected ocean view rooms, and received a cruise special that offered complimentary cabin upgrades as part of our package; however, it's possible to book and interior room or balcony suite.

The cabins are intimate. If you have more than two people in a room, you'll have a cabin with bunk beds. The bathroom contains a stand-up shower, blow dryer, lots of bath and beauty freebies. A safe sits in the closet. You can hop up and sit in the ocean-view window seat. If you have an interior cabin, there will most likely be curtains on the wall, but no window behind them. Rooms also contain a television and a phone to call room service or other passengers.

The Carnival Holiday cruise ship stacks nine decks high. It houses 743 rooms, two main dining halls and other restaurants, a casino, library, disco and club next door, fitness center, theater, bars, pools, cafes, health clinic, laundry services, shops, basketball court, Carnival Kid's Club, and more. I was able to use my cell phone at board, which was great for keeping up with my parents. You can also bring your own laptop or use Carnival's Internet café, for a fee.

The service staff always smiles, constantly cleaning your cabin almost the moment you leave it. I did my hair, left, and returned to find they'd rolled up my curling iron for me. Each steward also leaves a towel animal on the bed, or hanging from the ceiling, to let you know he'd been there. We saw towel swans, towel elephants, and towel monkeys.

The dining staff is at your disposal, set to meet the smallest of requests. If you even look like you might be frowning at your food, they will readily bring you a new dish. My parents felt like a king and queen, and the staff seemed to enjoy making them feel that way. If you miss any of your meal reservations, just try the Lido deck, the 24-hour pizza bar, or room service. You get great value for the food, which is the best feature of this Caribbean cruise out of Mobile.

The Holiday's upper decks always seem to be bustling with gregarious people, and it's easy to make conversation in the clubs or over dinner. During the day, passengers can win gold toned statutes in the shipboard games. At night, it's quieter on the top decks. On clear nights, we saw shooting stars. Even in February, the weather stayed in the mid to upper 80s. The ship is full of lights, over-sized murals and chrome designs. It's a glitzy, but casual atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.

You can purchase Cozumel shore excursions, or if you want to continue your cheap cruise, taxi cab drivers parked at the port will take you to the closest beach. The shopping district is in walking distance of the pier, and the beaches aren't more than a fifteen-minute taxi ride. We visited two public beaches and then shopped before returning to the ship. The taxi drivers drive somewhat wildly. If you hit a bump in the road as we did, rest assured that it was a poor iguana.

The downside of sailing on a Carnival Holiday cruise is that past guests will notice that it is smaller and older than other Carnival Cruise Lines ships. The cabin walls, as on many ships, are thin. You can at times hear your neighbors. The cabin fire alarm is very sensitive. My mother set it off while curling her hair. You cannot smoke in your cabin, either.

Because of the ship's design, at time, you might feel trapped in a maze. You make end up on one part of the ship and realize you have reached a dead end. I had hoped the ship would have a steam room, but it didn't. The fitness center is small. Lastly, on our sailing, the motor was very loud the first the last night of the trip.

In conclusion, if you want a cruise with fantastic food, impeccable service, star filled nights, sailing on Carnival's Holiday cruise out of Mobile, Alabama is a great option. The Holiday is a perfect ship for first or second time cruisers; however, more seasoned cruisers might expect more. If you need it to be a cheap cruise, I suggest sailing in the winter because you're sure to get cruise specials and upgrades. If you do choose winter, be sure to pack a couple things for cooler nights and a jacket. I wore shorts all day, but I did need a jacket for the cooler nights on deck.