I just boarded Carnival Spirit in Mobile, Alabama. Upon boarding they looked at my boarding pass and immediately directed me to my assigned muster station. It’s easier to do that on these smaller ships because all muster stations are on deck 3 here which is the same deck we boarded on.

After muster, I dropped my bags off in the room.

Here are a couple of unique rooms I saw on my hallway. I’m on deck 4 which is mostly rooms with french doors (now sealed shut). But these two are on the outside and one is an interior while the other has a window.

I believe this one is an accessible room with that doorbell.

Spirit has two pools in the middle of Lido deck. This is the first one.

First things first. I didn’t get breakfast this morning so let’s eat.

This is a ringer and fries from Guy’s Burgers.

That roof was empty when I parked.

I got a visit from the fun ship fairy.

I’m trying a couple different cakes here.

Spirit has the lower lido screen due to the retractable roof.

This is the second lido pool. Half of this pool area is smoking (starboard). You can smell it all around. If you’re a smoker I think this is a great ship for you. This is the best smoking area I’ve seen on a cruise ship. If you aren’t a smoker, you basically lose all of this space so I think it’s not as good of a ship for the non-smokers.

Above the atrium is enclosed but you can peek down through windows.

My room is ready early so I can give you the full tour. This room is in a unique area. It’s at the back of deck four and it’s the only interior room in that area. I have no neighbors and nobody behind me. Just the people across the hall.

Someone left me additional hangers.

I haven’t had to use this in a couple years but it’s good to have in the bag. I bought this before my first cruise in 2014 at the Dollar Tree.

This is my room on the left. That blue card coming out of his door down the hall needed help. I watched him walk down here, turn around and walk down to the right door, then turn around and walk back here. This was before 1:30 when they opened the leaf so he thought he was trapped. Finally I helped him out.

I found the Alchemy Bar. It looks like it is the defacto Ocean Plaza as well. I’m not a big fan of that.

Every seat in the atrium is taken or saved so I had to go down to the casino bar.

I got some numbers from the line lady while I was waiting  to check in: 73 diamond, 348 platinum, 100 Faster to the Fun.

She said last week they had 1,000 platinum. I’m going to chalk that up to Mardi Gras + Valentine’s Day and possibly a school break with Mardi Gras. I know they do that in Louisiana. It’s possible Alabama does it as well.

Here is a look at today’s Fun Times. 

The group next to me at the bar is from Kentucky. They’re concerned about their basketball game since the sports bar isn’t open and this is the only TV here.

The Kentucky people asked the bartender where he’s from. He says “Philly.” They all say at the same time “REALLY?” Yes, he says. I think they really thought he meant Philadelphia. Of course he’s talking about the Philippines.

I bought two steakhouse dinners for this cruise two years ago when the prices were lower. I couldn’t remember what nights I booked it for so I was looking at my planner. It shows Freeport and that’s it. I’m going to have to talk to someone because I bought two nights.

They have limited liquors available from Mobile until they hit international waters. These are the bottles they have out.

Just past the casino under the staircase is the Skybox Sports bar and the Red Frog Pub.

It’s nice having both of these on such a small ship.

I just heard a lady screaming at her husband “Did you see the Red Frog? For comedy. It’s right here.”

That would be a new one to me. I had to whip out my virtual Fun Times to make sure. Nope. No comedy in the Red Frog Pub.

This is where the comedy is  going to be. It’s down on deck 1 in the front of the ship so that’s a bit unique.

I found the medical center.

DJ is on stay in the atrium.

I stopped by the steakhouse to see about my reservations. I’m notorious for booking it the first night so I need to know what’s I booked as soon as possible.

The steakhouse is in the funnel here.

The Alchemy Bar is full 40 minutes before opening. 

I went to guest services to see if they could help with the steakhouse. Of course I got to the front just in time for the safety briefing and had to wait for that to finish. Steakhouse is tonight at 7:30.

They just charged that first fun ship I had on lido. So even though that was hours ago, I have to wait 5 minutes for a drink. The guy should’ve made my drink and by the time he’s done charge me and it’s probably good at that point. Now it’s been five and I’m fighting for a bartender to make it.

I hate to be one to just shout out drink orders but finally I did. I’m just sitting here with my card and and people were walking up and getting their orders taken.

Sail away party.

Wise placing of the ping pong tables.

USS Alabama. Depending on how I’m feeling debarkation day I may head there before home. Spoiler Alert: I posted USS Alabama and USS Alabama – Lower Decks on Memorial Day. Look for the USS Drum on Veteran’s Day.

I picked this little lookout spot for sail away.

Alchemy still packed. I’m not a fan of the entertainment.

A string trio is in the atrium.

I ended up at the sports bar for a spicy bloody mary.

No Kentucky despite being on ESPN. We’ve got Ver vs Juv soccer on “ESPN.” That probably means no UFC prelims tonight. Of course I can really test the WiFi.

This guy walks up “Man this is America can’t you get a basketball game or something? Lacrosse….”

Speaking of Wifi let’s do a test.

All of my sports streaming sites are blocked.

I’m going with a screwdriver now.

There’s a guy at the bar trying to sell his wife for $29.95. Sounds high to me…

I just found the deluxe bathroom. I don’t think I’ve seen five sinks in a Carnival bathroom before. It has been 8 years since I’ve been on Elation so it’s possible they have something like this and I just don’t remember it.

The people who sat at Alchemy for 40 minutes before opening were disappointed because they have fewer options than the other bars. It’s a near empty bar now.

Dirty Grey Goose martini.

They’re bringing out the regular menus and people are showing up. We must have hit international waters.

Perfect Storm

I think the the hostess liked my entrance. She laughed at least..

The podium is at the top of these steps. But if you come up any other way you come from around the side. So I came around behind her, went down a few steps then came back up.

Compliments of the chef

Sea salt bread or as I call it “The round bread.”

Stuffed mushrooms

Mushroom Risotto

I felt bad on the drink order. I asked about beer and she was petrified. I just asked if she had a Parched Pig Amber. She said yes. She came back and said she sent someone to another bar. When she returned with the beer it was a Parched Pig IPA. I’m not an IPA fan but I don’t have the heart to tell her this is wrong.

I usually would give my free wine to another table drinking it but I don’t see any wine drinkers in my area. I’m actually surprised how empty it is at 7:30. This is the toughest time to get usually.

Cowboy steak medium rare with mac n cheese and mushrooms.

My favorite decor on this ship is definitely the main lounge.

Nice looking seats.

The Welcome Aboard show with Cruise Director Rico. You may remember him from my Magic cruise last year.

Limbering up for a dance off.

Everyone wins! And the prize is seats in my row!

That means I can move up to row two because one of the guys was in front of me.

This is Rico’s first cruise on this ship. This is the last cruise for this playlist cast. It seems like that follows me around. I had a last/first cast on Regal Princess. Also had a last/first cast on Magic a year ago with Rico as CD.

The full bar is back.

After party hosted by Rico along with the playlist cast.

I got a laugh out of the guy in this first urinal when I squeezed past him and said “they should move that partition back there’s room to do yoga on the other side.

This is the entrance to the comedy club. It’s below the main lounge.

The cool thing is these stairs go from the main lounge entrance down into the comedy club. No walking from the front of the ship to the back of the ship. It’s all right here.

Comedy host

Mark Yaffee

Here are a couple of Spa shots on my way to lido.

Jumbo chess on lido deck.

They have ESPN in the rooms? I haven’t seen that on a Carnival ship in years.

I’m off to bed. Tomorrow is a sea day. Good night!