Cruise Through Mobile
The gateway to southern Alabama's pristine beaches on the Gulf of Mexico is the bayside city of Mobile. Since 2004 (with a temporary interruption following Hurricane Katrina), Mobile became a cruise port, when Carnival Cruise Lines' Holiday began launching 4- and 5-day cruises to Cozumel and the Yucatán out of the city's harbor. Pre- and post-cruise hotel options include the Battle House Hotel: A Renaissance Hotel Home, 26 N. Royal St. (tel. 866/316-5957 or 251/338-2000; www.marriott.com), which opened in May 2007 following a $200-million renovation. The historic 1852 property has a rich roster of past guests, including Ulysses S. Grant and Babe Ruth. Rates range from $170 to $194 double. A luxury spa was slated to open in fall 2008.
Attractions close to the port include the Museum of Mobile, 111 S. Royal St. (tel. 251/208-7569; www.museumofmobile.com), an interesting spot detailing the city's 300-year-history. Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors, and $3 students. When you've worked up an appetite, great seafood awaits you at Wintzell's Oyster House, 605 Dauphin St. (tel. 251/432-4605; www.wintzellsoysterhouse.com). For more information on the city, contact the Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1 S. Water St. (tel. 800/5-MOBILE [566-2453] or 251/208-2000; www.mobile.org).
