Lottery For RV Spaces At Civic Center During Mardi Gras

Alabama Mobile The amount of parking spaces for RV's has been cut in half because 400 spaces are now designated for cruise terminal parking.

by Jamie Burch

Published: Wed, July 22, 2009 - 4:04 pm CST

The Carnival Fantasy cruise ship may be a nightmare for some people who bring their RV's to Mobile for Mardi Gras.

The amount of parking spaces for RV's at the Civic Center has been cut in half. Who gets the remaining 24 spaces will now be decided by lottery.

The Fantasy, which will replace The Holiday in November, holds 600 more passengers. More passengers means more parking. The city predicts it will need 200 to 400 more spaces than the Cruise Terminal can hold. So it has designated up to 400 spaces in the Civic Center parking lot for cruise ship passengers.

The 24 hook-up spots, which cost $1,140 to rent for the four week Mardi Gras season, will be assigned by lottery. Anyone who's interested must fill out a registration postcard and get it back to the Civic Center by 12 Noon on August 28. The drawing will be held at 6 o'clock that night.

Payment from the lottery winners must be received no later than 2 p.m. on September 2. Spaces that are unclaimed or not paid for will be entered into a second drawing that will be held on September 2 at 6 p.m.

The 25 parking spaces that have been reserved for free standing RVs in the past are no longer available.

RV parking is still available in "RV City," which is across from the Civic Center under the I-10 overpass.

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RandyL Says:

Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 9:44 am

Are you kidding me. It has been worse than a lottery in the past. The person that is in charge of the RV parking at the civic center never returns your phone calls. The process was first come first serve so all you ever got was added to the list. On the day after fat Tuesday, 2008, I contacted her and I was added to the waiting list (number 2, two, say it with me, TWO)for Mardi Gras 2009. I made several attempts to contact her during the year, left messages, etc. I finally got in touch with her, on her persoanl cell phone, since she never answered her office phone. I was moved down to number seven on the list. This year I have called at least 15 times, left messages and I have never, will you please say it with me, NEVER been called back. I actually had someone go to the civic center on the Wednesday after fat Tuesday to make sure that our name got on the list. That is the first day that they allow you to get on the waiting list. The civic center employee was in but wouldn’t see her and only allowed her to send her name to get added to the list.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I THINK THAT I WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE WITH THE LOTTERY.

kwb1973 Says:

Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 9:49 am

Is it possible to not have any cruises booked during Mardi Gras? Instead, let the RV campers have the parking for those measly four weeks and then they have to be out by no later than the Thursday following Fat Tuesday. I understand it is probably boils down to the $$, but Mardi Gras it not that long. You can cruise anytime before or after Mardi Gras.