Lottery For RV Spaces At Civic Center During Mardi Gras

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.