Even the US Coast Guard agreed that Mobile was the best place to go, because of the way the winds and the currents were going. Going toward Mobile, even though further, made more sense because the ship would be going WITH the current, versus trying to pull the ship against the current. Not to mention the fact that there were 750 people onboard who did not have passports, so would have to undergo enhanced procedures just to be let back into the US AND the fact that, as actually happened, many passengers had family members come pick them up at the port in Mobile and they were able to get home more quickly, to be with their families.