First Timer in New Orleans!

We are experienced cruisers looking for something different.

We have cruised many times from Florida and countless times in Europe.

In January, we are considering from UK to New Orleans on United via Newark, NJ and staying 3 nights in NO then cruising on 24 January.)There is a choice of NCL Dawn or Carnival Dream.

I am looking for general advice, I take it we should look for a hotel in the French Quarter?

What should we expect to pay for a good 3/4 star hotel? What about transportation from the airport? do hotels lay on shuttles, or is a taxi the best option?

Any advice on what to do/see in NO would be appreciated.

Whats the best way to get to cruise terminal (is it far?) and the same question about getting to the airport after the cruise.

Getting back home requires a bit of logistical study, so whats the earliest flight I could comfortably book out of NO?

Thanks in advance

We just were on the Dream a few weeks ago and would recommend staying at the Hilton Riverside hotel. It is on the river, connected to the Riverwalk mall and convention center. You can walk through the mall about 2 blocks and down some stairs right to the Dream ship. Takes about 10-12 min. It is about 4-5 blocks from French Quarter. It is a very nice Hotel and the location is great.

We are experienced cruisers looking for something different.

 

We have cruised many times from Florida and countless times in Europe.

 

In January, we are considering from UK to New Orleans on United via Newark, NJ and staying 3 nights in NO then cruising on 24 January.)There is a choice of NCL Dawn or Carnival Dream.

 

I am looking for general advice, I take it we should look for a hotel in the French Quarter?

What should we expect to pay for a good 3/4 star hotel? What about transportation from the airport? do hotels lay on shuttles, or is a taxi the best option?

 

Any advice on what to do/see in NO would be appreciated.

 

Whats the best way to get to cruise terminal (is it far?) and the same question about getting to the airport after the cruise.

 

Getting back home requires a bit of logistical study, so whats the earliest flight I could comfortably book out of NO?

 

Thanks in advance

We are paying $239/259 at the Intercontinental- a few blocks away from port but still central. Been on the Dawn and would definitely lean towards the Dream- that class of ship in really nice (were on the Breeze and Magic) and food/ entertainments is a step up from the Dawn in our opinion. For things to so, we are planning a tour of the old historic cemetery # 1 (you cannot enter without being part of a tour) and we would like to take a swamp tour, see bourbon street, river walk etc. Have a great trip

Peter, Calgary, Canada

If coming that far and not parking a car, I would look at place de armes, Olivier house, or something similar.

Taxi from anywhere in the French Quarter, CBD or Garden District is flat rate $7pp.

A taxi ride is a set rate of $33 from the airport to downtown and from the cruise terminal to the airport for 1 or 2 people. $14 each for 3 or more.

A taxi ride is a set rate of $33 from the airport to downtown and from the cruise terminal to the airport for 1 or 2 people. $14 each for 3 or more.

It went up to $36

We are experienced cruisers looking for something different.

 

We have cruised many times from Florida and countless times in Europe.

 

In January, we are considering from UK to New Orleans on United via Newark, NJ and staying 3 nights in NO then cruising on 24 January.)There is a choice of NCL Dawn or Carnival Dream.

 

I am looking for general advice, I take it we should look for a hotel in the French Quarter?

What should we expect to pay for a good 3/4 star hotel? What about transportation from the airport? do hotels lay on shuttles, or is a taxi the best option?

 

Any advice on what to do/see in NO would be appreciated.

 

Whats the best way to get to cruise terminal (is it far?) and the same question about getting to the airport after the cruise.

 

Getting back home requires a bit of logistical study, so whats the earliest flight I could comfortably book out of NO?

 

Thanks in advance

Without really knowing anything about you or what you like it is hard to answer some of your questions. But I can comment on a few of them based on my experiences:

Getting to and from the airport (either from the port or the french quarter) is easy to do with a cab. As far as where to stay my recommendation depends on what you like. If you don't want to pay more to stay in the french quarter you can stay in the business district for much less and still walk to the quarter with ease. I like the Hilton Garden Inn over there or even the Hampton Inn. You asked about cost, and that really depends on what is going on but you should be able to find a good place for $250 depending on the location. Weekdays are far cheaper.

And the hotels do not have shuttles you will rely on your feet, the street car, or cabs.

If you have never been to NOLA you should take a tour of cemetary #1, take a vodoo tour, go to Frenchman Street, eat at Cafe du Monde, take the street car. There are many more things you can do like the river boat, mardi gras museum, the zoo, the casino, swamp tours, plantation tours. Really there is enough to keep you busy for weeks. There is a hop on hop off tour bus that you can buy a three day pass for that will take you to most of the main touristy things. It would be more cost effective than booking a whole bunch of separate tours.

We are going on the Dawn next month and are staying one night at the Four Points Sheraton on Bourbon, with a bourbon balcony. We love the chaos and do not go to NOLA to sleep. After we depart the ship we have a 1:45 flight out. I would say any thing after 12 you would make no problem.

I am going to finish up my post now b/c I fear I am rambling. (you will love nola)

We are flying into New Orleans this fri afternoon and need to get to the Ritz Carlton. $36 cab ride each way to and from airport? Are there any shuttle services cheaper? TY!

I know I am a little late to this thread, but I did want to let you know it is possible to find fairly nice hotel rooms in New Orleans for around $100 per night if you do a little shopping. I was there last January and managed to get a room at the DoubleTree (a Hilton property) for only $85 per night for 3 nights thanks to a promotional offer. The Doubletree is only about 2 blocks diagonally from the Hilton riverside, has nice rooms, but lacks some of the amenities of the public spaces, in house dining, etc. But who wants to eat at a hotel restaurant if you are in New Orleans with so many great dining choices. One word of caution though New Orleans is a very high crime city, particularly outside the tourist areas, so be aware of your surroundings. The French Quarter and the rest of the tourist area is fairly well patrolled by the police and most crime there is limited to con artist, pick pockets, etc. However if you get just a couple of blocks away the neighborhoods can get very rough, very quick, so don't take shortcuts from point A to point B.

We just were on the Dream a few weeks ago and would recommend staying at the Hilton Riverside hotel. It is on the river, connected to the Riverwalk mall and convention center. You can walk through the mall about 2 blocks and down some stairs right to the Dream ship. Takes about 10-12 min. It is about 4-5 blocks from French Quarter. It is a very nice Hotel and the location is great.

I just booked this hotel via priceline for $75 a night. Do all the Carnival ships dock at the same location?

I just booked this hotel via priceline for $75 a night. Do all the Carnival ships dock at the same location?

Yes they do and the Norwegian ship docks right behind the Carnival ship.

NOLA is one of my favorite ports to cruise out of. We have done it 3x now. It's a great place with so much to see and do and all within walking distance if you stay in the right place.

We have stayed at Drury before (excellent location and right down the street from the Riverwalk) and it includes food/drinks.

We have stayed at Sprinhill Suites in the Warehouse district and loved it there too.

The last time we stayed at The Blake and is was very nice. It's a block away from Drury and on the main road leading to the Riverwalk.

Some of the beautiful sites in NOLA:

NOLA is one of my favorite ports to cruise out of. We have done it 3x now. It's a great place with so much to see and do and all within walking distance if you stay in the right place.

 

We have stayed at Drury before (excellent location and right down the street from the Riverwalk) and it includes food/drinks.

The place is very nice. (We had an issue with some ants and they refunded our entire stay).

 

How did you all get from the Drury to the port? We are staying here before our cruise in March and I'm assuming we'll want to take a taxi, but if public transportation is an option, we're happy to take it.

Thanks!

How did you all get from the Drury to the port? We are staying here before our cruise in March and I'm assuming we'll want to take a taxi, but if public transportation is an option, we're happy to take it.

 

Thanks!

Usually we just take a taxi there. It's like 5-10 minutes away. Not far at all but yet if you were to walk, it's kinda a "hard" walk from everything I had read about the location/street/train/somethingorother. :p

I know there was one place we stayed at (I'd have to go back and re-read my reviews) that one of the roll call members offered to pick us up (he was a solo and had plenty of room). It might have been this place or the place next door at The Blake. Either way, taxi is your best bet. :)

Usually we just take a taxi there. It's like 5-10 minutes away. Not far at all but yet if you were to walk, it's kinda a "hard" walk from everything I had read about the location/street/train/somethingorother. :p

 

I know there was one place we stayed at (I'd have to go back and re-read my reviews) that one of the roll call members offered to pick us up (he was a solo and had plenty of room). It might have been this place or the place next door at The Blake. Either way, taxi is your best bet. :)

Thank you!

If you like loud nights, and smaller rooms then stay in the French Quarter, New Orleans is a city where once near the French Quarter, it is easy to walk everywhere a tourist needs to walk.

We stayed at the Staybridge two years ago, and have reservations to stay there in a week. Free laundry is a nice add on, then add on free breakfast, close to Mothers, two blocks from the river.

We visited the WWII museum, loved it. Walked and ate our way through the French Market. And I would recommend a visit to Preservation Hall to get some jazz on. But just walking around Jackson Square allows you to hear jazz in the afternoon-unfortunately you will also see drunks and homeless people. Visit the aquarium, this was completely demolished during Katrina, seeing something that has returned puts money back into the city that still desperately needs help through tourism. Enjoy, NOLA has some of the best food you will ever get!.