Very new to New Orleans...

Have never been here and our ship is leaving from this port. Wondering if there is only one airport and one port in New Orleans? :D

Also, we plan to fly in one day ahead (maybe), so what are the closest hotels to the port, since we will be hoping to get transportation from the hotel to the port? I think Carnival does this. We will be on the Elation. And what good places will be to eat at in that area?

Also was wondering what is that "Home Port Advisory" excursion, that is being offered on Carnival's website for $0.01? And is the "Faster to the fun" excursion worth it?

TIA :)

Gal, not sure where to begin.

Yes, there is only one airport. I have never cruised out of New Orleans, but would think there is only terminal area, which is downtown (though for natives technically uptown).

There are any number of hotels in New Orleans close to the port--the Warehouse District is a favorite area of mine in which to stay. And there are literally hundreds of restaurants in the area.

You may want to check the other discussions on this forum, but hopefully I have pointed you in the right direction.

Gal, not sure where to begin.

 

Yes, there is only one airport. I have never cruised out of New Orleans, but would think there is only terminal area, which is downtown (though for natives technically uptown).

 

There are any number of hotels in New Orleans close to the port--the Warehouse District is a favorite area of mine in which to stay. And there are literally hundreds of restaurants in the area.

 

You may want to check the other discussions on this forum, but hopefully I have pointed you in the right direction.

Yes, I know, so many questions :D But thanks for giving me an idea as well as some info.

One suggestion is to read the first one or two pages of this board. You will get some great hotel and dining info. After all that, you will have some specific questions that we may be able to help you with. I too would suggest the warehouse district. We could have a whole board just dedicated to dining in NO.

Some idea of what you want. Seafood, fine dining, Cajun/Creole, cheap or expensive? Hotels in general will run from $100-500 per night. Free transport is very rare but cabs are cheap. Airport to warehouse district for two in a cab is about $35, most hotels to the port are about $9 or so for two.

Our last time sailing on Carnival Elation we boarded the ship at the same time as Faster to Fun. Not worth it in my opinion. We arrive at the port around 1030a and were onboard before 1130. We generally stay in the Warehouse District near the Convention Center. The Port is right behind the CC. Plenty of places to eat plus you can pay $3 for a 24hr pass on the street cars. Because we stay near the CC we use the Riverfront Line to head into the F Quarter. Even though we live only 3hrs away we still go a day early just to relax.

Our last time sailing on Carnival Elation we boarded the ship at the same time as Faster to Fun. Not worth it in my opinion. We arrive at the port around 1030a and were onboard before 1130. We generally stay in the Warehouse District near the Convention Center. The Port is right behind the CC. Plenty of places to eat plus you can pay $3 for a 24hr pass on the street cars. Because we stay near the CC we use the Riverfront Line to head into the F Quarter. Even though we live only 3hrs away we still go a day early just to relax.

Thank you for that. We have also contacted the N.O. Conventions Bureau and found that we will be boarding at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal (or somewhere in that area), they have also given us hotels in that area, ideas of things to do (which will come in handy since we will be there a day ahead) and many restaurants.

Thanks for the info on the Faster to fun. And the street cars sound like a fun way to see more of the city.

:)

Gal,

I understand that you are saying at the Hampton in the Warehouse District, which is across the street from the Convention Center. Excellent location and choice.

Regarding restaurants, how many meals, what price range, what type of food. For information on restaurants, you can check Tom Fitzmorris's Mr. Food website for ideas.

Within two miles of the Hampton, there are literally hundreds of restaurants, and there are within a half mile of the Hampton any number of really good restaurants, including Tommy's Cuisine, Emeril's, Herbsaint, Restaurant August and Cochon's. These restaurants are not cheap, but if you are looking to splurge--and you should--you may wish to do some research and check out the websites of the restaurants you are looking at.

Though for multiple reasons, I hate promoting these days in any way the local Times-Picayune newspaper, which the Newhouse owners gutted, and the nola.com website, the latter features numerous listings and rankings of New Orleans restaurants. In fact, a top 50 feature with numerous categories is currently running.

Two other restaurants I would suggest are Eleven 79 (a very short distance from the Hampton but at night perhaps a taxi ride because it is located on the other side of an expressway from the Hampton) and Mr. B's, located on Royal Street a block off Canal and a great restaurant for those visiting the city.

Gal, again the questions are how many meals, what is your price range, and are there types of food you especially like or dislike. Keep in mind that many of the Italian restaurants in New Orleans are what is called Creole-Italian, which is a Italian food heavily influenced by south Louisiana cooking.

Turns out I didn't make our Hampton Inn ressie early enough so we are not able to stay there, but I did get a hotel room at the Hyatt Place Conv Ctr on Convention Center Blvd, but hopefully just as good a location for good restaurants. I didn't even think about Mardi Gras at that time...:rolleyes:

But we will be looking to have maybe one or two meals, because we will be coming in one day before we leave for our cruise. So definitely a dinner for that evening as well as perhaps lunch that day too. Not to sure about breakfast the day we leave for the cruise. But we will be interested in Cajun/Creole type food.

Not looking to spend too too much on dinner :rolleyes: but I don't mind paying if I know I am getting good food. I will check out the Tom Fitzmorris site again, but it is hard to tell what is in our area...But I will check out nola.com site.

Thank you so much!

When are you coming in? For some reason, I am thinking Mardi Gras, though I do not see any reference to Mardi Gras in your posts above. However, if you are coming in at the end of Mardi Gras season, all bets are off. And if you are intent at eating at one particular restaurant that is on the higher end, make reservations very early.

When are you coming in? For some reason, I am thinking Mardi Gras, though I do not see any reference to Mardi Gras in your posts above. However, if you are coming in at the end of Mardi Gras season, all bets are off. And if you are intent at eating at one particular restaurant that is on the higher end, make reservations very early.

Arriving on February 15 and only staying one night before our cruise. I'm a planner in that I like to know things ahead of time. Especially that this wasn't booked until September, so I was mainly overwhelmed with the cruise itself not the holiday that surrounds it. :)

I don't have any plans for a specific restaurant, as of yet. But when I do find one will definitely make a reservation, if needed. I just got a "guide" book on New Orleans from the library, so will go through that. And it certainly doesn't have to be a high end restaurant, just a place with good Creole\Cajun food. :)

Turns out I didn't make our Hampton Inn ressie early enough so we are not able to stay there, but I did get a hotel room at the Hyatt Place Conv Ctr on Convention Center Blvd, but hopefully just as good a location for good restaurants. I didn't even think about Mardi Gras at that time...:rolleyes:

 

But we will be looking to have maybe one or two meals, because we will be coming in one day before we leave for our cruise. So definitely a dinner for that evening as well as perhaps lunch that day too. Not to sure about breakfast the day we leave for the cruise. But we will be interested in Cajun/Creole type food.

 

Not looking to spend too too much on dinner :rolleyes: but I don't mind paying if I know I am getting good food. I will check out the Tom Fitzmorris site again, but it is hard to tell what is in our area...But I will check out nola.com site.

 

Thank you so much!

Hyatt Place is a nice hotel within walking distance to both the port and the Riverfront street car which can to you into the quarter. You can get a 24hr pass for $3. Plenty of restaurants to eat in the Quarter plus not far from the hotel is Mulate's. You will be there in the heart of Mardi Gras time. Here is the parade schedule - http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule.html

After looking over many places as well as their menus, one place I found to be appealing was Mulate's. It is good to know they are open on Sunday's as well. And I did send an email to see if reservations are going to be needed, since it will be during Mardi Gras. But definitely still looking as it is always good to have a plan B or even C...:

Also plan on doing the Streetcar...

Try out Port of Call for a great burger with a Baked Potato

The "problem" is that you will be in the city during the height of the Mardi Gras--the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day. If I understand correctly, you will be arriving on Sunday, Feb. 15. What time does your flight arrive? What time on Monday do your board your ship? It will be a chore just to get from the airport to your hotel by taxi, depending upon time, because of parades routes and traffic.

Several restaurants that are normally a short taxi drive from your hotel are probably bad choices on Sunday because of the parades--Mandina's on Canal and Katie's in the Mid-City area not far from Mandina's. Port of Call on Esplanade, which serves a great hamburger, is normally very crowded, regardless of time of year or even time of day.

Mulate's (which I avoid because of the Cajun Music played, at least at the Mulate's near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) should be located close to your hotel.

Gal, you have not given us your age, but given the time of year, I would suggest "going with the flow." I would enjoy the parades--Bacchus is Sunday night (unfortunately, you will be missing Endymion on Saturday night)--and enjoy a dinner in your area in a restaurant that looks appealing to you (which may well be Mulate's).

Just remember that you will be seeing the city at a highly atypical time. However, as an aside, Mardi Gras and other big events bring out the best in the city. NOPD does not have a great reputation, but because of experience, it may be the best police department in the country when it comes to crowd control. And there are not many places in the country where hundreds of thousands can party--seemingly everyone with a beer in hand--with relatively few incidents. When the Saints in 2009 won the Super Bowl, there were no riots or burned cars, and again very few incidents, because people have experience celebrating.

We will be arriving about 1'ish. That will certainly be enough time to get from the airport to the hotel. Though now you mention the parade and traffic, makes me concerned about cost. Oh well.

But will be myself and my daughter. As far as when we board the ship, since it will be a busy time of year, I plan to just get a quick lite breakfast (I think our hotel serves a complimentary) and just get to the pier ASAP. I think if we are there by 11 am that is good for me.

Definitely plan on going with the flow, I would love to see a parade and have some good Cajun/creole food. I wish our circumstances allowed us to stay at least another day, but we will just plan another trip back. I have always wanted to come N.O. I can already feel the excitement!:D

And hoping to at least get to Bourbon Street...If not, like I say another time, another day...

I just checked the location of your hotel. It is right off the expressway that goes across the river--I thought it was closer to Poydras near the casino-- so you should have fewer traffic problems than I thought, but the traffic on the expressway could be heavy.

You will be only a few blocks from the parade route on St. Charles, and Bourbon Street is at most a mile from your hotel. Just get ready for the crowds. However, your location is super for catching parades. You may get in too late to catch most of the day parades, but you can catch Bacchus that evening.

Glad to hear that about Bourbon Street and the Parades. Thank you for that!

Do yourself a favour, if you can arrive at least four or five days before and stay at a hotel in the French Quarter or a hotel bordering the FQ. I waited 20+ years to go and went last year for four days before and after. There is so much to see and do it is well worth going several days early to take it all in. I went back again this year and added two days post-cruise and still wanted to do more and see more.

I made a map of the FQ and mapped everything out. What I wanted to see, where I wanted to shop, and the restaurants I HAD to check out. We did a cemetery tour and that was fun. This year we hit the cemetery on our own and I did a self guided tour of the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery #1. There is so much to see and do I have decided that next year I am going back and will cruise on the Dream again....who cares if I've been to the ports far to many times, but it's New Orleans that has me!!!!

I have always wanted to come to N.O., every since we have been coming the many times to FL. I wish I could take the extra time now, but my daughter who is coming is graduating HS and doesn't want to miss more than her week off, which I understand. But I'm sure we will make it back, especially for Mardi Gras ;)

Can you offer up some ideas on what to see and maybe where to eat Not into the Bourbon Dt party life!! thanks!

[/color]QUOTE=misguidedangel;44585608]Do yourself a favour, if you can arrive at least four or five days before and stay at a hotel in the French Quarter or a hotel bordering the FQ. I waited 20+ years to go and went last year for four days before and after. There is so much to see and do it is well worth going several days early to take it all in. I went back again this year and added two days post-cruise and still wanted to do more and see more.

I made a map of the FQ and mapped everything out. What I wanted to see, where I wanted to shop, and the restaurants I HAD to check out. We did a cemetery tour and that was fun. This year we hit the cemetery on our own and I did a self guided tour of the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery #1. There is so much to see and do I have decided that next year I am going back and will cruise on the Dream again....who cares if I've been to the ports far to many times, but it's New Orleans that has me!!!!

The "problem" is that you will be in the city during the height of the Mardi Gras--the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day. If I understand correctly, you will be arriving on Sunday, Feb. 15. What time does your flight arrive? What time on Monday do your board your ship? It will be a chore just to get from the airport to your hotel by taxi, depending upon time, because of parades routes and traffic.

 

Several restaurants that are normally a short taxi drive from your hotel are probably bad choices on Sunday because of the parades--Mandina's on Canal and Katie's in the Mid-City area not far from Mandina's. Port of Call on Esplanade, which serves a great hamburger, is normally very crowded, regardless of time of year or even time of day.

 

Mulate's (which I avoid because of the Cajun Music played, at least at the Mulate's near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) should be located close to your hotel.

 

Gal, you have not given us your age, but given the time of year, I would suggest "going with the flow." I would enjoy the parades--Bacchus is Sunday night (unfortunately, you will be missing Endymion on Saturday night)--and enjoy a dinner in your area in a restaurant that looks appealing to you (which may well be Mulate's).

 

Just remember that you will be seeing the city at a highly atypical time. However, as an aside, Mardi Gras and other big events bring out the best in the city. NOPD does not have a great reputation, but because of experience, it may be the best police department in the country when it comes to crowd control. And there are not many places in the country where hundreds of thousands can party--seemingly everyone with a beer in hand--with relatively few incidents. When the Saints in 2009 won the Super Bowl, there were no riots or burned cars, and again very few incidents, because people have experience celebrating.

Your arrival at 1pm on Sunday MAY be OK, you should be able to get anywhere before the parade starts, but they start closing streets a couple hours before the parade. Bacchus is one of the biggest parades there WILL be traffic, but the cabs and airport shuttles usually know the best way to go.

Mulates has good Cajun food & music, but you WILL need a reservation if you're planning on going on Sunday. Many of the people who go to Bacchus Ball eat there before the Ball - and many of those NOT going to the ball eat there before the parade.

Hotel rooms at this time anywhere downtown are going to be at a premium - and usually have at least a 3 day minimum stay.

You shouldn't have any problem getting a cab to the cruise terminal on Monday morning.

The advice of "going with the flow" may be inevitable - you may not be able to plan anything but the hotel room ahead of time and you'll be walking most of the places you want to go. Once the parade is close to starting all of the streetcars (except the Riverside one) won't be running and cabs won't be able to get through.

But it's a GREAT time to be in New Orleans!!!