*** PHOTO Trip Journal aboard Carnival's CONQUEST (Sept. 2012, Caribbean) ***

[trubadur]

I noticed in the daily capers that they have a renewal of vows - do they do that on all sailings? Has anyone else done this? What is the cost?

 

This is a service often provided by the cruise line but unsure if available for every sailing.

 

Check some of the threads on this topic like this one:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1758411

 

 

"Vow renewals are usually done once or twice a cruise & you can dress the way you want. "

 

"We are doing a 20 yr vow renewal on the carnival breeze all my kids will be there as well as our parents. It was 450.00. I had priced it out on land and the cruise was by far the best option for us. I did get a new dress and hubby rented a tux on board. "

 

"The vows the ship has were very appropriate and then we talked to each other about how our love had grown. Perfect and so easy for planning."

 

 

 

"We did this (open bar party) as an alternative for paying for a vow renewal onboard..I booked the Piano bar for and hour and a 1/2.. 1/2 an hour for the vow renewal, and an hour for the open bar.

 

It works out to be about $12 a person including gratuity, with a minimum of 20 people you will be paying for. We only had one server, who kept coming out with trays of drinks...we didn't leave thirsty! "

[daliflor]

 

Spectacular review-journal!

 

We were on the conquest in August and had a fabulous time! All your spectacular photos take me back to that wonderful trip!

 

Thank you so much!

 

You're so very kind - thank you sincerely for the positive feedback.

 

And since I'm also getting nostalgic, let's skip the awesome post-cruise experience in NOLA for a moment to see the CONQUEST...

 

... leaving New Orleans for another Western Caribbean adventure... with new passengers aboard... Sunday afternoon!

 

 

We were wondering along the streets of New Orleans on Sunday afternoon when my friends pointed out to me something in the horizon...

right before the rain was about to start again!

 

 

And VOILA!

 

It was "our" cruise ship... Carnival's CONQUEST - leaving for another sailing to the Caribbean!

 

 

It was a bitter-sweet moment...

 

VIDEO (Carnival's Conquest leaving New Orleans on September 30th 2012):

 

Au Revoir, petit bateau!

 

[daliflor]

Catching another glimpse at the Carnival's CONQUEST before

enjoying Happy Hour @ "Galvez" in New Orleans, LA (Sunday, late afternoon):

 

 

 

 

VIDEO (Carnival's Conquest leaving New Orleans - September 30, 2012):

 

 

 

[daliflor]

“A cruise itinerary which begins and ends in New Orleans offers passengers two vacation experiences in one trip,"

said Gary LaGrange, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Port of New Orleans .

 

"Most passengers will spend a couple of days in New Orleans either before or after their cruises."

 

 

And we did spend few fabulous days AFTER the Western Caribbean cruise in vivid, NOLA aka New Orleans, Louisiana!

 

 

The hotel rooms were not ready for early check-in, so we listened to the wise Concierge lady and

we went for lunch few blocks down the street...

 

Welcome to highly recommended CRESCENT CITY BREW-HOUSE of New Orleans, LA!

 

 

First time for all of us in NOLA, so instead of taking the city by storm

we had to find shelter from the rain and wind and cold that Sunday in New Orleans!...

 

 

According to their website:

 

"The Crescent City Brewhouse is one of New Orleans' premier restaurants and the only French Quarter microbrewery."

The atmosphere at the Crescent City Brewhouse is indeed warm, relaxed and colorful

as monthly exhibits of local art help compliment anyone's Brewhouse experience!

While our friends were checking out the menu, I have to confess that I was more concentrated in the original decor

that added a French Quarter flair to our lunch experience!

 

[daliflor]

 

The Crescent City Brewhouse is located in a legendary French Quarter building on historical property (at 527 Decatur Street).

 

The property was included in the earliest known city plan signed in 1722 --

records indicate a two-story, 14 room house was built on this site in the mid 1700's.

 

 

The design of the Crescent City Brewhouse has been recognized and awarded with the Vieux Carre City Council Award for

maintaining the integrity of the historic property and an outstanding renovation.

I was so taken by the unique decor and the history of the place that I decided to only have... dessert!

 

(yepe, everyone else was indulging and enjoying a delicious Gumbo but me)

 

 

And yes, as the Concierge lady advised us, we did avoid using the word "straight" as it's not applicable in New Orleans! : - ))

 

Oh, boy! Was the waiter right about the delicious "Almond Fruit Basket" or what?!

 

It did taste as awesome (or even better) as it looked like! Mmmmm, so good and fresh and refreshing!!!

 

Meanwhile, my friends were debating over... "proper" drinks!

 

And that is because the Crescent City Brewhouse is a 17-barrel state-of-the-art brewery,

which incorporates Old World values and modern technology.

 

World-class beer is brewed in small quantities according to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516 from four natural ingredients:

water, malt, hops and yeast.

 

No stabilizers or chemicals are used. All brewing is completed in-house. we were told by the friendly, knowledgeable waiter.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Oh! Should I add that New Orleans has some of the best COFFEE ever?!

 

And I'm not talking 'specialty coffee" but rather plain, 'regular' coffee! Perfect for my delicious dessert!

 

 

Almond Fruit Basket & coffee @ New Orleans, LA

 

 

 

On the other hand, our friends enjoyed some of the specialties @ the Crescent City Brewhouse... featuring innovative New Orleans cuisine

("a unique combination of traditional Louisiana ingredients and recipes with a modern flair")

 

Lunch time in New Orleans!

 

One option - the Crescent City Brewhouse: bistro atmosphere... the freshest seafood catch...

freshly shucked oysters @ the raw oyster bar... and a medley of seafood in season!

 

[daliflor]

We went to the Crescent City Brewhouse to kill time over lunch while waiting for our hotel rooms to get ready...

and ended up falling in love with this place!

 

 

The unique decor, the establishment's history, the delicious food and the warm atmosphere made us wanting to go back!

 

 

IF you may be wondering "What's New at Crescent City Brewhouse" - check out those items:

 

Marinated Shrimp Salad - "Large gulf shrimp marinated in pickling spices and poached.

Served with fresh spinach leaves, avocado, cucumbers and roasted red peppers; citrus vinaigrette."

 

Asian BBQ Chicken - "Fresh grilled chicken with julienne of carrots, cucumber, cilantro.

Basted with a spicy Asian sauce on french bread, served with french fried potatoes."

 

Fried Catfish Poboy - "Fresh water catfish fillet lightly battered and fried.

Served with a spicy tartar sauce on french bread with fries."

 

SOUNDS TEMPTING, don't you think? : - ))

 

 

Enough day-dreaming!

 

Time to check-in at the hotel and change into some dry clothes!

 

(still raining in New Orleans, LA... Sunday, September 30th 2012)

[daliflor]

 

Back to the Country Inn & Suites Hotel in New Orleans, the French Quarter...

 

 

Only one of our rooms was ready, so everyone else came over for a while

(the hotel was sold out due to a big convention in town at the time).

 

 

The hotel is convenient located in the heart of Downtown New Orleans, on Magazine Street.

 

This historic hotel is comprised of seven 19th-century buildings, giving it a charming,

boutique feel that "artfully blends old world charm with modern comforts."

 

 

Good news! All rooms offer free wired and wireless Internet access, so we were able to check our email after one week (cruise) break!

[daliflor]

NOTE that more images from the hotel will follow later on (as our post-cruise adventure in NOLA covered few days).

 

 

Bottom line: location is key in NOLA and hotels in the French Quarter are typically expensive but well worth it,

especially the convenience to major attractions.

 

Our Country Inn&Suites hotel included a continental breakfast too (beside free Internet) and the rooms were spacious,

comfortable, and clean, some of them featuring exposed wooden beams and brick walls, making them charmingly unique.

 

Additionally, we must say that the staff couldn't be more helpful and friendly, so thumbs up!

 

 

 

 

The Country Inn & Suites New Orleans features 155 hotel rooms and suites near the French Quarter,

including our double queen hotel room.

 

 

[daliflor]

Note: for the first two days, the RAIN made its presence known in New Orleans, so there was NO light

for pictures that will do justice to the vivid city!

 

 

Anyway, back to Sunday early afternoon @ the hotel...

 

Per our Concierge's suggestion, we headed down the Magazine/ Decatur Street (and Chartres) to catch the

Happy Hour at "Galvez, in the proximity of the Jackson Square.

 

 

 

Couple of random images @ the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA:

 

 

The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans.

 

 

 

When New Orleans (La Nouvelle-Orléans in French) was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville,

the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré ("Old Square" in French).

 

 

 

While the area is still referred to as the Vieux Carré by some, it is more commonly known as

the French Quarter today, or simply "The Quarter."

 

 

[daliflor]

Continuing our walk down Decatur Street (towards the Jackson Square):

 

 

The district as a whole is a National Historic Landmark, and contains numerous individual historic buildings.

 

 

Fashion is quickly becoming an important contributor to the New Orleans culture and must be

celebrated in conjunction with the city’s legendary cuisine, music, art, and film.

 

 

 

 

Although called the "French" Quarter, most of the present day buildings were

built under Spanish rule and show Spanish colonial tastes.

 

[daliflor]

More random images as we're heading down New Orleans' Jackson Square

on Sunday afternoon, post-cruise @ Chartres Street:

 

 

 

In 1979, Chef Paul Prudhomme and his late wife, K, opened a "modest", 62-seat K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen

on Chartres Street in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans.

 

 

 

 

Of all the historic sites in New Orleans, "none have witnessed more drama than the old exchange coffee house

known as The Original Pierre Maspero’s Slave Exchange."

 

This building is one of the oldest in the French Quarter, having been erected in 1788 by Don Juan Paillet.

 

During the first decades of the 19th century, this coffee house was a meeting place where

brothers Jean and Pierre Lafitte and their men met and planned escapes.

 

 

It was also in this historic site that Andrew Jackson met with the Lafitte brothers to

plan the defense at the epic Battles of New Orleans.

 

[daliflor]

 

This time, we'll let the "signs" do the talking for us @

the French Quarter: Upper Chartres Street looking towards NOLA'S Jackson Square!

 

 

 

Most of the French Quarter's architecture was built during the time of Spanish rule over New Orleans

and this is reflected in its architecture.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

Still in the French Quarter: Upper Chartres Street looking towards New Orleans' Jackson Square!

 

 

The Camellia Grill is a landmark diner in New Orleans.

 

One reviewer calls it "Waffle House on steroids" : - )))))

 

 

The restaurant only offers counter service and its staff is usually gregarious.

 

 

The little gem is noted for such casual cuisine as giant omelettes, cheeseburgers, "freezes", and pecan pie heated on the grill.

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

French Quarter: Upper Chartres Street looking towards NOLA's Jackson Square!

 

 

 

 

 

On December 21st 1965, the "Vieux Carre Historic District" was designated a National Historic Landmark.

 

[daliflor]

 

To have a better idea where we are in NOLA and where we came from,

see the French Quarter map below:

 

(left from Canal Street with Decatur and then moved into Chartres Street and

then walked all the way to # 23 on the map, Jackson Square)

 

 

Once we read CABILDO on the top of the building, we knew that we reached our first destination: JACKSON SQUARE!

 

 

 

Designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, today Louisiana State Museum houses 2 interactive exhbits:

'Living with Hurricanes KATRINA & Beyond' and 'Mardi Gras It's Carnival Time in Louisiana'.

 

 

Built under Spanish rule in 1795-1799, today,

the Cabildo Museum houses 3 floors of Louisiana history.

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Our first stop - Historic Jackson Square!

 

 

Originally known in the 18th century as "Place d'Armes," and later renamed in honor of the Battle of New Orleans

hero Andrew Jackson, it is a timeless attraction in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans.

 

 

The Place d'Armes (or Plaza de Armas, as the Spanish called it) was used as a

public square, military parade ground and open-air market.

 

 

In the center of the square stands one of three bronze statues of General Andrew Jackson, hero of New Orleans.

 

In 1815, after the Battle of New Orleans, the square was renamed "Jackson Square" in the general's honor.

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

In the center of the square stands one of three bronze statues of General Andrew Jackson, hero of New Orleans.

 

 

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and now into the 21st century,

the area surrounding Jackson Square has contained a mix of commercial and residential property.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

The lower floors of the apartment buildings are shops and restaurants,

while the second and third floors are residential apartments.

 

 

And then there was a... LOVE STORY (sealed with a kiss... or two)!

 

 

 

 

No, the photographer at this wedding was not our own CC member "italianfemmy" : - ))

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

The area surrounding Jackson Square contains a mix of commercial and residential property.

 

 

 

For well over a half-century, an open-air/plein air artist colony has thrived at Jackson Square,

with artists painting, drawing and displaying their work on the outside of the iron fence.

 

Under the shade of the oak trees, you can sit and have a pastel portrait (or a caricature)

done in about 1/2 hour. Some artists have been there for generations!

[daliflor]

 

JACKSON SQUARE -

 

This famous landmark facing the Mississippi River is surrounded by historic buildings,

including the St. Louis Cathedral, the Presbytere and Cabildo (Louisiana State Museums),

not to mention the Lower and Upper Pontalba Apartments, the oldest apartment buildings in the U.S.!

 

 

The Pontalba Apartments offer retail shops, museums, galleries and restaurants on the ground level;

their second and third floors still house a selection of prestigious apartments.

 

 

 

 

On the northwest side, Chartres Street, stood a church (now Saint Louis Cathedral)

and the governor's mansion (the Cabildo).

 

[daliflor]

 

JACKSON SQUARE -

 

In the center of the square stands one of three bronze statues of General Andrew Jackson, hero of New Orleans.

 

 

 

On the northwest side, Chartres Street, stood a church (now Saint Louis Cathedral)

and the governor's mansion (the Cabildo).

 

 

 

Crossing over to the other side of the JACKSON SQUARE, towards Decatur Street and Moonwalk, closer to the Mississippi River:

 

 

Adjacent to Jackson Square on the Mississippi River are the Shops at Jax Brewery,

the Washington Artillery Park river overlook, and the French Market complex.

 

[daliflor]

 

 

Adjacent to Jackson Square on the Mississippi River are the Washington Artillery Park river overlook,

and the French Market complex.

 

 

And then VOILA! The sun came out briefly!

 

 

The Original Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market.

 

 

The Cafe is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,

so we shall be back SOON to enjoy the famous beignets!

 

[daliflor]

 

In 1986 a third Cafe Du Monde was opened in the Rouse Co.'s Riverwalk Marketplace.

 

 

The Riverwalk is located on the Mississippi River next to the New Orleans Convention Center.

 

 

Looking back towards Jackson Square, across the street from the Cafe Du Monde... It's raining again!...

 

 

[daliflor]

 

Sweet Pralines bubbling in an old copper pot.

The click-clack of a horse-drawn carriage on a cobblestone street.

 

Jazz drifting from an ancient doorway.

The rich taste of gumbo. The first bite of a hot, fresh beignet.

 

 

The smell of sweet pralines still warm from the kitchen.

 

 

These are the sights, sounds and flavors that make up New Orleans!

 

 

This is what the founders of Aunt Sally's® Pralines wanted to share with the world!