Please share your knowledge and experience with me

[Wetescape2016]

In just a few short weeks we will be escaping the winter in Ontario Canada, sailing on the Dawn out of NOLA:cool: This will be our second cruise and our first time in New Orleans and on the Dawn. We will be staying at the Drury Inn 2 nights pre cruise as well as 2 nights post cruise and in a mid-ship balcony room on the Dawn.

 

Here's what I'm asking of all of you who have either been to NOLA and/or have sailed on the Dawn, I want to know what you know:D

Tell me what you loved, didn't love, can't wait to do again, wouldn't spend another minute of your life doing, what you've been craving to eat again and any secrets/tips you've discovered.

 

We are stopping in:

Cozumel-going to Chankanaab Park

Roatan Bay-going to Little French Key

Harvest Caye-no excursion

Costa Maya- Mayan Reality Tour (through NCL)

Do you know something I should know about any of those excursions?

Is there anything in those ports in the immediate area that we should see/experience?

 

We are easy going and we love absolutely everything about travelling. We consider ourselves blessed to experience this, we can only manage one trip a year if at all, so we don't sweat the small stuff.

I appreciate anything you have to share (though tips on what to ask of your buttler or concierge are useless to me;))

 

Thanks in advance,

Heather

[RN Cruiser1]

In just a few short weeks we will be escaping the winter in Ontario Canada, sailing on the Dawn out of NOLA:cool: This will be our second cruise and our first time in New Orleans and on the Dawn. We will be staying at the Drury Inn 2 nights pre cruise as well as 2 nights post cruise and in a mid-ship balcony room on the Dawn.

 

Here's what I'm asking of all of you who have either been to NOLA and/or have sailed on the Dawn, I want to know what you know:D

Tell me what you loved, didn't love, can't wait to do again, wouldn't spend another minute of your life doing, what you've been craving to eat again and any secrets/tips you've discovered.

 

We are stopping in:

Cozumel-going to Chankanaab Park

Roatan Bay-going to Little French Key

Harvest Caye-no excursion

Costa Maya- Mayan Reality Tour (through NCL)

Do you know something I should know about any of those excursions?

Is there anything in those ports in the immediate area that we should see/experience?

 

We are easy going and we love absolutely everything about travelling. We consider ourselves blessed to experience this, we can only manage one trip a year if at all, so we don't sweat the small stuff.

I appreciate anything you have to share (though tips on what to ask of your buttler or concierge are useless to me;))

 

Thanks in advance,

Heather

 

 

Your excitement and enthusiasm is refreshing. My only tip is keep that perspective, it is all you need! Plus Cagney Fries, a must try you choose to dine there. ENJOY!!:)

[operaclg]

New Orleans - Café du Monde for beignets - yummy

It was fun for me to watch the ships come in and turn around by the bridge.

Kind of weird, but we did enjoy walking thru the cemeteries.

 

Just Enjoy!!:D

[TSUmom]

I will be interested in the responses you receive. We are cruising out of New Orleans for the first time next year. We plan on staying a few days pre cruise. We will be on the Pearl instead although the Dawn will be our 2019 cruise out of San Juan so I can gather info for that ship too.

[BostonGal35]

Ditto Cafe du Monde for beignets and chicory coffee. get there early tho, the line gets super long. you can sit down or take out. If you are there by 730, you should get a seat.

 

if you are a drinker, be sure to try teh "Hand Grenade" on bourbon street. its fun. lol

 

we too enjoyed the cemeteries as well as the historic district. we rode teh street cars it was great fun.

 

The Dawn is a great ship (we generally prefer the smaller ships). Ditto the Cagney Fries, and the meats at Moderno are great.

 

In Cozumel, i highly recommend going to Tulum. Its a long day but worth it.

 

In Costa Maya we did the water park if you are into that. Hardly anyone there (it was brand new when we went last year). its walking distance from the pier, and hte price is slightly cheaper than buying it thru the ship. it was a blast, there is a pool, slides, lazy river, zip lines (all included in ticket price) and a small restaurant (although we didnt eat there).

Edited January 27, 2017 by BostonGal35

[DinaS]

In just a few short weeks we will be escaping the winter in Ontario Canada, sailing on the Dawn out of NOLA:cool: This will be our second cruise and our first time in New Orleans and on the Dawn. We will be staying at the Drury Inn 2 nights pre cruise as well as 2 nights post cruise and in a mid-ship balcony room on the Dawn.

 

Here's what I'm asking of all of you who have either been to NOLA and/or have sailed on the Dawn, I want to know what you know:D

Tell me what you loved, didn't love, can't wait to do again, wouldn't spend another minute of your life doing, what you've been craving to eat again and any secrets/tips you've discovered.

 

We are stopping in:

Cozumel-going to Chankanaab Park

Roatan Bay-going to Little French Key

Harvest Caye-no excursion

Costa Maya- Mayan Reality Tour (through NCL)

Do you know something I should know about any of those excursions?

Is there anything in those ports in the immediate area that we should see/experience?

 

We are easy going and we love absolutely everything about travelling. We consider ourselves blessed to experience this, we can only manage one trip a year if at all, so we don't sweat the small stuff.

I appreciate anything you have to share (though tips on what to ask of your buttler or concierge are useless to me;))

 

Thanks in advance,

Heather

 

I went to New Orleans for the first time a couple of years ago - it was a bucket list trip (a week) and it was GREAT!!!!

 

In New Orleans, you have to get to Emeril's restaurant. Go for the lunch specials if you are there during the week don't want to spend a lot, but you have to (ABSOLUTELY MUST) get the Banana Cream Pie for dessert. Heck - just go in for dessert and coffee - it is SO worth it!

 

You have to walk down Bourbon street at night - after dinner one evening. It's an absolute MUST DO. You can't possibly understand it or "appreciate" it if you don't see it and experience it for yourself :)

 

If you want more specific info on restaurants or other foodie stuff in NO, you can email me. We went everywhere from local breakfast joints to oyster happy hours.

 

It's been many years since I have been on the Dawn - but I loved it then, and I still love NCL - so you will have a great time!

[biker@sea]

Join your roll call group.

 

Go to your Cruise Critic Meet & Greet.

 

Ask the NCL Group Coordinator @ the M.& G. to enter you into the ( Dinner with an Officer ) drawing.

 

 

.

[DinaS]

Join your roll call group.

 

Go to your Cruise Critic Meet & Greet.

 

Ask the NCL Group Coordinator @ the M.& G. to enter you into the ( Dinner with an Officer ) drawing.

 

 

.

 

What's the "Dinner with an Officer" drawing? Never heard of it. Is this fleet-wide?

[biker@sea]

What's the "Dinner with an Officer" drawing? Never heard of it. Is this fleet-wide?

Shhhh C.C. Secret. ;)

Just what it sound like.

 

Free dinner & drinks with an Officer.

 

Guest service's can sign you up too.

 

.

[markr100]

In just a few short weeks we will be escaping the winter in Ontario Canada, sailing on the Dawn out of NOLA:cool: This will be our second cruise and our first time in New Orleans and on the Dawn. We will be staying at the Drury Inn 2 nights pre cruise as well as 2 nights post cruise and in a mid-ship balcony room on the Dawn.

 

Here's what I'm asking of all of you who have either been to NOLA and/or have sailed on the Dawn, I want to know what you know:D

Tell me what you loved, didn't love, can't wait to do again, wouldn't spend another minute of your life doing, what you've been craving to eat again and any secrets/tips you've discovered.

You mention craving to eat.........Acme Oyster Company just off of Bourbon St. I don't eat much seafood and had the chicken/Sausage Jambalaya there and it was awesome. Other guests that like seafood though the seafood and oysters were great. I would make sure I stop there if I had a trip to NOLA.

[cdnmr]

when we werent drinking in the Quarter we enjoyed the "free walking tours". We googled to find their website and then made reservations for the tour/time we wanted. Might have been a $2 charge to reserve, dont recall but there was a small fee to enter the cemetery and I dont think you can enter the one we toured unless you are with a guide.

 

You tip the guide whatever you feel the tour was worth. We did a cemetery tour as well as a french quarter tour and both were a great way to see the sites. Guide was very informative and pleasant.

 

Find a good local restaurant and enjoy. I had a sampler plate and really enjoyed some of the spicier local food including blackened gator sausage.

[www3traveler]

What's the "Dinner with an Officer" drawing? Never heard of it. Is this fleet-wide?

Yes, "Dine with an Officer" is fleet wide- free of charge and you can sign up at the Guest Services Desk. It is an opportunity to have an Officer host a table of 6-8 guests. By "Officer" it does not mean dinner with the Captain. There are some Captains' who will host and others will not. Usually a very interesting evening. I sign up every cruise as soon as I board.

[dacsmom]

I have stayed at the Drury in NOLA before and loved it, don't miss the evening reception. Definitely stop in at Cafe Du Monde for beignets.

 

For Cozumel - I always go to Chankanaab, don't forget to go on the website and download the $2 off coupon. Swim with the Manatees, you will never experience anything like it again. There is so much to do in the park and it is a short taxi ride, they are plentiful. The tequila tasting is fun, the trails are informative, and the snorkeling is very good.

[KarlChilders]

We really enjoyed the Lagoon Mangrove Wildlife tour on Harvest Caye. 1.5 - 2 hours, guides were great without being "schticky".

[tel2]

Love New Orleans, one of my favorite cities. One thing - a little kitchy, but I love it and think it is definitely worth seeing -- is Mardi Gras World. It is an enormous warehouse -- think size of a football field -- and it is completely filled with Mardi Gras floats from past years. http://www.mardigrasworld.com/

 

ALso, for those into history, my husband loved the WWII Museum and iMax theatre thing. I was bored out of my mind, but the men in our group all loved it.

 

The French Market is fun. Lots of little tables with NOLA souvenier type stuff, fun to walk through.

 

And if you get bored, there is always Harrahs Casino.

 

Terry

[hwkns28]

We did the "haunted tour" of the French Quarter a few years ago. Absolutely loved it

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[biker@sea]

Shhhh C.C. Secret. ;)

Just what it sound like.

 

Free dinner & drinks with an Officer.

 

Guest service's can sign you up too.

 

.

 

Sorry this may change soon. :o

 

.

[luddite]

In Nola:

Get your beignets at a Café Beignet and save yourself a 90 minute wait at Café DuMonde.

Get lunch at Johnny's PoBoys. Oyster PoBoy and some gumbo will set you up.

Dinner at Acme or Felix and get some chargrilled oysters. Or go to Deanie's and get the BBQ shrimp, which aren't what you're thinking.

Crescent City Brewhouse has a great raw bar, bloody Marys and the seafood cheesecake will change your life.

Walk around the Quarter. Royal st has a number of gllaeries and a Café Beignet.

Boubon St is a zoo but you should scoot through it once because..... well, you just need to do it because it's .... Bourbon St in New Orleans.

[Wetescape2016]

Your excitement and enthusiasm is refreshing. My only tip is keep that perspective, it is all you need! Plus Cagney Fries, a must try you choose to dine there. ENJOY!!:)

 

 

Thank you!! Such a nice thing to say :) We are not red meat eaters, but I will definitely make it a mission to try their fries somehow!

 

 

New Orleans - Café du Monde for beignets - yummy

It was fun for me to watch the ships come in and turn around by the bridge.

Kind of weird, but we did enjoy walking thru the cemeteries.

 

Just Enjoy!!:D

 

Yes, I have heard a little something about these beignets, I'm thinking I could probably give this sugar powdered fried dough a chance :D I'm amazed at how they maneuver these huge ships! We will definitely do a cemetery tour, thank you!

[Wetescape2016]

I will be interested in the responses you receive. We are cruising out of New Orleans for the first time next year. We plan on staying a few days pre cruise. We will be on the Pearl instead although the Dawn will be our 2019 cruise out of San Juan so I can gather info for that ship too.

 

We are getting some great info! Love these boards and the helpful people on them. I'm so excited about one cruise, I can't imagine having multiple cruises in the books, enjoy!!

 

Ditto Cafe du Monde for beignets and chicory coffee. get there early tho, the line gets super long. you can sit down or take out. If you are there by 730, you should get a seat.

 

if you are a drinker, be sure to try teh "Hand Grenade" on bourbon street. its fun. lol

 

we too enjoyed the cemeteries as well as the historic district. we rode teh street cars it was great fun.

 

The Dawn is a great ship (we generally prefer the smaller ships). Ditto the Cagney Fries, and the meats at Moderno are great.

 

In Cozumel, i highly recommend going to Tulum. Its a long day but worth it.

 

In Costa Maya we did the water park if you are into that. Hardly anyone there (it was brand new when we went last year). its walking distance from the pier, and hte price is slightly cheaper than buying it thru the ship. it was a blast, there is a pool, slides, lazy river, zip lines (all included in ticket price) and a small restaurant (although we didnt eat there).

 

Early wake-up goals for delicious treats, CHECK!

Definitely will try the hand grenade and have read about a hurricane too, vacation is demanding :D

I am so excited about the street cars, we have them in Toronto but they are no where near as neat looking as the ones in New Orleans.

I really have to get my hands on some of these fries despite not being a red meat eater. Thank you for all your recommendations, they are appreciated!

[Wetescape2016]

I went to New Orleans for the first time a couple of years ago - it was a bucket list trip (a week) and it was GREAT!!!!

 

In New Orleans, you have to get to Emeril's restaurant. Go for the lunch specials if you are there during the week don't want to spend a lot, but you have to (ABSOLUTELY MUST) get the Banana Cream Pie for dessert. Heck - just go in for dessert and coffee - it is SO worth it!

 

You have to walk down Bourbon street at night - after dinner one evening. It's an absolute MUST DO. You can't possibly understand it or "appreciate" it if you don't see it and experience it for yourself :)

 

If you want more specific info on restaurants or other foodie stuff in NO, you can email me. We went everywhere from local breakfast joints to oyster happy hours.

 

It's been many years since I have been on the Dawn - but I loved it then, and I still love NCL - so you will have a great time!

 

So great when we get to cross destinations off our bucket list! New Orleans has been on ours basically since before we got together 9 years ago and shared our interests in travelling. We did Australia in 2008, now finally NOLA!

 

We weren't planning on going to any big name chef's restaurants since we know that a price increase comes with the name and we were confident we could find many restaurants with great food, but I just looked at the description of that dessert on the menu. We are going to go just for dessert for sure PRE cruise. That way we can justify going one more time post cruise! :D

 

Thank you so much for all your advice!

 

 

Join your roll call group.

 

Go to your Cruise Critic Meet & Greet.

 

Ask the NCL Group Coordinator @ the M.& G. to enter you into the ( Dinner with an Officer ) drawing.

 

 

.

 

I was already on the roll call and wasn't planning on going to the meet & greet but just took your advice and signed up! Thank you for the tip on the dinner with an officer draw :)

[Wetescape2016]

You mention craving to eat.........Acme Oyster Company just off of Bourbon St. I don't eat much seafood and had the chicken/Sausage Jambalaya there and it was awesome. Other guests that like seafood though the seafood and oysters were great. I would make sure I stop there if I had a trip to NOLA.

 

I am such a picky eater when it comes to seafood. I've never eaten an oyster in my life because they look so unappealing to me (though i've usually seen them raw). But I keep hearing about these char grilled oysters, I may have to put on my loose fitting brave pants on this trip :D

Thank you! ACME is on the list!

 

when we werent drinking in the Quarter we enjoyed the "free walking tours". We googled to find their website and then made reservations for the tour/time we wanted. Might have been a $2 charge to reserve, dont recall but there was a small fee to enter the cemetery and I dont think you can enter the one we toured unless you are with a guide.

 

You tip the guide whatever you feel the tour was worth. We did a cemetery tour as well as a french quarter tour and both were a great way to see the sites. Guide was very informative and pleasant.

 

Find a good local restaurant and enjoy. I had a sampler plate and really enjoyed some of the spicier local food including blackened gator sausage.

 

Great advice!! I booked the french quarter, cemetery and frenchmen st tours. Hopefully all the walking will balance all the eating? Doubt it :D

[Wetescape2016]

when we werent drinking in the Quarter we enjoyed the "free walking tours". We googled to find their website and then made reservations for the tour/time we wanted. Might have been a $2 charge to reserve, dont recall but there was a small fee to enter the cemetery and I dont think you can enter the one we toured unless you are with a guide.

 

You tip the guide whatever you feel the tour was worth. We did a cemetery tour as well as a french quarter tour and both were a great way to see the sites. Guide was very informative and pleasant.

 

Find a good local restaurant and enjoy. I had a sampler plate and really enjoyed some of the spicier local food including blackened gator sausage.

 

Also your signature seriously made me LAUGH! Because it is 100% accurate :)

[PaperSniper4]

In just a few short weeks we will be escaping the winter in Ontario Canada, sailing on the Dawn out of NOLA:cool: This will be our second cruise and our first time in New Orleans and on the Dawn. ....

 

Heather, be careful in New Orleans after dark. It can be a dangerous city if you wander too far off the beaten path. Don't wander off alone....stick with friends/family. Having said all that, NOLA is a wonderful, vibrant city that can be a lot of fun, and has a lot of history. If you're driving be careful of one way streets!

 

Enjoy the cruise.:cool:

 

Doug

[Wetescape2016]

I have stayed at the Drury in NOLA before and loved it, don't miss the evening reception. Definitely stop in at Cafe Du Monde for beignets.

 

For Cozumel - I always go to Chankanaab, don't forget to go on the website and download the $2 off coupon. Swim with the Manatees, you will never experience anything like it again. There is so much to do in the park and it is a short taxi ride, they are plentiful. The tequila tasting is fun, the trails are informative, and the snorkeling is very good.

 

I will admit, all this free drinks and food offered at our hotel is so new to us! Where we live you are LUCKY if the hotel offers a free breakfast.

Yes I have already booked Chankanaab online and got a good deal, thank you!

 

We really enjoyed the Lagoon Mangrove Wildlife tour on Harvest Caye. 1.5 - 2 hours, guides were great without being "schticky".

 

Thank you for your reccomendation! I think we may skip booking anything for Harvest Caye. I'm not sure if it's more that I'm rebelling and don't like the idea of NCL forcing you to only use their excursions in Harvest Caye, or that a day of nothing and just going with the flow of what we feel like doing is appealing to what seems to be an already bustling vacation.