ekajun1957

Don't know about how much of a bargain but we bought some marvelous chocolate at The Chocolate Factory, some amazing flavors. Also if you like rum especially spiced rum or rum cakes Roatan Rum Company is good, prices are normal but quality is very good.

We were just there in mid December and think there were 6 ships in port and it was not full. It never has been full when we have been there. So I do not think it will affect most days but thinking they have had a few days where they sell out so looking not to loose money. If they bring in extra servers I do not see it as a problem. Pool and hot tub have never been crowded and plenty of beach and water. Service when I have been there has been great.

The best parades are actually on Thursday through Sunday.

Monday which is called Lundi Gras has a great time up on the river with bands and arrival of the Kings of Rex and Zulu.

Mardi Gras day has the Rex Parade which is good and traditional but that day is great for walking the French Quarter and taking in all the costumes.

Being the 7 day cruises leave on Sunday either going before or after you have some down time.

There is a a 5 day Triumph leaving on Monday the 12th.

So without any more specifics of how much time off you can get, length of cruise interested in, cost expectations etc. , hard to say.

The very best I would say is cruise before get in two Sundays before Mardi Gras. Couple of quiet days in New Orleans then stay until after the Sunday or until after it is all over.

If what you're used to is Broadway or even top tour cities like SF, shipboard "wannabe" productions often fall far short of the mark.

I have quite a bit of Broadway, off Broadway, and top tour city experience and still I enjoy the ship entertainment. Does it fall short of Broadway, of course, but using that analogy you would not go to shows in top tour cities because they fall short of the mark that Broadway sets. Also I don't pay over $100 for just the show on the ship like I willingly do on Broadway.

Weather wise September is usually hotter and has more chance of bad weather even if not actually a tropical storm or hurricane.

If you visiting NOLA any before or after cruise May is better.

May is also better because you cruise sooner and heck maybe ending up doing the September cruise also.

Have now done it a couple times and about to again, leaving New Orleans on our balcony, glass of wine until time to go to the Steakhouse for dinner.

Love the sail away in New Orleans

Binoculars for sure. Also if you bring your stainless RTIC or Yeti or similar tumbler great for person first up to go get some hot coffee. But for me the bottles of wine. We were allowed one each on each of our cruises so far so really is nice to have when the urge strikes.

For a female Disney fan can be from Ariel. Man could be Nemo or Crush. Depending on number in total group could use Captain Hook and his whole crew from Peter Pan, could make the gift tags with the picture of the character with the name. Also could print tags with Posiedan or Neptune or other less known characters to give the recipriant a hint. Or use the characters from Pirates of the Caribbean and match the personality of person getting the gift and put on the pictures for those not real familiar with the movies.

We have a group of 18 booked to do a Bodden private tour. I have begun looking at some things to see and do. We do not want to spend any beach time so have a pretty good amount of time. We have several ladies in our group, they out number the men so we will doing some shopping stops. Let me know your experiences and your must and/or should see or do things. I expect the tour guide should know the local places and sites to see.

These are shopping stops we thinking of, what is a good local jewelry stop.

Cameo Factory

Chocolate Factory

Rum Factory, group wants cakes to bring back

Love to see you are reporting back in good spirits and feeling so good. Happy Thanksgiving and have a great cruise.

Many may not like F------K but we have a very active group on there for our cruise. I bet less than half of our "friends" there even come on CC. And it is more social discussions as it is people you will be likely to meet if you want to. Also this site provides more informed answers from a multitude of people with large amount of experience. So see no reason they are considered competitive or opponents. If both meet and greets happen on our cruise in December I will report back how they went. I think John is trying to make everyone happy, and certainly I don't think he wants to replace CC with that other place.

Quite an exaggeration in the title "Another TS" it is not even a tropical wave yet. Isn't even predicted by anyone to become a TS and maybe not even a TD. And no one has any idea where its going.

So I have a cruise on December 11th leaving New Orleans and worried it will be the second time in history that it might be freezing and snowing on that day in Louisiana.

Also you might check which ships you interested in have Serenity or Spa or quiet adult spaces. Some Carnival have the Serenity and know others cruise lines do have something. But yes it does seem like the music is forever, which is another reason I love a balcony room.

My favorite beach is the one I am on with a drink in my hand. But serious there are so many good choices and options in Coz. Decide what you want and what price and read some more. For me its Nachi Cocom. Good food, smaller crowd, nice pool, wife says the massages are great. Drinks are good. 15 minute ride by taxi.

Going back in December, being Coz is our last stop I will want relaxed. That's Nachi

See this is above my level of class and sophistication, I was going to suggest to start out by going get a good drunk on Boones Farm or Mad Dog 20-20 or wish could go back to old days when we mixed cheap champagne and Ripple, and called it Champipple!

I like the Ruby Slipper but be ready to wait in line so get there early. It is that popular.

If you going upscale yes Brennans is special.

Another place in the Quarter itself is Café Fleur De Lis.

http://www.cafefleurdelis.com

But want true French Quarter, historic with good food, we do this every Mardi Gras day. http://www.theoldcoffeepot.com/

You need to narrow it down to begin your decisions. As a few people involved think the advice to decide on couple possible dates for the cruise and then work from there. Most shorter cruise itineraries will be more than capable of providing a good bachelor cruise. And most ports that these shorter cruises will have some place catering to the party crowd.

I would recommend Commanders to anyone, amazing food,

http://www.commanderspalace.com/uploads/files/SeptemberBrunchCommandersPalace.pdf

There is a Chef Tory MacPhails Special at the Jazz Brunch. Includes their best items, Bloody Mary, turtle soup, and bread pudding, and entrée is good also.

$46 per person with drink is not that expensive.

The game traffic will be bad but think of this no worse than a work day with everyone going to work. We go to the games and it is never real bad. So I would stick with the I10 to 90 and also most of game traffic will get off I10 before or at 90 anyway

http://www.portno.com/maps-directions

Here is the map

We'll be arriving NOLA sometime between noon and 2:30 for a 4:00 sail away. Unavoidable drive from Memphis. Anyone have info on traffic flow noon or after near the port. We're using Fulton garage and wonder best approach to avoid as much traffic as possible. Will also be Thanksgiving Sun.

You come in on I10 and Exit onto Hwy 90 West for mile or so and exit at Tchoupitoulas once you exit its a few blocks to the Convention Center then around the convention center to the port so the actual cruise ship traffic is all you will be contending with. It does slow down a bit sometimes.

Here are few of mine

http://gonola.com/2013/12/06/gonola-top-5-christmas-decorations-in-new-orleans.html

The hotels are magnificent, also inside St Louis Cathedral

The right attitude!

So when somewhere on the cruise things don't go as planned, make the best of it. The worst time cruising.....is still better than most other things.

We just booked with Victor Bodden for a tour of the area. They have a great reputation and didn't get that from putting people at risk. You probably safer there than some places you have been in the past and never even realized it.

Also the Dream has a propulsion issue that is going to be fixed during dry dock. That is major work I am sure.