jgmpuma

We were on a cruise a few years ago with a huge contingent of car salesmen, who had won the cruise as a sales incentive.

The had unlimited bar credits. I can't remember paying for a drink the whole cruise.

Thanks for the offer, but no.

When it is this hot, the animals curl up in a shady place and sleep, so there is not much to see.

I would be happy to take them. I live here, and we have been wanting to take our 15 month-old grandson to the aquarium and the zoo.

If that's OK, let me know and I will give you my contact info.

There is a Rouse's Supermarket at 701 Baronne Street, about 10 blocks from the port. Good selection and good prices.

They open at 7:00 a.m.

http://www.muriels.com/html/brunch.html

Consider Muriel's on Jackson Square, one of our favorites.

Excellent food, and a good bit less expensive than the others.

The closest laundromat I can think of is in the 800 block of Bourbon Street (odd location).

It would be about a $10 cab ride from the cruise terminal.

It might be easier to just have your laundry done on the ship.

I don't know that taking a Katrina would be worth it now. Most of the neighborhood flooded by Katrina (I live in one) have been re-built, or at least most of the debris has been removed.

The Lower Ninth Ward, which took the worst of the flooding, is coming back, but much more slowly that other areas. There has been an effort to keep the tour buses out because they damage the streets, and to respect the privacy of those who have returned.

The parades don't start until 1:00, and won't reach downtown until around 3:00, so catching a cab won't be a problem.

The Hilton now has direct access to both terminals (Julia & Erato) through the Riverwalk.

That would be a much easier route than from the Marriott.

30 minutes or so.

There won't be much traffic, and no major construction is going on.

Cabs from the airport to the cruise terminal charge a fixed rate.

A cab from the hotel will charge the metered rate. There won't be much traffic on a Sunday morning, so the cab from the hotel will probably be cheaper, and you will save some time by not going back to the airport.

Have someone at the hotel call a cab for you.

This won't be easy.

There are parades just about all day on Sunday. Cabs will be available at the terminal when you get off the ship, and you should be able to catch a cab back to downtown from Metairie, or wherever you end up staying. Getting a cab out of downtown will be just about impossible.

One solution would be to park on Canal Street before it gets downtown, maybe around the 1000 block, and walk in. The Canal Street streetcar will be running, but doesn't go past Claiborne, so you will have a fairly long walk.

Monday won't be too much of a problem. No parades during the day, and parking won't be bad, but getting a cab back in the evening will be tough because of the night parade. Most cab drivers just stay home, because there is too much traffic to get anywhere.

Mardi Gras day will be the toughest. You should be able to get a cab to take you somewhere fairly close to downtown and walk in. The parking lots on Canal Street will fill up early. Finding a cab to take you back from downtown will be impossible.

The Canal Street streetcar will be working on all days, but won't get you very close to the action. The St. Charles streetcar will not be operating, except for Monday.

Several restaurants in the French Quarter participate in "Coolinary New Orleans."

During August (a very slow month for tourism), they off special menus, usually a three-course dinner at a fixed price that are a real bargain. These deals are an effort to get locals to dine out during the summer.

Link is here:

http://www.coolinaryneworleans.com/

For breakfast, try Camellia Grill, at 540 Chartres Street, about five blocks from the Marriott.

Their omelets are legendary in size, quality & price (very low).

There is a convenience store at the corner of Convention Center Boulevard and Julia Street, right across CVB from the terminal.

Not a great selection, and the other places mentioned have better prices, but it is close.

Muriel's on Jackson Square does a great Easter bruch.

It is always sold out, so make reservations a month or so in advance.

It is a pretty easy walk, as long as you are not toting a bunch of luggage. You might want to make a dry run.

Walk down Julia Street towards the River (you will be able to see the top of the Dream). Cross Convention Center Boulevard and continue under the walkway towards the Riverwalk. You will find an escalator and an elevator that will take you to the upper lever and the entrance to the Riverwalk.

Cross the open area in front of you. On the right side you will see double doors that lead to a covered walkway. That will take you to some stairs that return you to the lower level, and you will be at the terminal.

Altogether, it will be about a four-block walk.

Rampart Street is the Western edge of the French Quarter.

OK during the day, but pretty dicey at night.

You can do the aquarium in an hour or so.

The WWII Museum takes the better part of a day.

It also depends on your tastes.

RCL has left before, and come back.

The Port Of New Orleans is in negotiations with other lines for the old RCL slots.

Carnival is here to stay. They have a long-term lease agreement with the port. RCL's lease was for two years. Sources say they are moving some of the US based cruises to Asia, where demand is increasing.

http://www.flymsy.com/PageDisplay.asp?p1=6016

Cabs are the quickest way to get where you are going. Shuttles don't leave until they are full, and may make several stops beore getting to your hotel.

The Warehouse District.

Many years ago it really was a warehouse district, but has evolved into an area of hotels, condos, restaurants, Harrah's Casino, etc.

Most of the gift shops will ship for you, UPS or USPS.

The former Riverwalk mall has re-opened as an upscale outlet mall. Very impressive. A lot larger and brighter than the old Riverwalk.There is direct access to the Erato Street (Carnival) terminal and the Julia Street (NCL, RCL) terminal.

Once again it is a great place to ship-watch (we saw the Dream leave.)