Loritd

Thank you for the link   I checked are using pier 28.  

We are taking the Regal in March and would like to know what is the name of the reserved parking outfit you used.  

If I may ask What if any compensation did princess offer?   We are currently on the Caribbean princess heading towards Boston after skipping Charlottetown, Halifax, and bar harbour. The shore excursions we had booked have been refunded but nothing else.  At minumium shouldn’t we get the port charges back on the port we missed?

I sailed on the Valor this past November and again in March (spring break). Yes the New Orleans crowd likes to drink but I never saw anyone cause any problems. But I am not hanging out in the bars at midnight, I am in the casino. I would go again next week if I could. The only drawback is the itinerary gets a little boring. Cozumel and either Costa Maya or Progesso. But they can only go so far in five days. If you want to drink, get some sun, see a show and gamble its perfect.

We are also on this sailing and our flight arrives in Miami at 9:20am. What will they do with people with princess transfers? Make us wait at the airport? Or take somewhere to kill a couple of hours?  Hopefully boarding will go smoother than boarding the Ruby in San Fransicso.  What a cluster.  2000 people trying to board all at once.  We walked down to fishermans wharf had lunch and killed a couple of hours.  Walked back and still waited in line for three hours to board.  I almost would prefer to cancel than deal with that again.   

I ordered mine last night for a September sailing with standard package, no charge. We are elite, could that be a factor?

I don't want people to think I was promoting scamming the cruise line. The refundable onboard credit was from a prepurchased cancelled shore excursion at a missed port.  I simply did not want to wait 3 to 6 weeks to get my money back. 

We had both nonrefundable and refundable OBC in September. The nonrefundable was used first. We had a little less than $200 refundable two days before the end of our cruise. We each charged $100 on  slot machines played for a few minutes and cashed out.  That way we didn't have to wait for a check.

March - Carnival Valor  SPRING BREAK with the grandkids

April - Caribbean Princess  Eastern Caribbean

September - Caribbean Princess Canada/New England

December - Carnival Spirit  CHRISTMAS BREAK with the grandkids

We did the Valor right after Thanksgiving. Yes, it was a party atmosphere, but I saw nothing extreme. Very few school age kids. We are going again spring break with the grandkids, and I expect the boat to be overrun with school age kids and hopefully not too many drunk college spring breakers. maybe the college kids will stay on bourbon street.

Club class mini suites are mid-ship.  We had the farthest forward club class on the Emerald Princess and it was considered midship forward.  We had no complaint with the location.

Thanks for all the info.  I will leave the decision to my hubby.  If he wants to try a suite this trip is as good as time as any. 

We are considering booking a suite what are the perks?  I know we can board first; can we access our cabin as soon as we board?  It would be nice to drop off our carry-on luggage immediately instead of carrying it around with us.  On Princess guests booked in suites get double points towards the loyalty levesl, does Carnival offer the same benefit? Do suites get twice daily room servicing? We were on the Valor last month in a balcony and our cabin steward told us only once a day and only in the mornings. Or is the additional cost of tips because the room is larger? It states on the web site we get priority dining times; how does that work? We will be traveling with our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren can we get priority dining for 6?  Also, we have a rather large amount of onboard credit.  Can it be used for internet, 6 packs of sodas and tips before sailing or just to prepurchase shore excursions?  I appreciate answers to these questions and any tips and advice on suites. Thanks, Lori

  If the airport is far from the port like Heathrow to Southampton we use princess transfers. We checked in with the lady at the airport, walked to the bus, handed off our checked bags and we didn't have to mess with them again till they were in our stateroom. When we fly into Fort Lauderdale and sail out of Fort Lauderdale we take cabs. Fly into Miami and sail out of Fort Lauderdale - Princess transfers. Distance is our determinating factor

I always use a local travel agent.  We don't get all the perks using of a big box store, but we get a little onboard credit or a meal in at a specialty restaurant.  But as a previous poster said it puts money back into our local community. I have been offered and taken 2 move-over offers (before covid) and she forwarded the info to me. She was willing to cut herself out of some commission to get me a great deal. She also will forward emails regarding the new bidding system to me. I am not sure a big box store would. A travel agent works for you not the cruise line. If something goes awry, they are there to make things right. 

Thanks karatemom2.  My husband will be happy.

Quick Question  Is there a crap table on board? 

We trade it for half water and half diet cokes. Cost wise Princess comes out ahead but we dont drink hard liquor, just beer.

Thanks Leecruiser  It looks like it will be about same cost either way, train or drive. Good thing I have plenty of time to think about it.

We have stayed at the Hilton New Orleans/St Charles Avenue and are staying there again in November. The hotel is old but is in good shape. We like the location because the street is quiet and just a few steps from a trolley stop. Parking is $50 and also is valet only.

Thanks for the heads up to check my travel summary, it's there, and I printed a copy.  Nice to know I don't have to call.

Does anyone know the daily rate for the parking garage.  We are on the Valor in November, and we are trying to decide between driving to new orleans or taking the train.  Our hotel parking is $50.00 per night (2 nights pre) and if we drive, we will need a hotel both down and back. Last time we were in new orleans we never took the car out of the hotel parking till we checked out. We either walked or took the trolley.

I am elite and I don't sail till September 18th and my advanced purchase of one device is gone as well. I will give it a week to come back then call.

Same thing is showing for the Emerald. September 30 and October 28 sailings are all that is showing. Everything else in August and September is show "currently unavailable" I know she is going into drydock after the September 30th cruise finishes but what going on with the rest of the dates?

10% off shore excursions.  Shows up as onboard credit.