beaucajun

Cairns, If you do stop at Fezzo's for lunch, take a 5 minute drive north of Scott for a taste of boudin and gratons.  This should be your destination for boudin & gratons.  https://www.beststopinscott.com/

Your best choice may be an Airbnb.  We've stayed at one near City Park that was close to the City Park/Canal street car line.

Very safe neighborhood.  Using Uber/Lyft in NOLA is also pretty easy.  I would use them to get to the port.  Of course you would need 2 large vehicles. 

12 hours ago, Cairns Cruisers said:

Hi Saint Greg/Big Nance,

I'm from Australia and after our Alaska cruise in May 2020 we'll fly to Nola(4 nights) and I'm planning a road trip from NOLA to Houston (overnight),San Antonio(4 nights) Texas Hill country wine region(2 nights) and perhaps a night or 2 in Austin b4 flying home from Dallas.

Greg, What hotel would you recommend a block or so away from Bourbon St that is quieter. I read one review that stated one of the streets was the main route for fire truck, ambulances etc? Looked at Hilton Riverside but people complained about the trains at night.

Big Nance, I was hoping to be between Lafayette and Houston for lunch. Do you recommend any hidden gems along the way. like at Rayne,Crowley,Jennings or Lake Charles even? Would love a down home type crawfish place that would be open on a Monday(not asking much am I). Thanks.

I would suggest Fezzo's in Scott(Just west of Lafayette) for a lunch stop on your way to Houston.  Don't wait until Lake Charles.  That's not Cajun Country.  Here's their website:  https://www.fezzos.com/scott

It's right off Interstate 10 at the Scott exit along the service road.

Following.

On ‎2‎/‎8‎/‎2019 at 4:43 PM, DeesEscape said:

Question for Saint Greg - 

 

 Just wanted to know if that was a good deal or not and any thoughts/recommendations you may have for this property?

I know this wasn't meant for me but I can answer this part.  We've stayed at this hotel 3 or 4 times in the past.  It's at a great location if you don't want to stay in the Quarter.  1 and a half block walk to Bourbon Street.  The rooms are fairly big.  Hotel is very safe.  Breakfast included.  Added bonus is a Brother's Food Mart on the corner heading to Canal Street.  Great fried chicken and meat pies.

Tr

On ‎1‎/‎30‎/‎2019 at 10:10 AM, gooch47 said:

What is the name of that parking lot?

Try this link.

We've also used them in the past.  We just parked and made the 5 minute walk to the terminal with our luggage.  They do provide a discount if you don't use the shuttle as well as other industry discounts.  They also have a loyalty program for frequent users.  Very easy to work with.

Canuker, they'll use Southwest Pass.

The Whitney perhaps?

47 minutes ago, eyern1 said:

We're coming from the Westbank. Would you recommend getting off at Tchoupitoulas or approaching from the Canal street direction to avoid congestion?

 

If coming from the Westbank, definitely exit Tchoupitoulas.  Left on Henderson then left on Port of New Orleans Place.  Pull up to the port parking, pay your $20 per day and pull up to the porters.  Elevator down to the terminal to check in.

Julia and Convention Center near Mulate’s. Walk on Julia sidewalk toward the river then take a right on Port of Orleans. The terminal is on your left. Easy walk

18 minutes ago, Cruisinmimi321 said:

When can you make reservations for the headliners and comedy shows. Have made reservations for the other shows, but did not see comedy show listed. 

When you board the ship.  You can do it on your television or any of the screens located near the elevators.

Port of New Orleans Place if you want to get dropped off at the terminal.  Julia Street if you want to avoid traffic and don't mind rolling your bags to the terminal.

Pretty simple.  Drive up to the parking booth.  Pay your fee.  Then pull up to where the porters will help you unload your baggage.  After that drive into the garage to find a place to park.  Once parked, take the elevator down to registration.

At disembarkation, get in the elevator at the parking garage go to your level, load up and go.  15 minute max process on both ends.  No hassle with shuttles, traffic, etc.

I would say if you're going to get dropped off close by, then it would be the corner of Julia and Convention Center.  Have them go down Convention and take a right on Julia and drop you off at that corner in front of Mulate's.  Nice easy walk for you to get to the port.

23 hours ago, mafig said:

Very helpful, although I have to read it and then translate it backwards.

 

Let me explain.  We're going on Celebrity Reflection's Mardi Gras cruise.  We'll be cruising TO  NOLA from Florida and will arrive there by 6:30 PM, which means we'll be cruising in daylight.  

 

From what I read, we might be on the wrong side.  I envisioned sitting on our balcony watching the Mighty Mississippi.  We're on the Starboard side (east).  Did we make a mistake?  What's of interest on the East side?  

Not much on the starboard side until you get up to Chalmette.

You may want to try the Drury Inn on Poydras.  Easy walk to the Smoothie King Center.  I think parking is $25 per night.  No free parking in downtown New Orleans.  Not a bad walk to get to the French Quarter.  The St. Charles streetcar line passes right next to the hotel.  10 minute drive to the port.  Avoid road construction on Convention Center Blvd.

Their website.  https://falstaffcruiseparking.com/

It's very doable. You may just have to fight the construction on Convention Center Blvd.  Quite a few within walking distance.

Try this company for your luggage.  http://www.advancecheckin.com/

Some suggestions near the port are the WWII museum, tour the French Quarter, take the street car through the Garden District.

You'll find plenty to do.

We didn't pay taxes at the Erato garage in January.

No.  The line is closed from the Canal Street stop to the Julia Street stop because of construction on the Four Seasons Hotel.

1 hour ago, delaware32 said:

We are at the Hilton Riverside . Will we be able to use the streetcar from there to Jackson Square or is this  available via the bus only ?

Walk a block down river to the Canal Street stop and you should be able to get on there.

Take the bus from the Julia Street streetcar stop to Canal Street.

In order to make way for the new $500 million dollar project, both the Poydras and the Julia Street stations will be closing down. But RTA is offering a complimentary looped shuttle service in its place.

The new route will take commuters from the Canal Street station to the Julia Street station and will be available seven days a week from 10 a.m – 7 p.m.

Just looked at the live video.  Dang.  I forgot how large she is.  We ran across her in Nassau last year.

They better hurry back for our cruise next week.