MickeyNicki

In the past we have parked at the cruise terminal for the duration of our cruise. If we park at Fulton's are we able to walk to the cruise terminal safely? Walking and carrying the luggage is not a concern. I just want to make sure you are able to do it without having some kind of road block. I know it's close, but I can't picture it and the map is not helping me.

We are staying the night before the cruise at the Hampton Inn Convention Center. I would like to park at Fulton's the night we are staying in the hotel as it is close to the hotel. How would that work? Would we have to go move the car or could we park and pay for the night at hotel and entire week we will be on the cruise and not return to the car until we get off the ship? Thanks!

We are traveling with a group of 15 in March. It will be a Saturday night. Nine are 11-18 years old. We are staying near the FQ. We have enjoyed Deannie's in the past but they don't take reservations, and I'm a little concerned that's too many people to try to walk in and wait for a table. We like seafood. Recommendations for a large group? I would prefer a place I can make reservations. Thank you!

We normally park at the cruise terminal but I am thinking of trying Fulton's out this time. If we park at Fulton's, can we walk with our luggage to the port? I'm not worried about the walking part or carrying our luggage, my kids are teenagers, so they are fine. I'm just wondering logistically if you can walk or if it's too difficult to cross there. Other than looking at a map, I can't picture it. Also, we are staying very close at the Hampton Inn & Suites which is also close to Fulton's. Can we park there on Saturday night without moving it again before the cruise. Obviously we would pay ahead for all the nights but our cruise ship doesn't leave until Sunday so I didn't know how that would work with the reservation at Fulton's. Thank you!

We are traveling with a large party (15) in March. It is a group of 3 families and includes 9 kids. Ages ranging from 11-18. We usually travel every year this same time but this is the largest group we've had. We usually eat at Deannie's and have enjoyed it every year. We like the food and it's not too fancy but yet is still nice. Since they don't take reservations, I don't want to show up with a group of 15. I would like to find a place I can make reservations since we have so many. I would also like to find a seafood place or one that at least serves seafood. Any suggestions?

I've had good and bad experiences on hotwire. But as I've gotten better at it I've really minimized the bad experiences. Most of the time I can figure out the hotel ahead of time and do my own research on it. If I am going in blind, I've found that I've never had a bad experience with a hotel that has at least 85% recommendation. Don't fall for higher stars and lower recommendations. Most of my problems have been when I've booked say a 3* with something like a 65% recommendation. You'll find a 2.5* with 95% recommendation will be a lot better. It'll be a nice comfort suites or something.

 

Check out the Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center and see what you think about it. It's one of the closer hotels to the cruise port. It's also right by Fulton Parking garage which is the facility I use for cruise parking. But it's not the closest to the French Quarter. You'd be looking at a 10-12 block walk to the French Quarter..or a 3-4 block walk to the Julia Street Streetcar stop. That hotel is $76 for your night. It's the 3.5 star warehouse district with 85% recommendation.

 

I'll give you the other ones that are under $200. You didn't say if you needed one bed or two. I'll look at both. For some hotels the price goes up for two beds. You can ensure two beds by searching for 2 adults, 2 children. If you just need one bed just search for 2 adults no children. The Hilton Garden Inn price stays the same with either search.

 

Here are my best guesses on the under $200 hotwire hotels.

 

2 adults (one bed)

 

$76 Warehouse District 3.5* 85% recommendation - Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center

$141 Warehouse District 4* 85% recommendation - Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery

$157 Downtown/Superdome 4* 75% recommendation - Le Pavillion

$180 French Quarter/Mississippi River 4* 90% recommendation - Omni Riverfront

$187 Warehouse District 3* 95% recommendation - Hampton Inn Convention Center

$191 Downtown/Superdome 4* 90% recommendation - Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette

$192 French Quarter/Bourbon Street 4* 90% recommendation - Sheraton

2 adults 2 children (two beds)

$76 Warehouse District 3.5* 85% recommendation - Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center

$157 Downtown/Superdome 4* 75% recommendation - Le Pavillion

$187 Warehouse District 3* 95% recommendation - Hampton Inn Convention Center

$191 Downtown/Superdome 4* 90% recommendation - Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette

$192 French Quarter/Bourbon Street 4* 90% recommendation - Sheraton

$180 French Quarter/Mississippi River 4* 90% recommendation - Omni Riverfront

 

I'm still looking... I've found one today that is 4* Warehouse District for $198 with 90% or 4* Central Business District for $209 and 95% recommendation. Any idea which hotels those might be? Which area would be closest to the port and/or dining. Thanks again for your help!

Any idea what the 3* hotel is in the Warehouse District? It has a 95% recommendation and is $187. It also includes breakfast and is one of the only hotel choices on Hotwire that does for under $200. Although for the price of the Hilton Garden Inn we could pay for a nice breakfast and still be under $200. Thanks again!

I just noticed it doesn't have bed choice and we will definitely need two beds! There is another 3* Superdome Area for $214 that could work too. That one you can choose beds.

I think those are all probably clean. I wouldn't be afraid to book any of them. The only ones on that list that I've stayed at are La Pavillion, Renaissance Pere Marquette, and Sheraton. And it's been a few years on all of three of those. If you want my best guarantee on that it's Sheraton which is just your total modern luxury hotel. But you may want to look at some reviews and pictures from people who have stayed at those hotels recently. Maybe look online for a "trip advisor" ;)

Any idea what the 3* hotel is in the Warehouse District? It has a 95% recommendation and is $187. It also includes breakfast and is one of the only hotel choices on Hotwire that does for under $200. Although for the price of the Hilton Garden Inn we could pay for a nice breakfast and still be under $200. Thanks again!

I've had good and bad experiences on hotwire. But as I've gotten better at it I've really minimized the bad experiences. Most of the time I can figure out the hotel ahead of time and do my own research on it. If I am going in blind, I've found that I've never had a bad experience with a hotel that has at least 85% recommendation. Don't fall for higher stars and lower recommendations. Most of my problems have been when I've booked say a 3* with something like a 65% recommendation. You'll find a 2.5* with 95% recommendation will be a lot better. It'll be a nice comfort suites or something.

 

Check out the Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center and see what you think about it. It's one of the closer hotels to the cruise port. It's also right by Fulton Parking garage which is the facility I use for cruise parking. But it's not the closest to the French Quarter. You'd be looking at a 10-12 block walk to the French Quarter..or a 3-4 block walk to the Julia Street Streetcar stop. That hotel is $76 for your night. It's the 3.5 star warehouse district with 85% recommendation.

 

I'll give you the other ones that are under $200. You didn't say if you needed one bed or two. I'll look at both. For some hotels the price goes up for two beds. You can ensure two beds by searching for 2 adults, 2 children. If you just need one bed just search for 2 adults no children. The Hilton Garden Inn price stays the same with either search.

 

Here are my best guesses on the under $200 hotwire hotels.

 

2 adults (one bed)

 

$76 Warehouse District 3.5* 85% recommendation - Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center

$141 Warehouse District 4* 85% recommendation - Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery

$157 Downtown/Superdome 4* 75% recommendation - Le Pavillion

$180 French Quarter/Mississippi River 4* 90% recommendation - Omni Riverfront

$187 Warehouse District 3* 95% recommendation - Hampton Inn Convention Center

$191 Downtown/Superdome 4* 90% recommendation - Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette

$192 French Quarter/Bourbon Street 4* 90% recommendation - Sheraton

2 adults 2 children (two beds)

$76 Warehouse District 3.5* 85% recommendation - Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center

$157 Downtown/Superdome 4* 75% recommendation - Le Pavillion

$187 Warehouse District 3* 95% recommendation - Hampton Inn Convention Center

$191 Downtown/Superdome 4* 90% recommendation - Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette

$192 French Quarter/Bourbon Street 4* 90% recommendation - Sheraton

$180 French Quarter/Mississippi River 4* 90% recommendation - Omni Riverfront

 

Wow! Thank you so much for your knowledgeable response. It would be a room for two adults, two children. We don't need to be close to the French Quarter, we have done that several times. We will likely have a good dinner (we have loved the food in NO) and settle in for the night, get up and eat breakfast and head to the port. If it were you, which hotel would you choose for that situation? Remember that my number one priority is a clean hotel. Thanks again!

We are sailing on the Dream March 11 and staying one night before. We have been to New Orleans several times and always stayed in the French Quarter but are flexible on location. The most important thing for us is a hotel with clean rooms. I would like to keep it around $200. I've looked at Hotwire and have used it before. We've had some good and some bad experiences. Suggestions on hotels would be appreciated or which hotel we may get with the Hotwire option would be helpful as well. Thank you!

Anyone tried Mulate's? Drago's looked good, but I couldn't get a reservation.

TIA!

We will be in NO this Saturday. We are traveling with a group of 10. Last year we went to Deanie's, and we LOVED it. This year we are worried with 10 people it may take too long to get in since we will have some kids in our group. We are staying at the Embassy Suites in the convention center area. We were able to walk to the French Quarters last year, but we can also drive somewhere else if we need to. What do you suggest? We would like a place that serves seafood, but has other options as well. TIA!

I just looked and I wasn't offered the deal. I put in my VIFP number and everything. It must only be for some VIFP members. The cheapest for that sailing was $659 pp.:(

I think it is at the very aft of the Lido deck - on Sea Days there is an Indian Tandoori lunch that is beyond incredible!!

 

Search Cruise Critic there is a thread entitled "All things Dream" that has TONS of info on the ship.

 

We really enjoyed the Dream (especially as we were in an Cloud 9 Spa OV - which was truly the bomb!) I hope you have a great time!

 

We are going on the Sunshine for the first time in April and are looking forward to comparing and contrasting the two.

We also have a Cloud 9 Spa OV. What was your room number? I hope it is the same room.

Its on the 5th floor open all day and has a bar. There is a small dance floor, they also play trivia and a few other things there. Kind of like the area outside of the Red frog Pub on the Sunshine.

We sat there often as well. That makes me feel a little bit better, but really liked the games in the pub. Thank you!

We missed a couple of those things on the Dream also, but we LOVED the Dream anyway. We liked those things on the Sunshine, but it was our least favorite cruise to date. We went on the Dream twice last year and they have an exceptional crew, our hangout place was the Blue Iguana. Really fun bartenders there. The burrito bar, while not as good as the Blue Iguana Cantina, was still good. The pasta place is great! Ocean plaza is another great place to hang out. They often times had a great band playing.

Can you tell me more about the Ocean Plaza? Is it inside or outside? Is there a bar? Open all day/evening or only certain hours? Thank you for replying!

Last year we sailed out of NOLA on the Sunshine. This year we are sailing on the Dream out of NOLA. We really liked some things on the Sunshine that are not on the Dream. Please tell me something that may get us excited about the Dream. We really liked the Red Frog Pub as a place to hang out and visit with friends during the day. This is not on the Dream. Is there some place similar that we can sit, relax, and have a drink during the day? We also liked the sports bar which apparently is also not on the Dream. Tell me all the things we will love on the Dream. TIA!

Did you ever go to the sports bar? If so, can you tell me how it compares to the Sunshine?

Any opinions on which tour company to choose? It looks like they both charge the same amount. We will have a group of 14 (including some children). We are most interested in safety and reliability. TIA!

Thank you for your review. We will be on the Dream soon. We are traveling with several children and are having a very difficult time coming up with what to do in Belize. I read about what you did this time, but you said you had been multiple times. Any suggestions? We would like to get off the boat to experience something since we have never been before, but also a little nervous. Thank you for writing your reviews. I enjoy reading them.

I was recently on the Sunshine. A lady had a chair as well as a clam shell. She put her things in one and would move back and forth! I thought that was so rude. She just would move her things back and forth, putting her things where she wasn't sitting. It was PACKED and nothing else was available. Didn't seem to bother her.

Would love to hear about them from the people on Cruise Critic as well! I am looking at the shark and ray excursion that they offer. If anyone has tried them for this, please share. Thank you!

Thank you so much for the review! I have finally read through all of the pages, but still have one question. I just booked this same room. We are not handicapped, so I know I run the risk of being moved. If we are moved, I understand it has to be to a category of equal or better value. Since there are not any of equal value that are not handicapped, what type of room would I be moved to? If it is not a spa room, would I still get spa privileges? TIA!

Here is a review with photos of one of those rooms, very detailed review on the room and the spa. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1721126

Thank you so much! That is very helpful!

We just did this last week. Yes, you must book a specific cruise/date. If you book ES they will charge $50 per person to change if you need to when you get back. Past Guest rate didn't charge to change. They charge $250 per person deposit. The 7 day was a $100 OBC, up to $200 OBC for longer cruises and less OBC for shorter.

Mickey, yes, you can book FTTF once you have a booking (which is usually just the deposit). I booked, paid the deposit, then get the FTTF on the same day for a cruise in Sept. You just need the FTTF to be posted as an excursion for your cruise, which is what you are waiting for.

 

Steve

Thanks Steve! I don't know why I bother to call Carnival when I should just ask on here:)