AprilJ

Having never been to New Orleans, was the French Quarter in walking distance?

 

We will be going next year for my 50th Birthday & 15th anniversary and was wondering whether to find something in the French Quarter or something that within walking distance to the French Quarter and the port if it even possible.

Yes, the Hilton Riverside is a great location because it is within walking distance of the Quarter and the cruise terminal. There is a street car stop right out front and plenty of taxis as well should you not want to walk.

Where did you go to listen to jazz? DH & I are staying at there in December and that is something we would like to do.

I do not remember the name, it was a tiny bar on Bourbon.

Nice that even though you had a Hotwire rate, they gave you a river view room!! That's just great!!

Thanks for writing!

I requested it at check in. I was super nice to the desk clerk and let him know it was our 25th anniversary.

I've read numerous reviews from people booking through Hotwire saying they were given "inferior" rooms. Have any of you had that experience? I'm hoping to book the Hilton Riverside for 3 nights before a cruise but would like a river view. It will be over Thanksgiving - don't know if that's a really busy time or not and if I can request a river view. Thanks!

We booked thru Hotwire, got the Hilton Riverside for $91 a night (stayed 2 nights). When we checked in I told the very nice desk clerk that we were leaving on a cruise Monday and would love a room that would allow me to see the ship come in. He gave us a 17th floor river view. Loved it.

Hello Saint Greg,

 

We will be in the area next week and staying at the Hilton Riverside. Is a trip to Deanies Seafood on Iberville St walkable or street car better? Looks like there's a pick up near the hotel.

We stayed there a few weeks ago, it's a great location. We parked our car at Fultons and walked the city for 2 days. There is a street car stop right at the hotel plus taxis always waiting. We walked to the terminal cruise morning thru the mall. Enjoy!

Nice review. I have a question about Fulton's. It looks to me like parking during a cruise is $12.50. Any other time it's $20.00. Did you book two separate reservations or did you just book the whole thing as if the cruise included the first two days? Thanks. ~ Linda ~

Booked 7 nights under the cruise rate.

We found free wifi at Wet Wendy's Margarita bar in downtown. Strong enough to video call home.

Hi,

Can you describe your day and give us more info about it please??

The family's home is one of the better constructed in the village, some were made of wood.

Hi,

Can you describe your day and give us more info about it please??

Our pics from the cenote were done with a water camera and are not great quality.

Hi,

Can you describe your day and give us more info about it please??

We took a cab from the ship to the bus terminal in Progreso where we met Chris (co-owner of Yucatan Eco Adventures). He introduced us to our guide for the day, Juan Carlos. Juan is a local Mayan, speaks fluent Mayan, Spanish and pretty good English. We were in a new model VW Passat with a cooler full of iced down waters and a 6 pack of Model for the husband. They also provide life jackets and bug spray. The 45 minute ride to the Mayapan Ruins went quickly as Juan gave us lots of information about the area and thier culture. The ruins are amazing, he told us about the history of the area and lifestyle of the Mayans. You are even able to climb these ruins as they are not yet protected by the Mexican government.

It was very hot, so after an hour we were ready to go swimming. We drove just a few minutes into a local village where again he told us so many interesting things. We met the family we would be having lunch with before proceeding onto the cenote.

The swim was nothing short of amazing. I've tried to describe it, but words certainly do it no justice.

After about 45 mins of swimming we were hungry and went on to lunch. It is in the home if a local family, which is quite the culture shock if you do not prepare yourself. The family speaks no English, but are so kind and the kids are beyond cute and curious. We had a meal of chicken tamales, tortillas, salsa, Pico and fresh mango with habanero pepper (very interesting combo). I brought a large bag of Twizzlers for the kids, who are almost shy enough to not want to try, but Juan encouraged them. They then went and picked us a fruit from thier tree that is thier candy and shared with us.

It was a amazing experience. Juan then took us back to the bus terminal but not before taking me to a store to buy one of the tour companies tee shirts (proceeds go to school supplies). If we go back to Progeso we will book with them again.

I've booked both online, got my preferred dining time and FTTF. I use fairview and mock bookings to watch for rate changes and always call those in. Easy peasy.

We saw the Big Easy show last week, it was a burlesque style New Orleans show. We liked it.

We counted our # of drinks on the way home and averaged them at $8.50 (as husband drank beer too) and figured we saved $210 with Cheers. Next cruise we are taking our son and probably will not purchase Cheers just 2 bottles for the room.

We just cruised out of New Orleans had a great 2 days prior to embark in the city.

We stayed at the Hilton Riverside. Great hotel, perfect location. No issues, loved it. Booked for just under $100 per night on Hotwire. We arrived about 2pm, husband stayed with car while I checked us in. Requested room with view of the cruise ship and was granted a 17th floor river view room. It is a huge hotel. Did not use any of thier services except the bar. Once I got our room keys, I went back to the car and got our bags. A nice gentleman helped me get them up too the room again while husband stayed with car. I came back down and we drove down to Fultons Garage.

Had no problem finding a spot, they gave us instructions on what to do when we returned and we were out of thier in 10 mins. Very nice staff.

Walked across the street and entered the Riverwalk mall. Grabbed lunch at the food court and watched all the activity on the river and then headed back to room. Mall is connected to hotel, so we didn't have to go back outside, which was great because it had started raining.

Unpacked and nap....then off to Bourbon. Wandered all over, drinks here and there, then to dinner at Cafe Masperos which was delicious. A storm came and we got soaked walking back to hotel, but it was fun and we just made the best of it.

Sunday we had breakfast at Mothers, was just ok. Went to the WWII muesum which was fantastic. Had lunch at Mulates, another great Cajun meal. Back to room for rest and showers. When we went back out we headed left down the boardwalk, ran into the Oyster festival. Ended up on Decatur. Shopped around and had dinner at Star steak & lobster. Very good!

Went to hear a bit of jazz before hitting Harrahs for just a few minutes then back to room.

Woke up just in time too see the Triumph sail past the hotel and into port. Went to Harrahs for the breakfast buffet, it was very good but expensive for breakfast.

Checked out of hotel at 9:30am, walked thru the mall to the port. Nice casual stroll, just one set of stairs once you get right outside the port. Left luggage with porter. We had FTTF, we were checked in at 10:20. We board at 11:30am.

We were off the ship at 7:25, hopped into Fultons shuttle and we were in our car driving away at 7:48am.

No complaints. Loved the experience.

Not sure if it varies ship to ship, but we just returned from a Triumph sailing I saw Gentleman Jack! I drank Grey Goose mainly, but I saw plenty of top shelf bottles.

Loved Cheers!! I drank more than I normally would, but it was fun!!

The private tour we did in Progeso was amazing. Mayapan ruins, cenote swimming and lunch with a local family. It was amazing.

I would also be interested in beach recommendations. All we want is somewhere safe, clean with basic facilities, bar/refreshments but importantly loungers and umbrellas. Can't cope without shade so that's essential for a good day at the beach for us.

The beach right at the end of the pier even offers those large 4 post canopy like things. We didn't use one, but people we chatted with did, they got too much sun on Coz, so they sat under one of those thier kids played in the water.

We had the most amazing experience with Yucatancenote.com - I would highly recommend it.

So the S4 worked good? that is what we have, fingers crossed it works well in Oct. Of course I think DS has the S5. It could just be because it was new to the ship, maybe it was just glitching?

Guest services were stumped. I was chatting with a gentlemen and his wife was having the same problem. They both had iphones....one was fine, other did the same as mine. While annoying, I didn't complain...it made me put the phone down more.

I will be on the Triumph in Aug with my family, we're going to Mr Sancho's in Cozumel to celebrate my youngest nephew's 18th birthday and since we've been to Cozumel several times thought we'd just do a beach day. We have never been to progress so was stuck on what to do. Yucatancenote.com It's a private tour? When you went how many was in your group and if you don't mind telling how much is a tour... Not only am I going in Aug on the Triumph I am also going again on the Fantasy out of Mobile in Feb during Mardi Gras with a group of friends so trying to plan ahead....TIA

The tours are private, so only your group. Ours was just husband and myself and our guide. It was $125 per person.

Sounds like you had a great cruise. How were the shows? Did they have The Quest (adults only late night show). How crowded did it feel? Were the food lines long? Thanks!

Saw 2 adult comedy acts, both very funny. No Quest. Saw the Big Easy show the last night, Broadway style show, very entertaining. We only ate at the Lido buffet for 1 dinner and 1 breakfast, neither had a line. Guys Burgers would get a line but it moved fast. No line for MDR between 6-7pm. Did not seem crowded to me except for areas where the photographers were set up. Always chairs available somewhere.

Thanks for the great review. We are on next Sunday. We have a balcony on Lido, have purchased Cheers and FTTF, my husband is a smoker, so I am sure we will be spending time on deck 3. I am sure we will have a great time as well.

 

What time did you select for your boarding? Did you have to line up for the comedy shows? On Breeze to get a seat you needed to line up 30 minutes early. Did you go to the piano bar?

We chose 10:30-11, got there about 10:20...breezed right thru check in, sat for about an hour before boarding. The doors are open for the comedy club so no line, but do get there about 20mins early to get a table. We went to the piano bar one night for 3 songs before the comedy show, he was good.

First timers just off the Triumph today! Loved it, we had a wonderful time. We were in 9246, balcony on the Lido, perfect location. Quiet yet close. Spent most of our time on deck 3, shaded smoking deck with the lobby bar just inside the doors. Loved the Red Frog bar, the casino bar, the Alchemy bar (cucumber sunrise is my all time favorite), the comedy shows and the MDR. We ate in the MDR, anytime dining, 4 out of 5 nights and very much enjoyed the food all but 1 night. Loved the variety. We ate way too much. Loved Guys burgers and the Blue Iguana chicken tacos. Had Sea Day brunch 2x and the filet & eggs was perfect. Service on the entire ship was great - everyone was beyond nice. We only shopped for a few hours in a cozumel them went back to ship early to swim/drink/eat. Did a private tour with Yucatancenote.com in Progeso and it was beyond what we imagined. I'm happy to answer any questions. FTTF and Cheers are both worth the money. We were on board, dropped our carry on and having a drink at 12:10pm and we were off the ship at 7:40am. I recommend the Hilton Riverside and Fultons parking.

He has a Galaxy S4 and I have the S5.