New Orleans parking question.

[Yazoo cruiser]

We will be parking in the terminal garage Saturday. I know they have porters in the garage to take our luggage, but when disembarking will the porters take our luggage back to the garage for us? THANKS.

[FloridaGators]

Yes they will take it right to your car!

[pittpanther]

I'm not sure if the previous reply was a joke or not...

 

We cruised on the Triumph out of NOLA back in Sept. When you're leaving (embarking) you can check your back right in the parking garage before you park your car. Next time you see your luggage it will be delivered to your room.

 

But when you return (disembark?), after you leave the ship you have to collect your luggage from this large warehouse room. Then you schlep your bags (hope you have wheeled bags!) through immigration/customs, then you are on your own. I saw no porters to help you get from immigration to your car.

 

Did I mention the lines? Line to get off the ship (don't take too many carry-on bags), line from the gangway all the way to where you pick up your bags, line from bag pickup to customs/immigration, line for the garage elevator (packed, because everyone has so much luggage), etc...

 

I know this sounds bad, but we were in such good spirits that this did not even come close to spoiling our trip. Me and the family were laughing any enjoying ourselves even though we were in some long lines. Just something for you to be aware of.

[firefly333]

There should be porters around as you come out of customs that you can grab.

 

Must be they were tied up that the previous poster couldnt find one.

[Traveler353]

Ditto, In New Orleans and Mobile there are porters in the baggage area when you get off. Grab one and they will take you to the special customs line for porters only. You will be taken right past all the other passengers, escorted thru customs and then they will take the bags directly to your car if your wish. You can use their services if you are self carrying your own bags off the ship or have put your bags out the night before. A nice tip is expected and they have earned it for all the time saved.

 

pittpanther: This is not a joke, it is fact from recent personal experience at both ports.

[FloridaGators]

NO I WASN'T JOKING! Dang, we've cruised out of N.O. three times now. I do know what I'm talking about.

[LoriTX]

We were one of the last zones called to disembark- There were NO PORTERS left to help!! They were dealing with incoming people!!!!!:rolleyes:

[nol4am]

We have cruised out of New Orleans several times. There are porters available and they will take you to customs that handles the porters only. They are very busy so at times it may seem they arent there but there are. You have to be ready to grab one that comes available.

[jetskier]

I concur, grab a porter prior to retrieving your bags if you turned your bags in. Never had a problem finding one the 12 times I have sailed from NOLA. The only problem we have run into is that a porter did not want to take our bags to the car. He wanted to dump them off in the elevator.

 

Dave

[Naomi John]

NO I WASN'T JOKING! Dang, we've cruised out of N.O. three times now. I do know what I'm talking about.

 

That is great they brought your luggage to your car, but in April, they would only bring it to the elevators, or outside, they would not bring it up to your car. The porter's wanted to get back in the line to collect more tips.

 

Doesn't this thread need to be in the port of calls board?

[Sargent_Schultz]

I have cruised numerous times from New Orleans and there are porters. The will zip you to the head of any lines.

 

I don't know why they would stop at the elevator at disembarkation but occasionally hear that. They will take the luggage all the way to a taxi so there isn't much difference in timing I would think.

[cruisinmeme]

everyone says GRAB a porter. well they now have a porter line and is not a free for all. they have to serve you in order. so find the porter line.

[pittpanther]

TexasCruzr, I really did not mean to offend you. I should have been more clear about my experiences.

 

The porters in NOLA either did not make themselves obvious to this first-time cruiser, or they were all occupied when I went through.

[bubbadog]

I WASjust in new orleans,about a month ago,and there were lots of porters everywhere,so dont worry;)

[WISH84]

Hey Sarg... the Mrs and I will be arriving in NOLA next Thursday (10/28) and on 10/29 I'm looking for a few places we "must go" I've got Cafe Du Monde, Mother's Restaurant and we want to go to the Blue Nile Bar where they filmed "After The Catch"

 

Can you suggest any other places??

 

Thanks.

[Forchunut1]

FYI - I went to Mother's a year ago the morning before my cruise. I had heard breakfast was a must-do. Honestly, I wasn't that impressed. The food was average, the service was bad, and the atmosphere wasn't that great. I'm not a picky person and can be happy pretty much anywhere, but it just didn't live up to the hype I had heard. Maybe it was an off day . . .

[Sargent_Schultz]

Hey Sarg... the Mrs and I will be arriving in NOLA next Thursday (10/28) and on 10/29 I'm looking for a few places we "must go" I've got Cafe Du Monde, Mother's Restaurant and we want to go to the Blue Nile Bar where they filmed "After The Catch"

 

Can you suggest any other places??

 

Thanks.

 

I really don't claim much is a must go - it depends so much on what YOU like.

 

Mother's is good. The only thing I've ever gotten for breakfast are the sandwich biscuits which are pretty good. My biggest beef with Mother's is if you try to go at popular times (say noon), the line can be way out the door and I think there is just too much good food available to wait in line.

 

A lot of people like the Ferdi sandwich.

 

Some pictures from Mother's here:

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola/food/foodPages/mothers.htm

 

You could be in luck, or maybe not, but the Voodoo Festival (probably not what you are thinking) officially starts October 29th, but actually kicks off Thursday night:

http://thevoodooexperience.com/2010exp/

 

Usual must sees for first time visitors, again, your mileage may vary, include Preservation Hall for some music and Pat O'Brien's for a hurricane.

http://www.preservationhall.com/hall/index.aspx

http://www.patobriens.com/patobriens/

 

I like Acme Oyster, but I also love Galatoire's.

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola/food/foodPages/acmeOysterNO.htm {guess I have some updates to do here} and

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola/food/foodPages/galatoires.htm

 

There's always Johnny's

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola/food/foodPages/johnnys.htm

 

Coop's Place is a mostly local dive with decent to good food -

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/CarnivalTriumph/nola/nolaSept12a.htm {pictures begin around #059}

http://www.coopsplace.net/

 

For some, the zoo or aquarium might be must sees:

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/nola/zoo/index.htm

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/Blog_2009/post/indexPost.htm (aquarium pictures begin around #043.

 

I think the World War II museum is excellent, but I know others might not care for:

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/land_cruises/wwii.htm

 

You're question, while easy to ask, is impossible to answer. :(

 

For other ideas, here is a list of restaurants:

http://www.nomenu.com/open/

 

and maybe here for other stuff:

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/best-of-new-orleans-2010/Content?oid=1338136

 

Enjoy!

[FloridaGators]

TexasCruzr, I really did not mean to offend you. I should have been more clear about my experiences.

 

The porters in NOLA either did not make themselves obvious to this first-time cruiser, or they were all occupied when I went through.

 

 

Sorry if I overreacted.

The trick to getting a porter....at least the way we do it at every port.....DH goes and gets into the porter line and I head for the luggage. I find the luggage by the time DH gets back with the porter and we load it on the cart. Makes it much faster.

[Kathy0418]

Is there more than one place to park at the New Orleans port?

[rkbeaux08]

everyone says GRAB a porter. well they now have a porter line and is not a free for all. they have to serve you in order. so find the porter line.

Your took the words out of my mouth. Last we had to wait in a PORTER LINE. If you didn't get in line no Porter would help you...........

[NOLALADY]

Is there more than one place to park at the New Orleans port?

 

Last week we parked at Fulton Street Parking Garage. Free shuttle to the port. It's $6 a day cheaper. I've done both. While the port is extremely convenient (no waiting on a shuttle), the $42 we saved was worth the little wait time we had for the shuttle when we returned. You can "Google" it. I made a reservation ahead of time just to be on the safe side, but you don't have to. Have fun!!;)

[lfd807]

Is it the same price if you show up the day of the cruise as apposed to booking in advance?

[bike1964]

Is there more than one place to park at the New Orleans port?

 

How much is parking @ the port for a 7 night cruise?

[joshchristine100700]

How much is parking @ the port for a 7 night cruise?

 

16 dollars a day is what the port website says...

[bike1964]

Ouch!!! Time to find an alternate.:mad: