Booked on the Dream out of New Orleans and need advice

[WLHyatt]

Prytania Park hotel will let you leave a car there if you stay two nights before and one after, or one before and two after.

That's where we always stay when sailing when sailing from NOLA.

[Gari]

Thanks for all the suggestions and do keep them coming. It seems like there are a lot of events that weekend and having trouble finding rooms in many of the hotels suggested but I will keep trying

[Gari]

Prytania Park hotel will let you leave a car there if you stay two nights before and one after, or one before and two after.

That's where we always stay when sailing when sailing from NOLA.

 

So glad I reached out to all of you. I didn't realized there would be a sporting event and convention on the night I needed to stay so have tried many of your suggestions and found a room at the Prytania Park Hotel. Just booked it for $139. Seems like a great location within 2 miles of the port and French Quarter.

 

Thanks everyone. 153 days and counting :D:D:D

[WLHyatt]

So glad I reached out to all of you. I didn't realized there would be a sporting event and convention on the night I needed to stay so have tried many of your suggestions and found a room at the Prytania Park Hotel. Just booked it for $139. Seems like a great location within 2 miles of the port and French Quarter.

 

Thanks everyone. 153 days and counting :D:D:D

 

Here's the lowdown on Prytania park:

1. rooms are clean and comfortable, and they've been making updates(new mattresses in may since the previous year).

2. no pool

3. breakfast is ok, good enough if a bagel is all you need (that's all we need on embarkation day).

4. $7pp cab fare to the port flat rate.

5. $3pp all day street car pass, if you go to the Quarter more than once you'll make up for it. We usually go once in the morning and lunchtime, then when the heat sets in we go back to prytania park for a nap, then head back out for dinner so we get our moneys worth on the streetcar pass.

 

Great place to stay, good location, plenty of things to see and do right near there as well.

[ilovetexas]

Prytania Park hotel will let you leave a car there if you stay two nights before and one after, or one before and two after.

That's where we always stay when sailing when sailing from NOLA.

 

Thanks for that! Inexpensive and a block off the streetcar line. I'm going to check with them next time I cruise out of New Orleans.

[Gari]

Thanks a million!!!!!

Everyone has been such help now all I have to do is wait to fly out I have everything I need set to go.

Happy Friday everyone

[PGBSAB]

Hi All

 

Just wanted to let you know we are on this same cruise going in the day before and many of the hotels in the French Quarter and vicinity are sold out. We actually got a double occupancy and are staying in the same room with our friends because of availability.

 

The Saints are in town and there is an Engineering convention as well so rooms are pretty scarce. :(

[RTravisW]

We are on the same cruise. I've been to NOLA quite a few times but never cruised out of NOLA. We are staying at the Place D'Armes for 4 nights before the cruise. The French Quarter is fun. Lots of museums, art galleries, tours, booze etc. The port isn't far from the French Quarter. Parking there is expensive. I think taxi from the airport to the Quarter is $34 for two people.

[ILUVNOLA]

Hi All,

 

I just booked a cruise for November 9th on the Dream from New Orleans and need your help.

 

Has anyone travelled out of New Orleans? Flying in the day before and not sure where to stay or how close the port is to the city. I'd like to visit the French Quarter - hotel and transportation suggestions to port the next day would be appreciated.

 

Also wondering how to book the Cloud Spa as I am going solo and didn't have the money for anything but a regular room.

 

Finally, has anyone done the Chefs Table on the Dream? Thinking of booking that too.

 

Any other ideas and can't misses would be appreciated

 

I am so excited I can't wait :D

 

 

Just got off the Dream June 15. It was amazing! Try staying at the Embassy Suites on Julia St (several blocks from the port) or Drury Inn. Both are easy walking to the quarter and the river front and it's a safe area (I live in NOLA). I did the Chef's Table and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!. It was the best $75 I have ever spent. It takes roughly 3 hours but it's the best 3 hours you will have on the ship! Just don't eat a lot after about 1:00pm the day of the dinner because you have a lot to eat that night (12 courses!!). I did it by myself and was totally comfortable doing so....hope you seriously consider doing it. Here's a tip though.....email them first requesting a reservation as most people book it once on the ship. This tends to sell out super fast (they ended up doing 3 dinners on our cruise because of the demand). The email address is "drmaitred@carnival.com". Give them your name, booking number, sail date and number in attendance. In the subject line type Chef's Table Reservation. They will respond to you in a very short time acknowledging your request. You won't know what day it is until you are on the ship though. Notification will be delivered to your cabin. Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

[ILUVNOLA]

We are on the same cruise. I've been to NOLA quite a few times but never cruised out of NOLA. We are staying at the Place D'Armes for 4 nights before the cruise. The French Quarter is fun. Lots of museums, art galleries, tours, booze etc. The port isn't far from the French Quarter. Parking there is expensive. I think taxi from the airport to the Quarter is $34 for two people.

 

Try parking at the Fulton Street Garage (901 Convention Center Blvd) which is right across the street from the Riverwalk. Parking is $8/day but must be reserved (504)269-7296. They offer a free shuttle to the port (5 minutes away if even that). Best to drop all cruisers off at the port first along with the luggage and then drive to garage and park. I've been told only 2 passengers allowed in car when parking (?!) or they charge more which is why you drop off passengers and luggage first. They will then shuttle you to the port. I live in the NOLA suburbs and have used this garage many times when downtown. I will say it is an older garage and very narrow and can be intimidating with a large truck or SUV. Hope this helps.

[dhdelrod]

Drury Inn is great !

[EZ4]

Try parking at the Fulton Street Garage (901 Convention Center Blvd) which is right across the street from the Riverwalk. Parking is $8/day but must be reserved (504)269-7296. They offer a free shuttle to the port (5 minutes away if even that). Best to drop all cruisers off at the port first along with the luggage and then drive to garage and park. I've been told only 2 passengers allowed in car when parking (?!) or they charge more which is why you drop off passengers and luggage first. They will then shuttle you to the port. I live in the NOLA suburbs and have used this garage many times when downtown. I will say it is an older garage and very narrow and can be intimidating with a large truck or SUV. Hope this helps.

 

Wow! $8 a day is a steal! I've only parked at Harrah's which is $30 a day or free with 30 minutes of tracked play on your card.

[cruzelovr]

Any recommendations for a hotel that lets you leave your car there while on the cruise?

 

Tucker in Texas

 

Staying at Holiday Inn superdome. They have a package where you can leave your car for a discounted rate. No shuttle to the port though so youd need to take a cab. Hope this helps.

[kylenyc]

Taxi from the airport to French Quarter hotels is a $33 flat rate fare one way for two people (not including tip) and takes roughly 30 minutes. The port is then about 10 minutes from French Quarter hotels and also a flat rate from ($8 if I remember) but add extra time time for the lines of cars and taxis entering the port ahead of you.

 

Note that taxis may charge a modest surcharge during certain events. All the info should be clearly posted inside the taxi cab.

 

Both the Four Points Sheraton in the French Quarter and the W New Orleans outside the French Quarter across from Harrah's closer to the port (but not walkable) are both very nice.

 

Mostly Hits and a Miss (YEMV - Your Experience May Vary)

La Maison Bourbon - Excellent live jazz for the price of one drink per set

La Bayou on Bourbon Street - Heavenly chargrilled chipotle oysters and very good perfectly fried catfish. Wish I had tried the gatah.

Free Walking Tours by Foot - Excellent walking tours (the guides work off of tips).

Manning's sports bar across from Harrah's Casino - Huge TV Screen, leather recliners, bar and lounge. Very good pub food with a Cajun twist.

Emeril's NOLA Restaurant - Excellent service but food didn't meet my expectations. I was underwhelmed.

 

Picture/descriptions of my February trip here if you don't mind spoilers

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2017971&page=5#83

Edited June 17, 2014 by kylenyc

[oldvato]

If you are looking for an inexpensive nice hotel, The Westin on Royal St. at Canal St. is where we always stay. Used to be a Holiday Inn. It is at the beginning of the French Quarter, a block from Bourbon St. and a few steps from Canal St. Canal St. is like the main downtown St. A lot of retail stores, businesses and hotels very close to the French Quarter. A lot of tourists, and locals that work on Canal, and the trolly cars go up and down on Canal St.

Edited June 17, 2014 by oldvato