POM or New Orleans

[BoozinCroozin]

We are currently booked on NCL Joy out of Miami (Sat - Sat). There is an option for the Breakaway out of New Orleans (Sun-Sun) on the same itinerary for $600 less. The advantage of Miami is that there are 2 airports (3 if you include PBI as an emergency). Flights and time should be large to accommodate any potential issue. However, it leaves little room if there is something major going on (Friday night flights and Saturday early flights). New Orleans has fewer flights, but we have the extra day (Saturday and Sunday morning in an emergency) if something goes wrong on Friday. Wife and daughter wouldn't mind visiting NO for an extra day on the vacation too. 

 

Anyone have any thoughts on cruising out of New Orleans on the Breakaway instead of the Joy? 

[PelicanBill]

I would choose NO for the same reasons as your family, unless I had an affinity for Joy over Breakaway.

 

I prefer Breakaway for this reason - I dislike racetracks taking away top deck space. I want Spice H2O.

[Host Kat]

11 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

... Anyone have any thoughts on cruising out of New Orleans on the Breakaway instead of the Joy? 

 

@BoozinCroozin

 

Howdy!!  

 

You might want to research the Ports of Call - New Orleans forum too.

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat 

[skrufy]

14 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

We are currently booked on NCL Joy out of Miami (Sat - Sat). There is an option for the Breakaway out of New Orleans (Sun-Sun) on the same itinerary for $600 less. The advantage of Miami is that there are 2 airports (3 if you include PBI as an emergency). Flights and time should be large to accommodate any potential issue. However, it leaves little room if there is something major going on (Friday night flights and Saturday early flights). New Orleans has fewer flights, but we have the extra day (Saturday and Sunday morning in an emergency) if something goes wrong on Friday. Wife and daughter wouldn't mind visiting NO for an extra day on the vacation too. 

 

Anyone have any thoughts on cruising out of New Orleans on the Breakaway instead of the Joy? 

Go with wife and daughter choose New Orleans. Fabulous city to visit. Leave at least a day before your cruise and you will be fine. One suggestion , go to Cafe du Monde, 800 Decatur St. for breakfast and have Beignets and chicory coffee. We are hopefully heading to New Orleans this August for a long awaited cruise.

[Mary229]

When?  New Orleans is miserable from August to October 1 and not much going on.  October through March it is a party.    
 

(I am a NO native and visit 3 or 4 times a year)

[BoozinCroozin]

This would be in April, the weekend before Easter. The "plan" would be to fly in Friday night. Sight see Saturday, obviously Bourbon St Saturday night for a bit, sight see a little Sunday morning before boarding (this would probably be the breakfast at Cafe du Monde. Last time I was in NO was Mardi Gras nearly 3 decades ago in college.

 

If we stay with Joy, we fly into MIA Friday night and just head to the port the next morning. Nothing else. The advantage is the number of flights here in case of any weather/mechanical issues. 

[Mary229]

3 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

 

 

If we stay with Joy, we fly into MIA Friday night and just head to the port the next morning. Nothing else. The advantage is the number of flights here in case of any weather/mechanical issues. 

Weather can be an issue in April depending on where you are flying from.  New Orleans generally has good weather in April with lots of festivals.  Check out NOLA.com for a list of events for your proposed time period.  The New Orleans airport (MSY) has been remodeled this year and seems a bit more efficient for those heading downtown.  Plus, the big plus is you can get Pralines in the airport near the gate!

[Mary229]

BTW, there is a flat regulated rate for Airport to Downtown whether you use a taxi or ride share.  The taxi/rideshare is a managed stand so it works very well.  If you are mainly going to do the quarter you should stay in the quarter or at the river end of Canal.  Lots of cruisers stay at the Hyatt Riverwalk.  That is the area to search "riverwalk"

[BoozinCroozin]

Thank you Mary. We are starting to lean more towards the Breakaway than the Joy because a go cart track and laser tag, as cool as it may seem, is not a priority for us. Visiting Miami just for a sleepover is not important either. NOLA, though can be a mini-vacation before the cruise.

[JerseyGirlJen]

On 3/12/2021 at 2:46 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

This would be in April, the weekend before Easter. The "plan" would be to fly in Friday night. Sight see Saturday, obviously Bourbon St Saturday night for a bit, sight see a little Sunday morning before boarding (this would probably be the breakfast at Cafe du Monde. Last time I was in NO was Mardi Gras nearly 3 decades ago in college.

 

I loved my cruise out of NOLA.   I was there the weekend after Easter in 2018.  It was a comfortable weather wise during the day and a cold front came in the night before we departed so it was jeans and sweatshirts at sail away but that was fine too, I'd take that over 105 and humid🤪.  NOLA is a great city to visit....so many tours and a lot of historical things to see.  Get a Jazzypass on the RTA app because the streetcars don't make change.  You can get a 1 or 3 day ride passes for $3 and $9.  

[BoozinCroozin]

We switched to NOLA just yesterday. We gave up $50 in OBC but the fare cost was almost $550 less. Although we haven't fully decided, but we will fly out on Friday morning to get 2 days in NOLA to explore. My gut is telling me we will get a hotel in FQ so we can tour what we want walking and taking the street cars. When we cruise out on the Sunday, we can Uber/Lyft to the terminal. 

[Mary229]

If you stay at the Hyatt you are on the Moon Walk, a tourist walk straight from the hotel to the square.  You can also catch the streetcar up there and head uptown to see the garden district.  You can walk to the cruise ship!  There are a few other hotels right there but I know this one is very popular with cruisers and it is a nice hotel at least from the lobby.  I have not been in the rooms.  

 

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/louisiana/hyatt-place-new-orleans-convention-center/msyzc/maps-parking-transportation

 

If you have some extra dollars stay at the Roosevelt.  Very nice hotel though not in the quarter but a quick uber ride there.

 

https://www.guestreservations.com/the-roosevelt-new-orleans-a-waldorf-astoria-hotel/booking?msclkid=81e6de6bb0d2144c2717be38133a59f8

 

If you decide to stay in the Quarter, try an old classic not the name brands.  The Monteleone is pretty nice. There are plenty of side street hotels like the Conti too.  Of course as a native, I have not seen the rooms but have been to receptions or enjoyed dining or a drink at these locations

[imola]

7 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

We switched to NOLA just yesterday. We gave up $50 in OBC but the fare cost was almost $550 less. Although we haven't fully decided, but we will fly out on Friday morning to get 2 days in NOLA to explore. My gut is telling me we will get a hotel in FQ so we can tour what we want walking and taking the street cars. When we cruise out on the Sunday, we can Uber/Lyft to the terminal. 

 

[imola]

Just now, imola said:

 

I have missed when you are booked for but we go to NO often.  Actually going the end of this month for a short stay.  Have cruised from there many times and love it.  As for hotels our favorite is the French Market Inn on Decatur St.  Right across from the river and can walk everywhere.  Only a block and a half from Café DuMounde, Jackson Square, all the best streets.  Also a trolley pick up across the street.  Many restaurants around to choose from .  The staff here is very friendly.  We have never been disappointed.  They have a sister hotel just off Jackson Square called the Place d' Arms. We are staying there this time since the other was book.  Good luck and have a wonder trip no matter where you stay.  

[BoozinCroozin]

We are many months from booking a hotel. A big factor in where we stay will eventually be price followed by location. If I had to guess, we won't really be looking for a hotel until January 2022 time frame. I will be glancing at prices and watching for deals leading up until then. 

[Saint Greg]

On 3/12/2021 at 5:21 AM, Mary229 said:

BTW, there is a flat regulated rate for Airport to Downtown whether you use a taxi or ride share.  The taxi/rideshare is a managed stand so it works very well.  If you are mainly going to do the quarter you should stay in the quarter or at the river end of Canal.  Lots of cruisers stay at the Hyatt Riverwalk.  That is the area to search "riverwalk"

 

I think you mean Hilton Riverside.

[Mary229]

4 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I think you mean Hilton Riverside.

No I meant the Hyatt.  

[fmrlkr]

On 3/18/2021 at 1:55 PM, BoozinCroozin said:

We switched to NOLA just yesterday. We gave up $50 in OBC but the fare cost was almost $550 less. Although we haven't fully decided, but we will fly out on Friday morning to get 2 days in NOLA to explore. My gut is telling me we will get a hotel in FQ so we can tour what we want walking and taking the street cars. When we cruise out on the Sunday, we can Uber/Lyft to the terminal. 

Glad you switched.  An added perk of cruising out of NOLA is the trip down the river.  It takes about 8 hours to reach the gulf.  A meandering slow ride, the banks close on both sides.  

[SCBarker]

2 hours ago, fmrlkr said:

Glad you switched.  An added perk of cruising out of NOLA is the trip down the river.  It takes about 8 hours to reach the gulf.  A meandering slow ride, the banks close on both sides.  

I didn't realize that about New Orleans.  Is the trip different before you hit international waters there?  That was a big money loser for the time they were sending cruises out of Houston because they had to serve Texas tax stamped alcohol and could not open the casino for the longer time it took to get out vs Galveston.

[fmrlkr]

26 minutes ago, SCBarker said:

I didn't realize that about New Orleans.  Is the trip different before you hit international waters there?  That was a big money loser for the time they were sending cruises out of Houston because they had to serve Texas tax stamped alcohol and could not open the casino for the longer time it took to get out vs Galveston.

Last time we cruised out of NOLA, early 2019, neither of those was an issue.  Lots of twist and turns as you sail down.  You can tell when you hit the gulf, the feel of the ship changes.