Leaving from NOLA..... what to do??

[brandymleahy]

DH and I will be taking our cruise out of New Orleans in april of next year, and I was wondering if you nice ppl could lend a hand on what to do the evening and morning before cruise. I did a search and everything that came up was pre-katrina and I also wanted to know if those posts still apply, If the aquarium is open and such. Thank you all ~Brandy~ :)

[selucrey]

DH and I will be taking our cruise out of New Orleans in april of next year, and I was wondering if you nice ppl could lend a hand on what to do the evening and morning before cruise. I did a search and everything that came up was pre-katrina and I also wanted to know if those posts still apply, If the aquarium is open and such. Thank you all ~Brandy~ :)

 

This will probably be moved to the New Orleans Port-of-call board in case you need to find it later.

 

New Orleans is OPEN and ready for business. Most "touristy" places like the Aquarium, The IMAX theater, French Quarter clubs;stores and restaurants are open. What I could recommended depends on your tastes, kids, etc.

 

www.nola.com (Check the forums tab) has a wealth of info as does the port-of call board for NOLA.

[dustymoss]

You can also try www.neworleansonline.com. Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip to The Big Easy!!!!!!!!!!

[mzloolue]

For me, beignets are a must.

 

http://www.cafedumonde.com/locations.html

 

We did the French Quarter thing.

Stayed down there, walked around, ate, watched people.

[kebhouse]

Here's a good link for which restaurants are re-opened.

http://www.nomenu.com/RestaurantsOpen.html

 

I highly recommend Jacques-Imos for dinner and you simply cannot miss brunch at Brennans.

 

As for the touristy things- yes, most everything is reopened. Go- enjoy yourself. New Orleans is an excellent place to visit. :D

[Sargent_Schultz]

Aquarium, Zoo, Imax and much more all open.

 

More restaurants open than before the storm.

 

One place to find live music listings:

http://www.offbeat.com/listings/clubs.php

[LAFUNGUY]

you guys are going to have a great time in new orleans...it is coming back and it is a great city..try Petunia's on St Louis for breakfast before you head to the port...and hey, don't know when your cruise is but remember Jazz Fest is the last week end in April

[Ok_Cruiser]

I too reccomend Petunia's!

[Moondawgie]

How about Mother's for poo boys!

 

Brandy, you will have plenty to do in NOLA. Just walking around - Royal Street, Riverwalk among others, are great places to walk.

 

I agree with the recommendation for Cafe DuMonde for breakfast ... or late night snack.

[RzrLens]

As a resident of New Orleans for 2 years, and all of my family still residing in Baton Rouge or New Orleans, I would say that my 2 things you should do is definitely stroll through the French Quarter (it was relatively undamaged during Katrina, compared to the catastrophic things that happened to the rest of the city). Also, you will need to get beignets at Cafe Du Monde (it's located in the French Quarter).... they are French donuts, and they are TO DIE FOR. Have fun!

[brandymleahy]

wow our cruise leaves out on the 19th and gets back on the 24th, so it looks like after we disembark we can go and see the jazz festival. Thank you all for sharing with me your ideas.

[dan110]

DH and I will be taking our cruise out of New Orleans in april of next year, and I was wondering if you nice ppl could lend a hand on what to do the evening and morning before cruise. I did a search and everything that came up was pre-katrina and I also wanted to know if those posts still apply, If the aquarium is open and such. Thank you all ~Brandy~ :)

 

 

Absolute must for us: http://www.acmeoyster.com/#wfq

 

IMHO the aquarium is a waste of money.

 

Have fun!

 

Dan

[nawlinscruiser22]

Try a carriage ride through the Quarter! There are also tons of art galleries and antique shops to browse. Cafe DuMonde for the beignets is an absolute MUST! Don't miss the muffalettas from Central Grocery or brunch at Brennans. Also, if you are interested in finer dining options try dinner at Galatoires. If you are the partying kind--Hurricanes from Pat O's and Hand Grenades from Tropical Isle on Bourbon Street are always a hit!

 

Ahh...endless possibilities! Whatever you choose to do..."Laissez les bon temps rouler!":D

[cruzinfamly5]

The French Market and the flea market for Aunt Sally's Pralines, alligator meat on a stick, and great souvineers for not much $!

 

We love a little place in the Quarter called Pere Antoines. they have great food at a really reasonable price and there's great people watching. I can't remember the corner it's on, but ask at your hotel and they should be able to assist.

 

Also, Jazz Brunch on Sunday morning at the Court of Two Sisters is yummy and fun ... more good people watching, too.

 

We stayed at a little hotel called Le Pavillion. It was phenomenal with really large rooms, about an $8 cab ride from the port ... walking distance to Canal Street shopping and the quarter, and there's a little steakhouse right around the corner (can't remember the name, but you go out to the right and turn right at the street) that had THE BEST homemade ice cream I have ever had in my life (I still dream about it ... and that's saying something!).

 

You can't go wrong in N.O. its a great city!

[needtocruisenow]

stayed in new orleans on sunday on our way home from port canaveral. alot to do. the french quarter is great and as previously said you must have beignets. had some for breakfast and brought a box of mix home. they also have the best coffee anywhere. also harrahs casino is open.

[tigerdadky]

I agree that New Orleans is a neat place to visit. Ive stayed on Bourbon St. since Katrina and even though things were pretty much back in order the crowd wasnt back yet. That was last fall so things may be different now. You will probably find it very difficult to find a hotel room in New Orleans during JazzFest. There are still many hotels not up and running yet and that is a very popular festival.

[brandymleahy]

Home is just a 10hr drive I think we plan on staying in N.O. Most of the day and driving most of the way home that evening.

[Cotton]

Hi Brandy. I hope y'all will enjoy my hometown. My DD lives in the Quarter, so I'm back there quite often. Yes, Cafe du Monde is the place to go for beignets and cafe au lait...anytime, day or night. The thing I recommend most to visitors is just 'walking the Quarter'. Be sure to go on down from CdM to the old French Market on the same street, Decatur (if you want the least expensive souveniers).

 

For a poboy, my pick would be Cafe Pontalba on the Square catty-corner to St.Louis Cathedral. Doors are wide open and you get some great people-watching. The roast beef debris is wonderful, as are the oyster and shrimp poboys. Gumbo Shop is just past the Cathedral - best gumbo in the city, I gar-ron-teeee! If you like muffalettos, go to Central Grocery - right across from the French Market. Originators of the muffaletto...and they are HUGE - you can share one.

 

Oh, so much to do and see if my wonderful city! I bet you'll want to come back and spend more time there!:) Have fun!

[MrsAbear]

Try a carriage ride through the Quarter! There are also tons of art galleries and antique shops to browse. Cafe DuMonde for the beignets is an absolute MUST! Don't miss the muffalettas from Central Grocery or brunch at Brennans. Also, if you are interested in finer dining options try dinner at Galatoires. If you are the partying kind--Hurricanes from Pat O's and Hand Grenades from Tropical Isle on Bourbon Street are always a hit!

 

Ahh...endless possibilities! Whatever you choose to do..."Laissez les bon temps rouler!":D

 

 

nawlinscruiser....thank you! I was trying to think of the grocery store that has the muffs. Central grocery has the absolute *best* muffalettas anywhere. My bestest friend and I drove there on the way back from Bay St. Louis about ten years ago and stopped in NO just for the muffs at Central grocery.

[Gypsyfish]

Since you said you're driving, here's a suggestion- we got stuck in a line of cars going into the cruise parking lot for over 2 hours. Go early and park the car in the lot. Then walk around the connected shopping area- you can even have lunch there. The problem is that they take payment for the parking in advance and run people's credit cards, so it takes several minutes for each car to be processed into the lot.

[brandymleahy]

Wow, I never would have thought about that. But thank you for letting me know. It is a really good idea,