kyrisong1

There are many great places to stay. But I would recommend Hilton Riverside if you can get it. It's attached to the riverwalk mall. Some actually walk to the port through the mall. It's right by the riverwalk and the Aquarium. There's a streetcar stop outside. You can get an unlimited ride pass for $3/day or it's like $1.25/ride. For lunch I'd walk 2-3 blocks down Poydras to Mother's Restuarant. I get the debris po boy and jerry's jambalaya. http://www.mothersrestaurant.net/

 

For dinner I'd stay in the hotel for Drago's Seafood..and make sure you at least try the charbroiled oysters. http://www.dragosrestaurant.com/

 

Either for desert that night or breakfast the next day I'd take the streetcar down to the french market and get beingets at cafe du monde. http://www.cafedumonde.com/ There is also a location in the riverwalk mall which opens at like 8am but if time permits you really want to visit the original.

I totally agree with Mothers, amazing food, small price, we liked Acme Oyster house way better than Dragos, Dragos was just ok for us, Acme was amazing. We also stayed at Riverside and liked it just fine, this next time we're going for one of the more historic places, staying at Place D'armes

We are also considering cruising on the Dream next month and not sure where to stay, we will most likely fly in but may drive.

 

We love New Orleans but for the chargrilled oysters Dragos was our least favorite overall. We Loved Royal House and Mr. Ed's and not just for the oysters. Beignets are a must and just walking around and exploring the French Quarter is a great way to spend the day.

I didn't love the charbroiled oysters at Dragos either, but the ones at Acme Oyster house were outstanding

I think they should cover the loss due to deployment, but since they don't can you not just change the name of the guest for a small fee and put someone else in his slot? Seems better than losing 75% of the cruise cost. Not sure how NCL does it but CCL charges 50.00 for a name change

Sad to hear about Food Republic, the Butter Crab handheld was one of the most amazing things I ate in October on this cruise. We'll go once and see if we can find anything we like, We're doing it on the first night because I want to be flexible for the Statue of Liberty passing!! I missed it on my CCL Vista Repo cruise because we were in the steakhouse :loudcry:

Thanks so much I just ordered it!!!

Is it correct if you bid and change to a Haven cabin/suite you lose your current perks and don't receive the perks that typically come with a Haven cabin (which is everything that is offered), or any for that matter?

 

We're in a balcony on a future cruise, and are getting UBP and free daily service charge. IF we receive the invitation, and IF it was accepted, does that mean we would no longer get UBP and need to pay the daily service charge (at the higher Haven rate)? ... even though a person booking a Haven cabin/suite on the website would get every perk offered on that day ( no matter how close to sailing).

 

Would REALLY like to hear from one of you who have sailed in a Haven cabin/suite after changing through the bid process, if possible, rather than just a reference to the fine print. We all know what happens in real life on ship can be different that what "it" (whatever "it"is) says.

That is INCORRECT, you keep your perks, but they do not give out additiional perks that might be offered at the time you're upgraded

Nativewaywatersports.com has an amazing Reef, Rays and Rum point excursion. I've done it three times and would do it again. Very nice private tour

I was hoping for Grand Cayman, Aruba and Bonaire but we got the western for our Oct 21 through 28, it's all good, I'll be on a cruise!! I don't mind the western, I know a lot of good private all inclusive beaches AND got reservations for all I wanted at the last minute, life happens, gotta roll with it

We have no intention on canceling or switching to a different cruise but the email made no mention of being able to switch to a different cruise without any penalty as mentioned in a post yesterday. No mention was made of any future discount or OBC as a result of the change...which I didn't expect was warranted.

 

While we were looking forward to repeating the Eastern Itin (which we got to enjoy 2 years ago on the Escape), we will enjoy this western one which we have been to in the last 2 cruises. The Escape has been my favorite ship and we are really looking forward to sailing on her again. This Itin provides 1 more port of call than the previously scheduled one. In a way, I see it as 2 more ports as we can't justify spending $500+ to take the kids to Atlantis water park for a few hours and therefore don't ever see the need to get off the boat in Nassau. We have never done much in Costa Maya but after reading some reviews on here, I think we will check out Maya Chan this time. Looking forward to this trip even though the Itin is a repeat of what we did in April on the Getaway!

I'd love it!! A Keurig would be excellent, no coffee ground mess, single servings!!

I'd probably bring my own pods!

We will be doing a brand new one on the Vista Repo. I did this menu on my last cruise and it was wonderful, loved everything except desert, for some reason they don't do an amazing desert on the CT, I've done every menu and I've never been excited. Of course it could be I'm just too full!! Enjoy! The mango sphere is amazing!!

My husband just had a scope done last month to repair a torn meniscus and he was up and walking right away, back to normal stuff within a week, why couldn't you sail with it? Or is it that long plane ride that is the issue? I wouldn't think a scope is really any big thing. He was relieved of pain almost immediately, only needed pain meds the first day then Tylenol was sufficient for pain control.

Looks like there will be a sofa!! I like that since we have friends coming along and I hate having only one chair available. I will definitely need to have an additional sun chair for the balcony. We have always had 2 when we have booked an aft wrap.

 

Elaine

yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy sounds great!!

Also good to hear the music doesn't drift into the room if doors closed!

Yes, we are on the other side. I am sure we will bump into each other during the cruise. We are so looking forward to it. I am curious as to what the aft wrap Havana cabins look like. I have heard different descriptions. :confused:

 

Elaine

Me too Elaine!! Some people say there is a sofa, others say not. Not sure what to expect but I'm going with expecting a smallish room with no sofa and then we'll get pleasantly surprised if there is more room!

I will be on the 7th deck Havana aft wrap on the Repo in November also.:)

Hopefully you are on the other side, lol we're in 7459! Can't wait!

Please tell me why you would choose or not choose Carnival Ships over other lines. Is it the cabins, the food, the entertainment, the itineraries, or just the overall treatment on Carnival. I'm curious because I've never traveled on Carnival but they seem to have pretty good itineraries.

It's pretty much all of the above except maybe the entertainment, which is fine but some of the Production shows on X and Princess are much better. That said we go with Carnival 90% of the time because they have great cabins, such friendly staff, good food (for the most part, we avoid the buffet) and great itineraries. The pricing is also very good.

We've strayed a few times but always come home to CCL!

We avoid the older ships simply because they are too small and accomedations are not nearly as nice

I'll be on a 7th floor havana aft wrap for the Repo in November, I'll post pics

I've not been on the Vista yet but have cruised a variety of other CCL ships and have never found YTD to have a long wait, 5 to 10 minutes tops, and if you don't mind being seated with others, rarely a wait at all. I think it depends on what the desires are on how long it takes to seat. We will be turning Platinum this time and will gladly take whatever perks they offer, but it's really not that big of a "thing" I love YTD, I like to eat when I want to, not when I'm "scheduled"

I hear people talk about the bacon police all the time but I've never found them to be especially stingy with the bacon, I'll ask for 2 pieces crispy and usually get like 6 which I totally can't eat, I want TWO!! So I find it opposite they give you too much!

I see one of the selections on the Steakhouse menu is Lamb Chops. :) I love lamb but I need some recommendations before I order it because the Surf and Turf and the Broiled Lobster Tail are also being considered.

The lamb in the steak house is soooooooooooo delicous, if we only go once that is what I order, they are juicy, slightly rare and so tender, just perfect <3 I totally recommend! I got the broiled Lobster tail once, but it was broiled which made it kind of tough, I love my lobster just perfectly done, juicy and sweet, so the Lobster isn't for me in the steakhouse. JMO but you asked :D

I will usually hang what is slightly wrinkled in my bathroom, the steam from the shower helps it straighten and I just run my hands over it. I've honestly never used an iron on the ship!!

If I had something heavily wrinkled I'd send it off to be serviced, it isn't that expensive and I'm on vacation, gonna go have fun not slave away at laundry!

:D

I wouldn't go off on my own in Roatan, this is a very unstable country, lots of protests and violence, why not do an all inclusive? There are several. Victor Boden does a great tour, also Little French Key. Not trying to tell you what to do, but there are a few ports I would never go off on my own, Roatan being one of them.

I would call Carnival, or the travel agent just to make sure mostly because I'm OCD and hate it when plans don't work out right. We've linked with our friends and never had an issue, but you do need to double check! Have a great cruise!

I've never had an issue with getting bit by anything on the balconies of the ships, been all over the Carib, South America and Mexico and never had an issue, not sure that you need anything like this, perhaps bring some bug spray just in case but I spend a lot of time on my balcony reading and cannot remember ever getting bit. Now on shore..............bring deet!!!

Hank, What restaurants have you tried? I vacation there every year (this year for three weeks). I can recommend some really great ones.

The Old Fisherman was suggested by a local, we loved the food!! Really nice island food.