AprilJ

I'm totally new to the cruise life, so when I saw these threads yesterday, I checked the fair finder link (someone graciously posted) and then called Carnivals 800# - got a super nice Shannon on the line and she changed my rate and told me to call anytime!

I wish I knew at the time to have her assigned as my PVP.

I got $10 off the cruise rate pp and a $30 OBC - do they give you both a rate change and OBC each time the rate decreases?

Just received another price drop for our January cruise! Dropped another $80! That is $140 plus $50 obc this week!!!:eek:

 

ES rate

 

I was shocked since it just dropped a couple of days ago and it is so far out.

How often should I be checking? I just booked 10 days ago and after seeing a thread here I check and sure enough the price had gone done a tiny bit! I can be obsessive about things like saving money, lol, so I don't want to drive myself crazy for the next 409 days! =)

I'm also planning a Disney World trip for Feb 2016 and that's already got my head swirling and they haven't even released rates yet.

If you are driving to NOLA, Google NOLA parking. There is one and I think it is Premier that costs about $7-8 per day with free shuttle to and from the port. The parking garage is one block over from the port and the trip takes all of about 5 minutes! We have parked there several times and always reserve via internet and drive up, hand them the receipt we print from the internet, and drive up and park! Very convenient!

Wonder if we could park there for the 2 nights before the cruise that we plan to spend in the FQ and save that $30+ per night hotel parking?!?

Checked fare viewer/booking engine for my Nov 13, 2015 Sunshine and Sept 3, 2016 sailing today.

 

Nov 13, 2015 totally paid off 2 months ago. 1129 pp it dropped to 949 called PVP and got 360 obc!

 

Sept 3, 2016 not fully paid. 849 pp, it dropped to 819 pp for 60 off balance and the sale that is running got us 50obc too!!

 

Not to shabby!!!

Thank you, just saved $10 and got a $30 OBC on our June 2016 cruise on the Triumph.

Thanks for the warm welcome!!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone, its going to be a long 420 days!! =)

I was looking for hotels in NoLa today and I found a newly remodeled Comfort Inn in Metairie that offers breakfast and free parking for the week at about $134 (for this June). I found several other hotels closer to the FQ, which were much more expensive on their "park & cruise" packages.

NOLA is a great city and a lot of fun to visit! It also has a lot of quaint hotels in or near the Quarter. Any of these will only be a few minute drive to the port. I would suggest checking first with the NOLA port thread in the Ports of Call thread on CC. I know there are lots of "where do I stay" questions with good advice from other cruisers. If you like to eat, OGM!!! NOLA is paradise for those of us who like a good meal! Try Mother's on Tchoupitoulas for a great sub or red beans and rice, The Coffee Pot on St. Peter for the best bread pudding, and Cafe DuMond on Decatur for those world famous beignets and cafe au lait! Dang! Now I'm hungry!! :D

Will have to find the Ports of Call thread, thank you for the advice! Very much looking forward to some delicious eats and maybe a hurricane or 3 while in NOLA - hoping maybe to make Emerils for dinner and without a doubt having beignets from Café DuMond!

Triumph is a really great ship with a wonderful crew and staff. The food and service is excellent. You have chosen a really great cabin location and it should be relatively quiet there. From your cabin, it's just 2 decks up to all the Lido activities and food, and it's 2 decks down to the shops and other entertainment. There's lots to do onboard and planning ahead is a big part of the fun. Search Carnival and other Web sites for deck plans and activities.

 

Here's hoping you have a great cruise. Bon Voyage!

I was hoping I picked well - thank you!!

You're too early for excursions to be listed for your cruise:( Been on the Triumph a couple of times and really enjoyed it. Much of the bad press may have been a bit overblown. Can't help with the cabin. Both times we stayed in a balcony forward higher up. Have fun planning your trip.

Ahhh, that makes perfect sense, think the same applies on the spa services?

Congrats on your anniversary and first cruise! NOLA is a fun port to embark from and the trip down the river is pretty neat. If you can hang in until around 11-12:00pm, it is also interesting to see all the oil platforms in the gulf when you break out of the river!

 

Plan on coming back addicted to cruising! It's a horrible addiction! :rolleyes:

We are going to arrive in NoLa mid-day Saturday and plan to enjoy exploring the FQ before the cruise!

By "private", they mean you won't be sharing! NO balcony is 100% private. Your neighbors can "peek" around the dividers, and on some ships, there is a small gap...not big enough to have full view, but you can tell if folks are on the other balcony.

 

So..don't do anything out there that you wouldn't want to be seen! And, port days is when they clean the ship, so don't throw open your drapes without peeking out first....sometimes, a window washer is outside your balcony!

Thank you, I didn't know how relaxed sunbathing could be on the balcony, but you answered that!

DH and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary next June, so I have booked us out of NoLa on 6/6/16 for the 5day Western Caribbean cruise.

I booked a balcony on the Empress deck, hoping it will be quiet at night being between cabin only decks. I chose #7348, anyone have any experience in or around this stateroom they can share? Is this considered midship? I'm not overly concerned with sea sickness mainly because I've never been on a ship so I have no idea what to expect.

Any recommendations on where to stay the night before in New Orleans, not to expensive but maybe a little romantic?

I'm curious why there are no excursions available to book on Carnivals website, could just be a site issue I guess, will keep trying or call if no luck.

I've been reading all the helpful info on this site and trying to contain my excitement, lol, thanks in advance for your replies!

I just booked my husband and I on the Carnival Freedom out of NoLa on 6/6/16 for our 25th wedding anniversary celebration!

I chose a balcony room on the Empress deck, hoping this was a good choice based on the things I've read saying that its quietest in between cabin decks?!?!

I'm curious to know how (if any) private the balconies are?

Thanks - I've been reading/lurking a ton, but I know I will have a bunch more questions so thanks again in advance!! =)

It doesn't make any difference. The sun rises on one side and sets on the other, and it will be reversed on the way back. You are not insight of land until you arrive at port. You can't predict which side the ship will dock on, as it varies. EM

I am came looking for the answer to this exact question, so thank you!!