Beach_gal

We will be arriving to New Orleans late in the evening and I just used points to book the Hilton Riverside. As I was just zooming in on Google Maps to look for a nearby store to buy soda before our cruise, I noticed a Café Du Monde. I clicked on it and the page that opened up showed that it is in or near the neighboring mall.

From the Hilton, how far a walk is it to Café Du Monde? Is it in a mall food court? I'd really love to get up early and have some beignets and coffee before we board the ship!

Also, are there any grocery/convenience/drug stores nearby to pick up our soda and anything else we may have forgotten from home?

Same thing happened to me a little while ago. Same message, but after I logged out and logged back in, my payment had been credited.

Thankfully I didn't retry and retry and retry :eek:

I preferred the Freedom because it has Red Frog Pub and the Liberty doesn't. We hung out in there almost nightly - great live music and dancing.

We really missed it on the Liberty.

we will most likely try a day pass at the Melia Resort.

 

Really loving your review and photos. We are sailing this summer on the Fascination out of San Juan and I cannot read enough about this ship! Thanks for taking the time to do this :)

 

As for the Melia, we stayed there on a land vacation for a week last November and when we walked down to Breeze's to check it out, we thought it was a dump (when compared to the Melia). Definitely give Melia a shot next time.

 

Best wishes to your wife from a fellow educator - I have till 2022 :eek: She's so lucky to be able to cruise during off-peak months. :)

I know it's not WCMC, but a couple weeks ago we saw bitter and blanc in little ramekins in the buffet on the Conquest. I'd never seen them before, so was very surprised they had a specialty dessert in the buffet.

Boy were we happy!!!! :D

I found this on cruisedeckplans dot com. Not sure how accurate it is, but based on comments in this thread, it looks pretty accurate. Might be of interest to some....

Ships WITHOUT American Table~ (according to a chart on cruisedeckplans dot com)

Dream

Ecstasy

Elation

Fantasy

Fascination

Legend

Paradise

Sensation

Spirit

Splendor

Valor

Victory

How long does it take to get to h check-in spot? My ship is supposed to be in port 9 AM to 5 PM. The check-in time says 9 MA, but doesn't leave till 10 AM. I'm very good at making sure I'm one of the 1st off the ship when need be, but wondering if there would time to get to the check-in spot close enough to their posted check-in time.

I'm going to say around 10-15 minutes max.

I'll try to figure out how to post pics on this website and post some.

We did the Anguilla tour with Blue Safaris last summer and it was one of our favorite excursions of all time. We visited some amazing beaches on Anguilla and the ride over there was incredibly fun and scenic.

We were even dropped off right next to the Liberty...on the same dock instead of going back to Bobby's Marina. The port people had a fit but we showed ID and they let us continue on to our ship.

I have some beautiful pics of our day if you want to see them :)

We'll be in St. Maarten again this summer and will be doing the 3 Island Splash. Can't wait!

Ahhhhh we just got off of the Conquest from room 9201 yesterday and it was AMAZING!!!

Best room we've ever had, including suites, seriously!! Way more room than our suites (except the bathroom, but that room and view is worth the small shower imo.

You will be spoiled forever!!!

Call me a sucker but the olive, cheese and cashews were or are one of the main reasons I dont mind paying for drinks all-night sitting at the Alchemy bar..Great touch. Good snacks. Good Bait.:D

Yes! We had them almost every night last week on the Conquest.

I too am a Remedy drinker :)

Thank you for reading!

 

I was trying to make out what that slip said but I believe we paid $2 for the bingo dabber and $30 for the 3 games. Basically the 3 boards you see are each one game, so you play the 3 boards, pull that layer off and there are 2 more layers below it. They had a special that you could bring back that slip and get a bonus board at the next session for $10...I THINK. My memory is the worst and like I said, I failed to take notes!

Thanks for the info! I <3 bingo!

STILL loving your review. Your personality shines through your writing :-) Such a fun read!

We're on the Fascination this summer so am really excited to read a great review about her.

lmao at the coughing kid incident!

I am loving your review ~ thanks for taking the time to write this :)

How much is the bingo?

I'm with you. We always tip - it just doesn't feel right not doing so.

Do they do the free wine and 50% off bottles deal in the first night in the steakhouse for trips out of Galveston? I know Texas has some restricting laws.

We were able to purchase 3 bottles total at 50% off on the Freedom out of Galveston.

Enjoy!

Glad to hear this! I am going to be on the Freedom. I was looking at the "Cruise the Vineyards" package, but if the steakhouse will sell me the wine at 50%, I think I come out better, in price, selection and quality (and get a steak dinner!) How many is "several"? I'd like to get at least 4 additional bottles for later in the cruise.

We bought 2 additional bottles of Caymus on both cruises last year. The sommelier wouldn't let us take them with us however. We had to call the steakhouse and let them know we were going to the main dining room and she would deliver them directly to our table. Really hoping to do this again!

We also bought a couple bottles through the Fun Shops prior to boarding and had a couple bottles waiting for us when we boarded. There was a really good Barolo that was reasonably priced.

On both the Freedom and the Liberty, we were able to buy several bottles of wine to be used later in the cruise. The steakhouse sommelier delivered them to the main dining room on nights we requested them.

Don't know if that's the norm on other ships, but we're going to try on the Conquest next month.

I am curious if they added hairdryers to the staterooms..... sail on 2/26

I'd love to know this as well....

Anyone?

If you go to the Lido deck early in the morning, you'll find free beach towels for the taking placed on several of the lounge chairs. ;):D

:D hahahahahaha!!! You're so bad!!!

Awesome thanks! Sounds like I'd like the freedom a lot!

 

Does anyone know what the Liberty has in place of the Red Frog Pub? I'm just trying to figure out what is missing from the Freedom in that case.

It has some kind of teen club :eek:

So the Freedom does have that but the Liberty doesn't right? I was on one ship with the pub but I'm having a hard time recalling which one. I think it was the Breeze.

The Breeze also has it.

We enjoyed both ships equally, but the Red Frog Pub had this awesome guitarist a few nights that really rocked the bar!

Been on both and the main difference for us was the Red Frog Pub on the Freedom where we hung out most nights. They had great entertainment in there in the evenings.

We were missing it on the Liberty.

We did Blue Safari's Anguilla trip and we were dropped off right at the ship with literally minutes to spare at the end of the day. It was a very close call!

It was probably one of the best excursions we've ever done though. The beaches and water were gorgeous!

We've both agreed we'd like to spend a few days on Anguilla but never again as a day trip.

Really loving your review! Thanks for taking the time to do this - it is much appreciated :)

Not only is she not funny. She is vulgar. She is an exhibitionists. She is also political. she is as far left wing as you can get and enjoys slamming anyone who does not agree with her views which are far out of the mainstream.

 

I am shocked that Family Line Carnival would hire this woman. Honestly,

shocked.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Thx Beach Gal

 

I hope it's not to noisy but we also stay up very late usually In the casino and most things are closed by the time we finally sleep 🙈

It's not that big of a deal - it didn't bother us at all, but it might other people.

Being in a suite totally makes you forget you heard anything! lol