Just back from cruise on the Triumph

This is the first time I've been to Progreso, so I don't know if changes have been made. There's a bit of a walk, then a group of shops, and then an area where you can catch a free shuttle to the bus terminal in town. We had instructions from Lawson's to take the free shuttle and then walk a few blocks to where they met us (this was a tad confusing, but we figured it out). Carnival run tours met people right after walking off the ship, and other tours were available as you walked through or when the shuttle dropped you off. The pier itself is very, very long - you can't walk into town. Apparently it was built about 10 years ago and Carnival is the only cruise line that uses it. There doesn't seem to be anything to do in Progreso itself, I'm assuming it's just a convenient/cheaper place for the cruise line to run tours to the ruins and other places from.

Can you offer any tips when meeting Lawson's? We'll be on the Triumph in August and have an excursion booked with them and don't want to get lost ;p

It was very easy to get around NO in a cab or Lyft (except for when the traffic was bad, in the evening when the music festival attendees came down to the French Quarter). When it was time to leave our hotel we just told the front desk guy and got us a cab within minutes. I didn't miss having a port shuttle.

Do you know how far it is from Harrah's Casino (or the hotel) to the terminal for the Triumph?

Is it walkable? From other info I understand there is a "Mall" that is air-conditioned that runs most of the way... not sure if that is correct. Any help would be great! Don't mind taking a cab or whatever, just wondering.

Do you know how far it is from Harrah's Casino (or the hotel) to the terminal for the Triumph?

 

Is it walkable? From other info I understand there is a "Mall" that is air-conditioned that runs most of the way... not sure if that is correct. Any help would be great! Don't mind taking a cab or whatever, just wondering.

According to Google Maps, it will supposedly take about 15 minutes to walk the entire way.

From the Canal Street side of the casino, walk south on Convention Center Blvd to the Julia Street entrance of the Riverwalk mall.

You can also take the Riverfront streetcar($1.25 adults/children 3 and over, $0.40 seniors) from the Canal Street station to the Julia Street station(2 stops, supposedly 7 minutes). Google Maps says it is a 2 minute walk from the Canal Street side of the casino to the Canal Street station.

Take the escalator or elevator up to the Riverwalk entrance. You will see a children's play area. Go out the doors next to them and take a right. Walk to the end and you will come to stairs. Go down the stairs and cross the seven lanes leaving the terminal(not as bad as that sounds). This is about a 4 minute walk.

DON'T take the elevator next to the play area. That is for NCL, RCCL, and visiting ships.

It looks like taking the Riverfront streetcar will save a couple of minutes overall and you will be off your feet for a little bit.

I haven't taken either of these paths to the terminal. I walked from the Greyhound station via Julia Street. It took about 30 minutes due to stopping to finish a couple of long texts.

Michellem - meeting Lawson's was a tiny bit challenging. We did catch the free shuttle bus into town, but as Alex warned, it dropped us off in a small tourist market. You have to walk through the market and then orient yourself, and follow Alex's directions to the other side of the Auto Progreso bus terminal. He does give you street number information, and somewhat suprisingly, there are sign/maps on the streets which you can use to get yourself there. We didn't try putting it into our phones/map apps (which would have been a good idea), we just kind of set off thinking we were going the right way when we weren't. It's not impossible by any stretch, just take a deep breath and use a map!

I'm almost tempted to suggest taking a cab instead of the shuttle bus so it would take you to the exact address instead of the tourist market, but that's probably not necessary. It's not that it was a long walk, just a little confusing.

Nice! We are staying at Nachi Cocom on our Triumph cruise too! Can't wait. How did check-in and embarkation go? We get into town really early and our checkin isn't until 12:30. Purchases FTTF (faster to the fun) package. I hope this helps us at least get into the terminal early.

If you have FTTF you will be able to go right in.now without that if you are not platinum or diamond they will make you wait til your check in time.

Can you offer any tips when meeting Lawson's? We'll be on the Triumph in August and have an excursion booked with them and don't want to get lost ;p

Is it the autoprogreso bus terminal you need to get to? If so it's easy. I've done it three times.

We will rent a car and drop it off the night before the cruise. We are hoping we can find a hotel with shuttle service to the port.

Do you want to stay in the French Quarter or do you plan on driving somewhere else?

If you plan to have the French Quarter experience then you may not want a car.

If you want to visit the plantations along the River Road, then you may want to stay close to that area.

The problem with the shuttle service is that in New Orleans hotels may have you dropped off at the terminal, but they will not be picking you up.

 

If you did not want to do the ruins in Progreso what else was available?

Perhaps take the autoprogreso tour to Merida?

You can book that tour with the lady in the little carnival shopping area.

They take you on a bus tour around the city, then drop you off at the "town square" area.

You can walk down the street and get some nachos and drinks.

Then meet back up for the ride back.

Do you want to stay in the French Quarter or do you plan on driving somewhere else?

 

 

 

If you plan to have the French Quarter experience then you may not want a car.

 

 

 

If you want to visit the plantations along the River Road, then you may want to stay close to that area.

 

 

 

The problem with the shuttle service is that in New Orleans hotels may have you dropped off at the terminal, but they will not be picking you up.

Hampton does per their website

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Thanks for the review.

By any chance do you still have the Fun Times for the cruise? I'm interested in what they do for the Dive In movies on the ship. We leave tomorrow to head to NOLA for our first cruise on Monday the 17th. We should be in Cozumel on the 19th, for our 20th Ann.

We're not doing any excursions, plan to just enjoy the ship and the close beaches/shopping, maybe a town bus tour, so we're interested in what there is to do on the ship.

Thanks!

Michellem - meeting Lawson's was a tiny bit challenging. We did catch the free shuttle bus into town, but as Alex warned, it dropped us off in a small tourist market. You have to walk through the market and then orient yourself, and follow Alex's directions to the other side of the Auto Progreso bus terminal. He does give you street number information, and somewhat suprisingly, there are sign/maps on the streets which you can use to get yourself there. We didn't try putting it into our phones/map apps (which would have been a good idea), we just kind of set off thinking we were going the right way when we weren't. It's not impossible by any stretch, just take a deep breath and use a map!

 

I'm almost tempted to suggest taking a cab instead of the shuttle bus so it would take you to the exact address instead of the tourist market, but that's probably not necessary. It's not that it was a long walk, just a little confusing.

Thank you for the information! I do have the map printed out that they sent in the email, I'll take a look at it and possible use my phone GPS as well :)

The Marriott Downtown at the Convention Center is directly across the street from the Riverwalk Mall and an easy walk to the cruise terminal. Highly recommend staying there as the trolley also runs right in front of the Mall and makes it easy to get around if you don't want to walk!

We are leaving Saturday on the Triumph. We are booked for the All Inclusive Beach Resort Getaway in Progresso!

By any chance do you still have the Fun Times for the cruise? I'm interested in what they do for the Dive In movies on the ship. We leave tomorrow to head to NOLA for our first cruise on Monday the 17th. We should be in Cozumel on the 19th, for our 20th Ann.

 

We're not doing any excursions, plan to just enjoy the ship and the close beaches/shopping, maybe a town bus tour, so we're interested in what there is to do on the ship.

 

Thanks!

We are leaving on the ship when you come back on the 22nd! If you have any feedback please post when you return!

 

--We did a private tour with Lawson's in Progreso.

Would you mind sharing the cost of this, and how many people you had? We did a private tour a few years back in St Maarten and it was the BEST excursion we've had to date. But that trip we had 11 people with us so it was more cost effective. This trip there's only 6 .. trying to see which would be best route to take.

mchelle77 - We had four people, and the total cost was $480 - I believe it was a charge per person, but with four people we had a roomy well airconditioned van, a driver, and a guide. It really was a great trip. Let me know if you have any other questions, I'm happy to answer them.

I'm very glad you wrote because we are actually going to be in St. Maarten next winter - could you please tell me what tour company you used and if it went well? Many thanks.

Where there any "themed" nights on the ship like an all white deck party?

Do they still let you climb any of the ruins as Uxmal?

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According to Google Maps, it will supposedly take about 15 minutes to walk the entire way.

 

From the Canal Street side of the casino, walk south on Convention Center Blvd to the Julia Street entrance of the Riverwalk mall.

 

You can also take the Riverfront streetcar($1.25 adults/children 3 and over, $0.40 seniors) from the Canal Street station to the Julia Street station(2 stops, supposedly 7 minutes). Google Maps says it is a 2 minute walk from the Canal Street side of the casino to the Canal Street station.

 

Take the escalator or elevator up to the Riverwalk entrance. You will see a children's play area. Go out the doors next to them and take a right. Walk to the end and you will come to stairs. Go down the stairs and cross the seven lanes leaving the terminal(not as bad as that sounds). This is about a 4 minute walk.

 

DON'T take the elevator next to the play area. That is for NCL, RCCL, and visiting ships.

 

It looks like taking the Riverfront streetcar will save a couple of minutes overall and you will be off your feet for a little bit.

 

 

I haven't taken either of these paths to the terminal. I walked from the Greyhound station via Julia Street. It took about 30 minutes due to stopping to finish a couple of long texts.

Actually, New Orleans has Uber and Lyft. Either is a cheap way to get to the port from your hotel. I live in New Orleans and take Lyft rather try to park downtown or in the French Quarter.

Actually, New Orleans has Uber and Lyft. Either is a cheap way to get to the port from your hotel. I live in New Orleans and take Lyft rather try to park downtown or in the French Quarter.

For several reasons, I refuse to use any ride sharing service anywhere.