Walking to the Pier in New Orleans

[mrmapt]

Hi

 

I am staying at the Embassay Suites on Julia Street the night before my cruiseon the Triumph.

 

1. Is there a walkway or esculator system to get to the cruise terminal? I know that the Riverwalk is close by and we want to explore a little the night before we leave on the cruise.

2. Can we check in and then leave to visit the riverwalk before the ship leaves?

3. How far is the French Quarter from there?

:confused:

 

 

Thanks in advance for you assistance

 

MrMapt ;)

[firefly333]

We walked from The Drury to the cruise port and it wasnt easy to get around the convention center. Be sure you dont go up. We went up one level and yes, there is a way to walk around the back to get to the port .... but then you will have to get down the stairs, so be sure not to go UP.

 

We also found it hard to walk with our suitcases, kinda rough. One block was like cobbled and the wheels were going kalipkalipkalip over the brick. We took a taxi back and they charged $14 plus tip, for about one mile.

 

As people warned me, its not so far as it is hard to get there.

 

Sorry I cant help with your hotel, but thought Id offer what insight I have, having done it a few weeks ago when the conventions were in town.

[royerhouse]

You are very close to the port at your hotel. They probably have some complimentary transportation to it, but you could walk. St. Peters St. runs down the side of your hotel and if you walk toward Canal St. down it, it's about a 10-12 block walk to the French Quarter. You'll pass the Riverwalk on the way. Don't do this at night, though, take a taxi! On Canal St., in front of the Riverwalk and the Aquarium, there is a little shuttle train that travels back and forth from the Convention Center to the French Quarter that could cut your walking time down. And yes, it is true, the Riverwalk is not "suitcase-friendly", very hard to walk on the cobblestones. This is true in parts of the Quarter as well. Even if you have to take a taxi, do NOT miss the Quarter. Breakfast of beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde is worth getting up early for! You can sit there and see Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral all at the same time, then still have time for a leisurely walk back to your hotel to pick up your luggage before boarding the ship. That's what I'd suggest. If you don't have time, though, there is a smaller version of Cafe du Monde in the Riverwalk, along with other Cajun food shops in a food court. Have fun! I love NO!

[royerhouse]

I don't think you can check in and leave, although you may be able to drop off your luggage. Once you check in, you aren't allowed to leave the ship, I don't think. You might call and ask for sure.

[firefly333]

Iv checked in and left on other ships, but they were a little more organized than getting on the Triumph where we boarded a bit late, about Noon, so by the time we boarded and ate lunch, wouldnt have been time to go sightseeing which takes time to get around in this area.

[bluefish17]

We stayed at the Springhill Suites before our recent cruise on the NCL Spirit. It was a block over from the Embassy Suites. I wanted to walk to the terminal but did a dry run in the early am and realized it's not that far but would be difficult to do with suitcases. The cabfare is fixed at $7 per person to the cruise terminal and believe me I was not happy to pay $28 plus tip for my 4 to go 5 minutes down the road. Maybe I should have gone just myself in the cab and dropped off the big luggage and then walked back to get the family for the walk to the ship with carryons (I actually like to walk a lot). You drop off your bags with the porter outside of the terminal and he immediately puts them on a baggage cart (as long as they're tagged with the cruise tags and you show your ticket). After that I don't see why you couldn't walk back into the Riverwalk or go wherever. Have a good trip!

[mrmapt]

Thanks for the info! Cant wait for the cruise to begin

[Razorbackfan2010]

Bluefish17 how did you like the Springhill Suites?? Was the area scary?? It looks a little scary on google maps. The reason I ask is that we are going on a cruise in August with 14 people. We are booked at the Holiday Inn French Quarter. Others in our group booked the Springhill. We like the location of ours, because it is close to Canel Street and we can walk around and sight see before the cruise. We like their hotel location to the port, but it doesn't appear to be in a good location at all. I just wondered if you explored Canel Street at all and if so how did you get there?? Taxi, walk, or your car? If you took your car where did you park and how much was it??

[Sargent_Schultz]

Taxis are a flat rate to the port, so will cost the same from Springhill Suites or Holiday Inn French Quarter.

 

As for Springhill Suites, it isn't in the French Quarter, but is closer to some other sights such as the WWII museum

http://www.nationalww2museum.org/

 

The casino, several restaurants, Riverwalk Mall, and more. The Fulton Street area has really been growing.

 

There is a riverfront street car available.

[zzupschuck]

You can walk to the port from any of the hotels near there...but carrying and dragging your luggage is more trouble than you think. Get the shuttle from your hotel, or load the luggage in a taxi with one person and everyone else walk. The area around the hotels near the port is not bad...in fact it's probably cleaner and safer than the French Quarter. There are lots of restaurants close by. Try Mulates, it's about 2 blocks from Springhill Suites.

[bluefish17]

The area around Springhill Suites is fine. The Emeril's Restaurant is just down the block. We walked to Mulates on Julia St. for dinner. I wouldn't try to walk from there to the French Quarter after dark though. During the day it is not that far to walk over to Canal and the toward the river to reach the Riverfront trolley to go to the quarter.

 

The only issue we had at SS was a loud nightclub across the street from our room which kept us up all night. Request a room fronting Tchoupitoulas St. or facing an inner courtyard if you can. Loud club was on Commerce St.