Wrigley80's Excellent Adventure on the Dream Photo Review - December 4-15, 2014

[Disconnections]

Another wrigly80 review! I expect this one to be wonderful as are all of your others. Thanks for taking the time to review your cruise.

[kbh2]

More please stop working!

[blrgrl]

We'll be on the Dream March 1. Looking forward to reading the rest of your review. :D

[BGnder]

We leave in 3 weeks on the Dream! Thanks for the reviews, I always really enjoy yours!

[purplemusik]

Thanks for the intro but I'm well aware of who you are because I ADORE your reviews! Keep it coming! BTW: I have a feeling you're going to make me miss the Dream!

[wrigley80]

Another wrigly80 review! I expect this one to be wonderful as are all of your others. Thanks for taking the time to review your cruise.

 

Thank You so much. I think this one may be my best yet....there are some pretty funny photos coming up later. I hope you continue to enjoy my review :)

[wrigley80]

More please stop working!

 

Haha....yeah you're right. I have worked way too hard today....it's only Monday. Why rush things ;) :p :)

[wrigley80]

We'll be on the Dream March 1. Looking forward to reading the rest of your review. :D

 

You will love the Dream. It is definitely one of my favorites :)

 

We leave in 3 weeks on the Dream! Thanks for the reviews, I always really enjoy yours!

 

Oh 3 weeks....now I am the jealous one. Enjoy your cruise.....it will be here before ya know it

[wrigley80]

Thanks for the intro but I'm well aware of who you are because I ADORE your reviews! Keep it coming! BTW: I have a feeling you're going to make me miss the Dream!

 

Awwww thank you so much. I know I miss the Dream already so I'm sure you will as well but I see on your signature that you're going to Alaska. My dad wants me to see Alaska....that was their first cruise in 2002. He loved Alaska

[wrigley80]

Ok I'm back. I figured that it's only Monday and I have worked way too hard already so it is back to the review

 

The second day of our vacation we didn't really have any set plans until the evening so we were in no real hurry to leave from the Baton Rouge area. We left around 10:00 am and drove back towards New Orleans. We were staying in a hotel in Kenner (which is right by the airport) so I was figuring that if we got to the hotel around noon that we may be able to check-in early before heading down to New Orleans for the night

 

Everybody loves a toilet photo :eek:

 

We got to the hotel around 12:30 pm and they let us check-in early. I am Diamond status with Choice Hotels so that always has a few perks and early check-in is usually one of them.

I booked the Sleep Inn and Suites in Kenner. I like to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city plus I won't pay $40.00 a night for parking at the hotels downtown....that's crazy.

 

The room was very clean and quiet. And that's all I need when staying at a hotel

 

En route to our hotel from Baton Rouge I stopped at an outlet mall and what did I find here....a new pair of shoes. Help me out here ladies.....we can't go on a cruise in old shoes....that's just not right

[wrigley80]

Leading up to the cruise I was in search of some crazy, funny hats because of group.....The KREWE of NOLA KRUISERS were a fun group. We had theme nights among our group....more on that later. So in the hotel I was testing out my new hats

 

 

 

I have a story to tell about the chicken hats....that'll be coming up later on

 

I even got my dad in on the fun

 

So which hat is your favorite??? And have you ever worn crazy hats onboard???

[Disconnections]

Thank You. I had never been to New Orleans prior to last December but now I have been there 3 times since last year. Plus I am going to New Orleans for a week in February to celebrate Mardi Gras....I am sure that will be CRAZY. New Orleans is a beautiful city with so much to see and do.

 

I just saw this post... we will be in New Orleans this year for Mardi Gras also. We're staying 5 nights in the French Quarter at the W.

[wrigley80]

We left the hotel around 2:00 to head down to the city for the night. When we got downtown I wanted to head down by the port to see if any ships were in today but nope there weren't any today. We had plans to meet up with some friends for dinner so we did a little sightseeing first

 

A quiet Bourbon Street on a Friday night.....it would get crazy later on but we didn't stick around to find out.

 

We were meeting our friends at Port of Call on Esplanade Avenue at 5:00 pm. We got there about 4:30 and waited at the bar for our friends to arrive. For anyone who has not been here for lunch or dinner.....it is a must go if you like burgers. The burgers are the best I have ever had....they are served with a baked potato. This wouldn't be the last time we would eat here on our vacation....it is definitely a must stop when you are in New Orleans.

 

They are well known for their drinks as well...be sure to try the Monsoon. I had just about finished one by the time our friends arrived so when they got there they ordered me another one so that she wasn't drinking alone. Hopefully I can find my way back to the hotel....haha. This monsoon drink packs quite a punch but it is very good.

 

The first food porn come from Port of Call. This is the size of the burger and potato. Don't even think about ordering French fries here...they don't have them. Who is getting hungry now???

[wrigley80]

I just saw this post... we will be in New Orleans this year for Mardi Gras also. We're staying 5 nights in the French Quarter at the W.

 

Awesome. This will be my first time coming for Mardi Gras....it'll feel weird coming to New Orleans for something other than a cruise. I will be in town February 10-18....when are you coming in?? I am staying with friends

[Disconnections]

Awesome. This will be my first time coming for Mardi Gras....it'll feel weird coming to New Orleans for something other than a cruise. I will be in town February 10-18....when are you coming in?? I am staying with friends

 

It will be our first time there for Mardi Gras also. We'll be in town from the 15th until the 20th.

[wrigley80]

We got back to the hotel around 8:00 pm. I wanted to watch some football that was on TV and it was nice to get back a little early and relax a while.

 

The lobby of the hotel.

 

So that is the end of Day #2....our final pre-cruise day in New Orleans is coming up next which would be a big day.

[wrigley80]

It will be our first time there for Mardi Gras also. We'll be in town from the 15th until the 20th.

 

I'm not quite sure that I am ready for what we will see :eek: but I know that it'll definitely be a good time

[wrigley80]

So the morning of day #3 we woke up early and got going because we had a full day of stuff planned. We left the hotel around 8:30 am

 

By no means do I like cemeteries at home but there's something about the mystique with them in New Orleans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK who can tell me why the gravesites are all above ground in New Orleans and the surrounding areas???

[all4hockey54r]

OK who can tell me why the gravesites are all above ground in New Orleans and the surrounding areas???

 

Because New Orleans is below sea level! All the bodies would just be pushed to the surface if they were buried! A lot of the grave stones are cracked and crumbling because the ground is just mush.

[wrigley80]

After we left the cemetery we headed down Canal Street in search of Blue Dot Donuts. I wanted to try this place in April during our last trip to New Orleans but they weren't open on Mondays so I was not going to miss out this time. They were everything I had hoped for and more. If you like donuts....you will LOVE this place

 

It is about halfway down on Canal Street

 

OMG.....they were so good. The one on the left was Key Lime Crumb....sooooo yummy

 

It was such a beautiful morning outside that we decided to eat our breakfast outside

 

The Canal Street streetcar stops right in front of the Donut shop.

 

While we were sitting and enjoying our breakfast I was playing with my camera and the different features. I like this one of the streetcar

[wrigley80]

OK who can tell me why the gravesites are all above ground in New Orleans and the surrounding areas???

 

Because New Orleans is below sea level! All the bodies would just be pushed to the surface if they were buried! A lot of the grave stones are cracked and crumbling because the ground is just mush.

 

DING DING DING......we have a winner :D :) :D you get the gold star for the day. You passed the history test :)

[amallison]

Oh my word, Port Of Call is ridiculously yummy! I haven't eaten there in years, wonder if I can convince the hubby that we need to spend a day in NOLA soon.

 

I love reading your reviews!!!

[wrigley80]

In my research leading up to the cruise one thing that my dad and I really wanted to do was to go for a ride on the Steamboat Natchez on the Mississippi River. We decided to go on the 11:30 am boat ride because that fit into our schedule for the day a little better. A couple months before the cruise I sent off for the New Orleans CVB Guide and they sent me back a bunch of coupons. One coupon that I received was for a buy one-get one free on he Steamboat....sounds like a great idea to us

 

We arrived at the Gray Line Terminal (which is right behind the Jackson Brewery) and paid for our tickets. We got the buy one-get one deal....no fine print here and we waited for the time to board

 

It was a beautiful to sit along the riverfront and people watch

 

Me and my best buddy

 

 

This guy was truly a local. He never moved the whole time we sat there. My dad told me to check his pulse to make sure that he was still breathing....haha.

 

We waited about a half hour or so before it was time to board

[wrigley80]

Oh my word, Port Of Call is ridiculously yummy! I haven't eaten there in years, wonder if I can convince the hubby that we need to spend a day in NOLA soon.

 

I love reading your reviews!!!

 

Yes it is. It is by far the best burger that I have ever eaten. You're going on the Norwegian Dawn in a couple weeks go there for lunch after your cruise. Just show him my pics and let my pics do the convincing for ya....haha.

 

And thank you for reading my reviews :)

[kelkel2]

Brianna I am having so much fun reading your review, as always!!!

You got a great deal on that airfare!!! Can't believe it. I don't like to go that far north, to O'hare, but for a flight that cheap I would!! I'll keep an eye on that. We usually do southwest out of Midway! But usually pay around $600 ish...