When will RC go back to NOLA?

[BillOh]

We've sailed out of NOLA a number of times. Most recently November/December 2014 on back to back sailings on Serenade. We heard from staff that the shops and casino managers complained that they couldn't open until they were out in international waters so it was affecting their bottom line.

 

For those of us who haven't sailed out of NO, how long after departure before you hit International waters? I know it took awhile to do so leaving Tampa. I've been to NO before several times, but my wife never has. I'd consider sailing at least once from there just to take her to the city.

[Clarea]

For those of us who haven't sailed out of NO, how long after departure before you hit International waters? I know it took awhile to do so leaving Tampa. I've been to NO before several times, but my wife never has. I'd consider sailing at least once from there just to take her to the city.

I believe it was around 9 hours for us.

[foxgoodrich]

For those of us who haven't sailed out of NO, how long after departure before you hit International waters? I know it took awhile to do so leaving Tampa. I've been to NO before several times, but my wife never has. I'd consider sailing at least once from there just to take her to the city.

 

We've sailed out of NOLA twice, and I believe our fastest travel down the Mississippi was about 7 1/2 hours. We were sitting out on our portside balcony and saw the pilot boat come along side to retrieve the river pilot just before midnight on the first cruise. Second one took longer, probably closer to 9 hours.

 

I do think that having to keep the shops and casino closed that whole first night probably does affect the bottom line negatively for Royal. And the trip down the river likely is not fuel efficient and adds fuel cost. It sure is fun to sit on your balcony or on deck, though, and watch the river go by. There's a variety of boat traffic (from fishermen to container ships) going by on the river and it's very unique to sit on your balcony and see cars passing by on a road that runs parallel to the river in places!

 

We had a bridge tour on NV out of NOLA and it was interesting to hear the that the bridge crew really enjoy the river navigation. We were told that the maps and charts have to be constantly updated since shoals change and the river channel varies from trip to trip. I asked the young Navigator if he and the other crew dread the trip on the river, and his response was "Oh No, Ma'am! We love it!"

 

We really enjoyed embarking from NOLA and would love to do it again!

Judy

[negc]

For those of us who haven't sailed out of NO, how long after departure before you hit International waters? I know it took awhile to do so leaving Tampa. I've been to NO before several times, but my wife never has. I'd consider sailing at least once from there just to take her to the city.

 

When we were on the Serenade repositioning cruise from NOLA to Boston this Spring, there was a disabled barge of some sort that blocked passage on the river for several hours and so it took quite a bit longer than expected. However, despite the delay our schedule was not impacted and we arrived in our first port of call on schedule. Unless or until RCI returns one of its ships to New Orleans, you will need to sail with another cruiseline to fulfill your wish.

[ASeaPrincess1]

When we were on the Serenade repositioning cruise from NOLA to Boston this Spring, there was a disabled barge of some sort that blocked passage on the river for several hours and so it took quite a bit longer than expected. However, despite the delay our schedule was not impacted and we arrived in our first port of call on schedule. Unless or until RCI returns one of its ships to New Orleans, you will need to sail with another cruiseline to fulfill your wish.

 

I was on that cruise, too, and I have to say that was one of my BEST cruises ever!

Loved sailing out of New Orleans.

We did a B2B on Serenade last year, too.

I'd love it if RC would go back to NOLA AND come back to LA!

(Booked on Jewel for October in support of a ship in LA)

Sigh.........

[Don Pedro]

When we lived in NOLA in 2013-2014, I read an article about the cruise industry. Remember when the Serenade had to spend the night in NOLA last year because of water damage to some cabins and had to move to an old terminal/dock across the river? This article said that the old terminal/dock was going to be refurbished into a new cruise terminal and would be used by RCCL and one other cruise line (can't remember which cruise line) exclusively. The anticipated date wouldn't be for a couple of years but that was the plan. So, fingers crossed, this actually does happen. We cruised out of NOLA Christmas 2013 and it ranked as one of our #1 cruise terminals for embarkation and debarkation!

 

I don't remember this particular event but have heard the rumor of a new terminal that would be used by RCCL. Imagine it would be downriver rather than across the river.

[Sat1]

Would a Vision class, or Soverign class operate more fuel efficiently? Also, as others mentioned, if Havana opens, might swing a return. I made this cruise in 1950, and it does take a long time to reach blue water. :-)

[RoyalDiamond]

LOVE LOVE LOVE sailing out of New Orleans. I really hope they return someday. Incidentally, I always found the prices out of Galveston to be lower and discounted more so than New Orleans. I vote for pulling out of Texas, and returning to New Orleans! And New Orleans is so much easier to get to than Galveston! LOL

 

Peter

Edited July 7, 2015 by RoyalDiamond
added info

[twocc's]

Hope RC returns to NOLA we like going out of there.

 

Charles and Connie

[cjdixon4]

We've sailed out of NOLA a number of times. Most recently November/December 2014 on back to back sailings on Serenade. We heard from staff that the shops and casino managers complained that they couldn't open until they were out in international waters so it was affecting their bottom line.

 

I've never sailed out of the NOLA port, and didn't realize that it took so long to get into international waters from there. Wow. :eek:

[NightOne]

I've never sailed out of the NOLA port, and didn't realize that it took so long to get into international waters from there. Wow. :eek:

 

The longest part to that is getting down the Mississippi River to the Gulf which is about 7-8 hours. I thought the river part was pretty awesome though.

[Debde]

Hands down in my opinion one of the best pre-cruise cities to spend a few day in! When I need my french quarter/cruise fix-NCL will gladly take my money!! :D

Who Dat!!!

[AtlantaCruiser72]

I've done three cruise into or out of New Orleans - each time lingering in the city for a few days. Compare that to cruising from FLL/MIA/TPA where I only go in the night before as a precautionary measure. I love spending time in New Orleans and am sad to see RCCL leave.

 

With the Voyager, Explorer, Mariner, Radiance, Legend, Quantum and Ovation all scheduled to sail in SE Asia and Australia for most, if not the whole year, it limits ships available for secondary US homeports like NOLA. If the economics were there they would send the Rhapsody, or one of the Radiance class, there instead of to Tampa.

 

Another thought - can the Erato Street pier handle two vessels for turnaround at the same time? If not Perhaps NCL and Carnival have outbid them for the Saturday and Sunday berthing spots, and as others have said until a second cruise terminal is opened we will not see RCCL return.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Hands down in my opinion one of the best pre-cruise cities to spend a few day in! When I need my french quarter/cruise fix-NCL will gladly take my money!! :D

Who Dat!!!

 

I haven't sailed NCL since back in 1996 on the Norway. If my fall Transatlantic on the Escape goes well I may be giving them more of a look-in for future cruises.

 

The real issue for me is I don't really want to do cruises of less than 12-14 days anymore, which limits my choices. Of course a b2b can always be fun :D

[TC1957]

I think Galveston is working against NOLA. They are "in the Gulf" much faster from Galveston, port operations there are improving and RCI has recently put money there. Also, you tell me...what ports can they easily call upon from NOLA that they cannot call upon from Galveston.

[Seatravelers]

LOVE LOVE LOVE sailing out of New Orleans. I really hope they return someday. Incidentally, I always found the prices out of Galveston to be lower and discounted more so than New Orleans. I vote for pulling out of Texas, and returning to New Orleans! And New Orleans is so much easier to get to than Galveston! LOL

 

 

 

Peter

 

 

I second that, lol! New Orleans is just such a magical city and we always felt like we were getting 2 vacations in 1 when we sailed from there. Hopefully when Cuba opens this may be a good port once again to just circumnavigate that island and it's possible ports??

Wonder if RCCI is rethinking sending more and another new ship to China today??? Stock market there taking a beating, just saying.....

[NightOne]

I think Galveston is working against NOLA. They are "in the Gulf" much faster from Galveston, port operations there are improving and RCI has recently put money there. Also, you tell me...what ports can they easily call upon from NOLA that they cannot call upon from Galveston.

 

Galveston is more expensive to get to for those flying in from across the country because it is so far from the airports. Also, Houston is not a destination city like NOLA. As I understand it the Galveston cruises also sail with a LOT of Texas cruisers onboard. (understandable) The reach into the Caribbean doesn't appear to be any deeper from Galveston over NOLA as they basically do the same itineraries.

 

So I am not convinced that Galveston is the NOLA killer.

 

I suspect other issues are at play but until RCCL makes an official statement with further explanation I am not sure we will ever know the true answer.

[chengkp75]

Would a Vision class, or Soverign class operate more fuel efficiently? Also, as others mentioned, if Havana opens, might swing a return. I made this cruise in 1950, and it does take a long time to reach blue water. :-)

 

Its not a question of one class being more efficient than the other, it is a question of which ships have been equipped with scrubbers. All ships operating within 200nm of the US coast must burn high priced low sulfur diesel fuel, instead of the less expensive high sulfur residual fuel they have been burning up until last Jan 1st. So, the entire 7-8 hours down/up river (about 100nm) must be on diesel fuel, and then for 200 miles further. Galveston, on the other hand, is at the shore, so you only have the 200nm offshore, not the additional 100nm upriver.

 

Diesel fuel costs about twice as much as residual fuel. Ships that equip themselves with exhaust scrubbers can meet the emissions requirements and still burn residual fuel. While most cruise lines are outfitting their ships with scrubbers, at least for a percentage of engines onboard, this is a slow process (usually started in drydock, and completed in service), and costs around $1-1.5million per engine.

 

So, in my opinion, until RCI has enough ships with scrubbers to meet the needs of their other ports in the US, places like NOLA will go without. This is why I don't feel the Grandeur will move away from Baltimore for a long time, it does have scrubbers to save money on the transit up and down the Chesapeake.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

I think Galveston is working against NOLA. They are "in the Gulf" much faster from Galveston, port operations there are improving and RCI has recently put money there. Also, you tell me...what ports can they easily call upon from NOLA that they cannot call upon from Galveston.

 

I personally would not sail from Galveston or Houston. The cost of transport from airport to pier being one factor, zero appeal (to me at least) of Houston/Galveston as a pre cruise stay, plus the cruises are too "Texas" oriented which I find a turn-off. It's the US homeport at THE very bottom of my list.

 

New Orleans would also trump Port Canaveral, Tampa, Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Baltimore homeports for me when looking at cruise options. If there were 10-14 day cruise options from NOLA it could possibly trump the South Florida ports as well.

 

I really enjoy visiting and spending time in New Orleans and hope to see more cruise options from there in the future! Especially if I can dovetail an event like JazzFest with a cruise :D

Edited July 8, 2015 by AtlantaCruiser72

[tip]

We have sailed from New Orleans only once, in April on the Serenade of the Seas which I believe was the last RCCL ship to sail from New Orleans.

 

We flew into New Orleans four days early to tour the city as it was our first visit. I would love to go back if for no other reason than to ride the streetcars and visit the World War Two Museum again. Both were awesome experiences. A cruise leaving from New Orleans would certainly give us just one more reason although I have no desire to sail Carnival again. We are just too old. Maybe if RCCL returns....

[cjdixon4]

I personally would not sail from Galveston or Houston. The cost of transport from airport to pier being one factor, zero appeal (to me at least) of Houston/Galveston as a pre cruise stay, plus the cruises are too "Texas" oriented which I find a turn-off. It's the US homeport at THE very bottom of my list.

 

 

Atlanta, I understand your position on sailing from Galveston. My family and I did a wonderful sailing on Navigator last May 2014. We're from Chicago, so we flew into Houston Hobby a day prior to the cruise, then took a private shuttle ($$$) from airport to Galveston. It was about a 40-45 minute ride. We stayed overnight at Galveston's Baymont Inn & Suites (more $$$), and shuttled to the pier the next morning. We spent a lot of money.

 

Don't get me wrong though, it was a heck of a fantastic cruise. There were a huge number of Texans onboard the ship, but I didn't find the ship to be oriented toward them any more than other groups. Galveston is a beautiful and historic town, but New Orleans it ain't, LOL. I really would enjoy a NOLA cruise but only with RCI, since they're pretty much all we cruise with. Guess I missed out on that, huh? :rolleyes: