New Orleans - question re: Riverwalk/port area

[tbmrt]

We usually head to the ship early from FL embarkation ports and intended to do so when departing from NO. However, I've been reading that Riverwalk is a great place to hang out while waiting to board the ship since it is near the port.

 

Since we will be taking a shuttle to the port from our hotel, is it practical to check our luggage there while we walk around Riverwalk?

 

Is there anything else that you'd recommend we see for a few hours before boarding the ship?

 

Thanks

[jgmpuma]

Riverwalk was redesigned and reopened as an outlet mall a couple of years ago. There is a nice food court and a Cafe du Monde. You can get a cup of coffee and an order of beignets and sit outside and watch the traffic on the river. It is just a short walk from the Erato Street terminal (Carnival) and an elevator ride from the Julia Street terminal, once you drop your luggage off with the porters.

 

At either end of the mall there are stops for the riverfront streetcar that will take you the the French Quarter, if that interests you.

[cl.klink]

We usually head to the ship early from FL embarkation ports and intended to do so when departing from NO. However, I've been reading that Riverwalk is a great place to hang out while waiting to board the ship since it is near the port.

 

Since we will be taking a shuttle to the port from our hotel, is it practical to check our luggage there while we walk around Riverwalk?

 

Is there anything else that you'd recommend we see for a few hours before boarding the ship?

 

Thanks

 

French quarter, Cafe du monde

[Weetzie]

We usually head to the ship early from FL embarkation ports and intended to do so when departing from NO. However, I've been reading that Riverwalk is a great place to hang out while waiting to board the ship since it is near the port.

 

Since we will be taking a shuttle to the port from our hotel, is it practical to check our luggage there while we walk around Riverwalk?

 

Is there anything else that you'd recommend we see for a few hours before boarding the ship?

 

Thanks

 

Dropping our bags at the port then going to the Riverwalk for Coffee and Beignets at Cafe Du Monde is our standard plan to avoid the rush; though with the staggered check-in that might not be a huge deal. The Cafe Du Monde in the RW has much fresher quality than you are likely to get on a Sunday morning at the one in the French Quarter unless you get to the FQ *really* early.

 

To get a table in the FQ you can look at at least an hour wait during most of the morning or you can go through the take out line but the beignets aren't fresh. In the Riverwalk you can see them make your beignets right before you get them :)

[nolatravelgirl]

To get a table in the FQ you can look at at least an hour wait during most of the morning or you can go through the take out line but the beignets aren't fresh. In the Riverwalk you can see them make your beignets right before you get them :)

They are literally turning the beignets out faster than people can eat them. They may seem less than piping hot if you take them to go since you need to walk to your destination before consuming them, but I wouldn't classify them as stale.

 

As a side note, CDM beignets are good, but I much prefer the ones at Morning Call which is lesser known to tourist but is located in areas where natives actually live.

Edited March 23, 2016 by nolatravelgirl