Casino open in NOLA?

[CruisingAmazona]

I posted this same post on Casino board, but it's fairly quiet there and hoping someone knows the answer. I'm just curious. If a ship is docked at the Port of New Orleans for 2 nights/3 days (docked, as in a port of call, not for embarkation and disembarkation purposes), does the casino open at any time during the evenings like it normally would on any evening of the sailing? Or would we need to wait until after ship sails out of NOLA for casino to open?

[wallie5446]

Even tho there are Casinos allowed in NO, the cruise line can not open theirs while in US waters.

[Hlitner]

The simple answer is NO! Cruise ship casinos are not open while in any USA port (or in US waters). The reason is quite simple, The ship casinos are not licensed to operate in any State. But consider that if you were on a ship that was docked, overnight, in NOLA...you could simply go ashore and lose all your money in a land-based Casino.

 

Hank

[Bead Pirate]

We are on a Jazz fest cruise that has the NOLA stop as you have outlined. Not only will the Casino be closed while we are in NOLA, it will be closed the 4-5 hours it takes to travel up (and back) the Mississippi from the sea.

 

The good news is that Harrahs is only a short walk away (4 blocks or so)...

[Von & John]

It appears your question has been answered - but I would vote for the land based casino anyway... you can grab some great food & local cocktails while at the casino :) And I must say you have me curious, which cruise provides you w/ 2 nights/3 days in New Orleans?

[CruisingAmazona]

We are on a Jazz fest cruise that has the NOLA stop as you have outlined. Not only will the Casino be closed while we are in NOLA, it will be closed the 4-5 hours it takes to travel up (and back) the Mississippi from the sea.

 

The good news is that Harrahs is only a short walk away (4 blocks or so)...

 

Thought so. We are booked on the 2/20 Mardi Gras 11 night sailing, which spends 2 nights, 3 days in NOLA.

 

And yes, I know about Harrah's, been there before, and even plan to visit for a while, but probably not late at night.

 

Thanks.

[CruisingAmazona]

It appears your question has been answered - but I would vote for the land based casino anyway... you can grab some great food & local cocktails while at the casino :) And I must say you have me curious, which cruise provides you w/ 2 nights/3 days in New Orleans?

 

Special sailing, 2/20 Celebrity Equinox, 11 nights, Caribbean and then during Mardi Gras, arrive Sunday afternoon, depart Fat Tuesday around 10pm

[jelayne]

And I must say you have me curious, which cruise provides you w/ 2 nights/3 days in New Orleans?

 

The 4/24 Equinox Jazz Fest sailing also has 3days/2 night in NOLA. Arrive on Friday morning & depart on Sunday evening

[alliebrandy]

It appears your question has been answered - but I would vote for the land based casino anyway... you can grab some great food & local cocktails while at the casino :) And I must say you have me curious, which cruise provides you w/ 2 nights/3 days in New Orleans?

 

In addition to the Mardi Gras sailing, Celebrity also has a Jazz Fest sailing that departs on April 24, 2017 out of Miami for 11 nights as well, with a 2 night/3 day stay in NOLA.

[Von & John]

Both Mardi Gras & Jazz Fest look fabulous – we'll have to check them out for next year. I certainly miss Mardi Gras - when I lived in Louisiana - always made it. Even in Texas - it was easy to get there.

Edited February 6, 2017 by Von & John

[dkjretired]

The simple answer is NO! Cruise ship casinos are not open while in any USA port (or in US waters). The reason is quite simple, The ship casinos are not licensed to operate in any State. But consider that if you were on a ship that was docked, overnight, in NOLA...you could simply go ashore and lose all your money in a land-based Casino.

 

Hank

 

I have always believed that and pretty much agree with you but I still can't figure out Baltimore. We did the Galaxy out of Baltimore in 2003 and if you have every done it, you don't get to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel for 8 hours. During that entire time Maryland was on both sides of us in the river and then into the Bay, definitely within US waters. The casino opened 1/2 hour after we left the pier, I know I was in there playing. Also, just out of curiosity I went on one of the roll calls for Royal in Jan. of 2016 and that is still the case. Must be a special provision but would indicate that it is controlled to a certain extent by the States.

[Baron Barracuda]

Will also be on the Mardi Gras sailing in two weeks. Have Harrahs pinned on my map, but not necessarily to gamble. It's one of the few locations with clean bathrooms open to the public during festivities.

[Cruise Raider]

Thought so. We are booked on the 2/20 Mardi Gras 11 night sailing, which spends 2 nights, 3 days in NOLA.

 

And yes, I know about Harrah's, been there before, and even plan to visit for a while, but probably not late at night.

 

Thanks.

 

We are also on that cruise with a couple of friends that have been to major events down in New Orleans. Not sure if this is true but he mentioned that you will need to bring your Total Rewards card to get in to Harrahs, especially on Lundi Gras or Mardi Gras. Like I said ... not sure if they would deny entrance without your card, but I know they had security checking on NYE down in Vegas just to get into one of the midstrip casinos.

We plan on visiting Harrahs while there so just put our player's club cards in our bag ..... just to be on the safe side.

[NLH Arizona]

I have always believed that and pretty much agree with you but I still can't figure out Baltimore. We did the Galaxy out of Baltimore in 2003 and if you have every done it, you don't get to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel for 8 hours. During that entire time Maryland was on both sides of us in the river and then into the Bay, definitely within US waters. The casino opened 1/2 hour after we left the pier, I know I was in there playing. Also, just out of curiosity I went on one of the roll calls for Royal in Jan. of 2016 and that is still the case. Must be a special provision but would indicate that it is controlled to a certain extent by the States.

I could swear that on my December cruise out of New Orleans on the NCL Dawn, the casino was open 1/2 hour after sail-away.

[dkjretired]

I could swear that on my December cruise out of New Orleans on the NCL Dawn, the casino was open 1/2 hour after sail-away.

Different situation than what I stated as you were in International waters, we were not for at least 8 hours.

[nsw104]

It appears your question has been answered - but I would vote for the land based casino anyway... you can grab some great food & local cocktails while at the casino :) And I must say you have me curious, which cruise provides you w/ 2 nights/3 days in New Orleans?

Celebrity Equinox is doing an 11-day cruise out of Ft Lauderdale 2/20/17 with a 2-nt stay in New Orleans during Mardis Gras, leaving Fat Tuesday in the late afternoon.

[CruisingAmazona]

Will also be on the Mardi Gras sailing in two weeks. Have Harrahs pinned on my map, but not necessarily to gamble. It's one of the few locations with clean bathrooms open to the public during festivities.

 

LOL! That's hilarious! We will most likely gamble a little there, but also had that same thought. Been reading up on Mardi Gras details and bathrooms are definitely an issue!

[CruisingAmazona]

We are also on that cruise with a couple of friends that have been to major events down in New Orleans. Not sure if this is true but he mentioned that you will need to bring your Total Rewards card to get in to Harrahs, especially on Lundi Gras or Mardi Gras. Like I said ... not sure if they would deny entrance without your card, but I know they had security checking on NYE down in Vegas just to get into one of the midstrip casinos.

We plan on visiting Harrahs while there so just put our player's club cards in our bag ..... just to be on the safe side.

 

I also read about this, probably on the Roll Call, and actually called the hotel/casino and they said it was open to all. I have no clue where our cards are so if they don't let us in, it's their loss and my gain, I suppose. So much to do in the area, I want to spend as much time sightseeing. Hence my question about whether casino on ship was open. Would much rather gamble on ship at night.

[CruisingAmazona]

Celebrity Equinox is doing an 11-day cruise out of Ft Lauderdale 2/20/17 with a 2-nt stay in New Orleans during Mardis Gras, leaving Fat Tuesday in the late afternoon.

 

Actually, we leave late evening, 10pm.

[CruisingAmazona]

I could swear that on my December cruise out of New Orleans on the NCL Dawn, the casino was open 1/2 hour after sail-away.

 

 

 

Thanks, but this is a different situation. You embarked on a cruise out of NOLA and like most cruises, the casino opened after sail away. For us, NOLA is a port of call, and we will be docked for two-nights, 3 days.

[dkjretired]

Thanks, but this is a different situation. You embarked on a cruise out of NOLA and like most cruises, the casino opened after sail away. For us, NOLA is a port of call, and we will be docked for two-nights, 3 days.

 

I think she was responding to my earlier post which was a bit off topic.

 

As I write this they are reporting a tornado just touched down in NO and more may be on the way. Hope everything is Okay.