travel from new orleans or galveston????

[laurie1118]

We are thinking of booking a cruise for next January, and the ships depart from either New Orleans or Galveston. Does anyone have any suggestions on hotels in either of these cities to stay at the night before? Are there any hotels that have free shuttles to the ports? Thanks for any help we can get.

[almitra]

Almost all hotels in Galveston offer free parking during cruise along w/free trans to/from pier....check out galveston.com

 

As for NOLA--almost nada is free there. ((sigh)) We stayed at nearby Hilton Riverside for a $39 promo rate thru harrahs.com....you must pay for parking each night at the hotel, however. If you gamble for 30 mins you may park for free for one day, but that doesn't help with the entire cruise duration.....someone here said they found a package deal with Hilton there that was $99 per night w/parking included.

 

 

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[Peyton6]

We're heading out of NOLA in January and I think we're staying at a Marriott... my friend's brother is getting us a good deal on a room. We left out of Galveston in March and stayed at the Commodore... nothing fancy - but cheap and clean. We parked for free during the cruise and they had a free shuttle that took us to the pier and picked us up when we returned.

 

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katie@fg2.com

[Ronath]

If you come to New Orleans the Hilton Riverside is VERY convenient; adjacent to the terminal and pier area. We've stayed in Galveston at the Holiday Inn on the Beach with a view of the Gulf and just steps away from Rainforest Cafe and an IHOP.

 

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[Arlene F]

Ronath,

Have you ever thought about taking a cruise?

I'm soooooooooo jealous!

Arlene

[ginag]

May I suggest the Harbor House in Galveston? It's right at the pier and is about a block from the terminal. It's an old warehouse that has been beautifully restored in the Strand District (historic)...very spacious and clean. We stayed there in Dec. for our cruise and have another reservation with them in November for our next cruise.The view is breathtaking and you will be able to see your cruise ship come in that morning. Close to fine dining and shopping,plus they have a private parking lot which you can leave your vehicle for a small charge.

 

 

~gina~

 

11/20 Ecstasy cruise

[blyle]

Keep in mind that your hotel rates are affected by all of the conventions in New Orleans. There are times you can't find a reasonable room. Now in Galveston, January is off season and very slow. That means great hotel deals. The biggest expense is getting to Galveston from the airport. Flying into Hobby would be the closest. In the winter hotels allow you to park for free and there is a shuttle. In the summer there is a charge now at some hotels. I love New Orleans but you need to be aware of what is happening the week you are there. Sugar Bowl is in January too!

 

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[jubilee]

We are thinking of booking a cruise for next January, and the ships depart from either New Orleans or Galveston. Does anyone have any suggestions on hotels in either of these cities to stay at the night before? Are there any hotels that have free shuttles to the ports? Thanks for any help we can get.

 

Go out of Galveston because some hotels offer free parking!!

 

~me

[cruisinqt]

We will be leaving out of New Orleans this October and got a great deal at the Hilton riverside 3 blocks from the pier. We got the Hilton for just $99.00 and it includes free parking for up to 7 days. Just call the Hilton and ask for the "cruise special." This is a great deal because parking alone for the 7 days would be $84.00. We got a 4 star hotel 3 blocks from the pier for just $99.00. There are hotels in New Orleans that offer free parking but they don't advertise it on their websites. Just call around and you will probably get a good feel for the deals out there. The Maison St. Charles also has a "bon voyage" special including a limousine to the pier for just $85.00. I think one advantage of sailing out of New Orleans is the great party town experience the night before. If you have never been to New Orleans, it is a blast!

 

We sailed out of Galveston in January and it was nice. There are lots of good hotel deals with free parking. They all mention it on their websites, too. So booking a cheap hotel with free parking is no problem. I guess the question is, do you want to stay in a really fun port and party the night before? Or do you just want a decent nights rest before you cruise? I've done both ports and they both have their advantages and disadvantages. But contrary to popular belief, you can get a good deal in New Orleans if you shop around and make a few calls. We got one heck of a deal! Either way, you can't go wrong. Both ports are nice and deals are to be had in both places.

[HOSKI]

Are you driving to the port? If not airfare is much higher for TX vs. NOLA.

[yuyi64]

New Orleans is one of the featured destinations for Southwest Airlines on its Hotfares e-mail promotion this week (also available on its website). There are some fantastic prices on flights in and out New Orleans over the next several months if you book soon. These cheap fares would more than offset any parking fees you might encounter.