havanadaydreaming Posted September 21, 2018 #1 Share Posted September 21, 2018 How is the ride down the river to the ocean? Fun? Dull? All my cruises have been out of Florida or San Juan. I'm intrigued by the "down the Mississippi" sail away experience. I used to think New Orleans was on the coast before my first visit to the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apsalar Posted September 21, 2018 #2 Share Posted September 21, 2018 We sailed out of NOLA years ago, but it was too foggy to see anything out the way out, and the trip back up the river a week later was during the night. We're going on another in February, I hope we get to see more after we leave the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsK Posted September 21, 2018 #3 Share Posted September 21, 2018 I wouldn't have called it exciting but we actually enjoyed it quite a lot. It was interesting just gliding by with the land so close to the ship and also passing by the other ships that were making their own journeys. Sat down in a deck chair and watched the scenery pass by for a very long time. It was a clear day/evening when we went and we had to return to port moderately quickly at the end of our cruise for a medical emergency so we had the added trip back up part of the river in the daylight. We would do it again, for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallyho8 Posted September 21, 2018 #4 Share Posted September 21, 2018 It is more interesting when you can leave during summer while it stays daylight longer to see more. After dark it is not as interesting except when you get near the gulf and can see all the offshore oil rigs. It definitely is more interesting than most of the ports where you see nothing but water 5 minutes after you depart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maniacal Cruiser Posted September 21, 2018 #5 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Has anyone ever sailed out of New Orleans? I'm going to go with yes on that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngrund Posted September 21, 2018 #6 Share Posted September 21, 2018 yes, scenery was nice enough and I enjoyed the city for a couple of days before cruise. keep in mind that that if you have drink package, sales tax will be charged until ship is in the gulf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLH Arizona Posted September 21, 2018 #7 Share Posted September 21, 2018 I've sailed out of New Orleans a number of times. The first time, I sat on my balcony for sail away and watched, which was interesting. Now, since I've done the cruise so many times, I'm usually in the casino and that is fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdsgu Posted September 21, 2018 #8 Share Posted September 21, 2018 We live only an hour north of NOLA, so we've sailed out of there on many occasions. While it's still daylight, the scenery is fun, and, if you can stay awake long enough, gliding past the oil rigs as you enter the Gulf is a pretty sight. On our last cruise out of and into NOLA in June (Carnival), we were actually rushed through our dinner in the steakhouse on the last night because the waiters wanted to close the ticket before we entered the river "to save on taxes." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike D. Posted September 21, 2018 #9 Share Posted September 21, 2018 I find the travel up and down the Mississippi real interesting. On my first cruise from New Orleans on the Jewel, it was rather foggy as we sailed and it made the trip seem almost surreal. Things (lights, buildings, docks) seemed to appear out the fog--quite an affect, I thought. I also enjoy sailing back up the Mississippi in the early morning as the light begins to chase away the dark. Enjoy your cruise. MD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted September 21, 2018 #10 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Sailed January 2015 - Nothing to see here folks these are not the droids you were looking for - - - Dismal foggy departure leading to a rainy transit down river - not until reaching the delta with the lit up oil rigs did the weather break. But what did I expect with a winter time departure and return before daylight breaks. It is a shame that the river transit is not during daylight hours and the at sea time during the hours of darkness. The down river transit is fast very fast the current moving you along at a clip. As for the return upstream the passage can be crawling fighting the current. There are not a lot of tight turns except in the area immediately south of NOLA. Reference map LINK: Map is in satellite function click on lower left corner for other mode - map is Zoomable for detail. https://www.google.com/maps/@29.892126,-89.69323,222148m/data=!3m1!1e3 I have covered the entire length of the Great River Road US Highway 61 from Grand Portage MN to NO and LA Highway 23 to Venice (lands end or the road). Fortunately the land passage is much shorter and does not have all the meandering turns - one could have his compass turn dizzy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooch47 Posted September 22, 2018 #11 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Even in daylight the scenery gets repetitious. But it is better than the darkness after daylight savings ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtkenmore Posted September 22, 2018 #12 Share Posted September 22, 2018 How is the ride down the river to the ocean? Fun? Dull? All my cruises have been out of Florida or San Juan. I'm intrigued by the "down the Mississippi" sail away experience. I used to think New Orleans was on the coast before my first visit to the city. We’ve done two out of Nola and I enjoy the river cruising... if you time it right and be up on deck, you can watch another cruise ship in bound as the night goes on. You’ll typically still be in the river till 9 or 10 if not a little later. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maniacal Cruiser Posted September 22, 2018 #13 Share Posted September 22, 2018 yes, scenery was nice enough and I enjoyed the city for a couple of days before cruise. keep in mind that that if you have drink package, sales tax will be charged until ship is in the gulf Tax is charged whether or not you have the package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdsgu Posted September 22, 2018 #14 Share Posted September 22, 2018 The river does make quite a few twists and turns......which is why, in New Orleans, you have to go east to the Westbank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sand and Seas Posted September 22, 2018 #15 Share Posted September 22, 2018 The river does make quite a few twists and turns......which is why, in New Orleans, you have to go east to the Westbank! That explains why I couldn't follow a walking street map with North/South/East West directions in that town. I'm sure it wasn't anything we were drinking..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted September 22, 2018 #16 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Done it twice, interesting and fun to be so close to land for so long, but I wouldn't consider it anything special. The sail away we loved was out of NYC> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisakoivu Posted September 22, 2018 #17 Share Posted September 22, 2018 We did it a number of years ago and I found it fascinating. If you try it and you like it, I'd suggest a St. Lawrence River cruise out of Montreal sometime. I did that a couple of years ago on HAL. It was all daylight and you could see all the Eastern Township villages. I thought both river trips were amazing, it's like having a port stop without getting off the ship - so much to see! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Georgia_Peaches Posted September 22, 2018 #18 Share Posted September 22, 2018 About how long does it take the ship to get down the river to the gulf? I'm hoping for a view since this will be new for us in November. Is fog a common thing during this time of year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigEasyCC Posted September 22, 2018 #19 Share Posted September 22, 2018 We sailed out of NOLA years ago, but it was too foggy to see anything out the way out, and the trip back up the river a week later was during the night. We're going on another in February, I hope we get to see more after we leave the city.We live just down river from the port and sail each January from N.O. Sunset in January is around 5:30pm, so you won't see a lot. You will see the lights from the rigs if you're outside around 11:30 to midnite. Also if you leave or return on a Sunday you may pass another cruise ship at the mouth of the river around 11ish. Sent from my SM-G965U using Forums mobile app 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted September 22, 2018 #20 Share Posted September 22, 2018 It is interesting for the first 30 minutes. Then the lack of variation does not hold interest and your attention turns to things inside the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hominid Posted September 22, 2018 #21 Share Posted September 22, 2018 We've sailed out of NOLA twice on the Spirit and the Star. I found it really a neat experience to sail down the Mississippi and see along the river coast. Much different than just "boom! Your in open sea." It takes around 8 hours, so it's late when you get into the Gulf of Mexico, but you can see the lights of the oil rigs in the distance. When we were on the Star in 2012, apparently there was some river traffic around 1 am. A smaller boat couldn't get out of the way and the Star had to pull a maneuver. The ship tilted 4 degrees and it was enough to dump the pool down the hallway on deck 12, where the SJ Family Suites are. We were in 12016. 12032 got flooded! The guests in that room had to be moved because the carpet was soaked, they had the room open with blower fans for much of the week. It was an experience-LOL! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdvmd Posted September 22, 2018 #22 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Did this once a few years ago and that was enough. Like someone else said, it was interesting for about the first hour and then rather boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranknBeans Posted September 22, 2018 #23 Share Posted September 22, 2018 I've sailed out of New Orleans a number of times. The first time, I sat on my balcony for sail away and watched, which was interesting. Now, since I've done the cruise so many times, I'm usually in the casino and that is fun! Does the casino actually open while sailing down the Mississippi River or does it have to wait till it hits international waters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sand and Seas Posted September 22, 2018 #24 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Does the casino actually open while sailing down the Mississippi River or does it have to wait till it hits international waters? Casino opens about 30 or 40 minutes after sailaway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdvmd Posted September 22, 2018 #25 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Found this thread. Apparently the casino will open shortly after sailing but if you win, you have to pay Louisiana taxes. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2490849 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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