New Orleans

[lizaj1]

I just returned from a business trip to New Orleans and loved it. I remembered that RCL once cruised from there, but I can't find a cruise now. What is happening? Some info is out there that Grandeur is there now and will be replaced by Rhapsody in the spring, but the RCL website doesn't show that. Does anyone have info on this or have a cruise booked out of NO?:confused:

[cruise_lover]

After Hurricane Katrina many cruise lines left New Orleans. I know that Carnival Conquest is making Galveston their permanent home. I heard the same rumors you did. The Port of New Orleans website might be the place to start looking for your answers. http://www.portno.com if you look to the left you will see a link to information about cruises.

 

Thank you. I spent many years shopping and enjoying the night life of New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina literally destroyed both my niece's and nephew's homes. My niece now lives in Baton Rouge and my nephew in Covington. In my heart I do not think that New Orleans will ever be the same. You can always rebuild homes and business but the old heart and soul of what made New Orleans N'awlins will never be the same.

[jdc2204]

After Hurricane Katrina many cruise lines left New Orleans. I know that Carnival Conquest is making Galveston their permanent home. I heard the same rumors you did. The Port of New Orleans website might be the place to start looking for your answers. http://www.portno.com if you look to the left you will see a link to information about cruises.

 

Thank you. I spent many years shopping and enjoying the night life of New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina literally destroyed both my niece's and nephew's homes. My niece now lives in Baton Rouge and my nephew in Covington. In my heart I do not think that New Orleans will ever be the same. You can always rebuild homes and business but the old heart and soul of what made New Orleans N'awlins will never be the same.

 

Best Regards to cruise lover, I read your comment about New Orleans.

My wife and I live just north of Lafayette. We try to do a annual visit

to New Orleans. I am from Biloxi and my wife is from Crowley. We went down there in april for the french quarter festival. This is a nice family type festival. If you have never done this, please consider a weekend visit. The local restaurants set up inside Jackson square and local bands everywhere. This is just good clean fun. We will be cruising out of Galveston in April on the Voyager. Another port I hope that RCI will consider is Gulfport,Ms. You can bet Mississippi will come back strong.

It's just a matter of time. Anyway you bring back memories good ole N'awlins. John

[cruise_lover]

Hello Crowley - actually Church Point here. I'll have to give the French Quarter Festival a try next year.

 

Is this your first RCL cruise? It's our first with RCL. We've sailed on Carnival and Norwegian. You'll have to sail with C.J. and Debbie Ray one year like we do. You'll never sail alone again once you've gone with them.

[MakinGold]

Baton Rouge, here. :D I hope RCI will eventually return to N.O. It's so nice to be that convenient to a cruise port. It is not the most convenient from the cruise lines' point of view, though, because of having to navigate the Mississippi River. I really enjoyed that part of the cruise, when I sailed out of there, though.

[jackie 78]

I have family who just left on a 5 day cruise out of NO on Carnival Fantasy.

[truffles2]

Grandeur was sailing from NO before Katrina and I hope they will put Grandeur or another ship there again. NO is a great city with much to do and see and would be the closest port for us to drive to. It only took about 8 hours when we (I) drove to Grandeur pre-Katrina (that would probably be 9-10 for most people:D)

[willysgrandma]

Carnival is the only line sailing out of NO as far as I know. The Fantasy was there when we were in NO in July.

[98Charlie]

DH & I just returned from New Orleans Dec. 3 following a 7-day cruise on NCL Spirit. Spent a day before the cruise and 1 1/2 days after the cruise in the Big Easy.

 

Have to say this cruise was among our top favorites in 20 cruises spread out among 5 different cruise lines. Ship, crew and entire staff were terrific.

 

NOLA hospitality far beyond expectations.

 

Loved the cruise so much that we have already booked a return trip for Nov. 30, 2008.

 

Dianne

[jdc2204]

Hello Crowley - actually Church Point here. I'll have to give the French Quarter Festival a try next year.

 

Is this your first RCL cruise? It's our first with RCL. We've sailed on Carnival and Norwegian. You'll have to sail with C.J. and Debbie Ray one year like we do. You'll never sail alone again once you've gone with them.

 

Hello Church Point, Yes, This is a virgin cruise for us, 4/6/2008. We are hoping for a good experience, because we will be planning a Alaskan cruise in summer 2009 and then a Med. cruise in 2010. Oh yeah, since you are in my back door(we live between Sunset and Opelousas). My wife is cajun to the core. Me, Iwandered over here in 1982, been here ever since. We are at a point in our lives where we can start enjoying travel. There is no empty nest sydrome here. Ha. Best Regards, John

[michigan tim]

FWIW, the Grandeur sailed out of New Orleans well after Katrina. I believe the last cruise was in April '07.

[Heidict]

I sailed out on the Grandeur in February of this year. We got to spend a few days in NO before the cruise and absolutly fell in love with it. It was one of those cities that we always said we would love to visit and just never got around to it. The food was incredible, the atmosphere was wonderful and the people were so friendly and welcoming.

 

I truly hope they go back to NO at some point. My DH and I want to go back for a 3 or 4 days and do another cruise out of there at some point in the future. If RCCL doesn't come back then we will be forced to take another line.:p

[jdc2204]

I sailed out on the Grandeur in February of this year. We got to spend a few days in NO before the cruise and absolutly fell in love with it. It was one of those cities that we always said we would love to visit and just never got around to it. The food was incredible, the atmosphere was wonderful and the people were so friendly and welcoming.

 

I truly hope they go back to NO at some point. My DH and I want to go back for a 3 or 4 days and do another cruise out of there at some point in the future. If RCCL doesn't come back then we will be forced to take another line.:p

 

Heidict, As stated in a previous post, try attending the French Quater festival held every April. You can goggle it and try Bayonet Restaurant

for fine dining and Dickie Brannan's Steakhouse. Two of my favorites

Regards, John

[Barbiegator]

We have visited NO twice since Katrina. Treated like royalty.You just can't break the spirit of New Orleans.Please visit and help this special area.

[cajun-crazy]

Hello Church Point, Yes, This is a virgin cruise for us, 4/6/2008. We are hoping for a good experience, because we will be planning a Alaskan cruise in summer 2009 and then a Med. cruise in 2010. Oh yeah, since you are in my back door(we live between Sunset and Opelousas). My wife is cajun to the core. Me, Iwandered over here in 1982, been here ever since. We are at a point in our lives where we can start enjoying travel. There is no empty nest sydrome here. Ha. Best Regards, John

 

Too funny! Got a Crowley and Carencro here! One for work/one for home. Just not enough cruises to go around!

[jdc2204]

Too funny! Got a Crowley and Carencro here! One for work/one for home. Just not enough cruises to go around!

 

O.K. cajun-crazy,and cruise-lover. My wife and I are booked on the 4/6/2007 voyager cruise. Are y'all on that cruise? We have signed up for the meet and mingle. Is this the cruise with CJ and Debbie Rae?

Best Coon ass Regards to yah. Ha!

John

[scottyo72]

No Royal Caribbean ship has used New Orleans as a home port since Katrina. NCL was the first back with the Sun in October of 2006 for the winter season only (NCL never had a ship there year-round.) Carnival sent the Fantasy there year round a little while later. Conquest stayed in Texas, and the CCL ship initially scheduled to offer 7 day cruises out of New Orleans was reassigned before the the repositioning and never came.

 

To the best of my knowledge Grandeur has not been back to New Orleans since Katrina. I know it has not used New Orelans as a home port. Other lines visit, but NCl and Carnival are the only ones there as home port tennants.

 

FWIW, the Grandeur sailed out of New Orleans well after Katrina. I believe the last cruise was in April '07.

[lizaj1]

DH & I just returned from New Orleans Dec. 3 following a 7-day cruise on NCL Spirit. Spent a day before the cruise and 1 1/2 days after the cruise in the Big Easy.

 

Have to say this cruise was among our top favorites in 20 cruises spread out among 5 different cruise lines. Ship, crew and entire staff were terrific.

 

NOLA hospitality far beyond expectations.

 

Loved the cruise so much that we have already booked a return trip for Nov. 30, 2008.

 

Dianne

 

 

Thanks for the reply. We have never sailed NCL, always RCL, Princess and Celebrity. How does the Spirit compare? I'm not locked into RCL although we are C&A Platinum. We usually get a balcony, but that is not a requirement. RCL has restricted smoking in the cabins without a balcony and so my husband will never sail with them again unless we have one.

 

Food, entertainment, casino? What's the scoop. Thanks again for your input!

[Pumbaamd]

Grandeur home ported in NOLA from Nov.'06 to Spring '07. We sailed on her from Baltimore to NOLA on the Fall '06 repo cruise. She has since relocated to Tampa.

Rick

[scottyo72]

Apologies. I stand corrected.

 

Grandeur home ported in NOLA from Nov.'06 to Spring '07. We sailed on her from Baltimore to NOLA on the Fall '06 repo cruise. She has since relocated to Tampa.

Rick

[Apoggi]

I loved leaving from NO. Hey RC bring back a ship to NO.