WAAAYTOOO Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 We have a little walk-about (actually, drive-about) scheduled for mid-November. Dan has a reunion of Marine aviators in Pensacola so we figured we would just keep moving west and try a Brilliance cruise out of NO. Then, we will move north to visit my sisters and spend Thanksgiving before looping around and coming back home. Even though I am from LA, I have spent very little time, and NO recent time in NO. It's always been a bit sketchy (in spots) but the last time I was there (realizing it's been a WHILE ago) it seemed worse than even I remembered it. Looking for advice/warnings for pre-cruise accommodations. Since Dan and I have never been to NO together, we will probably do the tourist stuff so while we don't feel like we MUST stay in the French Quarter, we will be trapsing about in that general area most of the 2 days we will be there, pre-cruise, I would think. We would also like to spend some time at Harrah's but I have absolutely no idea whether Harrah's is somewhere we would want to stay or not. It's been there a WHILE. Anyway....any help will be appreciated. I have done a little preliminary research and I am unable to find whether there are any "stay and cruise" hotels in that area or not. My guess is, no....but maybe others have better information than I do. @JeffB,are you by any chance going to the reunion in Pensacola ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 I booked the spring hill suites within walking distance of the terminal for my Christmas cruise. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobroo Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 Just this morning I booked the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for my upcoming January stint on Brilliance. I admit I am paying a premium for this stay so that I do not walk outside on embarkation day and it is essentially kitty corner from Harrahs. I'm over spending by $50 for the night probably because of the free hour of indoor tennis I will never use. If I were you I would look up The Riverwalk on Google Maps and ANY hotel within a couple blocks will make for the easiest embarkation day you've ever had. Many people talk about the crime but my experience with New Orleans is this. The French Quarter is nothing but fellow tourists looking to eat and party. And the Quarter offers me everything I want in an embarkation port--and it is all walkable. Two days pre-cruise is a correct answer and you'll need more if you want to see it all. New Orleans is the absolute best embarkation port in North America if you fly-in. Shari, Sweety and WAAAYTOOO 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMOKEY0202 Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 I have stayed at the same Hilton and the Harrah's there. Both times, never had issues with safety. Traffic can be the hurdle so that's why i stayed at both those properties and it's also across street from the passport office. Just park the car and forget about it. Both are literally right there by the Riverwalk and in prime location to all the restaurants, cafes, upscale shopping and cable car is right there to get around. You can't beat the location at all. I would stay at either location. You can literally walk to Riverwalk(port) area. Check with Harrah's because i have been able to get reasonable rates for stays with gambling from cruise lines. WAAAYTOOO and Sweety 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 We went in 2019, the Oct before the pandemic and it was a mess. We saw a few abductions and such on the news. We stayed at Harrah's for 2 nights, the Adler hotel for the rest, and I loved the area. Plus, my brother was obsessed with the Harrah's buffet. WAAAYTOOO and Sweety 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAYNO Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 We've stayed here twice. It was nice, it was convenient, and they had a terrific breakfast. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 Google Fulton Parking Garage. I've always parked there when driving in and cruising out of NOLA. It's decent pricing to leave your car during the cruise and they have a shuttle to the port or you can walk the couple blocks. Harrahs used to have comp parking if you gambled to a certain level so that might be good to research for your pre-cruise stay. Louisiana casinos are non-smoking too so that's always an awesome treat. Hilton Riverside is great location wise but you'll pay for that. If you go away from Canal towards the Convention Center some of those hotels tend to have a better price point. There's a trolley right by the cruise terminal that goes all the way to the French Quarter. rjweber3 and WAAAYTOOO 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 19 Author Report Share Posted March 19 On 3/17/2024 at 6:04 PM, bobroo said: Just this morning I booked the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for my upcoming January stint on Brilliance. I admit I am paying a premium for this stay so that I do not walk outside on embarkation day and it is essentially kitty corner from Harrahs. I'm over spending by $50 for the night probably because of the free hour of indoor tennis I will never use. If I were you I would look up The Riverwalk on Google Maps and ANY hotel within a couple blocks will make for the easiest embarkation day you've ever had. @bobroo, just to clarify....the Hilton is directly adjacent to the cruise terminal ? Slightly confused about your "...do not walk outside..." comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 6 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said: just to clarify....the Hilton is directly adjacent to the cruise terminal ? Slightly confused about your "...do not walk outside..." comment. The Hilton New Orleans Riverside is attached to the Riverwalk mall. You can walk from the hotel, through the mall, to the port without stepping outside. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobroo Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 Just now, WAAAYTOOO said: @bobroo, just to clarify....the Hilton is directly adjacent to the cruise terminal ? Slightly confused about your "...do not walk outside..." comment. The cruise terminal is basically a part of the The Riverwalk Outlet Mall. And, this particular Hilton is connected via a pedway to the mall. Have no fear about "outlet mall" or being potentially embarrassed about wheeling your luggage through a shopping mall. The mall is cool and has cool stores. Local residents want to go there. It's not a Simon Outlet Mall where the usual suspects of retailers have merch just for the Simon Outlet locations. Nor is it a place where unsold, picked over, or returned merch is brought in hopes of a final sale. For example, there is a full Tommy Bahama store and a Cafe du Monde. (the Cafe du Monde opens at 10 am, yes there will be a line. No musicians and it's not coated in powdered sugar, so it's missing the atmosphere of its more popular and much older sister. However the chicory coffee and beignets are solid and you should be buying yourself a lil' piece of NOLA while you are there.) There will be many passengers and their luggage making their way through the mall. Use Google Maps and find Harrahs and the mall. Any hotel within a couple short blocks will be a good choice for walking with luggage on embarkation day. Just remember that NOLA sidewalks and streets aren't necessarily ADA compliant offering relieved curbs or even considered flat. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDaley Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 I’ve been to NOLA every few years since 2012 and always stay in the quarter at the Hotel Monteleone (family tradition passed down from my parents). It’s a gorgeous, historical hotel and is home to the famous carousel bar! The quarter during daylight hours is just as grimy as it’s always been but I tend to do my sightseeing by day so we only do the rounds after dinner for entertainment purposes. Frenchmen St is the best for live music! If you’re gonna traipse out to a plantation, make sure it’s Whitney, as it’s the only former plantation site in Louisiana that is presented from the perspective of the enslaved people, not the slave owners. May I also suggest the 1850 House Museum off of Jackson Square. I think it’s only $5 admission but the house remains set up as it would’ve been in 1850! Super cool. WAAAYTOOO, Sweety and FionaMG 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vackman Posted March 20 Report Share Posted March 20 I've stayed multiple times at the Hilton DoubleTree, which is across the street from Harrah's. It allows you to be a few blocks from the French Quarters, near the casino, and riverwalk/convention center district. Also, have stayed at Embassy Suites that is 3-4 blocks away from Harrah's in the convention center district. There are many other hotels around the convention center too. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villageidiot Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 I've stayed at the Place d'Armes which is near Jackson Square and a block from Cafe Du Monde. Really easy to walk the quarter from the hotel. If you're looking for a place near the port then I would book the Hilton. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffB Posted March 31 Report Share Posted March 31 Quote .........are you by any chance going to the reunion in Pensacola ? WaayToo, won't be in attendance at that one. Our group of airborne EW/Recon Marines is April 17th in San Diego. We're members of the John R. Daily Squadron an affiliate squadron of MCAA. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 31 Author Report Share Posted March 31 1 hour ago, JeffB said: WaayToo, won't be in attendance at that one. Our group of airborne EW/Recon Marines is April 17th in San Diego. We're members of the John R. Daily Squadron an affiliate squadron of MCAA. Have a great time. Sorry we will miss you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.