I wish to find out just where the ships leave from in New Orleans and how far it is from the center of town, or from the air port.

I will be in the area for a week before the cruise and will be bringing back a rental car to the airport and would like to know the easiest way to get to the ship from there.

I will be going in January and have never used NCL before.

Hello, we were in NO last December. We saw a NCL ship at the cruise terminal. We walked around in that area. It looked to me that the Hilton New Orleans "Riverside" was one of, if not the closest hotel to the port. Maybe, you could use the directions to the hotel to get to the port?? If all else fails, here is the NO port website http://www.portno.com FYI- I bid on priceline for a 4 star hotel in the french quarter, and I got the Marriott for $50 a night, during the week before christmas. I don't know if you have a hotel yet. I just thought I would throw that out there. Enjoy your cruise and New Orleans. Lil' Lori

Thanks for that info, I did not send the first post but we are going to be in NO in April. Still a long ways off but since it is Easter week I will probably make reservations early. How was that hotel for kids??

Will have kids ages 12,11,10, & 8. Got any ideas on things to do with that age kids for the two days before we depart?

Thanks for that Information Lori. It at least gives me some idea of where the dock is located. I will look it up on a map and get the whole layout and where I might get a hotel close to the area.
Carol

Ideas for kids in NO. Well, I would suggest the Mardi Gras Museum, it is where they have floats on display. I don't know how much it cost. I would check there website for info. There is a ferry boat down by the riverfront, where the paddlewheels boats also are. The ferry goes back and forth between NO and the city across the river from it. I think it was free. Anyways, you can get on the ferry to go across the river, and walk down to the float museum. I did not think it was a long walk. While you are down at the riverfront area, I would check out the World Trade Center. You can go in there and ride up to the top floor to there "observation area", and the floor rotates. You have to take a special elevator, I guess not all of them go to it. I ask the security guard how to get there, he was nice and helpful. All that cost is foot power, it was worth it too. I kept hearing the tour guides talk about how NO is surrouded by water. I really puts things into perspective being up there. We did not actually go inside the hotel. I am sure it is kid friendly. FYI-there is a train that runs along the riverfront. We were in the Marriott about 3 blocks away and 21 floors up, and we still heard it. I imagine it would be louder at the Hilton. If you can sleep through a freight train, literally, the hilton riverside would be a great hotel close to the pier. Oh, and I would recommend Mothers Restaurant. I has been there a long time, it is very popular, lots of famous people have eaten there. It is kinda cafeteria style, but boy was it good. We ate there twice. There portions were big, if I would of know how big the plate of fries where, we would of only gotten 1 plate, instead of 2. Enjoy the French Quarter and your cruise. Lil' Lori

Thanks so much. I will print your post and put in the file for cruise!!!!!!!!!!!

We stayed at the Hilton Riverside before a Delta Queen cruise. It's a huge hotel, rambles everywhere. We did not check out the recreational facilities (such as a pool, etc.) but a quick check of the Hilton website would tell you what's available in the hotel itself. It's walking distance to some good restaurants on Canal St., to a casino in case you're interested, and as was pointed out, is right along the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk mall is attached to the hotel, and can be fun to walk through with kids. Good suggestions from Lil Lori about the Mardi Gras museum, especially if you have kids along.

Incidentally, we never heard a train from our room in the Hilton. The train that runs alongside is primarily a little tourist trolley that runs along the Riverwalk to the French Quarter.

It was not cheap. Depending on what time of year you are staying there, you could encounter high rates due to football season (remember, there's a Superdome in town!) The Hilton was one of the few places that didn't require us to stay 2 nights on a fall weekend, and we paid over $200 for one night there.