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The day started with all the normal boring stuff... a bit of a sleep in, breakfast and making sure we had packed everything. Around 10.30 we jumped in a taxi and headed for the Cruise port... easier said than done because with mardi gras parades going on there were streets blocked everywhere and the traffic and foot traffic horrendous but we did get there eventually. Handed our bags over to a man that just took them out of the taxi boot, he did make sure we had proper name tags, with ship name and cabin number so it made us feel a little more confident we would be reunited with them onboard. He then asked who was tipping for the bags!! Ummm ok, $1 a bag ok?? That's what he got.
There was mention made the previous day of meeting at Cafe Du Monde in the Riverwalk near the cruise terminal for coffee and beignets before boarding so we decided to find that as it was only 11 and embarkation wasn't until after 12. Finally found it, joined the long line and ordered... hmmm they're pretty good little squares of doughnut dough smothered, and I mean smothered, in icing sugar..... don't breathe in when you go in for a bite!!!! We were sitting near the door and everytime someone would come inside I'd get covered with a layer of flying icing sugar... SHUT THE DOOR... some people have noooo clue really!!! Oh and I think we were a bit late for meeting the others.. never mind, all week to catch up with them.
Long walk back to the terminal... I have to say all through the "check in" process the NCL staff were fabulous, always someone there to point you in the right direction making it very smooth and easy. When we made it to the "waiting room", or whatever it's called... there was Lena, standing up waving to us... well actually I think I heard the "Larrrrneeee" first!! Love the way the americans pronounce it with a real emphasis and roll on the "R".
Ok so boarding is done in groups, at some stage of our check in we were asked if we'd ever sailed with NCL before and when we said no got a number 4... that means we boarded with group number 4. Doesn't sound too bad but then we realised that A,B,C, D, E and 1, 2 and 3 go first!!!!! Could have been worse... some people had 5!!
Once we got on board we spent about 10 minutes trying to find out where our cabin was.... very confusing! This is apparently a small ship but man didn't feel small to us, a bit like NYC it is often hard to know which way is forward and which is aft. Once Lena pointed out to us that stepping off the elevator you are always facing aft and off the stairs always facing forward it was a bit easier but then one of the crew told us the forward carpet is red, mid ship blue and aft green.... ahhhhhhh right, that helps!!
We along with about 1000 other people had lunch at the Raffles buffet once we'd sorted out our cabin... we ate here alot. An amazing range of food choices and just easy. Sometime in the afternoon they had a lifeboat drill... really just so you know your meeting point I think cos I couldn't hear a word they said but I think it was a demonstration of how to put on a lifejacket.
At around 5pm we headed up to deck 13 to the sailaway party at the Beirgarten. There were quite a few of the Valentines cruisers, our Cruise critic name... Mimi was there handing out badges which we all wore all week. It was freezing up there but we all managed to stay for a few hours as we left the Port and sailed down the mighty Mississippi toward the Gulf of Mexico. I heard someone say it takes 8 hours just to get out of the river.
We then went down to Stardust Theatre to see the 'Welcome aboard" from the cruise director and a brief snippet of all the shows available throughout the coming week.
I won't go into details each day on where and what we ate but briefly... there are a number of restaurants to choose from .. Raffles Buffet is as the name suggests.. you just serve yourself whatever you like. The Garden Room and Windows are sit down restaurants with menus and waiters draping your serviette over your knee type of places. Then there's Blue Lagoon which is open 24 hrs, a cafe style menu, burgers, chicken wings etc. All the food was excellent. There is also quite a few of the specialty restaurants where you just pay a cover charge, from $10 to $25 and then can order anything on the menu, we didn't eat at any of those so I can't comment but I'm sure they would have all been great.
Fairly early night... no dancing all night for me tonight!!
- comments
Frank Michell All cruise ships seem very simiiar, looking forward to comments on Central America....and plenty of photos too........what the hell is in Orlando , except Disneyland ?????????????????
Mum Have only just had time to stop to look at the New Orleans photos ( close up so to speak)..all quite amazing. Tell me, how often is there a Mardi Gras? I assume "once a year"? in which case I must also assume you choose to go there at this time because Mardi Gras was on??? Cruise ship, as Dad said, is much like "ours" though not QUITE so big maybe. All the same it IS quite an experience..can only reiterate that I wish the hell we'd "done it' ten years earlier . Try to imagine being on that same cruise at MY age and with my immobility, eh?! Am so happy you've had such a fun time whilst you're relatively young and fit Larnie! Meanwhile, we're looking forward to reading more ...and don't forget you DO still need to keep up those little Nanny Naps! Love you..both..XXX
Debra Looking forward to hearing about your seafaring adventures - no doubt a few late nights and lots of fun.... and you'd surely have to do some dancing??! x