First off...our PVP called the night we were going to leave Iowa and set my heart a pounding. I was outside loading our car when my wife came out and said Carnival was on the phone. I thought she had some bad news about our up and coming cruise. You know...maybe it had been canceled, changed, or what ever? Well what she wanted was to wish us a "Bon Voyage" and she would be in touch after we returned. It took a minute for me to catch my breath. LOL

My wife and daughter and I drove to new Orleans from Iowa and arrived there on the 1st of November. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in the French Quarter for the two nights. The hotel was offering a cruise package which included parking for our stay and the time of our cruise for free. The employees were very friendly and our room on the 15th floor and was very clean had a great view of the Mississippi river.

We went to the Acme Oyster House for dinner and I am sorry to report that my meal was not that great. I had the shrimp and they were very small in size and not all that tasty. I have had larger and tastier shrimp at Red Lobster. My daughter's roast beef sandwich was very good as was the wife's sandwich. Our friend said his gumbo left something to be desired but his wife was happy with her soft shell crab. I tried the grilled oysters and they were delicious! Read more