We drove down to New Orleans from Canada....it was a long drive but we stopped along the way a few times in Nashville, Memphis, and Talladega before arriving in New Orleans 3 days before the cruise. We stayed at the Super 8 in New Orleans. It fit our budget and it was a nice hotel. Not 5 star, but we didn't expect that. Just a nice place to sleep and enjoy the pool after a long day of sight seeing. Parked the truck there for the week we were on the cruise for free, with a $25 shuttle to the port.
We arrived at the cruise port by 10:30 and were on the ship eating lunch by 11:30. Very easy process and well organized. In our cabins by 1:30 and luggage arrived by 5:00. Muster station drill was in the dining room and went well.
This was our 3rd Carnival cruise but first time on the Dream. It was bigger than other ships we have been on, but layout is similar.
Cabin was nice. always clean. didn't spend much time in it. Air conditioner worked, but not as cool as we would have liked.
dirty, and got harassed by all the shop owners.
we enjoyed new Orleans. the French quarter was nice. had a po-boy at Johnny Poor Boys...it was good...long lines though. Took the city tour with the hop-on-hop-off bus. it was good
shopped at the port. lots of shops there. it was clean.
shopped at the ports. clean and a lot of good shops