We too booked the Holiday Inn Superdome with the car and park package except we took the train and took a cab to the Superdome for $5 each. They said that even though we booked the park package we got a better deal for each of the three nights before the cruise and one night after. The AMTRAK was a great way to go to NO and the price of the ticket for two cost less than a trip by plane. We found transportation back to the hotel at a very reasonable rate due to the fact that the company was dropping off new passengers from the hotel and returning for more. We just caught the ride back.

I agree with the Windjammer Lounge as being a great alternative to the main dining. Even the service there was up to the great level of the dining. The only real problem with the main dining was the lack luster breakfast that included boring pancake and french toast choices AND the toast which often did not get delivered the same time as the fried eggs ( which they did not know how to prepare very well ). The toast was so thin and "brickish" hard that when I tapped the toast with my finger, a shape resembling New Jersey fell out. Another hole in the correct spot was Staten Island.

We did no excursions while in the three ports. Too pricey and besides, who wanted to get herded to the beach only to get very little time to relax on the beach before returning. I disagree about Jamaica being a "stay on the ship port". The change of location was unfortunate but necessary. The shopping on shore near the ship was definitely controlled by the cruise company. Read more