We took this cruises because we had been on it before and the staff is wonderful. It is also the only cruise we have taken where you never knew you was on a boat, it never moved the entire trip. Both trips actually. The only negative I have is the same as last cruise, the male bartenders are rude on the ship. The female staff is friendly and nice but not the guys. Don't know if it is because of the drink package or not, but they don't get any nicer when you tip them so I quit tipping the male bartenders and gave my money to people on the ship that are nice. The staff in the Lotus Blossum oriental restaurant are AMAZING. They went out of their way to make our 60th celebration out of this world.n New Orleans is a nice port to leave out of. parking is close, pricy but close and getting on and off the ship was easy.