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Welcome to: NEW ORLEANS SIGHTSEEING …. with your Cruises Etc resident expert, JOANNE Welcome Super Cruisers! When it was decided to book the new Carnival Conquest departing from New Orleans for Super Cruise 2003, I was personally thrilled by it. New Orleans is one of my most favorite cities. I've just recently returned from my 12th visit! In fact, when I win the lottery, I plan to buy a place of my own there! But daydreaming aside, New Orleans is simply a place that anyone would enjoy returning to again and again. Over the course of my many trips there, I've been able to take in a lot of the city and surroundings by doing sightseeing tours and covering a lot of area by foot or streetcar (they don't call 'em 'trolleys' there!). Because of my experience, I want to share with you that New Orleans is so much more than Mardi Gras & Bourbon Street. Now I'm certain that a large percentage of our Super Cruisers will enjoy all the revelry to be found on Bourbon Street, but, believe it or not, not everyone can party 24-7. And for those people that plan to be tourists and do some sightseeing, I'm here to provide you with some information that I hope will prove helpful to you. We're finding that many Super Cruisers are planning to arrive in New Orleans1,2,3 or more days prior to our sailing date of January 26th. Since there is a variety of possible sightseeing options, we thought it would be nice to offer you pre-arranged tours so that you won't have to spend valuable time once you arrive, figuring out what to do next. Following is a description of four tour options that would be excellent choices for the first time visitor, or for anyone who wants to do something that they may not have done on a previous visit. If you are interested in booking any of these tours, you may do so by: Sending me an email, calling by phone or by filling out a tour registration form that I will include in your final payment invoice which should be mailed in October. If you don't want to wait til the fall, you can call or email me now! TOUR #1 This is a great tour for anyone interested in the lore of the Old South and the history of the area. This tour visits two of the River Road's more famous plantations: Laura and Oak Alley. These two homes were selected because they offer the great contrasts of Laura, a Creole style plantation that has the distinction of having a rare legacy of female ownership almost from its original construction years. Oak Alley represents the finest in Greek Revival architecture of the main home but its greatest attraction is the quarter-mile avenue of live oak trees that were planted over 300 yrs ago. The tour is escorted by a licensed guide who will entertain you with facts & fokelore on the ride out to the plantations. At each home, there are tour guides to escort you through the homes & grounds and to provide the history of each plantation. Each plantation has a gift shop and after the tour is concluded at Oak Alley, a lunch is provided before returning to New Orleans. Total length: approx 6 hours Price: $72 per person This tour is offered on Saturday, Jan 25th only TOUR #2 This is a must-do for first-timers or the repeat visitor who may not have done a tour before. You'll enjoy a narrated tour including the French Quarter, highlighting Jackson Square, the Cabildo, seat of the old Spanish government, and the unique architecture that makes New Orleans unique. The tour proceeds to historic Esplanade Ave, continuing to the St Louis Cemetery (cemeteries are referred to as "Cities of the Dead" because of the above-ground tombs) The tour continues alongside lake Pontchartrain and the yacht harbor before traveling through the old town of Carrollton to St Charles Avenue, following the streetcar route past Tulane and Loyola Universities, Audubon Park and the beautiful mansions of the Garden District. You'll pass the spectacular Super Dome on your way through the Central Business District on your way back to the French Quarter. Motorcoach transportation included. Total length: approx 3 hours Price: $20 per person This tour is offered on Friday Jan 24th & Sat Jan 25th.
TOUR #3
Discover Louisiana's other wildlife! The adventure of a Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour awaits you as you journey by boat, Cajun style, through the heart of South Louisiana's swamplands. This is an adventure for visitors of all ages where, from the comfort of a swamp boat, you'll tour the meandering bayous and into the past….a past filled with the daring exploits of pirates and Indians. You'll see moss-draped cypress trees, fascinating plant life and the creatures who make their homes here. Be sure to bring a camera as the swamp boat may encounter wildlife at any time, including alligators, snakes, egrets, deer, mink and nutria. Your guide is a native of the area who will share with you the legends and lore of Louisiana's still untamed wilderness. Motorcoach transportation included. Total length: approx 4 hours Price: $35 per person This tour is offered on Friday Jan 24th & Sat, Jan 25th
TOUR #4
Experience the sounds of the Paddle-wheeler Creole Queen's own Jazz Band and enjoy a lavish Creole buffet dinner. Set against a panoramic view of New Orleans, you will cruise the "Mighty Mississippi River" under a canopy of stars. This is a casual cruise, so no need to dress up. You will make your way to the boat dock adjacent to Jax Brewery to board the Creole Queen by 7:00 pm. Dinner service starts at 7:30pm. When the Creole Queen returns to the dock at 10:00 pm, you may want to walk off dinner with a stroll through the Quarter as many establishments remain open late. Harrah's Casino is a short walk from the dock and the Riverwalk is nearby too. The sights and sounds of Bourbon Street go on all night! You many even want to make a trek to Café du Monde (open 24 hrs) to have a late snack of the famous beignets & café au lait. Total length: approx 4 hours Price: $45 per person This tour is offered Friday, Jan 24th & Saturday, Jan. 25th
Tours 1, 2 & 3 include transportation via motorcoach. Since there is an ordinance in the city which prohibits motorcoaches from driving in the French Quarter, all of the pick ups and drop offs for the tours will be at the corner of Royal & Canal Streets. Canal Street is 1 & ˝ blocks from our hotel. For Tour #4, Dinner Jazz Cruise, please note that transportation is not included. The Creole Queen's boarding dock is located adjacent to Jax Brewery, a pleasant walk from our hotel. Since the cruise ends at 10:00 pm, we feel it would be preferable for our guests to have the option of doing their own thing rather than board a bus and being brought back to the hotel. This also saves our clients additional money. The group prices above are based on a minimum of 35 passengers and represent anywhere from a $7 - $20+ savings (per person) off regularly priced tours. We feel confident that we will be able to attain these numbers with the size of our Super Cruise group. In the unlikely event that we cannot meet the minimum number for our group prices, there may be a price adjustment and, in that case, we would offer you the option of the new price. But, we will remain optimistic at this time and look forward to fulfilling our tour numbers. Naturally, if we exceed bus capacity, we have the option of having multiple tour departures. For more information on these tours or for other questions about New Orleans, please give me a call or drop an email and I'll be happy to review all the details with you. Effective immediately, I am taking reservations for the tours. I can be reached at CRUISES ETC: 440-356-2732 or 800-255-5888 (Monday – Friday) EMAIL: joanne@cruises-etc.com I hope to hear from you soon and to confirm your place on one or more of our group tours. I know you'll have a great time in New Orleans, and on Super Cruise 2003!!! Best Regards, JOANNE
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