Our leave time out of New Orleans (on the Fantasy) is 4pm. How long would you estimate it takes before you no longer can "see" interesting sites on the water??
I am asking this simply because I don't want to miss a thing and am debating between requesting early or late dining!
If I remember right, it was an hour or maybe 2 on the Conquest, which is a bigger ship and may have to navigate slower than the fantasy. I remember one time we took a nap after drinking too much too early and woke up it was dark and we were still navigating thru the wetlands of South La. You will be amazed at the sights and how long it takes....
Even on the Fantasy its going to be close to 2 hours under power before you are in open water. But I couldn't tell you how long you can see anything "interesting" unless you like to look at marsh and small islands. I would book my dinner time around this as if you can manage to get a table be the window you can see things and still be eating.
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Fantasy 90, Celebration 95, Victory 05, Conquest 05, Spirit 6/06, Freedom 6/08, Holiday 7/08, Victory 6/09, Valor 9/09, Dream 6/10, Splendor 8/10,Conquest 8/11,Magic 11/11,Triumph 4/12,Spirit 7/12,Freedom 11/12, Triumph 2/13 - The fire cruise
NCL Dream October 2006, RCCL Mariner OTS June 2007
It takes 6 hours (or a little more) to get to (and out of ) the mouth of the Mississippi. Unfortunately, leaving at 4pm does not give a lot of sunlight to see things.
I have always wanted to cruise down the Mississippi in full daylight and see the little oil towns (and seafood villages) that go all the way down to what was Venice...if it is even there anymore after Katrina. It is really pretty at night though as you see the lights of these small towns twinkling on the banks.
In December we had night and fog...so we did not see much going (or coming for that matter).
Originally posted by LHP:
It takes 6 hours (or a little more) to get to (and out of ) the mouth of the Mississippi. Unfortunately, leaving at 4pm does not give a lot of sunlight to see things.
I have always wanted to cruise down the Mississippi in full daylight and see the little oil towns (and seafood villages) that go all the way down to what was Venice...if it is even there anymore after Katrina. It is really pretty at night though as you see the lights of these small towns twinkling on the banks.
In December we had night and fog...so we did not see much going (or coming for that matter).
Have a great cruise.
True, after Katrina it may be wide open now and you can make it out quicker...
I was just on the Fantasy Feb 1st. It takes about 8 hours to go down the Mississippi and get to the mouth of the river where it meets the Gulf of Mexico. New Orleans French Quarter is pretty much up and operating with a few exceptions. They need your tourism dollars. Please visit New Orleans.
Leaving at 6:00 pm. we were in bed before we hit open seas and fast asleep. This was our first cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas in 2002. Waking up to bright sunshine, gentle rocking,
(18 ft. seas) and looking outside to see miles of water and no land in sight was incredible.
Cruise Fanatic is correct, 8 hours, minimum 7 to slip into the gulf.
New Orleans French Quarter is pretty much up and operating with a few exceptions. They need your tourism dollars. Please visit New Orleans.
We already have this in our itinerary!
What I meant is when sailing out of New orleans, I hope everyone will do a pre/post or atleast take a late flight out after the cruise and see a bit of N.O.
Here is why it is impossible to go from NOLA to the Gulf in two hours. The channel (MRGO) is 67 miles long. For a cruise ship to get to open sea in two hours would require it to average 30 knots while traversing the channel.
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