No, New Orleans is NOT still underwater. Much of the residential area still lies in ruin and devastation, but most of the areas tourist typically visit are up and running and have been for sometime. The Mississippi River levees are quite strong and the land near them among the highest in the city, so pretty much everything along them including the French Quarter and Garden District is in fine shape.
Here are some pictures from New Year's Eve, 2005. NOLA - New Year's Eve 2005
Most of the area around the cruise ship area is the same as it was before Katrina - Here are some pictures from the area pre-K (Memorial Day, 2005):
NOLA - Cruise Terminal Area Memorial Day, 2005
While much is the same, there are some new features among the old - like a brand new Harrah's hotel. Oh yeah, and a BRAND NEW cruise terminal and parking garage- just opened Oct 2006!
This is what the new terminal looked like Memorial Day 2005. In the beginning...
Here are some pictures from July 2006: Erato Terminal Construction
{ for more pictures from that trip (a little rainy most of July 4th) see here: New Orleans - July 2006 }
Originally I had arranged my usual car rental from Hertz - pick up the car at the New Orleans airport and drop off at the Hertz Corporate office at the Convention Center. The Convention Center location was supposed to open near the end of October, but now Hertz says the beginning of March or some such. Since I have hours to kill before my flight leaves at the conclusion of the cruise, I was going to do the same, but in reverse. Hertz does have a location at Lowes Hotel, but they aren't open on Sunday and don't allow after hours drop-off. Not sure if there would be a one way charge to drop-off there or not and didn't check, since it isn't an option for me.
Oh well, quickly changed to plan B. Plan B is to rent from Avis at the airport and drop off at their Canal Street location. They run a shuttle to/from the port. Limited hours on Sunday and last shuttle is an hour or so before they close. If I like this I think it will become the new plan A.
New Orleans is going to be constructing yet another new cruise ship terminal - the Poland Avenue Terminal. Only Princess is currently scheduled to use for 3 test market cruises starting in December 2005. To avoid confusion, I am putting what info I have on it on another page: Poland Avenue Terminal
{ If only looking for pictures from Erato Street terminal including sailing away look here: ../../ncl_sun_2006/erato/erato_term.htm }
Also came across an interesting presentation on Jumpstarting the Cruise Industry in New Orleans. Maybe not so interesting a presentation, but I liked the pictures and graphics. http://www.aapa-ports.org/files/SeminarPresentations/06_Cruise_LaGrange.pdf
Does it really take hours for the cruise ship to make it to the Gulf of Mexico? Well, yes. It is about 100 miles as the fat duck floats. New Orleans to Gulf of Mexico
Ok - made it to RockNBowl Friday and Saturday nights after eating way to much food. An example from Friday is from Drago's restaurant.
Saturday also did a drive around the city and a drive by the new terminal.
Time to head for the cruise terminal - let the games begin!
