Mardi Gras - avoid or embrace?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mardi Gras - avoid or embrace?
We're considering a February cruise out of NOLA and plan to spend time before and after exploring the area.
We can either sail on the 11th, giving us a chance to see Mardi Gras over the previous weekend (if we can still get rooms - LOL!) or avoid the whole shebang by sailing on the 18th.
Would you recommend the experience to a couple pushing 80? Would the crowds be just too much of a hassle?
All suggestions and opinions and recommendations appreciated.
We can either sail on the 11th, giving us a chance to see Mardi Gras over the previous weekend (if we can still get rooms - LOL!) or avoid the whole shebang by sailing on the 18th.
Would you recommend the experience to a couple pushing 80? Would the crowds be just too much of a hassle?
All suggestions and opinions and recommendations appreciated.
#2
What does "pushing 80" have to do with this? Are you mobility-impaired in some way? Is your attention span lacking?
I used to live IN New Orleans and yes the crowds for the major parades over the weekend prior can be intense at least along the parade routes themselves. There will undoubtedly be a lot of people moving about in the French Quarter itself and no I suspect it is not too late yet to get a room somewhere but expect elevated prices.
I'm not convinced you need to view all four of the last days parades and one might be enough to give you a general idea of what transpires.
I used to live IN New Orleans and yes the crowds for the major parades over the weekend prior can be intense at least along the parade routes themselves. There will undoubtedly be a lot of people moving about in the French Quarter itself and no I suspect it is not too late yet to get a room somewhere but expect elevated prices.
I'm not convinced you need to view all four of the last days parades and one might be enough to give you a general idea of what transpires.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmm. I'd consider avoiding during MG time. The parade routes overflow and the tourists flood the city. It gets pretty hairy there, and I've been to NOLA for both MG (weekend before actual Fat Tuesday) and various New Year's Eves (big celebration, also Sugar Bowl crowds) and MG is about 20x crazier.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a discount freak show. It's one of the worst versions I've experienced around the world. If at 80 you enjoy stepping in many pools of vomit and being pushed and shoved by screaming, drunk juveniles, then there's your party.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,548
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were there for Easter a couple of years back and went to an Easter parade and it was fantastic. No drunk people, not that crowded, they still had floats and were tossing stuff. It's the experience without the hassle.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gosh, I really enjoyed Mardi Gras. The parades have such cool floats, and some, like Zulu, have a rich history. When we came upon two Indian tribes, and their chiefs did "battle", I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. (We also saw King Rex visit my friend's mother, who was from an old NO family, at home, masked and costumed. That was interesting!)
The FQ was a zoo, and pretty gross. The rest of the city was crowded and chaotic, but there seemed to me to be a whole lot of locals enjoying the scene, especially in the Garden District. Friends told us that the parades in the suburbs are calmer.
Don't get me wrong, nearly everyone you meet will be drunk. I saw an elderly white lady in Chanel and pearls weaving down St. Charles, three sheets to the wind, hanging on to her equally drunk husband. Locals don't flee Mardi Gras, they participate.
We saw a few cars with their windows broken. We saw a few guys peeing in bushes. We saw a few half naked women. We heard great music. The Neville brothers played on the riverfront. We ended one night at Tipitina's in the wee hours. On the Tuesday at midnight, we saw mounted police in the FQ sweep all the revelers indoors and street cleaners came behind them--Lent had begun, don't you know.
It was a lot crazy and a lot great.
I certainly would never characterize it as a "discount freak show".
The FQ was a zoo, and pretty gross. The rest of the city was crowded and chaotic, but there seemed to me to be a whole lot of locals enjoying the scene, especially in the Garden District. Friends told us that the parades in the suburbs are calmer.
Don't get me wrong, nearly everyone you meet will be drunk. I saw an elderly white lady in Chanel and pearls weaving down St. Charles, three sheets to the wind, hanging on to her equally drunk husband. Locals don't flee Mardi Gras, they participate.
We saw a few cars with their windows broken. We saw a few guys peeing in bushes. We saw a few half naked women. We heard great music. The Neville brothers played on the riverfront. We ended one night at Tipitina's in the wee hours. On the Tuesday at midnight, we saw mounted police in the FQ sweep all the revelers indoors and street cleaners came behind them--Lent had begun, don't you know.
It was a lot crazy and a lot great.
I certainly would never characterize it as a "discount freak show".
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would go to New Orleans during Mardi Gras just to experience it once, no matter what your age is. You can hang out on the periphery if the crowds and craziness are too much. There's no need to dive into the middle of Bourbon Street to see what Mardi Gras is all about.
I'm sure hotel prices will be elevated somewhat, staying further from the Quarter will help though.
I'm sure hotel prices will be elevated somewhat, staying further from the Quarter will help though.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"I would go to New Orleans during Mardi Gras just to experience it once, no matter what your age is."
That's what I did.
I'm far from a "sophisticated traveler." However, I know cheap and tawdry when I experience it.
That's what I did.
I'm far from a "sophisticated traveler." However, I know cheap and tawdry when I experience it.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
moseyalong
United States
3
Mar 11th, 2017 04:43 AM
rjw_lgb_ca
United States
6
Dec 9th, 2015 08:01 AM
Robert
United States
23
Jan 14th, 2003 04:43 AM