Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Carnival Elation

    2.8 (44 reviews)

    Carnival Elation Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Carnival Elation

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kris A.

    We had a great time because I was in great company. As said in other reviews, its like a motel 6 on water. This cruise in particular caters to families with children( which surprisingly werent that many on our trip) The food is cafeteria like- in the buffet and dining rooms. The best food( coming from a New Orleans native) is the 24 hr pizza and sandwich area in the front of the boat. The conditions are pretty mediocre at best- def showing some wear and tear. The staff were overall not friendly. They hardly ever smile. I know they work 6-9 month stretches at a time and I was wondering if we caught them at the end. Our room attendant was helpful because we needed an ice bucket every day and it was awesome having the room cleaned twice a day. We brought 2 bottles of champagne and a 12 pack of bottled water. The water they sell on the ship is 1.5 liters and 4.95 which I felt was very reasonable so I probably wouldnt bring water or as much next time. There are activities scheduled every 30 min every day so you shouldnt have a hard time entertaining yourself. The drink prices werent as outrageous as I expected either- beers were $4 and my gin and soda was $6.95. Top shelf margaritas, frozen drinks ran a little higher around $9. Gratuity is already included when you pay. The water is a gorgeous aqua blue by the time you wake up the first morning and you dont see anything but water for miles. So even if you dont have kids and want to get away for a few days it will cost you about $1000 a person for this particular cruise( thats including a few drinks a day and souveniers in Mexico)

    Rachel L.

    We go our 5 day tickets for dirt cheap so why not? The ship is real small compared to other cruises I've been on. It's older, carpet looked sticky. Food was like fast take out food. If you want the better food, you have to dine in the dining room, because they won't deliver it to your room like other cruises. We went to two islands, which were great. We had an amazing time. The crew is amazing! I know gratuity is already included, but I just had to tip them some more for their awesome job.

    Piña colada and strawberry daiquiris!
    Trang D.

    I love love love carnival elation! So much to write about my trip but I'll try to keep it short. My boyfriend booked us tickets to go because our birthdays are in the same month. It was the best gift EVER! The lines to check in are long but goes by really fast. Have your ID ready and it'll make the process quicker. We did the 5 days cruise to Progresso and Cozumel. Rooms- The look is outdated but you're not in the room most of the time anyways. If you are than you're missing out on the fun. Shower and bathroom are small. They do offer shampoo and conditioner in the dispensers. They give you generous amount of travel size toothpaste too. Service- The staff was absolutely friendly and helpful. You have to understand that these people who work on cruises do not get paid not even close to minimum wage for long hoursss. They are often not from the United States and work off of your tips so be nice. They are away from their family 9+ months at a time so be sympathetic. Free room service for those lazy days. Our room server must've been really happy with us because not once did we order. We woke up early and got our own damn meals. Food- I have to say no complaints from me. I'm usually a picky eater too. They have everything your heart desires. Dinner is probably what we look forward to every night and it was something different. The night we had lobsters, my boyfriend asked me to order more so it doesn't make him look greedy. Lol you can order as much as you like. The couple across from us double their entree so it made us comfortable ordering more too. Their desserts are to die forrrrr! They look exactly like the ones you see on Travel channel with the world famous chefs making those amazing chocolate and cakes for competition. Go to the buffet every night after you eat dinner because there is a wider selection. Entertainment- gym- why if you're on vacation??? comedy show- my favorite bingo game shows Golf putt putt- my favorite Ping pong table- boyfriend's favorite Excursions- Option A- Booking through the cruise line is the safer and more expensive route. Option B- Booking once you get to the port is less safer but half the price. Which one did we choose? Option B because we like to live life on the edge. Cruise line offers safety and you're going in a big crowd. Cozumel. Taxi- from port to Zipline to Beach = $40 You're probably thinking its expensive because he waited for an hour for us to be done. We had no idea how else to get a taxi to our next destination. :( We don't speak the language and our cell phones don't work. I felt like we were in The Amazing Race TV show. Zipline- $100 per person Awesome adrenaline rush. They gave us an extra round because it was my boyfriend's birthday. Beach- the shoreline smelled and was so dirty with sewage waste. The water was dark and murky. Literally walked knees deep and turned right back. Snorkeling- 60$ per person This was my favorite excursion out of all of them. It was just so amazing to see the different type of fish in the crystal clear water. (Water was much better than the shore). Our tour guide was super sweet and pointed out where to look underwater since I couldn't see anything. He also got us a shell :) which isn't legal I think. Mayan Ruins- $5 per person Since we couldn't really swim, we had extra time and went to the Mayan Ruins just for the sake of it. Bring mosquito repellant because you are in a rain forest after all. You see rocks that are stacked on each other other that are slowly deteriorating. We finally get to the temple and you can see a bunch of iguanas in and around it. We took a picture and hauled ass out there because it was scary, lonely, and mosquitoes! I can't wait to go on another cruise!

    Jeannie P.

    Yes the ship is old but that's minor. The price was low so I didn't have many expectations....which were not exceeded. The food was tasteless and just strange. Of course, I'm used to Louisiana food but I didn't expect any place to live up to that...even a cruise from New Orleans. However, the food here was mediocre at best. The desserts tasted low in sugar. I'm a coffee drinker and I regret not bringing a travel mug....if I was able to. The cups for coffee are maybe 6 ozs and spill easily. There was a gourmet coffee bar but I didn't try that. I'm sure it was good. Saw a few people walking around with "to go" cups. Our room was comfortable but did not block much sound. What helped was the sound of the a/c coming from the ceiling which could be adjusted low to high. Don't expect much from the TV. There are two cartoon channels if you have kids. I would imagine my kids would have been bored on this particular boat. It seems to be catered to drinkers and gamblers. Only shows my boyfriend and I were interested in was the comedy show. That was really good. Others included trivia, name that tune (obviously for the seniors). Our stop in Cozumel was nice. I've cruised with Royal Caribbean a year ago and there's a difference in the quality. But again, I didn't expect much from an inexpensive Carnival cruise. Overall, a nice 4 day getaway with my guy which is always a good time no matter where we are :)

    Oceanview cabin on Carnival Elation
    Sarah B.

    My family and I did a four day cruise to the Bahamas on the Elation, leaving from Jacksonville, FL. I've seen Carnival cruises described as a "floating Motel 6." At this price point, I'm not expecting luxury. I can appreciate a budget vacation, since I mostly entertain myself, and just want to be left alone to relax. The Elation is one of Carnival's oldest ships, and was overall very clean and well-kept despite being horribly dated in appearance and desperately needing modernization. Expect the usual cruise amenities (pool, gym, sauna), and a few extras, including an "adults only" lounge and a mini golf course (a lot of potential to be really cool with the right upgrades). Cruise ships always seem to have the most wonderful staff, and Carnival Elation was no exception. Everyone we encountered was incredibly friendly and did their jobs gracefully. They sneak into your cabin like towel-folding, bed-making ninjas! The staff was five stars and then some. Incredibly awesome people, including our stateroom steward, Manohar. As I mentioned, the Elation is old (for a cruise ship), so the cabins were legitimate relics of the late 90's, right down to the ancient CRT television crammed into a corner of the room. In addition to needing a renovation, the rooms were bereft of amenities... Not even a refrigerator. The on-board wifi started at $5 a day and that only included access to social media apps; everything else was blocked, including email (gotta pay extra). Our cabin was "ocean view," which apparently translates to "view the ocean... from a porthole window that doesn't open." The king bed was big enough to sleep two people without a problem, and the bathroom was a decent size, though if you're over 6 feet you'll probably have to duck a little to use the shower. It was a comfortable enough place to sleep and shower, but not much else. I've previously sailed with Norwegian and Celebrity, and this was my first time sailing with Carnival. Unlike those cruises, I felt that everyone at Carnival was always trying to sell you something, get you to upgrade, or force you to interact with other guests. It seems like this would be a great vacation if you want Disney style entertainment but can't afford an actual Disney cruise.The cruise director was constantly making announcements about this or that activity. Unfortunately, most of what Carnival Elation had to offer did not appeal to me. I don't have kids. I don't gamble. I'm not interested in scams like "foot reflexology" or buying overpriced watches and costume jewelry. I'm not "single and ready to mingle." I just wanted to sit quietly in the shade with a book, and occasionally dunk myself in the pool. Much to my dismay, the pool area had a DJ who played every horrible country song, one-hit wonder, and tired 90's jock jam at max volume. I'm pretty sure the CIA uses his playlist to torture people in Guantanamo. Conga lines, the "Cupid Shuffle," and "Wobble" are kind of amusing but the novelty wears off quickly the second or third time. Elation's pool was also far too small for the number of guests on board. It didn't bother me on the on the first day, but by the end of the trip, it was basically a human stew pot. But there was a water slide, so that was cool. My husband and I got the "Cheers!" open bar package. The cost was $50 a day with a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day, but the package also included bottled water, soda, non-alcoholic smoothies, milkshakes, and specialty coffee/tea beverages (no limit for any of those). I didn't feel like I really drank $50 worth each day, but, the package does make it nearly impossible to overspend on booze. It's worth not having to worry about getting a huge bill at the end of your vacation (oh, that's the worst). Cruise food can be really hit or miss for me. Carnival offers to accommodate folks with allergies or religion-based dietary restrictions, but I'm neither of those. I was hoping for vegan food but would settle for being able to easily choose vegetarian options without having to interrogate the servers and chefs about ingredients or ask for "special" meals. Overall I was mostly satisfied with the quality and variety of food. My complaint is that the buffet and poolside restaurants could not accommodate enough guests, resulting in huge lines at peak times and on days at sea. The best vegan food was the salad bar and Mongolian Grill. The main dining room always had two menus, where one changed each night. On the static menu was a vegetarian spring roll appetizer and Indian vegetarian entree (rotating selection of veggies and rice/lentils), and on the menu "du jour" they always had at least one vegetarian appetizer and entree too. The buffet was mostly meat, fried food, and things covered in cheese. Like I said, hit or miss. Since this was a 4 day trip, it was enjoyable -- but I would not be inclined to do a longer Carnival cruise. Consider this review 2.5 stars.

    Towel bird on bed
    Rubio R.

    Let me start by saying that the crew & staff except for the one person from Jeckyll & Hyde all get 5 stars. Overall the trip was great except for a couple of things.I guess we'll start with the good. We had an amazing time !The entire staff was very nice, always smiling and always willing to help.Oswin from India took care of us every evening in the dining room and he was amazing! He was so nice, friendly, attentive, sweet & he made our party of 16 feel like we were the most important people on the ship. Kevin was our Steward and he was very nice, friendly and jumped to get us anything that we needed at anytime.At one point we needed some masking tape to tape a poster & he got it for us in less than a minute from somewhere. He also called all of us by name everytime he greeted us.He had tons of other people to take care of too so when someone calls you by your name that's a nice touch, it makes you feel special.Oh yeah & he also made the cool little towel animals every AM.Shanaya from St.Lucia was our waitress when we went to Jeckyll & Hyde(dance club.) and she was so funny, friendly and talented.We encouraged her to have fun with us & she did but she never stopped working.I have never seen anyone dance while holding a full tray of drinks with one hand! She was amazing! We got the "Cheers" package but we gave her tips anyway because she was so awesome.Oswin, Kevin & Shanaya all deserve raises, because of them we all had an amazing time on our cruise. There were other employees too but these are the one's that stood out. Now for the BAD. We bought the "Cheers" package which was $459 for 2 people with taxes.The purpose of buying the drink package is that you've already paid 15% gratuity & taxes when you buy it.We went to Jeckyll & Hyde every night except one I think.You're entitled to 15 drinks/day but though they're free you still have to sign like a credit card receipt & you can tip if you want like we did with Shanaya bc she was awesome but if not you dont.Well during the day I had been remembering to put the zero with the slash through it on the tip area but at night since I was drinking I guess I forgot. The bartender gave herself tips on one of my drinks on one night & other drinks on other nights.She did that to 3 of us. That's stealing! She was the only person that was rude on this trip. First of all we had the drinking package so gratuity was already included & second of all she had a bad attitude so we wouldn't have tipped her anyway.We went to guest services. & they refunded us & said they would "take care of it " but I don't know what happened.Imagine how many others she's done that too? $1 here and $2 there on this night and that night to this person. There were 2,000 ppl on that ship most ppl aren't gonna worry about an extra $1 or $2 charge on this day & that day but its obviously NOT the money its the fact that she STOLE & thought we weren't gonna notice.They have kiosks in the ship where you can check your bill daily so ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BILL BEFORE LEAVING. BEWARE when you buy liquor when they have the "FREE LIQUOR SAMPLING." I bought 4 bottles of Bacardi Rum for $35 which is a great deal but they don't tell you that you're ONLY ALLOWED ONE LITER PER PERSON WHEN YOU GET BACK TO THE US.We learned that on the paper they give you the morning of disembarkation.Luckily customs didn't search me bc I would've had to pay taxes on the other 3 bottles. That defeats the purpose of buying them for so cheap.Oh yeah & since you dont get your bottles in your room until the last day I didn't even think to check them so I ended up with 2 bottles of the wrong Rum! I ordered 2 Spiced Rum & 2 Peach Red and they didn't even give me the Peach Red., the one I wanted the most ! The whole reason I went to the "free liquor sampling" was for that. I ended up with some regular Bacardi Rum. Gross.I think you're also only allowed 1 carton of cigarettes per person too, the rest you get taxed on.

    The staff is amazing! So much they must do to ensure we have a great time. I truly thank the staff!!!
    Bethany L.

    I really enjoyed my cruise. This is my 4th cruise with Carnival. I can't express how wonderful the staff is. They make it a wonderful experience. There is plenty of food on the cruise however it's pretty much the same thing each cruise. Nothing spectacularly different on the menu. I LOVED THE COMEDY SHOWS!!! DEFINITELY CHECK OUT THE COMEDY SHOWS. There are shows that are kid friendly then there are the adult language shows. I didn't like the fact that none of the glass elevators worked @ all the entire 5 days on the cruise. My final annoyance is the fact that we left 2 & half hours late the 1st day. That really annoyed me and that is why I'm giving only 3 stars. I think the Captain could have done a better job informing the passenger of the delayed time.

    See all

    10 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris A.
    340
    526
    1150

    12 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rachel L.
    3514
    645
    20736

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brian P.
    14
    37
    13

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Art M.
    3
    93
    46

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tia L.
    58
    14
    0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of G L.
    0
    10
    2

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken S.
    0
    15
    9

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Phil G.
    21
    43
    20

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt J.
    35
    240
    433

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Carnival Elation

    Review Highlights - Carnival Elation

    this was my first cruise and it was AMAZING!!!

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Tours 585 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    French Quarter Phantoms - Saints & Sinners Tour (French Quarter) w/ Sandy!

    French Quarter Phantoms

    4.7(1.8k reviews)
    1.7 miFrench Quarter
    Locally owned & operated
    Certified professionals

    First time visiting New Orleans and booked the French Quarter & Voodoo tour. We had a fabulous…read moreguide - Angela, who was very informative and entertaining. You could see she loves New Orleans and was excited to share her knowledge and stories with us.

    We originally scheduled the ghosts and vampire tour for 8:00, but decided to see if we could change…read moreto the 6:00 tour. We were able to change without any problem. We meet up at the Voodoo Lounge, where there is a ticket office in the back room. We didn't live the bar--smelled a little bit like a sewer and the hurricanes were super sweet and kind of weak. But we did have but one get one, so wasn't that upset. The tour was great. We saw some interesting, haunted places and heard the history behind them. We didn't linger too long at any one place. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny, although he may have been a tad bit too heavy on the Catholic Church jokes. The tour ended at the LaLaurie house, and our guide shared a story about a little girl on who was recently on his tour who started crying and asked why there were dead people on the balcony. Spooky! I was so intrigued by what he said that I started looking up stories about Delphine LaLaurie and the haunting of the house. When I got home, I even started watching season 3 of American Horror Story, which has the character Delphine LaLaurie (accurate? No. Fun? Yes!). This was a fun way to spend the evening. There was an obnoxiously drunk guy on our tour, and our guide handled him well.

    Photos
    French Quarter Phantoms
    French Quarter Phantoms
    French Quarter Phantoms - Slurped from the internet.

    See all

    Slurped from the internet.

    New Orleans Secrets Tours - Maybe the best chicken in town. Maybe.

    New Orleans Secrets Tours

    4.9(305 reviews)
    0.5 miLower Garden District

    *from a non-vegan eater... My friend is vegan, likes to walk…read moreand we thought a mini tour of NOLA would be cool. Let's just say... Mark was GREAT, the food was DELICIOUS, the walk was less than 3000 steps (easy, spaced out and flat), there was cool history bits throughout, and the food. Wow. So. Good. We had so many different flavors, everything was Do yourself a favor and try something that you might not have experienced before, this one is an easy win!!! *would do any of Mark's tours, he's just that good!

    Date of tour: December 21, 2024…read more After a wonderful food tour in Prague last year, we wanted to replicate the magic stateside while visiting New Orleans, a city with a rich food history and scene. As requested, I will keep the individual location names secret as to not spoil your potential food tour but also because the stops can change and I don't want to have you disappointed if you don't get the same places on your tour. Ty was a great guide, providing us with local history and culture as we ate our way down Magazine Street. The only complaint I have is that they didn't really interact with us during the food portions, standing or sitting off to the side, or running to the next location to make sure we were all set. To me, the guide should be not only the bridge between the locations and food with us, but also a bridge between the different groups on the tour. Ty told us before the tour started that the other folks joining us were from Michigan, but we found out from them later that they were actually from New York. Had these connections been made earlier, it would have enhanced the tour. On to the food, wonderful that it all was! Please note that I may make some errors in the actual names of the food, while I took pictures, I did not write down the names and there wasn't a post-tour recap to assist me! Stop #1: A local sandwich and a seafood side. Both quite good, especially since I don't like olives! Stop #2: An unusual meat that was shockingly good! Stop #3: Seafood options. I've had a different version of one of these items in Asheville, NC. This wasn't quite as good but still tasty. Stop #4: Southern favorites that were so good! I didn't think I would like these but I did. Stop #5: A peppermint fudge cupcake. Sadly, the weakest stop on the tour. Other that tried the gelato came away disappointed and my cupcake was neither overly fudgey or pepperminty. It looked pretty, though!

    Photos
    New Orleans Secrets Tours - Mark showing guests Exchange Place Alley

    Mark showing guests Exchange Place Alley

    New Orleans Secrets Tours - Mahogany Jazz Hall

    Mahogany Jazz Hall

    New Orleans Secrets Tours

    See all

    Cajun Encounters Tours - Capt. Jacob I learned a lot and he was a really great guide

    Cajun Encounters Tours

    4.4(1.8k reviews)
    1.5 miFrench Quarter
    20 years in business
    Locally owned & operated

    This was a wonderful experience. It was one of the best tours my family took in New Orleans. My…read moretwo teenagers loved it! We booked the Honey Island Swamp Tour with transport from downtown. Although the original pickup location was changed due to road construction, Cajun Encounters' customer service team made the change easy and stress-free. We appreciated the helpful communications. Derek, our bus driver, was amazing. He shared his personal experience from Hurricane Katrina with us. It was very moving and educational. It was a personal touch that we didn't expect, but was very appreciated. His knowledge of New Orleans was impressive and we were grateful for all of the information/tips he provided. We followed some of his tips and were not disappointed! Our boat captain was Scott C. He was a great guide through the Honey Island Swamp. Captain Scott C.'s knowledge was impressive. He was very informative and we learned a lot. We saw so many alligators that we gave up counting them. Also saw cute racoons, several turtles sunning themselves, a snake, and a beautiful crane. This tour was one of the highlights of our New Orleans trip. It was truly fantastic. If we come back, we would do it again in a heartbeat! That is how much we loved it.

    Went on the swamp tour with Bishop. Great job. Comedy and education all at the same time .read more

    Photos
    Cajun Encounters Tours - Gator sunbathing

    Gator sunbathing

    Cajun Encounters Tours - Raccoon investigating us

    Raccoon investigating us

    Cajun Encounters Tours - Heron in a striking posture

    See all

    Heron in a striking posture

    Haunted History Tours - Perry and Lacey were great!

    Haunted History Tours

    4.2(1.6k reviews)
    1.5 miFrench Quarter

    The True Crime Walking Tour of the French Quarter was hands-down one of the best walking tours…read morewe've ever taken, and that is entirely because of Drew. You can immediately tell he doesn't just *recite* stories--he has deeply researched them. Every detail was accurate, thoughtfully sourced, and presented with care and integrity. In a city where true crime can easily slip into sensationalism, Drew handled each story with respect, depth, and historical context. That matters, and it showed. What truly sets Drew apart is how he performs the stories. His delivery was engaging without being theatrical for the sake of it. He told each case with genuine love and passion, making the history feel alive while honoring the real people involved. He kept the group fully engaged from start to finish--thorough, entertaining, and never rushed. Drew is the kind of guide who elevates the entire experience and reflects incredibly well on your company. He's not just knowledgeable--he's a storyteller, a historian, and a professional who clearly takes pride in what he does. A true gem, and absolutely someone you want representing your tours. Highly recommend--especially if you're lucky enough to get Drew as your guide.

    We had an incredible night on tour with Christian! I learned so much about NOLA and thank you so…read moremuch for sharing the TRUE stories of the Katrina victims.

    Photos
    Haunted History Tours - Haunted History Tour

    Haunted History Tour

    Haunted History Tours - Cool Bridge

    Cool Bridge

    Haunted History Tours

    See all

    St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Tour - Interesting monuments and crypts

    St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Tour

    4.8(420 reviews)
    1.7 miTremé

    Hello! Just a quick note of thanks for a GREAT tour!…read moreOur tour guide Jeff was amazing!! Loved him and he had us spellbound the entire time! Personable, informative, and funny as hell!! Great experience! Loved it! Thank you!! Sam & Molli Hyman

    We did the 9:00 tour as a family on Monday. Rahsaan was our tour guide and he was so engaging and…read moreinformative. It had rained the night before and I saw in previous reviews that the area can be muddy. The path is paved so no need to worry about your shoes if it has rained or is raining. You check in and wait in a tourist center (opens at 8:30am) next to the cemetery so there's a cafe to buy coffee or snacks while you wait and restrooms to use before you start the tour. The tour goes by quickly and the cemetery is small. It can be hard to see sometimes depending where you are as the group moves and reforms at stopping points. However it's easy to snap pictures if you hang back. The guide works to make sure everyone can see but don't hold up the group with your photography endeavors! This was great for our elementary aged child and was not scary at all. The walking was easy. I did not see anyone with strollers and think that would be hard to navigate. I also would not bring small children who cannot attend to the guide or stay quiet for others to hear. You end at Marie Laveau's grave. Tips can be provided in cash or Venmo.

    Photos
    St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Tour - Ra, our excellent tour guide.

    Ra, our excellent tour guide.

    St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Tour - Italian Society Crypts

    Italian Society Crypts

    St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Tour

    See all

    Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Dinner Buffet

    Paddlewheeler Creole Queen

    4.3(963 reviews)
    0.8 miCentral Business District
    $$$

    This is the second time we've taken this boat cruise. We got so much out of it before that we…read morewanted to take our son. This is a traditional paddlewheel boat with three levels. The top level has a bar counter and tables under a canopy. Up front there are benches so you are looking straight ahead as you travel. The middle level has a nice indoor dining room. You can order traditional Louisiana dishes. Outside the dining room are benches. We chose to sit on the top level facing forward, but it was so cold in front, we moved to the tables in the rear. There is a wonderful narrator letting you know when you pass interesting sites. The Domino Sugar factory that you pass is really something to see, and it's hard to believe it's still in use. They make a stop at the Chalmette Battlefield (you can get off the boat or stay and relax on the boat). There is a tour guide who talks about the battleground, which is pretty interesting. The best thing about the Creole Queen is the narrator. After the battlefield, the second half of the tour focuses on Hurricane Katrina. He wants that it can be disturbing and announced that if you didn't want to hear it, you can go to the dining room, as it isn't broadcasted in there. He is very candid, and I learned so much about the terrible way Hurricane Katrina was handled, as well as just how terrible the hurricane was. It was very, very sad. I highly recommend this tour. As I said, we enjoyed it so much the first time that we wanted to go back and share it with our son.

    The historical tour was interesting BUT the presentation of Andrew Jackson as Savior of the United…read moreStates didn't accurately represent him as a racist, president, especially towards Native Americans. That being said, the rest of the tour was informative and relaxing. I enjoyed the New Orleans themed playlist.

    Photos
    Paddlewheeler Creole Queen
    Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Creole buffet

    Creole buffet

    Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Creole Queen paddle wheel boat

    See all

    Creole Queen paddle wheel boat

    Tours By Foot - French Markrt

    Tours By Foot

    4.9(878 reviews)
    1.4 miIrish Channel

    We did the Unveiling Voodoo Walking Tour in the afternoon, and our guide, Matthew, was prompt,…read morefriendly, and very knowledgeable. Our group had about 10 people, and the walk itself was easy -- a comfortable pace with several stops where we stood and listened as Matthew shared stories and history. He did a wonderful job explaining the true roots and beliefs of Voodoo, as well as its place in New Orleans culture. I learned so much that I didn't know before. It's unfortunate that movies and media have given Voodoo such a negative image, because it's a genuine religion that deserves respect, just like any other. I highly recommend this tour if you want to learn more about the real culture and spiritual traditions of New Orleans.

    We did the historical walking tour of the French Quarter. Because it might have rained today, we…read morewere the only ones on the tour. The guide was a very knowledgeable and nice guy. We learned a great deal about the history of New Orleans in general, and the French Quarter in specific. It started in Jackson Square and ended near Congo Park. From the strategic blunders of the British in the War of 1812, to the two oldest buildings in the area (one a convent, the other Pirate Jean Lafitte's blacksmith shop), through the heart of this year's Decadence Festival, it was an amazing learning experience.

    Photos
    Tours By Foot - Ursuline's Corner

    Ursuline's Corner

    Tours By Foot - Oldest building in New - a convent

    Oldest building in New - a convent

    Tours By Foot - LaLaurie Mansion

    See all

    LaLaurie Mansion

    Carnival Elation - tours - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...