LOUISIANA TRAVEL NEWS

Latest Local & International Travel News, Guides, Information & Planning Tips

Visitors looking to get into the holiday spirit have long traveled to Bethlehem, a lovely little city in eastern Pennsylvania founded by Moravians on Christmas Eve, 1741. With its well-preserved Moravian architecture, a popular seasonal bazaar called Christkindlmarkt, an impeccably decorated downtown, and a host of Christmas-themed events between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, Bethlehem comes by its reputation as... Full story »

Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009: Serenity at sea Faced with two days at sea, my friend and I decided to do something we never do: Arrive home from a vacation rested and ready to face the week ahead. (I don’ know about you, but by the time I get up early to get to the airport and sit there for... Full story »

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009: Resort snob no more Trying to decide what to do on Nassau was a tough, so many great options. We decided to go hog wild and do the day-long retreat to Atlantis, a big pink resort that looms on the island’s skyline. I have always been something of a resort snob, figuring why would go... Full story »

Tuesday, Nov. 17: Swimming with the fishes We docked at Freeport in the Bahamas this morning. It’s a working port, with container ships, cranes and workmen. Not lovely, but it was much easier to navigate. Getting off of the boat was much easier here. We simply strolled off and walked to a tented area where large signs showed us which... Full story »

Monday, Nov. 16: Six-toed cats that live like kings This morning, we got up a bit later than expected (OK, we stayed up late for the comedy stylings of Mr. Louis Nixon, watched folks make fools of themselves at karaoke and then danced in the disco, so we were tired). We quickly grabbed cereal and fresh fruit from the... Full story »

Sunday, Nov. 15: We're at sea, but I'm no longer at sea. On Sunday morning, we ordered coffee in the room; I took an hour-long yoga class, followed by a 75-minute hot stone massage. Then, I slipped up to my cabin to write this quick note. With the door to the balcony open, I can hear the sound the... Full story »

Saturday, Nov. 14: Carnival take me away. I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve found life pretty stressful. From the national economic malaise to the city’s ongoing recovery to work-a-day pressures to family issues  -- sometimes it seems as if each day brings fresh problems to solve and no time to unwind. So, I approached an impending seven-day... Full story »

Carnival's Triumph, the 2,758-passenger cruise ship that replaces the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy, ushered in the return of seven-day cruising to the port of New Orleans on Nov. 10. The 102,000-ton, 893-foot-long Triumph is the largest cruise ship currently based in New Orleans year-round. If there is demand, a second Carnival ship could arrive in late 2011. Where it goes:... Full story »

Ann Maloney/The TImes-PicayuneThe 12-foot by 22-foot Seaside Theatre, featured films such as 'Race to Witch Mountain' early in the evening and 'Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail' later at night, as well as concerts and news.Cruising aboard Carnival's Triumph just might be the easiest vacation I've ever taken. It's basically a pack-your-bag-and-go experience. Still, there are a few things you... Full story »

The arrival of the Carnival Triumph to New Orleans was delayed due to Hurricane Ida, but has since sailed from the Crescent City's port. The words to that Bob Marley song “Three Little Birds” repeated like a refrain in my brain as we sailed along the seas on Carnival’s Triumph: “Don’t worry about a thing, cause every little thing is gonna... Full story »

Carnival's Triumph leaves the New Orleans port for four-, five- and seven-day cruises Full story »

Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009: Serenity at sea Faced with two days at sea, my friend and I decided to do something we never do: Arrive home from a vacation rested and ready to face the week ahead. (I don’ know about you, but by the time I get up early to get to the airport and sit there for... Full story »

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009: Resort snob no more Trying to decide what to do on Nassau was a tough, so many great options. We decided to go hog wild and do the day-long retreat to Atlantis, a big pink resort that looms on the island’s skyline. I have always been something of a resort snob, figuring why would go... Full story »

Tuesday, Nov. 17: Swimming with the fishes We docked at Freeport in the Bahamas this morning. It’s a working port, with container ships, cranes and workmen. Not lovely, but it was much easier to navigate. Getting off of the boat was much easier here. We simply strolled off and walked to a tented area where large signs showed us which... Full story »

Monday, Nov. 16: Six-toed cats that live like kings This morning, we got up a bit later than expected (OK, we stayed up late for the comedy stylings of Mr. Louis Nixon, watched folks make fools of themselves at karaoke and then danced in the disco, so we were tired). We quickly grabbed cereal and fresh fruit from the... Full story »