Join us for two very special back-to-back dance events!
The French Quarter Festival in New Orleans is an incredible music & dance event with 15 different stages featuring all kinds of wonderful live bands playing swing, zydeco, blues, Latin, and more. It runs from April 11-14. After attending this fun-filled festival together, we'll head off to the Caribbean aboard Carnival's Valor (April 15-20) for a fabulous dance cruise! The itinerary includes stops in Cozumel and the Yucatan, plus two perfectly-timed full days at sea for some quality R&R.
PLEASE NOTE: The Festival only option is SOLD OUT. The Caribbean Cruise is SOLD OUT.
Daily group classes will include a mix of morning and/or afternoon sessions in a variety of mostly swing & blues dance styles (ECS, Lindy, laminu, blues, blues-swing fusion, etcs), with a strong emphasis on both partnering & connection as well as introducing fun new step patterns and stylings.
Other group activities may include afternoon & evening dances, a cocktail social hour, games night, special dance outings in ports, as well as many other fun "non-dancing" activities. So many options, so little time!
Prices listed below cover the 4 nights in New Orleans during the French Qtr Festival AND 5 nights onboard the Carnival Valor for our Western Caribbean Dance Cruise. Prices are based on double occupancy and are "all-inclusive" for the cruise. Costs can be pro-rated for attending either the French Quarter Festival ONLY or the the Cruise ONLY. Single supplements are extra.
Full Package Pricing includes:
Not included:
PRICING: (Cruise cabin availability & pricing subject to change)
FULL PACKAGE (French Qtr Festival + Cruise): [*SOLD OUT for solo follows]
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY (shared room)
Omni Hotel + INSIDE Room on the Valor : $1,695
Omni Hotel + OCEAN VIEW Room on the Valor: $1,850
Omni Hotel + BALCONY Room on the Valor: $1,995
SINGLE OCCUPANCY (solo traveler)
Omni Hotel + INSIDE Room on the Valor $2,735
Omni Hotel + OCEAN VIEW Room on the Valor $3,120
Omni Hotel + BALCONY Room on the Valor $3,420
PRO-RATED COSTS:
For the New Orleans Segment ONLY (April 11-15, 2024): [*SOLD OUT for solo follows]
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY (shared room) $895
SINGLE OCCUPANCY (solo traveler) $1,395
For the Dance Cruise Segment ONLY (April 15-20, 2024):
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY (shared room)
SINGLE OCCUPANCY (solo traveler)
You will want to fly in and out of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (airport code: MSY). See the Omni Riverfront Hotel website for shuttle information. The hotel is located at: 701 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION is very easy in New Orleans. Download the "Le Pass" app on your smart phone (See directions HERE). Use the app to purchase a 3 day "Jazzy Pass" for $8.00 which will give you free use of all public transportation (buses, streetcars, and ferries) over the weekend.
You do not currently need proof of vaccination to travel to Mexico or to return to the United States. Please check with the most recent CDC update to view any change in regulations. Requirements for travel to Mexico can be found at HERE. Information about return travel to the US can be found at HERE.
Travel insurance is required for all of our trips and will help protect both your investment and our vendors should you need to cancel. There are many companies that offer travel insurance options. You can sign up with one such policy during the payment checkout portion of this registration. If you are a AAA member, you may want to check with them.
Once you have purchased your travel insurance, please let us know the company name and policy number you have with them.
If you don't have a policy already and don’t want to use the one offered at check-out, feel free to CLICK HERE to purchase insurance through our affiliate company, World Nomads*.
*PLEASE NOTE: We do not represent World Nomads. As an affiliate, we receive a small commission when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. This is information only and not a requirement to buy travel insurance through this company.
For the cruise, you will need a current passport to enter Mexico. The expiration date on your passport should be no less than 6 months after the last day of your visit. Consider travel insurance in case your plans change.
Restaurants, stores, and ATMs in most tourist destinations in Mexico accept VISA, MC, and other bank, debit, and credit cards for access to Mexican pesos. Just to be sure, however, you may want to exchange some currency before you come.
CLICK HERE For Our Best Tips On Travel Preparation And Packing.
WORLDWIDE DANCE ADVENTURES (WWDA) CANCELLATION POLICY:
1) You will receive a full refund minus a $150 cancellation fee if cancelled within 14 days of your registration and greater than 180 days prior to the trip. You will receive a 50% refund minus a $150 cancellation fee if cancelled after 14 days of registering but more than 180 days prior to the trip. Within 180 days of the trip, all purchases will be final. If you are cancelling due to your own health or to the health of a family member, your travel insurance should be able to reimburse you for the cost (check your insurance policy for details).
2) PLEASE NOTE: If you need to cancel for any reason, your ticket is fully transferable (minus a $150 administration fee) contingent upon confirmation and approval from Worldwide Dance Adventures. The other person will need to register separately online for the trip and let us know on that form that this is a transferred ticket (not purchased). They will also need to pay any cost differentials.
3) PLEASE NOTE: If the trip has to be cancelled by the organizers for any reason, Worldwide Dance Adventures will first attempt to reschedule. If you are unable to attend the new dates, a full refund will be given, minus any credit card or PayPal fees accrued.
4) PLEASE NOTE: It is the responsibility of the trip attendee to reach out in the event of a cancellation and make their payments on time. We reserve the right to hold payments according to the cancellation policy above to pay our vendors to make this trip happen. By making a deposit you agree to the above terms of Service and Cancellation Policy.
CARNIVAL CRUISE CANCELLATION POLICY:
(When in conflict, this policy supersedes that of WWDA)
CLICK HERE to read Carnival’s Cancellation and refund policy.
They state: The deposit is non-refundable at any time after the booking is made. All cancellations that occur prior to the final payment due date (76 days before departure) will receive a non-refundable and non-transferable future cruise credit in US dollars in the amount of the deposit less a $50 USD per person service fee. The future cruise credit must be used on a new booking made within 12 months from the date of cancellation and can only be applied to your cruise fare. Any unused portion will be forfeited.
Once your booking is within our cancellation penalty period (76 days before departure), the amount of penalty will increase as the cruise departure approaches.
Passport & Visa
All travelers must have a valid passport for international travel and many countries require at least 6 months validity from the date of return. Some countries also require a machine-readable passport and/or unstamped available pages. When assisting with an international travel booking, we will assume that all travelers on the booking have a valid passport. If this is not the case, you must let us know. It is important to ensure you have valid passports, visas and re-entry permits which meet the requirements of immigration and other government authorities. Any fines, penalties, payments, delay or expenditures incurred as a result of such documents not meeting the requirements of those authorities will be your sole responsibility.
Liability:
We exercise care in the selection of reputable travel service providers but we are not ourselves a provider of travel services and have no control over, or liability for, the services provided by third parties.
In no event do we accept any liability in contract, tort or otherwise, for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional expense or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by the acts, omissions or default, whether negligent or otherwise, of third party providers over whom we have no direct control, force majeure or any other event which is beyond our control or which is not preventable by reasonable diligence on our part. We also do not accept any liability in contract, tort or otherwise, for consequential loss (meaning indirect loss, loss of revenue, loss of reputation, loss of profits, loss of actual or anticipated savings, lost opportunities, including opportunities to enter into arrangements with third parties or loss or damage in connection with claims against you by third parties) howsoever caused in connection with your booking.
Risks of Travel and Release:
We assume no responsibility for and shall not be liable for the acts or omissions on the part of any other party not under our control or any acts of God, unsafe conditions, terrorism, health hazards including pandemics, illness, weather hazards, or the suitability for a disabled person of any portion of any trip. We have no special knowledge of dangers during travel or at destinations. For information related to such dangers, we recommend going to the State Department travel website at travel.state.gov, click on "Find International travel Information" then click on "Country Information", and fill in the name of the destination country. For medical and health information, we recommend going to the Centers for Disease Control website at cdc.gov/travel, then click on "Destinations" and scroll to the name of the destination country. It is your personal decision to travel, and you are doing so with full knowledge of current travel recommendations and travel restrictions with regards to the risks of COVID-19. YOU HEREBY EXPRESSLY ASSUME ALL OF THESE RISKS AND DANGERS, AND YOU HEREBY EXPRESSLY AGREE TO FOREVER RELEASE, DISCHARGE AND HOLD US, AND OUR AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, ASSOCIATES, AFFILIATED COMPANIES, GUIDES, GROUP LEADERS, AND SUBCONTRACTORS HARMLESS AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTIONS, SUITS, CLAIMS, AND DEMANDS OF ANY AND EVERY KIND AND NATURE WHATSOEVER WHICH YOU NOW HAVE OR WHICH MAY HEREAFTER ARISE OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE RISKS AND Dangers.
If you have any questions, please contact us at danceadventures@comcast.net
The OFFICIAL 2024 FQF GUIDE can be found HERE
The MUSIC LINE-UP can be found HERE
The springtime weather in New Orleans is some of the best of the year. Temperatures average between the low 50s to the upper 70s, so we recommend something light and comfortable to walk in as you traverse the Quarter. Layering is always key, so be sure to pack a sweater or light jacket – preferably a rain jacket so the occasional shower doesn’t catch you off-guard.
Collapsible chairs, blankets, and ground tarps are a great way to take a break and enjoy the music – and your food. Sunscreen and bug spray are also must-haves. Outside food and beverages aren’t allowed, so be sure to bring cash to get your fill of the great food and drinks available (and to help fill the musician’s tip jars).
There are 20 stages spread throughout the French Quarter, each with a variety of local musicians. The stages are located at:
There’s always lots to do around New Orleans and the French Quarter is especially full of unique attractions to pass the time before and after the festival. Be sure to check our site calendar to get the latest on all the events taking place both inside and outside of the Quarter over the weekend!
Thur, April 18th: Yucatan Pyramid & Cenote Adventure + Authentic Mayan Lunch
Join us on a very special off-the-beaten-path adventure away from the tourist crowds in the Yucatan. Our private tour will pick us up dockside at the ship. While our current operating plan would be to first visit the Mayapan Ruins, as of this writing we have been informed that the ruins are temporarily closed. If they have not re-opened by April 18th, we will visit the nearby town of Acanceh where there are two pyramids in the center of town. One is un-excavated and still raw. The other is excavated and has stairs beside the pyramid which allows you to view the carvings on top. Great photo opportunities here.
After a quick walk through the town's open market, we will drive through the jungle to a Cavern Cenote (a beautiful sunken grotto filled with geothermal-heated clear spring water) for swimming and lunch. There is a large wading area and a deeper area in the back of the Cenote where you can swim among the natural mineral stalactites and columns (masks and snorkels are provided for those who would like them).
The unique experience continues with lunch where we will be visiting a local Mayan family and enjoying a delicious feast prepared especially for us -- truly a cultural highlight for many visitors to the region. These unique off-the-beaten-path experiences are what squarely put the "adventure" into Worldwide Dance Adventures!
INCLUDES
NOT INCLUDED
MEAL
Please let us know ASAP if you have any food restrictions or food allergies.
SPECIAL NOTES
Note that any Cenote we visit will have stair access to a water-level platform. There are no lifeguards at any of the local Cenotes and swimming is at your own risk. If you decide to jump or swing into the water, you do so at your own risk.
OTHER INFORMATION
*Full room & board on the Valor; room only in New Orleans
Arrive, check in to our hotel (The Omni Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center), and get to know the city's historic center. Join us in the evening at 5pm for our first group meet-up and social
Hundreds of fabulous dance bands playing on over a dozen different stages from 11:00am to 10:30pm over 4 days. The official 2024 Schedule can be found at https://frenchquarterfest.org/
Each morning we will enjoy a group dance class and delicious breakfast of local cuisine before heading into the Quarter for the Festival. We also have a walking tour and other social activities planned for you over the course of the the weekend. Fun stuff!
Spend 5 nights/6 days onboard the Carnival Valor as we explore the beautiful ports of the Western Caribbean and dance our way across the sea and over the waves.
The cruise departs from New Orleans and includes 2 days at sea (fabulous for dancing!), plus full-day stops in Cozumel and the Yucatan in Mexico.. In addition to our own dance classes and parties while onboard, we have organized a special private group excursion for us in the Yucatan!
Stops include:
PROGRESO, YUCATAN, MEXICO: Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula offers an unbeatable combination of breathtaking beaches and fascinating history. Progreso is located on Mexico’s Emerald Coast alongside the Gulf of Mexico, where hot pink flamingos gather by the hundreds and sun-bleached Maya pyramids rise from the jungle. Inland from Progreso’s golden beaches are the spectacular Maya ruins of Uxmal, Xcambó and Dzibilchaltún, and the very colorful & historic colonial city of Mérida, the region’s best shopping stop for handmade crafts. Included with your trip is a private tour of Progreso especially designed for our group!
COZUMEL, MEXICO: Cozumel offers a huge variety of things to do, see, taste and explore. The island just happens to be perched atop a coral reef, which promises hours of snorkeling or scuba diving fun. The ship docks at the island’s heart — just minutes from San Miguel’s seafront shops and the white sand beach at Chankanaab National Park. There, you can drift among star corals and sea fans on a Cozumel diving excursion or simply kick back on the beach beneath your own palm palapa as the turquoise waves roll in. With non-stop zip line action, ancient discoveries at the nearby Mayan ruins, or time spent with your toes in the sand, a cruise to Cozumel may just top your best vacations list… before you even get home.
*PLUS* Experience Two Full Days at Sea! It’s the perfect way to relax after 4 days of dancing it up in the French Quarter with our first day at sea on Day 1, and our last day at sea on Day 5 in order to rest before we get home. For those with a little more energy to spare, the ship is also a veritable playground of activity, entertainment, culinary delights, and has much to do and explore :)
