Cruises leaving from New Orleans Louisiana

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We offer information cruise ports in America. We offer a summary of facts and information about each port and what to expect when your ship is leaving or arriving from these ports. The Cruise Ports differ and each will have its own flavor and distinction. Cruises leaving from and departing from New Orleans is the focus of this page.

New Orleans is a becoming a major cruise gateway and several cruise lines offer cruises leaving from or departing from New Orleans. Departing from NewOrleans is very convenient for many people in the Midwest and is fast becoming one of the favorite cities and ports to leave from. A cruise itinerary which begins and ends in New Orleans offers passengers two vacation experiences in one trip," said Gary LaGrange Port of New Orleans executive director/CEO. "Most passengers will spend a couple of days in New Orleans either before or after their cruises."

In the past decade the growth of New Orleans’ cruise industry has been phenomenal. The number of cruise ship passengers embarking or making a port of call has grown from 40,000 in 1993 to an estimated 450,000 in 2003. The cruise ship port’s infrastructure has grown with the passenger totals. 47 million potential passengers live within a 500 mile radius of New Orleans.

Cruise terminal expansion

In the past several years, more than $9 million has been spent to upgrade the two cruise ship terminals at the Julia Street Wharf. New enhancements include an air-conditioned, elevated passenger gangway; expanded customs and baggage area; covered and lighted walkways and a vehicular drive in/drop off area. The two cruise ship terminals combine for 35,000 square feet of check-in/waiting area, 46,000 square feet of baggage area, a 2,600 foot long berth (for three vessels) and 140,000 square feet of ship loading space. There is also on-site parking for 350 vehicles and satellite parking nearby for many more.

A new and larger cruise terminal is planned for the adjacent Erato Street wharf. “Cruise lines are telling us they want to be in New Orleans. And it’s because passengers are telling the cruise lines that New Orleans is their favorite port of embarkation,” said LaGrange. “We must continue to expand and improve our facilities to meet this growing demand.”

New Orleans’ cruise lineup

Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, RCCL currently homeport vessels in New Orleans. New Orleans is the second largest port for Carnival Cruise Lines in terms of passenger throughput.

The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will operate seven-day western Caribbean cruises year-round. Carnival’s 1,800-passenger Holiday offers four-day, long weekend cruises departing Thursdays which call at Playa del Carmen/Cozumel, Mexico. Five-day cruises departing on Mondays and Saturdays will visit Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, Mexico.

Royal Caribbean’s 2,446 passenger Grandeur of the Seas features seven-day cruises from November to April. Ports of call include Key West, Fla. and Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 1,800-passenger Norwegian Dream heads to New Orleans where she will spend the winter and spring sailing a seven-day, itinerary to Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Cancun, Mexico. “New Orleans is a great drive up market as well as an extremely attractive port of embarkation, especially for consumers in the western half of the United States who won't have to catch the red-eye all the way to the East Coast in order to experience a Western Caribbean cruise,” said Colin Veitch, chief executive officer and president of Norwegian Cruise Line and Orient Lines.

PARKING

On-Site Parking: Immediately adjacent to the cruise terminal, the Port operates a patrolled, fenced, and lighted outside parking lot (no height restrictions) for cruise passengers only, for length of voyage only. Parking in this lot is $12 per day for the length of voyage. Cost is $84 for a seven day cruise, cash only on arrival, no credit cards, no checks, no reservations, no refunds for early departure. RV's pay according to number of spaces occupied (i.e., two spaces equal $168)

Off-Site Parking: The Port has reached agreements with the following private lots along Convention Center Blvd. that will charge cruise passengers the Port's rate of $12 per day:

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

FROM CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT: Convention Center Blvd. to Henderson St., left on Henderson St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port of New Orleans Place to Julia St. Terminals 1 & 2 or right to Delta Queen (Robin St. Wharf).

FROM INTERSTATE 10 (EAST OR WEST): Exit at Business 90W/Westbank (locally known as Pontchartrain Expressway). Proceed to Tchoupitoulas St./South Peters St. exit, continue to Convention Center Blvd., right on Convention Center Blvd. continue to Henderson St., left on Henderson St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port of New Orleans Place to Julia St. Terminals 1 & 2 or right to Delta Queen (Robin St. Wharf).

FROM RIVER BOUND PONTCHARTRAIN EXPRESSWAY: Exit at Tchoupitoulas St./South Peters St. exit, continue to Convention Center Blvd., right on Convention Center Blvd. continue to Henderson St., left on Henderson St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port of New Orleans Place to Julia St. Terminals 1 & 2 or right to Delta Queen (Robin St. Wharf).

FROM RIVER BOUND WESTBANK EXPRESSWAY: Westbank Expressway to Crescent City Connection, continue over Crescent City Connection, exit at Tchoupitoulas St. exit. Continue to Henderson St., left on Henderson St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port of New Orleans Place to Julia St. Terminals 1 & 2 or right to Delta Queen (Robin St. Wharf).

FROM NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Take I-10 East toward New Orleans. Follow signs for Westbank (Business 90) as you approach downtown. Exit at Tchoupitoulas St./South Peters St. exit, continue to Convention Center Blvd., right on Convention Center Blvd. continue to Henderson St., left on Henderson St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port of New Orleans Place to Julia St. Terminals 1 & 2 or right to Delta Queen.

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