Norwegian Cruise Line Temporarily Cancels Sailings From New Orleans
Norwegian Cruise Line temporarily cancels departures through January 23, 2022, from New Orleans on the Norwegian Breakaway.
Norwegian Cruise Line continues with its round of cancellations and has now added the Norwegian Breakway to the growing list of ships temporarily suspending operations. The cruise line informed guests on January 13 that the Breakway-class ship is canceling all embarkations until later in January.
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New Orleans is the city of jazz and jambalaya, Mardi Gras and masked celebrations. Theres a reason why more and more passengers choose to launch their cruise vacations from this unique city. And our cruise terminals and parking facilities are conveniently located in the heart of the city, steps from the amenities and cultural offerings you can only find in the Crescent City.
New Orleans is the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States, and demand for cruising from the Big Easy is growing for both Caribbean and river itineraries. Discover why cruising from New Orleans is like taking two vacations in one!
Which Norwegian Cruise Line Ships Are Suspended Now
There are currently 12 ships in the NCL fleet that will have cruises cancelled into the coming weeks and months. Some vessels were already on hold, and others were taken out of service, such as the case of Norwegian Breakaway.
Norwegian Cruise Line says in its latest update,If your ship is not listed below, we are still sailing as planned. However, as the global public health environment continues to rapidly evolve and destinations around the world modify their travel requirements or implement new travel restrictions, it is possible that itineraries may need to be modified. We will do our best to continue to communicate any changes and always strive to deliver an amazing vacation experience.
Here is the list of ships with cancelled cruises:
For those guests impacted by all the recent cancellations on the ships above, NCL is automatically refunding the cruise fare back to the original form of payment. There will also be an additional Future Cruise Credit that can be used on a future cruise that departs through May 31, 2023.
Following the industry-wide suspension, Norwegian Breakawayrestarted operations from New York on September 26, 2021. The vessel then repositioned to begin sailings from New Orleans in November 2021. The ship has also been in the headlines recently when local health onboard, resulting in a lot of attention despite a low number of cases.
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Cruise Ship Calls Estimated For Port Of New Orleans In 2022
The Port of New Orleans has announced a big comeback for cruise ship operations with the Norwegian Breakaway arrival on Nov. 21, 2021. The Breakaway joins the Carnival Glory and Valor that successfully restarted ocean-going cruises in September and early November.
According to a press release, river cruises resumed successfully from the port in March 2021, and in September 2021 Carnival was the first to restart ocean-going cruises that have continued to consistently drive business back to the New Orleans market.
Port of New Orleans is forecasting 285 sailings during the 2022 calendar year and expecting nearly 1 million passenger movements, with the return of Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line slated for February.
All cruise lines operating from the port currently have vaccination, testing and mask wearing requirements in place as well as strict COVID-19 protocols beyond federal recommendations.
We are pleased ocean-going cruises are resuming and joining the successful restart of river cruises nine months ago, said Brandy D. Christian, president and CEO Port NOLA. Cruises from the Port of New Orleans are critical to the state and regional economy. Our cruise passengers make up more than 300,000 hotel room nights alone in our city and they spend more than $125 million locally.
Port NOLA said that it also looks forward to welcoming Viking Cruise Lines to New Orleans in 2022.
Carnival Glory To Resume Sailing On September 19 After Housing Emergency Workers
Carnival Cruise Line said Tuesday that Carnival Glory will sail from Port of New Orleans on Sunday, Sept. 19 on a seven-day cruise to The Baha
Though cruise ship sailings have been slowly resuming since the CDC regime was agreed in June, there have been setbacks for the industry, including the death of one passenger in August who had contracted COVID-19 while on a cruise from Galveston, Texas to Belize.
Also, more recently, dozens of passengers who had been on an American Queen Voyages river cruise that departed from Port Nola tested positive for the virus.
The CDC had been reluctant to lift restrictions on the cruise-line industry because it said that the conditions onboard, with so many people in close proximity for an extended period of time, was conducive to spreading the air borne disease.
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Transportation In New Orleans
New Orleans cruises are convenient since you can walk to most attractions in the city, but if you need to get somewhere faster or arent comfortable walking long distances, you have several options for transportation. Taxis are often waiting outside the cruise terminal and there are taxi stands throughout the city. You can also find cheaper transportation in the form of New Orleans streetcars, which zip around the city and have multiple stops in the French Quarter. For a historic mode of transportation, board the St. Charles Line, which is the oldest continually operating streetcar line in the world.
Cruise Ship Leaves New Orleans After Covid Cases For Previous Trip Rises To 17
NEW ORLEANS The Louisiana Department of Health released that there are now 17 cases of COVID that were detected on the Norwegian Breakaway, with one case possibly being the new Omicron variant.
The seven additional cases were found after the ship disembarked at the Port of New Orleans Sunday.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, the one case of the Omicron variant was among the previous 10 detected Saturday and is present in a crew member. The person is not a Louisiana resident and has not left the ship.
According to the City of New Orleans, the cases were identified in both crewmembers and passengers.
A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line tells WWLTV that all cases of COVID-19 onboard were asymptomatic.
“In addition to requiring that 100% of guests and crew are fully vaccinated, per the Companys comprehensive health and safety protocols, we have implemented quarantine, isolation and contact tracing procedures for identified cases,” the cruise line spokesperson wrote in a statement. “We are testing all individuals on Norwegian Breakaway prior to disembarkation, as well as providing post-exposure and quarantine public health guidance by the CDC.”
The ship left the Port of New Orleans on Nov. 28 and voyaged to Belize, Honduras and Mexico with more than 3,200 people on board.
Officials said everyone on board was tested for COVID-19 before leaving the ship and was provided post-exposure and quarantine public health guidance by the CDC.
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The New And Improved Disney Wonder
It’s clear Disney has taken great care of Disney Wonder during the shutdown caused by COVID-19. The ship — originally launched in 1999 — looks every bit like a brand-new vessel. You won’t find banged-up furniture or frayed carpeting here everything looks as if it was brought onboard just yesterday.
Those who haven’t sailed Disney Wonder in several years will find some significant changes throughout, while those who have never set foot aboard the ship will find plenty of diversions to love.
In the fall of 2019, just before the industry shutdown, Disney transformed the former Promenade Lounge on Deck 3 midships into The French Quarter Lounge a reimagined space that honours New Orleans’ iconic French Quarter as well as the classic Disney film, The Princess and the Frog.
Flanked by oversized porthole windows running along the portside corridor leading back to Tiana’s Restaurant, aft, the French Quarter Lounge has been my go-to spot onboard. There’s New Orleans-themed cocktails, live music — even a full-sized streetcar replica at the aft end of the room.
This is one of the things that Disney does right, every time: it caters to adults every bit as well as it caters to its youngest passengers. You don’t need to have kids to appreciate sailing aboard a Disney ship, and you don’t even need to be a Disney fanatic to have a good time. What could be an “in-your face” experience is instead delivered with deft subtlety.
The Magic Is Still Here
For me, the most poignant moment of this voyage so far occurred during about an hour after our departure from New Orleans.
A character “Meet and Wave” — the new physically-distanced version of Disney’s traditional character meet and greets — was occurring in the Atrium on Deck 4. I sat and watched for a while as kids came up to have their photos taken with Rapunzel, while a pianist played live music from a piano located somewhere in the atrium lobby below.
At one point, there was no longer a queue of kids waiting to greet Rapunzel. So, in the light of the setting sun, she began to dance to the music, there in the atrium, by herself. Never breaking character once, merged completely with the very real crewmember playing her, dancing for herself and the few passengers passing by in the fading light of day.
Suddenly, a small girl came rushing into the atrium and burst out, “It’s Rapunzel! Mommy, it’s Rapunzel!” Rapunzel looked down and waved at the girl, who burst into the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen.
Cruising brings me joy, and Disney is all about joy, whether that’s on the silver screen or here on the deep blue sea.
That’s magic — and a COVID-19 pandemic can’t change that.
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American Cruise Lines Ships
With passenger capacities of no more than 190 guests, American Cruise Lines leave space for unprecedented detail, comfort and luxury. Guests are greeted with a well-crafted space and experience, unlike any other cruise liner.
Sail out of New Orleans aboard one of the below luxury liners:
The American Jazz – beginning 2020.
Shopping Near The New Orleans Cruise Port
Shopping is located just a few blocks from the cruise terminal. Within a short walk, youll come to the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, where youll find discounts on popular brands like Coach, Gap, and Steve Madden. There is also a Nordstrom Rack and Neiman Marcus Last Call.
For some upscale shopping, head to the Shops at Canal Place. Located along a gorgeous part of Canal Street, the shops encompass a number of beloved brands, like Anthropologie, Brooks Brothers, BCBG, J. Crew, Vineyard Vines, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co.
For more classic souvenirs, take a walk around Forever New Orleans, a large gift shop with items centered around the city of New Orleans.
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Port Of Departure New Orleans Louisiana
New Orleans, The Big EasyNew Orleans Cruise Ship TerminalsErato Cruise TerminalCruises From New OrleansThings To Do Near New Orleans Cruise PortJackson SquareBourbon StreetMoonwalkSt Louis Cemetery #1St Charles St StreetcarGetting To The Cruise PortFrom Louis Armstrong International Airport Cruise Port Map
Cruise Ship Disembarks In New Orleans With At Least 17 Covid Cases Including A Probable Omicron Infection
New Orleans A Norwegian Cruise Line ship with at least 17 passengers and crew members infected with COVID-19 docked Sunday in New Orleans, where health officials said the ship was disembarked amid efforts to prevent any spread into the community. At least one of the infected crew members is suspected to have the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the Louisiana Department of Health said late Sunday. The Norwegian Breakaway arrived in the city on Sunday after departing from New Orleans on November 28 and making stops in Belize, Honduras and Mexico over the past week. Norwegian Cruise Line issued a statement on Saturday confirming a “handful of COVID-19 cases among guests and crew.” The company said all of the identified cases involved people without symptoms of the illness. On Monday, a spokesperson for the company said in a statement a South African crew member suspected of having the Omicron variant was in isolation for the entirety of the November 28 cruise.
UPDATE: 7 additional COVID-19 cases have been identified on a ship that disembarked in New Orleans today. This brings the total number of #COVID19 cases identified among the passengers and crew members to 17.
Louisiana Department of Health
The state recorded its first confirmed Omicron case on Sunday, the health department said, but that was unrelated to the Norwegian cruise liner.
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Cruises Embark Out Of New Orleans Days After Cdc Warning
NEW ORLEANS – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people not to travel on cruise ships because of a surge of COVID-19 cases aboard the ships.
The agency raised its threat level from 3 to 4 on Thursday , indicating the risk for becoming infected with COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high.
Many passengers arriving back to the Port of New Orleans on Sunday said they were unaware of the CDCs heightened alert, having spent the past seven days at sea.
I still would have gone on the cruise regardless, said Chad Stout, who disembarked from the Carnival Glory. It is what it is. Ive had COVID. I got the shot.
Passengers also arrived at the port Sunday morning to board those same ships for their afternoon departures. Some said they were aware of the warning, but that it was simply too late to cancel without penalty or financial loss.
Neil and Dawn Schoon, from Denver, were among dozens of passengers lined up Sunday to get rapid-tested ahead of boarding the Norwegian Breakaway.
It is what it is, Neil Schoon said. If we didnt take the cruise, were out our money.
Ive been watching my email like a hawk, waiting for Norwegian to say its canceled, Dawn Schoon said.
Health educator Dr. Eric Griggs said with the Omicron variant so transmissible even among vaccinated people, its no surprise so many outbreaks have been reported on cruise ships over the last few weeks.
Its a closed, shared space for over a long period of time, said Dr. Griggs.
Erato Street Terminal At 1100 Port Of New Orleans Place
Erato Street Terminal is the home port for Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruises & Julia Street is the home port for Norwegian Cruise Lines.
The cruise terminals are ideally located in downtown New Orleans, just 5 minutes from the famed French Quarter and are easily accessible off Interstate 10.
There is a refreshment stand serving coffee, cold drinks and snacks, as well as a souvenir stand located at the port.
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Culture & History Of The New Orleans Cruise Port
Theres no other city in the U.S. quite like New Orleans thanks to its unique heritage. The city was founded in 1718 by French colonists and was part of France until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 when it joined with the U.S. Since then, it has gained a multi-cultural ambiance that combines French and Spanish Creole with southern roots and an eclectic arts and music scene. The city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and took a long time to recover, but today it has gotten its groove back and is a great place to visit on a cruise.
From a cultural standpoint, youll find that locals are passionate about the citys jazz music and Creole cuisine. The other thing that defines this citys culture is the annual Mardi Gras festival, a celebration that occurs 47 days before Easter. Its one of the largest celebrations in the U.S. with parades, concerts, food, and those famous Mardi Gras beads.
New Orleans Port Facilities & Location
New Orleans cruises pull into port at the Julia Street Cruise Terminal Complex, which was originally built for the 1984 Worlds Fair that took place in New Orleans. It became a cruise terminal in 1991 and has undergone many makeovers over the decades. Today, it has an air-conditioned gangway, covered drop-off and pick-up area, and two berths that span enough space to accommodate large cruise ships. Julia Street Cruise Terminal is located right by shops and restaurants and is just a mile away from Bourbon Street.
Disney Cruise Line Returns To New Orleans
We embarked Disney Wonder in the Port of New Orleans on Valentine’s Day. It was my first time in the Big Easy, and it made me wonder why it’s taken me so long to sail from here. Though the variety of itineraries out of New Orleans isn’t as great as those from Florida, the city’s unique culture, food and drink scene makes it a destination in its own right. Staying here a few days pre-and-post cruise is highly recommended.
Arriving pierside, all passengers underwent rapid testing before being cleared to embark the vessel. The process required some patience — Disney does not fully control this terminal as they do in Port Canaveral — but everyone was trying their best to get people onboard as swiftly as possible. A computer glitch resulted in some confusion at the end of the gangway and made this last step challenging. Patience and understanding are still two things embarking passengers should always bring with them, especially during these COVID times.
Disney Wonder is nowhere near full, as the line is still operating under restricted capacity — though families, couples and even solo travelers are well-represented here. Kids are still an important part of the Disney Cruise experience, and the folks that are onboard are lovers of Disney and Disney Cruise Line who are looking for a quick getaway to Mexico.
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Setting Sail From New Orleans On The Mississippi River
Disney Wonder was set to arrive in New Orleans in 2020, and then again in 2021. Disney Wonder has arrived back on the Mississippi this year, operating a short season of Caribbean cruises from New Orleans though February and March, along with additional sailings aboard Disney Magic in February, March and April 2023.
The ship is perfectly suited to sail from the Crescent City, thanks to a number of subsequent refits performed on Disney Wonder in 2016 and 2019 that have added touches of New Orleans and Louisiana to the ship, from the Southern-inspired Tiana’s Place restaurant to the newer French Quarter Lounge.
Departure from New Orleans was memorable, too, as Disney Wonder made its way along the Mississippi River, not entering the open Gulf of Mexico until after midnight. We passed factories and freighters, riverboats and trains, ship-spotters and quiet residential areas. Sharp curves in the river could be felt as Disney Wonder heeled over perceptibly, swaying gently with each course correction.