Stunning Views Of The Mississippi River
One of the most amazing things youll find if you visit NewOrleans is that the port, and various places around the city, offer amazingpanoramic views of the Mississippi River.
Riverwalk
Located right next door the Julia Street Cruise Terminal isthe Riverwalk, which stretches all the way from the Julia Street Cruise Port,all the way to the Canal Street Ferry Terminal.
From any place on the Riverwalk you can stand to takepictures, or just take in the views of the river. The Riverwalk is also home toThe Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, which features various shops andrestaurants. Some of the shops youll find there are:
- Sunglass Hut
- Haagen Daas
- Nordstrom Rack
The Riverwalk also has various events that you can participate in while visiting. To find out about any events taking place during your vacation, visit .
Woldenberg Riverfront Park
If you travel just a bit further past the Canal Street Ferry, youll find yourself in the Woldenberg Riverfront Park, which runs alongside the river in the French Quarter.
There was a time when inhabitants of New Orleans were cutoff from using the river for various reasons. But in the 70s and 80s, theWoldenberg Riverfront Park was put in between the city and the river, offeringa mile-long stretch of grassy park starting at the Canal Street Terminal andending somewhere around Clay Street.
Jackson Square
Carnival Pride Resumes Cruises From Baltimore
Carnival Cruise Line is officially sailing again from Baltimore. On Sunday afternoon, Carnival Pride set sail on a seven-night cruise to the Bahamas, where itll visit Freeport, Nassau, and the private island Half Moon Cay.Before the ship set sail, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, two past guests, Captain Maurizo Ruggiero, and Port Director cut a ribbon to
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Norwegian Breakaway Cruises Cancelled
More guests are being impacted, with Norwegian Cruise Line canceling additional sailings in addition to the 11 ships already announced. Norwegian Breakaway has now joined the list and has become the 12th ship in the fleet to cancel cruises since the start of 2022.
Embarkations will now be cancelled through January 23, 2022 out of the ships homeport of New Orleans in Louisiana. Norwegian Breakaway is currently sailing a seven-day voyage, but that will be the final one until the January 30 sailing.
In a letter to guests who were booked on the ship, NCL said,We are working to navigate the fluid public health environment while delivering a safe and healthy onboard experience. Today, as a result of COVID-related circumstances, we decided to cancel Norwegian Breakaway cruises with embarkation dates through and including January 23, 2022.
Norwegian Breakaways current January 9 voyage is in the Western Caribbean and has already completed a call in Cozumel, Mexico, and Isla Roatan in Honduras. The ship is calling at the cruise lines private island of Harvest Caye in Belize today. A call at Costa May, Mexico, will take place on January 14 before returning to New Orleans on January 16.
The reason for all these recent cancellations by Norwegian Cruise Line is due to the fluid situation with Omicron and the way its impacting cruising. NCL has not specifically explained why so many ships are being suspended again, but travel restrictions are undoubtedly a significant reason.
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Where Is The New Orleans Cruise Terminal
The New Orleans Cruise Terminal is located right in thecenter of the city. The French Quarter is just a short drive away, as isdowntown New Orleans. Nearby cities are Gretna to the south and Metairie to thenorthwest.
A few landmarks to lookout for if youre driving to the portare The National WWII Museum on Magazine St and The Louisiana Childrens Museumon Julia Street.
How you get to the port largely depends on which terminalyou need to go to.
Erato Street Cruise Terminal at 1100 Port of New OrleansPlace serves ships from Carnival Cruise Lines and Disney Cruise Lines.
If you happen to be cruising with a different company, yourboarding information will tell you which terminal you need to go to.
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Port Of New Orleans Loses $21 Million Without Cruises But President Predicts Fall Return
NEW ORLEANS The Port of New Orleans services four major cruise lines: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Disney. The docks are empty and have been for over a year when the CDC held up U.S. operations because of the coronavirus.
This coming year we were due to have 338 cruise ship calls and about 1.5 million passenger moves for the year, said Brandy Christian, Port of New Orleans President and CEO. I think for the regional economy, annually thats about $250 million in spending.
Christian says the port has lost $21 million in direct revenue. We typically collect fees for both parking and a passenger fee for using the cruise terminal.
The CDC laid out plans for safe returns, but most cruise liners are waiting.
Disney Cruise Line and Carnival canceled all cruises from U.S. Ports through the end of May. Norwegian cruises through June. Two Royal Caribbean cruises will resume this summer but not any sailing out of New Orleans.
Theyre trying to do it very smart, very safe. I think thats why theres a pause, said Don Redman with AAA Louisiana. Yes, they can start having cruises now but they dont want to yet.
Redman says cruise lines took a big hit with COVID-19.
I think most of them are hesitating to plan anything. You might actually see some cruises developing, even by the end of this year, 2021, said Redman.
Christian says from communications shes had with cruise liners, theyre hopeful the city could see all cruising ships return by the fall.
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Are Carnival Cruises Out Of New Orleans Cancelled
Carnival Cruise Line cancels the first return cruise of Carnival Glory out of New Orleans due to the impact of Hurricane Ida. With the state of Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Ida, including New Orleans, Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled its first return sailing out of the Port of New Orleans on September 5, 2021.
Is Royal Caribbean Sailing Out Of New Orleans In 2021
Disney Cruise Line and Carnival canceled all cruises from U.S. Ports through the end of May. Norwegian cruises through June. Two Royal Caribbean cruises will resume this summer but not any sailing out of New Orleans. You might actually see some cruises developing, even by the end of this year, 2021, said Redman.
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Back To Sea: Disney Fantasy Resumes Sailings From Florida
After 18 months, a second Disney Cruise Line ship has resumes sailings from Florida. Disney Fantasy set sail from Port Canaveral on Saturday evening for a four-night cruise to the Bahamas.Disney Fantasy Sailing at a reduced capacity, Fantasy will stop twice at Disneys private island Castaway Cay and have one day at sea. The double-dip itinerary was rare prior to the shutdown but
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Two P& O Cruise Ships To Sail The Caribbean
P& O Cruises plans to have two ships sailing the Caribbean before the end of the year. The cruise line has experienced a hugely successful summer return with the launch of its newest flagship Iona and its popular summer seacations onboard Britannia. The cruise line is ready to expand its cruises and has chosen to do this in the Caribbean with Britannia and Azura.
Britannia will set off on her transatlantic voyage from Southampton in southern England on October 22. The vessel will take 14 days to sail to the Southern Caribbean island of Barbados before she starts the first of a series of 14-day cruises in the Caribbean.
Azura will be the second ship sailing the Caribbean for the UK-based cruise line. Starting December 10, the cruise ship will also be sailing from Barbados on 14-day itineraries that include ports of call such as Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire, Dominica, and Martinique.
P& O Cruises are not yet sailing with the entire fleet and will not do so this year. Aurora is currently scheduled to return in February of next year and Arcadia is scheduled to return to sailing in March of next year.
Plenty to look forward to and this will be the first chance British cruisers will be able to enjoy a cruise in the Caribbean since the suspension started in 2020.
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Waiting For Onboard Amenities To Open
One big draw to cruising many people like is having accessto every onboard amenity upon boarding, sometimes before the ship even takesoff.
While this is true for many cruise ports that are alreadylocated on the ocean, its a little different for ships leaving from the Portof New Orleans. Cruise ships there are docked on the river, not the ocean, andthe river is considered United States territory.
Unfortunately, this means that there are some onboard shopsthat wont be allowed to open for business until the ship hits internationalwaters.
You will definitely see this with the casino on board. Due to various maritime laws, casinos on cruise ships are not allowed to open and conduct business until they are out of internal and territorial waters and instead are on international waters.
From the time the ships leave the Port of New Orleans andhit the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico is about 100 miles, so you should be prepared to wait about 7-8 hours to beable to start your gambling fun.
While you wait, we recommend going for a leisurely walk ondeck, or bring a book to read and hit the lounge. There should be a buffetopen, or maybe the main dining room, so go get something to eat. Or, if youresuper tired after a long flight and drive, use this opportunity to take a muchneeded nap in your cabin.
Hotels Within Walking Distance From The Port Of New Orleans
If its just you and maybe one other person traveling, its possible that you would rather stay at a hotel where you can walk to the port. This way, you dont have to worry about finding a shuttle, taxi, or some other way of getting to the port. All you need are your own two feet.
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The list below are all located less than a mile from thecruise terminal, and are excellent hotels to stay in before or after yourcruise. All are reasonably priced and offer all kinds of amenities to make yourstay the best hotel stay ever.
The last two on the list, the Hampton Inn and the HiltonGarden Inn, do offer shuttle service to and from the cruise port. Just in caseyou decide last minute that a shuttle would be a very nice thing to have.
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Faq About Cruising From The New Orleans Cruise Port
Where do cruises leave from New Orleans?
The Port of New Orleans is located at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place. Cruise ships will leave from either one of two terminals: Julia Street and Erato Street .Once the cruise ships leave the Port of New Orleans, itll take about 7-8 hours to travel along the Mississippi before getting to the Gulf of Mexico and international waters.
Where is the best location to stay in New Orleans?
Any of the hotels within walking distance are great places to stay. However, our top recommendation is the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, located at 2 Poydras St.Why that one? First, it is super close to the cruise port . But the amazing thing about them is while many hotels charge extra for the park & cruise packages, this hotel automatically gives you a 20% discount on your room just for being a cruise traveler.They also provide you with cruise parking at a heavily discounted rate of $13 per night , which is a steal. They dont have a shuttle for the port, but being so close to the terminal you arent going to need it.
How Long is a Typical Cruise from New Orleans?
The average length of a cruise shipping out from New Orleans is 7 nights. There are a select few that are either shorter or longer, but 7 nights is the typical cruise length.
Carnival Cruise Lines on Thursday extended the moratorium on sailings from the Port of New Orleans through August, despite the resumption of some sailings starting in July from Florida and Texas.
Pre And Post Cruise Options In New Orleans
Cruising from New Orleans is like adding another port of call to your itinerary. Many cruise passengers stay a few days before or after their cruise to experience the citys culture, cuisine and nightlife. Here are some suggestions:
The French Quarter: Occupying the same six by thirteen block area laid out in 1722, its the only intact French Colonial and Spanish settlement remaining in the United States. Walk down Bourbon Street lined with numerous bars, jazz clubs. Linger in Jackson Square, , and marvel at its historic buildings the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously active cathedral in the United States and The Cabildo, site of the signing of the Louisiana Purchase. From the beautiful architecture to art galleries, museums, and restaurants, the French Quarter has something for everyone.
Plantation Tours: One excellent one to consider is the Houmas House Plantation and Gardens. Enjoy a Grand Southern Mansion surrounded by the Souths most beautiful gardens. Catch a glimpse of the way life was in the early 1800â²s when sugar was king and Houmas House was the largest sugar plantation in the world.
Audubon Aquarium & Zoo: This is one of the countrys top-ranked zoos offering an exotic mix of animals from around the globe in natural habitats. At the aquarium, walk beneath the vivid Caribbean Reef, feed a stingray, or become an Adventure Island explorer and journey the Mississippi River.
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Carnival Glory Returns To The Port Of New Orleans Before Embarking On Week
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Carnival Glory returns to the Port of New Orleans before embarking on week-long cruise to the Bahamas. This marks the first sailings from the city since cruise operations were paused 18 months ago.
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Carnival Glory returns to the Port of New Orleans before embarking on week-long cruise to the Bahamas. This marks the first sailings from the city since cruise operations were paused 18 months ago.
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NEW ORLEANS
The cruise industry made its return to New Orleans Sunday, as Carnival Glory set sail for a seven-day trip to the Bahamas. It marks the first sailing from the city since cruise operations were paused 18 months ago.
Carnivals team celebrated the occasion by welcoming its passengers with a Back to Fun event. Martin Guidry and Elizabeth LeGrange, of Lafayette, were among the first set of guests onboard the ship. The couple was honored with cutting the ribbon during the fanfare.
All guests of Carnival Cruise Line must follow safety protocols recommended by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, including proof of vaccination for COVID-19, as well as a negative COVID-19 test taken within two days prior to the sailing date.
Carnival leaders praised the return to Port of New Orleans and mentioned that it will provide support to New Orleans economy.
Carnival Glorys voyage from the Erato Street Cruise Terminal includes visits to Bimini, Freeport and Nassau.
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Enjoy The Getaway Of A Lifetime Then Take A Fantastic Cruise
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!
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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.
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.
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