Carnival cruise ship at New Orleans port. Credit: Wikimedia Creative Commons license

The New Orleans cruise port is a starting point for many western Caribbean cruises.

Officially called Port of New Orleans, the facility is home to ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Nearby Attractions

Anyone wanting to spend even a small amount of time in New Orleans before or after their cruise will find quick access to major attractions.

The terminals are located in the heart of downtown within walking distance of the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, the city’s most famous attraction. This National Historic Landmark is known for its cobblestone streets, restaurants, nightclubs and carriage tours.

Another nearby attraction is the World War II Museum at 945 Magazine Street. It is about one mile northwest of the port.

Visitors with less time on their hands may hop on the Riverfront trolley line next to the port. It goes one and a half miles past the French Market to the Aquarium of the Americas, shopping at the Riverwalk and the Morial convention center.

The Riverwalk Marketplace and Outlet Collection at Riverwalk are two shopping and dining centers even closer to the port. They can be found within a brief walking distance north of the terminals.

Terminal Location and Directions

The port has two terminals for cruise passengers. They are the Julia Street Cruise Terminal Complex and the Erato Street Cruise Terminal Complex.

The Julia Street Cruise terminal, 920 Port of New Orleans Place, is the location for Norwegian and Royal Caribbean ships.

It is located between the Erato Street Cruise Terminal Complex and The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk.

The Erato Street Cruise terminal, 1100 Port of New Orleans Place, accommodates ships from Carnival.

Anyone flying into New Orleans to reach the cruise terminals will likely land at The Louis Armstrong International Airport. It is 17 miles or about 45 minutes from the cruise terminals depending on traffic volume and time of day.

Visitors can use an airport shuttle, airport limousine or taxi to reach the terminals from the airport. Expect to pay $20+ for the shuttle, $58+ for a limousine and $35+ for a taxi at the time of this writing and depending on the number of travelers.

Anyone driving to the terminals will take I-10 east to New Orleans and the N.O. Business District, US90 West, Crescent City Connection to the West Bank. 

Take exit 11C, go right onto Tchoupitoulas Street and left onto Henderson Street. Pass the railroad tracks and turn left onto Port of New Orleans Place.

Terminal Parking

It has more than 1,000 parking spaces on top of the terminal with Seacap luggage assistance. An elevator goes to the embarkation deck.

Parking is available for $20 a day. Reservations are not required except for oversized vehicles. Visitors should have their cruise tickets available to gain access to the parking lots.

The nearest available parking that is not on site is four blocks away, according to the Port of New Orleans Web site.

New Orleans Weather

© 2021 Scott S. Bateman

The average high temperatures in New Orleans range from about 60 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 90 degrees during the summer.

Rainfall averages between four and six inches a month except for three inches in October, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.