Cruises from New Orleans: terminals, parking and the lines that sail
Cruises from New Orleans are mostly 4- to 7-night Western Caribbean trips to Mexico, Honduras and Belize, and Carnival runs the most of them year round. Ships leave from the Erato Street and Julia Street terminals on the Mississippi riverfront, a short ride from the French Quarter, so it's easy to add a night in the city.
Book it if
- You want Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán or Belize in a week or less.
- You'd enjoy a night or two in the French Quarter before sailing.
- You can drive in from the Gulf South, Texas or the Mid-South.
Skip it if
- You want the Eastern Caribbean, Bermuda or the Bahamas.
- You can only travel from August to October and want to avoid hurricane season.
- You want a big choice of premium or luxury lines. Mainstream lines dominate here.
The New Orleans cruise port terminals
The Port of New Orleans runs two cruise terminals side by side on the riverfront, next to the Riverwalk and the Convention Center. Carnival uses Erato Street, and Norwegian and Royal Caribbean use Julia Street. Your booking names the terminal.
- Erato Street Cruise Terminal
- 1100 Port of New Orleans Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130. Used by Carnival.
- Julia Street Cruise Terminal
- 920 Port of New Orleans Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130, next to Erato Street. Used by Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.
- From the French Quarter
- About 5 minutes by car
- From MSY Airport
- Taxi, rideshare or line transfer; allow extra time at rush hour
- Season
- Year round
New Orleans cruise port parking
- Parking: the port’s parking is run by LAZ Parking and charged for every day of the cruise. Carnival guests park in the Erato Street terminal garage. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean guests park at the 100 Poydras Garage (100 Poydras St), not at Julia Street itself. The port says space is limited and reservations are highly recommended. Rates are set by cruise length: as of September 2026 the port lists $180 for 7 days at either garage (less for 4- and 5-day trips), plus a $1-a-day fee if you reserve online. Payment is by credit or debit card.
- Oversized vehicles: the Erato Street garage allows 8 feet 4 inches on the third floor and 7 feet 6 inches on higher floors. The 100 Poydras Garage limit is 6 feet 6 inches, and both cap vehicle length at 22 feet.
- Hotel parking: many downtown hotels offer park-and-cruise rates, but some don’t include a shuttle. Ask before you book.
Getting there
- From the airport: take a taxi, a rideshare or a line transfer. Allow extra time in the afternoon and on big event weekends.
- From downtown hotels: the terminals are within walking distance of the Warehouse District and the edge of the French Quarter, but a taxi is easier with luggage.
- By car: from I-10, take US 90 West (exit 234A), then the Tchoupitoulas exit (11C). New Orleans is within a day’s drive of much of Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Lines sailing from New Orleans
Three lines run regular sailings from New Orleans. The table below shows sample sailings from our monthly snapshot.
- Carnival Cruise LineThe biggest line at the port, with year-round 4- to 7-night Western Caribbean trips and usually the lowest fares. Carnival Valor leaves for Mobile in May 2027 and Carnival Dream returns to New Orleans.From $224 per personChecked September 2026
- Norwegian Cruise LineSeasonal 7-night Western Caribbean sailings from Julia Street, with Norwegian Breakaway based here for winter 2026–27 (it swapped home ports with Norwegian Prima, which moved to San Juan). No fixed dining times, and a good fit for couples and groups.From $579 per personChecked September 2026
- Royal CaribbeanMariner of the Seas runs 6- and 7-night Western Caribbean trips from Julia Street, to ports such as Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica. An activity-heavy ship, and the stronger family pick here.From $338 per personChecked September 2026
| Departs | Line and ship | Nights | Itinerary | From | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas | 6 | 6 Night Western Caribbean Cruise (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $400 | Check price |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Liberty | 6 | 6 Day Western Caribbean (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $479 | Check price |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Liberty | 8 | 8 Day Bahamas (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $2,048 | Check price |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas | 7 | 7 Night Western Caribbean Holiday (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $828 | Check price |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Liberty | 7 | 7 Day Western Caribbean (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $318 | Check price |
| Jan 4, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Valor | 5 | 5 Day Western Caribbean (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $274 | Check price |
| Jan 9, 2027 | Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas | 7 | 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $338 | Check price |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Liberty | 7 | 7 Day Bahamas (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $659 | Check price |
| Jan 23, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Valor | 5 | 5 Day Western Caribbean (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $224 | Check price |
| Jan 23, 2027 | Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas | 7 | 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $376 | Check price |
| Apr 24, 2027 | Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas | 17 | 17 Night Spain & Morocco Transatlantic (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $646 | Check price |
| Nov 14, 2027 | Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Getaway | 7 | 7 Night Western Caribbean (from New Orleans, Louisiana) | $579 | Check price |
Best cruises from New Orleans by season
- 4- and 5-night trips, year round: usually Cozumel, sometimes with Progreso or Costa Maya. It’s the most popular way to try a cruise from New Orleans. See our short cruises guide.
- 7-night Western Caribbean, year round: ports such as Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize City, Roatán and Mahogany Bay. See our Roatán port guide.
- Winter and spring (December to April): the calmest seas, the most comfortable heat, and the busiest time for New Orleans itself.
- Summer and fall (June to November): hurricane season. Most trips run as planned, but itineraries can change at short notice. Late August to early October carries the most risk.
Carnival or another line?
Carnival has the most sailings and usually the lowest fares from New Orleans, and its short Cozumel trips are the easiest way to try a cruise. Royal Caribbean is the stronger choice if you’re traveling with children who want water slides and more to do on board. Norwegian suits couples and groups who don’t want set dinner times. For a traveler type ranking, see our family cruises and adults-only cruises guides.
Three insider picks
1. Stay a night in the city. Unlike most home ports, New Orleans is worth a night either side of your cruise. Book a hotel within a taxi ride of the port, and you also build in a buffer against flight delays. Hotel prices rise sharply around Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and big games, so check the calendar before choosing your sailing date.
2. Expect time on the river. Ships sail down the lower Mississippi before reaching the Gulf, so the first evening and the last morning are on the river. It’s a calm start, but it adds hours to each end of the trip.
3. Buy travel insurance for fall sailings. From August to October, a storm can reroute or shorten your cruise. Lines usually change the itinerary rather than cancel, but missed flights and hotel nights are your problem. Insurance that covers weather delays is worth it.
New Orleans cruise FAQ
Which terminal does Carnival use in New Orleans?
Carnival uses the Erato Street Cruise Terminal, and the Erato Street garage is the port’s parking for Carnival sailings. Your boarding pass confirms the terminal.
Where do I park for a cruise from New Orleans?
Carnival guests park in the Erato Street terminal garage. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean guests park at the 100 Poydras Garage. Both are run by LAZ Parking for the port and charged for each day of the cruise, and the port recommends reserving. As of September 2026, a 7-day cruise costs $180 at either garage, with a $1-a-day fee for reserving online. Some downtown hotels also offer park-and-cruise packages.
Does Disney Cruise Line sail from New Orleans?
Not at the moment. Disney has run short seasonal programs from New Orleans in past winters, but its fall 2027 to spring 2028 schedule, announced in August 2026, doesn’t include New Orleans. Check the Disney Cruise Line guide for its current home ports.
Does Norwegian Cruise Line sail from New Orleans?
Yes, seasonally from the Julia Street terminal, with Western Caribbean trips in the cooler months. Norwegian Breakaway is based here from November 2026 to March 2027, on 5- to 11-day Western Caribbean round trips. See our Norwegian Cruise Line guide for its ships.
Do I need a passport for a cruise from New Orleans?
On a round trip from New Orleans, U.S. citizens can sail with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID, because it’s a closed-loop cruise under CBP rules. A passport is safer if you might need to fly home from Mexico or Central America. More in our no-passport cruises guide.
Are there 3-day cruises from New Orleans?
They’re rare. Because of the river transit, most short sailings from New Orleans are 4 or 5 nights to Cozumel.
Sources
- Carnival News: Carnival announces year-round deployment in Mobile, Alabama (Carnival Valor from May 2027)
- Port of New Orleans: cruise parking and directions
- Port of New Orleans: cruise FAQs
- Royal Caribbean: 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from New Orleans on Mariner of the Seas
- DCL Fan: Disney Cruise Line fall 2027 to spring 2028 itineraries (home ports)
- Seatrade Cruise News: Norwegian Prima and Breakaway trading homeports in 2026/27
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (closed-loop cruises)
- NOAA National Hurricane Center