New Orleans cruise port guide: A guide to cruises from the mouth of the Mississippi

The Port of New Orleans — otherwise known as Port NOLA — is the sixth-largest cruise port in the USA. It's a busy port serving several cruise lines, but if you have sailed out of a spot like Miami, it may feel a little less complex in its organization. Still, more and more passengers use Port NOLA every year, and the port's capabilities are growing alongside this demographic reality.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is not too far away, the bustle of the city's Central Business District is right next door and the French Quarter is around 2 miles away.

A sail-away from Port NOLA is particularly memorable, as you'll get to see the city fade along the bends of the Mississippi River, which itself gives way to a tangled web of marshes and refinery platforms on its way downstream.

River cruises sailing up the Mississippi River also depart from New Orleans, but not from the main terminals at Port NOLA. American Cruise Lines vessels depart from the Thalia Street Wharf, while Viking Cruises depart from the Poydras Street Wharf.

Port NOLA address

• 920 Port of New Orleans Pl. — Julia Street Cruise Terminal
• 1100 Port of New Orleans Pl. — Erato Street Cruise Terminal

Port NOLA terminal information

Cruise lines sailing from Port NOLA

Schedule

Julia Street Terminal

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean

Erato Street Terminal

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• Carnival Cruise Line

Port NOLA cruise terminal directions

If you're driving into New Orleans from out of town, you're almost certainly driving in on Interstate 10, which can drop you close to Port NOLA. Whether coming from I-10 East or West, take exit 234 onto U.S. 90 West. From 90, take exit 11C onto Tchoupitoulas Street. That's pronounced "chop-uh-tool-us"; if locals give you directions, they'll often just call it "Chop." Make sure you hit this exit, otherwise you are going to cross the Mississippi River on the Crescent City Connection Bridge.

Once you take exit 11C, follow the signs and turn right at the second stoplight onto Tchoupitoulas Street. You should start seeing cruise port signage at this stage, but if you miss it, turn left at the next stoplight onto Henderson Street. Drive two blocks, then turn left onto Port of New Orleans Place. It is hard to miss; just remember it is after the railroad tracks.

The southern Erato Street Cruise Terminal is just past the bridge pier. The Julia Street Cruise Terminal is about a half-mile north of Erato.

Amtrak's Union Passenger Terminal is located just over a mile to the west at 1001 Loyola St. It's about a 10-minute taxi or ride-hailing trip from Amtrak to the port terminal, or a 30-minute walk through the city's Warehouse District if you don't mind hoofing it with your bags.

Note that the Riverfront Streetcar line does run to the Julia Street Terminal. If you're staying at a hotel in the French Quarter, it might be worth taking this unique form of public transportation.

If you need to hail a taxi or car service after disembarking in New Orleans, consider walking over the covered pedestrian bridge at the Julia Street Terminal into downtown New Orleans. There is always a bottleneck of taxis, Ubers and Lyfts at the port itself, so it's always easier to hail one in town.

Port NOLA cruise port parking

There are garages for both cruise terminals. The Julia Street Terminal (Norwegian and Royal Caribbean) is served by LAZ Parking at the 100 Poydras Garage, with more than 500 covered parking spaces. Look for the entrance off of Poydras Street near the self-parking garage at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Parking is $30 a day, and you'll want to make reservations.

Note that the maximum height for a vehicle at this garage is 6 feet, 4 inches, and the maximum length of a vehicle is 22 feet.

The Erato Street Terminal (Carnival) is served by the Erato Street Parking Garage, located at the top of the terminal. The price is $25 per day and you need to make reservations. To enter, look for a circular ramp. There's room for 1,000 cars here; the maximum length is still 22 feet, but there is limited space for vehicles as tall as 8 feet, 4 inches, and space for vehicles as tall as 7 feet, 6 inches on higher floors.

There are SeaCaps available to help with luggage in both parking facilities.

Park-and-cruise

There is no shortage of private lots near Port NOLA in the New Orleans Central Business District. Fulton Place Parking (901 Convention Center Blvd.) is one of the more popular options, as it has room for oversize vehicles; it charges $17 a day ($15 uncovered) and offers a free shuttle to the cruise terminals from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

Airports near Port NOLA cruise port

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is 12 miles west of downtown New Orleans, or about a 20- to 30-minute drive, depending on traffic. The next closest airport is Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR), which is 90 miles to the north.

MSY is a reasonably busy airport that handles around 13 million passengers a year, the majority of whom arrive domestically, mainly from Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Orlando. The main carriers flying through MSY are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. BTR is primarily served by American Eagle, Delta and United Express.

There is a Delta Sky Club at MSY near Gate C1 and a United Club near Gate C7; beyond those options is The Club MSY, a reasonably nice space available to those with Priority Pass.

How to get to Port NOLA cruise terminal from MSY

You can usually buy a transfer between the airport and the cruise terminal (or your hotel) directly from your cruise line. Sometimes, this is reserved for travelers who have purchased their airfare from the cruise line, but you or your travel agent can call to ask if you can buy the transfers a la carte. Carnival, for example, offers a cruise transfer from MSY for $28 one-way, on the days of embarkation and disembarkation only. Private shuttle companies like Burton can also accommodate up to six passengers in an SUV for $175 total. SuperShuttle can get up to four passengers downtown for around $75.

Taxi service from MSY to Port NOLA cruise terminal

A one-way taxi from MSY to Port NOLA is a flat $36, or $15 per person for three or more passengers. An Uber or Lyft from MSY will typically run $40-$50, but obviously these prices can swing wildly depending on surge pricing; from BTR, expect an Uber or Lyft to run you at least $150.

Public transit from MSY to Port NOLA cruise terminal

The Airport Express (Bus 202) runs 13 times a day to Loyola Avenue and Howard Avenue, right by the Union Passenger Terminal, a 10-minute taxi ride away from the port. The bus fare is only $1.25 for a single ride, but keep in mind it takes 40 to 50 minutes of travel time depending on traffic.

Port NOLA cruise terminal services

Sidewalk wheelchair access is spotty in places — some of the curb cuts where wheelchairs can access the sidewalk are in need of maintenance. Wheelchairs are available, but you need to contact your cruise line in advance to ensure there are options that meet your needs.

Hotels near Port NOLA cruise port

Marriott Bonvoy members will want to look into the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District, located, as the name suggests, in a converted 19th-century warehouse, just across the street from both the Convention Center and the port.

If you're part of the World of Hyatt loyalty program, the Hyatt Place New Orleans/Convention Center is similarly adjacent to the port and the Riverwalk mall and steps from the National WWII Museum.

There is no shortage of Hilton Honors hotels in the vicinity of the port, all of them family-friendly; these include, on the budget end, the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center and, on the more upscale side, the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, which offers shuttle transportation to the cruise terminal.

Related links: Airline and hotel dining rewards programs: Which is best for you?

Restaurants near Port NOLA cruise port

New Orleans is known for its dynamic dining scene and there are plenty of fantastic restaurants in town. The best ones by the port terminals tend to be white-tablecloth affairs, or at least priced in a white-tablecloth-budget range. Mainstays like Cochon and Herbsaint are within walking distance of the port, but if you really want to dip into this city's enviable food culture, we recommend getting a taxi out of the Central Business District.

You'll find plenty of great restaurants lining Magazine Street, which runs through the Lower Garden District, Garden District and Uptown. On the other hand, the sort of funky neighborhood eateries and bars that define the New Orleans experience can be more easily found in neighborhoods like Faubourg Marigny and the Bywater, particularly around Louisa Street and Franklin Avenue.

If you'd like a dining experience that is both old-school New Orleans and reasonably funky, wander into the French Quarter and stick to streets like Royal, Chartres, or Decatur.

Related links: Best dining credit cards

Shopping near Port NOLA cruise port

If you need last-minute cruise supplies, the cruise port is located near the Riverwalk Outlets, a serviceable mall at 500 Port of New Orleans Pl., just a few blocks — literally a five-minute walk — from the terminals (although the mall is big, so said walk could take longer). The Canal Place Shopping Center is where you can head for more high-end goods; it's about a 20-minute walk from the terminals, or a very quick taxi ride. The Prytania Theatre here is a lovely movie house that's a nice spot to kill some time.

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