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Cruise port guideUSMSY

New Orleans

New Orleans sends ocean ships down the Mississippi to the Caribbean from the Erato Street and Julia Street terminals, and river boats up the Mississippi from the foot of Robin Street.

5 things to do1 airport connections4 ships

Your day ashore, at a glance

Find something worth your timePlan the airport transferRead the safety guidance

Peak season: Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Make the most of your stop

Things to do in New Orleans

5 recommendations

Choose an easy wander, a local highlight or a bigger day out. Compare practical details before you head ashore.

Getting to your ship

Airport to cruise port

The Erato and Julia Street terminals are about 15 miles (24 km) from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, 25 to 35 minutes by taxi (flat-rate to downtown) or rideshare. River boats moor nearby on the riverfront.

MSY

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International

To New Orleans · one way

Airport lounges

Verified transfer prices from MSY have not been published yet. Check the transport operator before booking.

Rental cars: Available at the airport, but not worth it: the French Quarter is walkable and parking is tight.

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Arrange your transfer to New Orleans

Choose your arrival airport and exact cruise terminal, then check a quote for your party. Confirm pickup details, luggage and accessibility with the provider.

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Find a rental car for your visit to New Orleans

Choose your pickup location and dates below. Airport and city offices may require a separate transfer from the cruise terminal. Check opening hours, insurance, deposit and return time before booking.

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Know before you go

Safety ashore

Women travelers

Routine precautions

Editorial baseline for a daytime port visit, based on country-level government advice rather than a women-specific local incident rate. Canada advises normal security precautions in the United States; theft occurs in tourist areas and violent crime varies by neighbourhood, particularly after dark. Check the route locally, keep valuables secure and arrange transport for unfamiliar areas at night. This rating does not establish that every terminal or neighbourhood is safe.

Reviewed 2026-10-25

LGBTQ+ travelers

Extra caution advised

Government advice highlights changing federal gender-marker processes and state or local rules affecting LGBTQ+ travelers. Check the relevant state and your travel documents; this is not a port-specific incident score. Assessment uses country-level government advice; port-specific conditions may differ.

Reviewed 2026-10-25

Editorial guidance reflects the cited advice and review date. Laws, attitudes and conditions can differ within a destination. No rating guarantees personal safety.

Pick your moment

When to go

  1. Jan: Shoulder season
  2. Feb: High season
  3. Mar: High season
  4. Apr: High season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Shoulder season
  7. Jul: Low season
  8. Aug: Low season
  9. Sep: Low season
  10. Oct: High season
  11. Nov: High season
  12. Dec: High season
● High season○ Shoulder season◌ Low season

The ocean ships are busiest in winter and spring, with Mardi Gras weeks especially full. Summer is hot and humid, and the river boats slow down in the height of it.

Who else is in port?

Port crowding index

100 is average. 150 means 50% more ship passenger capacity than this port’s observed hourly average over the past 30 days; 50 means half the average.

Checking ships in port…

Estimate for tracked catalog ships, based on published passenger capacity, not actual passengers ashore. Port areas are approximate circles around published port coordinates. Only positions reported within an hour at 1 knot or less are counted; ships at anchor may be included. Missing AIS reports and untracked ships can understate crowding. Quiet observed hours count toward the average; collection outages do not.

Set sail

Ships sailing from New Orleans

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Carnival Liberty at Grand Cayman, May 20253.7 ★Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Liberty2005 · 110,000 GT · 2,974 guests · Caribbean · BahamasCarnival Liberty is a Conquest-class ship built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and christened in Civitavecchia in July 2005 by actress Mira Sorvino. She was the first Carnival ship…Carnival Valor in Costa Maya, Mexico, March 20223.7 ★Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Valor2004 · 110,000 GT · 2,980 guests · Caribbean · BahamasCarnival Valor is a Conquest-class ship of about 110,000 gross tons, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and christened in Miami in December 2004 by journalist Katie Couric. She…Mariner of the Seas in Nassau, June 20184.0 ★Royal Caribbean InternationalMariner of the Seas2003 · 139,863 GT · 3,114 guests · Caribbean · MediterraneanMariner of the Seas is the fifth and last Voyager-class ship, a second-generation design that entered service in November 2003 with American Paralympic athlete Jean Driscoll as…3.8 ★Viking River CruisesViking Mississippi2022 · 12,621 GT · 386 guests · MississippiViking Mississippi is a 386-guest, five-deck river ship built for the Mississippi by Edison Chouest and registered in the United States; it entered service in 2022 as Viking's…

Ships that call at New Orleans

These ships sail regions that regularly include this port; check the itinerary for your sailing.

Related news about New Orleans

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New Orleans cruise port: activities, safety & transfers