There is no better city to start and end a cruise with than New Orleans! Visitors may be headed to sandy beaches in foreign lands or neighboring cities along the Mississippi River, but they can get a head start on vacation time with cool jazz, celebrated cuisine, historic architecture, and much more in this port city.
Set Sail from the New Orleans Port
The Port of New Orleans offers a handful of cruising experiences, including Caribbean cruises and river cruises. Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line are among the available Caribbean voyages. This year marks thirty years that Carnival Cruise Lines has been cruising out of New Orleans. With this historic anniversary, the port welcomes a new Carnival Cruise Line ship, the Carnival Liberty, along with Royal Caribbean Cruises’ official comeback to the city in the fall. The Norwegian Getaway also makes its debut to the Port of New Orleans in December for Norwegian Cruise Line sailings.
As for our river cruises, New Orleans has American Cruise Lines and Viking River Cruises. All river cruises out of New Orleans include at least one night at a local hotel. With Viking River Cruises, it's the Westin Hotel whereas with American Cruise Lines, it's the Hilton Riverside. These nights are included in the sail price and the ship will transport guests from the host hotel to the port on the day of their sailing. Guests then have the opportunity to add additional nights at the pre-stay hotel and on the package when booking.
(Courtesy of New Orleans & Company)
Pre/Post Cruising Opportunities
With the ships docking at the Port of New Orleans in the heart of Downtown, getting to and from hotels is a breeze. New Orleans & Company offers pre- and post-cruise packages for visitors to continue their vacation in the city. These packages offer discounted hotel rates along with additional deals and coupons during the extended stay. With these opportunities, visitors have the chance to explore New Orleans and take a cruise all in one trip!
Choosing to explore New Orleans to kick off or wrap up an already amazing vacation provides cruise goers with a full and complete getaway experience. Visitors can check out our cruise itinerary for a few suggestions on how to spend their pre-cruise vacation–or how to extend the trip after they’ve returned to port! This gives guests just enough of a taste of the city that will leave them wanting more. Once the trip comes to an end, visitors may find themselves already planning their return!
Additional Assistance
For incoming travel agents who are embarking on a cruise out of the New Orleans port, New Orleans & Company offers cruise coupons as well as the VIP Pass to use during your pre and post stay. Take advantage of these offers and experience two vacations in one!
For more information on new offerings in New Orleans or complimentary assistance with group planning, please contact Rachel Funel, Senior Account Executive - New Orleans & Company, at rfunel@neworleans.com or +1-504-566-5018.
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