New Orleans
Louisiana, US
Port Report Card
Port Stats
The Tea
New Orleans is the only cruise port where you might show up hungover from the night before — and we mean that as a compliment. The Erollin Julien Cruise Terminal is right on the Mississippi in the Warehouse District, walking distance to the French Quarter. That alone makes it special.
The walkability score here is through the roof. Arrive a day early, eat beignets at Cafe Du Monde, listen to jazz on Frenchmen Street, and stumble to your ship the next morning. No $50 Uber required. Parking is reasonable at $16/day, and the port itself is small enough that embarkation doesn't feel like herding cattle.
What they won't tell you: the neighborhood between the French Quarter and the port has some rough patches after dark. Take an Uber if you're heading back late. Also, the western Gulf itineraries from New Orleans (Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan) are solid budget options that the cruise lines don't promote as heavily because the per-passenger revenue is lower. Shh.
Weather by Month
| Month | Avg Temp | Rain Days | Good Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 12 | 61% |
| Feb | 59°F | 8 | 72% |
| Mar | 64°F | 11 | 65% |
| Apr | 70°F | 5 | 83% |
| May | 79°F | 10 | 68% |
| Jun | 82°F | 10 | 67% |
| Jul | 82°F | 21 | 32% |
| Aug | 85°F | 7 | 77% |
| Sep | 78°F | 11 | 63% |
| Oct | 72°F | 3 | 90% |
| Nov | 69°F | 9 | 70% |
| Dec | 59°F | 6 | 81% |
Day-in-Port Budget
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | $— | $— | $— |
| Drinks (2) | $— | $— | $— |
| Taxi to French Quarter | $— | $— | $— |
| Excursion | $— | $— | $— |
| Souvenirs | $— | $— | $— |
New Orleans on the Cruise Schedule
Five of the ships we track are scheduled to sail from New Orleans 162 times over the next 12 months, most often on 7-night voyages (trips run 4 to 17 nights). Carnival Liberty has the most departures, with 49. Those ships sail for Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean. The busiest months on the schedule are January 2027 and March 2027.
Ships Sailing From New Orleans
| Ship | Cruise Line | Departures (12 mo) | Next Departure | Latest CDC Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Liberty | Carnival | 49 | Sep 20, 2026 | 97 |
| Carnival Valor | Carnival | 49 | Sep 19, 2026 | 99 |
| Mariner of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 26 | Nov 1, 2026 | 100 |
| Norwegian Breakaway | Norwegian | 20 | Nov 22, 2026 | 99 |
| Carnival Dream | Carnival | 18 | May 16, 2027 | 98 |
More US Gulf Cruise Ports
Explore CDC inspection scores and outbreak data for every cruise ship that sails from New Orleans.