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 | $— | $— | $— |
Ships That Sail From Here
| Ship | Cruise Line | CDC Score | ShipTea Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Breakaway | Norwegian | 95 | 🟢 Smooth Sailing |
| Carnival Valor | Carnival | 92 | 🟢 Smooth Sailing |
| Carnival Glory | Carnival | 96 | 🟢 Smooth Sailing |
Explore CDC inspection scores and outbreak data for every cruise ship that sails from New Orleans.