Cruising out of New Orleans is great because you get a really fun embarkation city before your cruise and cruising down the Mississippi River is a unique experience in a cruise ship. How often can you cruise in a huge ocean ship down a river? We recently sailed on the Carnival Valor out of New Orleans and these are our tips on cruising from New Orleans!
#1 Tip for Cruising from New Orleans: Arrive Early to Enjoy The City!
Make sure you arrive a day or two early so you can enjoy some time in New Orleans before your cruise! New Orleans is such a unique, vibrant city that you absolutely have to experience before your cruise.
Don’t overdo it in New Orleans
There is a huge party culture in New Orleans and on Bourbon Street that it can be easy to fall into that party atmosphere. But you don’t want to get on the ship hung over! Don’t go overboard on the drink – or food – before your cruise!
Experience New Orleans during the morning
Don’t just experience New Orleans in the evening. Go out sort of early in the morning (like before 10am) and just walk around. The city has a completely different feel than it does in the evening. It is much calmer and a much better time to appreciate the history and unique architecture of New Orleans.
But don’t try to get beignets in the morning before you get on your ship.
Trust us. One look at the line and we decided we didn’t need them that badly, but don’t be the person waiting hours for a beignet at 9 or 10 am. Get them mid-afternoon the day before so you’ve covered that experience (because they are an experience) and have breakfast somewhere else before you board!
Parking is more expensive than many ports
Parking at the hotel and the cruise terminal is more expensive than it is at many ports. If you drive to New Orleans make sure you are prepared to pay New Orleans parking prices!
Sailing the Mississippi River takes a long time
It takes hours to make it all the way down the Mississippi River and out into international waters. The first part of this included river cruise is the most interesting, but there are also plenty of other boats sailing past and some towns, buildings and canals you can see hours after your boat actually leaves. If this is something you are interested in, be aware it takes many hours. It will get dark before you actually make it out of the Mississippi completely, even in the middle of the summer.
Early dining will interfere with viewing the entire sail away
I’m not saying don’t book an early dining for the cruise if you like to eat early, but know that if you do book early dining you will miss parts of the Mississippi. You will still catch the most interesting parts of the river, but just be aware you will still be sailing down the Mississippi during your meal.
Taxes will continue until you are in international waters
Drinks and any purchases you make still have taxes on them until you are international waters. Even if you have the Cheers! Package you will still have to pay taxes on whatever you purchase until late at night on the first day.
This tip on cruising from New Orleans will apply again starting in the evening before you dock for debarkation. The ship actually makes it into the Mississippi in the evening the night before and so taxes will be applied to your last few drinks of the night.
Shops are not open while you are in the Mississippi
This means shops are not open that first night and will close early the last night. Not a huge deal, just sometime to know ahead of time!
New Orleans makes a great cruise port. It’s historic and interesting so you should add a couple of days onto your cruise enjoying some time around the city. There are tons of things to do in and around New Orleans so make sure you spend some time before or after your cruise enjoying the city!
What to read next:
Tips for your Caribbean Cruise out of New Orleans!
Best Snorkel to take on a cruise
Cruising on a Carnival Cruise Ship? Check out these Tips for Cruising Carnival’s Fun Ships!
