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Shaped by cultures from Europe, West Africa, and the Caribbean, New Orleans exudes a sense of celebration, from the live music on every corner to the delicious street food in the French Market. There’s always something new to discover, taste, listen to, and learn about in this exciting, high-spirited city where the good times roll. Cruises to New Orleans bring you to the heart of the city, where you’ll find a pulsating world of jazz, Mardi Gras, vibrant cuisine, glorious architecture, and joyous multiculturalism. Its white sand beaches are legendary, and its extensive network of coral reefs draws visitors from around the world. The ancient Maya ruins of Tulum are just about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Cozumel, nestled atop a rugged cliff that offers incredible views of the Caribbean Sea.
Cruises out of New Orleans
Discover the best rates and take advantage of bonus offers including free gratuities, drinks, cancellation, onboard credit, specialty dining, shore excursions, and even free domestic airfare. Join a guided tour with a local expert to unravel the origins of jazz, starting in beautiful Louis Armstrong Park in the Treme neighborhood. Explore the hip Marigny district, famed for its nightlife and music joints, and Frenchmen Street, packed with legendary live music venues. Take in street performances and listen to live bands in bars as you discover the history of this musical genre and its connection to the city’s European, West African, and Caribbean cultures.
Nassau and Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas

Locals are passionate about the city’s jazz heritage and Creole cuisine and take enormous pride in the annual Mardi Gras festival, a celebration that occurs 47 days before Easter. This is one of the largest celebrations in the U.S. with parades, concerts, food, and those famous Mardi Gras beads. Costa Maya is no hidden gem — its beautiful stretches of shoreline, Mayan sites and lush jungles are known around the world. Though it is a go-to getaway spot for sun seekers and beachcombers, Costa Maya still feels a world apart from the crowded beaches and non-stop party scene you’ll find at its coastal counterpart, Cancun. Norwegian cruises to Jamaica have a port stop in Ocho Rios, known for its golden beaches and nearby jungle-covered mountains.

Related Cruises
The French established this community in 1718, and it is home to famous spots such as Bourbon Street. Head here if you want to learn about the renowned New Orleans music scene and listen to some live jazz music. New Orleans cruises often range from 6-9 nights providing cruisers with a variety of different entertainment and dining options. ATMs are located all around the city, including one located within the cruise terminal. The bohemian 18th-century French Quarter is the city’s cultural hub, which is rich in history, architecture, and music. Explore the jazz bars of Bourbon Street, and stroll streets lined by colorful 18th and early 19th-century houses adorned with filigree cast-iron balconies.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers several different Caribbean itineraries departing from The Big Easy. These 2022 cruises from New Orleans visit ports in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. Venture 20 minutes outside the city to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve to explore southern Louisiana swamplands during your New Orleans cruise. Airboat and sightseeing boat tours offer an up-close look at vast wetlands, plus its local residents— alligators, turtles and snakes included. Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. Listed prices may have blackout dates, qualifications or restrictions.
THE BEST Cruises from New Orleans to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE BEST Cruises from New Orleans to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 02:10:24 GMT [source]
Onshore, you’ll find charming colonial houses and some of the best global cuisine in the region. And if you venture off the beaten path, there are plenty of natural wonders waiting to be discovered. This tiny Central American country was once the center of the Maya empire, and you can still visit the ruins of ancient Maya cities and temples on guided tours. If you prefer to spend your day in the water, dive Belize’s Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world.
Within a short walk of the cruise terminal, you’ll come to the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, where you’ll find discounts on numerous popular brands. For the most upscale shopping, head to Canal Place on Canal Street, where you’ll find luxury retailers. Easily reached on the historic St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, this upscale neighborhood displays another face of the architecture of the Deep South.
New Orleans' cruise business rebounded in 2023. Here's how it compares to before the pandemic. - NOLA.com
New Orleans' cruise business rebounded in 2023. Here's how it compares to before the pandemic..
Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
To help get your cruise vacation wanderlust fueled, learn what to do while you're in New Orleans and get more information about the ports you can visit with a 2022 cruise from New Orleans. It seems nothing can dampen the spirits where the good times roll, the jazz is cool and the food is hot. Get in on the action in the world-famous Vieux Carre, better known as the French Quarter, with its Dixieland sounds and Bourbon Street banter. Tour the charming Garden District or just stroll along the Mississippi.Looking for a cruise from New Orleans?
The largest of Honduras’s Bay Islands, Roatan is a true tropical paradise teeming with natural beauty. Emerald green pine forests blanket its hills, and sun-kissed beaches dot the coastline. It’s entirely surrounded by coral reefs, making it one of the best places in the world for snorkeling and diving.
Or chase adventure into the wild on a tour of Roatan’s jungles, home to monkeys, sloths, iguanas and more. Like the island paradises you’ll visit from your ship, New Orleans has magical foods, music, architecture, history and customs to discover. Don’t be surprised if this city of embarkation and debarkation turns out to be your favorite port. When you cruise from here, you really get two vacations in one. Remember, these are just some of the sun-soaked destinations you can visit on a Caribbean cruise from New Orleans. Majesty of the Seas sails from the Port of New Orleans year-round, so there’s no wrong time to start planning your vacation.
Here, you’ll find colorful carnival masks, voodoo dolls, any number of hot and spicy sauces to take home, Mardi Gras beads, and pralines. Beignet mix is another fun item to take home to recreate your time in the Big Easy. New Orleans has a unique heritage, making it completely different from other cities in the U.S. The city was founded in 1718 by French colonists and handed to Spain in 1760, after which time it flourished as a port. Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, New Orleans became part of the U.S. The National WWII Museum vividly tells the story of war, while the Contemporary Arts Center offers rotating exhibits of painting, sculpture, film, and photography.
You can also learn about the importance of cacao and chocolate making in Belize when you book a Ke'kchi Maya chocolate and culture tour. If you're an angler, consider a deep-sea catch-and-release fishing adventure. A Carnival cruise from New Orleans is your chance to discover the unmistakable charm and flavor of the Crescent City. The best part is, you can soak up some of this flavor before sailing on one of our cruises out of New Orleans. Time your NOLA cruise right, and you can step out with the parades of Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras. Royal Caribbean offers lots of affordable cruises to The Bahamas from New Orleans.
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. The Port of New Orleans has been making waves as a hot departure point for affordable cruise vacations to the Caribbean. We’re talking destinations like Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City, Key West, Nassau, and Costa Maya — not to mention the top-rated Royal Caribbean private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Belize City teems with history, culture, and all kinds of great outdoor activities.
On your way you'll find onboard food spots designed to regale your palate, like BlueIguana Cantina™ and Guy's Burger Joint™... Let yourself be swept away to RedFrog Pub® or Alchemy Bar® for a drink, or get a little carried away rooting for your favorites at SkyBox™ Sports Bar. Your high seas hero Carnival Valor is here to rescue you from ordinary vacations and whisk you away to leisure, fun... Hop on the historic St. Charles streetcar— the world’s oldest in continuous operation— for a relaxing ride from bustling Canal Street to the oak-lined Garden District. You’ll pass downtown scenes and antebellum mansions en route to Audubon Park, a beloved green space and home to the city zoo.