cruise schedule new orleans

Enjoy the Getaway of a Lifetime. Then Take a Fantastic Cruise.

New Orleans is the city of jazz and jambalaya, Mardi Gras and masked celebrations. There’s a reason why more and more passengers choose to launch their cruise vacations from this unique city. And our cruise terminals and parking facilities are conveniently located in the heart of the city, steps from the amenities and cultural offerings you can only find in the Crescent City.

New Orleans is the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States, and demand for cruising from the Big Easy is growing for both Caribbean and river itineraries. Discover why cruising from New Orleans is like taking two vacations in one!

Cruise Vessel Schedules:

Click below to see Cruise Vessel Schedules. On the top right, click the dropdown menu for Vessels in Port and select “View Cruise Schedule.”

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Cruise Port NOLA: 2 Vacations in 1

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New Orleans cruise port

Bahamas - caribbean - bermuda.

• Coordinates 29.944, -90.060
• LOCODE USMSY
• Local Time 2024-07-09 11:05

New Orleans cruise ship schedule

• Temperature

• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 13 Jul 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 14 Jul 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 18 Jul 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 21 Jul 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 22 Jul 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 27 Jul 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 28 Jul 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 01 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 04 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 05 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 10 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 11 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 15 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 18 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 19 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 24 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 25 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 29 Aug 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 02 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 07 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 08 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 12 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 15 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 16 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 21 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 22 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 26 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 29 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 30 Sep 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 05 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 06 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 10 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Brilliance Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 12 Oct 2024 - 07:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 13 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 14 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Brilliance Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 19 Oct 2024 - 07:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 19 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 20 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 24 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Spirit 2.549 passengers 25 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Brilliance Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 26 Oct 2024 - 07:00
• Norwegian Getaway 4.819 passengers 27 Oct 2024 - 07:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 27 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 28 Oct 2024 - 08:00
• Brilliance Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 02 Nov 2024 - 07:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 02 Nov 2024 - 08:00
• Norwegian Getaway 4.819 passengers 03 Nov 2024 - 07:00
• Carnival Liberty 3.574 passengers 03 Nov 2024 - 08:00
• Carnival Valor 3.581 passengers 07 Nov 2024 - 08:00
• Brilliance Of The Seas 2.580 passengers 09 Nov 2024 - 07:00

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New Orleans, Louisiana

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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? Check out our selection of Caribbean cruises .

New Orleans Cruise Image Gallery

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New Orleans

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What you NEED TO KNOW

Featured New Orleans CRUISE ITINERARIES

Cruises Out of New Orleans - the Complete Calendar

There are cruises leaving out of New Orleans year-round. Winter is the peak season but plenty of voyages in the spring, summer and autumn. Join the fun by getting on a cruise departing from New Orleans in 2024 .

We also have exclusive schedules of 4-day cruises and 5-day cruises from New Orleans.

January 2024

January 4: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises January 7: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises January 7: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line January 8: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises January 13: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises January 14: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises January 14: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line January 21: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises January 21: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line January 22: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises January 27: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises January 28: 6-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises January 28: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line January 31: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Disney Cruise Line

February 2024

February 1: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises February 3: 8-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruises February 4: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line February 4: 5-day cruise to Cozumel & Progreso on Disney Cruise Line February 5: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises February 9: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Disney Cruise Line February 10: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises February 11: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises February 11: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line February 11: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen February 15: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises February 16: 5-day cruise to Cozumel & Progreso on Disney Cruise Line February 17: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on American Queen February 18: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises February 18: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line February 19: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises February 21: 5-day cruise to Cozumel & Progreso on Disney Cruise Line February 21: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line February 21: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on American Queen February 24: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises February 24: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line February 24: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen February 24: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on Viking River Cruises February 25: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises February 25: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line February 26: 4-day cruise to Progreso on Disney Cruise Line February 28: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line February 29: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises February 29: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises

March 1: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Disney Cruise Line March 1: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line March 2: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line March 3: 7-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruises March 3: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line March 4: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises March 6: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line March 7: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line March 9: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises March 9: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen March 10: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises March 10: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line March 13: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line March 13: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line March 14: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises March 14: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises March 16: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line March 17: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises March 17: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line March 18: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises March 19: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line March 20: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line March 23: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises March 23: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen March 24: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line March 25: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line March 27: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line March 28: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises March 28: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises March 30: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line March 31: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line March 31: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line

April 1: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises April 3: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line April 6: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line April 6: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises April 6: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line April 6: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen April 10: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line April 11: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises April 11: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises April 12: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line April 13: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line April 15: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises April 17: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line April 18: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line April 20: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises April 20: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line April 20: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen April 24: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line April 24: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line April 25: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises April 25: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises April 27: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line April 29: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises April 30: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line

May 1: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line May 4: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises May 4: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line May 4: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen May 6: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line May 8: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line May 9: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises May 9: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises May 12: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises May 12: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line May 13: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises May 15: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line May 18: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line May 18: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises May 18: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line May 18: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen May 19: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises May 22: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line May 23: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises May 23: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises May 24: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line May 26: 7-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruises May 27: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises May 29: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line May 30: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line

June 1: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises June 1: 21-night Complete Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line June 1: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen June 2: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises June 5: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line June 6: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises June 6: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises June 9: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises June 10: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises June 12: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line June 15: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises June 16: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises June 16: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen June 19: 21-night Complete Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line June 19: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line June 20: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises June 22: 21-night Mississippi River cruise to St Paul on Viking River Cruises June 23: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises June 24: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises June 29: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises June 30: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises

July 3: 10-night Mississippi River cruise to St Louis on American Cruise Line July 4: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises July 7: 7-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruises July 8: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises July 13: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises July 14: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises July 18: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises July 21: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises July 22: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises July 27: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises July 27: 21-night Mississippi River cruise to St Paul on Viking River Cruises July 28: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises

August 2024

August 1: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises August 4: 7-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruises August 5: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises August 10: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises August 11: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises August 15: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises August 17: 21-night Complete Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line August 18: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises August 19: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises August 24: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises August 25: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises August 25: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen August 29: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises August 31: 21-night Complete Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line

September 2024

September 1: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises September 2: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises September 7: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises September 7: 10-night Mississippi River cruise to St Louis on American Cruise Line September 8: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen September 12: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises September 14: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen September 16: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises September 17: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line September 21: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises September 21: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line September 22: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises September 22: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen September 26: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises September 28: 21-night Mississippi River cruise to St Paul on Viking River Cruises September 30: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises

October 2024

October 1: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line October 2: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line October 5: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises October 5: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line October 6: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises October 6: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen October 9: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line October 10: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises October 12: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean October 13: 7-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruises October 14: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises October 15: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line October 19: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises October 19: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean October 19: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line October 19: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line October 19: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen October 20: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises October 24: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises October 25: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line October 26: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean October 27: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises October 28: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises October 31: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line

November 2024

November 2: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean November 2: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line November 2: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen November 2: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on Viking River Cruises November 3: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises November 4: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line November 7: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises November 7: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on Viking River Cruises November 9: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean November 10: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises November 10: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line November 11: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises November 13: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line November 16: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean November 16: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line November 16: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line November 16: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen November 17: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises November 21: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises November 23: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean November 23: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on Viking River Cruises November 24: 7-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruises November 24: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line November 25: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises November 30: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line November 30: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises November 30: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean November 30: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line November 30: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen November 30: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on Viking River Cruises

December 2024

December 1: 14-day cruise to the Caribbean on Carnival Cruises December 5: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises December 6: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line December 7: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean December 7: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on Viking River Cruises December 9: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises December 12: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line December 14: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line December 14: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises December 14: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean December 14: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Queen December 14: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on Viking River Cruises December 15: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises December 15: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line December 18: 6-night Mississippi River cruise on American Cruise Line December 19: 4-day cruise to Cozumel on Carnival Cruises December 21: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean December 21: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on Viking River Cruises December 22: 7-night Mississippi River cruise to Memphis on American Cruise Line December 22: 7-day cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruises December 22: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line December 23: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises December 28: 5-day cruise to Mexico on Carnival Cruises December 28: 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean December 28: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on American Queen December 28: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on Viking River Cruises December 29: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Carnival Cruises December 29: 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line December 29: 7-night Mississippi River cruise on American Queen

Christmas cruises out of New Orleans .

New Year cruises from New Orleans .

7 - Day Western Caribbean from New Orleans, LA

Cruise itinerary.

Day 1: New Orleans

Day 2 & 3: Fun Day at Sea

Day 4: mahogany bay, day 5: belize, day 6: cozumel.

Day 7: Fun Day at Sea

Day 8: new orleans.

Get to Know Carnival Liberty

We think you should have a great time at sea. Carnival Liberty feels the same way! This is one ship that’s ready to put its fun where your vacation is, with plenty of ways to enjoy your time away. All day long, Carnival Liberty can be found serving up signature burgers designed by Guy Fieri, right there at Guy's Burger Joint ™ — and look! — just over there is SkyBox ™ Sports Bar: a double-header of a sports bar that brings together live sports on TV and lively sports-gaming competition... oh, not to mention great drinks! Enjoy BlueIguana Cantina ™ tacos and burritos on Lido deck — made fresh, and fast, while you wait — plus two great bars: one rum-slinging, one tequila-wielding, both dueling for your heart. That's right: just a quick stroll from RedFrog Rum Bar ® you’ll find BlueIguana Tequila Bar ™ . On the entertainment side of things, Carnival Liberty features two of our best, live on stage. First there's Playlist Productions ™ , where pros sing and dance their hearts out, performing high-energy themed revues of tunes you know, backed by amazing visual effects. Then there's Punchliner ™ Comedy Club where you'll find some real pros who know how to wedge a little laughter into anyone’s evening. Kids have three unique youth spaces where they can hang out with others their age and enjoy supervised activities, games and more. You might call Carnival Liberty a vacation spot that's just full of great vacation spots... and we'd agree!

Onboard Activities

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Complete Guide to Cruising from the Port of New Orleans

If you’re taking a cruise, it’s hard to think of a port city that offers as much as New Orleans. From food to culture to history, it’s not hard to see why the port likes to bill itself to cruise passengers as “two vacations in one.”

And judging by the numbers, lots of people are taking advantage of the Port of New Orleans as a starting point for their cruise. Each year hundreds of thousands of people take cruises from the city, making it the sixth-largest cruise port in the U.S. While that might be just a fraction of the largest ports in the world like Miami or Port Canaveral , it’s a substantial amount for a port outside of Florida.

Are you one of the many people taking a cruise from the Crescent City? If so, then you no doubt have some questions about what to expect come cruise day. We have you covered.

Below, we dive into everything you need to know about taking a New Orleans cruise, including parking, transportation, things to do, and much more. It will give you everything you need to know before cruise day to enjoy your trip.

In This Article...

• Distance from New Orleans Airport: 15 miles
• Number of Terminals: 2 (Erato, Julia)
• Cruise Ship Dockings Each Year: ~200 (not including river cruises)

Port of New Orleans Location

When it comes to location, we can think of no port — except for maybe Miami — that has such a great location in the middle of everything. Specifically, the terminals sit on the banks of the Mississippi River, less than one mile from the French Quarter.

You’re near downtown, Canal Street, the Convention Center (just across the street from the terminals) and more. It’s a great location to stay for a day or two before your cruise, enjoy everything the area has to offer, and then also be right near your cruise ship.

If you are flying in for your cruise, the airport is about 15 miles, or 25-30 minutes away

Driving to the port? You can use this address to guide you there:

1100 Port of New Orleans Place New Orleans, LA 70130

If there’s one drawback to the port’s location, it is that the trip from New Orleans down the Mississippi means it’s more than 70 miles until you hit the open water. While it is neat to cruise down the river, if you’re wanting to get into the wide open sea, you have some time to wait as your trip begins. 

Things to Do Near the Port

As we mentioned, the location of the Port of New Orleans means there is a lot to do right near the cruise ships. Whether you want to eat, party, gamble, learn about history, or anything in between, there’s a lot to see and do before your cruise. Below we’ve covered a few of the most interesting items…

The National WWII Museum Within walking distance of the ports (20-30 minute walk) is the epic National WWII Museum. Telling the story of the war, including the European and Pacific theaters, the museum is designated by Congress as the official World War II museum for the United States. The collection includes more than 250,000 artifacts, so if you plan to visit, be prepared to spend plenty of time in order to see everything that’s offered. Adult tickets run around $30-$40. Veterans of World War II and companions are granted free admission.

Harrah’s Casino One of the favorite things to do on a cruise is try your luck in the casino. On the ship there are all your favorite games from craps to blackjack to slot machines. But if you are in the port area, there is also a Harrah’s Casino right nearby. With about 115,000 square feet of casino, more than 2,000 slot machines and 90 tables (plus a poker room), you can no doubt find your favorite game to play.

French Quarter Of course, no visit to New Orleans is complete without a visit to the French Quarter. Perhaps the most well-known party spot outside of the Las Vegas Strip, the Quarter offers a number of bars and restaurants, along with lots of shops and historic architecture. Whether you’re wanting to have a late-night out, a great meal, or just soak in some culture, the French Quarter is what you’re looking for.

New Orleans Cruise Terminals

The Port of New Orleans has two terminals that serve cruise ships. They are located right next to each other, on the bank of the river and tucked behind the convention center.

Erato Street Terminal Sailing on Carnival? Then you’ll likely sail from the Erato Street Terminal. It’s the more southern of the two terminals, closest to the bridge when looking at the port. The terminal serves Carnival heavily, with some Disney cruises as well. While most terminals have parking nearby, the Erato Terminal actually has a parking garage above the check-in area. That makes it extremely easy to park and head to get on the ship.

Julia Street Terminal New Orleans’ other terminal is the Julia Street Terminal, located just north of the Erato Terminal. Primarily serving Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, the terminal is just a few minutes walk from the French Quarter, and a number of restaurants, hotels, and shops. Parking is in an open lot across from the terminal.

Hotels in the Port Area

For many people we recommend coming into the port city the day before their cruise. For instance, if you’re flying in there are simply too many things that can go wrong — weather, computer glitches, mechanical issues — that can delay your flight. If you are flying in on the day of your cruise, then the risk of missing the ship is too great.

That said, for just about everyone we suggest heading to New Orleans a day or two early. Even if you are driving into the port, there is simply so much to see and do in the city that adding on an extra day is well worth it.

Of course, that means you need to get a hotel if you come to New Orleans. The good news? As a tourist destination, the city offers a ton of hotel options, including many that cater to cruise passengers with perks like shuttles to the port or cruise parking. There are also a number of hotels just a short walk from the port. Here’s a few:

• Hilton New Orleans Riverside
• Residence Inn Downtown
• Springhill Suites Downtown
• New Orleans Downtown Marriott
• Hyatt Place Convention Center

If you’re interested in more hotels, you can see our list of hotels with shuttles to the cruise port and New Orleans hotels with cruise parking .

Transportation to the Port of New Orleans

Before you can start your cruise, you have to get to the port first. Fortunately, you have a number of different options on getting to the ship. Below we highlight what we think are the easiest for most passengers. You can read more details of all of your options on our port transportation page here .

Uber/Lyft To say that rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have revolutionized how we get around would be putting it lightly. In just a few years they’ve entered markets nearly everywhere, including New Orleans. As such, we think it’s usually the best way for you to get from anywhere in the area to the cruise port. Rides will cost about $30-35 from the airport. We’ve also estimated the fares from other points of interest below:

• New Orleans Airport – $30-35
• Gretna – $15-20
• Slidell – $45-50
• French Quarter – $8-10
• Metairie – $15-20

Taxi While Uber and Lyft have put a dent in the taxi business, cabs are still a popular way to get around. They are readily available at the airport and can be called to points around the city. Fares from the airport to the French Quarter run a flat $36 for two people. If traveling with three or more, then the fare is $15 per person.

• New Orleans Airport – $36
• Gretna – $20
• Slidell – $75
• French Quarter – $12
• Metairie – $25

Hotels with Cruise Shuttles/Walking Distance We’re big proponents of staying a night or two in New Orleans given the number of things to do and see in the city. The great news is that many hotels cater to cruise passengers — and more than just the hotels right near the port. One perk they offer is transportation to the cruise port. Others are located right within walking distance of the cruise port. 

With one of these hotels, it’s nice to stay and then not have to worry about getting to the port on cruise day. For a full list of New Orleans hotels with cruise shuttles or walking distance to the ship, click here .

Parking For Your Cruise

Driving to the port is the easiest and fastest way to get there. Of course, if you drive then you need to find a place to park your car while you cruise. We have a complete run-down of all your parking options here . Below we have the highlights of where you can park for your cruise.

Parking at the Port (Recommended) The most convenient spot to park? It’s right at the cruise terminal. The Port of New Orleans offers on-site parking. The Erato Terminal has parking literally above the check-in and boarding area. The Julia Street Terminal has a parking lot just a two-minute walk away. Depending on the length of your cruise, you’ll pay around $22-23 per day. Frankly, that’s expensive and puts New Orleans as one of the most expensive places to park. While convenient, be prepared to pay.

Independent Parking Lots If you want to save some cash, you can instead park at one of the few independent parking lots offering cruise parking. Rates vary depending on the lot and time of year, but are usually around $15 per day. Even so, we’d recommend simply parking at the port. For more details, see our cruise parking page .

Hotels with Cruise Parking One of the best deals in cruise parking is for passengers who plan on staying in a hotel before their cruise. As a perk designed to entice you to stay, many hotels in the area will allow you to park at their hotel while you cruise for free or at a discounted rate to what you’d pay at the port. You’ll often need to find transportation back and forth from the port, but it’s a small price to pay for the considerable savings on parking. Click here to see New Orleans hotels with cruise parking .

Frequently Asked Questions

What Time Should I Schedule a Flight Home From New Orleans? Flying in for your cruise? You already know from above that we suggest flying in the day before your trip. Not only is there a lot to do in the area, but it will also give you more time in case your flight is delayed.

As for the flight home, you can certainly fly home the day your cruise returns. Ships get in early — around 6-7 a.m. From there, it will take 2-3 hours for everyone to get off the ship. Meanwhile, it’s another 30 minutes to the airport. To ensure you have plenty of time, we recommend not scheduling a flight before noon from New Orleans on the day your ship returns.

Where Can I Sail to from the Port of New Orleans? Trips from New Orleans sail all over the Caribbean and Mexico. The most common stops are ports in Mexico such as Cozumel , Costa Maya , and Progreso . Some trips do offer cruises to The Bahamas, and there are even some longer trips that sail to ports like Aruba and Bonaire. For most people, however, you’re likely to head to Mexico and the western half of the Caribbean.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Get to the Port? There are a few public transit options depending on where you are, but for most people the best combination of convenience and cost is going to be a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. These services offer coverage all around town and you can get a ride with just a few clicks on your phone. As well, the prices are typically cheaper than taking a taxi.

Have more questions about sailing from New Orleans? Let us know in the comments below.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

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47 best carnival cruise line tips & tricks for your next cruise, cruise etiquette that you have to know (read before sailing), hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

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Limited-Time Cruises from New Orleans, Louisiana

Set sail from new orleans to the western caribbean, exotic destinations, 4-night western caribbean cruises.

Embark on a spectacular voyage to Progreso, Mexico or Cozumel, Mexico—plus enjoy blissful days at sea to soak up all there is to do aboard the ship.

5- and 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise

Follow the sun to dazzling islands awash in sand and surf at exotic destinations like Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica or Progreso.

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

What’s included in the price of a disney cruise.

From the moment you step on board to your last wave goodbye, your cruise vacation includes almost everything you and your family could ever hope for—and so much more.

Magic On Deck

The Disney Magic overflows with whimsical dining venues, Broadway-style entertainment and onboard adventures—like Rapunzel’s Royal Table restaurant, Tangled: The Musical and the plunging AquaDunk water slide.

Explore New Orleans

Celebrated for its soulful jazz, Cajun cuisine and vibrant festivals, New Orleans invites you to take in its sights and sounds before or after your cruise.

MAGIC FOR EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR CREW

Fun for the entire family.

Delight in unique, family-friendly activities throughout the ship. View More

Just for Kids

Imaginatively themed youth clubs await children of all ages. View More

Just for Adults

Adults enjoy the best of both worlds—time with the kids and time alone. View More

• Extravagant, Broadway-quality live shows and entertainment
• Unique deck parties starring some of your favorite Characters—including an unforgettable spectacular with fireworks at sea on most itineraries
• First-run movies and Disney classics in state-of-the-art theater venues or family favorites under the stars
• Themed pool areas that include a kids pool, family pool, splash zone and a waterslide
• Staterooms tailored especially for families, which include deluxe rooms with expanded space, convenient split bathrooms and premium amenities
• Kids can learn and play in children’s activity spaces fueled by Disney storytelling—including MARVEL’s Avengers Academy
• Tweens ages 11 through 14 are invited to spend time in a youth club all their own—featuring videogames, music, movies, arts and crafts, karaoke and scavenger hunts
• Teens can relax in a fun, parents-free venue with activities like karaoke, video game challenges, trivia showdowns, dance parties and tons more—under the supervision of helpful counselors
• Adult-exclusive dining at Palo , serving classic Northern Italian cooking in an elegant setting
• A tranquil pool and whirlpool spa overflowing with sweeping views and ocean breezes
• Themed nightclubs and lounges, home to exciting live music and dance parties
• A luxurious spa, featuring rejuvenating and beautifying treatments alongside sweeping sea views
• A fitness center sporting exercise classes, weight machines and cardiovascular equipment

New Orleans Cruise Ship Schedule For 2024

New Orleans, Louisiana Cruise Ship Schedule

New Orleans, Louisiana cruise ship calendar 2024 - 2025 provides a list of cruise ships scheduled to arrive in port with detailed information, including date and estimated time of arrival and departure, as well as maximum passenger capacity for each vessel. This timetable displays dates and times cruise liners are scheduled to sail into the port with the name of the ship, cruise operator, and the number of passages based on double occupancy. Please note, that the following cruise ship schedule is created on updated itineraries from the major cruise lines. The cruise ship schedule I subject to change and might be affected by various reasons including weather conditions, or itinerary changes by the cruise lines. Cruise ships arriving at NOLA dock at Julia Street Cruise Terminal, Erato Cruise Terminal, and at the Poland Avenue Cruise Terminal.

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The Big Easy Cruise Aims To Offer “A Real, Serious Taste Of New Orleans” With 2025 Voyage

After a successful maiden voyage in 2023,  The Big Easy Cruise will once again bring the music and culture of New Orleans to the high seas when it returns for its second edition, due to set to sail from Fort Lauderdale, FL on January 5th, 2025 and make stops in Key West, Belize City, and Cozumel before returning to port on January 12th, 2025.

Much like the other themed, genre-specific floating festivals run by StarVista Live —including the late-’50s/early-’60s-themed Malt Shop Memories Cruise , the classic R&B-focused Soul Train Cruise , and the ’70s Rock & Romance Cruise , among others—The Big Easy Cruise aims to gather the greats from a celebrated and eclectic corner of the music world in order to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for a specific group of fans. It’s a model this team has been employing for decades—since long before their concert cruise era.

Before it was spun off as StarVista Live, the company was part of  Time Life , perhaps best known as the purveyors of decade-specific CD box sets sold via TV infomercials. “We were Time Life up until about a year or two ago,” explained Mike Jason , StarVista’s SVP and the executive producer of The Big Easy Cruise, “and Time Life is The Hits of the ’60s, The R&B Hits of the ’70s… those infomercial sets that you saw with the 150 songs and kind of capturing a time period and kind of a feel.”

“We did that for many years,” he continued, “and about 15 years ago we said, ‘That’s not going to last forever.’ People love the music, they love the experience of listening to it, but they don’t want discs, and people don’t watch TV the same [way as they used to]. … So we said, ‘Let’s just take those great sets of music, get the artists, and perform it on ship.’ It came from the music side of the business more than the cruising side of the business, where we just said the cruise ship was a way of delivering a great experience to people.”

For The Big Easy Cruise , however, organizers always knew that capturing the unique essence of New Orleans would take more than spotlighting a single genre of music. “I’ve been to Jazz Fest a bunch of times,” Jason noted. “I’m a big fan of this music. I love the feeling of it. I love Americana—that kind of rootsy [sound] is my favorite type of music—and The Big Easy Cruise is right in that pocket. The ‘genre’ is interesting because it can go gospel, it can go blues, it can go jazz, it can go southern rock, zydeco. … It’s really uniquely American, but the music itself is pretty wide.”

Related: Tracing The Genetic Code Of New Orleans Funk Music

“I’m always amazed at how [this] music can be really distinct and really different, but still something about it feels like the community,” he added. “So you go from the Blind Boys of Alabama to Tab Benoit to Marcia Ball or The Soul Rebels and you’re like, wow, this is just eclectic. But there’s definitely that through line there.”

In that vain, The Big Easy Cruise will host over 100 live performances by a diverse mix of beloved artists from New Orleans and beyond including the aforementioned acts as well as Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue , Keb’ Mo’ , St. Paul & The Broken Bones , The Allman Betts Band , Anders Osborne , Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen , Blind Boys of Alabama , Louisiana’s LeRoux , Dwayne Dopsie and The Zydeco Hellraisers , John Boutté , Bender Brass Band ft. Sugaray Rayford , Johnny Sansone and Chambers DesLauriers , Bonerama , Tin Men , Washboard Chaz Blues Trio , Minx Burlesque , Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers , John “Papa” Gros , Sierra Green and The Giants , Big Chief Monk Boudreaux , J’Wan Boudreaux , and many more across six stages—more than enough talent to provide a uniquely NOLA soundtrack for the cruise. But even a cast of artists as impressive as that wouldn’t fully capture the visceral magic of the Crescent City music world.

“It’s never been about just putting music on a ship,” Jason explained. “[For] the Country Music Cruise , we have the Grand Old Opry come in in to take over a night, and they have the [famous] mic stand, and they actually replicate the show on board. We have jam sessions, we have songwriters come and tell the story about writing the song and then perform it. We have people that are immersed in the history of country music. And obviously The Big Easy Cruise fit so well into that because it’s a world unto itself. So we said it’s got to be the combination of the music, but it’s got to be the food, it’s got to be the culture, the feeling. It’s got to be taking that community and offering them … a real, serious taste of New Orleans and Louisiana, but on the ship.”

On The Big Easy Cruise 2025, that bite of the NOLA experience will come by way of over 20 interactive artist-led events including jam sessions, Q&As, gameshows, trivia, themed pool parties, costume nights, live painting by local artists, and the very best authentic New Orleans cuisine from renowned chef Kevin Belton at all of the specialty restaurants on board.

Beyond that, Jason and the StarVista team actively work to make sure that The Big Easy Cruise schedule both facilitates the free-roaming curiosity of veteran Jazz Fest-ers and sets the artists up to partake in another crucial piece of the NOLA music tradition: collaboration. After all, going to see artists from New Orleans perform is less like going to watch a band and more like stepping into their world—a world in which everyone is connected.

“One of the complex things with [The Big Easy Cruise] is that a lot of artists from one band want to [sit in] with two or three other bands,” Jason explained. “So when we’re doing the scheduling, you can imagine how hard it is. … You can’t force it, but you set it up so that stuff happens, and the beauty of it is with these artists, they do it naturally if you give them the right environment.”

Above all, Big Easy Cruise hopes to embody perhaps the most important element of New Orleans music: the tight-knit, enthusiastic community that surrounds it. “The New Orleans community is incredible,” Jason said of the inaugural year. “It couldn’t have been more supportive from the get-go—’how can I help?’ And people volunteer to help us and gave us advice and it was a great experience.”

This year, in an effort to return that favor, The Big Easy Cruise has entered into a partnership with the  New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation , the non-profit that owns the  New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) to help fund its efforts.

As Mike Jason explained, “We reached out to them and said, ‘We want to raise funds for your endeavors. We want to be able to support the community and ally ourselves with all the right folks.” In addition to donating a cabin on this year’s Big Easy Cruise to recent foundation fundraising auction, Jason said, “They will have a presence on board. We will be raising additional funds for them. And we told ’em it was really just a one way street. We weren’t really looking for anything. We feel like if we have the right partners and we’re doing the right things, that kind of good things happen. It’s kind of been our approach all along.”

Book your cabin on The Big Easy Cruise and let the good times roll sail in January 2025, head here . For more information on the event, the amenities offered on the ship (the Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam ), and the various cabin options available to book, head here .

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An alaska tourist spot will vote on whether to ban cruise ships on saturdays to give locals a break.

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Each year, a crush of tourists arrives on cruise ships in Alaska's capital city to see wonders like the fast-diminishing Mendenhall Glacier. Now, long-simmering tensions over Juneau's tourism boom are coming to a head over a new voter initiative to give residents a respite from the influx.

Video above: Alaska man, police officers join forces to save calf trapped in lake from 'sure demise'

A measure that would ban cruise ships with 250 or more passengers from docking in Juneau on Saturdays qualified for the Oct. 1 municipal ballot, setting the stage for a debate about how much tourism is too much in a city that is experiencing first-hand the impacts of climate change. The measure would also ban ships on July 4, when locals flock to a downtown parade.

The "ship-free Saturdays" initiative that qualified this week will go to voters unless the local Assembly enacts a similar measure by Aug. 15, which is seen as unlikely.

Juneau, accessible only by water or air, is home to the Mendenhall Glacier, a major draw for the cruise passengers who arrive on multi-story ships towering over parts of the modest downtown skyline. Many residents of this city of about 32,000 have concerns about increased traffic, congested trails and the frequent buzz of sight-seeing helicopters transporting visitors to the Mendenhall and other glaciers.

Deborah Craig, who has lived in Juneau for decades, supports ship-free Saturdays. Craig, who lives across the channel from where the ships dock, often hears their early-morning fog horns and broadcast announcements made to passengers that are audible across the water.

The current "overwhelming" number of visitors diminishes what residents love so much about Juneau, she said.

"It's about preserving the lifestyle that keeps us in Juneau, which is about clean air, clean water, pristine environment and easy access to trails, easy access to water sports and nature," she said of the initiative.

"There's this perception that some people are not welcoming of tourists, and that's not the case at all," Craig said. "It's about volume. It's about too much — too many in a short period of time overwhelming a small community."

The current cruise season runs from early April to late October.

Opponents of the initiative say limiting dockings will hurt local businesses that rely heavily on tourism and could invite lawsuits. A voter-approved limit on cruise passenger numbers in Bar Harbor, Maine, another community with a significant tourism economy, was challenged in federal court.

Laura McDonnell, a business leader who owns Caribou Crossings, a gift shop in Juneau's downtown tourist core, said she makes 98% of her annual revenue during the summer season.

Tourism is about all the "local businesses that rely on cruise passengers and our place in the community," said McDonnell, who is involved in Protect Juneau's Future, which opposes the initiative.

Some schools recently closed due to factors including declining enrollment, while the regional economy faces challenges, she said.

"I think that as a community, we really need to look at what's at stake for our economy," she said. "We are not in a position to be shrinking our economy."

The cruise industry accounted for $375 million in direct spending in Juneau in 2023, most of that attributable to spending by passengers, according to a report prepared for the city by McKinley Research Group LLC.

After a two-year pandemic lull, cruise passenger numbers rose sharply in Juneau, hitting a record of more than 1.6 million in 2023. Under this year's schedule, Sept. 21 will be the first day since early May with no large ships in town.

The tourism debate is polarizing, and the city has been trying to find a middle ground, said Alexandra Pierce, Juneau's visitor industry director. But she noted there also needs to be a regional solution.

If the Juneau initiative passes, it will impact other, smaller communities in southeast Alaska because the ships, generally on trips originating in Seattle or Vancouver, Canada, will have to go somewhere if they can't dock in Juneau on Saturdays, she said.

Some residents in Sitka, south of Juneau, are in the early stages of trying to limit cruise visitation to that small, island community, which is near a volcano.

Juneau and major cruise lines, including Carnival Corp., Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Group, agreed to a limit of five large ships a day, which took effect this year. They more recently signed a pact, set to take effect in 2026, seeking a daily limit of 16,000 cruise passengers on Sundays through Fridays and 12,000 on Saturdays.

Pierce said the overall goal is to keep total cruise passenger visitation around 1.6 million and to even out daily numbers of visitors that can spike to about 18,000 on the busiest days and feel "a bit suffocating." Juneau traditionally has been the most popular cruise port in the state.

Several projects around Juneau are expected to help make existing cruise numbers feel less impactful. Those include plans for a gondola at the city-owned ski area and increased visitor capacity at the Mendenhall Glacier recreation area, she said.

Renée Limoge Reeve, vice president of government and community relations for the trade group Cruise Lines International Association Alaska, said the agreements signed with the city were the first of their kind in Alaska.

The best strategy is "ongoing, direct dialogue with local communities" and working together in a way that also provides a predictable source of income for local businesses, she said.

Protect Juneau's Future, led by local business leaders, said the success of the ballot measure would mean a loss of sales tax revenue and millions of dollars in direct spending by cruise passengers. The group was confident voters would reject the measure, its steering committee said in a statement.

Karla Hart, a sponsor of the initiative and frequent critic of the cruise industry, said the threat of litigation has kept communities from taking steps to limit cruise numbers in the past. She was heartened by legal wins this year in the ongoing fight over the measure passed in Bar Harbor, a popular destination near Maine's Acadia National Park.

She believes the Juneau initiative will pass.

"Every single person who is going to vote has a lived experience and knowledge of how the cruise industry impacts their lives," she said.

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Why A Disney Cruise Is A Perfect Multigenerational Trip

A costumed princess or pirate squeals with delight as their favorite Disney character comes to life right before their eyes. The joy of sharing this pure enchantment should not be missed. A teen or tween setting down their electronics for a third, fourth, or fifth run down the AquaDunk is nothing short of a miracle. And a quiet gourmet dinner to celebrate your family is salve for the over-scheduled parent’s and grandparent’s soul.

It is not often that the perfect multi-generational trip comes together. But Disney Cruises does an amazing job combining adventure, family bonding, and snippets of quiet time unique to each cruiser’s needs. Here’s why a Disney Cruise is perfect for a multigenerational trip, regardless of who will be going.

Quality Family Time

A cruise is a time to unplug and reconnect with each other. Disney Cruises allow you to spend quality time as a family, secure in the knowledge that the entertainment and surroundings will be kid-friendly and appropriate.

Enjoy watching your children and grandchildren put their devices down to interact face-to-face, except maybe for grabbing the phones to capture a few memorable pictures and videos.

It is so important to be in the moment — a moment that will be a family memory for years to come. Everyone can join in the action and the Disney-inspired youthful exuberance will bring out your inner child, who remembers life is simply having fun.

Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

The best thing about a Disney Cruise is they will plan everything for you; there’s no hassle of coordinating rooms, meals, and activities. Particularly for multigenerational groups with different wants and needs, having a personal agent handle the arrangements allows everyone to get their heart’s desire, and leaves you time to simply kick back and enjoy the family time.

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app is free and everyone can manage their own schedules once on board so they won’t miss any important events, parties, or celebrations.

Also good to know: All the Disney Cruise ships are handicap friendly and most areas are wheelchair accessible.

Destination Options

Disney’s destination options are geographically diverse. Mickey and the gang are global and have vacation adventures that will please everyone. There are more than you would initially expect. Disney’s ships sail to a variety of national and international locations. With almost 500 itineraries — ranging from a two-night cruise to a 14-night or more transatlantic adventure — you will find a cruise option that fits your family’s vacation desires.

Warm and tropical vacations include stops in the Bahamas, Key West, Mexico, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia, and many others. These southern stops typically include a visit to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Exclusively for Disney Cruise guests, Castaway Cay offers private beaches, snorkeling, boating, sunbathing, and a barbeque feast on shore.

If it’s Europe your family wants to explore, Disney Cruises sail to the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, and European destinations. These adventures combine historic shore excursions paired with Disney fun.

For some West Coast magic, try cruising around Hawaii or Alaska, where you will see exquisite scenery and experience unique North American cultures.

Pre- And Post-Cruise Adventures

Families can enjoy pre- and post- cruise activities in Port Canaveral; New York City; San Diego; Miami; Galveston; New Orleans; Honolulu; San Juan; Vancouver; Barcelona, Spain; Dover, England; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Rome, Italy. All of these cities are vibrant vacation destinations and would be a great spot for a two- or three- day minication, whether that will involve everyone or just part of your group. Disney offers deals on accommodations, and you can even have your Disney Cruise agent organize your pre- and post-cruise adventures.

If you want to double down on Disney, there is an add-on package from the Port Canaveral departure cruise to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. You can enjoy Disney by sea and land — two very unique and wonderful experiences.

The Ship Choices

You can choose your cruise by ship instead of destination if you want to cater to a theme that has a special place in your little one’s heart. Each of Disney’s cruise ships follows its own unique itineraries and has specialty features and destinations.

Disney Magic

The Disney Magic has the high-speed AquaDunk water slide, Rapunzel’s Royal Table restaurant, clubs for kids, tweens, and teens, and the adult-only nightclub Fathoms and Keys.

Disney Wonder

The Disney Wonder offers great entertainment including Frozen, A Musical Spectacular , and the Marvel Super Hero Academy for kids.

Disney Dream

The Disney Dream ship hosts the play Beauty and the Beast , a Millennium Falcon-themed kids space, and classic French restaurant, Remy.

Disney Fantasy

The Disney Fantasy ships focus on longer retreats. They include the AquaDuck water coaster, the Royal Court restaurant, and an interactive play area Star Wars Command Post.

Disney Wish

The newest addition to the Disney fleet is the Disney Wish , where Frozen , Marvel, and Star Wars-themed amenities bring you right onto the movie sets.

Disney Treasure

Following the Disney Wish and taking its maiden voyage in 2024, stay tuned for news on the next Disney cruise ship: the Disney Treasure.

Kids’, Tweens’, And Teens’ Spaces

Family fun is the best, but when the kids want to play, play, play , the kids and tween spaces are the best place for them to work off some energy. All the youth clubs are staffed by trained Disney counselors, allowing parents and grandparents worry-free, kid-free time.

The little ones will enjoy the It’s a Small World Nursery for the under-3-years-old crowd.

The Oceaneer Club is where 3–12 year olds will be transformed into their favorite Disney characters for the day. Think playing dress up on steroids. The boutiques are on all four ships and offer princess, pirate, and Star Wars makeup and costumes.

The Oceaneer Lab provides kids between 3 and 12 fun sporting games, activities, parties, and face-to-face character encounters. They are staffed by trained Disney counselors.

Edge, the hangout space for 11-to-14-year-old tweens offers engaging activities, video games, and music to keep them entertained with counselor supervision.

The teens club for older (14- to 17-year-old) kids is a hip supervised hangout called Vibe. This chill space invites them to watch movies, listen to music, play games, and just hang.

Adults-Only Spaces

Probably the best part of a Disney Cruise is the ability to have an adult-only respite if you want or need it. Loving your children and grandchildren does not mean 24/7 non-stop bonding. It’s okay — you deserve some special vacation time, too.

Enjoy some me time at the adult-only pool, spa, or fitness center. There are several lounges and nightclubs on each ship that are adults-only. You can even enjoy a quiet dinner sans kids.

Recreation With A Theme

Each cruise ship offers sports and recreation activities. Activities vary from ship to ship, so if you have a particular event in mind, check to be sure you book a ship that offers your desired experience.

The AquaDuck on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy involves 765 feet of water jet-propelled tubes snaking around the ship, including a stomach-churning four-deck drop. There are age and height requirements for this ride.

Other recreational activities include mini golf, basketball courts, virtual sports simulators, a ship-wide crime solving detective caper, ping pong, and water playgrounds.

Onboard Entertainment

If you want to be entertained, a Disney Cruise will not disappoint. There is a mix of family-friendly entertainment with some adult-only entertainment sprinkled in.

Scheduled character meet-and-greets for photo ops and autographs, Disney movies, and themed character parties will entertain the youngsters. For the older kids, there are themed dance parties, trivia contests, and karaoke. Everyone will enjoy the nightly live entertainment, which is a perfect way to come together as a group after your day’s excursion or fun-filled day at sea.

Several ships offer a fireworks night. Most Caribbean cruises have theme days like Star Wars Day, Marvel Day, and Halloween, giving everyone an excuse to dress up and party, party, party .

Diverse Dining Options

Each ship offers multiple dining options that will please even the pickiest youngsters and adults.

Character meals, frozen treats, cafes, pizzerias, sit-down dining, buffets, and 24-hour room service — what more could you ask for? Most of the dining is included in the cruise cost, but some of the upscale dining options involve an additional fee and require reservations.

Try the Animator’s Palate with a show starring Disney characters. The main courses are prepared for adult diners and include the likes of beef tenderloin or lemon thyme chicken. The children’s menu is perfect for even the most discerning young diner. And dessert is the name of the game with the menu including a classic ice cream sundae.

For a night out without the munchkins, Palo offers a spin on northern Italian dining with feasts fit for special occasions, or just a well-deserved adult-only moment. Sample options like butternut agnolotti, dover sole, or sea scallops. Palo’s wine pairings provide the perfect culinary experience. Note: There is a dress code. Dress pants and a collared shirt are required. Reservations are also required.

Family-Friendly Stateroom Layouts

The Disney Cruise staterooms are designed with families in mind. They are not your typical tiny cruise rooms. Many boast extra storage space, a sitting area, a split bath (make sure to ask; these are not available in every room), and a fridge for the leftovers and midnight snack items.

Whether the kids are bunking with parents or grandparents, these staterooms are perfect for families. They offer room to breathe and a cozy space for downtime.

Disney is the master of quality, family-friendly entertainment. A Disney Cruise is just the thing for a family bonding, multigenerational vacation.

Related Reading:

• 8 Reasons Why You Should Consider A Cruise From Boston To Bermuda
• My 6 All-Time Favorite Cruises From A Self-Proclaimed Cruise Fanatic
• The 9 Most Scenic Ferry Rides In Europe