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Erato Street Cruise Terminal
Port NOLA terminal used by Carnival, with a garage of over 1,000 spaces on top and a climate-controlled ADA gangway. It is on the Riverfront streetcar line.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is Louisiana's largest city, on a bend of the Mississippi River, known for the French Quarter with Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, as the birthplace of jazz, and for Creole and Cajun cooking. More about New Orleans →
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Ship schedule by month
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Central Time)
ShipDateArrivalDeparture
Showing 4 of 4 calls in October
Cruise Ships in New Orleans
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Central Time)
Today · Thu 22 OctTypical
4,160 people in port
1 ship · 1 turnaround · ships alongside 08:00 – 15:30
8% quieter than a typical day in New Orleans. Busiest 08:00 – 15:00, when 1 ship is alongside.
Next 7 days
Quietest: Sun 25 Oct · busiest: Thu 22 Oct- Thu22 Oct4.2kTypical1 ship
- Fri23 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Sat24 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Sun25 Oct4.1kTypical1 ship
- Mon26 Oct4.2kTypical1 ship
- Tue27 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Wed28 Oct–No ships0 ships
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical New Orleans day.
Planning a day in New Orleans?
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Where is the New Orleans cruise port?
Ocean cruise ships dock on the Mississippi at two neighbouring Port NOLA terminals behind the Convention Center and Riverwalk Outlet Collection: Erato Street (Carnival) and Julia Street (Norwegian and Royal Caribbean), about 300 m apart.
Both are on the Riverfront streetcar line. Jackson Square in the French Quarter is about 10 minutes by road or a 30-minute walk.
Vehicle access is from Henderson Street, not Julia or Poydras Street.
Terminal
Getting to the New Orleans cruise port
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) → Erato Street / Julia Street Cruise Terminals
25–26 km · 20–25 min by car
Most passengers take a taxi or rideshare east on I-10 to the Tchoupitoulas exit. Taxis load outside Level 1 Baggage Claim Door 7; rideshare pickup is via Doors 7–11 at the middle curb.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
TransportTypical priceJourneyGood to know
Taxi (flat rate)
$36per vehicle
20–25 min
Airport flat fare to the CBD/French Quarter covers 1–2 passengers; 3+ passengers pay USD 15 each. Cards accepted.
Uber / Lyft
Variesper vehicle
20–25 min
Demand-priced; no published fare. Pickup at the middle curb via Doors 7–11.
Cruise-line transfer
Variesper person
Varies
Varies by sailing; book through your cruise line.
RTA 202 Airport Express + streetcar/taxi
$1.25per person
Varies
Hourly bus from Level 1 Door 2 to downtown (Poydras St/UPT); single ride includes a 2-hour transfer. Not direct to the terminals; impractical with heavy luggage.
JeT E2 Airline Drive
$2per person
Varies
Jefferson Transit bus to Tulane Ave at Loyola in the CBD; USD 2 fare into New Orleans. Slow and not direct to the terminals.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Driving to the port
Drivers should reach the terminals from I-10 via U.S. 90 W exit 11C (Tchoupitoulas), then Henderson St; don't use the Julia St or Poydras St entrances. Both port garages open at 9:00 on sailing days.
New Orleans Cruise Terminals
2 terminals
Julia Street Cruise Terminal
Port NOLA terminal between Erato Street and the Riverwalk Outlet Collection, used by Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. Parking is at 100 Poydras Garage with a shuttle.
Parking at the New Orleans cruise port
The Port of New Orleans sells cruise parking as a flat total by trip length. The Erato Street Parking Garage, on top of the terminal, has more than 1,000 covered spaces: USD 120 for 4 days, 135 for 5, 160 for 6, 180 for 7, 200 for 8 and 350 for 14. Julia Street passengers park at the 100 Poydras Garage, with a free shuttle: USD 120 for 4 days, 135 for 5 and 180 for 7. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day, and prepaid parking is non-refundable. Both garages open at 9am CST.
Parking facilities
FacilityServesRatesReservationRate notes
Erato Street Parking GaragePort of New Orleans
Erato Street Cruise Terminal
$120–350/cruise
Available
Serves Erato Street Cruise Terminal · Reservation: Available
4 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day. · 5 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day. · 6 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day. · 7 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day. · 8 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day. · 14 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day.
100 Poydras GaragePort of New Orleans (LAZ Parking)
Julia Street Cruise Terminal
$120–180/cruise
Available
Serves Julia Street Cruise Terminal · Reservation: Available
4 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day. Other lengths are not published. · 5 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day. Other lengths are not published. · 7 days; flat total without reservation. Reserving online adds USD 1 per day. Other lengths are not published.
Qualified disabled Louisiana veterans should not reserve online (per the port).
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Warehouse District & CBD riverfront
$95–195 / night
Walking to the cruise terminals
Typical hotel
$95–195 / night
Port ~5 minAirport ~20 min
Downtown hotels a short walk or ride from Erato and Julia Street.
Hotels here
- Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue
- The Higgins Hotel New Orleans, Curio Collection by Hilton
- Drury Plaza Hotel New Orleans
French Quarter
$95–210 / night
Historic quarter and nightlife
Typical hotel
$95–210 / night
Port ~10 minAirport ~25 min
Historic inns about 10 minutes from the terminals.
Hotels here
- Bourbon Orleans Hotel
- Hotel St. Marie
- Dauphine Orleans Hotel
Garden District & St. Charles Avenue
$80–225 / night
Quieter historic stay
Typical hotel
$80–225 / night
Port ~15 minAirport ~20 min
Mansion-lined streets on the St. Charles streetcar line.
Hotels here
- The Pontchartrain Hotel
- Hotel Tonnelle New Orleans, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
- The Garden District Hotel
Port times are measured to the Erato Street terminal. Rates rise sharply during Mardi Gras and major festivals.
Eating in New Orleans
- Coffee per item
- $3.60
- per item
- Casual lunch per person
- $10–90
- per person
- Restaurant dinner per person
- $10–90
- per person
Prices are approximate. Coffee: Cafe du Monde café au lait, regular USD 3.60, before sales tax. Sales tax is added and an 18–20% tip is customary.
Where to eat
French Quarter
Cafés, Creole restaurants and the French Market.
Warehouse District
Restaurants near the convention centre and cruise terminals.
Warehouse Arts District
Restaurants and bars around the Convention Center corridor, walkable from both cruise terminals.
Riverwalk Outlet Collection
Riverside shopping mall directly beside the Julia Street Cruise Terminal, convenient for a meal before boarding.
Destination
About New Orleans
New Orleans is Louisiana's largest city, on a bend of the Mississippi River, known for the French Quarter with Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, as the birthplace of jazz, and for Creole and Cajun cooking.
The Warehouse Arts District holds the National WWII Museum, the historic St. Charles streetcar runs to the oak-lined Garden District, and Frenchmen Street is famed for live music. Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest are major events.
Port NOLA is a major US homeport, mainly for Western Caribbean and Mexico sailings from its downtown riverfront terminals.
- Climate
- Humid subtropical: long hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, mild winters with occasional cold snaps; Atlantic hurricane season runs June–November.
- Time zone
- Central Time
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
Things to Do in New Orleans
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French Quarter and Jackson Square
The city's 18th-century core, with St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, Cafe du Monde beignets, street musicians and wrought-iron balconies; about 10 minutes from the terminals by taxi or streetcar.
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The National WWII Museum
Large museum complex in the Warehouse Arts District covering the American experience of World War II; about a 20-minute walk from the terminals and suited to a half-day before or after a cruise.
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St. Charles streetcar and the Garden District
Ride the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar line past oak-shaded mansions to the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.
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Steamboat Natchez Mississippi River cruise
Sternwheeler harbor cruises with live jazz departing from the French Quarter riverfront, giving views of the city and the working river.