Quick Pick
Don't want to scroll? Here are our top picks for Port of New Orleans.
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1Where to Stay
Hotels near Port of New Orleans for the night before
Embassy Suites New Orleans Convention Center
Two-room suites, free breakfast, and evening cocktails -- room for the whole family to spread out
$$-$$$
Hampton Inn & Suites Convention Center
Award-winning hotel with free hot breakfast, pool, and spacious suites near the port
$$
The Mercantile Hotel
Warehouse District boutique with the best Stay, Park & Cruise deal for families driving in
$$
Homewood Suites French Quarter
All-suite hotel with full kitchens, free breakfast, and a pool -- feels like a home base
$$
SpringHill Suites Downtown/Canal Street
Modern all-suite hotel with rooftop bar, free breakfast, and walking distance to everything
$$
Wyndham New Orleans French Quarter
Park & Cruise package in the heart of the Quarter -- great value for families who want location
$$
Hotel Monteleone
Historic French Quarter landmark with a famous revolving Carousel Bar -- pure New Orleans luxury
$$$
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Massive waterfront hotel connected to Riverwalk -- closest full-service hotel to the cruise port
$$-$$$
Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center
Modern hotel near the Convention Center with a cruise package that includes a free ride to the port
$$2Where to Eat
Every restaurant worth eating at near Port of New Orleans
Cafe Du Monde
Beignets and chicory coffee in an open-air French Quarter landmark -- kids lose their minds over the powdered sugar
Cafe
Camellia Grill
Old-school counter-service diner with omelets, waffles, and burgers the whole family will love
American Diner
Willie's Chicken Shack
Fast-casual fried chicken in the French Quarter -- cheap, quick, and universally liked by kids
Southern Fried Chicken
Mothers Restaurant
Legendary po'boy shop since 1938 -- comfort food that satisfies adults and kids alike
Cajun / Po'boys
Dat Dog
Creative gourmet hot dog joint with wild toppings -- kids build their own and love it
Hot Dogs / Cajun
Ruby Slipper Cafe
Southern brunch spot with creative dishes and a warm, welcoming vibe for families
Southern Brunch
Riverwalk Outlets Food Court
Waterfront mall food court right near the port -- everyone picks what they want
Various
Willa Jean
Southern bakery with biscuits, pastries, and hearty brunch dishes the whole family will enjoy
Southern / Bakery
Cochon
James Beard-winning Cajun restaurant in the Warehouse District -- real-deal Louisiana cooking
Cajun
Peche Seafood Grill
James Beard award winner with Gulf seafood grilled over a wood fire -- stunning flavors
Seafood
Cochon Butcher
Sandwich shop and meat counter from the Cochon team -- the muffuletta rivals Central Grocery's
Sandwiches / Cajun
Commander's Palace
Grand dame of New Orleans dining -- 140+ years of Creole fine dining in the Garden District
Creole Fine Dining
Acme Oyster House
No-frills French Quarter oyster bar -- chargrilled oysters that'll ruin you for all others
Seafood / Oysters
Central Grocery & Deli
Birthplace of the muffuletta sandwich since 1906 -- a New Orleans pilgrimage
Italian Deli
GW Fins
Upscale seafood restaurant in the Quarter with the freshest fish in the city
Seafood3Things to Do
Things to do near Port of New Orleans before you board
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Touch tanks, penguins, and a Caribbean reef tunnel -- kids love the hands-on exhibits
Families with kids of all ages, animal lovers
Audubon Zoo
Louisiana wildlife, a splash park, and a lazy river -- kids could spend all day here
Animal-loving families, anyone who needs to tire out energetic kids
Storyland in City Park
Whimsical storybook playground with giant sculptures kids can climb on -- free and magical
Toddlers and young kids who love playgrounds and fairy tales
Louisiana Children's Museum
Brand-new outdoor children's museum in City Park -- part playground, part educational wonderland
Families with kids under 10
Cafe Du Monde Beignet Stop
Powdered sugar beignets that kids will talk about for the entire cruise -- messy, sweet, unforgettable
Everyone -- it's a mandatory New Orleans experience
Jackson Square Street Performers
Free outdoor entertainment -- musicians, jugglers, and artists that kids find mesmerizing
All ages -- quick, free, and always entertaining
St. Charles Streetcar Ride
Kids think it's a ride at an amusement park -- the world's oldest streetcar is cheap fun
Train-loving kids, tired parents who want to sit down
Riverwalk Outlets & Mississippi River Walk
Walk along the Mississippi River and watch ships go by -- simple, free, and surprisingly fun for kids
Quick outdoor activity, stroller-friendly
The National WWII Museum
Immersive war history with real tanks, planes, and a 4D movie narrated by Tom Hanks -- way cooler than it sounds
History buffs, gamers who like war history, anyone who appreciates immersive experiences
French Quarter Exploration
Centuries-old streets with street performers, artists, and the most Instagram-worthy architecture in America
Photo-lovers, anyone who wants to see the real NOLA
Magazine Street Shopping
Six miles of indie shops, vintage stores, and local boutiques -- way more interesting than a mall
Shoppers, vintage fans, anyone who likes unique finds
Dat Dog on Frenchmen Street
Build your own gourmet hot dog with crazy toppings -- alligator sausage is the dare
Foodies, adventurous eaters, anyone who appreciates good street food
Voodoo and Ghost Tour
Haunted houses, voodoo history, and creepy cemeteries -- New Orleans after dark is something else
Teens who love spooky stuff, true crime fans, history nerds
Riverwalk Outlets
Waterfront shopping mall right next to the port -- good for killing time with AC
Last-minute shopping, anyone wanting an air-conditioned escape
French Quarter Walking Tour
Explore 300 years of history through wrought-iron balconies, hidden courtyards, and jazz-soaked streets
First-time visitors, history buffs, architecture fans
St. Charles Avenue Streetcar Ride
The oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world -- a moving tour through the Garden District
Everyone -- it's practical transportation that doubles as a tourist attraction
Frenchmen Street Live Music
Where locals go for live jazz, brass bands, and blues -- skip Bourbon, come here instead
Music lovers, couples, nightlife seekers
Garden District Walking Tour
Grand antebellum mansions, century-old oaks, and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 -- the beautiful side of NOLA
Architecture fans, couples, anyone wanting a quieter alternative to the Quarter
Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise
Two-hour Mississippi River cruise with live jazz and Creole cuisine on an authentic sternwheeler
Couples, music lovers, anyone who wants to be on the water
Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral
The iconic heart of the French Quarter -- street performers, artists, and a 300-year-old cathedral
Everyone -- quick, free, and photogenic4Getting to Your Ship
Julia Street Cruise Terminal (Norwegian)
Erato Street Cruise Terminal (Carnival)
Passport & Documents
Closed-loop cruises (departing and returning to the same U.S. port) technically only require a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. However, we strongly recommend bringing a valid passport — if there's a medical emergency or you miss the ship at a foreign port, you'll need one to fly home.
Last-Minute Stops
Pick up anything you forgot before heading to the port.
Rouses Market -- Warehouse District
Local grocery chain with deli, snacks, water, sunscreen, and a solid prepared foods section
701 Baronne St, New Orleans, LA 70113
DirectionsWalgreens -- Canal Street
Pharmacy, Dramamine, phone chargers, toiletries, and snacks right on Canal
900 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112
DirectionsCVS Pharmacy -- Girod Street
Full pharmacy plus last-minute travel essentials in the Warehouse District near the port
939 Girod St, Suite 160, New Orleans, LA 70113
DirectionsUSPS -- Lafayette Square
Drop your mail before you sail -- closest post office to the cruise terminals
600 S Maestri Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130
Directions5Getting There & Parking
How to get to Port of New Orleans — from the airport and beyond
From Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Most cruisers flying in
Driving & Port Parking
Cruisers driving from Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, or elsewhere in Louisiana
Hotel Shuttle Services
Cruisers who want to bundle a pre-cruise night with parking and transport
Streetcar from Downtown Hotels
Budget-minded travelers staying downtown who don't have heavy luggage
Uber/Lyft from Anywhere
Flexibility and door-to-door service
Taxi
Cruisers who prefer predictable pricing over surge-based rideshare
6What to Pack
The essentials you'll actually need — plus a few things most people forget
Carry-On Day Bag
Pack these in a bag you keep with you at boarding — your checked luggage won't arrive until 3-4pm
- Swimsuit and flip-flops — Head straight to the pool after boarding
- Phone charger and portable battery — You'll drain your battery exploring and taking photos on Day 1Amazon
- Medications — Both prescription and OTC — don't risk them being in delayed luggage
- Government-issued photo ID — Required for boarding — keep it accessible, not buried in a suitcase
- Snacks and water bottles — Kids get hungry in the boarding line. Sealed snacks are allowed through security
- Change of clothes for each kid — Pool splashes, spilled drinks, cruise ship excitement — be ready
Cruise Essentials
Things that make the whole trip better
- Magnetic hooks (for cabin walls) — Cabin walls are metal — these give you hanging space for hats, lanyards, wet swimsuitsAmazon
- Power strip (non-surge, cruise-approved) — Cabins have 1-2 outlets. A cruise-approved strip lets you charge everything overnightAmazon
- Insulated tumbler — Fill it at the buffet drink station — stays cold by the pool all afternoonAmazon
- Lanyard for cruise card — Your cruise card is your room key, ID, and payment method — keep it around your neckAmazon
Easy to Forget
The things people buy overpriced at the port gift shop
- Wrinkle release spray — Irons aren't allowed on cruise ships — this saves your formal night outfitAmazon
- Highlighter or pen — For marking up the daily activity schedule — old school but effective
- Small whiteboard for cabin door — Leave messages for teens: 'We're at the pool deck' — most cabins don't have cell serviceAmazon
7Boarding Tips
1. Download the Royal Caribbean app and complete online check-in
You'll get your boarding group assignment and can set up your on-board spending account ahead of time. This alone can save you 30+ minutes at the terminal. Upload your photo for facial recognition boarding — it makes the security line faster.
2. Arrive at your assigned boarding time — not earlier
They've gotten strict about this. Showing up early means waiting in the terminal with no access to the ship. Your assigned time gets you on the ship fastest. If you have Crown & Anchor status, you may have priority boarding — check the app.
3. Pack a carry-on bag with swimsuits, meds, and essentials
Your checked luggage won't reach your cabin until 3-4pm. Pack a day bag with swimsuits, medications, sunscreen, a change of clothes, and your phone charger so you can start enjoying the ship immediately.
4. Head straight to the pool deck or Windjammer for lunch
The main dining room is packed right after boarding. The Windjammer buffet and the pool deck grill have shorter lines, and you'll snag a good lounge chair while everyone else is still exploring.
5. Book specialty dining and shows on Day 1
Popular restaurants and shows fill up fast. Open the app as soon as you board and reserve your top picks. The chef's table and specialty dinner shows sell out first.