Cruise Port - New Orleans

Introduction

New Orleans is located in southern Louisiana straddling the Mississippi river. Lake Pontchartrain lies to the north, and the river's sedimentary basin and the Gulf of Mexico lie to the south.

New Orleans was originally established by Jean Baptiste La Moyne, who in 1718 created New Orleans as a trading outpost to ship goods from the interior. In the Paris Treaty of 1763, which concluded the Seven Years' War, Spain lost control of Florida, but received a slice of Louisiana which included New Orleans from the French. Several fires destroyed the original French buildings of the French Quarter, so the Spanish rebuilt the city in the much-loved style we see today. In 1801 Napoleon Bonaparte added Spain to the French Empire and Louisiana went back to French ownership. Then in 1803 the colony was sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase.

In the 18th century the city’s population grew rapidly with the arrival of Africans, Americans, Germans and French. Major crops of sugar and cotton were produced by a slave labor force on huge plantations near the city, and shipped out from the city’s port.

In the early part of the 20th century, the emerging business and railroad hubs of the Midwest overtook New Orleans both in terms of size and commercial strength.

Severe weather has damaged the city from as early as 1722, but the most destructive ever occurred in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina made landfall just 20 miles from the city. The widespread flooding caused huge damage, and the extensive clean-up and reconstruction program necessary is still in progress.

Today the tourist in New Orleans will find a city with the hottest jazz, delicious Creole cooking, and a blossoming culture unique to the United States.

You Choose The Cruise

Choose between 4 day cruise vacations, to Cozumel, 5 day, visiting Progreso and Cozumel, or week long cruise vacations to a number of ports in the Eastern Carribean or Western Caribbean.

You’ll be able to visit a number of exciting attractions on a cruise departing from New Orleans - in Roatan swim in the blue waters off Half Moon Bay beach, in Costa Maya see the lush flora of the verdant tropical rain forest, in Progreso take an excursion to see the spectacular Mayan ruins at Dzibilchaltun and in Belize experience lazy Cave tubing in the Sibun Caves.

Cruises from New Orleans shows all the cruise departures from New Orleans.

Cruise Terminals Map

Cruise Terminals

Located just behind the Riverwalk shopping complex on the Mississippi river, the Erato St and Julia St cruise terminals are in the heart of downtown a short 10 block stroll to Canal Street, the beginning of the French Quarter. The cruise terminals’ two cruise ship quays add up to an overall total of 609 meters long.

Julia Street Cruise Terminal

Since its opening in 1991 the Julia Street cruise terminal has undergone four major renovations in order to be able to handle the changing size of cruise ships.

Facilities comprise elevated passenger loading ramp, an ATM, souvenir shop, a refreshment stand, check-in desks, a drive-in/drop-off area, A/C and customs screening. The Julia Street cruise terminal is used by Royal Caribbean and NCL. Carl parking is available in the nearby Whale parking area, off Convention Center Boulevard.

Erato Cruise Terminal

The first ever cruise ship to homeport from the Erato cruise terminal after its inauguration October 2006 was the Norwegian Sun.

Available facilities comprise souvenir kiosk, baggage handling, check-in desks, full air-conditioning, elevated passenger loading bridge, a refreshment stand and a drive-off and pick-up area. The top four floors of the building serve as a parking space for over 1,000 cars. The Erato Street cruise terminal is utilized by Carnival Cruises.

For the port website see Port Of New Orleans.

Sightseeing In New Orleans

Jackson Square
Jackson Square is at the center of the French Quarter, one of the finest historical neighborhoods in the United States. The area still displays a unique Spanish and French personality. A number of interesting buildings are found on the square, including the St Louis Cathedral, originally built in 1724, the 1795 Cabildo, the site of the concluding of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the 1791 Presbytére, today the Mardi Gras museum. A bronze statue of General Andrew Jackson who defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1814 stands at the center of the square.

Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street, full of restaurants, boutiques, adult clubs, jazz club, bars and hotels, is the best known street in New Orleans. Enjoy listening to a jazz band at The Famous Door, the oldest jazz club on Bourbon street. Feast on lunch at Galatoire’s Restaurant, established by Jean Galatoire back in 1905, with its signature Creole dishes. Unwind at the Old Absinthe House, where in 1874 the infamous Absinthe House Frappe drink was served by the patron. Order a glass of Herbsaint, a legal alternative to banned Absinthe. Call at Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, now a bar in a 1722 creole cottage. Rumor has it that Jean Lafitte operated the blacksmiths as a front for his privateer operations.

Moonwalk
New Orlean’s enjoyable riverwalk, called the Moonwalk, begins at the small Artillery park next to Jackson square. The riverwalk continues upstream as far as Canal Street. You can take a time out on one of the many iron benches for some picnicking, people watching and boat spotting.

St Louis Cemetery No 1
The 18th century raided cemeteries of New Orleans are the only ones of their kind in the United States. The origin of the above ground vaulted tombs is in dispute, it may beX6 due to the soggy land, X6 that it was a Spanish Roman Catholic tradition. Be warned that St Louis #1 cemetery is well known for spooky apparitions, inexplicable happenings and strange sounds. The cemetery is a short walk from the French Quarter.

Traveling To New Orleans Cruise Port

By Car

Take I-10 south into New Orleans city center. Take exit 234A signed Business/Westbank onto US90. Continue along US90, then leave at exit 11C, the last exit before the Mississippi river, signed Tchoupitoulas St/South Peters St. Join Calliope St. Turn right onto Tchoupitoulas St. Then turn left onto Henderson St.

Then for Whale parking lot, turn left off Henderson St into Convention Center Blvd. Continue for almost a mile then turn right into the lot.

Then for Erato St terminal parking lot, at the bottom of Henderson St turn left into Port of New Orleans Pl. Carry on for half a mile to reach the terminal.

From The Airport

The Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) is about 18 miles from the cruise terminals. There are two choices for the transfer, either take the shuttle bus, or hail a cab.

Cruise Port - Galveston

Introduction

Galveston is a city of nearly 50000 inhabitants located on a long narrow island running parallel to the mainland of Texas south from Houston.

The source of the city’s name comes from 1785 when a Spanish ship’s navigator called the island Galveztown in honor of the Count of Galvez, a count from near Madrid in Spain. In 1836 ten businessmen led by Michel Menard from Canada purchased land on the island to construct a city. The city thrived and by the mid 1800s Galveston had become a prosperous city, the home of a large port and affluent business community.

But in 1900 an enormous hurricane struck the island bringing a tidal surge that covered the island, killing over 6000 people and destroying any buildings in the way. To negate the danger of any more storms the city constructed a seawall seven miles in length and up to 17 feet high. The ground level of nearly 500 city blocks was also raised.

Today the city has risen to become a major conurbation with a successful tourist industry and a profitable commercial port.

You Choose The Cruise

Cruise vacations from Galveston visit exciting ports of call including destinations in Mexico, Honduras, Belize and Jamaica. Choose from cruises of 4, 5 or 7 day lengths. You can cruise to a whole number of fascinating places- in Belize experience ever-popular Cave Tubing in the Sibun Caves, in Roatan snorkel in the blue waters of Half Moon Bay Beach, in Grand Cayman amble along the beautiful white sands of gorgeous 7 Mile Beach and in Costa Maya see the amazing rain forest.

Cruises from Galveston shows all the cruise departures from Galveston.

Cruise Terminals Map



Cruise Terminals

The first cruise ship to sail out Galveston was Norwegian Cruise Line’s Southward on a summer series of cruises in 1974. The ship operated from Pier 15. Though it was not until 1990 when the first cruise building, the $2 million Texas cruise ship terminal, was opened at the Mallory building next to Pier 25. The terminal was renamed cruise terminal 1 in 2001. In 1999 Carnival Cruise Lines, the largest cruise line in the world, unveiled a decision to offer cruises from the Port of Galveston. In Sept 2000 Carnival Celebration cruised for the first time out of the port. Then in 2001 Royal Caribbean International signed a contract with the Port of Galveston to homeport a vessel at the port. An unused warehouse was improved to form cruise terminal 2, and an RCI cruise ship was based at the new terminal in 2002.



Terminal 1 at piers 23,24,25 and 26

Carnival and Princess Cruises operate cruise terminal 1. The terminal boasts efficient baggage handling services, an expansive cruise passenger embark and debark floor and fast customs facilities. The terminal services a single cruise ship berth



Terminal 2 at piers 27 and 28

Terminal 2 is operated by RCI, Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.The terminal offers streamlined security, baggage handling facilities and a streamlined cruise passenger embarkation and disembarkation area. The terminal has access to just one ship berth

Secure car parking is offered for both terminals at two large parking lots. There is a free shuttle bus service between the parking lots and the cruise terminals.

For the port website see Port Of Galveston.



Sightseeing In Galveston

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum
The Ocean Star Drilling Rig and Museum is housed in a retired rig which served for nearly two decades in the Mexican Gulf. Check out displays and videos explaining seismic exploration, rig operation and oil production. The museum is open to the public daily, and about an hour is needed to tour the museum. The museum is moored at Galveston's Pier 19 at Harborside Drive.

Texas Seaport Museum
Texas Seaport Museum is the home of the famous tall ship Elissa which transported cargo for nearly 100 years, sailing first the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, then the Baltic sea and North sea, to finish her career in the Mediterranean. In the nearby museum and theater, hear the story of Elissa's last minute escape from the scrap heap and her painstaking renovation. The museum is sited next to the cruise port.

Bishop's Palace
To experience how the ‘other half’ lived towards the end of the nineteenth century drop by at the wonderful Bishops Palace. The house was constructed in 1892 for the railroad magnate Walter Gresham and his extended family. The house is flamboyantly furnished with scores of original items like eleven impressive fireplaces, rare wood paneling and bronze statues. The gift shop in the basement sells a wide range of jewelry, memorabilia and teas. The Bishop’s Palace is located on Broadway Avenue on the southern side of Galveston’s heritage East End district.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark
The Schlitterbahn Waterpark is a complete blast for all the family with its amazing variety of water rides lke the Bahnzai Pipeline twin water flume, the Blastenhoff heated pool with swim up bar, the Cliffhanger near vertical speed slides, the Whitewater beach, the Torrent tidal wave river and the Wasserfest heated pool. The outdoor section is open during the summer months, the Wasserfest indoor section opens year round. The waterpark is adjacent to Scholes airport, around 9 miles from the cruise ship port.

Moody Gardens
Moody Gardens is a huge tourist draw with three major buildings, the blue Aquarium pyramid, the glass Rainforest pyramid and the pink Discovery Pyramid. Enter the Aquarium pyramid and tour the Caribbean, the North Pacific and the South Atlantic. See Rainforest Pyramid with over 1000 species of luxurious plants from the rainforests of Africa, the Americas and Asia. Explore the interesting field of science at the Discovery Pyramid which presents a number of fascinating exhibitions. Moody Gardens is positioned next to Galveston’s airport, about 2 miles from the cruise port.

Traveling To Galveston Cruise Port

By Car

From Houston
Follow I-45 to Galveston Island. Take Exit 1C. Follow the Exit 1C feeder road then make a left onto Harborside Drive (Highway 275). Continue 4 1/2 miles to Kempner/22nd Street, turn left onto Kempner/22nd to arrive at the cruise terminals.

From the East
Follow State Highway 87 West towards Galveston Island. Catch the Port Bolivar car ferry. Exit the ferry on Highway 87/Ferry road. After 3/4 mile turn right onto Harborside Drive/H275 Continue 1 mile next make a right onto Kempner/22nd street to reach the cruise terminals.

From the Airports
There is a lack of public transport from either George Bush or Hobby airports to Galveston, so the only options are to catch a cruise line shuttle coach or hire a car.