U.S. home ports · New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, on the river.
The New Orleans cruise terminals sit on the Mississippi, about a fifteen to twenty minute walk from the French Quarter. That makes it the one home port where a morning before boarding can hold beignets, a streetcar ride and a picture in front of Jackson Square.
Where the photos are in New Orleans
Woldenberg Riverfront Park
A 16 acre riverfront park just outside the French Quarter, with sculptures, green space and wide views of the Mississippi, where steamboats and barges pass. Sunrise is especially good here.
Jackson Square
The historic heart of the French Quarter, a little over a mile from the cruise terminal. You can ride the Riverfront Streetcar past it from Julia Station, near the terminal.
Cafe Du Monde
The beignets and coffee stop in the French Market is the classic first move for cruisers. Expect a line, and powdered sugar in every picture you take there.
The French Market
An open-air market along the riverfront streetcar route near Jackson Square, with stalls and street musicians and plenty of color.
The Riverfront Streetcar
Julia Station, near the cruise terminal, is a stop on the riverfront line. A picture on the streetcar tells anyone who sees it exactly where you are.
How the light works
The sail-away is the longest of any home port: it takes about seven to eight hours to travel down the Mississippi to the Gulf, so the light changes the whole way. The first hour is the city and the river traffic, then levees, cargo ships and port facilities line the banks. Woldenberg Park is at its best at sunrise, before the terminals fill up.
Before you board
There are two terminals, Julia Street at 920 Port of New Orleans Place and Erato Street at 1100 Port of New Orleans Place. Both are roughly 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the French Quarter and Canal Street, or five to ten minutes by taxi or rideshare, depending on traffic. Check your boarding documents for which terminal you need before you wander off.
Details checked September 2026. Piers, fees and schedules change, so confirm with your ship's daily plan.
Questions people ask
- How far is the French Quarter from the New Orleans cruise terminals?
- Roughly 15 to 20 minutes on foot, or five to ten minutes by taxi or rideshare, depending on traffic.
- How long does it take to reach the Gulf after leaving New Orleans?
- About seven to eight hours down the Mississippi. The sail-away is a long one, with the light changing all the way.
- Is there a streetcar from the terminal to the French Quarter?
- Yes. The Riverfront Streetcar stops at Julia Station, near the terminal, and runs past Jackson Square and the French Market.
Your photo. Right now. Free.
Nothing to download first. Make your New Orleans card in your browser and see it before you decide anything.
Make my New Orleans card