Cruise Guide New Orleans Nov 2019

Cruise New Orleans It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

ENJOY the Big Easy Take a few days before or after your cruise to explore America’s most unique city

ATTRACTIONS ENTERTAINMENT LODGING DINING SHOPPING CRUISE INFORMATION

2019-2020 CRUISE GUIDE

Welcome

Welcome to the Big Easy!

Brandy D. Christian President and CEO Port of New Orleans

It is an honor to welcome you to New Orleans, the city of jazz and jambalaya, Mardi Gras and masqued celebrations. There’s a reason why more and more passengers are choosing to launch their cruise vacations from this unique city. Port NOLA is on target to surpass one million cruise passenger movements for the sixth consecutive year in 2019!

We are thrilled to welcome Disney Cruise Line to Louisiana for the first time in 2020 when it homeports the Disney Wonder, and then welcome it back for a second homeport in 2021. We are also excited that Royal Caribbean will homeport the Majesty of the Seas yearround beginning January 2020.

Carnival Cruise Line will offer guests signature experiences in 2020 aboard both the Carnival Valor and the Carnival Glory. Norwegian Cruise Line will give passengers a thrill aboard the newly refurbished Norwegian Getaway beginning November 2019.

And our riverboat lines, the American Queen Steamboat Company and American Cruise Lines, are increasing their presence with newer ships sailing on the Mississippi River.

This is truly the most exciting time ever for cruising in New Orleans. Enjoy the convenience of our centralized cruise terminals and enjoy your experience in the Crescent City.

Brandy D. Christian

2 • Cruise New Orleans ~It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

CRUISE FROM NEW ORLEANS AND ENJOY...

Set sail from Port NOLA and couple your vacation with the charm and excitement of the vibrant city of New Orleans before or after your cruise!

Stroll French Quarter streets where jazz and gumbo were born.

Roll on a streetcar past majestic Victorian mansions.

Savor cafĂŠ au lait and sugar-topped beignets at CafĂŠ du Monde.

...And many more one-of-a-kind experiences for the whole family!

Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean offer a variety of itineraries from New Orleans to popular destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Visit www.portnola.com/cruise and discover more.

©NCL

Contents

N

ew Orleans is all about the fun. It’s what we’re known for,

what we strive to bring to our guests and what keeps visitors

coming back for more. So whether you’re here for business or

on vacation, there’s only one thing we want you to do: HAVE F UN!

5 Directions to the Port of New Orleans Home of the Erato & Julia Street Cruise Terminals

6 So Many to Choose from...

8 Rollin’ on the River 10 Attractions 16 Dining 20 Shopping 24 Lodging 27 Entertainment 32 Cruise Tips

Regional Vice President Courtney Fuhrmann Publisher Lois Sutton Project Design Lead Erin Crocker Publication Services Director Karen Fralick Publication Services Manager Mickey Kibler

For copies of Cruise New Orleans or advertising information, please contact l.sutton@jgeco.com or call 504.522.6468.

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CRUISE NEW ORLEANS is published by Morris Visitor Publications a Division of Morris Communications Company, LLC. Web site: www.morris.com. Copyright© 2007 by Morris Communications Company, LLC, all right reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility in any part for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any error or omissions therein. By placing an order for advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.

Published by Morris Visitor Publications a Divison of Morris Communications Company, LLC. 725 Broad Street, Augusta, GA 30901.

Chairman: William S. Morris III President and CEO: Will S. Morris IV

4 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

Directions to the Port of New Orleans Home of the Erato and Julia Street Cruise Terminals

For personal vehicles: All cruise passenger parking for the Erato Street Terminal (Carnival & Disney) is at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal Parking Garage. The 1,000 parking spaces are secured, lighted and patrolled. The parking charges for Erato Street are 4 Day, $90, 5 Day, $110 and 7 Day, $140, payable upon entering. All parking for the Julia Street Terminal (Norwegian & Royal Caribbean) is in the “Whale Lot.” This lighted and patrolled 1,500-space lot is located adjacent to the Julia Street Cruise Terminal. The parking charges for Julia Street are $20 per day, payable upon entering. All major credit cards and cash will be accepted (no personal checks, please).

For those without personal transportation: Taxis or limos are recommended due to the absence of sidewalks. Taxi rates from local hotels to the cruise terminals are $10 for the first person; if you have two or more people, it’s $8 per person.

Taxi rates from the airport to the terminals are $36 for the first two people plus $15 for each additional passenger. Also, many hotels provide shuttle services (charges may apply). White Fleet Cab, Elks Elite Taxi, and French Quarter Tours and Transportation vans can be reached at (504) 822-3800. For group sales, call (504) 909-1688. Rates vary. Uber and Lyft rates from the airport to the terminals are $33 a person.

Directions to Erato Street Cruise Terminal & Parking Garage

1). From I-10, take US 90 West when the interstate reaches the Central Business District; then take the Tchoupitoulas Street/St. Peter Street exit (11); turn right onto Tchoupitoulas Street, take left onto Henderson Street (at stop light), proceed down Henderson Street, go over the railroad tracks, and with Mardi Gras World in front of you, turn left onto Port of New Orleans Place.

2). From the westbank of New Orleans, or US 90 East, take the Crescent City Connection Bridge; then exit 11A - Tchoupitoulas Street/St. Peter Street exit, looping under the Crescent City Connection onto Tchoupitoulas Street; take a left onto Henderson Street (at stop light), proceed down Henderson Street, go over the railroad tracks, and with Mardi Gras World in front of you, turn left onto Port of New Orleans Place.

CARNIVAL & DISNEY PASSENGERS The Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Garage is the first terminal on Port of New Orleans Place. Make sure your identification and cruise tickets are readily available, as you must show them to enter the parking garage. Take the ramp up to the 3rd level, which is the first parking level.

There you will be met by Seacaps who will check in your luggage. You may then proceed to park your vehicle on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th level of the parking garage. After parking, take the elevators down to the ground level and proceed into the main terminal entrance.

NORWEGIAN & ROYAL CARIBBEAN PASSENGERS Proceed on Port of New Orleans Place past the Erato Street Terminal to Julia Street. There you will be directed to the Julia Street Terminal drop-off area where you will be assisted with your luggage by Seacaps.

After drop-off, turn left, then an immediate right onto the Service Roadway into the “Whale Lot.” Before leaving your car, make sure that you have both parking tickets accounted for because they will be needed on the way out of the facility at the end of your cruise. A shuttle is provided back to the terminal if needed.

Cruise New Orleans ~It’s like 2 Vacations in 1 • 5

So Many to Choose from…

CARNIVAL GLORY 2,980 passengers; 7 night cruises (Su-Su); Year-Round PORTS OF CALL • Key West, Freeport & Nassau (Eastern Caribbean) • Belize, Roatan & Cozumel (Western Caribbean) • Montego Bay, Grand Cayman & Cozumel (Western Caribbean) Erato Street Terminal at the Port of New Orleans.

CARNIVAL VALOR 2,974 passengers; 4 & 5 night cruises (Sa-Th; Th-M; M-Sa) repeating every two weeks; Year-Round PORTS OF CALL • 4 night – Cozumel • 5 night – Cozumel & Progreso Erato Street Terminal at the Port of New Orleans.

NORWEGIAN GETAWAY 3,963 passengers; 7 night cruises (Sa-Su,Th-Su, Su-Th); Nov.-May PORTS OF CALL • Cozumel, Harvest Caye & Belize City, Belize, Grand Cayman, Ochos Rios & Roatan Julia Street Terminal at the Port of New Orleans.

DISNEY WONDER, beginning February 2020 2,700 passengers; 4, 6 & 7 night cruises; Feb.-March 2020; Jan.-Feb. 2021 PORTS OF CALL • Western Caribbean • Bahamas • Panama Canal Erato Street Terminal at the Port of New Orleans.

6 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

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So Many to Choose from…

ROYAL CARIBBEAN MAJESTY OF THE SEAS, beginning January 2020 2,700 passengers; 7 night cruises (Sa-Sa); Year-Round PORTS OF CALL • Cozumel, Puerto Costa Maya, Grand Cayman & Trujillo (Western Caribbean) • Perfect Day at CocoCay, Nassau & Key West (Bahamas) Julia Street Terminal at the Port of New Orleans.

Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1 • 7

Rollin’ on the River

AMERICAN QUEEN Operated by the American Queen Steamboat Company, the restored six-deck, 436-passenger American Queen offers itineraries celebrating Southern culture and other themes.

• 436 Passengers; 7 night cruises; Feb.-Dec. • New Orleans-Memphis (Roundtrip)

AMERICAN DUCHESS Operated by the American Queen Steamboat Company, the American Duchess is the first all-suite, boutique paddlewheeler on a U.S. river.

• 166 Passengers; 7 night cruises; March-Jan. • New Orleans-Memphis (Roundtrip)

AMERICAN COUNTESS Operated by the American Queen Steamboat Company, the American Countess is the newest addition to the fleet of paddlewheelers.

• 247 Passengers; 7 night cruises; Jan.-Nov. • New Orleans-Memphis (One-Way)

QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI The 150-passenger Queen of the Mississippi was built in 2011 by American Cruise Lines specifically for the Mississippi River and recreates the golden age of paddlewheels with regular upriver itineraries.

• 150 Passengers; 7 night cruises; Year-Round • New Orleans-Memphis (Roundtrip) • New Orleans-Memphis (One-Way)

AMERICA The 185-passenger America debuted in May 2016 from American Cruise Lines specifically for the Mississippi River and recreates the golden age of paddlewheels with regular upriver itineraries.

• 185 Passengers; 7-21 night cruises; Apr.-Dec. • New Orleans-Memphis (Roundtrip) • New Orleans-Memphis (One-Way) 8 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

Rollin’ on the River AMERICAN HARMONY The 190-passenger American Harmony debuted in May 2019 from American Cruise Lines as the second modern riverboat in the U.S. • 190 Passengers; 7 night cruises • New Orleans-Memphis (Roundtrip) • New Orleans-Memphis (One-Way)

AMERICAN JAZZ, beginning August 2020 The 195-passenger American Jazz debuts in August 2020 from American Cruise Lines with contemporary styling and modern amenities.

• 195 Passengers; 7-21 night cruises • New Orleans-Memphis (Roundtrip) • New Orleans-Memphis (One-Way)

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Contact your travel agent or visit www.portnola.com/cruise for more details.

Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1 • 9

Attractions

the country, in the world. From its unique blend of cultures to its party atmosphere, you’re guaranteed “to pass a good time.”

SLOW IT DOWN A BIT

That breezy attitude wafting through the air? Soak it up. Better yet, grab a go-cup and drink it in. After all… you are in the Big Easy. At Toulouse Street and the river, board an authentic steamboat for a leisurely cruise down the Mississippi, and experience the same natural beauty and tranquility that inspired writers such as Mark Twain and William Faulkner. Travel even further back in time along historic River Road (between New Orleans and Baton Rouge), which leads the way to plantation country and beautifully restored antebellum homes that welcome day-trippers and overnight guests.

Or hop on the oldest continually operating streetcar line in the country for a slow-paced scenic tour of the magnificent mansions and lush gardens along oak-draped St. Charles Avenue.

SQUARE ON

Jackson Square, the French Quarter’s spiritual and physical center, was first laid out in 1721 as a military parade ground. Today it remains one of New Orleans’ most historic—and most photographed—spots. Originally dubbed

“Place d’Armes,” the site was renamed in 1852 by Baroness Micaela Pontalba to honor President Andrew Jackson, who is also credited with erecting the nation’s first apartment complex—the twin brick buildings that flank the square. Facing the square is St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest active Catholic cathedral in the country.

MUSEUM QUALITY

Often referred to as “a living museum,” New Orleans offers dozens of cultural repositories well worth visiting. In the Warehouse District, spend an hour—or an entire afternoon—saluting the spirit and sacrifices of World War II heroes on both the battlefield and on the homefront; scope out Civil War relics; celebrate four centuries of Southern art; or check out cutting-edge contemporary works. In the French Quarter, get a glimpse of Louisiana’s historic past, pay a visit to the nation’s first licensed pharmacy or explore the history and mystery behind voodoo. In Mid-City, nestled among City Park’s beautiful live oaks, you’ll find one of the finest museums in the South with an extensive permanent

10 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

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ew Orleans is a true original. There’s no other city like it in

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Attractions collection ranging from the 15th through 21st centuries.

DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE

Due to the city’s below-sea-level positioning, many visitors leave New Orleans without ever catching a glimpse of the Mississippi River.

Woldenberg Park, a grassy riverfront promenade that runs from the Audubon Aquarium to Jackson Square, offers the perfect opportunity. Grab an afternoon go-cup and watch the sunset from along the Moonwalk, or board the Creole Queen paddlewheeler or the steamboat Natchez, both of which offer river cruises. The Algiers ferry shuttles passengers to and from New Orleans’ Westbank.

THAT FESTIVE FEELING

No matter what time of year you visit New Orleans, there is bound to be a festival of some sort taking place somewhere. From music (French

Quarter Fest, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Essence Fest) to food (the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, Creole Tomato Festival) to local culture and customs (Satchmo SummerFest, the Oak Street Po’ Boy Festival), the Crescent City loves a good party...and knows how to throw one.

SHOPPING CENTERS

New Orleans has long been regarded a major shopping destination. For nearly two centuries, Royal Street has ruled as an antiquing center with dozens of shops offering everything from French furnishings to Southern estate jewelry. Home to numerous fine-art dealers, in recent years Royal has witnessed a surge in contemporary art galleries, creating an interesting mix of old and new. Magazine Street, known as “the street of dreams,” lives up to its moniker with six miles of quaint Victorian homes

12 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

“    ”

Attractions that have been revamped as chic boutiques housing an eclectic mix of art, antiques, clothing and home accents.

KIDDING AROUND

Bourbon Street is known worldwide as an adult playground, but what’s there for children to do in New Orleans?

Plenty. Spend quality time with rare white tigers, Louisiana black bears and leucistic alligators. Get up close and personal with cownose stingrays, freeflying parakeets and just-hatched butterflies. Bug out over the nation’s largest museum devoted to insects or search for bigger game at the largest free-roaming wildlife preserve in North America.

See one of the most unique attractions in America created by the people who bring Mardi Gras to life every year. Are we there yet?

TOUR THE TOWN

Explore area swamps and bayous, set off on a cruise down the Mississippi, pay

respects at an aboveground cemetery or search for ghosts and vampires. New Orleans offers tours, tours and more tours geared to just about every area of interest (cocktails, cuisine, nightlife) and to just about every mode of transportation (bus, boat, bike, Segway, limo). Or simply slip on a comfortable pair of walking shoes and do some self-guided sightseeing on your own.

SPORTS AUTHORITY

New Orleans—home of the NFL’s Saints and the NBA’s Pelicans—plays host to a number of annual sporting events, including the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Zurich Classic golf tournament, among others.

ART ENCLAVES

For more than five decades artists have been gathering around Jackson Square’s black iron fence, exposing their art to the public and the public to their art, making it one of the

14 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

Attractions nation’s oldest active art colonies. But the Crescent City creative scene isn’t merely limited to the French Quarter.

Vibrant galleries are found all over, from Royal Street to Julia Street to up-and-coming areas like the St. Claude Arts District, while monthly art markets and annual events, such as White Linen Night, bring artists out of their studios and into the open.

GET JAZZED UP

Chicago and St. Louis may quibble over birthrights, but there’s no denying that New Orleans was—and remains—a hot bed for jazz. From Bourbon Street to Frenchmen Street, Uptown to “backatown,” jazz is at the very heart of the Crescent City beat, with legendary talents like Ellis Marsalis paving the way for a new wave of notables such as Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews.

Numerous clubs throughout the city offer traditional and contemporary

performances most nights of the week.

Keep an ear to the ground…and your dancing shoes on.

PARK IT

With its easygoing pace, subtropical climate and tranquil outdoor spaces, New Orleans is made for walks in the park. Founded in 1858, City Park in Mid-City is one of the oldest, largest and most-visited parks in the nation, and home to the world’s largest collection of live oak trees. Scenic Audubon Park in the Uptown area began as a plantation and later served as the site of the 1884 World’s Fair.

Armstrong Park on the outskirts of the French Quarter is named for the late great Louis Armstrong and where jazz is said to have first taken root.

The Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods are home to the riverfront Crescent Park. Cross the footbridge at Elysian Fields and N. Peters for sweeping views of the Mississippi.

Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1 • 15

Dining

C

rawfish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, pompano and catfish; blackened, boiled, grilled, fried, stewed or nude. Unsure about just what and how to order? New Orleanians are natural-born seafood

New Orleans is surrounded by water. In fact, it is below sea level—so low that seafood could jump from their natural habitat right onto your plate, if so inclined. But we’re happy to give the seafood a hand up.

Here, a day at the lake, or by a bayou, or sitting on the riverbank with a line in the water is pure glory.

If there are a few fishing poles and crab nets in the garage where you are staying, you’re probably visiting a local. They most likely also own a crawfish pot—or two—and propane burner rig. Some workers here, when hired, announce that they will not be available during fishing season. This is not an employment deal-breaker as long as fresh fish is offered in return.

As you can imagine, boat owners are very popular here, too. Face it; most New Orleanians are natural born seafood aficionados. I do know one gentleman who wasn’t…but he moved.

Maybe it was the mudbugs.

You can call them crawfish if you prefer, but never call them crayfish.

And respect those little suckers. We do. Mudbugs will sometimes sashay

in a crawfish chorus line across a road from one bayou to another. Hundreds of them. When this happens, traffic stops; people either allow them to pass, or jump from their vehicles, and scoop them up for dinner.

Then there are those special times of the year when crawfish, shrimp, and crabs are all in season together.

We rejoice in backyards and parks; seafood restaurants have waiting lines.

We roll up our sleeves; cover a table with black garbage bags topped by several layers of newspaper, and wait.

The results, boiled in a huge pot, are drained and piled on the table. The rules are simple; there’s nothing dainty about the process. He who eats the fastest gets the most. Actually, unless you can quickly peel shrimp and crawfish—and crack crabs at warp speed—you could starve to death around these parts. That’s why we add potatoes, corn, sausage, and other nice things to the pot.

One afternoon a bunch of us had loaded the table at local seafood joint (everybody has a favorite neighborhood one-step-above-a-dive fish

16 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

©SHUTTERSTOCK

afficionados...let a local lead the way.

house) with a three-crustacean boil.

Visitors seated at the next table watched as our arms flew and hands flailed, dismembering small creatures whose small parts also flailed and flew. Not a knife or fork in sight. Just smackin’ and smilin’.

“Ewwww, gross,” said one of the ladies at the visitors’ table. We all felt sorry for her. She just didn’t get it.

And, bless her heart…she never knew what she was missing.

Any New Orleanian in just about any restaurant will be happy to demonstrate the simple ways to peel and crack crustaceans. Think of crawfish as tiny lobsters. Shrimp and crabmeat is merely hiding from you in a shell; it’s Mother Nature’s own special packaging. Raw oysters here are so fresh you taste the Gulf of Mexico before you do the oyster. Or maybe they’re the same thing.

Prepare your own cocktail sauce, at the table or bar, and then spend some appetite eating them on the half shell.

Again, you don’t need a fork when a correctly shucked oyster will practically slide out of its shell and into your mouth all by itself.

In New Orleans, great seafood can be just that simple, or it can get dressed up in fancy duds and ready to party.

Famous restaurants, Uptown, downtown, and back of town daily elevate fish and shellfish from basic boiled beauties to traditional (and untraditional) classics. Crawfish étouffée-topped catfish can make you sob. Soft-shell crabs seem like crispy clouds of edible perfection. Speckled trout, shrimp, pompano, and redfish come blackened, broiled, grilled, sautéed, steamed, sauced, and sassy as all get out.

Put another way, when it comes to seafood, we New Orleanians like to swing all ways. The low, the high, and the mighty buoyantly co-exist in a dining world that ranges from blue jeans to black tie…with taste buds to match.

Fine crabmeat has a fresh, delicate flavor reminiscent of the waters

Cruise New Orleans ~It’s like 2 Vacations in 1 • 17

(TOP) ©TREPOLSKY DMITRY/SHUTTERSTOCK; (BOTTOM) ©SHUTTERSTOCK

Dining

Dining happy and to make plans.”

Standing at a local oyster bar while the shucker keeps up with you is simple bliss. Oysters on the half shell: iridescent, shimmering in nature’s little containers. New Orleans’ P&J Oyster Company has been in the bivalve business since 1876, first cultivating and harvesting, and now distributing them. Today, P&J is the country’s longest continuously operating shucking house. It supplies fresh Gulf oysters to the nation’s finest restaurants.

But for all of the Gulf ’s bounty, shrimp takes the spotlight in New Orleans. There is not much that it doesn’t perform well in on the culinaryarts stage. If you like to experiment with seafood, shrimp is your friend.

Hot or cold, shrimp takes a victory lap around most restaurants. Versatile and abundant, they are easy to peel and even easier to serve in the shell in a seasoned boil, in a sauce, fried, or sautéed. Shrimp make wonderful appearances in jambalayas, gumbos, and stews, over pasta, or on the grill. And while crawfish are at their peak between December and June, shrimp are in season year-round.

Whatever time of year you may land in New Orleans you can always expect to find that fresh Louisiana seafood landed first on local menus.

And if you’re unsure about just what to order, take a lead from the locals: If it swims, eat it.

Excepted from “New Orleans Classic Seafood” (Pelican Publishing, 2008), by Kit Wohl.

18 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

©WILD DRAGO/SHUTTERSTOCK

where the crabs grew up, and around New Orleans, that’s almost buttery.

That’s why chefs here try to do as little as possible to crabmeat, enhancing rather than overpowering its natural flavor. In other places savvy folks have discovered the superiority of Louisiana blue crabs and now demand that they be shared and shipped around the country. When there is a shortage, we take this shipping/sharing thing personally. We want to keep our crustaceans on home turf so you’ll come back to visit.

Crabs live in hard, protective shells, except at a certain time of the year when they abandon their old facades and build larger, new houses, which harden quickly. That’s when soft-shell crabs are in season and another reason to head to local restaurants. Fried or sautéed soft-shell crabs make star turns at most Crescent City tables from March through June.

Rarely seen, but greatly appreciated are small buster crabs. There are oldtime crab farmers who catch these tiny creatures and place them in large tanks. There they stay, swimming with the farmer watching as a benevolent lifeguard, until they shed their hard shells. These babies, gently sautéed in a classic meunière sauce and served on a piece of buttered toast, can make the most blasé diner beg like a puppy.

In A Moveable Feast, Hemingway wrote, “As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be

A New Orleans Tradition

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Shopping

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N

ew Orleans isn’t solely about great food and music. The

Crescent City also offers some of the best shopping on either

side of the Mississippi. Whether it’s trendy national chains or

one-of-a-kind boutiques, you’ll find must-haves at every turn.

FRENCH MARKET

(N. Peters St., between Jackson Square and the Old U.S. Mint) The oldest public market in the nation, the French Market encompasses six blocks of the lower French Quarter.

The district includes more than 45 retail shops, indoor and outdoor performance spaces, restaurants and cafés, produce vendors and a large flea market.

ROYAL STREET

(One block south of Bourbon St.) Royal Street’s 13-block stretch (between Canal St. and Esplanade Ave.) offers an outstanding collection of galleries, artists’ studios and antiques shops, many of which have been around for generations.

From Old Masters to contemporary crafts, you’ll find it on Royal, along with a number of renowned restaurants.

CHARTRES STREET

(One block south of Royal Street) Divided by Jackson Square, this charming street features chic boutiques

and jewelry stores, antiques and art galleries, specialty shops and restaurants, along with St. Louis Cathedral.

LOWER DECATUR STREET

(Between Jackson Sq. and Esplanade Ave.) From sunrise to sundown, lower Decatur Street offers a diverse mix of trendy shops, boutiques and clubs.

Along Jackson Square see local artists at work, or stop in one of the many restaurants with outdoor or balcony dining and watch the world go by.

THE SHOPS AT CANAL PLACE

(Canal St. at the Mississippi River) Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue and Coach top a long list of the tony Shops at Canal Place. National notables, such as lululemon, J. Crew and Brooks Brothers, are coupled with leading local retailers in the soaring glass-and-steel structure.

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

(Between Poydras St. and Howard

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©M.S. RAU ANTIQUES

THE FRENCH QUARTER

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Shopping Ave.; St. Charles Ave. and the Mississippi River) Once an industrial area and shipping center, this revitalized neighborhood is now filled with must-visit museums and great galleries, trendy boutiques, hip hotels, worldrenowned restaurants and top-notch nightlife venues—all within minutes of the cruise ship terminals.

THE OUTLET COLLECTION AT RIVERWALK

(Poydras Street at the river) Stretching along the Mississippi from Canal toward the Convention Center, the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is the nation’s first urban outlet mall.

Neiman Marcus Last Call Studio, Coach and Johnson & Murphy are just a taste of the 70-plus retailers lining the multi-level space, which is also home to a variety of eateries.

International visitors will be rewarded for swinging by the Louisiana Tax-Free Shopping refund desk.

UPTOWN

MAGAZINE STREET

(Between St. Charles Ave. and the Mississippi River) With six miles of prime retailing, it can take days to explore all Magazine Street has to offer. Known as the “street of dreams,” Magazine lives up to its moniker with block upon block of chic boutiques, galleries and restaurants housed in revamped Victorian homes.

The shopping starts in earnest around St. Andrew Street and continues all the way to Nashville. Don’t attempt to walk it all; hail a cab or catch the #11 Magazine bus at the corner of Magazine and Canal streets and ask for a $3 Jazzy Pass, which allows you to get on/off throughout the day. It’s near impossible to list every must-stop shop along Magazine, but half the fun is making your own discoveries. Fuel up along at one of Magazine’s many bistros and cafés before heading back out on the hunt.

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Lodging

W

elcome, y’all!” “First time in N’awlins?” “Let me get

that for you.” Greetings from the Crescent City—with a

genuineness that no other city’s hotel staff has. We love our

visitors and are thrilled you are here. New Orleans-area hotels are some of the friendliest destinations unto themselves.

Every major hotel chain, and most of the minor ones, has at least one lodging property in New Orleans.

No matter which you choose, New Orleans is such a compact city that, from your hotel, you are within miles—more likely steps—from any restaurant, attraction, shop or entertainment venue you are headed to.

Lodging in New Orleans ranges from large, full service nationally recognized hotels to award-winning luxury properties to moderately priced well-appointed hotels to smaller quaint boutique properties to neighborhood bed-and-breakfasts. Most New Orleans hotels are within the confines of the French Quarter, downtown (locally known as the CBD—Central Business District), and the Warehouse District, all within a two-mile radius of the Erato and Julia Street Cruise Terminals located at the Port of New Orleans behind the Morial Convention Center.

If you prefer to stay in the New Orleans metropolitan area, this area boasts hotels that are conveniently

located near the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport—a 20-minute ride to the cruise terminals. Another option is to stay on the west bank of the famous Mississippi River—five to 10 minutes from the cruise terminals.

What makes New Orleans unique is when you step onto your hotel balcony or walk outside your hotel lobby, you just might see a parade passing down the street, stumble upon a movie being filmed, hear the steamboat Natchez’s calliope playing, smell a nearby restaurant’s latest creation—and you’ll find yourself falling in love with the Crescent City for the first time...or all over again.

24 • Cruise New Orleans ~It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

(TOP): ©SHUTTERSTOCK; (BOTTOM): ©SAINT LOUIS HOTEL/NEW ORLEANS HOTEL COLLECTION

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New Orleans Cruise Guide • 25

Entertainment

Bourbon Street

A

spirited nightlife is why you come to New Orleans. With many musical offerings and dance clubs, most nightspots are open way into the wee hours. It’s no wonder you will stay up past

your bedtime—that’s when everything happens here!

(TOP) ©SHUTTERSTOCK; (BOTTOM) ©CAFE BEIGNET

New Orleans is synonymous with jazz and the blues. You simply can’t leave town without sampling the musical offerings on Bourbon Street...but don’t stop there. You can hear red-hot jazz or wailing R&B in nearly every

part of the city, from Uptown to the Faubourg Marigny.

In a city known for its live music and for going all night—what a perfect opportunity to enjoy as much music and as many genres of it as possible. Besides jazz and blues, you can find everything from rock, funk, soul and gospel to Cajun, zydeco, Latin and country.

For a different entertainment twist, check out the gentlemen’s clubs and cabarets along Bourbon Street, but beware of the “holes in the walls” and stay with the more prominent clubs.

Meet friends at one of the city’s famous bars or clubs and ask for a homegrown New Orleans cocktail like a Hurricane, Sazerac or Ramos Gin Fizz. On your way out the door, grab a “go-cup,” because here in New Orleans your drink is welcome on the street (but no bottles, please).

Live Jazz at Cafe Beignet

Cruise New Orleans ~ 2 Vacations in 1 • 27

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Cruise Tips

PERSONAL ITEMS

Keep your passport, photo I.D., credit cards, airline tickets, hotel information, rental car information, jewelry and medicines on your person while separated from your baggage, both boarding and disembarking.

TIP MONEY

Set aside gratuity monies to make sure you have enough for when you disembark.

A FEW EXTRAS...

Bring a short extension cord due to limited number of outlets; over-thedoor pocket-style shoe organizers for over the bathroom door for your bathroom necessities due to the limited amount of bathroom counter space;

another over-the-door pocket-style shoe organizer for shoes, belts, and anything small; walkie-talkies to stay in touch with family and friends on the boat, since cell phones can be erratic on cruise ships; extra batteries for your camera.

CRUISE INSURANCE

Consider buying cruise insurance because sometimes unavoidable circumstances happen.

BEACH TOWELS

There’s no need to pack those bulky beach towels, the cruise ship has them for your poolside layouts and onshore excursions.

EARLY BIRD

Once you are on the cruise ship, book your spa appointment as soon as possible, because the peak times fill up fast.

Before your cruise, research the port of call excursions because they also fill up quickly. Book early. Also let the cruise line know of any dietary restrictions.

LOWER STRESS

Get to New Orleans a day or two early to avoid delayed airlines or traffic jams: Cruise New Orleans – 2 Vacations in 1.

32 • Cruise New Orleans ~ It’s like 2 Vacations in 1

©NCL

BAGGAGE

Make sure you have the cruise line’s baggage tags on all your baggage, as well as your own identification and some type of easily identifiable ribbon or marking for quick identification when departing. It’s a good idea to put your itinerary and phone number in your baggage, just in case the tags do come off. If you don’t have enough baggage tags, the seacaps will be glad to supply you with extras.