Port of New Orleans "Best North American Homeport"?

Then don't leave Royal Caribbean! Or are there plans I don't know about?

We hope they return soon, but first come back to San Deigo. :)

You would think that it would be a popular port...and profitable too. It is one of the few ports that we can actually fly to non-stop.

You would think that it would be a popular port...and profitable too. It is one of the few ports that we can actually fly to non-stop.

One issue for the cruise lines is the 9 hour trip down and up the river with no gambling. I also think that the port has trouble handling large passenger loads. I believe they still have to use a forklift to get containers of bags up and down to deck one because deck one is below the dock level.

We were on the Serenade out of New Orleans last Christmas. It was the best embarkation/debarkation we've ever had at any port. It was awesome! I sure hope Royal doesn't leave for good!

One issue for the cruise lines is the 9 hour trip down and up the river with no gambling. I also think that the port has trouble handling large passenger loads. I believe they still have to use a forklift to get containers of bags up and down to deck one because deck one is below the dock level.

I've sailed out of New Orleans over 10 times on different lines and every one I have been on opened the casino soon after we started sailing. And the cruise down the river is an added feature of the cruise.

The longshoremen are able to load and unload the ship within the specified times so I doubt that has any affect on their decision to leave.

Royal Caribbean was in New Orleans before and has sailed year round and just in winter and has left New Orleans for a few years and then come back. Cruise lines make many different trials to see which makes the most profit.

We may see them back in a few years when other ships are commissioned.

One issue for the cruise lines is the 9 hour trip down and up the river with no gambling. I also think that the port has trouble handling large passenger loads. I believe they still have to use a forklift to get containers of bags up and down to deck one because deck one is below the dock level.

For both of our Serenade TA cruises we did this year, one from and the other to NOLA, the casino was open when sailing the Mississippi but the onboard shops were closed.

For the eastbound, out of, this was all of embarkation day evening and for the westbound return to, this was from 8pm the last evening which was when the ship was within the three mile limit.

I noticed that deck one loading doors were below the dock level when we returned to NOLA last Saturday but the port had the equipment, large forklifts, to access these and there appeared to be no delays with the offloading of luggage nor with the loading of supplies for the next cruise.

For both of our Serenade TA cruises we did this year, one from and the other to NOLA, the casino was open when sailing the Mississippi but the onboard shops were closed.

For the eastbound, out of, this was all of embarkation day evening and for the westbound return to, this was from 8pm the last evening which was when the ship was within the three mile limit.

I noticed that deck one loading doors were below the dock level when we returned to NOLA last Saturday but the port had the equipment, large forklifts, to access these and there appeared to be no delays with the offloading of luggage nor with the loading of supplies for the next cruise.

Thanks for the updated into. My experience was from Voyager 3 years ago.

Just read the descriptions of the two terminals and note the investment made in the Carnival terminal, now the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Complex.

I think this gives a clue as to RCI's current decision and they will be back when they get the same level of investment in 'their' terminal.

http://portno.com/passenger-info

Just read the descriptions of the two terminals and note the investment made in the Carnival terminal, now the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Complex.

 

 

 

I think this gives a clue as to RCI's current decision and they will be back when they get the same level of investment in 'their' terminal.

 

 

 

http://portno.com/passenger-info

The Julia terminal got the investment and upgrades first before the Erato terminal their upgrades.

It was the best embarkation/debarkation we've ever had at any port.

One issue for the cruise lines is the 9 hour trip down and up the river with no gambling. I also think that the port has trouble handling large passenger loads. I believe they still have to use a forklift to get containers of bags up and down to deck one because deck one is below the dock level.

That may not still be the case for the casino and shops. When we sail out of Baltimore, the shops and casino are open shortly after departure. Not the way it used to be when nothing could be open for hours. So glad some of the laws have apparently changed so they are not so restrictive.

I am hoping we have a good debarking out of NOLA. This will be our first time and we have opted to drive down from DFW area to the hotel we are staying at for two nights before. We also will be parking the cars at the terminal parking. Any suggestions for long term parking?

The Julia terminal got the investment and upgrades first before the Erato terminal their upgrades.

I am not sure if the project to consolidate two old existing terminals into one modern terminal is equal to a newly built facility with parking within the same building, but do realize the port has been making continual upgrades with Julia Street connected to an outlet mall now.

It is interesting to note that parking was a key issue in negotiations and planning.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140805/PC05/140809738

They are also supposedly breaking ground on a third terminal at Poland Avenue.

http://manningarchitects.com/projects/portfolio/planning/transportation/port_of_new_orleans_poland_avenue_cuise_terminal

I really think the port's spin on loosing RCI is for the most part correct, that RCI just had limited inventory with all the redeployments to Asia and Australia.

I think this gives a clue as to RCI's current decision and they will be back when they get the same level of investment in 'their' terminal.

 

http://portno.com/passenger-info

Oh I would hope so. Love the pre-stay in the french quarter. IMHO-best place to start your cruise!!

I am hoping we have a good debarking out of NOLA. This will be our first time and we have opted to drive down from DFW area to the hotel we are staying at for two nights before. We also will be parking the cars at the terminal parking. Any suggestions for long term parking?

We also will be on a Western Caribbean cruise on the Serenade next week. We made a reservation for the cruise terminal .

When the Serenade sails from The Big Easy on April 11, 2016 there will be NO RC ship home ported in New Orleans; however, Multiple Carnival and NCL ships remain.

RC's lease with the Port extends into the fall 2015 and spring 2016 sailing season, but RC will not have a ship here.

Our family is taking the last 7 day sailing on April 4, 2015.

Two ships in Tampa and none in New Orleans, a total bummer in my opine.

Phil

New Orleans resident

NCL finally extended their contract last week that expired October 31st and will keep at least one seasonal ship there for 4 to 7 years.

All of this could be related to the increased Carnival capacity as well and just strategic in nature.

Any port where are boarding a ship is the best port. ;)

Granted we do like New Orleans. It is a very fun port.

I really think the port's spin on loosing RCI is for the most part correct, that RCI just had limited inventory with all the redeployments to Asia and Australia.

I agree here, also Galveston getting the Liberty was probably a factor. Big attraction when we went was the chance to do a Bahamas/Key West itinerary without a plane ride. Galveston's about a 3-4 hour drive, NoLa was about 9 hours.

Now simply comparing Galveston to New Orleans-- as one of those folks for whom it really was an issue, I liked NoLa's facilities better, I liked being able to do a stay-n-park at the Convention Center Marriott and literally walk across the street to the terminal, and it was a long walk or a short ride to much of the French Quarter.

DW wasn't crazy for the longer drive but much of that had to do with halfway between Shreveport and Baton Rouge the rain started, and it fell in earnest AND it was dark from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. I think she'd have minded less with dry and sunny roads.

From RCL's point of view, if they were having trouble filling the Serenade, the Liberty is the bait that'd get fence sitters to want to try the bigger, newer ship. But driving to Galveston instead of New Orleans works less well the further north and east you get.

I know in January we had no Casino until we got into open seas - but we didn't mind much because we spent a few hours as Harrah's before boarding. Try that in Galveston.

I think this puts pressure on RCL to get a smaller ship on there drawing board. The Vision class ships are getting up there in years, and the Radiance class ships are racking up some miles as well. Not every market is going to attract enough customers on a regular basis to put 4000 passengers on a ship, and I can't see RCL willing to hand off the New Orleans, Charleston, Pacific Coast, etc. markets completely to the competition.

If the whole "Everything must be bigger" line of thought were true, Boeing would be building nothing but wide body planes - but they sell 737s as well because not every route makes sense with 250 passengers.

Were RCL able to effectively deploy some new Radiance-sized ships it'd be a game changer. I've been in port next to Carnival Fantasy-class ships of similar size, and the few balconies offered looked very added after the fact. If nothing else that'd force Carnival to put some money on the table to compete.

When the Serenade sails from The Big Easy on April 11, 2016 there will be NO RC ship home ported in New Orleans; however, Multiple Carnival and NCL ships remain.

 

Two ships in Tampa and none in New Orleans, a total bummer in my opine.

 

Phil

New Orleans resident

11 April 2015 Serenade leaves New Orleans for the last time with me and 30+ Aussies on board.

Phil while your city loses Royal Caribbean we welcome Royal Caribbean here in Brisbane Australia 2015/16 for the first time.

We also will be on a Western Caribbean cruise on the Serenade next week. We made a reservation for the cruise terminal .

Am I understanding correctly that you made a parking reservation at the terminal? Exactly what lot is this and how did you go about making a reservation?

I am hoping we have a good debarking out of NOLA. This will be our first time and we have opted to drive down from DFW area to the hotel we are staying at for two nights before. We also will be parking the cars at the terminal parking. Any suggestions for long term parking?

We have reservations at the Fulton Street parking garage (http://www.neworleansparking.com/). $78 for the cruise.

This is our first ever cruise. We chose the Serenade out of NOLA since the port is within a long days drive from here in Illinois. We are hoping that we enjoy cruising and will want to cruise more. But - if RC WOWs us, then Carnival or NCL will benefit, since Galveston/Tampa/Port Canaveral are too far away, and we couldn't afford air travel *and* the cruise. Hopefully RC will return to NOLA in a few years....

I don't know why RCCL is leaving N.O., but to compare any RCCL ship with the Carnival Fantasy class is comparing apples with oranges. The Fantasy class are relics with nothing but added water slides. The Fantasy, when it was a lot newer, was my first cruise ( 4 day), and my wife almost refused to go on another cruise. She hated the ship. So did I. Our next was on the Norway, which changed both our minds, then RCCL, which we both loved, and I still do. My wife died in 2007, after spending our 25th anniversary on the Jewell.

Wow! I hope you have favorable memories, the least of which, you can include your cruises from whichever port.

My wife and I are looking forward to our very first cruise out of NOLA in January It will be our second time on Serenade.