Traffic to Port of New Orleans

Going on a Thanksgiving cruise out of NOLA in 11 days (!!!). Went on one Thanksgiving two years ago and the traffic to the port for embarkation was horrendous. Like 2 1/2 hours to go 3 miles. How's the traffic been on the earlier cruises this month? I'm just trying to prepare myself. Maybe have some Valium handy in case it's the same...:-).

Thanks in advance!

Jo Ann

Not a recent cruiser out of NOLA but when I was there last year the traffic was also bad. What we found out is that while we were trying to get there to check-in the passengers that were getting off were trying to get out.

If you can (and you're patient enough) I'd wait until after noon to get to the pier, that wills save some of the traffic headache.

I've sailed out of Nola 4 times, twice during November. Its hit and miss. Never go down Canal to try and get to the port. Always take the interstate to the last possible exit and then get off. Last year we were interstate to ship in less than an hour. Granted we were suite guests so we bypassed the line to get on. We had three cars and 10 people in our group. We drove up to the port, dropped off all luggage and guests except drivers. Drove less than 100 yards to park in the whale lot while the others went through security and got in line. Then we easilty caught up with them at the main desk. 15 minutes after that we were on the ship. That is the best case scenario. Worst was leaving from the quarter, going down canal past Harrah's and in front of the convention center. You have to make a left turn to get to port. NOBODY would let us in. Oh, and there was a Saint's game. That makes a huge difference. Good luck! We will be doing it again this March! :D

I've sailed out of Nola 4 times, twice during November. Its hit and miss. Never go down Canal to try and get to the port. Always take the interstate to the last possible exit and then get off. Last year we were interstate to ship in less than an hour. Granted we were suite guests so we bypassed the line to get on. We had three cars and 10 people in our group. We drove up to the port, dropped off all luggage and guests except drivers. Drove less than 100 yards to park in the whale lot while the others went through security and got in line. Then we easilty caught up with them at the main desk. 15 minutes after that we were on the ship. That is the best case scenario. Worst was leaving from the quarter, going down canal past Harrah's and in front of the convention center. You have to make a left turn to get to port. NOBODY would let us in. Oh, and there was a Saint's game. That makes a huge difference. Good luck! We will be doing it again this March! :D

Bamagrad is right about NOLA.

There will be two ships in port the day you are sailing so that will add to the congestion. Carnival Sunshine will be in port.

So with two ships in port the number of passengers coming and going is about 10,000. Expect some traffic backups.

We've sailed out of NOLA 5 times and my best recommendation is to arrive the day before if you can. You will depart on a Sunday and should try get to the Julia Street terminal before noon.

Have a great cruise!

We sailed on Star from NOLA last February. Four adults and two small children stayed at Embassy Suites on Julia St. three blocks from port.

I had bright idea to load luggage in cab and let others walk to ship.

Unfortunately, I had the only cabbie who didn't know the secret.

He drove down Julia to the Convention Center and turned right toward the port entrance which quickly turned into a major traffic jam. I had him turn around and drop me and the luggage off back at Julia St. in front of Riverwalk.

My DW and DS came running. A cab driver loaded us up and drove up to

Harrah's Casino, turned right, crossed the tracks, turned right and deposited at the baggage drop area. Easy -Peasey. He wanted to know the medallion number of the other cabbie.

Don't know how many in your party or how many bags, but you could

do drop off and then go find parking.

We just cruised out of NOLA in October. It was my first cruise and first time in NOLA. We got stuck in traffic, but we made it to the drop off area in 30 minutes from the Hotel in the French Quarter (or right out side the FQ). It was hectic and I think we got there too early as passengers were still getting off the Panama Canal cruise. It was hectic, but this was also the first time Julia St was used for the season, and it was obvious that the terminal was not well prepared. Bring your Xanax just to be safe :D

We did a Thanksgiving cruise last year out of NOLA. We live 30 miles from the port and had a friend drop us off, so no parking to deal with. Total time from our door to the suite check-in area was a little over an hour.

We left the house at 9:45am and were at the terminal by 10:25am. No real traffic to speak of. I-10 East to the Tchoupitoulas exit and follow the cars to the terminal. There was a line of cars, but it moved quite well. We reached the drop off area, gave the bags to the porters and were inside, through security (quicker than most due to my wife being in a scooter and booking a suite), and having snacks 10 minutes later. YMMV.

It all depends on where you're coming from, what time you leave and what everyone else decides to do that morning.

I usually arrive at the terminal between 10:30 & 11:00 and have no problems. But I do take 90 South and exit on Tchoupitoulas St & go straight into the terminal. Usually onboard around noon.

We have cruised from NO several times (for obvious reasons), and arrive at the terminal between noon and 1:00. By that time disembarkation is long completed, and traffic is manageable. We were VIP on our last cruise and were on board within half an hour of being dropped off.

Before VIP, the whole process took about an hour.

We took a cab from the FQ on St Ann and were at the port around 10 minutes later. Ten LONG minutes since the trunk of the cab didn't close and we were a wee worried our bags would fly out of the trunk!!!!!

We left for port at 10am and it was in September.....

Thanks for the suggestions. I wondered about parking at Fulton St. and letting them shuttle us to the ship. Thoughts, anyone?

Jo Ann

We have done that twice. Park and ride the shuttle. No worries about traffic since they deal with it all the time, they know the ins & outs. Have a great cruise.

WE just came back from a cruise out of New Orleans.

Traffic going was BAD! BUT, there was the Helen Brett Jewelry Show and the American Dental Association both being held at the Convention Center. Also, the Voodoo Festival was that weekend in another area. Taking this into consideration, traffic was bad but it moved pretty well. Keep in mind the Carnival Conquest was disembarking. There was a LOT going on and still the traffic moved pretty good.

We parked at Fulton Street and had reservations. Easy Peasy! This is the 2nd time we use Fulton.

Coming back into port....absolutely problem at ALL. We were off the ship, shuttled to the parking garage and on our way in about 30 minutes. However, there was not a Saints game that Sunday in the dome!

Have Fun!