by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:00 PM ET, Thu October 12, 2023
New Orleans is both a Mississippi river cruise and Caribbean ocean cruise port, and it offers cruisers plenty of attractions to enjoy before or after a cruise.
It’s often a good cruising practice to head to your departure destination at least one day ahead of your sail date. This is extra important if you have weather to consider — the last thing you want is to miss boarding your cruise because your plane was delayed by a storm!
New Orleans’ Warehouse/Arts District, a historic area near the port, offers several hotels that are within walking distance of the cruise terminals. Boutiques and brand-names are all available to choose in the area, as well as options with suites for larger groups.
Travelers who want to experience the Warehouse District on foot should visit The National World War II Museum, voted on TripAdvisor as the second-best museum in the world. Travelers interested in the city’s history — or even its connection to the supernatural — can easily kill an hour or two of their time by taking a walking, hop-on-and-off or horse-drawn tour of parts of the city.
As the day winds down, it’s time to see the city differently. The new Vue Orleans offers a 360-degree view of the city from the top of the Four Seasons Hotel along the Mississippi.
Travelers wanting to experience New Orleans’ musical soul can visit Preservation Hall, which offers a family-friendly jazz party every night of the week, making it a great option for cruisers arriving or leaving mid-week.
No stop in New Orleans could be complete without the food. Carmo and Nina Compton’s Compere Lapin are located in the Warehouse District; the French Quarter offers The Gumbo Shop and Irene’s — and for a late-night sweet bite, Cafe du Monde serves up its famous beignets until 11 p.m.
New Orleans & Company encourages cruisers to experience the historic port city by staying a day or two before or after a cruise.
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