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30 minutes, more or less. Not much traffic on weekends, and no major construction between port and airport.

Check with the cruise line. They use different standards that the City of NO.

No damage to cruise terminal or surroundings. Most of the damage was to an area east of downtown.

Just FYI: All of the previous COVID restrictions (mask, proof of vaccination) have been lifted as of today.

www.wwoz.org

Click on "live wire." You will find listing for the music clubs and who is playing. Or

www.offbeat.com

There are lots of good restaurants in the Warehouse District, where your hotel is located. Search yourself, or I can give you some recommendations. French Quarter restaurants seem to be extremes: way upscale or touristy. Just FYI, there is a Cafe du Monde in the Riverwalk Marketplace, a short walk from the hotel. The lines are much shorter than the one in the Quarter, and you can sit outside (weather permitting) and watch the river traffic. And your ship.

30 minutes sounds about right. There is no major construction going on between the port and the airport. New Orleans has a new terminal, but most of the kinks seem to have been worked out. Friends who are frequent flyers tell me that with pre-check it take 30 to 45 minutes from arrival to gate.

Do a Google search for Port Of New Orleans. It describes parking & luggage drop-off options. The parking garage is adjacent to the terminal. Not a far walk, and they will have wheel chairs if needed.

A heads-up for folks cruising from New Orleans:

Restrictions have tightened in an effort to save Mardi Gras, which was cancelled last year. To enter bars, restaurants, casino, etc. you must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within the past 72 hours and mask. Not uniformly enforced, but be prepared. A number of restaurants and bars offer outdoor seating, a good way to avoid the restrictions, weather permitting.

The day parades on 2/27 are not huge parades. Bacchus, the night parade, is, but you will miss that.

Try Uber/Lyft. There will be a price surge, so drivers will be working. Or ask someone at the hotel to call a cab for you. As I said, the drivers know how to avoid the traffic. The earlier in the day the better.

I should have mentioned that the cab or whatever transportation method you choose will use a route that takes you over the parade route and directly to Convention Center Blvd. where the terminals are located.

The parades start uptown, and don't get downtown ( where the cruise terminal is located) until around 1:00. You should not have a problem. Cab/Uber/Lyft drivers know how to avoid the traffic.

There have been some foggy mornings this week, but no flight disruptions. Maybe they found a workaround. 

The Amtrak station is only about 15 blocks from the cruise terminal. Should not be a problem.

Don't miss the music. You can find schedules here:

www.wwoz.com

There are several places. Do a Google search for "New Orleans COVID testing." You will find locations, hours, etc. and ID requirements.

At least for the time being, proof of vaccination or negative COVID test within three days is required to enter restaurants, bars, casinos, etc.  

I don't think you will find any place close to the port. You might try one of the hotels in the suburbs: Metairie, Kenner, etc. You would have to taxi or UBER to and from the port, but still a lot cheaper than paying a downtown parking rate.

There are lots of good restaurants close by. Do a Google search for "warehouse district restaurants." Some of the results are just ads, so you have to sort through them.

Fairly short walk to the French Quarter, riverfront, etc.

Music festivals coming back:

Satchmo Summer Fest

French Quarter Festival

JazzFest

All have websites with dates/times/performers.

Saturday was a beautiful day in the Quarter. Restaurants are open: most of the old ones and some new ones as well. Music clubs are coming back, including some of our old favorites. Still no cruises, though.

For events:

www.bestofneworleans.com

Music venues:

www.offbeat.com

Restaurants:

www.nomenu.com

Live music isn't back yet, but restrictions are slowly being lifted, and by 2022 ut should be a much different picture.

Cruises out of New Orleans have grown tremendously over the past several years, mainly because they are out of New Orleans. It is a very compact city, easy to get around by foot, Uber, pedicab, etc. Lots of great restaurants in the French Quarter, lots of things to do and see. The City is gradually coming out of the COVID shutdown. By Spring of 2022 it should be back to close to normal. The music clubs are still mostly closed, but restrictions are gradually being lifted and they will be back in time. My wife and I spent last Saturday in the Quarter, and there were lots of people out and about. April is usually a pretty month. Everything is in bloom.

The port is about a $10 ride from any hotel in the area. After departure you can sit on the deck with a cold drink and enjoy the trip down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

All the usual Spring festivals (Jazzfest, French Quarter Fest, etc.) were canceled this  year because of COVID, and hard to predict what will be scheduled for April 2022. A good source is:

www.bestofneworleans.com

Slowly but surely. No cruises on the horizon and no live music except on the streets. Lots of people in the French Quarter this weekend enjoying the beautiful weather and ambiance. Restaurants are at 50% capacity, bars at 25% inside and the usual drinks to go. Our mayor has been very strict on opening up the city. Painful, but Orleans Parish has some of the best numbers in the country, and they are still improving.

The Whale Lot on Convention Center Blvd. adjacent to cruise terminals.

Or Machu Pichou Tours parking lot with shuttle.