Embark/Disembark Port of NOLA experiences please?

[Willbcruisin]

Hi:

 

We are sailing out of Port Of New Orleans next week. I have heard and read the port area itself is a nightmare?

 

Could anyone share their experience, good, bad or ugly?

 

I have a friend there now on a B2B and they made them get off and won't let them get back on. Also they waited over 30 minutes yesterday for a porter?

 

We are the type that like to arrive the port very early.

 

Thank you all for any info you can share and happy cruising!

[tdc2673]

I will preface this with saying it has been a year since I sailed out of NO (RCL). For me it was easy and my preferred port. We generally stay on Julia where we leave our car. We spend a couple of days pre-cruise in NO. On the morning of the cruise we have a taxi take us to the port. It usually takes about 15 minutes and I have always been able to get a porter right away. I am also leaving from there Sunday, there will be two ships in port that day, so I am expecting things to be a bit more hectic. Last cruise we were the only ship in port but I have sailed from there with another ship in port, it busier but nothing terrible. Happy sailing!!

[Willbcruisin]

I will preface this with saying it has been a year since I sailed out of NO (RCL). For me it was easy and my preferred port. We generally stay on Julia where we leave our car. We spend a couple of days pre-cruise in NO. On the morning of the cruise we have a taxi take us to the port. It usually takes about 15 minutes and I have always been able to get a porter right away. I am also leaving from there Sunday, there will be two ships in port that day, so I am expecting things to be a bit more hectic. Last cruise we were the only ship in port but I have sailed from there with another ship in port, it busier but nothing terrible. Happy sailing!!

 

Thanks Tricia! Enjoy your cruise also :D

Edited November 18, 2013 by Willbcruisin

[coldinkansas]

We have been out of NO twice. Parked at Fulton Place, hoped on shuttle and to the port we went. Usually arrived late morning with no problems with lines or wait time. Have a great CRUISE.

[VideoTech]

We've cruise out of New Orleans several times, and never found it to be much different than any other port. It's busy, and of course there are a lot of people trying to get checked in and onto the ship all at once, but it seemed well organized, and we had no shortage of porters.

 

We do not drive to New Orleans, so I can't help you with parking, but there is a lot of parking around the cruise terminal, and there are plenty of hotels that have stay & park packages.

 

I will say that I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago on business, and noticed that they are currently doing construction on the cruise terminal. I think they are expanding it? That could have an effect on port operations.

[Willbcruisin]

We've cruise out of New Orleans several times, and never found it to be much different than any other port. It's busy, and of course there are a lot of people trying to get checked in and onto the ship all at once, but it seemed well organized, and we had no shortage of porters.

 

We do not drive to New Orleans, so I can't help you with parking, but there is a lot of parking around the cruise terminal, and there are plenty of hotels that have stay & park packages.

 

I will say that I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago on business, and noticed that they are currently doing construction on the cruise terminal. I think they are expanding it? That could have an effect on port operations.

 

Thank you so much for your reply! We actually fly in one day pre-cruise and are staying in the Convention Center area so are very close to the port as well as staying one day post cruise. Hoping to embark smoothly and ASAP as I am worse than a kid and can't wait to step foot on the ship!

 

Construction maybe did contribute to my friends issues.

[travelguy2009]

We just returned from the NCL Jewel on the 17th. Embarkation on the 10th was a breeze. We arrived around 11 and was onboard by 1145, had to wait for the dining room to open for lunch! Easiest and quickest we have ever experience. Debarkation was very smooth. We do the self-assist and it began at 7:30 We were in our vehicle and headed home by 8:00. the construction is on the Riverwalk not the Port Terminal. Have a great cruise.

[trish99]

We just returned from a B2B. Yes, we were required to leave the ship and chose to go walk around a bit as opposed to waiting in the terminal so I'm not sure how long we would have had to wait. I think we were back on by about 10:30. Well before any boarding of new passengers started.

[Willbcruisin]

Thank you all for the replies.

 

Hmmm interesting they made you disembark when on a B2B. On Liberty in May they escorted us to customs then right back onto the ship.

[trish99]

This was our first experience with a b2b, so I couldn't tell you how it would be for other ships or ports. The advantage we had was that we could walk off whenever we wanted. Once the ship was cleared of all passengers we could get back on. We tried to time it so we weren't waiting around anywhere. Just enough time for breakfast at Mother's and a restocking at Walgreens. :)

 

 

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Edited November 21, 2013 by trish99