River cruise out of Gretna (near New Orleans)

[HCTiger9704]

River cruise line picks Gretna for home port

 

New cruise company French America Line has picked Gretna's ferry landing as the homeport for its 150-passenger riverboat Louisiane under a deal that steers money toward restoring ferry service between Gretna and New Orleans.

 

French America Line will also locate its corporate headquarters on the west bank of Jefferson Parish. The company's move will create 94 jobs with a $7.5 million investment. Company representatives and officials with Jefferson Parish, the state and the Regional Transit Authority announced the deal Friday (June 24) in Gretna.

 

For those of you who do not know, Gretna is near New Orleans.

[Aintnorock]

And where are they cruising to?

[HCTiger9704]

For more information, here is their web-site, Facebook Page and Twitter page:

 

Web-site: French America Line

 

Facebook page: French America Line

 

Twitter page: French America Line

[steamboats]

French America Line´s boat - the Louisiane - is the former Columbia Queen. The boat was originally built as a casino boat at Leevac Shipyards, Inc. of Jennings, LA, but never finished. The Delta Queen Steamboat Company took over and finished the boat as passenger cruise ship at Cascade General, Inc., in Portland, OR in 2000. In 2001 the Delta Queen Steamboat Company went bankrupt. The boat did lay idle. In 2005 Great American River Journeys bought the Columbia Queen and operated her for about a year on the Columbia / Willamette rivers. She was bought by Majestic America Line which went out of service by the end of 2008. Since then the boat was kept by MARAD. Now French America Line does transport the boat back on the Mississippi river where she will run as Louisiane (after a refurb).

 

Where exactly is the old Gretna ferry landing located? I only know the Canal Street Ferry and Perry Street Wharf.

 

steamboats

[HCTiger9704]

Where exactly is the old Gretna ferry landing located? I only know the Canal Street Ferry and Perry Street Wharf.

 

There used to be a ferry that connected Gretna, Louisiana to Jackson Ave in Uptown New Orleans. They no longer run that route but the structures are still there. Now, during special events (usually only GretnaFest in October), they run a ferry from Gretna, Louisiana to the Canal Street.

[Aintnorock]

 

Where exactly is the old Gretna ferry landing located? I only know the Canal Street Ferry and Perry Street Wharf.

 

steamboats

 

It's directly across from Jackson Avenue on the NO side.

[steamboats]

Thanks! Found it. That´s pretty far upriver. I wonder whether they do offer a transfer from the FQ.

 

steamboats

[Aintnorock]

Well, if you're docked on the west bank (Gretna side) you'd have to take a couple busses, and I don't know which ones. On the Jackson street side, you can take a hike up to St. Charles Ave and take the street car to Canal Street, walk across Canal to the FQ.

 

I would assume they'd do something to get you to the FQ

[garycarla]

...Where exactly is the old Gretna ferry landing located? I only know the Canal Street Ferry and Perry Street Wharf...

 

google.maps is great - Gretna Ferry Landing Here

[Cruise Critic Chris]

Hi everyone -

 

I met with French America Line when I was down in Louisiana a few weeks ago. Info about their plans, including the Gretna wharf, is in this story about Mississippi River cruising: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7058.

 

The line plans to put passengers up in New Orleans at the Monteleone Hotel in the French Quarter and then bus them over to the Gretna terminal.

[Rosethorn40]

Hi everyone -

 

I met with French America Line when I was down in Louisiana a few weeks ago. Info about their plans, including the Gretna wharf, is in this story about Mississippi River cruising: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7058.

 

The line plans to put passengers up in New Orleans at the Monteleone Hotel in the French Quarter and then bus them over to the Gretna terminal.

 

Thank you for sharing. We did a cruise on the American Queen back in 2014, and enjoyed many aspects of it, but this smaller ship looks breathtaking. The dates don't work for us this year (Dang!), and 2017 is fully planned. Maybe 2018?

[HCTiger9704]

Hi everyone -

 

I met with French America Line when I was down in Louisiana a few weeks ago. Info about their plans, including the Gretna wharf, is in this story about Mississippi River cruising: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7058.

 

The line plans to put passengers up in New Orleans at the Monteleone Hotel in the French Quarter and then bus them over to the Gretna terminal.

 

Thanks. On Facebook, I shared your article on the Terrytown Business Association Facebook page.

[KLMSP]

I would be very careful with booking anything on this cruise line... I booked the inaugural September cruise for my parents from Chicago to St.Paul. The ship was not ready due to mechanical issues and so their cruise wascancelled. The cruise line offered to reimburse my parents their expensesincluding air and hotel. In addition, as the travel agent, I was offered acomplimentary cruise to be taken before year end. This was more than generousand I rebooked my parents cruise for 2017. Two weeks before I was supposed totake my cruise at the end of December, I called to reconfirm the sailing as Ihad heard nothing from the cruise line. I was told upon calling that my cruiseTOO had been cancelled. I promptly cancelled my parents 2017 cruise. As of midFebruary, neither my parents or I have been reimbursed for our expenses despiteMULTIPLE attempts to reach the controller and senior management. At this point until they have a proven program I would avoidthis cruise line at all costs.