New Orleans

The northern perimeter of this port city is the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, a 629 square mile bay open to the Gulf of Trump.

The Erato St. Cruise Terminal and the Julia St. Cruise Terminal of New Orleans are adjacent to each other. The Port also has plans to further expand its cruise facilities into the ByWater area of the city, adjacent to the lower end of the French Quarter, with a cruise facility at the Poland Avenue Wharf.

The Riverwalk shopping and dining complex is just a few minutes walk, the French Quarter a little further.

The airport is located about 17 miles from the port, but allow 45 minutes of driving time just in case. Airport Shuttle- $20/ person, Taxis- There is a flat fee of $33 for two passengers, $14/ person for three or more passengers plus a $1 fuel surcharge per trip.

Parking at the port is $16 a day.

Printable map to take along.

The cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that define the New Orleans experience continue to flourish, as they have for centuries. The most celebrated and historic core of the city – including the Faubourg Marigny, French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse and Arts District, Magazine Street, Garden District, Audubon Park and Zoo and St. Charles Avenue – is thriving.

New Orleans Hop On Hop Off Tour

The cruise terminals are all on the RiverFront streetcar (trolley) line, with two stops adjacent to the cruise terminals. For $1.25 per ride you can take a ten minute trip to the Aquarium of the Americas, IMAX Theater, Harrah's Casino or the French Quarter for a few hours of entertainment before or after your cruise.

The Julia Street Cruise Terminal Complex is located within the same building as the RiverWalk Shopping Mall, a world class mall with everything from a food court to Victoria's Secret, Gap and Limited. Shop until it's time to board the ship.

Discover treasures tucked inside hundreds of shops and boutiques along Magazine Street.

The official U.S. currency is the United States dollar (symbol: $). ATM's everywhere.

Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely used and accepted, even for transactions worth only a few dollars. In fact, in some cases, it may be the only way to make a transaction. Note to overseas visitors: Prices of goods and services always seem lower than they really are, as taxes and gratuities are seldom included.

Most states have a sales tax, ranging from 2.9% to nearly 10% of the retail price; 4-6% is typical. Sales tax is almost never included in posted prices (except for gasoline, and in most states, alcoholic beverages consumed on-premises), but instead will be calculated and added to the total when you pay.

Tipping in America is widely used and expected. While Americans themselves often debate correct levels and exactly who deserves to be tipped, generally accepted standard rates are:

• Full-service restaurants: 15-20% (Often this is the only income of the wait(ress). Tips are either left in cash or you can add it to the credit card slip) Note: Few restaurants add an automatic service charge, in which case it is up to you how much you tip extra. Check your bill!
• Taxi drivers, hairdressers, other personal services: 10-15%
• Bartenders: $1 per drink if inexpensive or 15% of total
• Bellhops: $1-2 per bag ($3-5 minimum regardless)
• Hotel doorman: $1 per bag (if they assist), $1 for calling a cab
• Tour guides: Depending on tour length, size, and overall quality of guided tours; for half day tours or less $5-10 per person, for longer tours $10-20 per person.
• Private car & limousine drivers: 15-20%
• Housekeeping in hotels: $1-2 per day for long stays or $5 minimum for very short stays (optional)
• Food delivery (pizza, etc.): $2-5, possibly more for very large orders

The U.S. has no official language at the federal level, but English is by far the standard for everyday use. Several states have declared their official state language as English. Spanish is also official in the state of New Mexico, where it is widely spoken; French is official in Louisiana and the Hawaiian language is official in Hawaii, but neither approaches the use of English and are official for primarily historical reasons.

There is Wi-Fi in both the Julia Street and Erato Street terminals.

Emergency 911

In major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, many drugstores and supermarkets are routinely open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, while department stores, shopping centers and most other large retailers are typically open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and often with shorter hours on Sundays - generally 11 a.m. or noon to 5 or 6 p.m. On holidays, the tendency is to remain open (with the exception of the most important holidays like Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day where stores are generally closed)