Cruises from New Orleans to the Caribbean

Which lines sail from New Orleans to the Caribbean?

• Carnival Cruise Line
  Laid-back, loud in the best way and unpretentious; flip-flops, burgers by the pool and a comedy show after dinner.
• Norwegian Cruise Line
  Flexible and lively, with a Las Vegas-meets-resort feel; dinner whenever you want, in whatever you packed.
• Royal Caribbean International
  Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.
• Viking
  Quiet, elegant and intellectually curious; think a stylish Nordic hotel where the evening entertainment might be a history lecture.

When to go

1. January: Best time, average high 83 degrees F Jan 83°72°
2. February: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Feb 84°72°
3. March: Best time, average high 85 degrees F Mar 85°72°
4. April: Best time, average high 86 degrees F Apr 86°74°
5. May: Shoulder season, average high 87 degrees F May 87°76°
6. June: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Jun 89°77°
7. July: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Jul 89°78°
8. August: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Aug 89°78°
9. September: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Sep 89°78°
10. October: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Oct 89°77°
11. November: Shoulder season, average high 86 degrees F Nov 86°75°
12. December: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Dec 84°73°

• Best time
• Shoulder season
• Cruises run
• Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

Cruises run all year. December through April is the drier, less humid season with the most reliable weather and the highest demand. June through November is Atlantic hurricane season, with the greatest storm activity from mid-August through mid-October; ships reroute around storms, so itineraries can change.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 to November 30, and NOAA data shows most activity from mid-August to mid-October. Cruise ships are fast enough to steer around storms, so the usual effect is a changed itinerary (a port swapped or skipped, or an extra sea day) rather than danger, but departures can be delayed if a home port closes. Summer brings afternoon showers and high humidity everywhere; winter cold fronts can make the northern islands and the Bahamas breezy and choppy.

Where you'll stop

Itineraries vary by line and length. These are the ports the Caribbean cruises most often visit:

• Cozumel, Mexico: A major cruise hub with clear-water reef snorkeling and diving, beach clubs and ferries to Playa del Carmen.
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands: A US territory with Magens Bay beach, duty-free shopping and a short ferry ride to St. John's national park beaches.
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Sint Maarten: Walkable beach and shopping town on an island split between Dutch and French sides, with Maho Beach and its low-flying jets nearby.
• George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Stingray City sandbar trips, Seven Mile Beach and excellent snorkeling; ships anchor here and tender passengers ashore.
• Nassau, Bahamas: An easy first stop on short cruises, with beaches, a historic downtown and day passes to resort water parks.
• Oranjestad, Aruba, Aruba: Reliable dry, sunny weather and long white beaches such as Eagle Beach, a short ride from the cruise pier.

Before you sail from New Orleans

Drivers take I-10 to U.S. 90 West (Exit 234A), exit at Tchoupitoulas Street (Exit 11C), turn right on Tchoupitoulas, left on Henderson, then left onto Port of New Orleans Place. The port asks drivers not to use the Julia Street or Poydras Street entrances. From MSY, a taxi or rideshare usually takes about 25 to 30 minutes.

LAZ Parking runs the port's cruise garages. Carnival passengers use the Erato Street Garage (1100 Port of New Orleans Place, over 1,000 covered spaces). Norwegian and Royal Caribbean passengers use the 100 Poydras Garage (over 500 covered spaces), with a shuttle to the Julia Street terminal. Both open at 9 a.m., have height limits (as low as 6 feet 6 inches at Poydras) and a 22-foot length limit. Reserving online through the port's links is recommended. Louisiana disabled veterans with at least a 50% service-connected rating can park free for up to seven days with documentation. The port does not provide parking for Viking or American Cruise Lines guests.

• Plan at least one night in New Orleans; the city is one of the best pre-cruise stops in the country.
• Check your garage's height limit if you drive a tall SUV or van; 100 Poydras is only 6 feet 6 inches.
• Follow the port's directions to Port of New Orleans Place rather than your map app's shortcut through Julia or Poydras Streets.
• Expect several hours of river sailing on the first and last days.

Documents: Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail.

More detail: our full New Orleans cruise port guide and our Caribbean cruise guide.

Related routes

Also from New Orleans: Western Caribbean.

Caribbean from other ports: Cape Liberty (Bayonne), Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Miami, New York City, Port Canaveral, San Juan, Tampa.