New Orleans is not a city you pass through. It is a city you stay in, eat in, and stay in a little longer than you planned. The Port of New Orleans sits on the Mississippi River, about a mile from the French Quarter, and it is one of the few cruise ports in the country where the city itself is a legitimate reason to book the itinerary.

Carnival Cruise Line operates year-round from New Orleans, with sailings to the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas. The port is also home to occasional sailings from other lines. But the real draw is the city. New Orleans has more good restaurants per capita than almost anywhere in the United States. The music scene on Frenchmen Street is one of the best in the world. The architecture of the French Quarter and Garden District is unlike anything else in North America. And the food -- the beignets, the gumbo, the po'boys, the muffulettas, the crawfish etouffee -- is reason enough to arrive two days early.

Arrive two days early. This is not a suggestion.

The Port of New Orleans cruise terminal is located at 1 Robin Street Wharf, on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the Warehouse District. The terminal is about a mile from the French Quarter and about 1.5 miles from the Garden District.

Cruise lines currently operating from New Orleans:

• Carnival Cruise Line (year-round, multiple ships)
• Occasional sailings from other lines (check current schedules)

Most New Orleans itineraries run 5 to 8 nights to the Western Caribbean -- Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Costa Maya are the most common ports of call. Some itineraries include Nassau or the Bahamas.

The terminal itself is modern and efficient. Embarkation is generally smooth, though weekend sailings in summer can be busy. The terminal has covered drop-off areas and adjacent parking.

Port-operated parking is available at the terminal. Rates run approximately $18 to $22 per day. The parking facility is covered and directly adjacent to the terminal building. Pre-purchase is available online and recommended for peak season sailings.

Off-site parking is available through several private operators near the port. Rates typically run $10 to $15 per day with free shuttle service to the terminal. The shuttles are reliable and the savings are meaningful on a week-long cruise.

Rideshare and taxis are a practical option given New Orleans' robust transportation network. Uber and Lyft both operate extensively in the city, and the port has designated rideshare zones. From the French Quarter, a rideshare to the terminal runs about $8 to $12.

Driving to New Orleans: The city is accessible from I-10 (east-west) and I-55 (north-south). Traffic in New Orleans can be unpredictable, particularly on weekends and during festivals. Allow extra time on embarkation day.

Flying in: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is about 15 miles from the cruise terminal. A rideshare runs $25 to $40 depending on traffic. The airport is well-served by most major carriers, and fares to New Orleans are generally reasonable.

Driving: New Orleans is accessible from most of the Southeast and Gulf Coast. From Houston, the drive is about 5.5 hours on I-10. From Atlanta, about 7.5 hours. From Memphis, about 5 hours.

Amtrak: New Orleans is one of the best Amtrak cities in the South. The City of New Orleans train runs from Chicago through Memphis to New Orleans. The Crescent runs from New York through Washington, Charlotte, and Atlanta. The Sunset Limited runs from Los Angeles through Houston. Union Passenger Terminal is about 1.5 miles from the cruise terminal.

New Orleans has an enormous range of accommodation, from budget hostels in the Marigny to luxury hotels in the French Quarter and Garden District.

French Quarter: Staying in the Quarter puts you in the middle of everything -- Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, the river, and dozens of restaurants within walking distance. The Hotel Monteleone is the Quarter's most famous hotel, a 1886 landmark with a rotating carousel bar. The Omni Royal Orleans is another classic option with a rooftop pool and views of the Quarter. Rates in the Quarter run $150 to $400 per night depending on season and events.

Warehouse District / Arts District: The area closest to the cruise terminal has seen significant hotel development in recent years. The Ace Hotel New Orleans and several boutique properties are within walking distance of the terminal. This is a good option if you want to minimize embarkation-day logistics.

Garden District: The Garden District is quieter than the Quarter, with beautiful antebellum architecture and excellent restaurants on Magazine Street. It is about 2 miles from the terminal -- a short rideshare or a long walk.

Budget tip: New Orleans hotel prices spike dramatically during Mardi Gras (February), Jazz Fest (late April/early May), and major Saints home games. If your cruise departs during any of these periods, book accommodation well in advance.

The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans and the most visited. Jackson Square, the St. Louis Cathedral, the French Market, and the Mississippi Riverfront are all within easy walking distance. Bourbon Street is loud and touristy; Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, about a 15-minute walk from the Quarter, is where the locals go for live music. On any given night, you can hear jazz, blues, funk, and brass band music spilling out of a dozen venues.

The food: New Orleans has more James Beard Award-winning restaurants than almost any city its size. A few that are worth the effort:

• Dooky Chase's in Tremé -- Leah Chase's legendary Creole restaurant, a civil rights landmark and one of the best restaurants in the South.
• Galatoire's on Bourbon Street -- Old-school Creole-French cuisine in a room that has not changed much since 1905.
• Cochon in the Warehouse District -- Donald Link's modern take on Louisiana cooking, with exceptional boudin and cracklins.
• Cafe Du Monde at the French Market -- The beignets and cafe au lait are mandatory. Go early or late to avoid the worst lines.
• Central Grocery on Decatur Street -- The original muffuletta, a round Italian sandwich with olive salad that is one of the city's signature foods.

The Garden District is worth a half-day for the architecture alone. The antebellum mansions on Prytania Street and St. Charles Avenue are extraordinary. The St. Charles streetcar runs the length of the avenue and is one of the oldest operating streetcar lines in the world.

The National WWII Museum is one of the best museums in the United States, period. If you have a full day before your cruise, it is worth four to five hours. Located in the Warehouse District, about a mile from the terminal.

The Mississippi River: The Steamboat Natchez offers two-hour jazz cruises on the river, departing from the Toulouse Street Wharf in the French Quarter. It is touristy but genuinely enjoyable, and the views of the city from the river are excellent.

New Orleans sailings are almost exclusively Western Caribbean itineraries. The most common ports of call:

• Cozumel, Mexico -- The most popular port from New Orleans. Excellent snorkeling and diving, plus strong independent excursion options.
• Roatan, Honduras -- Barrier island with reef diving, zip-lining, and beaches.
• Belize City, Belize -- Tender port with access to the Blue Hole, Mayan ruins, and cave tubing.
• Costa Maya, Mexico -- Purpose-built cruise port with a beach club and access to Chacchoben ruins.
• Mahogany Bay, Roatan -- Carnival's private beach club on Roatan.

For planning your port days, see our guide to how to book shore excursions independently -- independent booking almost always beats the ship's prices for comparable experiences.

Embarkation day: The terminal is in the Warehouse District, which has good rideshare access. If you are staying in the French Quarter, a rideshare to the terminal takes about 10 minutes and costs $8 to $12. Allow extra time on busy weekend sailings.

Weather: New Orleans is hot and humid from May through September. Hurricane season runs June through November. Travel insurance is worth considering for Gulf Coast departures -- see our cruise travel insurance guide for what policies actually cover.

Festivals and events: New Orleans hosts major events throughout the year that affect hotel prices and availability. Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and French Quarter Festival are the biggest. If your cruise departs during a festival period, book everything well in advance and expect higher prices.

Onboard costs: Carnival's daily gratuity rates and drink package pricing are covered in our cruise gratuities guide and cruise drink packages guide.

Booking timing: New Orleans sailings on Carnival are often priced competitively, particularly for last-minute bookings. See our best time to book a cruise guide for when to look for deals.

For comparison with other Gulf Coast departure ports, see our guides to Galveston, Miami, and Tampa. For first-time cruisers, our complete first-time cruiser guide covers everything from embarkation to disembarkation. For Caribbean itinerary planning, see our Caribbean cruise guide and our guide to choosing the right cruise line.