Cheap Cruises from New Orleans

We have talked a bit about Royal Caribbean cruises and Norwegian cruises from New Orleans but we haven't talked about Carnival cruises  which just happen to be the cheapest cruises from New Orleans. Some would even argue that Carnival cruises are even the best cruises out of New Orleans.

I leave that debate up to you guys as I tend to think all cruises are great. What I can say for sure though is that is tough to beat the deals being offered by Carnival. You can get a five night cruise on the Carnival Elation starting at $229 a person for an inside cabin...thats crazy cheap. That means a couple can cruise to Mexico and enjoy 5 nights of fine dining, entertainment and a place to sleep. That's almost cheaper than rent for crying out loud.

To be fair the Elation is an older ship and you aren't going to get the same amazing features of the Navigator of the Seas... but its still a cruise ship. If an older ship isn't what you are after, Carnival also offers 6 and 7 night cruises on the newer Conquest for less then $400. Still an amazing deal.

I tend to like Royal Caribbean cruises a bit better because of the ships but prices like this are why I end up cruising with Carnival more often than not. To think a family of 4 could go on a cruise vacation out of New Orleans for less than $1,000 is amazing.

It should be noted for the families cruising that Carnival does tend to attract a bit more of the rowdy crowd. They don't call them the fun ships for nothing. Just make sure not to book a cruise during Spring Break of Mardi Gras and your family should have a blast.

What to do before your cruise in New Orleans

One of the best things about cruising from New Orleans is the amount of attractions within walking distance to the cruise port and the downtown hotels. Within a relatively small area is a casino, an aquarium, a world famous street and a world famous river. The great thing about all of it is that no matter whether this is a party trip or a family cruise vacation New Orleans offers a little something for everyone.

For the Party Goers
If you only have one night before your cruise start it off at Harrah's casino where you can test your luck at blackjack or the slots, all while taking advantage of a few complimentary adult beverages. After a few hours at Harrah's (pre-gaming if you will) its time to hit the street that invented the all night party. Bourbon Street is world famous and its only a block away from the casino. Head straight for the Tropical Isle to pick up a Hand Grenade. Bourbon St may have once been known for Hurricanes at Pat O Brien's but the Hand Grenade is quickly taking the crown. The drink is delicious but this bad boy is packed with everclear so pace yourself or you might not remember the way back to your hotel.


For the Family Cruisers
Don't let the party goers scare you off. There is plenty to do for you guys too. Located within the same few blocks and sheltered from the raucus crowd of Bourbon Street is the Aquarium of the Americas, the Mississippi River boardwalk and a huge mall that stretches down the Mississippi and even offers a glimpse of the cruise ships in port. The New Orleans Zoo is another great option for families cruising out of New Orleans. Its not quite in walking distance but it is only a trolly and free shuttle ride away. The trolly in and of it self is a New Orleans must, so its like killing two birds with one stone.

No matter what you choose to do in New Orleans, you should have a blast. Just be sure to book an extra day or two before you cruise to enjoy what the city has to offer.

Where to stay when cruising from New Orleans

In typical cruise ports like Port Canaveral, Ft Lauderdale and Tampa there are plenty of hotels that offer free parking during your cruise as long as you stay at their hotel. This tends to make those hotels the most popular among cruisers. This isn't the case with New Orleans. That's because the port is located downtown where parking is limited. Because of this there aren't a lot of park and cruise options. Occasionally one will pop up but they change so often I hesitate to list any of them by name in this post. By the time you read it, the hotel very well could have dropped the free parking.

This isn't all bad news though. Once you come to terms with having to park at the port of New Orleans and pay for parking at the cruise ship terminal it opens up your choice of hotels and there are many great hotels within walking distance to most of the attractions in downtown and the French Quarter. New Orleans is like every major city in that all the major hotel chains are represented here. If you have a favorite such as Holiday Inn or something fancier like a Sheraton then start your research with those, especially if you are part of the reward program of that chain.

Something new since Katrina is the Harrah's hotel, which even offers view of the cruise ships out certain room windows. This is great for the gambler in the family. Heck, spend enough at the casino and that parking might be free after all. Before Katrina, Harrah's didn't offer its own hotel and if you wanted to stay next door you had to be lucky to find a free room at the Doubletree.

Besides the casino hotel and major chains, New Orleans is full of charming french style hotels. In fact many of those rank among the best on tripadvisor. They tend to be a little more expensive than chain hotels but if you are looking for a unique experience to round out your cruise vacation one of these hotels is the way to go.

Here are the top 5 hotels in New Orleans per TripAdvisor

1. Drury Inn & Suites
2. Harrah's
3. Quality Inn & Suites
4. The Roosevelt
5. Hotel Le Marais

I love tripadvisor and would never book a room without checking there first. Sometimes those cruising from New Orleans may not be familiar with the local and there are certainly some shady areas of the city. tripadvisor will let you know if the area is good or not.

Cruises to Cozumel from New Orleans

Cruises out of New Orleans make stops throughout the Western Caribbean but one island remains fairly consistent on all cruises - Cozumel. If you decide to cruise from New Orleans there is a pretty good chance you will be spending a day in Cozumel. Don't worry though because Cozumel has plenty to offer cruisers of all ages. You can relax on the beach, snorkel the national park reef or visit the magical ruins of Tulum on the mainland. Here are a few of the excursions offered in Cozumel on most cruises.

Snorkeling
Snorkeling is a staple in the Caribbean and for good reason. Clear waters and colorful fish make this a must do excursion for everyone. While the national park reef in Cozumel has been beat up by hurricanes in recent years it still offers some of the best snorkeling around and in fact the reef is starting to look a lot better than it did a few years ago. Try looking for one of the catamaran excursions for a relaxing boat ride where typically beers and other drinks are included on the ride back to the ship. Note, I said ride back...those Mexicans can pour some stiff drinks and drinking and snorkeling don't mix.

Tulum
Some of the best if not the best Mayan ruins anywhere in the world can be reached from Cozumel. A short ferry ride to the mainland and and hour on an air conditioned bus will have you standing in front of the awe inspiring ruins of Tulum. Located right on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean sea, you aren't going to want to forget your camera here. The only downside is that you can't climb on the ruins like you can in Belize.

Senor Frogs
For those New Orleans cruisers who like to party, be sure to stop in Senor Frogs for a couple of those giant yard drinks...but remember as noted above...Mexicans like to pour stiff drinks. If you aren't careful you may be watching the ship sail away from your chair at Senor Frogs which is located just steps away from the dock.


Hotel Day Pass
If you would just like to relax in Cozumel, head to one of the many hotels offering day passes. These passes typically include food, drinks and use of beach chairs and non motorized beach toys. These are a really great way to soak up some sun and enjoy the waves crashing in before your ship heads back to New Orleans.

Norwegian cruises from New Orleans

Like the Navigator of the Seas, the Norwegian Star also sails to the Western Caribbean from New Orleans throughout November. The Star makes stops in Costa Maya, Belize City, Coxen Hole and Cozumel giving it one more stop than Royal Caribbean and making this a great cruise from New Orleans.


About the Star
The Star isn't as pimped out as the Navigator of the Seas but it still offers some really cool stuff like dual water slides and a festive bier garten. Norwegian is also the first line to introduce freestyle dining which is really nice for those who don't like to be tied down to the same restaurant at the same time every night of your cruise. You can also leave your tux at home because dinner on Norwegian cruise ships aren't as formal as they can be on other lines.


About the Ports

The Star really stands apart from the Navigator with its selection of ports as it replaces Grand Cayman and Jamaica with stops in Belize, Roatan and Costa Maya. If you are an adventurous cruiser this is the cruise for you. You can visit Mayan ruins in Costa Maya, go cave tubing in Belize, and zipline through the jungles of Roatan. If snorkeling is your idea of fun then don't miss out on doing that in Roatan. In my opinion snorkeling there is even better then the more famous Cozumel.


The Cost
If you thought the price of the Navigator from New Orleans you are going to love the cost of the Norwegian Star. Seven night cruises start under $700 and you get one more stop than you do with Royal Caribbean. To find a better deal than that you will have to take one of the cheap Carnival cruises from New Orleans. If you aren't a Carnival fan (many people aren't) then you really can't go wrong with Norwegian and the prices are actually only slightly more than Carnival.

If you want to splurge however, the Norwegian Star does have 6700 sq foot, 3 bedroom villas available. You may have seen these on the travel channel. They come with their own private garden and hot tub... pretty awesome if you ask me...but well above my price range.

Royal Caribbean cruises from New Orleans

After a great first year cruising from New Orleans, the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas will be back in November 2012 to once again sail round trip from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean. Port stops include George Town, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Jamaica and Cozumel, Mexico. This is great news for Royal Caribbean fans who have avoided cruising from New Orleans in the past. The Navigator combines a great ship and a fantastic city creating a wonderful vacation.

About the Navigator
If it weren't for some of the new mega ships like the Oasis, the Navigator of the Seas might be considered one of the best ships at sea. In fact she holds her ground pretty good against the newest ships. The Navigator sports 15 decks, 16 bars and 10 pools and whirlpools and offers fun for the whole family. The ship also offers a sports court, rock wall, inline skating course and even a skating rink at sea. The highlight however is a beautiful adult solarium retreat with pool and two large whirlpools. You'll never want to leave.

About the Ports of Call
Most cruises from New Orleans travel in the Western Caribbean due to the location of the city in the heart of the Gulf of Mexico but thats ok because the Western Caribbean has some of the best stops in the Caribbean. Cozumel offers a one of a kind sting ray experience and Cozumel offers world class snorkeling. Not to be outdone, Jamaica is famous for its Dunn River Falls and is a must visit for all cruisers.

On the Cheap
The best part of the Royal Caribbean cruises from New Orleans might just be the price. You can get a balcony cabin on the navigator for just under $800 which is a steal considering that is a 7 night cruise. With rates that low you can spend an extra few days enjoying the attractions in New Orleans.