New Orleans cruise numbers back to pre-pandemic levels

'This is really encouraging as our cruise business drives tourism and contributes significantly to the hospitality industry,' Port NOLA President and CEO Brandy Christian said.

Popular stayover city

Ninety percent of passengers travel from out of state with 73% spending one or two days in New Orleans before or after their cruise. That generates more than 300,000 hotel room nights in New Orleans and more than $125m in local spending each year, according to the destination.

'New Orleans is one of the most popular pre-and post-cruise destinations in the country, which is a tribute to our excellent partners at the Port of New Orleans as well as the work of our team at New Orleans & Company,' added Walter Leger III, president and CEO. New Orleans & Co.

'Travel drives our economy, but visitors don’t just show up. In a highly competitive marketplace, travelers have choices, and we have to earn their business through aggressive sales and promotion,' he continued. 'We are pleased to work closely with the port, the cruise lines and travel advisors to ensure that extremely loyal cruise passengers are selecting to sail from New Orleans instead of competitor cities.'

Carnival's 30th year

Carnival Cruise Line homeports two year-round vessels and in 2024 Carnival marks its 30th year of cruising from New Orleans.

Norwegian Cruise Line is renewing for five more years with additional sailings and a new ship, Norwegian Getaway, to arrive in October. 

Disney Cruise Line also returned with Disney Magic in January, while Royal Caribbean will be back with a new vessel, Brilliance of the Seas, in November.

River cruise growth

In addition, Port NOLA is seeing record growth in river cruises, with nine homeported vessels including America’s first Viking cruises that began sailing in 2022. Viking Mississippi was built in Louisiana.

Port NOLA set a passenger record in March 2023 for oceangoing and river cruises, topping pre-pandemic levels with 155,225 passenger movements and 39 cruise calls. The previous monthly high was set in February 2020 with 154,409 passenger movements and 31 calls just before the global COVID-19 shutdown in March.