BlaakLane.com books New Orleans cruise car service at a fixed fare. The Port of New Orleans cruise terminals sit on the Mississippi riverfront beside the convention centre, 25 to 40 minutes from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International. The chauffeur tracks your flight, drops you at the terminal curb, and on return meets you in the pre-arranged vehicle area.
The riverfront terminals
New Orleans ships dock on the east bank of the Mississippi, just upriver from the French Quarter, along the stretch between the Riverwalk and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) runs the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and the Julia Street Cruise Terminals, and it has been adding capacity for larger ships. Lines that sail from New Orleans include Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, mainly to the Western Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas. The building you use depends on the ship and date, so the terminal name on your documents is what counts.
Booking your MSY to cruise terminal car
Choose the airport and flight or a hotel address, type the terminal name, and select a vehicle. The fare is fixed before you confirm; there is no meter and no surge during Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest weekends. Louisiana trips are driven by a vetted affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network, contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard, with dispatch from our 24/7 desk in Toronto. The confirmation names operator and chauffeur.
Getting to the port
| Start | Typical drive | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) | 25 to 40 minutes | I-10 east, then the Pontchartrain Expressway to the Convention Center exits |
| French Quarter hotels | 10 to 15 minutes | Decatur Street or Tchoupitoulas Street |
| Central Business District and Warehouse District | 5 to 10 minutes | Local streets |
| Garden District and Uptown | 10 to 20 minutes | St. Charles Avenue or Tchoupitoulas |
| Baton Rouge | 80 to 100 minutes | I-10 east |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi | 70 to 90 minutes | I-10 west |
The chauffeur tracks your flight into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, waits 30 minutes free on domestic arrivals and 60 on international ones, and meets you at the airport's area for pre-arranged cars. A greeting inside baggage claim with a name board is an add-on, available in selected locations.
Sailing-day drop-off
The chauffeur pulls into the terminal drop-off lanes off Convention Center Boulevard or Port of New Orleans Place and unloads. Porters take your checked luggage for delivery to the stateroom; passports, medication and valuables stay with you. Streets near the convention centre fill quickly when a large convention coincides with a sailing, so the chauffeur leaves a margin.
Disembarkation and pickup
Ships come up the river overnight and dock early; guests leave in groups after customs clearance. Private cars wait in the ground transportation or pre-arranged vehicle area outside the New Orleans terminal building. Once you have your luggage and have cleared customs, call or text the chauffeur for the exact spot. Pickups at the port include 15 minutes of waiting from the booked time, then 15-minute blocks, so book for the end of your group's window.
With the airport 25 to 40 minutes away, a domestic flight after about 12:30 pm works for most guests. International departures from MSY are limited, and connections through a hub need extra buffer.
Hotels before and after a New Orleans cruise
Staying a night in New Orleans is half the reason many people choose this port. Hotels near the terminals include the Four Seasons at the foot of Canal Street, the Windsor Court in the CBD and the Roosevelt a few blocks inland, while French Quarter hotels are 10 to 15 minutes away. Airport hotels in Kenner suit an early flight home.
Tours and a day in the city
Hourly bookings, minimum 3 hours, let you see the city with luggage secured in the car. Classic plans cover the French Quarter and Jackson Square, the Garden District mansions and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 area, the National WWII Museum in the Warehouse District, City Park, and a swamp tour on the West Bank. A River Road day to plantation houses such as Oak Alley, about an hour upriver, is a longer booking. For New Orleans day plans, read hourly chauffeur service and city tours and day trips.
Which vehicle for which group
- Couples: Standard Sedan, Luxury Executive Sedan or Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach), 2 passengers and 2 bags.
- Families of up to six: Standard Black SUV or Executive Black SUV, 6 passengers and 6 bags.
- Families with luggage, or several couples: Sprinter Van, 12 passengers and 12 small bags.
- Bachelor, bachelorette or birthday groups: Luxury Stretch Limo (8) or Party Bus (14) for the night before; luggage room is limited.
- Groups travelling with carry-on only: Sprinter Luxury Jet Van, 7 passengers.
Vehicle photos for New Orleans transfers are on the fleet page, and planning ranges are on rates.
Big events and group sailings
Mardi Gras, usually in February or early March, Jazz Fest in late April and early May, and major conventions all compress hotel and road capacity. Group sailings, wedding parties and crew moves are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing. See cruise lines and ports and event transportation.
River fog and the drive from Kenner
The Mississippi sets the timetable in New Orleans. Ships sail about 100 miles upriver from the Gulf of Mexico, and dense river fog, most common in the cooler months, occasionally holds vessels and pushes disembarkation later. If that happens, message the desk and the pickup moves with the ship. On land, the I-10 route from Kenner crosses the city on elevated sections that slow sharply in heavy rain, and the ramps near the Caesars Superdome back up on Saints game days.
Cancellation
More than 72 hours before pickup: free. Within 72 hours: 10%. Within 48 hours: 50%. Within 24 hours or a no-show: 100%.
Terminal information is on Port NOLA, airport updates on MSY, and visitor information on New Orleans & Company. More: New Orleans chauffeur service and all services.
