New Orleans in Louisiana is a legendary party destination. People who have partied at Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras can vouch for that.
A cruise from New Orleans is your opportunity to discover the charm, tastes and smells of the Crescent City before or after your cruise.
All you must do is reach the city a few days before your cruise is scheduled to leave the shores of New Orleans.
Perhaps this is why Carnival Cruise Lines has four cruises departing from New Orleans port (also known as NOLA).
Note: NOLA is a shorter way of referring to New Orleans and Louisiana.
Best Carnival cruises from New Orleans
The four Carnival cruises which depart from New Orleans go to an exciting array of destinations.
Each of these cruise ships is unique and provides a memorable cruise experience.
1. Carnival Valor
Itinerary 1: New Orleans > Cozumel > New Orleans
Itinerary 2: New Orleans > Cozumel > Progreso (Yucatan) > New Orleans
Carnival Valor was introduced in 2004 and renovated in 2016.
This 2,980-passenger ship now includes all the Fun Ship 2.0 attractions that the Carnival Cruise Line is famous for.
Carnival Valor is one of the cheap cruises that start from New Orleans – affordable on the pocket and yet packs a punch to deliver memorable cruise holidays.
Accommodation is plush and elegant. Onboard entertainment will leave you in a pleasant quandary, whether to relax indoors or enjoy outdoors!
We can guarantee you that you will love the onboard nightclubs, the comedy club, and the wide variety of cuisines available.
Kids can get busy at Carnival Valor’s three supervised youth spaces. Or they can join the wacky, wonderful Dr. Seuss bunch for character story-time.
Whatever be your age, you are bound to get excited by the 214-foot long, four-deck-tall Twister waterslide.
Size of Ship: Large
Price of Tickets: Low
Overall Rating: 3.8
Health Rating: 4.5
Best Carnival cruise for: Singles, Couples, Couples with children, Families
2. Carnival Glory
Itinerary 1: New Orleans > Cozumel > New Orleans
Itinerary 2: New Orleans > Montego Bay > Grand Cayman > Cozumel > New Orleans
Itinerary 3: New Orleans > Key West > Freeport > Nassau > New Orleans
The Carnival Glory is among the cheap cruises that depart New Orleans.
The ship can accommodate almost 3,000 passengers who are served by a crew of around 1,150 professionals. Thus ensuring a personalized service.
Introduced in 2003, this Carnival Cruise Line ship was renovated in 2012, in keeping with Fun Ship 2.0 standards.
It features musicals by Playlist Production, the Punchliner Comedy Club and Hasbro, a family-friendly game show.
For those who love to get physical, activities such as golf and water-sliding are also available. The winding curves of the classic Twister and AquaTunnel waterslide are legendary.
There are many dining options and the ones that deserve special mention are the Emerald Room Steakhouse and the aptly-named Golden and Platinum Restaurants.
As for bars, the adults have the option of walking into eight different bars.
Accommodations will please the budget-conscious as well as those with a taste for luxury.
Size of Ship: Large
Price of Tickets: Low
Overall Rating: 3.75
Health Rating: 4.5
Best Carnival cruise for: Singles, Couples, Couples with children, Families
Recommended Reading: Carnival cruises from Galveston
3. Carnival Triumph
Cruise 1: New Orleans > Cozumel > New Orleans
Cruise 2: New Orleans > Cozumel > Progreso (Yucatan) > New Orleans
Carnival Triumph is another notable name when it comes to cheap and affordable cruises leaving New Orleans.
Though it debuted in 1999, this 2,754 passenger ship was renovated in 2016 and now boasts of Fun Ship 2.0 features.
The highlight of your cruise itinerary will be the Seaside Theatre and its dive-in movies.
The Punchliner Comedy Club, musicals organized by Playlist Production, Guy’s Burger Joint, the Seafood Shack and the Bluelguana Cantina are some of the other Fun Ship 2.0 staples.
There are casinos, card rooms, swimming pools and video arcades as well.
Budget accommodation is also available but if you are in the mood to splurge, Balcony rooms and Suites are available.
Almost sixty percent of the rooms have an ocean view.
Size of Ship: Large
Price of Tickets: Low
Overall Rating: 3.7
Health Rating: 4.0
Best Carnival cruise for: Singles, Couples, Families
4. Carnival Dream
Itinerary 1: New Orleans > Montego Bay > Grand Cayman > Cozumel > New Orleans
Itinerary 2: New Orleans > Mahogany Bay > Belize > Cozumel > New Orleans
Itinerary 3: New Orleans > Key West > Belize > Freeport > Nassau > New Orleans
Itinerary 4: New Orleans > Costa Maya > Belize > Cozumel > New Orleans
Itinerary 5: New Orleans > Cozumel > Belize > Mahogany Bay > New Orleans
Itinerary 6: New Orleans > Costa Maya > Mahogany Bay > Belize > Cozumel > New Orleans
This Carnival Cruise Lines ship comes equipped with Fun Ship amenities that make these cruises attractive to travelers looking for value.
The Punchliner Comedy Club is one of the biggest draws of the cruise.
Carnival Dream are live performances every night and movies screened beside the swimming pool. Try out the spa or the adults-only areas for some peace and quiet.
Cruise deals are aimed at families, so there is child-appropriate entertainment as well.
There are various youth clubs, children’s programs, and a water park.
Accommodation is largely aimed at the budget crowd, though bigger suites are also available.
This 3,646 passenger ship has four restaurants and an equal number of bars.
However, the public areas can get a little busy during peak hours.
Size of Ship: Large
Price of Tickets: Low
Overall Rating: 3.6
Health Rating: 3.5
Best Carnival cruise for: Groups, Families with children
Pre-cruise vacation in New Orleans
If you are booking a Carnival cruise from Orleans, it is obligatory to have a 2-3 holiday in New Orleans before boarding your cruise.
Well, it isn’t exactly mandatory but New Orleans is just too good a city to pass up the opportunity.
We suggest you reach New Orleans a few days before the start date of your cruise and take in all the history and fun the city offers.
A few of the must-experience attractions in New Orleans are the French Quarter district, Jackson Square, the National World War II Museum and St. Louis Cathedral.
In the evenings head out to the bars on Bourbon Street and the casino of Harrah’s New Orleans.
Sources
# Affordabletours.com
# Neworleans.com
# Nola.com
# Tripadvisor.com
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
Recommended Reading
1. Best cruises from New Orleans
2. Romantic things to do in New Orleans
3. Best cruises from Galveston
4. Best cruises from Tampa
5. Best cruises from Miami