Cruise terminals at the Port of New Orleans

The Port of New Orleans has two cruise terminals, side by side on Port of New Orleans Place along the river. The port describes both as five minutes from the French Quarter and on the riverfront streetcar line. Which one you need depends only on your cruise line.

Which terminal your line uses

Line	Terminal	Address
Carnival	Erato Street Cruise Terminal	1100 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130
Norwegian	Julia Street Cruise Terminal	920 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130
Royal Caribbean	Julia Street Cruise Terminal	920 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130

Julia Street sits between Erato Street and the Riverwalk Outlet Collection. Royal Caribbean's own directions call it "Julia Street Cruise Ship Terminal #2", so that is the same building. The port says both terminals have climate-controlled, ADA-compliant gangways.

Viking Mississippi doesn't use either of them. The port's vessel schedule lists it at the Orange Street Wharf, and Viking's own pages don't name a berth, so go by your Viking documents.

Driving in

These are the port's directions for both terminals:

1. From I-10, east or west, take exit 234A for US 90 West.
2. Leave US 90 West at exit 11C for Tchoupitoulas Street. It's the last exit before the Crescent City Connection bridge.
3. At ground level, turn right at the second light onto Tchoupitoulas Street.
4. Turn left at the next light onto Henderson Street and go two blocks.
5. After the railroad tracks, turn left onto Port of New Orleans Place.

Erato Street comes first, just past the bridge pier, and Julia Street is just beyond it. The port says not to try the entrances to Port of New Orleans Place at Julia Street or Poydras Street.

Where to leave the car is a separate question with a different answer for each terminal. The parking guide covers it.

When to arrive

Each line sets its own times, and they are on your boarding documents. This is what the lines publish.

Carnival. Everyone has to finish online check-in by midnight Eastern time the night before sailing. You then get an Arrival Appointment, and Carnival asks the whole cabin to be at the terminal within it. Put your luggage tags on before you get there. Porters take checked bags until two hours before the ship's published departure time, and everyone must be on board by the final boarding time on the boarding pass.

If you park in the Erato Street garage, the port says to take the elevator to the check-in and waiting area on the first floor. Bags go to the SeaCaps porters on the first floor of the garage, which is the third floor of the terminal building, and they take them to the ship.

Royal Caribbean. Arrive in the time slot on your mobile boarding pass. Royal Caribbean says early arrivals won't be able to start boarding. If you didn't check in through the app, you have to finish at the pier at least two hours before the published sailing time.

Norwegian. You pick an arrival time during online check-in, and Norwegian asks you not to come more than an hour before the embarkation time in your eDocs. Without online check-in, plan to arrive after 12 p.m. and at least two hours before departure. Everyone has to be on board an hour before the ship leaves. At the Julia Street drop-off, SeaCaps porters take your bags.

Viking. The Viking Mississippi ship page lists embarkation at 12 p.m., with cabins ready from 4 p.m.

Inside the terminal

The port hands each terminal to the cruise line on sailing day only, and you can't buy cruise tickets there. The port lists a souvenir stand with an ATM and a refreshment stand inside.

If you need to store bags before or after a cruise, the port says a luggage operator works at the terminal, on 504-471-0080. For luggage lost in the terminal, the port lists Concord Shore Services on 504-304-0157 for Carnival and Royal Caribbean, and 504-495-5663 or 504-237-8285 for Norwegian.

Without a car

The Riverfront streetcar, RTA route 49, runs along the river between the French Market, Canal Street Station and Julia Station. In the Fall 2026 timetable the ride from Canal Street to Julia Station takes about three minutes. That is handy from a French Quarter hotel if your bags are light. Coming from the airport, the airport guide compares the options.