New Orleans cruises recover from Katrina

You can help New Orleans on its continuing recovery from Katrina. Visit... or book a cruise from the port and add a pre- or post-cruise stay in the city. Every little bit helps rebuild The Big Easy's economy.

A year after Hurricane Katrina blew in and destroyed the port, along with the rest of the city, New Orleans cruise traffic is returning. Carnival Cruise Lines' 2758-passenger Triumph will begin service from the port with a five-night cruise on August 28, 2006. The liner will begin year-round seven-night cruises to the Caribbean September 2.

Carnival will also operate its 2056-passenger ship, the Fantasy, from the Port of New Orleans on four and five-night voyages to the western Caribbean. Other New Orleans-based ships include Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Sun and Royal Caribbean Cruises' Grandeur of the Seas, both of which offer seven-night cruises to the Caribbean.

Cruise ship passengers utilize the Julia Street Terminal at the port, attached to the RiverWalk shopping complex. A second terminal, the Erato Street Terminal, is scheduled to open in October. The cruise industry employs about 2,800 people, according to Gary LaGrange, Port of New Orleans president, jobs that are desperately needed as one small part of the city's continuing recovery.