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Port of New Orleans · Boarding Tips

Boarding Tips at Port of New Orleans

Provenance: 9 boarding tips · researched from public reviews and official sources

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A little more ready for your cruise.
  1. 1

    Use the arrival time printed in your boarding documents

    Your cruise line's current documents are the source of truth for check-in.
  2. 2

    Find your terminal before you travel

    Port of New Orleans has 2 recorded cruise terminals. The terminal guidance on this page names the correct drop-off lane, parking approach, and check-in door.
  3. 3

    Drop bags, then check in

    Keep your ID, boarding documents, and medication in your carry-on Checked bags may not reach your cabin until later in the day.

Follow your cruise line's current check-in documents, confirm your terminal at Port of New Orleans, keep required documents with you, and prepare for curbside bag drop.

Boarding at Port of New Orleans

Port of New Orleans has 2 cruise terminals, and your terminal decides your drop-off lane, your parking lot, and the check-in door you walk through. Start with yours, then use the cruise line tips below.

Flying in? Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is about 25-35 min away. Build that trip into your check-in window, not on top of it.

Julia Street Cruise Terminal (Norwegian / Royal Caribbean)

Drop-off: For parking, go directly to 100 Poydras Garage; the shuttle carries passengers and bags to the terminal.

  • •Norwegian guests: complete Norwegian's online check-in and download your boarding pass to the NCL app before arrival
  • •Royal Caribbean guests: Mariner of the Seas sails from Julia Street too — check in through the Royal Caribbean app, where you also pick your arrival time, rather than the NCL app
  • •Norwegian strongly recommends a passport; on a round trip from New Orleans a U.S. citizen may instead bring a state-certified birth certificate plus government photo ID (under 16: birth certificate only). Itineraries calling in Colombia or Panama require a passport.
Parking, drop-off and check-in at Julia Street Cruise Terminal (Norwegian / Royal Caribbean) →

Erato Street Cruise Terminal (Carnival)

Drop-off: Drivers parking here use the garage ramp and follow staff to the luggage offloading area.

  • •Complete Carnival's online check-in and download your boarding pass to the Carnival HUB app before arrival
  • •Bring proof of citizenship plus a government-issued photo ID — a driver's license alone is not accepted, even a REAL ID. An Enhanced Driver's License (WA, NY, MI, MN, VT) counts as both on a round trip. A passport covers both; on a closed-loop sailing that returns to New Orleans, a state-issued birth certificate with your photo ID also works, and guests under 16 need only the birth certificate
  • •Arrive during your assigned boarding window.
Parking, drop-off and check-in at Erato Street Cruise Terminal (Carnival) →

Check-in by cruise line at Port of New Orleans

These are the lines with ships in our Port of New Orleans catalog. Check-in windows are set by the line, not the port.

Carnival at Port of New Orleans

2 ships

Carnival's online check-in typically opens about 14 days before sailing, and that is where you choose an Arrival Appointment — a specific window for arriving at the terminal. The earliest appointments typically go first, so check in as soon as your window opens if boarding early matters to you.

Carnival LibertyCarnival Valor

Norwegian at Port of New Orleans

2 ships

Norwegian online check-in typically opens about 21 days before sailing. At busier homeports NCL typically uses check-in or arrival windows, so plan to arrive inside the window printed on your eDocs rather than at the earliest possible hour.

Norwegian BreakawayNorwegian Escape

Royal Caribbean at Port of New Orleans

1 ship

Royal Caribbean online check-in typically opens about 45 days before sailing, and you select your arrival time in the Royal Caribbean app as part of it. Earlier arrival slots typically fill first, so checking in the day it opens gives you the most choice.

Mariner of the Seas

Windows and opening dates vary by ship, by the port you sail from, and by your status in the cruise line's loyalty program, so always follow your cruise line's instructions for your specific sailing.

Ships sailing from Port of New OrleansPort of New Orleans sailing scheduleAll Port of New Orleans terminals

Embarkation day tips from cruisers

For every cruise line

Keep your travel documents with you

Bring the original documents your cruise line requires for your itinerary, plus your boarding pass. Keep them in your carry-on, not in a bag you hand to a porter.

Pack for the hours before your luggage arrives

Keep medication, valuables, charging cables and anything you will need straight away in your carry-on. Cabin access and checked-bag delivery times vary.

Complete the required safety briefing

Once aboard, follow the crew’s instructions for the safety briefing and muster-station check-in before you settle in.

Royal Caribbean

Check in and confirm your arrival instructions

Use the Royal Caribbean app or website to complete check-in when it opens for your booking. Save your boarding pass and note your assigned arrival time.

Optional porter tip: budget $2-3 per bag

If you use curbside porters and want to tip, our suggested cash budget is $2-3 per bag. Keep your travel documents, medication and valuables in the bag you carry aboard.

Download the Royal Caribbean app before you travel and sign in to your booking. Check which features are available on your ship.

Carnival Cruise Line

Check in and confirm your arrival instructions

Complete online check-in through your Carnival booking. Note your Arrival Appointment and the Final Boarding time on your boarding pass. Print luggage tags and attach them as Carnival directs.

Check how your phone will connect at sea

The Carnival HUB app works on the ship’s Wi-Fi without an internet plan for its included features; group chat costs extra. Cellular service at sea can incur maritime roaming charges. Use airplane mode with Wi-Fi enabled if you do not want cellular roaming, and check your carrier’s terms.

Download the Carnival HUB app before you travel and sign in to your booking. Check which features are available on your ship.

Celebrity Cruises

Check in and confirm your arrival instructions

Check your booking for online check-in dates and your arrival window. Save your boarding pass and check the All Aboard Time in your guest documents.

Download the Celebrity Cruises app before you travel and sign in to your booking. Check which features are available on your ship.

Disney & Others

Check in and confirm your arrival instructions

Open your cruise line’s booking page to check in, confirm your required documents and find your terminal arrival instructions. Check the deadline for your own sailing.

Download the app recommended in your cruise line’s booking confirmation before you travel.

See boarding tips in the full guide →

Want the complete Port of New Orleans cruise guide?

Restaurants, activities, hotels, terminal tips, parking, packing lists, and boarding advice — all in one page.

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More Port of New Orleans Guides

ShipsSailing ScheduleTerminalsParking & TransportRestaurantsHotelsActivitiesPacking List

Flying In?

MSY to Port of New Orleans