Huge Cruise Ship Announces First Time Sailings from New Orleans

If you have booked passage on a cruise ship sailing out of the Port of New Orleans in the past get ready to forget what you know about beginning a cruise from the Big Easy. As more and more cruise vacationers from Lafayette, Monroe, Ruston, and other cities from across the Gulf South search for new and different experiences we are pleased to report that one of the best cruise ship experiences you could ever have is sailing from close to home.

Now don't think we are casting aspersions on the current cruise choices you can make out of New Orleans. The port is served by Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Each line has its own special niche in the cruise industry.

As a cruise veteran of more than three dozen sailings on countless cruise lines, I can tell you the choices out of New Orleans fit just about any travel budget or vacation expectation. If you're cruising as a family you'll love Disney. If you like a lot of action and party fun with lots of sun, I'd look into Carnival. If you want more of a traditional but modern cruise experience, Carnival's big sister, Royal Caribbean would be where I would direct you.

But if you want to experience a cruise ship that has changed the way I think about cruising then you have to book passage on Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Prima. Do you see the go-kart track pictured above? It's on the darn ship. Yeah on the top deck. There's a waterslide that allows guests to take the plunge from the top of the ship to several decks below.

I had the pleasure of sailing on the Prima earlier this year. We sailed from Southampton England to Bruges in Belgium then on to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. From Amsterdam, we headed to the fjords of Norway where we made three incredible stops. And then after Norway, it was off to see the Northern Lights and tour northern and western Iceland followed by an extended stay in Reykivek.

And while those destinations were wonderful the real highlight of the trip was the Norwegian Prima herself. What a beautiful ship. And I will tell you it's unlike any other vessel you've ever been on. The folks at NCL listen to what guests want and they've delivered.

The ship's staterooms are spacious and well-appointed. The ship's lobby might look small but when you consider it's three stories of things to do and see you'll never feel crowded. The restaurant choices were so plentiful that while on a 14-day cruise, we didn't get the chance to experience them all.

The Norwegian Prima has been announced as a new vessel that will serve the port of New Orleans in 2025/2026. The itineraries will include several stops in the Caribbean. Of course, Cozumel and Costa Maya will be included and a visit to Honduras will likely be included in your sailing as well. But there could be and will be other itineraries that will be announced in the future.

NCL, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, and just about every other cruise line are already pushing Black Friday Savings for those who like to book their vacations in advance. In some cases, you can save as much as 50% on your voyage. And if you know how to play the game of "cruise credits" you can get a lot of your onboard internet, dining, drinking, and spa visits free of charge or at a greatly reduced price.

It's good to see that the cruise lines are recognizing New Orleans now as a major cruise terminal. We'll be on the lookout for even better deals and bigger ships, so do check back with us often.