New Orleans Cruise Boom: Bigger ships, new routes, and a $450M impact

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - If you’ve ever tried to book a cruise out of New Orleans only to find the ship sold out, that may soon be a problem of the past.

Carnival Cruise Line announced plans to expand its offerings in the Crescent City, including voyages to its new private resort in the Bahamas, Celebration Key, and the return of the Carnival Dream in 2027. The 4,600-passenger vessel hasn’t sailed from New Orleans since 2019.

“We actually plan on going on a cruise in the fall,” said Felicia Allen Bass, a frequent cruiser. “And that just means we will have to go on another one when the bigger ship comes through.”

Carnival isn’t the only cruise line making waves at Port NOLA.

Norwegian Cruise Line is set to debut a 5,000-passenger vessel out of New Orleans this fall. And in 2026, Royal Caribbean will replace its current ship with one 50% larger.

“We did 1.2 million passengers last year, which was a record for us,” said Steven Gauthier Jr., Vice President of Cruise at the Port of New Orleans. “We are on pace for 2027 to do 1.5 million passenger moves per year.”

Gauthier said cruise lines are taking notice of the city’s appeal as both a starting point and a destination.

“Guests can come to New Orleans and that’s one destination for them, and then they get on the cruise and that’s another destination,” he said.

The influx of cruise-goers is not only fueling excitement among travelers but also among local businesses near the port.

“You have people coming from Mississippi, Alabama, Texas,” said Bass.

That kind of regional pull brings plenty of customers to Larry Thompson Jr.’s seafood stand, Mr. Shrimp, located on the Riverwalk.

“The captain, all the way to the deckhand, they come to eat from us. They love the freshness,” Thompson said.

With bigger ships set to dock just steps from the Riverwalk mall, Thompson is confident business will keep booming.

“Man, having another cruise down here, thank you for that, because that’s going to help with business for us,” he added.

Port NOLA officials estimate the cruise industry generates $450 million annually for the city and anticipate that number will grow as cruise lines increase their capacity and frequency.

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