Every cruise you take should start with America’s most exotic port of call: New Orleans.

The sound of jazz, the European charm of the French Quarter, a shopper’s dream on Magazine Street, the taste of café au lait and those funny little donuts called beignets . . . New Orleans is an adventure all its own and a perfect spot to begin (or end) your cruise vacation. A beacon for tourists the world round, New Orleans, consistently described as one of America’s most walkable cities, continues to offer a little something for everyone in its myriad of cultural events and activities. Whether you’re going up the Mississippi on a steamboat cruise or down the river to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, a few days in New Orleans puts you in the perfect mode to explore, indulge, and enjoy being pampered to your heart’s delight.

The Port of New Orleans – one of the busiest in the world – is readily accessible to all major hotels, restaurants and attractions downtown, including the popular Warehouse Arts District and the French Quarter. A variety of major cruise vessels use New Orleans as a home base, from charming historic paddlewheelers to the most luxurious modern ships and yachts. No matter the destination, the complete cruise experience begins and ends with New Orleans.