Carnival ship at the Port of New Orleans. (photo: Port of NOLA)

2011 was a record year for the cruise port of New Orleans, seeing 736,908 cruise passengers, beating the previous record set in 2004 of 734,643 passengers. The direct local economic impact was $132.1-million or $937,000 per cruise ship, creating 3,000 jobs.

“New Orleans is a hugely popular cruise port and cruise lines are taking notice and investing larger and newer ships in their New Orleans itineraries,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. “This year we will be knocking on the door of the 1-million-passenger mark.”

Three new cruise ships sailed from New Orleans in 2011: Carnival Elation, Carnival Conquest and Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas.  Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,018-passenger Norwegian Spirit was already home-ported there.

Source: Port of New Orleans

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Rhapsody of the Seas in ship yard. (photo: Royal Caribbean)

Royal Caribbean is making fleet-wide upgrades to their existing ships giving them the Royal Advantage, Oasis-class upgrades over the next few years. Some of these upgrades will include dining, technology, stateroom enhancements and entertainment upgrades.

Here are the Royal Advantage additions*:

• Pub
• Park Café
• Boardwalk Dog House
• Chefs Table
• Giovanni’s Table
• Izumi Asian Cuisine Rita’s Cantina
• Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse
• Digital Signage
• Shipboard wifi
• Interactive TV’s
• New staterooms
• Updated wine bar
• Nursery
• Concierge Club
• DreamsWorks Experience
• 3D movie theater
• Outdoor movie screen

SHIPS NOW AVAILABLE: Radiance of the Seas (see video below), Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas

*Exact dates and ship enhancements may vary.

Video:

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Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne joined the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans in the dedication.

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne joined the board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans earlier this week to dedicate the newly remodeled Julia Street Cruise Terminal. The $20.1-million project took the two smaller cruise terminals and joined them as one, making room for larger cruise ships and handling more cruise passengers.

“The growth of cruise activity at the Port of New Orleans has added a new dimension to Louisiana’s tourism offerings,” said Louisiana’s chief tourism official.

The project generated 150 new jobs and New Orleans cruise operations overall supports 4,454 jobs with an impact of $371 million annually. Each ship that comes through New Orleans generates approximately $950,000 in direct local economic impact.

Currently the Julie Street Cruise Terminal serves as a homeport for Royal Caribbean’s 3,838-passenger Voyager of the Seas during the winter season. The terminal next to Julie Street is Erato Cruise Terminal which has year-round 4-,5- and 7-night sailings from Carnival Cruise Line. Both terminals are located downtown, a mile from the French Quarter.

The port of New Orleans is expected to close out 2013 with 1 million cruise passengers.

Source/photo: Port of New Orleans

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Voyager of the Seas (photo: Royal Caribbean)

Royal Caribbean announced this week that three of their ships will be deployed to Australia for 2013-14 cruise season. Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas will give guests 55 sailings to 56 exotic ports of call.

What ships?

The 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas will homeport in Sydney and offer a nine to 14-night sailings to New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia. The Australian deployment will start with a 14-night sailing from Singapore to Sydney on October 24, 2013.

The 2,139-passenger Radiance of the Seas and 1,998-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas will also both be homeported in Sydney from October 2013 to early May 2014, offering seven to 15-night sailings to Tasmania, Queensland, New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia.

Radiance of the Seas will also circumnavigate twice around Australia on 16-night north and 17-night south coast sailing.

Royal Caribbean has 22 ships calling in 72 countries across the world.

Source: Royal Caribbean

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BEFORE THE CRUISE

Get your passport

Check prices online

Call cruise line directly

Lock reservation with deposit

Call cruise line monthly as well as check website for price changes – if goes down call cruise line and lock the lower price. Hint – this is how travel agencies make their money – as the price goes down they make more – why not have that apply to you

Check out the excursions – preplan and pay before cruise – be sure to take a day to relax in between

Check out the extras – soda packages etc (its cheaper than when on board)

Get the transfer pass – from airport to pier – no worries about luggage and well worth the few bucks to avoid the hassle

Notify your credit card company or banks that you will be traveling out of the country – otherwise they MAY lock the card (some banks prefer a list of ports of call)

Complete the online check in

If you can arrange it – arrive to departure port a day early (especially if outside the US)

Stay a day or two in your last port as these two places are often very interesting (European cruises, Med cruises, Asian cruises, etc). This is really the only way to see those ports

PACKING

Pack wrinkle releaser as irons are no longer allowed

Formal nights – ATTEND and get pix taken – its well worth it

Pack light – rent the tux for formal nights – will be about 80 to 100 USD. DO bring dress shirts and atleast one plain if a suit is striped. Ladies – pack as many pair of hose as is formal nights – you WILL run at least one pair

Appliances – curling irons etc – ships are 110 no adapters needed. Most cruise lines have
hair driers as well

Leave your laptop at home – internet service is available on ship

Shoes – tennis shoes, dress shoes and a pair of casual shoes – think comfort
Bring an extra bag or backpack for souvenirs

Bring a lightweight jacket as it gets cool at night on deck. For ladies – pashminas are wonderful as well as versatile

Fanny packs or similar are great for ports as it leaves hands free for shopping bags

Put an away message on your email/voicemail with a return date of a day or so AFTER you get home

ON THE SHIP

Keep up with events there is something for everyone

Go to the shows – many headliners and a wide range and variety of entertainment

Breakfast room service is wonderful – and FREE

Laundry service for the essentials is available on ship – watch for the discount days

Also, read your bill – be it on the ship or in a port. Many times the tip is already included

Pictures – prepare for a couple hundred bucks

Valuables – use the cabin safe for jewelry and extra cash etc

I prefer the later dinner to allow more time in ports

Tipping – waiter, assistant waiter, steward and head waiter. Personal philosophy – do NOT allow for auto billing. Just as in the US if service is outstanding – tip more. If service is acceptable – the recommended. If service is not quite there – adjust accordingly. Of those mentioned the Head Waiters are salaried. Enough said.