Carnival Valor - April 24, 2025 (16 Nights)

Steeped in history and famous for its French colonial influence, New Orleans has always had a magnetic draw for visitors. And the city has recovered marvelously from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Downtown is once again vibrant, the antique shops, fine restaurants and sporting venues are once again full, and the new cruise terminal located on the riverfront in downtown is first-class. If you are thinking of taking a cruise to the Western Caribbean, how about mixing in a little Cajun, Creole and French culture and making New Orleans your departure point? It's the perfect way to kickoff your cruise or a relaxing - yet energetic - way to end it.

Visitors to New Orleans on a cruise itinerary will find the new Erato Street Terminal adjacent to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This modern dock facility serves vessels of the NCL, Carnival and other cruise lines, and there is easy access from the terminal to the Riverwalk shopping complex. Here you can find plenty of gift stores, clothing boutiques and a number of ATMs. Taxis can be found both at the shopping center or can be called for pickup at the terminal itself.

One cannot visit New Orleans and not spend time in the famous and historic French Quarter, the area's main tourist attraction. Here you can find anything French, and along the popular Bourbon Street there is no end to the fine restaurants, shops and street performers. The jazz clubs are present on every block and the French Market is a must-see with its variety of produce, ready-made sauces, soups and spices. The beautiful Saint Louis Cathedral is worth two dozen photographs and the flea market is a delight for families with children. Everything from stuffed boa constrictors to voodoo magic necessities can be found here. And if you are in town during Mardi Gras, which is observed the week before Ash Wednesday, you are in for a real treat. Away from the French Quarter, visitors can take a stroll through the Garden District with its incredible mansions and manor homes. Close to it is the popular Magazine Street, with its never-ending antique shops, odd bookstores and small cafes. If you want to head into the wilds, check out the amazing Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, the largest urban refuge in the nation. Just 20 minutes from downtown on Highway 434, this fantastic natural area has walking trails, boat tours and guided bird watching trips.

If you've ever wanted to watch the experts craft a beautiful crepe on the backside of the crepe pan, over an open flame, it is suggested you head to New Orleans. The finest in Creole style cuisine, Cajun delights and the best Southern cookery in the nation is found in the many excellent restaurants located throughout the city. Popular with residents is the Cafe du Monde, with several locations in the central districts. Visitors will enjoy the fresh roasted coffee and snack items on the menu here. The famous "New Orleans Lunch", which is another way of saying that the meal can last all afternoon, is perhaps best enjoyed at Galatoire's at 209 Bourbon Street. Every type of soup and stew is offered along with plenty of bread, pan-fried shrimp and the largest choice of drinks in the city. And there are so many smaller establishments with emphasis on French, Cajun or Creole cooking that it would be impossible to mention them all.

Taxis in New Orleans have set rates between the popular destinations. This includes to and from the airport as well as from the downtown area to the cruise terminal. The famous streetcars also have set prices and the destinations are clearly marked at the loading areas. The streetcars connect the French Quarter with Canal Street, with smaller branching lines running to the various neighborhoods. The Riverfront Streetcar leaves from the Erato Cruise Terminal and heads directly along the river and through part of the downtown.

The weather in New Orleans is warm and sticky during the summer, and tends to be chilly and damp in the winter. However, visitors should be ready for both clear skies and rainy conditions at any time of the year. For those wanting to stay in touch or need Internet/WiFi connections, there are a good number of cafes that offer WiFi in the city. Most hotels have Internet access near the lobbies. The cruise terminal itself does not have telephone clusters or Internet connection facilities.

Nassau is the capital and largest city of Bahamas. A popular tourist destination, Nassau is a favorite cruise port and offers visitors a stunning mix of architecture, white sand beaches and entertaining nightlife. The downtown area of the city is the hub for all tourist attractions, walking tours and gift purchasing; visitors will find no end to the scenic wonders of this historical but ultra-modern metropolis.

Cruise ships arriving in Nassau generally dock at the Prince George Wharf, directly in front of the downtown area. Nearby Rawson Square and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism are excellent starting points for walking tours and getting acclimated to the bustling activity in the city. A great number of shops in this district have brochures and street maps available for visitors, printed in English and in other languages. Festival Place is the exit point at the port for those arriving by ship and here visitors will find internet cafes, call booths, currency exchange centers and a number of local tour companies offering day trip packages.

The Bay Street thoroughfare and Woodes Rogers Walk are the two busiest streets near the waterfront, and tourists can take in the Pirates of Nassau Museum or visit the historical Vendue House and Christ Church Cathedral. The famous Straw Market is a magnetic draw for tourists; the original facility was burned to the ground in 2001 and a new construction site is underway, but the activities continue at present on the waterfront side of Woodes Rogers Walk. At the Straw Market everything a visitor could hope to purchase as memorabilia can be found. The Ardastra Gardens are famous for their drill formation flamingo parades, and the 18th century Balcony House, the oldest wooden structure in Nassau, is the perfect place for panoramic views and photo opportunities. Blue Lagoon Island has dolphin shows and stunning beaches. Fort Charlotte is an amazing tour that includes a visit to the old dungeons and breathtaking views of the harbor.

Nassau has a truly international flair when it comes to either casual or fine dining. Near the waterfront one can find a huge number of open air restaurants as well as smaller outdoor establishments that serve up snacks and cocktails. Barbeque beef, pork and chicken are local favorites, but a number of restaurants specialize in European continental cuisine. At night there is no shortage of watering holes; these taverns and nightclubs are open very late in Nassau.

Nassau has what are called Jitney buses, which run on a regular schedule between Paradise Island, Cable Beach and the downtown area. Taxis can be hailed at any street corner, and a number of rental car agencies operate in the city; visitors should remember that driving in the Bahamas is on the left side of the road. Most of the major tourist attractions in the city itself are within walking distance of the cruise docks.

The official currency in Nassau is the Bahamian dollar, which is valued as much as the US dollar. Visitors can make change on board ship or at a number of locations in the port area. You can, however, use both US and Bahamian dollars for your shopping. Unless a cell phone is used, calling internationally from a public telephone requires the purchase of a local BATELCO card. Although English is the most common language spoken in the Bahamas, many of the locals speak some French and/or Spanish. Should you need to use the Internet, there are a number of cyber cafes in downtown area that you can utilize.