Carnival Liberty - August 31, 2025 (7 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.

Popularly known as the "Conch Republic" and storied in its history, Key West, FL is a favorite stop on the cruise log for tens of thousands annually. Its charming architecture, the fun-loving attitude of the locals and the many funky restaurants, shops and souvenir stands make for an energy-filled vacation destination. Perhaps the only frost-free community in the United States, Key West offers visitors a welcome Caribbean breeze, plenty of fishing and boating, beach strolls and some of the most unusual specialty shops on the planet.

Cruise ship traffic is heavy in this town, which serves both as a destination and departure point. Most of the larger vessels anchor near the Truman Annex at Pier B, at Malloy Square or at the Navy Mole adjacent to Fort Zachary Taylor. If arriving or departing from the base location, a trolley service takes visitors from the cruise pier to the waterfront near the center of town. The Truman Annex dock has visitor information booths, souvenir shops and ATMs on the site.

Key West has a long and varied history, having been in existence since the early 19th century. A walking tour that takes visitors away from the bustling waterfront and into the heart of the community soon reveals a number of charming mansions and restored manor houses. The famous home of Ernest Hemingway is located at 907 Whitehead Street and is now a small museum, complete with the old writing studio which was left intact. The swimming pool on the property is the oldest in the city, and the many cats that wander about the house are direct descendents of the late writer's pets. The two mile long Harborwalk is a never-ending street of curios shops and snack restaurants, and will delight visitors for hours. The Key West Aquarium, located on Whitehead Street, is the oldest attraction on the island, and has one of the most amazing seahorse displays to be found anywhere. Also on Whitehead Street is the famed Audubon House and Tropical Gardens, named after the famous painter and birdwatcher. Rare prints by the artist and the immaculately kept grounds are a highlight of the visit. And of course there are a number of seaplane and boat tours departing from the marinas along the waterfront, which is a favorite spot for photographing the many schooners and other boats that never seem to stop cruising by the city center.

Aside from shopping at the huge number of gift shops in town, the community is perhaps best known for its unusual dining establishments. The A & B Lobster House on Front Street serves the best lobster platters in town and also has a full service cigar bar. Mangoes is a favorite stop for visitors and is renowned as a people-watching establishment. Near Mangoes and also on Duval Street is the local's choice - Louie's Backyard. The outdoor deck is right on the water's edge and the sound of the breakers on the beach below is memorable. Not to be forgotten is Pepe's Cafe and Steakhouse on Caroline Street, which serves the best omelets around and has a huge assortment of grilled meat entrees.

Most visitors prefer to walk, since the town itself is rather small in size. Tourists can make the walking trip from one end of town to the other in less than 20 minutes. Besides, the community is set up to serve the visitor with its centrally located curios shops and restaurants. The locals enjoy getting around on bicycles and mopeds, and tourists can rent these from a number of vendors in the Duval Street area. Conch Cruisers, which are battery operated open-air vehicles, are a good way to get to one of the landmarks once the feet get tired. And there are plenty of taxis that take cruise visitors from the docks to the center of town. Public bus service connects the city to the rest of the Florida Keys and then eastward to Miami. The Old Town Trolley Tours offer another alternate means of transport and are extremely fun for the kids.

Key West is a part of the State of Florida, and as such uses US Dollar as a currency. There are a number of banks that will exchange funds from several of the Caribbean republics. Some of the restaurants have Wi-Fi connections, with or without purchase depending on the merchant, and there are plenty of telephone booths in the hotel lobbies and near the cruise docks for those who have left their cell phones at home.

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.