Eccentric, elegant New
Orleans is strongly connected to both the Mississippi River and the South, but
its identity remains aloof from any regional or even national affiliation. It
reminds some visitors of European cities, in part because French and Spanish
colonial architecture adds an Old World backdrop to some streets. But the
feeling of foreignness goes deeper than that: The celebrated New Orleans
atmosphere, cuisine, music, traditions and lifestyle are rooted in an embrace of
the decadent and assimilation of the unconventional.
New Orleans welcomes all, but is familiar to none, and the result is a city that
attracts the romantic, the spiritual, the wild and the inquisitive—all the
while successfully promoting itself as corporate America’s playground. No
matter what is expected from a visit to New Orleans, no one goes home
disappointed.
New Orleans knows water: Six feet (two meters) below sea level, it’s bounded
to the west by the sprawling Atchafalaya Basin, to the north by Lake
Pontchartrain, to the east by the Gulf of Mexico and to the south by the
Mississippi River. Bayous and canals crisscross the metropolitan area. New
Orleans is sometimes called “the Crescent City” because it’s curved like a
crescent, following the snaking Mississippi. As a result, standard compass-point
directions of North, South, East and West are nearly irrelevant. Instead locals
speak in terms of “uptown” and “downtown” (or “upriver” and
“downriver”) and say that a particular building sits on the “lake side”
or “river side” of the street.
New Orleans is made up of distinct districts. The French Quarter, which was the
city’s first neighborhood, is both residential and commercial. It bustles with
tourist activity. Nearby lies Uptown, an area marked by majestic houses and
picturesque parks, bisected by the grandest avenue of them all, St. Charles.
Within Uptown is the Garden District, renowned for its historic homes as well as
cemeteries, churches and, of course, gardens. Downriver from the French Quarter
is the Faubourg Marigny, home of bohemian restaurants and clubs. The Warehouse
District, near the Central Business District, formerly served as the city’s
great port. Mid-City is a popular residential area that contains most of City
Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Like New Orleans itself, the city’s best shops are unique. The most
interesting shops to explore can be found in the French Quarter and along
Magazine Street. A small stretch of Maple Street, accessible by streetcar off of
Carrollton, also offers some unusual shops within a neighborhood atmosphere.
Driving Directions - FROM
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT: Convention Center Blvd. to Henderson St.,
left on Henderson St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port of New
Orleans Place to cruise terminals (Julia St. Terminal) or right to Delta Queen
(Robin St. Wharf).
FROM INTERSTATE 10 (EAST OR WEST): Exit
at Business 90W/Westbank (locally known as Pontchartrain Expressway). Proceed to
Tchoupitoulas St./South Peters St. exit, continue to Convention Center Blvd.,
right on Convention Center Blvd. continue to Henderson St., left on Henderson
St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port of New Orleans Place to
cruise terminals (Julia St. Terminal) or right to Delta Queen (Robin St. Wharf).
FROM RIVER BOUND PONTCHARTRAIN
EXPRESSWAY: Exit at Tchoupitoulas St./South Peters St. exit, continue
to Convention Center Blvd., right on Convention Center Blvd. continue to
Henderson St., left on Henderson St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left
on Port of New Orleans Place to cruise terminals (Julia St. Terminal) or right
to Delta Queen (Robin St. Wharf).
FROM RIVER BOUND WESTBANK EXPRESSWAY:
Westbank Expressway to Crescent City Connection, continue over Crescent City
Connection, exit at Camp St/Magazine St. exit, continue to Magazine St.,
right on Magazine St. continue to Erato St., left on Erato St. continue to
Convention Center Blvd., right on Convention Center Blvd. continue to Henderson
St., left on Henderson St. continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port
of New Orleans Place to cruise terminals (Julia St. Terminal) or right to Delta
Queen (Robin St. Wharf).
FROM NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT: Take I-10 East toward New Orleans. Follow signs for
Westbank (Business 90) as you approach downtown. Exit at Tchoupitoulas
St./South Peters St. exit, continue to Convention Center Blvd., right on
Convention Center Blvd. continue to Henderson St., left on Henderson St.
continue to Port of New Orleans Place, left on Port of New Orleans Place to
cruise terminals (Julia St. Terminal) or right to Delta Queen (Robin St. Wharf).
Parking Fees -
Immediately adjacent to the cruise terminal, the Port operates a patrolled,
fenced, and lighted outside parking lot (no height restrictions) for cruise
passengers only, for length of voyage only. Cost is $70 for a seven day
cruise, cash only on arrival, no credit cards, no checks, no
reservations, no refunds for early departure. RV's pay according to number
of spaces occupied (i.e., two spaces equal $140). If lot is full, Harbor
Police and Seacaps will direct you to other private lots close by, some of which
will honor the Port's prices for cruise passengers. At least one operates
a shuttle to and from the terminal.
Transfers from the
Airport - Proceed to the baggage claim area on the day of departure and look
for the appropriate cruise representative for transfers to the cruise. If you
bought airfare from the cruise line your transfers are including in your cruise
package. If you bought your own air transportation you may be able to purchase
transfers from the cruise representative. Otherwise proceed outside where you
will have the choice of a taxi or super shuttle. If there are more than 2 of you
traveling together you may find this to be more economical than buying transfers
from the cruise representative at the airport.
Passenger Drop Off -
Port police will direct vehicles to the passenger drop off area nearest your
ship. At the passenger and baggage drop off, the driver of the vehicle will be
instructed by cruise representatives with information on how to exit the
terminal area or proceed to the parking lots.
Traffic Flow - This
system is similar to remote parking arrangements in airports and cruise ship
terminals throughout the U.S.
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