New Orleans Shore Excursions
USA · 21 independent tours
Across USA — laws, safety & health
National rules and risks that apply anywhere in USA — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.
Laws that catch visitors out
- The national legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 21.
- Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties — a long jail sentence and heavy fines, including when transiting through airports. (US federal law applies even where a state has legalised cannabis.)
- Always carry a passport showing you have permission to enter or remain in the US.
- US law prohibits importing, exporting, making, selling or transporting drug paraphernalia.
Drones
Visitors flying a drone recreationally in the US must take the FAA’s free online TRUST safety test and carry proof. A drone of 250 g or more must have Remote ID and be registered — on the FAA DroneZone, or by filing a Notice of Identification if it is already registered in your home country. Fly at or below 400 ft in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace, keep it within sight, and do not fly over people.
via US FAA — Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations · 25 Jun 2026
Scams to watch
Do not leave passports in rental cars (especially the boot) — vehicles driven by people who look like tourists may be targeted.
Health hazards
The FCDO health page lists Zika virus, West Nile virus and altitude sickness (in parts of the country) among the health risks in the US. There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement — treatment is expensive, so comprehensive travel insurance is essential. Check current detail and vaccine recommendations on TravelHealthPro before you travel. The FCDO safety and security page adds that the Atlantic hurricane season normally runs June to November and the Pacific season May to November, and that hurricanes can affect coastal regions, Hawaii and Guam. Its instruction is to monitor approaching storms on the US National Hurricane Center website and follow instructions from local authorities, including evacuation orders.
via UK FCDO travel advice — USA (health + safety and security) · 22 Aug 2026
Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — USA · checked 18 Jul 2026
Traffic drives on the right. Look left first when you cross the road.
Docking & terminals in New Orleans
Two cruise terminals side by side on the Mississippi riverfront in the heart of the city — the port calls New Orleans the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States.
- Erato Street Cruise Terminal — 1100 Port of New Orleans Place — riverfront, city centre (Carnival's terminal. The port's own directions put it on the riverfront streetcar line, 5 minutes from the French Quarter.)
- Julia Street Cruise Terminal — 920 Port of New Orleans Place — right next door to Erato (Norwegian and Royal Caribbean's terminal, between the Erato complex and the Riverwalk Outlet Collection; same riverfront streetcar line, 5 minutes from the French Quarter.)
Mobility & step-free access
Getting around between the pier and town:
- Walk — The Riverwalk Outlet Collection is directly beside the Julia Street terminal, and the Warehouse District and French Quarter are on the doorstep.
- Streetcar / bus — RTA streetcars and buses — pay with exact cash on board, a Jazzy Pass or the Le Pass app; current fares are on the RTA site. The riverfront streetcar line runs past the cruise terminals.
- Ferry — RTA also runs Mississippi ferries — the Algiers Point crossing leaves from the foot of Canal Street.
Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.
Heading back at the end of the day: The two terminals sit next door to each other but serve different lines (Erato = Carnival; Julia = Norwegian/Royal Caribbean) with separate parking — and the port warns not to enter via Julia St or Poydras St; follow the signed Henderson St approach.
Cruise lines don’t always tell you which pier you’re on, and it’s easy to forget once you’re ashore. As you leave the ship, note or photograph your pier’s name — then give your taxi that exact pier (or your ship’s name) for the trip back.
Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship's daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.
Getting around & must-sees in New Orleans
Getting around
Both terminals are on the city-centre riverfront — the port's own directions say 5 minutes from the French Quarter, on the riverfront streetcar line.
- Walk — The Riverwalk Outlet Collection is directly beside the Julia Street terminal, and the Warehouse District and French Quarter are on the doorstep.
- Streetcar / bus — RTA streetcars and buses — pay with exact cash on board, a Jazzy Pass or the Le Pass app; current fares are on the RTA site. The riverfront streetcar line runs past the cruise terminals.
- Ferry — RTA also runs Mississippi ferries — the Algiers Point crossing leaves from the foot of Canal Street.
Must-see sights
- French Quarter — The historic heart of the city — the port's own directions put it 5 minutes from the cruise terminals.
- The National WWII Museum — In the Warehouse District, a short walk or streetcar hop from the terminals.
- New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park — National Park Service site celebrating the birthplace of jazz — visitor center near the French Quarter.
- Riverwalk Outlet Collection — Riverfront shopping directly beside the Julia Street terminal, per the port's own guide.
Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.
Operator policies we’ve checked in New Orleans
Before a tour earns its trust pills, we read the operator’s own site — their terms, cancellation and accessibility pages — and relay what they state. These are the operators’ own terms, not our verdicts; confirm when booking.
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Airboat Adventures LLC
- Cancellation policy — Bookings are final inside 24 hours and no-shows are not refunded; the operator also says it is not responsible for refunds arising from a third-party booking agent or online agency. A paid trip-protection add-on is sold separately.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Cajun Encounters Tour Company
- Free cancellation — verified with conditions: Full refund requires at least 36 hours' notice; bookings made within 36 hours of the tour are final, and missed or late-cancelled tours receive only a one-time courtesy reschedule, not a refund.
Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 2 tours listed on this page
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Cajun Pride Swamp Tours
- Cancellation — varies across this operator’s tours. Free cancellation, but the operator sets a longer deadline for bookings made through a platform than for direct ones: 48 hours before the tour, not 24. The Oak Alley plantation part of this trip is run by the plantation, whose own admissions are non-refundable. Separately: No customer cancellation policy is published on the operator's own site — confirm the booking platform's policy before booking.
- Accessibility — The operator says the buses are not wheelchair accessible; the boats and the ticket office are.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 2 tours listed on this page
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Cemetery Tours New Orleans
- Cancellation policy — No general cancellation window is published on the operator's own site (only a severe-weather refund/reschedule clause) — confirm the booking platform's policy before booking.
Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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City Sightseeing New Orleans
- Cancellation — varies across this operator’s tours. Free cancellation is verified on the operator’s own site for some of its tours. Separately: The seller advertises free cancellation up to 24 hours before travel, but its own terms describe it as an agent for the operator who runs the bus — so the policy that applies to a booking made here may not be the one shown.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 2 tours listed on this page
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Doctor Gumbo Tours
- Free cancellation — verified on the operator’s own site
Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Gray Line New Orleans
- Cancellation policy — Bookings are non-refundable — all sales are final, regardless of notice given.
Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Intrepid Urban Adventures
- Cancellation policy — The seller advertises free cancellation up to 24 hours before, but its own FAQ says the tour is run by a local operator named on your voucher — so the policy that applies may be that operator's, not the one shown.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours
- Free cancellation — verified on the operator’s own site
Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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Louisiana Tour Company
- Cancellation — varies across this operator’s tours. Free cancellation with 24 hours' notice, but you must cancel by phone, and the operator says it refunds or gives credit rather than promising cash. Not turning up is charged in full. The Oak Alley plantation part of this trip is run by the plantation, which sets its own tour times and admissions. Separately: All payments are final and non-refundable.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 4 tours listed on this page
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New Orleans Paddlewheels (Paddlewheeler Creole Queen)
- Free cancellation — verified with conditions: Full refund with 24 hours' notice; inside 24 hours refund requests are not considered. Tickets are non-transferable, and dinner is an optional extra.
Checked 10 Aug 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
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New Orleans Steamboat Company (Steamboat NATCHEZ)
- Cancellation policy — No customer-initiated cancellation policy is published on the operator's own site (its no-refund wording covers weather/river cancellations and third-party attractions) — confirm the booking platform's policy before booking.
Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 2 tours listed on this page
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Witches Brew Tours
- Free cancellation — verified with conditions: The operator’s T&C states both "Strict no refunds policy" and "Cancellations 24-hours or more in advance will be refunded — all others are on a case by case basis"; no refunds for no-shows, late arrivals, or bad weather unless the operator cancels the tour.
Checked 20 Jul 2026 · covers 1 tour listed on this page
Local know-hows in New Orleans
Money
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Cards
- Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including for dining, hotels and transport.
- ATMs
- ATMs are widely available (there is one inside the cruise terminal).
- Tipping
- Tipping is customary in the U.S. — typically 15–20% at restaurants, and a few dollars for taxis, porters and housekeeping.
Practicalities
- Language
- English (New Orleans is proudly multicultural — you'll hear French-Creole influences in place names and menus).
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink. The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans tests finished water daily at its own laboratory and reports results well within US EPA limits; the supply is drawn from the Mississippi River and treated at the Carrollton and Algiers plants. The city does occasionally issue boil-water advisories after pressure drops — check the utility's advisories page for current status.
- Plugs
- Type A / Type B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz (North American standard). Non-US appliances may need a voltage converter.
Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.
Port busyness in New Orleans
Moderately busy
The port itself calls New Orleans the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States, with Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean sailing from two adjacent city-centre terminals — but the city absorbs arrivals easily.
Peak pattern: Busiest when both terminals turn ships around on the same day.
- Sixth-largest US cruise port (port's own claim)
- Two adjacent terminals (Erato + Julia Street)
- City-centre location disperses crowds on foot
This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.
What we’ve checked in New Orleans — and when
We last checked the facts on this page on 20 Jul 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.
- Docking & getting ashore
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 20 Jul 2026
- Getting around
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 20 Jul 2026
- How busy it gets
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 20 Jul 2026
- Operator policies
- From each operator’s own site and terms · 10 Aug 2026
- Travel advisories
- FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically