Port Parking

Of the ports I’ve visited and researched, New Orleans has the best port parking. They offer secure covered parking right at the port. A porter will meet you at your car to collect you baggage. All you have to do is take an elevator down to check-in.

You do have to pay a little more than the offsite lots and hotels charge for that convenience. But if you are a veteran with at least 50% disability, you can park at the port free of charge.

Here are the port parking rates:

4-day – $100

$5-day – $125

7-day – $175

8-day $200

Port parking for Erato Street Terminal (Carnival)  is on a first come, first serve basis. Prepaying is not an option. They do have over 1,000 parking spots and only one ship in port at a time.

For Julia Street Terminal (NCL, RCL, DCL) the Whale Lot is no longer being use. Parking is now at 100 Poydras Garage next to Hilton Riverside.

Parking is $25/day with reservations and $26/day without reservations. Reservations for NCL and RCL can be made here. They are limited to 500 spaces so I would recommend making the reservation if you plan to park there.

For more information on Port parking visit http://www.portnola.com

Offsite Parking Facilities

Fulton Place Parking Center

New Orleans has two primary offsite parking facilities for cruises. The largest and most popular is Fulton Place Parking Center.

Fulton Place is manned 24/7 and has 64 onsite security cameras. They offer a complimentary shuttle that runs every 5 to 10 minutes from 7am to 3pm. This is where I have parked for 9 of my 10 cruises out of New Orleans.

Here are the rates for covered parking at Fulton:

4-day – $71

5-day – $87

7-day – $120

8-day – $137

Here are the rates for Rooftop parking:

4-day – $63

5-day – $77

7-day – $106

8-day – $121

Once you are parked at Fulton, you take the elevator downstairs to meet the shuttle. They will have personnel at the shuttle stop to load luggage. After a 3 to 5 minute ride to the port, the driver will unload your bags and a porter will be right there to collect them.

After you return the Fulton shuttle will be to the right of where you exit the port–close to the stairs that lead to the Riverwalk Mall.

Here you can see the Fulton shuttles operating as viewed from the lido buffet area of the ship.

This is a look inside the shuttle bus. They do have a luggage area behind this in the back of the shuttle.

You can book your parking at Fulton on http://www.neworleansparking.com . Make sure you select cruise parking and Fulton Garage covered or rooftop parking.

Print out your receipt and give it to the attendant when you arrive.

Mahu Picchu Tours

Machu Picchu is a smaller offsite covered parking facility. They are well reviewed and known for their personal service. Parking at their facility also includes shuttle service to and from the port.

When you get off of the ship and pass customs, they instruct you to call them. If they don’t already have a shuttle at the port, they will send one.

Here are their prices:

4-day – $100 cash or $110 credit.

5-day – $110 cash or $120 credit.

7-day – $150 cash or $160 credit.

8-day – $160 cash or $170 credit.

9-day – $180 cash or $190 credit.

10-day – $200 cash or $220 credit.

Since Machu Picchu is a smaller facility it’s a good idea to reserve your spot in advance. If you like having a parking spot reserved in advance without paying in advance, Machu Picchu is a good choice for you.

Below is the link to make an online reservation. If you have any questions you can email Angel at bestofno@gmail.com

https://www.machupicchutours.com/cruise-ship-parking.html

Park and Cruise Hotels

Wyndham French Quarter

If you want to actually be in the French Quarter, the Wyndham French Quarter may be the hotel for you. The location for this hotel is outstanding. It’s in the French Quarter on Royal Street, which turns into St. Charles Street. It’s one block from Canal Street and one block from Bourbon Street. Their package includes parking but they do not offer a shuttle to the terminal. I would expect to pay about $8 for an Uber/Lyft.

Prices will vary by day. When I tried to book this package mid-week it came to $244. When I tried to book it for Saturday night it came to $350. You can find the Wyndham French Quarter Park & Cruise package at the following link:

https://www.wyndhamfrenchquarter.com/special-offers

 

Maison St. Charles

If you are interested in a Garden District Hotel with park and cruise package, the Maison St. Charles may be the place for you.

Their package starts at $169 and includes a room for the night and 7 days of parking. They charge $15 per day for any additional days. No transportation to or from the cruise port is offered.

Current transportation rates are $8 for Lyft or $9 for Uber. You can read my review from Maison St. Charles here.

Below is the link where you will find the Maison St. Charles cruise package:

https://www.maisonstcharles.com/special-offers/

 

Holiday Inn West Bank Tower

The Holiday Inn West Bank Tower includes up to 8 nights of parking with your one night stay. Additional parking days can be added for $10 per day. This hotel is across the river from the port and does not offer transportation. I would expect to get an Uber/Lyft for less than $10 from this hotel. It was slightly challenging to get to this package. When selecting my room type I had to select a “View Room Packages” link which brought me to the Stay Park Cruise Package option.  Then below that you can select your room type. When trying to book it for this weekend the price came to $251. 

“Package includes overnight accommodations and up to 8 days of parking. Transportation to and from the cruise port is NOT included in the package pricing and is the responsibility of the guest to arrange. Additional days of parking is 10 dollars per day.”

 

Best Western Plus West Bank

The Best Western Plus in Harvey advertises a Park and cruise package. I have was unable to book it from their website. It does say to contact them for more information at this link.

http://www.bestwesternwestbank.com/packages

 

Comfort Inn Marrero – New Orleans West

Comfort in Marrero – New Orleans West has a Park & Cruise Package that includes 1 night in the hotel, parking for the length of your cruise and transportation for up to 4 people to the cruise port. They also have free breakfast at this hotel. There is no return shuttle so you will have to find transportation back. When I tried to book it for this weekend, my total came to $302 for this package. To book the package you need to scroll down and select the Park & Cruise Package after selecting your room type.

“This convenience package includes a 1-night stay, transportation for up to 4 people to Port of New Orleans and hotel parking for 1 car per room during the cruise. Guests are responsible for return transportation.”

 

Hilton New Orleans Airport

At Hilton New Orleans Airport they offer the Park Stay & Go package which includes one night in the hotel and up to 7 nights of parking. It says shuttle service to and from select airports and cruise ports but I’d call to verify it applies to this location. When I tried to book the package for this weekend it came to $250.

Information about the package can be found at this link:

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/msyahhh-hilton-new-orleans-airport/offers/park-go-2000000053/

 

Holiday Inn New Orleans Airport North

At Holiday Inn New Orleans Airport North they have a “Cruise and Park with Breakfast” package. It starts at $199 and does not include transportation. When I tried to book it for this weekend the total came to $223.

“This package offers up to 10 days of free parking at the hotel as well as free breakfast the morning after your stay for up to two guests. Transportation is the guests responsibility but can be arranged through hotel prefered vendors or uber taxi est cost 40 usd to terminal”

Create Your Own Package

This is what I normally do. My recommendation is booking a hotel near Fulton Garage. All of the Convention Center hotels are right there. I can usually get a good price on one of them through Hotwire. Then I book one night of hotel parking at Fulton Garage and a week of cruise parking at Fulton Garage. I park and walk across the street to the hotel only taking with me what I need for the night. Then in the morning I return to my car, drop off my dirty clothes from the previous day, grab my suitcase, go downstairs and catch the shuttle to the port.

Hotels close enough to walk to the Fulton Parking garage during your hotel stay that I’ve reviewed include the Marriott New Orleans Convention Center , the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center and Cambria Hotel New Orleans. I have also stayed at Embassy Suites and would recommend that hotel as well. If you’re staying at these hotels or Hilton Riverside and don’t have a car or want to pay for transportation, Walking to the Port could be useful to you.

 

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