New Orleans: Carnival Cruise Lines, Port Agree to Three-Year Berthing Extension

Carnival Cruise Lines recently signed a three-year extension of its berthing agreement with the Port of New Orleans. The agreement took effect Feb. 13, runs through Feb. 12, 2016, and includes options for two one-year extensions.

"Carnival Cruise Lines currently carries 340,000 passengers annually from the Port of New Orleans, which consistently ranks as one of the most popular homeports among our guests,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. "This agreement builds upon our outstanding relationship with the port and the New Orleans community, and we look forward to continuing to sail from such a highly rated and attractive homeport.”  

Two Carnival ships currently sail year-round from the port’s Erato Street Cruise Terminal – the 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest on seven-day eastern and western Caribbean itineraries and the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation on four- and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. Carnival Sunshine will replace Carnival Conquest this November, after completing a $155 million refurbishment. 

A recent study by Cruise Lines International Association found the cruise industry accounted for $280 million in direct spending in Louisiana last year, up 35 percent compared to 2010. Specific impacts included 5,512 jobs and $211 million in income.  

A study commissioned by the port in 2011 found cruise passengers in New Orleans stay an average of 1.8 nights in area hotels before or after a cruise and spent another $27.9 million on lodging, food, beverage and incidental spending. 

New Orleans welcomed a record 968,849 cruise passengers in 2012, up from 736,908 in 2011.

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