Boat Travel

By Ferry

The $2 ferry ride across the river to Algiers is an experience in itself, affording great views of the river and the New Orleans skyline, as well as the heady feeling of being on one of the largest and most powerful rivers in the world. Pedestrians enter near Spanish Plaza and the Riverwalk shopping area and board the Canal Street Ferry from above. Bicycles board from below on the left of the terminal; cars are no longer allowed on the ferry. The trip to Algiers takes about 5 minutes. Ferries leave on the quarter-hour and three-quarter-hour from the east bank (Canal Street), and on the hour and half-hour from the West Bank (Algiers Point). Ferries run from 6 am to 9:45 pm on Monday through Thursday, from 6 am to 11:45 pm on Friday, from 10:30 am to 11:45 pm on Saturday, and from 10:30 am to 9:45 pm on Sunday. Be sure to check return times with the attendants if you are crossing in the evening—it’s no fun to be stranded on the other side. There are wheelchair-accessible restrooms on the ferry.

Cruises

Large cruise lines like Carnival, Norwegian, American Queen Steamboat Company, and American Cruise Lines depart from New Orleans up the Mississippi River or into the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. Royal Caribbean International and Disney Cruise Line both added cruises from the city in early 2020.

For more information, visit the Port of New Orleans website at www.portnola.com or call 504/528–3318.