Embarkation day is supposed to be exciting.
The bags are packed. The cruise documents are ready. Vacation mode has officially started. In a few hours, there could be a drink in one hand and absolutely no concern about what day of the week it is.
There’s just one small detail.
Everybody still has to get to the ship.
As the owner of Alert Transportation, I’ve transported plenty of passengers around the Greater New Orleans Area, and cruise day has its own particular rhythm. Getting from a hotel, home, or airport to the cruise terminal sounds simple, but a little planning can make the difference between a comfortable trip and staring at a clock while wondering why traffic has suddenly stopped moving.
Here are a few things worth knowing before embarkation day arrives.
Start With the Cruise Line’s Schedule
The first thing to check is the cruise line’s arrival information.
Cruise lines typically provide passengers with an assigned or recommended arrival period. That information matters.
Getting to the terminal extremely early doesn’t necessarily mean getting on the ship extremely early. There may still be passengers leaving from the previous sailing while terminal personnel prepare for the next group.
At the other end of the spectrum, cutting the schedule too close creates unnecessary risk.
Cruise ships have departure schedules.
Unlike Cousin Eddie, they aren’t going to wait because somebody is running 20 minutes late.
Plan around the cruise line’s instructions and leave some breathing room for transportation.
Google Maps Doesn’t Know Everything
Navigation apps are incredibly useful, but an estimated drive time shouldn’t be treated like a legally binding contract.
New Orleans traffic has personality.
There can be construction, accidents, conventions, sporting events, festivals, street closures, weather, or any number of things happening between a hotel and the cruise terminal.
Sometimes all of them seem to happen on the same day.
A navigation app might say the drive should take 15 minutes. That doesn’t mean leaving exactly 15 minutes before the desired arrival time is a good idea.
Extra time is cheap.
Missing a ship is not.
Flying In the Same Day Requires More Planning
Some cruise passengers fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on embarkation day.
When everything goes according to schedule, that can work.
The problem is that air travel occasionally has different ideas.
A flight scheduled to land at 10:00 a.m. doesn’t mean everybody will be standing outside the airport at 10:05 with luggage in hand.
The aircraft has to reach the gate. Passengers have to get off. Anyone checking luggage has to wait at baggage claim. Then everybody has to make their way to the pickup location.
That’s before transportation to the cruise terminal even begins.
Flight delays add another variable.
For that reason, some passengers choose to arrive in New Orleans the day before the cruise. Besides reducing the pressure of same-day airline travel, that creates an opportunity to enjoy the city before departure.
There are worse ways to begin a vacation than dinner in New Orleans.
Count the Luggage, Not Just the People
This is a big one.
Transportation arrangements need to account for passengers and luggage.
Four people might sound like a simple vehicle requirement.
Four people going on a seven-day cruise can be another matter entirely.
Suddenly there are four large suitcases, four carry-ons, a garment bag, a stroller, somebody’s CPAP machine and one mysterious bag that apparently contains enough supplies to survive a small military operation.
Vehicle capacity matters.
When arranging transportation, an accurate luggage count helps determine the amount of space required.
Nobody wants to discover on embarkation morning that the passengers fit perfectly but the luggage needs its own vehicle.
Know Which Terminal Is Needed
New Orleans is an active cruise port, and passengers should know the cruise line, ship, and terminal before leaving for the port.
Don’t assume that saying “the cruise terminal” answers every question.
Having the correct information available helps avoid unnecessary confusion once traffic starts getting heavier around the port.
Cruise documents generally contain the necessary terminal information.
Checking that information the night before takes about a minute.
That’s a pretty good return on investment.
Hotel Pickups Can Take a Little Time
Many cruise passengers stay in the French Quarter or Central Business District before sailing.
That makes for a great visit, but downtown New Orleans isn’t always the easiest place to load a vehicle.
Hotels may have designated loading areas. Streets can be narrow. Delivery trucks appear. Construction happens. Special events can affect normal traffic patterns.
Then there is the process of getting everybody downstairs.
One person is ready.
Another is looking for sunglasses.
Somebody else suddenly remembers a phone charger plugged into the wall upstairs.
The elevator stops on every floor.
Cruise morning has officially begun.
Building a little loading time into the schedule can make the entire process more relaxed.
Louisiana Weather Gets a Vote
Rain can change travel conditions quickly.
Heavy downpours can slow interstate traffic, create standing water, and make loading luggage considerably less enjoyable.
Summer thunderstorms can also appear with impressive speed.
Weather is another reason not to build an embarkation schedule with absolutely no margin for delays.
If conditions look questionable, allowing additional travel time makes sense.
Keep Important Documents With the Passengers
Passports, identification, cruise documents, medications, and other important items should remain accessible.
Once larger luggage is handed over at the port, getting something back out of a suitcase may not be simple.
That is not the ideal moment to remember that a passport is tucked safely inside the front pocket of a checked bag.
Keep essential items in a carry-on.
Don’t Forget About the Ride Home
Transportation planning shouldn’t stop at embarkation.
Eventually, the ship comes back.
Disembarkation creates another busy transportation period around the terminal as thousands of passengers retrieve luggage and leave the port.
Passengers heading directly to the airport should allow time to leave the ship, collect luggage, reach transportation, travel to the airport, check bags, and clear security.
Booking a flight based on the exact minute a ship is scheduled to arrive can make the final morning of vacation considerably more exciting than intended.
The Goal Is Simple: Start the Vacation Calmly
Embarkation day doesn’t need to be complicated.
- Know the terminal.
- Know the scheduled arrival time.
- Allow extra travel time.
- Account for traffic and weather.
- Provide an accurate passenger and luggage count.
- Keep important documents accessible.
Most importantly, don’t schedule everything down to the last possible minute.
A cruise vacation should begin with excitement, not with everybody staring silently at the GPS while the estimated arrival time keeps changing.
The ship provides plenty of adventure.
Getting to it doesn’t need to be part of the package.
