Before You Board: The Luxe Traveler’s 48 Hours in New Orleans Before Your Cruise
Before the horizon calls, New Orleans insists you slow down. Here, every pre-cruise hour can be a study in indulgence — velvet barstools, candlelit courtyards, and live jazz spilling into the street.
New Orleans Itineraries (NOI) curates seamless “city-to-sea” experiences — from your boutique suite to the embarkation gate. Whether you’re sailing the Caribbean or the Mississippi, this is how to savor 48 hours in the Crescent City before you board.
Day 1 — Arrival, Design, and Decadence
Ease into the city’s rhythm. In New Orleans, arrival is not a checklist; it’s an art form.
Arrange your transfer from the airport to your hotel of choice here.
Stay
Maison Métier (formerly Maison de la Luz) — a design-forward haven with quiet grandeur near the Warehouse District.
Hotel Peter & Paul — all soulful color and cathedral-light in a restored church and rectory.
Windsor Court Hotel — for those who prefer their luxury classic and polished.
Mason Métier
NOI clients enjoy preferred rates and bespoke amenities through our travel advisor network
Afternoon Arrival Ritual
After a smooth transfer arranged by NOI, drop your bags and toast your arrival.
Bar Marilou — still one of the city’s most atmospheric lounges, known for plush interiors and playful cocktails.
Explore nearby galleries or visit the Sazerac House for a sensory deep-dive into New Orleans’ most famous spirit.
The Sazerac House
Evening
Reserve a table where the energy hums low and the details shine.
Herbsaint — the benchmark of modern Creole; timeless, refined, and perfectly local.
Jewel of the South — a James Beard–lauded cocktail destination with a hidden-garden courtyard.
Pêche — Gulf-sourced seafood served with understated confidence.
End with a rooftop nightcap at Hot Tin or a late glass of wine at Bacchanal, where jazz drifts into the night air.
Pêche
Day 2 — Savor, Shop, and Slow Down
Let this day unfold without urgency. Your ship will wait; the oysters won’t.
Morning
Ease into brunch at Vessel — housed in a deconsecrated church where morning light filters through stained glass — or at Justine, all Parisian glamour and Champagne.
For those craving a pre-voyage reset, NOI can arrange a private spa treatment, blowout, or yoga session through local partners.
Afternoon: Art, Fashion & Flair
Shop and wander through the city’s most elegant corners.
Pilot & Powell — contemporary designer edit.
Sunday Shop or Sainte Marie — interiors and gifts curated with quiet taste.
JONATHAN FERRARA Gallery or Studio Be — bold expressions of Southern art and identity.
Pause for espresso at The Vintage before heading back to refresh.
Evening
As twilight paints the balconies, settle in for your final night ashore.
Compère Lapin — Chef Nina Compton’s Caribbean-Creole brilliance, where every plate tells a story.
Saint Vincent’s Paradise Lounge — for a post-dinner cocktail among palm-print walls and vintage charm.
NOI can secure priority reservations or arrange a private driver for a seamless night out.
Departure Day — Seamless to Sea
Here’s where luxury meets logistics.
NOI coordinates your private transfer to the Port of New Orleans, timed perfectly for embarkation. As a certified cruise advisor, we handle the full journey — from hotel to harbor to high seas.
Expect insider perks such as priority boarding, pre-paid gratuities, or curated excursions aboard lines including Viking, American Cruise Lines, Norwegian, and more.
Luxury isn’t about rushing. It’s about presence — even when the tide is turning.
Plan Your Voyage
Ready to begin?
Let New Orleans Itineraries craft your pre-cruise escape and book your voyage with exclusive perks.
✉️ hello@neworleansitineraries.com
🛳️ Certified travel advisor | Cruise & Itinerary Design | New Orleans-based luxury concierge
