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AnyCruises from New Orleans are the perfect way to unlock the sunny Caribbean as an alternative to the departure ports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. As well as letting you explore such fantastic stops as Barbados and Jamaica, New Orleans is a destination in itself and ideal for a cruise and stay holiday either side of your cruise to try some Cajun cuisine, explore Bourbon Street for cool cocktails and even cooler live jazz. In addition, New Orleans boasts the world-famous Mardi Gras festivities if you go at the right time of year.
The old town of New Orleans boasts charming buildings, lively Bourbon Street with many jazz bars and a year-round Mardi Gras feel. You’ll also find the French Market with craft shops and restaurants, as well as street performers outside St. Louis Cathedral.
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Legendary live jazz music venue located in the famous French quarter. Open since 1961, here you can take in a show of guest performers or the local house band each night, but make sure to book in advance for a good spot and avoid the queue!
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See the warehouse where all the fabulous Mardi Gras floats are made and stored for the epic annual carnival festivities. Hourly tours with an expert on all things Mardi Gras take you round the colourful props, with staff happy to answer your questions.
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This quirky, two-room museum in the heart of the famous French Quarter is dedicated solely to the mysterious practice of voodoo. Open every day since 1972, the Voodoo Museum is bound to get your undivided attention with its array of vivid voodoo displays.
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The legendarily lively Bourbon Street is a must for fans of live music and new Orleans’ iconic live jazz shows. Start at one end of the street and take a stroll, soak in the atmosphere, people watch, sip cocktails and drop in for different performers in each buzzing venue.
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Originally the spot for Native Americans to meet up and trade goods, the French Market is a huge jumble of buildings and arcades selling hand-made clothing, craft wares and gourmet street food such as the famous Cajun French cuisine synonymous with Louisiana.
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Testament to New Orleans' French roots, the annual Mardi Gras celebration each February is probably the largest such celebration in the world, with numerous parades and events each day throughout the two week celebrations, with floats, dancers and plenty of music
Read moreWhen you touch down in New Orleans to the sight of vibrant masks, costumes, dancing and street parades, you’ll know that you’ve arrived at Mardi Gras, but this is just the surface of the Fat Tuesday celebrations in New Orleans. This carnival-style celebration allures tourists from across the world to revel in the party atmosphere and enjoy almost a month of the carnival season. Although a hedonistic and raucous event, Mardi Gras actually has a rich and religious history, dating back as far as 1837 in New Orleans. The word Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, the day that is more commonly known as Shrove Tuesday in the UK. The idea is the same for both celebrations - to eat all of the rich and fatty foods in your store cupboards before the ritual of lent begins.
This festival varies from city to city, with the party going on for different periods of time, but as New Orleans became synonymous with the celebrations over the years, the city now has one of the longest periods of Mardi Gras. Once you’re there, it’s time to ‘let the good times roll’ and embrace the traditions. Strings of multi-coloured beads will be thrown into the crowds to adorn yourself with, along with other plastic mementos and doubloons. It may seem trivial, but until you’re there you’ll never know how desperate you were for these trinkets.
A mask or a costume is a great way to feel part of the action, and is one of the symbols of letting yourself go that is part and parcel of the festival. The anonymity of masquerading is what helps strangers in the crowds to dance together, shout and sing, and have as much fun as possible.
Elaborate floats and parades fill the streets, with thousands of dollars and months of planning going into each one. Admire the special effects, clever themes, and incredible workmanship of each one, as you shout to them to throw beads to the crowd.
No Mardi Gras is complete without a slice of King Cake. Typically the cinnamon filled dough is topped with delicious glazing and covered in gold, purple and green sugar, and is symbolic of the Three Kings in the bible. This is the preferred snack during Mardi Gras, and hundreds of thousands are consumed during this period.
There’s no better way to understand the festivities than to experience them for yourself, so we’ve included Celebrity Cruises® Mardi Gras and Caribbean cruise package, which offers three full nights in New Orleans to enjoy the party.
