The longest and one of the most premium cruise ships ever to dock in New Orleans sailed into the Port of New Orleans Julia Street Cruise Terminal Feb. 26, just in time for the finale of Mardi Gras festivities and staying until Feb. 28 – Mardi Gras Day.
The Celebrity Equinox, a 1,041-foot cruise ship christened in 2009, made its first visit to Port NOLA. The ship’s length is equal to 3.47 football fields.
“The Port is thrilled to welcome Celebrity Cruises back to New Orleans for an extended port call,” said Brandy D. Christian, Port President and CEO. “Celebrity’s brand is synonymous with luxury and we hope their guests enjoy all that New Orleans and the surrounding region have to offer.”
Celebrity Equinox holds 2,850 passengers and is the longest cruise ship to berth in New Orleans to date.
“We are excited to offer our guests the opportunity to experience the deep culture, history and fun that New Orleans has to offer,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “Mardi Gras and the amazing city of New Orleans is a big draw for our guests, and the perfect backdrop for them to create memories.”
New Orleans Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest are part of Celebrity Cruises “Signature Event Sailings” that include key global events such as The French Open in Paris, New Year’s Eve in Dubai, Carnival in Brazil, and the Pingxi Lantern Festival in Taipei among others. Each signature sailing offers a cruise plus optional unique shore excursions that highlight the world event by putting guests in the middle of the action. On board, guests are entertained, educated and engaged with unique shows, speakers and activities inspired by the itinerary’s event.
Founded in 1989, Celebrity merged with Royal Caribbean International in 1997 and currently has a fleet of 11 cruise ships.
The Port’s cruise industry continues to grow—up 4.5 percent overall in 2016—continuing its record pace for the sixth consecutive year. The Port welcomed 1,070,695 cruise passengers in 2016, the third year in a row to top 1 million cruise passenger movements.
