Carnival Cruise Line operates two year-round ships from the Port of New Orleans making it the largest cruise line operator from the Big Easy. On April 4 that capacity grew by 34 percent when Carnival Triumph arrived in New Orleans to replace the Carnival Elation. With the Carnival Triumph and Carnival Dream, which operates year-round seven-day voyages, Carnival is expected to carry 450,000 passengers annually from the Port’s Erato Street Terminal.
“The Carnival Triumph’s arrival demonstrates Carnival Cruise Line’s continued commitment to Louisiana and the Port of New Orleans to grow its business here and offer guests a new and expanded option on its four- and five-day cruise program,” said Gary LaGrange, Port of New Orleans President and CEO. “We are elated to welcome this exciting ship which features a number of Carnival’s most popular new enhancements to New Orleans and look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with Carnival.”
Carnival Triumph has undergone an extensive enhancement program that added a number of innovations, including Guy’s Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, poolside watering holes Blue Iguana Tequila Bar and Red Frog Rum Bar, the Blue Iguana Cantina Mexican eatery, cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, and Cherry On Top, a “candy and more” store. Carnival Triumph also features more than 500 staterooms and suites with private balconies—highly desirable accommodation categories not generally available on other short cruises.
A traditional maritime plaque exchange to commemorate the ship’s arrival at the port was hosted by Carnival Cruise Line officials, including Carnival Triumph Capt. Alessandro Lemmi and Vice President of Commercial Port Operations Carlos Torres de Navarra, along with Port of New Orleans officials.
In a style befitting the Big Easy, the birthplace of jazz, the event was also celebrated with an entertaining charity event featuring musician representatives from four local music organizations competing for $35,000 in donations to charities. Trumpeter and vocalist Shamarr Allen, competing on behalf of the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Jazz Camp; singer Robin Barnes, competing for the Tipitina’s Foundation; saxophonist Derek Douget, representing the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation; and Rebirth Brass Band Drummer and Roots of Music Co-Founder Derrick Tabb participated in a series of hilarious “minute-to-win-it” games.
“New Orleans has been a valued partner for more than 20 years and today’s event was a wonderfully fun and unique way to celebrate the arrival of Carnival Triumph and support some of the city’s most treasured music organizations,” said Torres de Navarra. “We would like to thank our friends at the Port of New Orleans, the local community and our incredible travel agent partners for their continued support which has enabled Carnival to become the Crescent City’s number one cruise operator.”
Carnival Triumph kicked off its New Orleans-based program with a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. On this route, four-day “long weekend” cruises depart Thursdays and call at Cozumel while five-day sailings depart Mondays and Saturdays and visit Cozumel and Progreso.
