Port of New Orleans cruise terminals handled more than 1 million cruise passengers in 2014 for the first time in its history.
For the 12 months, embarkations and disembarkations totaled 1,014,325, an increase of more than 2.6 percent over 2013, a fourth straight record year for the port.
Cruise Lines International Association ranked the port the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States with direct industry expenditures in Louisiana totaling USD 406 million, supporting 8,129 jobs and accounting for USD 323 million in total income.
“This is a great milestone for the Port of New Orleans,” said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “The total represents a 180 percent increase in cruise passengers since 2001 – the year the Port began in earnest marketing itself as a premier cruise destination.”