New ships double capacity from N.O. Port
Three new and larger cruise ships will be calling New Orleans home.
According to a news release from the Port of New Orleans, the additions will double the port’s cruise capacity, bringing the total number of home-ported ships from two to four.
The 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation arrived at the port Nov. 5 to sail year-round four- and five-night cruises to Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico. The ship replaces the Carnival Ecstasy, which replaced the Carnival Triumph Sept. 22.
On Nov. 12, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas arrived to sail seasonal seven-day western Caribbean itineraries. The ship will be home-ported in New Orleans during the winter cruise season from November to April.
The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will arrive Sunday, Nov. 13, to sail year-round seven-day itineraries to both eastern and western Caribbean ports of call. With the arrival of the Conquest, Carnival will have two ships homeported in New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Katrina.
The three new ships join Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,018-passenger Norwegian Spirit currently sailing seven-day western Caribbean cruises from New Orleans. In the fall of 2012, the Norwegian Spirit will be replaced by the newer and larger 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star.
Carnival’s two cruise ships will homeport at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Garage, which opened in the fall of 2006. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean will share the new Julia Street Cruise Terminal — which is currently nearing the end of a $17 million complete renovation. Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas is the largest cruise ship ever to homeport in New Orleans.
Prior to the arrival of the new ships, the Carnival Triumph and Norwegian Spirit combined for a capacity of 4,776 passengers. With the additions, the combined passenger capacity of the four cruise ships is 10,158 passengers per voyage, a 112 percent increase, according to the Port of New Orleans.
Paragon celebrates swamp
Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville will host a day of events Saturday, Nov. 26, that celebrate the uniqueness of Louisiana. The resort invites the public to meet three of History’s Swamp People alligator hunters during the day and listen to swamp pop music into the night.
Area alligator hunters Troy Landry, and his sons Jacob and Chase, of the television series Swamp People will kick off the day by meeting guests in the Paragon Ballroom. Paragon will begin distributing 1,000 tickets to guests at 8 a.m. for the opportunity to meet these local celebs. The event is limited to the first 1,000 guests. Children under 21 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone is encouraged to bring a canned good or non-perishable food item to donate to the Central Louisiana Food Bank to help families in need during this holiday season.
On Saturday afternoon, the Mari Showroom welcomes back “Boogie for the Bayou” swamp pop concerts featuring Louisiana’s swamp pop stars. The concerts will be held at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Proceeds from the two concerts will be donated to The United Houma Nation in a check presentation during the 8 p.m. show.
The first swamp pop concert will feature Van Broussard, Willie Tee & Cypress, Charles Mann and Warren Storm. The 8 p.m. show will have The Boogie Kings, Louisiana Express with T.K. Hulin, and Johnnie Allan with Tommy McLain.
Tickets are $15 for each show or $25 for a two-show package and are available through Ticketmaster.com, the LA 1 Gifts, Voila or by calling (800) 946-1946.
äON THE INTERNET: http://www.paragoncasinoresort.com
At Camp Moore
The annual Civil War Living History Encampment and Reenactment at Camp Moore will take place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19 and 20, just north of Tangipahoa.
The gates will open at 9 a.m. and the museum at 10 a.m. The soliders’ campsites will be open to the public all day. Look for drills and demonstrations by the soldiers, along with period dancers and specialty impressions. Scripted battles start at 2 p.m. both days.
The museum will close at 4 p.m. and the grounds at 4:30 p.m.
For more information, call (985) 229-2438.
äON THE INTERNET: http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/c/o/cosby_w/
Holiday music fest
The Covington Blues Christmas Music Fest is planned for Saturday, Nov. 26, in downtown Covington.
The event features a harmonica invitational. Registration and check-in will be at the Covington Trailhead at 1 p.m. The free harmonica performance demonstrational workshops will happen through the historic downtown beginning at 2 p.m.
The Lighting of the Oaks and Santa’s arrival will begin at 4:45 p.m.
The day culminates in an All-Star Blues Showcase at 5:30 p.m. at the Trailhead. The free concert will include Greg “Fingers” Taylor, Johnny Sansone, RJ Mischo, Greg Izor and special guests.
äON THE INTERNET: http://www.cityofcovington.com
The Port of New Orleans, Paragon Casino Resort and Camp Moore Historical Association supplied information for this column. Louisiana Travels is a biweekly column about travel destinations and events in Louisiana. Email items for Louisiana Travels to travel@theadvocate.com or jbergeron@theadvocate.com or mail to Judy Bergeron, News Features assistant editor, The Advocate, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810.