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Fourteenth. Breakfast is free, there's an outdoor pool, and self-parking is $34 a night in its own lot.
IHG counts four blocks to Bourbon Street. It says nothing about the port, and there's no restaurant.
A clean, simple night before a cab to the ship.
Book it if
- Budget-minded flyers who want breakfast
- Anyone who wants the French Quarter close by
Look elsewhere if
- You're bringing a pet.
- You want dinner in the building.
- You need cruise parking.
Your night before, from here
From check-in to the gangway, using only what Holiday Inn Express Downtown publishes.
An outdoor pool and a 24-hour gym, four blocks from Bourbon Street by IHG's count. No restaurant.
IHG says there's no local area shuttle. A taxi or rideshare covers the trip.
Free Express Start breakfast buffet.
IHG gives no distance to the port. It puts the French Quarter and the Superdome half a mile away. Your cruise line’s documents name your terminal and check-in window.
Self-parking is $34 plus tax a night in an open lot of 55 spaces. IHG says nothing about parking while you cruise.
Night-Before Score: 38 of 100
Scored only from what the hotel publishes. Here’s how the Night-Before Score works.
Getting here, and on to the ship
Pick where you’re coming from. Solid lines are rides the hotel publishes; a question mark is a leg you’ll arrange yourself.
IHG lists no airport shuttle. It puts MSY 15 miles away.
IHG says there's no local area shuttle.
IHG gives no distance to the port. It puts the French Quarter and the Superdome half a mile away.
From MSY without a hotel shuttle
The city sets a flat taxi fare from the airport to the CBD and French Quarter: $36 for one or two people, $15 a person for three or more. Taxis load outside Baggage Claim Door 7. Uber picks up at Doors 9 to 11 on the middle curb, Lyft at Doors 7 to 9.
Self-parking is $34 plus tax a night in an open lot of 55 spaces. IHG says nothing about parking while you cruise.
Parking for your stay: $34 plus tax a night, open lot, 55 spaces.
IHG says there's no local area shuttle.
IHG gives no distance to the port. It puts the French Quarter and the Superdome half a mile away.
Landing on sail morning instead? Some cruise lines and shuttle companies run straight to the terminals; see the airport page and the landing check.
Distance
No mileage statedIHG gives no distance to the port. It puts the French Quarter and the Superdome half a mile away.
Source: ihg.comShuttle departures
No shuttleThere’s no hotel shuttle to time, so a taxi or rideshare leaves when you’re ready. Your cruise documents give your terminal check-in window.
Source: ihg.comParking while you sail
Cruise parking
Cruise parking unconfirmedSelf-parking is $34 plus tax a night in an open lot of 55 spaces. IHG says nothing about parking while you cruise.
Source: ihg.comThe port’s own garages
$120–$350 by cruise lengthThe port runs two garages and charges by cruise length, not by the day: $120 for a 4-night cruise, $135 for 5, $160 for 6, $180 for 7, $200 for 8 and $350 for 14. Carnival parks in the Erato Street garage, on top of its terminal; Norwegian and Royal Caribbean at 100 Poydras, with a shuttle to Julia Street, which publishes only the 4-, 5- and 7-night rates.
Both open at 9 AM and take cards only. Reserving adds $1 a day; driving up doesn’t. The port’s FAQ still quotes $25 a day, which matches only its 8- and 14-night rates. Compare every parking option.
Source: portnola.comThe evening and the morning
The evening
PoolAn outdoor pool and a 24-hour gym, four blocks from Bourbon Street by IHG's count. No restaurant.
Breakfast
FreeFree Express Start breakfast buffet.
Address
O'Keefe Avenue, CBD334 O'Keefe Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112
Hotel website
The fine print, in one place
Times, fees, rooms and the small stuff, as Holiday Inn Express Downtown publishes it. Where it says “not stated”, the hotel doesn’t say, and a quick call will settle it.
Check-in and check-out
Minimum age
To check in, per the hotel.
Resort fee
None stated
Wi-Fi
Free
Parking for your stay
$34 plus tax a night, open lot, 55 spaces
Cruise parking is in the parking section above.
Breakfast
Free Express Start breakfast buffet
Pool
Outdoor pool
Pets
No pets.
Rooms
Room types aren’t published on the pages we could read.
Accessibility
Six van-accessible parking spaces and ramp access.
On site
- EV chargingNot stated
- Guest laundryNot stated
- Fitness centerYes
- Pets allowedNo
Nearby, by the hotel’s count
- French Quarter0.5 mi
- Superdome0.5 mi
- Aquarium0.8 mi
- WWII Museum1 mi
Distances as the hotel or its brand lists them. Bars use a square-root scale so short walks stay visible.
Before you book
Worth knowing
- Self-parking $34 plus tax, open and uncovered, 55 spaces.
- The primary guest must be 21. Check-in 3 PM, check-out 11 AM.
- No airport shuttle.
What we couldn’t confirm
- Distance to the port
- Cruise parking
Rates and policies are as the hotel published them on September 25, 2026. Confirm anything you’re counting on when you book.
Worth a look alongside it
Wake up downtown, a short ride from the ship.
Tell us your sail date and we’ll check Holiday Inn Express Downtown for the night before. No payment on the form.
Holiday Inn Express Downtown FAQ
Does Holiday Inn Express Downtown have a cruise shuttle?
Not that it publishes. IHG says there's no local area shuttle.
Does Holiday Inn Express Downtown have an airport shuttle?
Not that it publishes. IHG lists no airport shuttle. It puts MSY 15 miles away.
Can I park at Holiday Inn Express Downtown while I cruise?
The hotel doesn't say. Self-parking is $34 plus tax a night in an open lot of 55 spaces. IHG says nothing about parking while you cruise.
How far is Holiday Inn Express Downtown from the New Orleans cruise terminals?
IHG gives no distance to the port. It puts the French Quarter and the Superdome half a mile away. It sits in our CBD, Poydras & Canal Street band.
Can I check in early or check out late on cruise days?
Check-in is 3:00 PM and check-out 11:00 AM. The hotel doesn't publish early or late terms, so ask when you book, not on the day.
Will the hotel hold my bags?
The hotel doesn't say. Most hotels will hold bags between check-out and a late shuttle, but that's a call to make, not an assumption.
Does the port shuttle come back for me after the cruise?
There's no hotel shuttle to the port. The city's flat taxi fare from downtown to MSY is $36 for one or two people.
What's the breakfast timing on sail morning?
Free Express Start breakfast buffet. Your terminal check-in window is in your cruise documents, and the port asks you not to arrive before it.
Can I park an oversized vehicle or charge an EV?
EV charging: not stated. Clearance and oversized parking aren't published. Both of the port's garages cap vehicles at 22 feet. Clearance is 6'6" at 100 Poydras and 7'6" on Erato Street's upper floors, with limited 8'4" space on its third; anything bigger goes through the port's parking contact.
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