Carnival says Valor and Liberty will sail from New Orleans as planned this weekend. A tanker hit a riverboat less than a mile from the cruise terminal Friday, and all aboard are safe.
Carnival cruisers leaving New Orleans this weekend can still pack their bags.
Carnival Cruise Line emailed booked guests Friday evening, Cruise Hive reports. The cruise line said Carnival Valor and Carnival Liberty will sail from the Port of New Orleans as planned.
Carnival said there are “no delays or itinerary changes expected at this time.”
The message came hours after a tanker crashed into a docked river cruise boat on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, Nov. 13.
Which Carnival cruises are leaving New Orleans this weekend?
Two ships are scheduled to sail:
Carnival Valor leaves Saturday, Nov. 14, on a five-night Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.
Carnival Liberty leaves Sunday, Nov. 15, on a six-night cruise to Belize City and Cozumel.
The crash happened near mile marker 96, just past the Crescent City Connection bridge and less than a mile from Carnival’s terminal. Carnival said its larger ships do not need to pass the bridge to reach open water.
What happened in the New Orleans tanker crash?
The tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the American Cruise Lines riverboat American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. Friday while it was docked near the French Quarter, NBC News reports. Passengers were getting off at the end of a weeklong river cruise when the riverboat began to sink and rolled onto its side.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said the tanker “lost control.” Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said the tanker appeared to have some kind of steering failure, though officials don’t yet know why, CNN reports. A river pilot was steering the tanker.
Nearly 130 people were on the riverboat. Thirty-two went to hospitals, none with critical injuries, and everyone has been accounted for. The Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
Is the Mississippi River open in New Orleans?
The river is still partly closed. The Coast Guard closed about three miles of the river to all boat traffic after the crash. Burnham said the focus is now on reopening the river as soon as possible so commerce can keep moving.
Officials have not given a reopening time. New Orleans’ cross-river ferries were also suspended.
Other big ships are due in town. Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas and Crystal’s Crystal Symphony were scheduled to arrive Saturday, Cruise Radio reports, and could see delays if the closure lasts.
What should Carnival guests sailing from New Orleans do?
Head to the terminal at your scheduled arrival time. Deep Arrival’s tips for this weekend include:
Show up at the start of your terminal window.
Keep your booking confirmation and arrival time handy, and check your email before you leave.
Allow extra time on riverfront roads, where emergency crews may slow traffic.
Pack medicine, chargers and a change of clothes in your carry-on in case luggage is slow.
If you are booked on a future American Heritage cruise, contact American Cruise Lines directly. Carnival’s updates only apply to Carnival ships.
What happens to the American Heritage riverboat?
The Coast Guard is working with salvage teams to remove the riverboat. The American Heritage was built in 2015 and holds up to 150 guests.
The boat had docked about two hours before the crash, WDSU reports. It had just finished a weeklong trip on the Mississippi, and its next sailing was set to visit Baton Rouge and St. James Parish before returning to New Orleans.
Bystanders caught the moment of the crash on video, and WDSU and other outlets shared it Friday.
American Cruise Lines said it is working with the Coast Guard, New Orleans police and other agencies as the investigation continues.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
Cruise Hive (Nov. 13, 2026), Carnival’s email to Valor and Liberty guests
Deep Arrival (Nov. 14, 2026), the sailing details, crash location and guest tips
NBC News (Nov. 13, 2026), the crash timeline, injuries and investigation
CNN (Nov. 13, 2026), the mayor’s and Coast Guard’s comments and salvage plans
WDSU (Nov. 13, 2026), the riverboat’s docking and itinerary
Cruise Radio (Nov. 13, 2026), the other ships due in New Orleans Saturday
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