New Orleans

New Orleans sits on a bend of the Mississippi River, and the cruise terminals are close enough to the French Quarter that you can walk. Bourbon Street gets the attention, but Frenchmen Street in the Marigny neighbourhood is where locals actually go for live music, with bands playing in open-doored clubs every night. Jackson Square, anchored by St. Louis Cathedral, fills with street artists and tarot readers during the day. The Garden District, reachable by the St. Charles streetcar for $1.25, has oak-canopied streets and antebellum mansions. For food, a po'boy (fried shrimp or roast beef on crusty French bread) is cheap and filling. Café du Monde in the French Quarter serves beignets 24 hours a day, and there is always a line. Tip 15-20% at sit-down restaurants. The city runs on US dollars, and most places take cards, but keep cash for street musicians and food stalls.