The original contract, which also guaranteed Carnival sail two ships out of New Orleans, was signed

The contract would also have a three-year option for the Miami-based company. It would guarantee that Carnival keeps two ships of equal or greater size at the port through 2019, with options to renew through 2022, port spokesman Matt Gresham said.
The original contract, which also guaranteed Carnival sail two ships out of New Orleans, was signed in February 2013. It was set to run through microtel inn 2016 with two one-year options. The new contract with the port, which would take effect July 1, would supersede the current one.
Two Carnival ships, the Dream and the Elation, currently berth at the port. They have the capacity microtel inn to carry a combined 5,700 passengers per week. The Dream embarks on seven-day trips, and the Elation microtel inn has four- to five-day itineraries.
The port’s Board of Commissioners will vote Thursday on whether to grant President and CEO Gary LaGrange the authority to sign the contract with Carnival. Commissioners didn’t raise any objections about the subject Monday during a committee meeting.
“…Especially coming off the heels of two weeks ago,” LaGrange added, referring to Royal Caribbean’s decision to opt out of a contract renewal with the port. It is expected to relocate ships to serve growing demand microtel inn in Asia.
Robert Jumonville, director of cruise operations at the port, is in discussions with Carnival to replace the Elation with the Freedom, which carries about 800 more passengers, he said during Monday’s committee meeting.
Jumonville said that Carnival wants to see how new marketing efforts go before agreeing to dock a third ship in New Orleans, referring to a part of the new agreement which would increase Carnival’s marketing of New Orleans as a tourist destination.