NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A 600-passenger luxury ship becomes the first cruise ship Saturday to call on the Port of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

The arrival of the Delphin Renaissance marks the return of the cruise ship industry, which had a $226 million annual impact on the local economy before the hurricane, BizNewOrleans.com says.

The Delphin Renaissance is on an around-the-world voyage. Its passengers will visit New Orleans for New Year's Eve festivities before the ship sails Jan. 1.

The port has restarted construction on the Erato Street cruise terminal and parking garage. Expected to be completed in late 2006, the $37 million project includes a 90,000-square-foot terminal and a 1,000-vehicle parking garage.

The three cruise lines with homeports in New Orleans have pledged to return in 2006, officials said.