River Cruises in New Orleans, Louisiana
If you’ve spent lots of time seeing New Orleans on foot, exploring the French Quarter, Garden District, Uptown area and more, you may want to spend some time exploring the city from another vantage point – the water.
Mississippi River cruises are a fun way to view the city and the surrounding areas and are a refreshing respite, providing a chance to explore from the deck of a beautiful period steamboat. These trips down the Mighty Mississippi provide visitors with the classic steamboat experience, a slow and graceful trip down the river, and are especially ideal for groups traveling together. Most run all year long with trips several times a day. During peak seasons, they should be booked in advance.
? Steamboat Natchez – The company that operates the Natchez bills it as the “only authentic steamboat in New Orleans.” The Natchez operates two different kinds of cruises. The two-hour harbor cruise begins at the French Quarter and takes visitors on a tour of the port. Live narration educates passengers about the particulars of the port. Calliope concerts are held onboard twice a day and an optional Creole lunch can be enjoyed as well. The engine room – which is museum quality – is open to visitors and there’s also a gift shop that peddles steamboat-themed and other souvenirs. The company’s Dinner Jazz Cruise offers a deluxe buffet, prepared fresh on board, and live jazz by the renowned “Dukes of Dixieland”. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. All Natchez cruises depart from the Toulouse Street Wharf behind Jax Brewery.
? Chalmette Battlefield Cruise – Aboard this 2.5-hour cruise, passengers will enjoy detailed narration of New Orleans landmarks and history and will disembark at the site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans – Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve – where they can visit the Chalmette Battlefield. This includes a tour of the Malus-Beauregard House and the Chalmette Monument. A cash bar and a la carte food is available during the cruise, which departs twice daily aboard the Creole Queen.
? Dinner Jazz Cruise – Also held aboard the Creole Queen paddlewheeler, this once daily, three-hour cruise includes a lavish Creole buffet and the sounds of a live jazz band. The interior of this boat is decorated in grand Victorian style with lush draperies, period lighting, a wooden parquet dance floor, and more. After dinner cocktails are available at the cash bar. The dinner cruise operates four to five days a week depending on the time of year. Passengers may opt not to purchase dinner, if they wish.
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Special cruises – The riverboat cruise
companies also operate special cruises from time to time. The Creole Queen,
for example, offers an Easter Sunday jazz brunch cruise and a Fourth of July
Celebration river cruise. Details are available prior to the holidays.
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