New Orleans

River & Harbor Cruises

Our most recommended New Orleans River & Harbor Cruises

• 

  1. New Orleans: Evening Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

  Journey back in time aboard the Sternwheeler Steamboat Natchez – the only surviving authentic steamboat in New Orleans. Sit back, relax and enjoy the New Orleans atmosphere as the smooth jazz of the Dukes Trio fills your ears. This 2-hour cruise from the heart of the French Quarter will take you along the graceful Mississippi River. Seating is available indoors and on deck for the very best views of the river and the City of New Orleans. The indoor areas are climate-controlled and the outdoor space allows for tours of all levels of the boat. There is nothing more charming than an evening on the Steamboat Natchez. Sample Dinner Menu Natchez Tossed Salad: Mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, red onions and croutons with a sugar cane vinaigrette and served family style Chicken and Sausage Gumbo: Made with a traditional Louisiana roux and served with rice Baked Chicken: Serve...

  Wonderful time. The cruise was beautiful and educational and the food was fantastic. I would do this again and again and again.

  Reviewed by Jason, United States, 8/9/2021
• 

  2. New Orleans: Day Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

  Savor the beauty and romance of New Orleans and take a journey back in time aboard the Sternwheeler Steamboat Natchez, the only authentic steamboat in New Orleans. Your two-hour cruise from the heart of the French Quarter takes you back to a time when life was as slow and graceful as the current on the Mississippi. The tour will take guests to see New Orleans from the river, one of the world's most active ports. Visit our museum quality Engine Room to learn how steam powers this magnificent boat through the “Mighty Mississippi.” Add an optional Creole lunch, prepared fresh on board, and savor the tastes of New Orleans as you relax on your 2-hour cruise. Sample Menu Lunch Monday - Saturday on 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM cruises Southern Fried Fish Red Beans and Rice Jambalaya Salad Du Jour Community Coffee and Iced Tea included Menu items are subject to change by season and ...

  We were very disappointed in the lunch provided. It was billed as being fried chicken. What was served was very thin and dry fried fish fillets. The rest of the meal was all carbohydrates: macaroni salad, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and bread pudding for dessert. Not anything was very palatable and not good for a diabetic. I’ll never do the meal cruise again.

  Reviewed by Marian, 8/11/2021
• 

  3. New Orleans: Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner

  Step back into the glamour and romance of the riverboat era with a cruise on the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen boat. On this river cruise, you will experience the vibrant and lively jazz notes of the amazing Sullivan Dabney Jr. and the Muzik Jazz Band while enjoying a Creole-style dinner. There will be some time to dance to the music after dinner in the gorgeous dining hall.  After dinner, you can enjoy a classic New Orleans cocktail on the promenade deck looking out over the Mississippi River as the city slips past. On the way back to the city you will pass by Jackson Square and see the city lights under a starry sky.  SAMPLE DINNER MENU: • Cajun Caesar Salad • Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo • Louisiana Creole Jambalaya • Cajun Baked Chicken • Roast Beef Debris • Garlic Mashed Potatoes • Cajun Seafood Pasta • Red Beans & Rice • Corn Mac Choux • Fresh Roasted Vegetables • Paddlewheele...

  Great host & staff, amazing band, variety of food, and beautiful evening scenery along the river!! Highly recommend.

  Reviewed by Connell, United States, 9/4/2021
• 

  4. New Orleans: Bayou Swamp Boat Tour

  Catch a boat and head out into Louisiana’s backwaters on a guided swamp tour. Adventure into the bayous with your captain guide to see the local swampland flora and fauna from the comfort of your tour boat. Tune in as your guide tells the story of the bayous, local Cajun culture, and wildlife that lives in the area. And get your cameras ready as you pass through beautiful, moss-draped trees and soft waterway landscapes, Keep your eyes peeled for the raccoons, deer, birds, snakes, fish, and perhaps even an alligator, if you’re lucky.

• 

  5. New Orleans: Creole Queen History Cruise with Optional Lunch

  Sit back and enjoy the views or a drink at the bar while journeying down the Mississippi river. Learn about New Orleans' complex, but interesting story, focusing on the critical Battle of New Orleans. This cruise is narrated by an expert, local guide who takes guests on a journey of the imagination downriver to the Chalmette Battlefield at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. As you travel to the battlefield, learn about the settlement of New Orleans, its river lores, and historical landmarks that lay along the banks of the Mississippi River. Then stop at the battlefield and reflect for a 1-hour shore excursion featuring a guided tour and talk by National Park Rangers.   SAMPLE MENU LUNCH: • New Orleans Style Shrimp Pasta • 10” Roast Beef Po-Boy • Creole Jambalaya • Crawfish Bread • Caesar Salad • Red Beans & Rice • Fresh Baked Cookies • Zapps Potato Chips (Menu it...

  Enjoyed the history and battlefield. The food was plentiful but average tasting. Drinks was good. The staff was friendly.

  Reviewed by Anonymous, 8/29/2021
• 

  6. New Orleans: Creole Queen Sunday Morning Jazz Cruise

  Step back into the glamour and romance of the riverboat era with a cruise on the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen boat. On this river cruise, you will experience the vibrant and lively jazz notes of the amazing Sullivan Dabney Jr. There will be some time to dance to the music in the gorgeous dining hall.  Add the optional Creole-style brunch to complement the experience. After brunch, you can enjoy a classic New Orleans cocktail on the promenade deck looking out over the Mississippi River as the city slips past. On the way back to the city you will pass by Jackson Square and see the beautiful sights New Orleans has to offer. Weekend Brunch Menu Basket of seasonal fresh fruit Homemade Biscuits - Jellies & butter Caesar Salad - crisp romaine lettuce, fresh grated parmesan cheese, garlic croutons and creamy Caesar dressing Chicken & Andouille Gumbo with long grain Louisiana rice Eggs Benedict ...

• 

  7. New Orleans: Steamboat Jazz Cruise with Optional Brunch

  Journey back in time aboard the Sternwheeler Steamboat Natchez, the only surviving authentic steamboat in New Orleans. Sit back, relax and enjoy the New Orleans atmosphere as smooth jazz fills your ears. The 2-hour cruise sets sail from the heart of the French Quarter and seating is available indoors and on deck for the very best views of the river and city. The indoor areas are climate-controlled and the outdoor space allows for tours of all levels of the boat. There is nothing more charming than an evening on the Steamboat Natchez. Sunday Brunch Menu Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, made with a traditional Louisiana roux and served with rice Natchez Tossed Salad, mixed greens, tomato, cucumbers, red onions and croutons with a sugar cane vinaigrette Shrimp and Grits, shrimp sautéed with onion, bell pepper, and garlic served alongside hot butter grits Grillades and Grits "G...

  Be sure to add the word "Brunch" to the promo code. I didn't and therefore we could not get the brunch despite it saying "Brunch Cruise."

  Reviewed by Kelly, United States, 7/23/2021
• 

  8. New Orleans: Bayou Tour in National Park

  Bring your cameras and adventurous spirits as you explore the Barataria Preserve of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Meet your guide at the meeting point or at one of the 8 pickup locations in New Orleans (if transportation option is selected), and travel to the swamp. Tours pick up daily from convenient hotels at 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12:30 PM. You’ll be taken on a 1.5-hour pontoon boat ride around the waters of the area. Get the chance to spot alligators, local wildlife, and two other friendly creatures, Sunshine the Pig and Patrick the Possum.  Listen to stories and legends told by your informative local guide. Following the tour, enjoy a delicious Cajun lunch at a local eatery down the street, the perfect way to refuel. After lunch, you’ll be driven back to New Orleans and dropped off at the original meeting point or pickup location you have selected.

  Our guide Brent was knowledgeable, engaging , and funny. He definitely helped make the trip more enjoyable for everyone

  Reviewed by Gretchen, 8/6/2021
• 

  9. From New Orleans: Bayou Swamp Half-Day Boat Tour with Transfer

  Escape the hustle and bustle of New Orleans to explore Louisiana’s mystical bayou landscapes on a half-day swamp tour, with roundtrip transportation included. After a hotel pickup, head down to the bayou swamplands, where you will board your boat with your captain guide. See the local wetland flora and fauna from the comfort of your boat as you drift along the water. Listen as your guide narrates the story of the backwaters, the Cajun culture that infuses the area, and points out some of the critters that call the bayous home. Keep a special eye out for deer, birds, snakes, raccoons, fish, and maybe even an alligator. After your guided boat tour, hop back into the vehicle for a drop-off back at your New Orleans hotel.

• 

  10. From New Orleans: Small-Group Eco-Friendly Swamp Boat Tour

  Embark on an eco-friendly, small-boat tour in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Refuge that respects the ecosystem and doesn’t feed alligators or other wildlife. Cruise in comfort and learn about the area’s unique ecosystem form and expert naturalist captain and guide Begin the tour about an hours drive from New Orleans, from a private dock which is only a few minutes away from the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area where you will be welcomed by your boat captain/guide. Travel in a customized boat equipped with comfortable captain chairs that swivel 360 degrees. The small boat’s engine doesn’t scare wildlife away and allows you to get deeper into the swamp than you would with the large-boats used on most swamp tours. Benefit from a group size of maximum 6 people, ensuring that you can properly relax, avoid the crowds, and ask all the questions you want from your naturalist captain and ...