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New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise
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New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise

By Steamboat Natchez
About
Travel like the residents of New Orleans did decades ago when you step aboard the historic riverboat on this Mississippi River cruise. After you depart from the harbor, listen to entertaining commentary on the sights that pass by as you stroll the expansive deck, enjoy live jazz music in the main dining area, and check out the churning paddle wheel in action. Upgrade to include a southern-inspired buffet lunch.
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from
$39.00
$35.88
per adult

Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 2-99, max of 500 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English

Highlights
  • Ride an historic riverboat on the Mississippi River 
  • Book ahead to guarantee your spot on this popular river cruise 
  • Listen to informative commentary from the captain 
  • Upgrade to include a traditional New Orleans buffet lunch 
  • Listen to live jazz music as you watch the scenery pass

  • 2 Hour Paddlewheel Cruise
  • Live Commentary Onboard
  • Live Jazz Music
  • Creole-Inspired Lunch (if option selected)
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Alcoholic Beverages (Available for Purchase)

Choose a morning or afternoon departure time at booking, and then make your way to New Orleans’ French Quarter on the day of your trip to exchange your voucher for tickets at the kiosk at Toulouse Street.  Once on board, explore the historic boat's vintage accents and period decorations. Stroll the decks to take in the Mississippi River scenery and views of the city of New Orleans passing by. For the journey out, find a seat indoors to listen to live jazz in the main dining area, or opt to sit outside for narration on passing historic sites, such as Chalmette Battlefield. The return journey features music throughout the boat. If you opt to upgrade to the lunch option, your journey includes a buffet lunch made up of traditional New Orleans fare. End up back at your original starting point, with plenty of time left in the day to continue exploring the French Quarter or beyond.

Departure details
  • Gray Line New Orleans, Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA Departs from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River, just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Please arrive 15 minutes before boarding.
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3780STEAM

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • The Steamboat NATCHEZ is taking some time off, but her sister vessel will be taking her place. You'll get the same authentic experience of a grand paddlewheeler on a leisurely, two-hour cruise on the mighty Mississippi.
  • In order to help preserve the French Quarter from vehicular traffic, it is requested that you please walk, if possible, to the convenient tour departure point - just a short stroll from most downtown hotels.
  • The riverboat is handicap accessible. However, access to the top & bottom decks are by stairs only. Please call us with any questions before finalizing your plans if you have questions on access or personal equipment.
  • Infant rates apply provided they do not occupy a seat.
  • The riverboat cruises rain or shine.
  • Anyone looking to book a group of 9 or more should contact the booking site directly. Different rates apply.
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 500 travelers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

What you can expect during your visit
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Contactless payment for gratuities and add-ons
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.

How much is New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise?
New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise price starts from $35.88. Discover and book New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise on Tripadvisor
What is the New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise cancellation policy?
New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise on Tripadvisor
Which company provides New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise?
New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise is hosted by Steamboat Natchez. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Steamboat Natchez on Tripadvisor. Discover and book New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise on Tripadvisor
How much time do I need for New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise?
On average, this experience will take approximately 2h. Discover and book New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise on Tripadvisor

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3780STEAM

Reserve your spot

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    Gray Line New Orleans
    Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
    Departs from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River, just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Please arrive 15 minutes before boarding.
    See address & details
  • 1
    Steamboat NATCHEZ
    Stop: 60 minutes
    See details
  • 2
    Mississippi River
    Stop: 60 minutes
    See details
  • You'll return to the starting point
+
About the operator
Steamboat Natchez
8,086
New Orleans, Louisiana

#19 of 67 Boat Tours & Water Sports in New Orleans
  • angelicacB6671CG
    angelicacB6671CG
    0
    0
    You don't deserve be attended if you go SOLO
    I read many comments to skip dinner and have some food in another place before the tour, however, I wanted to have the experience. I used to travel alone (just me) and no waitress was taking care of me during dinner. I told to the hostess but she didn't care. The view was beautiful (of course, it is nature) but I expect the trip and company enjoy the money that I paid as everybody else, because I did not enjoy to be ignored.
  • TravelinWith4Kids
    TravelinWith4Kids
    0
    0
    Beautiful pictures
    It was our first trip to New Orleans and we had to do the riverboat. Gumbo at dinner was amazing and the ambiance was memorable. So glad we did it. Staff was great and it was a fantastic memory.
  • jfseed
    jfseed
    0
    0
    Go for just the cruise, without dinner.
    This was supposed to be a three hour experience, from 7pm to 10pm. We boarded the boat at 6:15pm and were given a dinner seating time for 7:20pm, on deck 2. The boat left dock at 7:10pm. We had a drink and went to the dinning room at 7:15pm, but weren't seated until 7:35pm. Once seated, the server brought us a cup of barely warm gumbo, a soggy greens salad, and two cold rolls with hard butter. Upon finishing our gumbo and salads, we were told we could now go to the buffet table. We found that most of the food was already gone; all that was left was some chicken, a scoop full of seafood pasta, some green beans, and Cajun rice...all of which were, again, barely warm. For dessert, there was supposed to be Bananas Foster, and bread pudding. The Bananas Forster was nothing more than a scoop of vanilla ice cream, with some sort of syrup...no bananas. The only decent part of the meal was the bread pudding. After dinner, we sat outside, with a couple of drinks. It was a pleasant evening; that part of the cruise was just fine. We then returned to dock at 9:00 pm, and deboarded by 9:20pm. So much for a 3 hour dinner cruise. I'd think twice about having dinner, and would opt for the cruise, alone.
  • Angela M
    Angela M
    0
    0
    Relaxing, educational & friendly.
    Nice relaxing ride down the Mississippi River. It was hot but there was plenty of space to go into the air conditioning or sit in the shade. Food was good. Staff was friendly.
  • elizabethpI7151EL
    elizabethpI7151EL
    0
    0
    Nice to do
    It was a fun activity to do. The boat is very big & vintage with lots of animation. The views are nothing crazy, it’s not like a cruise in NYC or Chicago, but it’s still nice!
  • tboz807
    tboz807
    0
    0
    Nice experience
    We had a great time. The food was good, the jazz music was delightful and can be heard while eating. The gentleman that gave the tour did a really good job. The line does get long so my advice is to get there early. We picked the time we wanted to dine and eye allowed to sit at our table the entire time. You are allowed to order drinks from the bar at your table. Glad we didn't listen to the negative reviews.
  • debbym215
    debbym215
    0
    0
    Good choice
    Chose the jazz dinner cruise for our visit to New Orleans. The dinner service was well run, the staff was attentive. The buffet dinner offered many items. Listening to the music was great. Although it was extremely hot weather, you ate in air conditioned comfort and then could enjoy a nice breeze on the upper deck.
  • karenjK7335UV
    karenjK7335UV
    0
    0
    Don’t miss the boat!
    GINA! This is more than a 5 star review of our trip but a love letter to GINA! If the stars align and your private hostess is GINA-you are in for a treat. Her exuberance is infectious, her southern charm is abundant and her attention to service is spot on. On our VIP trip she made sure we always had a drink in our hands and when she noticed my husband taking a sunset photo on the lower deck she said “grab your wife I have a perfect spot for a photo!” And the band -the lead singer sounds like Louis Armstrong-what a talented voice! The captain also was top notch his detailed history of the boat and River was amazing. And the food- some of the best we had in New Orleans and that is saying a lot. We will be back with friends . Don’t think twice about this trip❤️😊🚢
  • CINTHIA C
    CINTHIA C
    0
    0
    Love it
    very good experience. I didn't choose the diner, I preferred to be outside watching the sunset and listening to jazz.
  • filiatreauf
    filiatreauf
    0
    0
    Meh
    The boat ride and the atmosphere was nice. I do not recommend the dinner. They want you to wait for your server to let you know when you can go to buffet but ours never came. We had to get our own water off the cart and flag down a server to ask if we could eat. We waited for 30 minutes. I recommend the cruise. Just not the dinner. Bar drinks are also very watered down and not worth the money.
  • Escape658260
    Escape658260
    0
    0
    Five stars all the way
    The music was wonderful. Red beans and rice were perfect. The boat was so big and beautiful. Thanks for a great time.
  • 534deborahf
    534deborahf
    0
    0
    Crappy Cruise
    Horrible! Cruise didn’t take place on the Steamboat Natchez. The food was dry, unseasoned and the combination didn’t make sense for the venue. Just be prepared to “dine” on cafeteria food. The staff clearly don’t enjoy what they’re doing and the entire vessel lacked cleanliness. But, the worst part of the entire “excursion” was having to listen to the lead performer of the jazz band beg for money before, during and after every song. Save your money and avoid this nonsense!
  • Menami
    Menami
    0
    0
    Beautiful cruise on sunset
    A beautiful cruise, with good music most of the time. The pictures they take at the entrance are with a magnet ,
  • juanjo196410
    juanjo196410
    0
    0
    Amazing night
    Good excursion the boat is really beautiful and the jazz band amazing. Highly recommended if you can go to the VIP experience
  • grabmanc
    grabmanc
    0
    0
    Great tour and dinner
    Great food, great music, great time! Everything about the ride was great. Loved the guide one way and music on way back.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.0
1,096 reviews
Excellent
537
Very good
304
Average
151
Poor
48
Terrible
56

Seaside742565
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Friends
Expecting a circle tour of the city, the Mississippi flows a 200 degree circle of NO), and the port, was disappointed with their cruise of the lower port area and Jackson barracks. Your views of the city were limited to the convention center area where you board.

Advertised tour of 2 hours, for $38, plus eats plus drinks, turned into a 3 hour Gilligans experience as our boat captain was unable to dock. We were within 4 feet of securing to the dock when he gave up and headed back to the channel. Where 58 minutes later, 43 minutes overdue, we finally docked.

Surprisingly, no explanations were given. Even without the added adventure, would recommend you take the ferry for $5, and get the same view.

Bon voyage
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are docked in the French Quarter, numerous blocks from the convention center, just to clarify your departure point. The boat experienced mechanical difficulties which meat that fighting the current in the dock location was going to take additional effort. They wanted to make the safest docking for our passengers. We apologize if that took longer. Our typical cruise is 7.5 miles downriver and then the return.
Written February 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Geraldine B
2 contributions
May 2023
We booked reservations on line for the Natchez Harbor cruise departing at 11:30 AM on Monday 5/15/2023. We arrived 30 minutes prior to departure as instructed. The weather was very hot that morning and covered seating area was inadequate for the amount of people waiting to board. The wait time was excessive and extremely loud blaring theme music was played at one point during the wait. The music was terribly annoying. The boarding process was slow and disorganized with no direction or information provided on shipboard seating or accommodations. During the cruise the narrative was very hard to hear or understand. We’ve taken many harbor cruises and excursions in other parts of the country and have been pleased with them. This cruise was very disappointing compared to others and would not recommend taking it.
Written May 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AdrienneGLNOSC
The warm weather is not conducive to waiting, but the weather is not something we can control. The Calliope is a time honored riverboat instrument, much like a steam organ. Information on the instrument is on our website under FAQ if you would like more information. Please accept our apology was a slow boarding process that day.
Written June 6, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Elaine D
23 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
Enjoyed the cruise. Would have preferred to have a chance to enjoy the jazz band while not feeling that we were intruding on the second lunch sitting. Small dance floor surrounded by tables. Tour was interesting. Had a blast teaching a bunch of I kids “in 1814 I took a little trip...” when we reached the site of the battle of New Orleans.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

𝑲𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒂 🦉
Dallas, TX227 contributions
It was okay, I guess. Make sure to fall in line early, so you can reach the boat earlier than others. If you want to listen to jazz music, you either have to be at the top deck, inside, or have really good hearing. We sat at the second floor, outside, and barely heard the music. If you get to go inside, there’s TVs that show the band playing.
There’s this person who tells us information on the way. There’s a certain “good” side. I didn’t sit on the “good” side, so I basically saw nothing, whereas the people on the good side saw everything the person narrated.

~Getting Onboard~
When we arrived, there was a long line. If you arrive early, you can choose the good side. The good side is probably facing the city, because the person who narrates tells facts along the way of the tour. Make sure to bring your vaccination card!

~Ticket Information~
If you book the tickets online, make sure you stop by the ticket booth to obtain the physical ticket.

~The Views~
On the good side, you see the city while the person tells facts and information. On the bad side, you only see brown, murky waters and blank land. The top deck (back) overlooks the steamboat paddle and jazz band. The second deck (back) gets the steamboat paddle at a better view than the top deck.

~Pictures & Shop~
At the beginning, you get to take your picture in front of the boat, and while you’re on it, you get to purchase the pictures for $40. There’s a gift shop. Others include meals, seating areas, and jazz.

Overall, it was ok, I guess.
Written March 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We appreciate that you gave the Riverboat a chance to add to your visit
Written March 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Dianne D
Longmont, CO32 contributions
Dec 2019
Get there early enough to get your paper ticket from the ticket booth.

We mostly sat outdoors, but if you do that, you may want to sit in an area where you can see each side of the Mississippi because they will talk about locations on either side of the river and if you're sitting on one side, you won't see what they're talking about. The narration is only done on the trip away from the city and then there's a live band playing Jazz on the way back from the turn-around point.

You can enter the engine room and there are pictures describing how everything works and the wooden paddle wheel is impressive.

We opted for no lunch and that was fine with us. They sell snacks and drinks besides the lunch served.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brina W
Kenosha, WI12 contributions
My friend and I ordered the lunch and boat ride in December. It was buffet style, but the food was great and the crowd was well organized. The boat was large enough to walk around, see the engine room, etc. The scenery was more industrial, but the experience was worth it.

I would recommend showing up early to board the boat (even if you brought tickets ahead of time). There are two lines 1.) to get print out of the tickets that you brought online 2.) the line for the actual boat.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nomad0921
Wellfleet, MA528 contributions
Dec 2022
First, be aware that due to a fire on the Natchez last May, we were provided and accepted an alternative on the newer City of New Orleans, which is not a steam driven paddleboat like the Natchez, which is undergoing repairs. This was to be a highlight of our recent trip to NOLA, and eventually it was. Our originally scheduled trip was postponed due to a mechanical issue on the City of New Orleans. The Gray Line/Viator organization was able to reschedule us for a cruise the next day and were gracious in their customer service team. We embarked on our cruise and had a wonderful time - enjoying the novel experience of the paddle wheeler, the scenic cruise up and down the Mississippi that included narration by the crew of what we were passing on the banks, and especially enjoyed the onboard live jazz music of the Steamboat Stompers band. We did sign up for the lunch served on board which was average quality, but the overall experience was excellent - we'd recommend this for NOLA visitors including families with children.
Written December 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the recommendation overall. We love our families.
Written December 12, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jes H
Greenville, SC197 contributions
We got on to see the Mississippi and were not disappointed on that score. The jazz trio Steamboat Stompers was also enjoyable on the turn-around trip back to the dock. We were hoping for a little history lesson though. Our captain did relate most of what we were passing but we would have enjoyed more of the older history of the river like you get on the city tours. Other than that it was a very enjoyable tour.
Written December 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cruiser27359827196
6 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
We loved our visit to New Orleans and the Natchez was one of the highlights of our stay. We could hear the sound of its calliope from our hotel for a couple of days before our cruise, and that was a pleasant preview. When our time came to board, our daughters (young adults) were happy just to get exotic beverages and hang out on-deck. My wife and I enjoyed the drinks and the deck too, along with the cruise narration, the amazingly original engine room and the talented Dixieland band in the dining room. We didn't buy a meal package but we saw the food coming out to those who did, and it looked tasty. My only quibble would be that it was tricky to find seats together anywhere on-board as we got underway. But then people relaxed and relinquished their seats to move around and explore and it wasn't a big deal. Overall, I'd describe the Natchez as one of the quintessential New Orleans experiences.
Written June 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"quintessential New Orleans experiences" Thank you for that quote
Written June 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Larry J
14 contributions
We arrived 20 minutes earlier with the printout of our reservation, but we had to stand in line and get paper tickets! This took 25 minutes and we were the last ones on the boat. There were no seats available for us to sit down because there were so many people. The food was good and the ride was nice but our experience with this company has not been good. They need to invest in scanners (like so many other tour companies) so that their customers do not have to stand in long lines to get paper tickets. The wait times are increased by the fact that they understaff the ticket kiosk and overbook the tours.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise provided by Steamboat Natchez

Product Overview: New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Harbor Cruise

Prices From$39
Number of Reviews1,093
Number of Photos1,151
Duration120 minutes