New Orleans River Cruises

One of the best things-to-do in New Orleans is experience the pleasure of a New Orleans river cruise. With the steamboats docked in the middle of the French Quarter, it’s easy to catch a number of New Orleans river cruises to enjoy the beauty of the Mississippi while taking in the sites and sounds of the city river side. Of all the Mississippi River cruises in Louisiana, the cruises in New Orleans are definitely the best.

New Orleans river cruises are provided by several different companies. The New Orleans Steamboat Company offers two cruises on the Steamboat Natchez, an original steamboat with an authentic paddlewheel. The harbor cruises leave port at 11:00am and 2:00pm daily. This 2 hour cruise offers great river views of the city of New Orleans, a Calliope concert before departure, an optional Creole lunch, a live narration of the city’s history and tours of the museum quality engine room.

The New Orleans Steamboat Company also offers New Orleans river boat dinner cruises. Boarding starts at 6:00pm and the cruises go between 7pm – 9pm daily. There is casual buffet dining and the wonderful jazz music by the “Dukes of Dixieland”. You can enjoy seating inside or outside while you enjoy breathtaking views of the city. Reservations are required, so book early to ensure seating. There is nothing quiet like the relaxing feel of gliding along the Mississippi on an old fashioned steamboat, listening to jazz and sipping on a mint julep!

Other New Orleans river cruises can be had from New Orleans Paddlewheels Company, which offers one hour harbor cruises daily and New Orleans river boat dinner cruises on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on two different ships, the authentic paddlewheeler The Creole Queen and the replica Cajun Queen. They even have holiday cruises where you can catch New Orleans River Boat dinner cruises and watch the bonfires at Christmas or view the fireworks over New Orleans on New Year’s.

You can also get a 7 minute transfer cruise from the Audubon Zoo to the Aquarium of the Americas, these short trips leave from the Zoo at 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm and 4pm daily.

Day long cruises can be had by The Old River Road Plantation Adventure Company. They offer ½ day’s trip to local plantations, then a swamp tour by boat or you can take the ½ day plantation tour with an afternoon riverboat Jazz cruise. These riverboat cruises are a great way to combine the beauty of the Mississippi with the splendor of the plantation history.

If you want to venture further down the Mississippi, the Majestic American cruises offer 7-day Mississippi River cruises in Louisiana including a “Rediscover New Orleans” trip that includes an on board Mardi Gras ball, or several plantation home tour cruises from New Orleans to Memphis which stop off in Baton Rouge. These are exquisite luxury riverboat liners. You can get a luxury suite with a private veranda for you to watch the magnificent cities and untouched splendor of the great outdoors as you travel up and down the mighty Mississippi. You can find more 5-7 day Mississippi River cruises in Louisiana from Riverbarge Excursions, which travels south towards the Gulf of Mexico.

If you want a true taste of the old south, make sure your book one (or two!) Mississippi river cruises when you visit New Orleans.