Few attractions capture the history and personality of New Orleans quite like a paddlewheel riverboat cruising down the Mississippi River. With live jazz music, traditional Louisiana food, beautiful views of the city, and the unmistakable sound of a steam whistle, a riverboat cruise is one of the classic New Orleans experiences.
Whether you’re visiting the city for the first time or you’re a local looking for something different to do, a Mississippi River cruise is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening.
Several riverboats offer sightseeing tours, lunch cruises, jazz performances, and dinner cruises. Many feature full bars with cocktails, beer, and wine, making them just as appealing for couples and groups of friends as they are for families with children.
Riverboat cruises are one of our staff-favorite New Orleans attractions and an excellent kid-friendly activity.
The Steamboat Natchez: A New Orleans Landmark
The Steamboat Natchez is probably the most recognizable riverboat in New Orleans. With its massive red paddlewheel, tall smokestacks, and traditional white exterior, the Natchez looks like something straight out of a nineteenth-century Mississippi River painting.
Unlike many modern paddlewheel boats, the Natchez is an authentic steam-powered vessel. Its massive paddlewheel is driven by steam engines, giving passengers an opportunity to experience a piece of American transportation history.
The current Natchez was built in 1975 and continues a long tradition of riverboats carrying the same name. Earlier vessels named Natchez were famous for carrying passengers and cargo along the Mississippi, including one that participated in a legendary steamboat race against the Robert E. Lee in 1870.
Today, the Natchez offers sightseeing cruises, lunch cruises, and evening jazz dinner cruises.
One of the most interesting features aboard the boat is its working steam engine room, which visitors can explore. Watching the machinery power the enormous paddlewheel is especially interesting for kids and anyone who enjoys engineering or history.
The Natchez generally departs from the Toulouse Street Wharf near the French Quarter, making it easy to combine a cruise with a day of sightseeing.
The Famous Natchez Steam Whistle and Calliope Show
One of the most entertaining parts of a trip aboard the Natchez happens before the boat even leaves the dock.
The Natchez features a traditional steam calliope, a musical instrument that uses steam-powered whistles to produce music.
As the performer plays, clouds of steam shoot from the whistles while familiar melodies echo across the Mississippi River and into the French Quarter.
The calliope has 32 notes, and its unusual sound can be heard from a considerable distance. The performance is part of a tradition dating back to the nineteenth century, when steamboats used musical instruments to announce their arrival in river towns.
The Natchez’s calliope even features colored lights synchronized with the music.
The performance is something visitors should try to catch, even if they aren’t taking a cruise. You can often hear it from the riverfront near Jackson Square and Woldenberg Park.
The boat currently advertises daily calliope concerts at approximately 10:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m., and 5:30 p.m., although schedules can change.
It’s a particularly fun attraction for children, although the whistles can be surprisingly loud.
Other Paddlewheel Riverboats in New Orleans
While the Natchez is the city’s best-known steamboat, it isn’t the only option for a Mississippi River cruise.
The Paddlewheeler Creole Queen
The Creole Queen is another popular New Orleans riverboat, offering dinner cruises, live jazz entertainment, and historical sightseeing tours.
Built in 1983, the Creole Queen features a 24-foot paddlewheel, spacious observation decks, and elegant dining rooms. Unlike the steam-powered Natchez, the Creole Queen uses a diesel-electric propulsion system.
One of its most interesting excursions is the historical cruise to the Chalmette Battlefield, part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.
This tour combines a narrated river cruise with a visit to the historic battlefield where Andrew Jackson’s forces defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.
For families interested in American history, the Creole Queen’s battlefield cruise offers something a little different from a traditional sightseeing trip.
The Creole Queen also offers evening jazz cruises with Creole dining and a full-service bar.
Riverboat City of New Orleans
The Riverboat City of New Orleans is a sister vessel of the Natchez and another option for exploring the Mississippi River.
This boat offers shorter sightseeing cruises, including approximately 75-minute excursions with narration about New Orleans history and the landmarks along the waterfront.
The City of New Orleans also features selected jazz brunch and dinner cruises.
Its multiple decks and panoramic views make it especially appealing for visitors who want to spend time on the river without committing to a longer excursion.
Lunch and Dinner Cruises: How Much Do They Cost?
One of the most popular ways to enjoy the Mississippi River is aboard a lunch or dinner cruise.
Prices vary depending on the boat, departure time, meal package, and entertainment.
As of October 2026, typical adult ticket prices on the Natchez and its sister vessels include:
- Daytime sightseeing cruises: Around $25–$45, depending on the cruise.
- Lunch jazz cruises: Approximately $65, including a meal.
- Evening sightseeing and jazz cruises: Approximately $58 without dinner.
- Dinner jazz cruises: Approximately $107.50 with dinner included.
- Special event and premium packages: Often more than $100 per person.
Many of the cruises offer discounted children’s tickets, and some allow younger children to ride free without a meal.
Food choices vary by cruise, but Louisiana specialties such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, Creole dishes, and traditional Southern desserts are common offerings.
Most dinner cruises provide a buffet or other organized meal service rather than individual restaurant-style ordering.
Full Bars and Cocktails on the River
A nice feature of many New Orleans riverboats is the availability of full bars.
Visitors can enjoy a cocktail, a cold beer, or a glass of wine while relaxing on the observation deck and watching the river traffic.
Naturally, New Orleans favorites such as Hurricanes and other classic cocktails fit right in with the atmosphere.
Alcoholic drinks are generally an additional charge unless you’re purchasing a package that specifically includes beverages.
For adults, an evening cruise with a drink, live jazz, and views of the illuminated city can be one of the more relaxing ways to enjoy New Orleans.
Live Jazz Music on Mississippi River Cruises
New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, so it makes sense that music is a major part of the riverboat experience.
The Natchez features traditional New Orleans jazz, including performances by local groups such as the Steamboat Stompers and the Dukes of Dixieland.
The music generally features the classic sounds of traditional jazz, with instruments such as trumpets, clarinets, trombones, piano, and drums.
Depending on the cruise, guests can listen to the band, explore the boat, or enjoy their meal while the music plays.
The Creole Queen also features live jazz performances on its dinner cruises and selected brunch excursions.
Riverboats played an important role in spreading jazz beyond New Orleans. During the early twentieth century, musicians performed aboard Mississippi River excursion boats, introducing audiences in other river cities to New Orleans-style music.
Today, taking a jazz cruise is a way to enjoy that musical heritage while experiencing the river that helped carry it across America.
Not every sightseeing cruise includes live music, so check the entertainment details when booking.
What Will You See on a New Orleans Riverboat Cruise?
The Mississippi River is more than a scenic backdrop. It has been the center of New Orleans commerce, transportation, and development for more than three centuries.
A typical sightseeing cruise offers views of several interesting landmarks and working sections of the river.
French Quarter Riverfront: See the historic waterfront from a perspective that most visitors never experience while walking through the French Quarter.
Jackson Square and the City Skyline: Enjoy views of the historic downtown area and the modern skyline, particularly beautiful during evening cruises.
The Port of New Orleans: Watch cargo ships, tugboats, barges, and other commercial vessels navigating one of America’s most important river transportation corridors.
The Crescent City Connection: These enormous bridges connecting the east and west banks are among the most recognizable features of the New Orleans riverfront.
Algiers and the West Bank: See neighborhoods across the Mississippi and gain a better appreciation for the unusual geography of the Crescent City.
Chalmette Battlefield: Certain historical excursions aboard the Creole Queen travel downriver and stop at the site of the famous Battle of New Orleans.
Most riverboat tours follow a round-trip sightseeing route rather than stopping at multiple attractions. The Chalmette Battlefield excursion is an important exception.
The exact route and sights depend on the boat, weather, river conditions, and type of cruise.
A Brief History of Paddlewheel Steamboats on the Mississippi
During the nineteenth century, paddlewheel steamboats transformed transportation throughout the Mississippi River Valley.
Before the widespread use of steam-powered vessels, traveling upstream against the Mississippi’s powerful current was a slow and difficult process.
Steamboats changed that.
Beginning in the early 1800s, steam-powered boats made it possible to transport passengers, agricultural products, supplies, and manufactured goods much more efficiently between New Orleans and cities farther north.
New Orleans became a major center of riverboat commerce, with vessels arriving and departing constantly.
The boats ranged from practical cargo carriers to elaborate passenger steamers with beautiful dining rooms, lounges, and sleeping accommodations.
By the middle of the nineteenth century, steamboat travel was an important part of Mississippi River culture.
Riverboat captains became celebrities, and competing steamboats sometimes raced one another for bragging rights and publicity.
The introduction and expansion of railroads gradually reduced the importance of steamboats for long-distance transportation, but the vessels remained popular for excursions and entertainment.
Modern New Orleans riverboats preserve some of that heritage, allowing visitors to experience the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of river travel without spending days traveling between cities.
Are Riverboat Cruises Good for Kids?
Absolutely. A daytime paddlewheel cruise is one of the better family-friendly activities in New Orleans.
Children often enjoy watching the huge paddlewheel turn, exploring the different decks, seeing the passing ships, and listening to the unusual sounds of the calliope.
The Natchez’s working steam engine room is particularly interesting for curious kids.
The Creole Queen’s historical battlefield tour can also be a worthwhile outing for older children studying American history.
Families should consider a daytime cruise, particularly during the warmer months when there’s plenty of daylight to see the river traffic and surrounding landmarks.
Be sure to supervise younger children around stairways and outdoor railings, and remember that the open decks can be windy.
If you have young children who may not enjoy sitting through a long meal, a sightseeing-only cruise may be the best option.
Tips for Planning Your Riverboat Cruise
Riverboat cruises are popular with tourists, particularly during Mardi Gras season, spring festivals, holiday weekends, and other busy times in New Orleans.
It’s a good idea to book ahead if you’re interested in a particular lunch or dinner departure.
Arrive early enough to enjoy the riverfront, watch the boat prepare for departure, and catch the calliope performance if you’re sailing aboard the Natchez.
The midday cruises offer better opportunities to photograph the ships, buildings, bridges, and riverfront. Evening cruises provide a different atmosphere, with sunset views, city lights, cocktails, and music.
Also remember that the Mississippi River is a working waterway. While the cruise boats are generally comfortable and stable, departures and routes may occasionally change because of weather or river conditions.
Staff Favorite: A Classic New Orleans Experience
There are plenty of things to do in New Orleans, but few combine the city’s history, music, food, and scenery as naturally as a Mississippi River paddlewheel cruise.
Our top recommendation for first-time visitors is a daytime jazz cruise aboard the Steamboat Natchez. Between the steam calliope, working engine room, live music, and views from the open-air decks, it offers a little something for everyone.
For couples looking for an evening activity, a dinner jazz cruise makes an excellent date night.
Families interested in history should also consider the Creole Queen’s Chalmette Battlefield excursion.
Whichever boat you choose, spending a couple of hours on the Mississippi River is a memorable way to experience New Orleans from a completely different perspective.
Official cruise information and reservations:
Steamboat Natchez and Riverboat City of New Orleans
Prices, schedules, menus, and vessels are subject to change. Check with the individual operators before making reservations.
