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New Orleans riverboat cruises: which boat, which sailing?

Only two riverboats matter in New Orleans: the Steamboat Natchez, a genuine steam-powered paddlewheeler, and the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, which pairs its cruise with a licensed historian. Each runs a daytime sailing and an evening jazz dinner sailing, and the four products below are the eligible combinations. The real decision is time of day: the daytime trips are about the river and the port, the evening ones about the band and the meal. Swamp trips and French Quarter walks are compared elsewhere.

What you are choosing

You are choosing between two Mississippi riverboats — and, more importantly, between a daytime cruise and an evening jazz dinner sailing.

The main differences

  • Daytime cruises: jazz and river history: Two to two and a half hours on the Mississippi, with narration or a live band.
  • Evening jazz dinner cruises: The same boats after dark, with a seated Creole meal and a full jazz set.

Indicative prices

From $37 to $60, as supplied by Viator — confirmed at checkout.

4 eligible options on this page.

Every option shown has at least 1,000 traveler reviews. Booking, availability and the final price always happen on Viator.

Daytime cruises: jazz and river history

Two to two and a half hours on the Mississippi, with narration or a live band.

Daytime cruises: jazz and river history: who each option suits, review volume and indicative from price
OptionBest forReviewsFrom (indicative)
New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz CruiseAnyone who wants the steamboat itself, in daylight, without committing an evening5,990$37
Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River CruiseTravelers who want to understand the river and the city rather than hear a band2,081$47

Prices are indicative "from" values supplied by Viator and change with date, party size and the option chosen. The price you pay is always the one confirmed on Viator.

New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

4.3 ★5,990 reviews· 2 hours

Board your riverboat to the delightful tunes of the Steam Calliope. Experience the sights and sounds of river life that enchanted characters of history and literature - like Mark Twain's Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer - and see the bustling activity of America's second-largest port! This authentic riverboat experience of a leisurely, two-hour cruise on the mighty Mississippi, features traditional live

Indicative from $37 — confirmed on Viator

Check availability on Viator
Best for
Anyone who wants the steamboat itself, in daylight, without committing an evening
What you get
A two-hour Mississippi cruise aboard the Steamboat Natchez with live jazz and the steam calliope, with a lunch option offered at checkout
Key difference
The Natchez is a working steamboat — the engine room and calliope are part of the product, not decoration
Booking ahead
Two sailings on most days and the most-reviewed river product in the city; weekends fill first
See the New Orleans skyline from a whole new perspective.

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise

4.4 ★2,081 reviews· 2h 30m

Join us for the only Riverboat in New Orleans with an excursion! Take a 2 hour, 30 minute cruise down the great Mississippi River aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen. Enjoy a narrated tour with a licensed historian describing 300-years of New Orleans history; from the founding of the city by the LeMoyne Brothers to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. During your cruise the vessel will dock at Chal

Indicative from $47 — confirmed on Viator

Check availability on Viator
Best for
Travelers who want to understand the river and the city rather than hear a band
What you get
A two-and-a-half-hour Creole Queen cruise narrated by a licensed historian, with a stop as described on the product page
Key difference
The only riverboat cruise here built around a historian's commentary rather than music
Booking ahead
Fewer daily departures than the Natchez; book the afternoon slot early in season

2 eligible options in this group.

Evening jazz dinner cruises

The same boats after dark, with a seated Creole meal and a full jazz set.

Evening jazz dinner cruises: who each option suits, review volume and indicative from price
OptionBest forReviewsFrom (indicative)
New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner OptionA first night in New Orleans where dinner and music happen in one booking8,149$58
Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New OrleansCouples who want a quieter, smaller dinner cruise at sunset1,607$60

Prices are indicative "from" values supplied by Viator and change with date, party size and the option chosen. The price you pay is always the one confirmed on Viator.

Captivating views of the New Orleans skyline

New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

4.1 ★8,149 reviews· 3 hours

Welcome aboard the Steamboat NATCHEZ or Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS! PLEASE make sure you choose your vessel carefully at check out. Ready for the ultimate New Orleans night out? Step aboard a classic riverboat for a dinner jazz cruise on the mighty Mississippi River — one of the most iconic things to do in New Orleans! Hear stories of the Big Easy's rich history, sit back, relax and enjoy the

Indicative from $58 — confirmed on Viator

Check availability on Viator
Best for
A first night in New Orleans where dinner and music happen in one booking
What you get
An evening Steamboat Natchez sailing with a live jazz set and a Creole dinner option chosen at checkout
Key difference
Dinner is an option rather than an automatic inclusion — check which vessel and which fare you select before paying
Booking ahead
One sailing per evening, and the highest review volume of any New Orleans cruise; the dinner seating goes before the cruise-only fare
See the skyline of New Orleans from a whole new perspective.

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans

4.1 ★1,607 reviews· 2h 30m

Cruise into a brilliant and romantic sunset aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen! Underneath enchanting skyline views enjoy the lively sounds from Sullivan Dabney, Jr. and the Muzik Jazz band while delighting your taste buds with a deliciously prepared Creole-styled meal (if option is chosen). Grab one or two classic New Orleans cocktails inside at the bar, then take a stroll outside along elegan

Indicative from $60 — confirmed on Viator

Check availability on Viator
Best for
Couples who want a quieter, smaller dinner cruise at sunset
What you get
A Creole Queen jazz dinner cruise with a live band and a Creole-style meal if that option is chosen
Key difference
Smaller and less busy than the Natchez dinner sailing, with the band closer to the tables
Booking ahead
Limited covers per sailing; the meal option must be selected in advance

2 eligible options in this group.

Frequently asked questions

Steamboat Natchez or Creole Queen?
The Natchez is the authentic steam-powered paddlewheeler and carries by far the most reviews. The Creole Queen is the choice if you want narrated history rather than a jazz band. Both cruise the same stretch of the Mississippi.
Is the dinner included in the jazz dinner cruise?
On both boats dinner is a fare option selected at checkout, not an automatic inclusion. The Viator product page states exactly which option you are buying before you pay.
Daytime or evening cruise?
Daytime shows you the working port, the bridges and the city skyline. Evening is about the band, the meal and the lights. If you only do one and you like jazz, take the evening sailing.
How long are the cruises?
Roughly two hours for the daytime Natchez sailing, two and a half for the Creole Queen, and around three hours for the evening dinner cruises. Exact durations are on each product page.
Where do the boats leave from?
Both board on the riverfront within walking distance of the French Quarter. The precise dock and boarding time are listed on the product page — boarding closes well before departure.

Keep planning

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