NEW ORLEANS
The best of New Orleans.
The 15 most popular cruises & boat tours in New Orleans. What each one is really like, what it costs, and who runs it.
Steamboat NATCHEZ Mississippi jazz cruise in New Orleans with Dukes of Dixieland and an optional Creole buffet dinner.
Most Popular“We really enjoyed this cruise. The food was surprisingly good, music was great and the views were spectacular. Everything went like clockwork - very well organised.”
Ride from New Orleans to Honey Island Swamp on a small boat, spot wildlife, learn Cajun culture, and see a village only reachable by water.
“This is a total waste of time. The alligators are hibernating and not active. They’re aware of this and continue to sell tickets to this attraction. It’s unethical.”
Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise on the Mississippi in New Orleans: 2 hours of live jazz and commentary, with optional Southern buffet lunch.
“Worth it. Relaxing. Wonderful music. Great seating. Clean. Quality experience. Great customer service.”
Cruise New Orleans at dusk on an authentic steamboat with live Dukes of Dixieland jazz, captain narration, and optional Southern buffet dinner.
“Great activity ! Not always easy to understand the narrator when not you are not coming from an english speaking country.”
Ride the only authentic steam steamboat in New Orleans on a 2-hour Mississippi jazz cruise with optional Creole lunch.
“Great narration! Lovely lunch and entertainment! This is a must-do activity!”
Swap the city for Oak Alley or Destrehan plus a private Manchac Swamp pontoon ride with wildlife spotting and photo-friendly commentary.
“It was as very good we recomrnend it. The guid was very intrersting. But we waited a vrery long time to the swomp tour.”
Drive to Slidell for a 2-hour Honey Island Swamp boat tour with a small open-air boat, wildlife spotting, and Cajun culture stories.
“Dustin was phenomenal! You can tell he genuinely loved his job and he made the tour very exciting. I would definitely come back and would love to have him as a guide again.”
A narrated paddleboat cruise from New Orleans to Chalmette Battlefield, with ranger time ashore and optional onboard food and drinks.
“No wheelchair or limited accessibility for people with mobility issues. We enjoyed the tour of state park.”
Roofed swamp boat tour in Marrero through Barataria Preserve with Cajun cemeteries, burial mounds, wildlife, and narrated stories.
“This was exactly what you would expect. An open air boat (covered) ride into the bayous by a local with narration. Of course no gators to be seen in the winter months and being a heavy coat. I would still highly recommend this tour!”
A 2-hour Mississippi night cruise with live jazz and optional Creole dinner buffet on the paddlewheeler Creole Queen.
“It was a really nice cruise down the river. We couldn't enjoy the outside as much because it had rained and was cloudy and cold but that's not the cruise fault. But the food the entertainment and the cruise itself was really really cool fun and I would totally do it again. I'm sure on…”
Pontoon through Lafitte’s cypress swamps with a live guide. Look for alligators, birds, turtles, and more, with pickup options.
“Very nice experience will do it again a d definitely reccomend. If am in bayou we will book it again absolutely affordable.”
Guided Manchac Swamp pontoon cruise with optional New Orleans pickup. Spot alligators and learn Cajun stories for about $35.
“I liked everything, especially having a baby alligator”
Ride a paddlewheel down the Mississippi, hear the Battle of New Orleans story, and tour Chalmette Battlefield with park rangers.
“Really enjoyable trip. Charles commentating on boat was very knowledgeable as was Ranger at battle field. Cruise was relaxing and food was plentiful.”
2-hour Paddlewheeler Creole Queen jazz cruise on the Mississippi with optional Creole dinner, cocktails, and skyline lights.
“we done the jazz boat cruise. the food was not great and not worth the money”
New Orleans swamp boat tour with hotel pickup. 2 hours on the Barataria Preserve, guided wildlife spotting, history, and comfy covered boat.
“You’ll share the waterways with noisy and intrusive airboats. Knowledgeable captain but unable to overcome negative impact of the airboats. Unable to experience the ambience of a swamp, which involves quiet.”
Every corner of the city, and every way to see it.
