If you like your sightseeing with music and river views, this combo hits the mark. I like that this is an easy French Quarter to Mississippi River day plan, with a coach tour that gets you oriented fast, then a classic steamboat cruise that slows everything down.

Two big wins for me: the coach route is packed with major landmarks (Jackson Square, St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, Garden District-style passes), and the river time comes with live jazz plus a Steam Calliope concert when scheduled. One thing to keep in mind: it’s a fixed schedule, and the river can be windy—so bring a layer even on mild days.

Key highlights that make this tour worth your time

• Gray Line Lighthouse departure at 400 Toulouse St keeps the day simple and walkable in the French Quarter.
• Above-ground burial at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 is quick, photogenic, and a rare culture lesson you can actually see.
• Jackson Square stops include the Cabildo/Presbytere area and the story of the Pontalba Apartments.
• City Park break gives you real breathing room plus the option of Cafe du Monde beignets (own expense).
• Steamboat NATCHEZ cruise energy includes Steam Calliope daily and live jazz when in season.
• Engine room tour + Captain narration turn the boat into more than just a scenic ride.

How this New Orleans combo tour works (and why timing matters)

This is a one-day “best of” format: a guided motorcoach city tour in the morning, then a 2-hour Mississippi River cruise on the Steamboat NATCHEZ (or the City of New Orleans if NATCHEZ is temporarily unavailable for maintenance). The whole experience runs about 6 hours 30 minutes.

You can choose one of two day patterns:

• City tour in the morning with a cruise at 11:30am
• City tour at noon with a cruise at 2:30pm

That choice matters more than it sounds. If you do the city tour first, you’re fresh and ready to learn the map of the city—then the cruise feels like a reward. If you do the cruise first, you’ll come back on land with a clearer sense of what you just saw along the river.

Price-wise, you’re paying $88 per person for the combination of coach guiding, multiple major stops, and a full riverboat experience with music. For New Orleans, that’s a solid value if you want the big sights without piecing together three separate tickets.

Starting at the Gray Line Lighthouse: the “find us fast” advantage

The meeting point is the Gray Line New Orleans Lighthouse Ticket Office at 400 Toulouse St (in the French Quarter by the river). The tour end goes back to that same meeting point.

This is the kind of detail that saves stress. When you’re doing both land and water, being late for either part can cause real headaches. So I like that the departure is in the tight, walkable core. If you’re staying downtown, you’ll likely be doing short walks rather than hunting for a complicated pick-up.

Parking exists nearby on Decatur Street, including the Jax Lot # P401 (500 Decatur St), but most people will be happier with rideshare or walking if they can.

French Quarter overview: getting your bearings without wasting daylight

Your day begins in the French Quarter with a guided overview. This is where the tour earns its “intro to New Orleans” value.

You’ll ride through French and Spanish-inspired buildings, pass voodoo specialty shops, and get a look at Creole courtyards. The guide also frames New Orleans with stories like why the city feels the way it does—what shaped neighborhoods, street layout, and local traditions.

I also appreciate that you’re not just staring at buildings. You’re learning how to read the city as you move. Even if you’ve been here before, it helps you spot what matters next time you walk on your own.

Time on the road: you’ll have roughly a 30-minute stop in this area, depending on how your schedule moves that day.

Jackson Square and the Pontalbas: history you can actually point to

Next up is Jackson Square, one of the most recognizable rectangles on the map. You get a short stop to look around at:

• St. Louis Cathedral
• The Cabildo and Presbytere area
• The Baroness Pontalba story

The Pontalba Apartments often sound like a trivia fact until you see them. This is where the tour does something smart: it gives you context for the architecture and the era, so the scene isn’t just pretty—it’s legible.

Good to know: this stop is about 15 minutes. You can’t do everything, but you can get the photos, scan the buildings, and understand the significance.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 3: the quick stop that people remember

Then comes one of the most talked-about parts of the route: St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. It’s a short visit (around 10 minutes), built for quick photos and a basic understanding of the tradition.

The big idea you’ll hear is the reason you see above-ground burial here. That’s not just a fun oddity; it’s a window into how the city dealt with practical constraints over time—and why certain visual traditions stayed.

Photo + reality check

This is a cemetery visit, so expect uneven footing and lots of stone details. Wear shoes you can trust. You’ll also likely have the choice to remain on the bus rather than walk the full portion, depending on your comfort and timing.

City Park break: lagoons, trees, and a choice for beignets

City Park is where the tour gives you a breather. You’ll stop for about 15 minutes, with a couple options depending on what you feel like doing in the moment.

What you can do here:

• Explore the free Besthoff Sculpture Garden if you want something calmer and outdoorsy
• Or head to Cafe du Monde for a beignet and coffee (beignets are own expense)

Even if you’ve had beignets before, this stop has a different payoff. It’s not just a snack—it’s a chance to reset before you head back toward the river. And City Park’s setting (oak trees, pathways, water features) makes that break feel more like a pause than a rushed stop.

Garden District-style views and the St. Charles streetcar corridor

After City Park, your coach route follows the St. Charles Avenue streetcar corridor. You’ll pass stately mansions and homes associated with prominent parts of the city story, including what people often imagine when they think of the Garden District.

You’ll also get pass-by context tied to institutions near the park area, including views across from Audubon Zoo, and you may pass with visibility of Tulane University and Loyola University.

Here’s the honest way to think about this section: you’re not doing a long walking tour of the Garden District. Instead, you’re getting the best kind of preview—a clear look at what you’ll want to see more closely later.

The river part: Steamboat NATCHEZ harbor cruise with jazz

Now for the payoff: the 2-hour cruise on the Mississippi.

You’ll find seats either in the cabin or on the outside deck. The goal is simple—unobstructed views of the shoreline as you glide downriver with live onboard music.

What makes this cruise feel like the real New Orleans version

This is where the ship’s own rhythm matters. On this cruise style, you can expect:

• Steam Calliope concert daily (steam-powered organ music)
• Live jazz music on every cruise when scheduled seasonally
• Captain narration with highlights of port life and river moments
• A tour of the Historic Steam Engine Room so you understand how the paddlewheel motion works

That engine-room piece is a rare add-on. A lot of river cruises are just “sit and look.” Here, you get something to learn while you’re already relaxing—so the cruise feels earned, not just purchased.

Where you sail

You’ll cruise past Chalmette Battlefield, tied to Jean Lafitte and Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans story. It’s another moment where the river becomes a history timeline.

Weather note (important)

The water can be windy. If you’re the type who gets chilly easily, plan for it. In the cooler months, even though the cruise is only 2 hours, you may want a thicker layer so you can stay outside for views.

Lunch and the buffet: optional, but know what you’re buying

An optional lunch buffet is available for purchase on many days (the sample price shown is $13.50 per adult), and coffee and tea are included with lunch. If you don’t buy lunch, there’s still onboard service, including a snack bar.

Here’s what the menu typically looks like (sample menu subject to change):

• Southern Fried Fish with cornmeal crust
• Red Beans and Rice with andouille sausage served over Jazzmen rice
• Roast Beef debris and gravy over mashed potatoes
• Vegetarian pasta salad
• Vegetable du jour and creamy cole slaw
• Fresh fruit
• Natchez bread pudding with Callebaut Belgian white chocolate sauce
• Fresh sliced French bread

A practical tip: the buffet ordering process can be confusing if you wait until the last minute. Ask early at the ticket counter/onboard about how you’re supposed to purchase it. It may be tied to your original ticket or available for purchase at the meeting point or on the boat depending on the day.

Also think about your group. If seafood isn’t everyone’s thing, this cruise still can work—there are non-seafood options and a snack bar—but the buffet itself is built on Louisiana comfort food flavors that lean classic.

The guides and staff: what you should expect from the experience

This kind of tour lives or dies by the guide. The strong pattern I saw from past experiences is clear: named guides like Val, Robert, Harris, Katherine, JoAnn, Susan, and Jim are consistently praised for being clear, personable, and ready with answers.

You’ll also have a driver doing the heavy lifting. A smooth coach driver matters in New Orleans because streets can be tight, and traffic can shift fast. You want someone who gets everyone on and off calmly and safely.

On the boat side, the crew is typically friendly and helpful, especially when it comes to where to sit, where to go for the lunch option, and what’s happening during the cruise.

Value check: is $88 a good deal for this day plan?

For a single price, you’re getting:

• A narrated coach tour with multiple major photo stops
• Cemetery and City Park time
• A 2-hour Mississippi cruise with music
• Engine room learning + narration
• Optional lunch

That’s a lot of “tour time” packaged together. If you were to do this in pieces—city sights plus a full jazz river cruise—you’d likely spend more and spend more time coordinating.

I think this is especially good value if:

• You’re in New Orleans for a short stay and want the fast orientation
• You like guided context (not just wandering)
• You want the music and river views without planning a separate outing

It’s less perfect if:

• You hate fixed schedules
• You expect long walking time at each stop
• You’re only in it for one specific neighborhood

Should you book this New Orleans City Tour and Natchez Harbor Jazz Cruise?

Book it if you want an efficient New Orleans day with built-in variety: city sights on land, then jazz with paddlewheel scenery on the water. The combination is the point, and the structure helps you get your bearings quickly.

I’d hold off only if you have super specific needs that require flexible stop times, or if you’re very sensitive to wind/cold and don’t want to dress for it. Otherwise, this is a strong “one-day New Orleans starter kit” with a classic steamboat finale.

FAQ

Where does the tour start for both the city tour and the cruise?

All tours begin at the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office at 400 Toulouse St in the French Quarter, near the Steamboat NATCHEZ dock.

How long is the full experience?

It’s about 6 hours 30 minutes for the combined city tour plus cruise.

What time options are available?

There are two tour options: 9am city tour with a 11:30am cruise, or 12pm city tour with a 2:30pm cruise.

Is Cafe du Monde included?

You’ll stop at Cafe du Monde, but beignets are not included and are an own-expense purchase.

Is lunch included on the cruise?

Lunch is not automatically included. An optional lunch buffet is available for purchase, and the price shown is $13.50 per adult (coffee and tea are included with lunch).

What music is included on the riverboat cruise?

Steam Calliope music is scheduled daily, and live jazz is seasonal on cruises.

Does the cruise include narration and an onboard tour?

Yes. You’ll get Captain narration and a tour of the Historic Steam Engine Room.

What happens if Steamboat NATCHEZ isn’t available?

If NATCHEZ is unavailable due to inspections or maintenance, cruises run on its sister vessel, the newly renovated Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS.

Is the steamboat cruise non-smoking?

Yes. The vessel is non-smoking, and smoking/vaping is prohibited on both indoor areas and the outer decks.

How many people are on the tour?

This experience has a maximum of 25 travelers.