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from US$ 33.50 / Person
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Harbor Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

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Activity Schedule

  • When does it run?

    Tuesday to Sunday

  • Duration

    2.5 hours

  • Start time

    11:30am and 2:30pm. (Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to cruise departure time)

  • Meeting Point

    The cruise departs from the ""Lighthouse"" ticket office at Toulouse Street and the Mississippi River (at the Steamboat Natchez Dock), just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter.
    Please report at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start time. This is mandatory to allow time for pre-departure briefing.

  • Ending Point

    The tour ends at the starting point

Key Highlights

  • Enjoy a Mississippi river cruise on the authentic paddlewheel steamboat Natchez
  • Enjoy a delightful, old-fashioned steam calliope concert, a musical instrument on a steamboat
  • Take in beautiful views of the skyline of New Orleans from the water
  • Enjoy entertaining live commentary and learn how the calliope or ‘steam organ’ works
  • Enjoy an optional Creole lunch on the cruise
  • The tour operator Gray Line New Orleans, is one of the world leaders in sightseeing tours

Overview

Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the mighty Mississippi river on an authentic paddlewheel steamboat. The historic steamboat Natchez is one of the only six authentic steamboats left on the Mississippi river in New Orleans.

Cruise down the Mississippi River while hearing the beautiful music of its calliope (a musical instrument powered by steam that is atop the steamboat.)

Your cruise from the heart of the French Quarter takes you back when cotton was king and life was slow and graceful as the current on the Mississippi. The steamboat Natchez shows you New Orleans, one of the world's most active ports, as it can best be seen - from the river.

Itinerary

The steamboat cruise departs from the Toulouse Street Wharf, where Toulouse Street meets the Mississippi River. Boarding is 30 minutes prior to departure time.

Enjoy a delightful, old-fashioned steam calliope concert 15 minutes prior to boarding.

Board the Steamboat Natchez and experience the mighty Mississippi River from the deck of one of six authentic paddlewheel steamboats left in it. See New Orleans, one of the world’s most active ports, as it can best be seen from the river aboard New Orleans’s only authentic steamboat, the Steamboat Natchez.

Live narration of historical facts and highlights of the port of New Orleans will make this cruise informative as well as entertaining.

Tour the historic steam engine room and learn how steam powers the engines to turn the paddlewheel and provide the energy for the delightful tunes of the calliope, also known as a ‘steam organ’ or a ‘steam piano’.

Begin your cruise from the heart of the French Quarter and go back to a time when cotton was king and life was as slow and graceful as the current of the Mississippi.

Cruise past the Chalmette Battlefield, where Jean Lafitte and his buccaneers joined forces with Andrew Jackson to defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans.

The cruise returns to the starting point at the end of the tour.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

  • 2.5-hour cruise on board Steamboat Natchez
  • Live narration on New Orleans history
  • Calliope concert
  • Duke Heitger’s Steamboat Stompers Jazz Trio

Exclusions

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Drinks

Please note

Voucher information: You can show your voucher on your smartphone (But if you’d rather print a copy – that’s fine too!)

Please note that a gift shop and cash bar are available but not included in the cost of this cruise.

Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to cruise departure time

Schedule and availability are subject to change. Please call the local operator on arrival in New Orleans to confirm schedule.

The New Orleans Steamboat Company reserves the right to substitute either vessel in place of the other (Steamboat NATCHEZ & Riverboat CITY OF NEW ORLEANS) for any reason, at any time. No refunds will be issued for vessel substitution.

The steamboat is handicap accessible. However, access to the top deck is by stairs only. Please call us with any questions before finalizing your plans if you have questions on access or personal equipment.

Additional info

The confirmation voucher includes the local activity operator’s contact details and local telephone numbers at the destination. They will happily answer any logistical questions you may have

Customer Reviews

  • Ahmad Samadi

    Great cruise and great atmosphere , enjoyed the lunch.

  • Andrew Smith

    An excellent tour more than I’d expected

    United Kingdom
  • Robert Graziano
    Nice relaxing cruise

    Overall, a very nice, relaxing cruise. It was a very hot day but the dining area was nice and cool. The entertainment was excellent....

    United States

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