Steamboat Natchez - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Steamboat Natchez
Steamboat Natchez
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Cruise back in time aboard the Steamboat NATCHEZ,the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River. Depart from the heart of the historic French Quarter on our daily Harbor Cruises and evening cruises. Board to the sounds of the Steam Calliope, followed by a self-guided visit to the museum quality steam engine room, live historic and port narration during your two-hour cruise. Optional meals and beverages of many New Orleans favorites are prepared on board. Professional New Orleans musicians play on each cruise. Southern hospitality is in large supply at our fully stocked bars.
New Orleans, Louisiana

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Tours and Tickets by Steamboat Natchez
Travelers talk about
(586 reviews)
(341 reviews)
(606 reviews)

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles8,593 reviews
Excellent
3,792
Very good
2,605
Average
1,352
Poor
459
Terrible
388

Yoshie S
Enfield, UK78 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
4 of us enjoyed the evening jazz dinner cruise on 17th January 2020. The first deck and the dinning room where the band played offered an easy access to the friend on a wheelchair.
We opted for the later dinner (the early one started 6pm before the boat departed the port, the later one started 7:30pm) and watched the lights on the shore on the deck, saw the engine room and the top-deck bar etc. It was fine as we had warm jackets on. The food was better than expected. The buffet included the tender roasted pork and beef, fine beans, potato, a couple of pasta dishes, gumbo and the bread pudding with ice cream for the desert. It’s well worth doing it when staying more than a few days in NOLA.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We want to thank you for mentioning the accommodations for those with mobility issues.
Written January 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

tinky321
Singleton, Australia260 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Our family went for a lunch cruise. We had a voucher which gave us 10% off. With added lunch it was only about $10 more per person so we decided to include the lunch. The buffet lunch was decent, nothing extraordinary but enough to fill our tummies. The history throughout the cruise was good and the jazz was played by experienced musicians. I would not recommend it for children under 12 years as a 2 hour ride could be boring with history and old style jazz but our musical teenagers enjoyed it.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the great review. It is a family experience and often younger children like it because they don't have to stay still in one place.
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jaymzbee
Toronto, Ontario, Canada107 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019
The Dukes of Dixieland are unbelievably good. They are a truly happy bunch of musicians and their joy is infectious. They almost always play outdoors. I'm lucky that I've been six times and it never rained - otherwise they play indoors for dining patrons only. I've had the food and it's ok...great by boat standards...but just seeing the band is worth the trip. You get a beautiful sunset and then by the time you are back to the mainland it's dark and you are ready to paint the town.
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Katie L
New York14 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
My husband and I took the Harbor Cruise today and it was an awful experience. When we arrived to pick up our tickets, the worker claimed that she could not find my reservation in the system. After 15 minutes on the phone with their parent company they were able to locate our reservation. This delay caused us to board the boat after many of the other passengers. Unfortunately, the weather was also uncooperative. It was rainy and freezing cold on the river. There was not enough indoor seating to accommodate everyone on the ship which meant it was standing room only for the majority of the trip. There were multiple tour groups on the ship today as one of the other local steam boats was out of commission. People had crowded into every nook and cranny they could find. Some individuals couldn’t find space indoors and were forced to sit on the balconies in the rain. Many people left the boat before it even began the tour due to the lack of room. My husband and I spent most of the trip in the engine room trying to stay warm and dry. We did not purchase a dining plan so we could only hear the jazz music through the speakers, but could not see the band at all. Definitely not worth the 70 plus dollars we spent.

Bottom line- The company needs to ensure they have enough space inside the boat to accommodate passengers during inclement weather or they need to cancel the trip and issue a refund.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nundrum
Baltimore, MD134 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We took the Natchez cruise in March. There are a few things you should know before deciding if you would like this cruise. They advertise an evening "jazz" cruise, with the option of having dinner aboard the boat. Unfortunately, the jazz band only plays in the room where they are serving dinner, and if you didn't get the optional dinner, you don't have access to the dining room. So the only experience you will have of the band is what is piped through small speakers around the boat. This was the most disappointing part of the trip for us, and it was not advertised sufficiently. Dress in layers, and dress for about 20 degrees cooler than the temperature in the French Quarter. You can enjoy a nice sunset and a break from the madness of the Quarter, but the scenery along the cruise is largely industrial (to be expected, since New Orleans is still one of the largest ports in the country.) Lastly, remember that while the paddlewheel boat looks charming from the shore, it is not quite as charming when you are actually on board and not looking at it.

The pluses include quaint salons with a bar on every deck, friendly staff, and an interesting opportunity to go into the engine room. Go with the correct expectations and you will not be disappointed.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I just wanted to let all guests know that the band plays on the top deck a minimum of 95% of the time. A decision to move them indoors is only made if there is any difficulty of playing on the top open deck. We apologize that it happened on your night. Unless we are sold out we try to retain some seating for our cruise guests who did not opt for dinner. We sincerely appreciate your positive points and glad that you noted that we are indeed in a prosperous port on the Mississippi River.
Written March 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KarenPren
San Antonio, TX45 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
We wanted to do an evening dinner jazz cruise and carefully followed the advice of other reviewers; thanks to them we had a fantastic time at this venue! We purchased the first sitting for dinner from 6-7. We had picked up our tickets from the kiosk earlier in the day. We made sure to get in line about 5:30ish; we were very near the front when they started boarding. We were able to enjoy our meal, listen to some jazz, and find seats on the deck before we even left the dock. Those who purchased the 2nd dinner seating from 7:45-9:00 spent the time in the dining room with limited viewing of the water during our trip. So plan ahead to make your cruise more enjoyable. I will also say the staff was very friendly! We will take this tour again on our next trip
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you! You might like to try our new boat, Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS for a great brunch (daily at 11:30am)
Written January 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Miriam C
New York City, NY54 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
Imagine Mark Twain gathering his thoughts in his venture of writing one of his many literary masterpieces. He seeks the quiet serenity of the Mississippi River on the tranquil ride of the classic nostalgic steamboat. Depending on his preferential seating, you could imagine him situated not too far from the bar. Yes folks, that is exactly what I experienced. Before boarding, staff will take initial photos of your party for which to purchase later. Upon boarding this carefully constructed replica vessel, you are greeted by a live jazz band playing. Their version of jazz was no where near Duke Ellington or Chet Baker. It was a little too primitive and uninspiring. The decor emulated the era of the 1920s-40s. Carpeted flooring, moldings all along the main promenade and ceiling. Thereafter, you are greeted by buffet brunch (if purchased) servers. The brunch could use improvements. The bread pudding had potential but was over baked. The salad was very good with their balsamic dressing. The dressing should be bottled and sold. Included red beans and rice, smoked sausage, fish, iced tea and lemonade. After your brunch, you can just relax and listen to the historical narrations of prominent events, the importance of certain structures, levees, and transportation of essential products. Or you check out their gift shop of assorted shirts, books, and other miscellaneous souvenirs. Overall, if you want some peace and quiet away from the crowds, the 2 hour steamship cruise is a good option. Brunch is an option not a necessity. The cruise was smooth sailing and is a great platform to incorporate it's history into an educational curriculum for educators.
Written April 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miriam - we loved your note on the salad dressing! If you want the recipe just let us know at guestexperiences@glnosc.com. Their are many styles of Jazz. Our bands play anywhere from traditional (sometimes called dixieland) to more updated pieces and they do try to please one and all.
Written May 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jaime C
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Friends
I had the greatest time on the steamboat Natchez. I really enjoyed the live jazz music by the Steamboat Stompers never wanted that to end I could listen to that for hours. I met an amazing woman her name is Gina. She took our pictures and recommend some really cool places to visit while we are in town. This was all in the dining room. It was a great experience to listen to jazz on the famous Mississippi River and I highly recommend doing this. We did the day jazz cruise.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

deannaa861
New Orleans, LA114 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Family
We purchased the evening jazz cruise without the dinner, but with limited open bar ($250). We asked if we could upgrade to add dinner at arrival and was told no twice by different people. That’s okay. Bad planning on our part, no big deal. There were several groups that we watched move from the noneating tables to eating, some even added table clothes to eat. Still, not a huge deal. We had already made up our mi d where we were eating once the ride was over. The food did look and smell yummy, though. It was cold outside, so we went inside to sit at one of the non-eating tables and enjoy our drinks and what we thought would be a narrated tour, but there was no narration. The band played intermittently in a remote location downstairs (due to COVID). The rest of the time we were riding to recorded music or nothing. The ride was nice, but not $250 nice. The people who work on the boat were extremely nice, and we purchased the picture package from our boarding.
Written October 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The cruise alone is $50 per adult so obviously there were a few of you with the limited open bar wristbands. Thank you for cruising with us and we regret that it was not all you anticipated. The narration in the evening is done on our way downriver, lasting about 30-45 minutes. Then the band returns to playing. With the band restrictions by the city (no indoor playing, especially with instruments played by blowing into the instrument (trumpet, tuba, flute etc) we are dependent on the weather. We occasionally move the band to the third deck and close it to passengers. At least the band can play and we can televise it on the screens in the dining rooms. It is not ours, nor the bands, way to entertain. We look forward to them lifting those restrictions, and meanwhile we are looking to other options. With the movement of the band that evening they probably were not able to secure enough tables for social distance dining. We sincerely apologize and if you wouldn't mind, Please take a moment to send us your name and address to : guestexperiences@glnosc.com
Written November 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TLGill
Washington DC, DC2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
I booked this experience for my boyfriend and I on our visit to New Orleans. I was very excited since this was my first time on the steamboat and his very first time in New Orleans. When I booked the boat ride plus dinner I was asked which seating I would prefer I chose the 6pm seating. Everything was fine the food was good and music was entertaining. We had one plate ( and decided to check out the exterior of the boat before having another plate. When we cane back to our table we found that our belongings were moved and someone else was sitting there. When I inquired about it I was told that because there are two seating, once we got up our seats were given to the second seating group. This policy makes no sense.... if we were still sitting down we would not have been asked to get up so it disturbed me that our things were moved and we were basically displaced and ended up going back outside for the duration of the trip. If this was mentioned at the time of booking I would have made another choice. The manager was very accommodating and comp’d our drinks. Seems like the logistics of this should be re-examined.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On all of our our cruises, we offer two dining times. We share dining seating time information anywhere that we can, so our guests know what to expect. Your dining seating time is printed on your boarding tickets, too. I apologize that we could not keep your desired table for the entirety of the cruise as we had guests who had also purchased dinner for the following dining time. Toward the end of the first seating, our team begins notifying any remaining guests that their designated dining time is coming to a close (this announcement is not made throughout the boat). Thank you for review; we always hope to improve to better serve our guests.
Written March 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Steamboat Natchez - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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