New Orleans, Louisiana · 50+ tours and cruises
Steamboat Natchez
New Orleans
Cruise the Mississippi
Sail the Mississippi River on the historic Steamboat Natchez. Jazz dinner cruises from $44. Free cancellation.
4.7 / 5.0 Based on 2,500+ reviews
Free cancellation Up to 24h before
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- Small groups available
- Local expert guides
- Safety gear included
- Free cancellation 24h
- Mobile ticket
What do you want to do in New Orleans?
How much do New Orleans cruises and tours cost?
Three ways to explore: from a daytime jazz cruise to an alligator swamp tour to a plantation day trip along River Road.
Steamboat Jazz Cruise
From $44/ person
- Steamboat Natchez Mississippi River cruise
- Live Dukes of Dixieland jazz onboard
- Engine room and pilot house tour
- Calliope steam organ performance
Most Popular
Swamp & Bayou Tour
From $59/ person
- Airboat or pontoon swamp ride
- Alligator and wildlife sightings
- Cajun guide narration
- Hotel pickup from New Orleans
Plantation Day Trip
From $89/ person
- Oak Alley, Laura or Whitney plantation
- River Road historic homes
- Guided history of antebellum Louisiana
- Round trip transfer from New Orleans
Best Tours and Cruises in New Orleans 2026
Steamboat Natchez and swamp tours first. Sorted by traveler rating and reviews.
All🎷 Jazz Dinner Cruises🐊 Swamp & Bayou Tours🌾 Plantation Tours👻 Ghost & Haunted Tours🏛️ French Quarter Tours🏛️ Cemetery Tours🍽️ Food & Culinary Tours🎨 All Tours
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The real New Orleans experience
Local Cajun and Creole guides
Louisiana locals who know every bayou, jazz club and historic home.
Small groups available
Real attention, real access to French Quarter spots big groups can't reach.
All equipment included
Cruise tickets, swamp boat seats, plantation entry. Everything you need.
Free cancellation
Cancel 24h before. Instant confirmation. Book today.
Verified reviews
What travelers are saying
4.7
Based on 2,500+ reviews
★★★★★
Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise
"Sailing on the Steamboat Natchez was a bucket list moment. The Dukes of Dixieland played live, the calliope serenaded the wharf as we boarded, and seeing the engine room in action was incredible. A must-do in New Orleans."
★★★★★
Honey Island Swamp Tour
"Our Cajun guide pointed out alligators, bald eagles, and wild boars deep in the bayou. The Spanish moss hanging from cypress trees was straight out of a movie. Best half-day we had in Louisiana."
★★★★★
Oak Alley Plantation Day Trip
"The drive along River Road was beautiful and Oak Alley’s 300 year old oak canopy is breathtaking. Our guide gave a balanced history of the antebellum era and the enslaved people who built the estate."
The Steamboat Natchez is the only authentic steam powered sternwheeler still operating on the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Launched in 1975, she is the ninth steamboat to bear the Natchez name and offers daily harbor jazz cruises and Sunday brunch sailings from the Toulouse Street Wharf in the French Quarter.
Daytime jazz cruises start from $44 per adult, evening dinner cruises with the Dukes of Dixieland from $89, and Sunday Jazz Brunch cruises from $79. Children pay reduced fares and infants under three sail free. All sailings include the live calliope send off and engine room access.
Yes. Pontoon and covered swamp boats are USCG inspected with life jackets onboard. Cajun captains keep a safe distance from alligators and explain the bayou ecosystem. Most operators welcome children five and older and offer infant seats on request.
February through May offers warm days, low humidity and Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. October to early December is the second sweet spot with mild weather and Halloween in the Cemetery and Voodoo Fest. Avoid August unless you tolerate heat and afternoon storms.
On the Steamboat Natchez, smart casual works for daytime cruises, dressier for the evening dinner sailing. For swamp tours bring closed shoes, insect repellent, sunscreen and a light jacket since the bayou breeze can cool the open boats.
A Steamboat Natchez harbor cruise pairs naturally with a French Quarter walking or food tour the same day, a Garden District trolley ride, or a half day swamp tour in the morning followed by an evening dinner cruise. Plantation day trips along River Road work best as standalone full day excursions.
We recommend booking at least 48-72 hours in advance, especially around Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest and major Saints home games when cruises and swamp tours sell out fast. Sunday Jazz Brunch and the Friday VIP dinner are the first slots to go. Instant confirmation on all bookings.
Yes. Most tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are non-refundable. Check the specific tour for details.
Destinations Near New Orleans
🏛️
Baton Rouge
🎶Louisiana state capital. Capitol Tower views, plantation country and Cajun history 80 miles upriver from New Orleans.
Lafayette
🐊Heart of Cajun country. Live zydeco music, crawfish boils and Atchafalaya Basin swamp access two hours west.
Houma
🎣Bayou country south of New Orleans. Authentic alligator swamp tours, Cajun fishing villages and Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center.
Cajun Country
🏖️Acadiana region with St Martinville, Breaux Bridge and Lake Martin. Spanish moss bayous and crawfish capital of the world.
Gulfport
Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches, casinos and seafood, 80 miles east of New Orleans on Highway 90.
New Orleans Visitor Guide
Planning your trip to New Orleans?
Read our complete guide: best time to visit, what to pack, Steamboat Natchez tips, and how to make the most of the French Quarter, the bayous and River Road plantations.