Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans
New Orleans, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Go for a sunset cruise aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen on this boat trip. Listen to an on-board jazz band and choose to add on a Creole-style dinner buffet as the boat sails along the Mississippi River. Take in the views from the promenade deck and sip New Orleans-inspired cocktails.
- Set out for a scenic cruise on the Mississippi River
- Taste Creole flavors with a dinner buffet (optional)
- On-board entertainment includes a live jazz band
- Admire views from the promenade deck
What's Included
- Creole Buffet (if option selected at checkout)
- Jazz Entertainment
- 2-Hour Mississippi River Cruise
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic Beverages (Available for Purchase)
- Coffee, Tea, and Soda (Available for Purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Located directly behind the Riverwalk Outlet Collection Mall and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.7:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Mississippi River
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Print out your receipt/confirmation email and bring to ticket booth for redemption
- No outside food or beverages are allowed on board.
- Bags are checked before boarding the vessel to ensure safety during the cruise.
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If altered or canceled due to poor weather, cruise may remain dockside in the event of unfavorable sailing conditions.
- Near public transportation
- Due to limited capacity, refund requests made less than 24 hours prior to departure will NOT be considered. This includes missing the attraction for any reason. However, your ticket is transferable and valid for up to one year.
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (9)
Q:Is parking available near the departure point for the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Cruise?
A: Discounted parking is available at the World Trade Center parking lot on the corner of Pydras and Convention Center Blvd. on weekdays only. Please present your parking ticket at the paddlewheel ticket booth for validation. Discounted parking is not available on weekends. You may also wish to take public transportation or a ride-share service such as Uber or Lyft for convenience.
Oct 2023
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.1
based on 1,496 reviews
Patrick_D, Mar 2026
A little guide talk about the ferry and the river would have been nice. Food was good but no BBQ sauce for brisket.
Staff were excellent and rose was fun!! I would definitely recommend!
Laura_B, Mar 2026
Everything was wonderful! There was a nice selection of food on the buffet and it tasted great. The band sounded great and were very entertaining. The city is absolutely beautiful lit up at night,I would definitely recommend this paddle boat tour.
ABRA_R, Mar 2026
We just floated on the river. It was NOT a tour because we had no idea of what we were looking at or for and if it had any significance. When I did decide that I wanted a drink, it was soooo cold in the bar area that I didn’t get one.
Jacqueline_R, Mar 2026
Great way to spend a evening the food was lovely the band played on top deck making the river boat cruise very relaxing
Definitely recommend it
Meridon_F, Mar 2026
Horrible
We purchased dinner option and when we got there we were told dinner was not an option. Two large parties were accommodated but the rest of us told no dinner available.
Christina_K, Mar 2026
Did the evening jazz cruise with the optional buffet dinner. Boat was nice, jazz was ok - played on the outside top deck but it was a cool nite & so most persons were inside where the sound was quite diminished over the speakers. What we could here was ok. Cruise lasted 2 hours but there was absolutely no commentary whatsoever on the river system or the areas we passed - very disappointing, especially given that the band had at least 2 breaks of play which could/should have been filled with some commentary but no such luck. Being an O/S visitor, this was very disappointing. As for the food, it was ok - nothing to write home about but seemed fresh & tasted ok, but there were a few odd choices & signage was a bit ad+hoc. Probably give the evening cruise a miss & Go for a lunch or Arvo cruise - will definately get to see more.
Kristen_N, Mar 2026
We thought we were going to have a guide telling us some things. The jazz was good. The boat was super old and needs updating.
Jennifer_F, Mar 2026
We enjoyed all the things! Dinner, boat, and especially the music. I love how you can hear the live music throughout the boat. And the waitress Tyroget was just outstanding!!! She came in on her day off to help out.
Falecia_A, Mar 2026
Visiting New Orleans for my birthday. Visited before but we were unable to do the dinner cruise. Wish I hadn’t because it definitely wasn’t worth the price. I had read the reviews and they were mixed, so I decided to give it a try. I was really disappointed about the food. There wasn’t a lot of variety, especially for those who don’t eat meat. The food was just okay. I expected more because we were in New Orleans. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t great. The jazz band wasn’t what I expected but me and my husband enjoyed them. The photographer was funny as well. All in all, I wouldn’t book it again, it was just an okay experience. Overpriced in my opinion
BillPendleton, Mar 2026
Very sub par dinner buffet, huge disappointment, in a city of good food, this was terrible. The young ladies serving as the waiters were the most loud, unprofessional, and inept I have ever suffered with.
On a plus, the music was pretty good.
Kendra_H, Mar 2026
The food was good and the cruise travel was smooth. You are able to eat almost immediately upon being seated in the dining area. The view is beautiful and music was relaxing.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the kind words!
We’re glad you enjoyed the smooth ride, beautiful views, and relaxing music. It’s great to hear the dining experience started off seamlessly and that you were able to settle in and enjoy your meal right away.
We appreciate you cruising with us and hope to welcome you back again soon.
Misty_S, Mar 2026
Really enjoyed this experience. The dinner and a the relaxing cruise with music was totally worth it!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the review!
Elena_Z, Feb 2026
The food was awful!! The jazz band was professional but it fell like it was a funeral home not a party venue!! I never expected such a bad experience honestly!!!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for being honest about your experience.
We’re sorry the food didn’t meet your expectations. That’s certainly not the impression we want to leave. While jazz can lean toward a more classic, laid-back style, the atmosphere should still feel enjoyable and engaging — not somber.
Your feedback will be shared with both our culinary and entertainment teams. We appreciate you taking the time to speak up.
Tammy_P, Feb 2026
We had a great time on this excursion. Jerry was a great host and made our dinner memorable. Would do it again.
Miriam_M, Feb 2026
It was a nice relaxing cruise. The buffet dinner was delicious. Music was great, and the staff was very kind.
Lydia_R, Feb 2026
Overall an excellent experience! The Crew was very helpful and accommodating as three of our travel group had to use canes. The food was tasty and plentiful. As we were on the open water a windbreaker was helpful. A good time was had by all!
Elyse_M, Feb 2026
Do not waste your money on the food. It is absolute garbage you get a total of 10 things to choose from and all of them are terrible. The green beans tasted like they went bad bad there was no meat in the jambalaya. The mashed potatoes had no seasoning. The shrimp Alfredo was totally dry. Do not eat this food. This is not New Orleans food. Please do not fall into this tourist trap. This is a scam boat. It is completely rundown. It is not at all like the pictures, the jazz that they play is literally recorded. It’s not even live music.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
We’re sorry the food did not meet your expectations. That’s not the standard we aim for, and your specific comments about the dishes will be shared with our culinary team for review.
We also want to clarify that we do feature a live jazz band on board during our jazz cruises — the music is performed live.
Regarding the vessel’s condition, we continually maintain and update the boat, and we’ll review your concerns with our operations team as well. We appreciate you speaking up.
Scott_M, Feb 2026
I didn’t see any place for nearly arrival time so when we got there a bit before 7, the boat was already leaving so we missed it
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
Our cruises depart promptly at 7:00 PM, and we’re required to maintain a strict schedule due to Coast Guard regulations and river traffic. Once the vessel is cleared to depart, we’re unfortunately not able to delay.
We understand how disappointing it is to miss the cruise and recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to departure to allow time for check-in and boarding. We appreciate you sharing your experience.
Brenda_M, Feb 2026
The directions given was given to the driver to the Uber driver Uber driver wasn’t sure of the direction or street but anyhow we missed our boat. Tried to call to see if I can get another date or get my money back. Neither of the two was eligible for me
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for sharing this.
We’re sorry you missed your cruise — we know how frustrating that can be, especially when travel logistics don’t go as planned. While departures must leave on schedule due to Coast Guard regulations and river traffic, we do allow guests to reschedule their tickets for up to one year from the original date.
Please give our team a call at 504-529-4567 so we can assist you with rebooking. We’d be happy to help you select a new date and get you back on the calendar.
Kiersten_M, Feb 2026
Food was good, the bread pudding was excellent. Mariah was working the whole dining room because of Mardi Gras but she was absolutely amazing. The band leader was so funny, and the band itself was great. On the fly the figured out how to play "Across the Sea" on request. Also its important to mention the real star of the show, the Mississippi River. THE American river. Even at night she was so impressive and beautiful. Will be visiting again and will probably book this same cruise again.
LS_C, Feb 2026
You can board early but the cruise itself is 2 hours not 2.5 as advertised. Personally, this is long enough just not what was advertised. The food was average, really lukewarm, except the gumbo which was hot. Music was good, played a wide variety. Staff was friendly & attentive. It was a decent experience, but not sure I got my moneys worth 🤷🏼
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
To clarify, the experience includes approximately two hours cruising on the water and one hour docked. As soon as boarding begins, the buffet and live jazz music are available, which is why the total event time is listed as longer than the sailing time itself. We appreciate you highlighting the confusion and will continue working to ensure that’s clearly communicated.
We’re glad you enjoyed the music and found the staff friendly and attentive. That said, the food should always be served at the proper temperature, and we’ll share your comments with our culinary team.
Thank you again for cruising with us and for the honest feedback
Nicole_W, Jan 2026
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 a clear day it is very beautiful.
Susan_R, Jan 2026
i Am handicaped and they were so helpful that i was able to enjoy the whole experience. the meal was good and my favorite dessert Bread pudding was good
Lexi_E, Jan 2026
We had such a great time on our dinner cruise!! The staff was super friendly and fun, the band was lovely! They had a decent selection in the buffet; the food was nice, but not something I personally would seek out again. The view was beautiful from the boat and the trip was certainly a highlight of our vacation!! Next time we're in town, we'd love to do a cruise during daylight to experience the Mississippi even better!
Latasha_H, Jan 2026
Entertainment was not great… They didn’t discuss nothing of the cruise just ride and no good entertainment
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Our nightly Dinner Jazz Cruise is designed to focus on live music, dining, and a relaxing ride along the river, so it does not include a narrated history component. If you’re interested in more in-depth storytelling about New Orleans and the river, our Historic Cruise features a live guide throughout the journey and might be a great fit for you.
We appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back for another experience on the water.
Jhai_Q, Jan 2026
The food was great, the staff and views were great too, and the entertainment was even better. All around great experience.
Eric_N, Jan 2026
Good pace, food, and music. Nice crew and service was cordial. Nice view of the city waterfront at night
Jeanne_H, Jan 2026
This is a must do! Food was scrumptious and staff were friendly and accommodating. My husband is wheelchair bound and it was his birthday, they made him feel extremely special. Shout out to the band also. Definitely would do it again!
TIM_F, Dec 2025
Very nice, food was good, service good, music good, we enjoyed it very much.. We walked on deck seen many ships /boats, the bridge that crossed the river was lit up with red and green very nice! Good float!
Sarah_U, Dec 2025
The ride was smooth and assuming you like Jazz, the band is great!
The food was so so. Not terrible, but nothing compared to the food you can get for way less money in the French quarter.
I would recommend the boat ride if you are looking to kill 2-3 hours. I chose the food option thinking it would make the ride less boring (zero narration provided) but we were done eating before the boat even left the dock.
Would I do it again? Not a chance.
From $60.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans
1,495
2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$60.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in New Orleans, USA
- Hermann-Grima House – New Orleans Attractions from Viator.com Tours & Tickets
- Bourbon Street Tours & Tickets
- Audubon Insectarium Tours & Tickets
- Hotel Monteleone Tours & Tickets
- Jackson Square Tours & Tickets
- Mardi Gras World Tours & Tickets
- French Quarter Tours & Tickets
- Destrehan Plantation Tours & Tickets
- Louis Armstrong Park Tours & Tickets
- New Orleans Warehouse District Tours & Tickets
- Napoleon House Tours & Tickets
- Preservation Hall Tours & Tickets
- Audubon Nature Institute Tours & Tickets
- Frenchmen Street Tours & Tickets
- Caesars Superdome Tours & Tickets