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New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

New Orleans, USA
Very popular!
20+ bookings in the past 6 hours.
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.1
·
· Sasha_L ·
Feb 2026
This was a lot of fun! I loved the live jazz band, and we learned a lot about the history of New Orleans and the Mississippi River. The buffet was good. Nice spicy gumbo. Got a nice souvenir photo. Definitely recommend it!
· Shawn_J ·
Mar 2026
Buffet style all you can eat. Good food. Really liked the deafood pasta and spinich deep. We went on the 6pm cruise really nice sunset views and relaxing environment.

Overview

Enjoy an only-in-New-Orleans experience when you embark on a paddle-wheel boat tour of the mighty Mississippi River. In the evening, hop aboard the Steamboat Natchez (or her sister vessel, the Riverboat City of New Orleans), and admire views of the city from the water's edge. This cost-saving package additionally includes a Creole‐inspired dinner (if option selected), plus live jazz music to set the mood.
  • This multi-part package includes a cruise, live jazz, and a dinner upgrade
  • Listen to a performance by the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland
  • Admire pretty views of New Orleans as you sail down the Mississippi
  • Upgrade to add on a traditional buffet dinner of Creole classics

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

Shoreline views are enhanced by a Creole dinner and Dixieland jazz tunes on this sunset cruise.

Sample Menu

Starter

Natchez Tossed Salad

Mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, red onions & croutons with sugar cane vinaigrette & served family style

Main

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Made with a traditional Louisiana roux, served with rice

Main

Louisiana Fried Chicken Thighs

Main

Crawfish Etouffee

A rich crawfish stew atop a bed of rice

Dessert

New Orleans Bread Pudding

Souffle of local Leidenheimer French bread in a rich custard with Chef’s Choice of decadent sauce

What's Included

  • Calliope Concert
  • Entertainment by the Grammy Nominated Dukes of Dixieland or New Orleans Jazz - Schedule Varies
  • Live narration of the history of New Orleans and the Mississippi River
  • Southern style dinner buffet (if option selected)
  • Restroom on board
  • Enclosed climate-controlled area
  • Gratuities
  • Alcoholic drinks (available for purchase)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Gray Line New Orleans
    400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

    The Gray Line 'Lighthouse' ticket office is located at Toulouse St and the Mississippi River (Steamboat Natchez Dock), just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Boarding begins at 6pm and departs at 7pm. The boat will return at 9pm. The band begins at 6pm, so be sure to arrive early!

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.6:00 pm

Itinerary

In the evening, head to Toulouse Street in the French Quarter and board your beautiful riverboat: a traditional paddlewheel ship that's one of the last of its kind in New Orleans.

Begin the journey along the Mississippi River. Take a seat in the cabin or on the outside deck, where you can admire unobstructed views of the shoreline at dusk. Soak up live jazz tunes courtesy of the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland, a true New Orleans-style band.

As for dinner, your Creole-inspired meal could include favorites from chicken and sausage gumbo to cheesy penne pasta. Top it off with signature bread pudding accompanied by coffee and tea (dinner is available as an upgrade option).

After several hours on the water, your evening cruise ends back at the departure point in the French Quarter.
1

Steamboat NATCHEZ - Official Site

Admission Ticket Included

2

Mississippi River

Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • In order to help preserve the French Quarter from vehicular traffic, it is requested that you please walk, if possible, to the convenient tour departure point - just a short stroll from most downtown hotels.
  • The riverboat is handicap accessible. However, access to the top & bottom decks are by stairs only. Please call before finalizing your plans if you have questions on access or personal equipment.
  • Infant rates apply provided they do not occupy a seat.
  • The tour cruises rain or shine, however the cruise may be cancelled due to severe or dangerous weather conditions.
  • Contact local operator for groups of 15 or more. Different rates apply.
  • The legendary Steamboat NATCHEZ and her sister vessel Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS will sail interchangeably, depending on bookings and private events
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 500 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions (12)

Q:Where is the departure point for the Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option?

A:The evening jazz cruise departs from Toulouse Street Wharf behind Jax Brewery in the heart of the French Quarter (400 Toulouse Street.)

Jun 2021

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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.1
based on 7,670 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Amazing

Tracy_T, Mar 2026
This is a must do! The food was delicious, the bands were a blast and lots of people laughing and enjoying the ride!;)

The weather was perfect....

Karen_G, Mar 2026
The weather was perfect. I had the pleasure of sitting on a park bench and talking with the captain of the ship prior to our cruise. We learned some interesting facts about New Orleans, had some good food and took in some amazing views of this beautiful city.

Beautiful evening cruise

Violet_W, Mar 2026
Everyone was very nice, the bathrooms were clean and the area felt safe coming off the boat at night.

Good enough

Jaime_L, Mar 2026
Basically 1 hour of dinner, 1 hour of river history, and 1 hour of jazz. Not exactly what I was expecting, but fabulous dinner and it was enjoyable enough.

A Wonderful Experience

Stephanie_L, Mar 2026
Very Nice Easy Planning and Great guide to the place and a wonderful atmosphere which was good and Pleasant.

Great time

Kristy_B, Mar 2026
The food was great, the music was great and the sunset was amazing! The ship was clean and the staff were friendly, and bars on all four decks!

The dinner was very good....

Pam_T, Mar 2026
The dinner was very good. A nice selection of local cuisine. Service was great! The cruise was relaxing and enjoyable with the narration and the jazz music. What a wonderful way to see the sunset and enjoy the night light skyline of New Orleans.

Awesome time had!!!

Berry_C, Mar 2026
The organizers manner of getting on the boat was quick and easy for the amount of ppl that was getting aboard the boat and the dinner was delish! Great conversations and everyone was nice and friendly. The knowledge obtained was awesome and the sunset was the icing on the cake!!! HIGHLY APPRECIATED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE

Jazz cruise

Leonor_R, Mar 2026
Best 2 hours on the river worth every penny. Drinks food and sight seeing and loved the band. Would do it again.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Come back and join us again. We are here year round and love hearing about repeat visitors.

I was really looking...

Yicela_M, Mar 2026
I was really looking forward to enjoying a jazz band while having dinner, but the experience didn’t quite live up to expectations. Dinner felt rushed, as we were asked to finish quickly to make room for the next group. The buffet-style food was okay, nothing particularly memorable, but the waitress who served us was delightful and definitely a highlight of the evening. The biggest disappointment was the setup for the band. They didn’t start playing until about an hour later, and seating for the performance was first come, first served, with not enough space for everyone. If I had known that in advance, I would have skipped the dinner package, paid for general admission, grabbed a seat early, and just eaten from the options outside the dining area. It would have been a better value and a more relaxed experience overall.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

We appreciate your input and regret the disappoint you experienced. Although the boat is large, we cannot place everyone in front of the band at all times as well as provide narration. The Dukes play for the hour of boarding and again for the second half of the cruise. Again, we wish we had made your experience everything you anticipated.

Great activity for a...

Elizabeth_R, Mar 2026
Great activity for a couple looking for something a bit different in New Orleans! Had an excellent time!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for the wonderful review. We hope you join us again in the future.

Meh

Steven_M, Mar 2026
They will overbook the 6pm dinner. They will then offer you a free drink to move your dining to 7:45. This will cause you to lose any hope of outdoor seating to enjoy the sights on the cruise. Eat dinner quickly, get your drink tab paid quickly so you can be seated for the sightseeing portion. Food was ok. Drinks were ok too. Nothing special at all. Nit really worth the price to me.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Steven, we regret that we did not meet your expectations on the cruise. It is disappointing to us as well when a guest does not fully enjoy their cruise with us.

It was fantastic. All of...

Douglas_H, Mar 2026
It was fantastic. All of the crew was very friendly and helpful. The food was a great variety of southern style. I would definitely recommend it.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

What a wonderful review. Thank you so much for your high recommendation. The food and the views, the organization and value were all noted as top notch. Certainly come back enjoy it all again.

Enjoyable break

Steve_C, Mar 2026
We enjoyed the cruise, the music, and the food. Definitely worth the time to take a break and relax on gentle cruise listening to great jazz. The food was surprisingly good!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Steve, thanks so much and we hope you share your memories with friends and family.

The staff was great, very...

Renee_J, Mar 2026
The staff was great, very accommodating and handled themselves wonderfully when being encountered by a guest that just wouldn’t let up about being in the first dinner seating. Food was good and because I couldn’t eat the gumbo (meat) our server came out with rice and beans for me which was unexpected. They were delicious with the Caesar salad they had on the table. I wish the rolls were softer and warm rather than hard and cold. No one at our table could eat them. The band was good and wasn’t too loud when sitting inside. The third deck was closed to a private party and I never made it to the fourth deck. It was a bit cold out there.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Renee, thank you for sharing your experience. We are thankful to know that our staff took positive action on making your meal enjoyable. We will share all these comments with our culinary team.

Great cruise! Great time!

Shawn_J, Mar 2026
Buffet style all you can eat. Good food. Really liked the deafood pasta and spinich deep. We went on the 6pm cruise really nice sunset views and relaxing environment.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thanks so much Shawn. We appreciate your review.

Steamboat Jazz Cruise No Dinner

Kathy_C, Mar 2026
It's a real chill vibe. Please bring a jacket because can get chilli at night. We didn't get the dinner so unfortunately cannot rate that experience. However, it's good to know you can bring your drinks on the boat. There is an option to buy food or snacks on deck 2.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Kathy we love all our guests and we are so delighted that you spent your evening onboard.

City of New Orleans Riverboat

Jan_G, Mar 2026
All was great. Food was good, narrator was good, jazz was good. Would do it sgain. And a lovely sunset of New Orleans.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

We hope to see you again soon for another sunset on the Mississippi River.

Steam boat 7pm Cruise

Norma_G, Mar 2026
We did the 7pm Cruise, which did get very cold, we didn't have a meal. The Cruise was nice, but I think an earlier one would have been better for us. The jazz band was on the top deck.

I have been in other boat...

Shannon_M, Mar 2026
I have been in other boat cruises but this one was excellent. It was well organized. We were in the early dinner at 6 pm. The food was surprisingly outstanding. Plenty of options and our waiter Milton was such a hard worker. After dinner we enjoyed the cruise and listens to the band. Highly recommend.

No

Cindy_B, Mar 2026
Long wait to depart. Short trip and loud sound system. Crowded wait. The server didn’t understand our food request.

Worth every penny

Daniel_D, Mar 2026
It was an amazing evening. The food was good, the service was great, and the band was awesome. I was a little worried because I read the bad reviews the day of our cruise, but honestly, this was the highlight of our trip. The food was some of the best food we've had during our trip.

Great time!

Lindsey_C, Mar 2026
This was a surprisingly fantastic meal, a fun cruise, and a tiny taste of history. This was extremely enjoyable!

The food was excellent...

Sheina_R, Mar 2026
The food was excellent along with the service. The narrative history about the city of New Orleans was wonderful. The amount of people made it a little challenging and would have found the event even more enjoyable

Had a wonderful time. The...

Billy_M, Mar 2026
Had a wonderful time. The dinner and staff were great. They need more chairs after the dinner is over you are sent out of dinning area and the is no chairs for the rest of the cruise.

Not really worth it

Yarine_P, Mar 2026
It was okay. I wouldn’t do it again. We paid for food option and the food wasn’t worth the price difference. I also thought we would be able to see the band play and that was only available to certain people that were celebrating something special I guess. The rest of the two floors you could hear the music.

Dinner cruise

John_H, Mar 2026
We had a great time! Met some very interesting people and had a wonderful time drinking, chatting, eating and cruising the Mississippi River.

Food was great and so was...

Anthony_M, Mar 2026
Food was great and so was the service. It’s was an enjoyable experience and would recommend it to others

Excellent way to end the night

Ricardo_D, Mar 2026
I had a wonderful time , my girlfriend and I went on this to enjoy the atmosphere, which was very social and romantic. The cruise sounds a horn reminiscent of the past that will make you feel excited and the jazz music was top notch !!

Steamboat evening.

Neil_T, Mar 2026
From start to finish it was a great experience. The food was great, and there was plenty of it. I’m a vegetarian and I’ve struggled to find options in other places. All the staff were wonderful, kind and helpfuland very speedy! The music was good and there was also a narrator telling us information about the area in between sets. There was a space in between sets that I feel could have had background music while the band were resting. Watching the paddles go around was very soothing, and there was plenty of places to sit in or outside. We went in March and had a sudden drop in temperature so a warm jacket was needed for outside.
Likely to Sell Out

From $58.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 24 days in advance.

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