Boat Tours and Cruises in New Orleans

It is unlikely that there is another city in the world quite like New Orleans. It may be the depth of its history, the influence of Creole culture, jazz music or its unique Afro-Caribbean traditions that make it so unique and so special.

It is one of the most visited cities in North America, a destination that attracts thousands of tourists every season, both from the local territory and from all corners of the globe. Consequently, upon arrival there are hundreds of activitiesto see, do and enjoy even on a short trip.

One such activity is a vibrant cruise on the waters of the Mississippi accompanied, if you can, by great food and music. So, if you're ready to enjoy a New Orleans cruise, read on for the information I have for you today!

In the city of New Orleans you will find an interesting historical cruise option. This one takes crew members on a journey through 300 years of the city's history; an expert local guide narrates the historical highlights while showing the places that served as the main characters in those events.

In addition to the guidance of an expert guide, a very striking aspect of this tour is the length of the experience. It's a tour that is usually only 2 hours long, so it can be integrated into a reduced travel itinerary. Even if you are only in New Orleans for one day.

Keep in mind that the specific aspects of the experience may vary slightly depending on the company you hire. However, the options I'm familiar with usually offer the historic tour at two different times every day, virtually year-round. The first cruise departs at approximately 10am and the second at 2pm.

Drinks are usually offered but you will have to pay an additional amount on top of the base fare and prove you are of legal age.

Useful information

• Price: From €39 for an adult ticket. Children aged 6-12 pay around €15 and children under 5 are free.
• Duration of tour: The tour usually takes 2 hours to complete. Participants are generally asked to be at the meeting point 30 minutes before the agreed boarding time.
• Recommended if... You want to admire the city of New Orleans from a different perspective, as well as learn interesting historical details while taking in the surrounding scenery.

Another excellent New Orleans cruise alternative is a combined tour of the waters of the Mississippi. Cruises can depart from the French Quarter so it may be a good idea to extend your excursion with a tour of the French Quarter before or after the cruise.

In addition to the tour, where aspects of the city's history are narrated, this type of experience usually includes a lunch or brunch menu and a live music show; giving the visitor the full experience of the best the city has to offer.

Please note that, depending on the company organising the experience, the brunch option may only be available on weekends. As for the food, it is usually a casual menu option, freshly prepared and served buffet style.

Entertainment includes live jazz musicians. Cruises usually depart between 11am and 12 noon to serve lunch during the voyage.

Useful information

• Price: Adults pay approximately €50 for the experience, while children aged 6-12 pay approximately €25 each.
• Duration of tour: You will need to book approximately 2 full hours for the tour. You will need to be at the port of embarkation half an hour before departure time.
• Recommended if... you are only in town for a few days e.g. 3 days in New Orleans or less. This type of tour allows you to enjoy in a single experience many of the activities most valued by visitors.

If you've done some sightseeing around New Orleans during the day, a great option for an evening cruise is to hop on one of the many live jazz cruises that ply the waters of the Mississippi.

Sail the waters as you take in the wonderful views of the city with the New Orleans nightscape.

Always remember that the specific details of the experience may vary slightly depending on the company you hire. However, most of them usually offer the option of drinks on board the boat, not included in the entrance fee.

Definitely one of the best things to do in the city after sunset and one that I recommend to my travelling friends to combine, whenever possible, with a ghost tour of New Orleans or a tour of the city' s cemeteries for the full immersive experience!

Useful info

• Price: Adults pay around €50, children 6-12 pay €24 and children under 5 are free.
• Duration of tour: You will need to book approximately 2 hours 30 minutes for the experience.
• Recommended if... You're looking for alternative evening entertainment in the city. This tour is entertaining and highly sought after by travellers exploring the city so you'll meet other adventurers like yourself.

Another excellent choice of activities to do in New Orleans at night is to attend an evening cruise on the waters of the Mississippi with the option of dinner and jazz music. This is a very popular activity that allows travellers to admire the beauty and charm of this magical city from the water.

While the specific details may change depending on the company you choose to take the tour with, most evening cruises depart from around the French Quarter at around 7pm in the evening.

Dinner is served on board the boat and is included in the price. You enjoy an informal meal served buffet style which includes a variety of dishes, predominantly local New Orleans fare.

If you travel to New Orleans in the summer you will love this tour under the clear star filled skies and being outdoors during the cool nights of the warmer months. Highly recommended!

Useful info

• Price: The adult cruise costs around €89, while children under 12 pay around €40 each. The price includes dinner and occasional drinks.
• Duration of excursion: You will need to set aside about 2 hours 30 minutes for the experience. Participants are generally asked to arrive at the meeting point half an hour before departure to board the boat.
• Recommended if... all travellers who want to make the most of their time in New Orleans, due to the time of day these tours take place you can easily combine it with other daytime tours and activities to get the most out of your holiday.

If you're going to New Orleans with children you may be interested in the VIP cruise which includes, in addition to other notable entertainment, a tour of the inside of the ship to see the inner workings of the ship.

If you book this type of experience, the adventure begins with the group being greeted with a complimentary drink. The first mate himself takes the reins of the tour and will take you on an exclusive tour of the engine room and other private areas of the ship.

Although this is an interesting experience for travellers of all ages, children enjoy this part of the excursion more than anyone else.

When it's time to set sail, you'll be taken to an exclusive area where you'll enjoy dinner or lunch accompanied by live jazz music.

Please note that this type of experience is done in small numbers and once or twice a day depending on the company you hire.

If you want to live this experience, I recommend you to book in advance, especially if you are travelling in busy months such as November or December.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is available from €150 per adult ticket. Many companies include the option of an open bar for an extra charge.
• Duration of tour: You will need to book around 3 hours for this tour.
• Recommended yes... This is a great activity to do with children but also if you have a special interest in this particular subject. Both children and adults can learn a lot about how the boats work and then sail for two hours down the river.

When it comes to New Orleans city tours you'll find combination experiences designed to simplify your holiday planning. These experiences are offered by local tour operators who usually have several activities in their catalogue of excursions.

Possibly one of the most interesting is the one that combines the traditional cruise on the Mississippi with a guided tour of New Orleans; seeking to show the city from different angles and in different facets.

It is ideal if you are visiting the city for the first time and are looking to soak in all that New Orleans has to offer - you won't regret it!

Useful info

• Price: This type of experience is available from €75 for an adult ticket; children between the ages of 6 and 12 pay approximately €35.
• Duration of tour: The experience is done in two phases the cruise usually takes 2 hours to complete while the walking tour of New Orleans can take around 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Recommended if... you're looking for a way to save on your holiday and avoid planning further activities. By comparing the experience as a whole you generally save a small percentage compared to purchasing each tour separately.

Cruises in New Orleans take place on board steamboats; traditional boats that, together with the Jazz culture, transport your senses 100 years into the past; to a time when life was different.

Like so many other cities in the world, New Orleans is a destination with a strong attachment to its nearby water sources. The Mississippi River and the bayous have shaped its history, its traditions and its most deeply rooted customs; if you really want to understand why you should take this kind of experience and, if you can, complement it with a tour of the New Orleans bayous.

New Orleans is a city with a favourable climate at almost any time of the year, as its geographical location, in the south of the United States, benefits it with more tolerable winters, although it is true that the summers tend to be very humid.

With this in mind, here are the best times of the year to take a New Orleans cruise.

• If you go to New Orleans in summer... Try to take an evening cruise if your itinerary allows. July nights in New Orleans are cool and ideal for this adventure, while the days are very hot.
• If you go to New Orleans in spring... Possibly the best time to take a cruise on the Mississippi due to the pleasant weather. In addition, in April, New Orleans hosts some of the best music festivals in the world.
• If you go to New Orleans in autumn... Another great season with pleasant weather and cool temperatures. As you would expect, October in New Orleans is a constant party due to Halloween.
• If you go to New Orleans in Winter... Possibly the worst time to take a cruise, especially in the month of January in New Orleans where there tends to be a lot of rainy days.