New Orleans · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in New Orleans

34 tours  ·  from $32

Two kinds of water here: the Mississippi in front of the city and the bayou behind it. The 15 trips below cover paddlewheelers, swamp boats and airboats, each priced and clear about how long you are afloat.

New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option - Two hours on the Mississippi after dark
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, New Orleans Jazz and Live Music Tours, New Orleans Steamboat and River Cruises, Tour Reviews

New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

1.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,533 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $58Our pick

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street in the French Quarter for a 3-hour evening on the Mississippi. Enjoy a calliope concert, narration, city views, and live jazz from the Dukes of Dixieland. Add a Southern buffet with gumbo, crawfish etouffee, fried chicken, and bread pudding.

“The dinner cruise was wonderful from several standpoints. The food and service were great. I am an engineer and the ship itself was fascinating to me. We cruised on a very cold night so we had to stay inside to avoid the weather. I want to do the cruise again in warm weather to enjoy the night views along the river. Highly recommend”

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New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation - Honey Island Swamp by quiet, flat-bottom boat
Cruises & Boat Tours, New Orleans Swamp Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation

2.New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,399 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $70Top rated

Ride from the French Quarter to Honey Island Swamp for a two-hour wildlife cruise aboard a quiet, 22-passenger flat-bottom boat. Guides such as Captain Steve, Scottie, Marc, and Jody point out alligators, raccoons, birds, wild boar, and swamp life, while sharing Cajun culture and wetland history.

“Cpt Scottie was a blast. Informative friendly with just the right amount of information and humour. Driver was a star( sorry can't remember her name) friendly and professional . Highly recommend this tour. Maybe pick a time when it's warmer to see big gators.”

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New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise - The skyline, the port, and the view from the water
Cruises & Boat Tours, New Orleans Jazz and Live Music Tours, New Orleans Steamboat and River Cruises, Tour Reviews

New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

3.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,334 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street for a two-hour Mississippi River cruise with live jazz by the Steamboat Stompers, onboard narration, and views toward Chalmette Battlefield. Add the Southern-style buffet if you want red beans and rice, jambalaya, fried fish, and bread pudding.

“Everything was very smooth. I walked over in ~8 minutes from my Q&C Hotel. I went on a 55 degree January weekday and the boat was nowhere near full which was nice and spacious with plenty of seating. The narration was well done and had some jokes. The band was okay a nice addition. The lunch was very tasty and for $20 extra a great deal in New Orleans. They will provide you 2nds if you ask. I recommend getting first meal because the boat does not leave port for the first 45 minutes which is boring otherwise. 2nd meal you will miss most the scenery. The ride is 45…”

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New Orleans: Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner - The Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS takes over evening duty
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Evening Experiences, New Orleans Jazz and Live Music Tours, New Orleans Steamboat and River Cruises, Tour Reviews

New Orleans: Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

4.Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,548 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Board at 6pm for a 7pm to 9pm Mississippi River cruise aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS. Hear live jazz from the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland, listen to the captain’s narration, explore four decks, and add a Creole buffet dinner if you wish.

“This was such a fun, relaxing, and educational experience. The staff was super friendly and engaging, the jazz band was great and had fun with the crowd, and I loved getting to hear a little bit of history and facts about the buildings and sites we saw down the river. I think reminders or announcements that there are bars on all the levels would help. The third floor’s bar had continuously long lines, but the bottom floor’s bar was empty. That’s an easy fix with reminders and signage. Loved the experience overall!!”

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New Orleans: Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch - A slow trip along the Mississippi
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, New Orleans Jazz and Live Music Tours, New Orleans Steamboat and River Cruises, Tour Reviews

New Orleans: Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

5.Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,164 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Spend two hours on the Mississippi aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, currently filling in for the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Hear the Steamboat Stompers, listen to live narration, inspect four decks and the paddle wheel, and add a plated Creole lunch if you want catfish, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and bread pudding.

“Steam organ the jaz band and the narrators I felt safe and the ride was very informative I would definitely recommend this tour”

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Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans - Oak Alley’s 28 oak trees and plantation story
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Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans

6.Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,303 reviews · 7 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $131

Ride from the French Quarter to Oak Alley or Destrehan Plantation, then cruise a private Manchac-area swamp on a covered pontoon boat. Local guides such as Dionne, Jane, Robert, and Captain Justin have led especially memorable outings, but guide assignments vary.

“Great to view animals from the boat. Justin boat captain was entertaining and knowledgeable. Cute boat landing store.”

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New Orleans Self-Transport Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour - Boarding the 22-passenger flat-bottom boat
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New Orleans Self-Transport Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour

7.New Orleans Self-Transport Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,824 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37

Drive to Slidell for a two-hour Honey Island Swamp cruise on a quiet, open-air boat carrying up to 22 people. Guides such as Jody, Emmett, Dustin and Wade G. share Cajun stories, wetland facts and wildlife tips as you look for alligators, birds, raccoons and wild boar.

“Capt. Wade G. was great! He clearly loves showing us a bit of his backyard and is very good at what he does. What an unforgettable experience.”

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Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise - What you see from the Creole Queen
Cruises & Boat Tours, Historical Tours, New Orleans Steamboat and River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise

8.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,948 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $47

Spend about 2.5 hours aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, with live history commentary, city and river views, and a guided visit to Chalmette Battlefield. Food and drinks cost extra. Guides may include Charles, Dr. Lauren, or Dr. Tarantino.

“We had an awesome time. Learned a lot, the food was great. The battlefield area is beautiful. Wish we could've stayed there a little longer.”

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New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure - What the 100-minute boat ride is like
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New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure

9.New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,855 reviews · 1 hour 40 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Ride a covered swamp boat through Barataria Preserve with local captains such as Ernie, Dewey, or Trey. Expect narrated views of alligators, birds, fishing villages, burial grounds, and wetland plants. Boats have cushioned seats, restrooms, adjustable windows, and room to stand.

“Discover a swamp microsystem unlike any other, where water and flat land are locked in a quiet, constant negotiation”

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New Orleans Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise W/ Optional Pick-Up - Why the transportation option can be worth choosing
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New Orleans Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise W/ Optional Pick-Up

10.New Orleans Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise W/ Optional Pick-Up

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,587 reviews · 1h 30m · from $35

Ride a pontoon boat through Manchac Bayou with a local captain, spotting alligators, raccoons, wild pigs, turtles, birds, and moss-draped cypress trees. Guides such as Danny, Dustin, and Tom add Cajun stories and humor. Choose hotel pickup from New Orleans or drive to Cajun Pride Swamp Tours.

“Brilliant fun on an uncharacteristically cold November morning. The pick up from Rick was bang on time and he kept us entertained with some interesting info about the area on the way. When we got to the bayou, the staff lowered our expectations about seeing any alligators because of the weather. However, our boat cap'n Danny was having none of that! When we slipped off into the swamp, he agreed that the chances of seeing any were low because of the cold but said he'd make sure we got to see at least one. Danny was well-informed and and funny as we snaked our way along the bayou pointing out…”

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Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans - Dinner in the Victorian-style dining room
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, New Orleans Jazz and Live Music Tours, New Orleans Steamboat and River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans

11.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,469 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Board the Creole Queen at 1 Poydras Street for a 7 p.m. Mississippi River cruise with live jazz, optional Creole buffet, and city views from the promenade deck. Expect a friendly, festive evening, but arrive early because the boat leaves promptly and narration is not provided.

“We throughly enjoyed the meal, music and experience cruising on the river in an old style river boat”

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Guided Boat Tour of New Orleans Bayou - Finding alligators, turtles, snakes, and birds
Cruises & Boat Tours, Guided, New Orleans Swamp Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Guided Boat Tour of New Orleans Bayou

12.Guided Boat Tour of New Orleans Bayou

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,452 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Explore a 20,000-acre cypress swamp near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park on a 90-minute pontoon ride. Your local captain points out alligators, turtles, birds, and more, with hotel pickup available from selected New Orleans stops. Expect a calm ride, live commentary, and possible wildlife feeding.

“I did not enjoy the guided tour. The tour guide was racist. He gave the white people marshmallows to throw but when I asked for one he straight up told me no. I will never book this again. I wish I could get my money back.”

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New Orleans: Creole Queen History Cruise with Optional Lunch - Boarding at the Riverwalk and Canal Street Dock
Cruises & Boat Tours, Historical Tours, Lunch Experiences, New Orleans Steamboat and River Cruises, Tour Reviews

New Orleans: Creole Queen History Cruise with Optional Lunch

13.Creole Queen History Cruise with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,112 reviews · 2h 30m · from $47

Take a 150-minute English-language cruise aboard the Creole Queen from Canal Street to Chalmette Battlefield. Hear local stories from guides such as Charles and Dr. Lauren, enjoy Mississippi views, and choose an optional buffet of Creole and Cajun dishes.

“The food was served up quickly and hot. The musicians were first rate. We enjoyed getting to see the mechanical works. Overall a good experience for our family group of eleven.”

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New Orleans: Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner - A two-hour cruise with room to wander
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Evening Experiences, New Orleans Jazz and Live Music Tours, Tour Reviews

New Orleans: Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner

14.Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,024 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Spend two hours aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen with live jazz from Sullivan Dabney Jr. and the Muzik Jazz Band. Add a buffet-style Creole dinner, dance after the meal, then head to the promenade deck for cocktails and views of Jackson Square, the French Quarter, and the city lights.

“Amazing team, food, music. Well put together and the views amazing. Bring a jacket or sweater does get cold at night.”

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New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure with Transportation - What You See at Barataria Preserve
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New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure with Transportation

15.New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,008 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $60

Ride from your downtown New Orleans hotel to the Barataria Swamps for a narrated boat trip with a local captain. Expect cushioned seats, a roof, adjustable windows, a restroom, and chances to see alligators, turtles, snakes, and birds. Captains such as Ernie, Dewey, and Bobby are known for lively stories.

“Great service, picking us up, tour timely, return coach ready. Captain Ernie was knowledgeable & entertaining but spent a lot of time bellyaching about “ the world we live in”.”

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New in Cruises & Boat Tours

★ 5.0Private New Orleans 2-Hour Sail Aboard a Luxury YachtFrom $22544 reviews
★ 4.9BYOB Tiki Boat Bayou Party and Wildlife TourFrom $8526 reviews
★ 5.0Airboat or Pontoon Boat Cruise with TransfersFrom $683 reviews
★ 4.4City Tour & Steamboat Daytime Jazz Cruise ComboFrom $10473 reviews
★ 4.7Honey Island Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with TransportationFrom $7078 reviews
★ 5.0Freaky Tiki Boat Bayou Tour: Near New Orleans with Bathrooms97 reviews
★ 4.2Creole Queen Weekend Morning Jazz CruiseFrom $44139 reviews
★ 4.6Oak Alley Plantation and Swamp Cruise Day TripFrom $125183 reviews
★ 4.5Swamp Tour on Covered Pontoon BoatFrom $35283 reviews
★ 5.0Honey Island Swamp Boat Tour with Transportation from New OrleansFrom $64361 reviews
★ 4.5Oak Alley Plantation and Swamp Boat Tour from New OrleansFrom $130376 reviews
★ 4.7Swamp Boat Ride & Oak Alley Plantation TourFrom $131383 reviews
★ 4.0New Orleans City Tour and Steamboat Natchez Harbor Jazz CruiseFrom $88446 reviews

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