Riverboat Cruises in New Orleans: Worth It?

A typical riverboat cruise in New Orleans lasts about two hours and takes you up and down the Mississippi past the French Quarter, the industrial port, and the skyline. Expect live jazz or Dixieland music, a narrated history of the river, and decent but not exceptional food if you add the meal option. The boats are genuine paddlewheelers but feel tourist-oriented: carpet, big windows, and a bar that does brisk business. It's relaxing rather than thrilling; you won't see much wildlife or untouched nature, but you do get a sense of the river's scale and the city's relationship to it. Sunsets and evening cruises are noticeably more atmospheric than daytime ones.

The best time is February through April or October and November when the weather is mild and humidity is lower. Summer is brutally hot and the boats aren't heavily air-conditioned; August can feel like a floating sauna. Expect to pay around $45–$85 for a basic sightseeing cruise with jazz; dinner packages usually run $75–$120 per person. Drinks are extra and add up quickly.

Tip: book an evening cruise if you want the pretty light on the water and fewer kids running around. Skip the overpriced dinner unless you're short on time; you're usually better off eating in the Quarter before or after. If you're prone to seasickness, note the river can get choppy when big ships pass.