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Steamboat NATCHEZ

• Toulouse Street and the Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA 70130 ( Directions ) | P: (504) 569-1401 | F: (504) 587-0708
• Toulouse Street and the Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA 70130 ( Directions ) P: (504) 569-1401 F: (504) 587-0708
• Toulouse Street and the Mississippi River New Orleans, LA 70130 ( Directions ) P: (504) 569-1401 F: (504) 587-0708
• Neighborhood: French Quarter

11am - 1:30pm, 2pm - 4:30pm, 6pm - 9pm cruise times. check schedule

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Harbor jazz brunch and dinner jazz cruises on the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River. Enjoy a unique visit to the engine room to see the workings of 100-year-old steam engines, it is timeless.

Xplorit Virtual Tour

Discover The Steamboat Natchez with one of the most comprehensive, completely immersive and interactive virtual experiences in the world.

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Dinner Jazz Cruises

Cruise with dinner USD $102.50

Sightseeing option USD $55.00

Holiday Party Package USD $132.50

Daytime Jazz Cruises

Cruise with lunch USD $60.00

Sightseeing option USD $42.00

Holiday Party Package USD $85.00

Sunday Jazz Cruises

Cruise with brunch USD $75.00

Holiday Party Package USD $92.50

Groups of 10 or More

New orleans tours, plantation tours, swamp tours, holiday & special events, mardi gras party package, spring fling party package, mother's day cruise, easter bunny brunch cruise, new orleans steamboat company.

The New Orleans Steamboat Company is no newcomer to the Mississippi River or American's steamboat heritage.  Our parent company has been operating steamboats longer than any company in the world.  In fact, we've been part of the history of steam transport since 1817, just five years after the first steamboat docked in New Orleans. We're now in our fourth decade of life on the Mississippi.  We've given literally millions of people the experience of one of our country's oldest and richest traditions.

Come aboard and enjoy New Orleans hospitality ...Steamboat Style!

The newest addition to the New Orleans Riverfront & sister vessel of the Steamboat NATCHEZ

SAIL WITH SANTA ON THE STEAMBOAT NATCHEZ

SAIL WITH SANTA ON THE STEAMBOAT NATCHEZ: Celebrate the holiday season, and the return of the Steamboat NATCHEZ, at our Sailing with Santa Event! On Saturday, November 25th, our annual Sailing with Santa Cruise will be taking place on the newly renovated Steamboat NATCHEZ. The c…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the dress code? How far in advance should I make reservations? Can we bring pets on board the boat? Is there any entertainment on your cruises? Where can we park?...

Steamboat Natchez

Price & Hours

• Facilities 4.0
• Atmosphere 4.5

U.S. News Insider Tip: Book a dinner cruise for sunset views, and bring a light jacket as it gets cool out on the water at night. – Amanda Norcross, Content & SEO Strategist

Steamboat Natchez launched in 1975 and is a traditional sternwheel steamboat that takes visitors on a tour of the Mississippi River. The tours aim to cultivate an atmosphere that transports guests to another era, with the captain shouting through a hand-held megaphone and old-time music lingering in the air. Steamboat Natchez offers a few tour options, including a dinner jazz cruise, a daytime jazz cruise, a Sunday jazz brunch cruise and select special event cruises. The tours last about two hours and include a concert, a narration of historical facts and an optional meal; a gift shop and bar are also available on board. The boat is equipped with indoor and outdoor seating.

Many travelers raved about their experience on the steamboat, saying it was a unique and entertaining way to see the city and the river, and that the staff members were friendly. Passengers say you must be sure to take a tour of the engine room. However, a few warned that the music was loud during boarding and that the tour tends to attract an older crowd.

Reservations are highly recommended and tickets start at $42 per adult and $20 per child. Children ages 2 to 5 are free. Prices vary by cruise and whether or not you'd like a meal included. Boarding begins half an hour before departure and all cruises depart and return to the Steamboat Natchez Lighthouse Ticket Office, at Toulouse Street and the Mississippi River. For additional information, including exact prices and booking information, visit the Steamboat Natchez website .

Tours & Tickets

Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

(5181 reviews)

from $ 55.00

New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

(3521 reviews)

from $ 42.00

Steamboat Natchez VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option

(655 reviews)

from $ 182.95

More Best Things To Do in New Orleans

#1 French Quarter

If you want to experience New Orleans properly, it's best to begin your tour here. Recent visitors said the neighborhood is lively, with lots to do and see and offers a one-of-a-kind experience. The neighborhood, also known as Vieux Carré , is the heart and soul of this city, and it's also a National Historic Landmark. As the site of the original New Orleans colony (established by the French in 1718), the French Quarter has held on to its heritage, complete with street names that are still listed in French. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets to find such attractions as Jackson Square , Faulkner House Books and the  Cabildo . While you're strolling, pay attention to the neighborhood's architecture: balconies are designed with baroque ironwork and hanging plants, while leafy courtyards are filled with bubbling fountains. The scene is definitely charming, but it can also be expensive if you choose to stay at any of the French Quarter's  hotels .

Undoubtedly, the French Quarter's main draw is Bourbon Street – New Orleans' infamous party hub. You'll find this street laden with performers and fortune tellers as well as rowdy bars. Although a trip to New Orleans isn't really complete without strolling down Bourbon Street, keep in mind that boisterous evenings on Bourbon are best appreciated by adult travelers. If you're tempted to hang your hat on Bourbon Street, don't. While it's fun to be at the center of the action, there's really no escaping the late-night noise.

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The Heart of Louisiana

Steamboat Natchez

The hot steam warms up the brass whistles of the Calliope on the Steamboat Natchez on a chilly winter morning, signaling the start of a journey steeped in history and tradition. This iconic steamboat is a symbol of New Orleans’ rich maritime heritage.

the calliope calls the curious to the riverfront

The old-time melodies of the calliope greet passengers boarding the Steamboat Natchez for a midday cruise. Played by Debbie Fagnano for over three decades, her rendition of “Blue Skies” serves as a unique weather report. The music echoes throughout the French Quarter and draws people to the riverboat dock.

crew and passengers step back in time

Steve Nicoulin is the captain of the Natchez.  He replaced his father, who has worked on the steamboat since it arrived in New Orleans in 1975.  Nicoulin Senior still takes the controls on some river cruises.  The tug of a brass ring in the pilot house shoots steam through the boat’s loud whistle.  The brass ring is the oldest thing on the boat, Nicoulin tells me, explaining, “This ring actually came off an old steamer back in 1889.”

pieces from the past

The Natchez, nearing its 50th anniversary, is powered by steam engines from a 1925 vessel, the Clairton. Twin diesel-fired boilers generate the 200 pounds of steam that drive the boat’s antique piston engines and large paddle wheel. A World War II era communication system, salvaged from a Navy destroyer, connects the captain to the engine room.

steamboat natchez cruise featured on tv

steamboat natchez survives fire during renovations

The steamer has an “old school feel”, Nicoulin says, noting how rare the vessels are now.  “When I started with the company, there were six remaining steamboats,” he explains.  “Now there are only two left on the whole Mississippi River.” The Natchez resumed taking tourists on daily trips up and down the Mississippi River after a three year absence. A fire broke out in the steamboat’s generator room while the vessel was undergoing renovations.

A slower pace on the steamboat natchez

Matt Dow, the Director of Marine Operations for the New Orleans Steamboat Company , says it was important to get the Natchez back in service.  He describes it as an icon of New Orleans.  When I asked Dow what makes the river cruises so enjoyable, he quotes Mark Twain.  “Twain said it best,” Dow says. “Someday man will figure out how to go 700 miles per hour.  But we’ll still only want to go seven.”

The Natchez takes passengers on several daily cruises that depart from the New Orleans riverfront near Jackson Square.  The paddle wheeler first travels several miles downstream, passing the Chalmette Battlefield where Andrew Jackson fought the Battle of New Orleans.  Then the steamboat heads back upstream, passing by the French Quarter and St. Louis Cathedral.  The Natchez turns around at the Mississippi River Bridge and returns to the dock.  The cruise is a relaxing ride that begins with the calliope and a jazz band, that preserves bits of river history and tradition on the Mississippi River.

getting there

Passengers board the Steamboat Natchez on the New Orleans Riverfront near Jackson Square.

More to do in historic new orleans

Preservation Hall

Tipitina’s Fais-Dodo

Drums of Congo Square

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Steamboat Natchez: The Last Authentic Steamboat in New Orleans

Take a behind-the scenes look at the majestic Steamboat Natchez, and experience New Orleans hospitality at its best with a cruise down the Mighty Mississippi River.

No visit to The Big Easy is complete without a steamboat ride down the Mississippi River. So whether you’re in the area now or planning for next year’s Mardi Gras, you’ll want to experience a New Orleans riverboat cruise.

Built in 1975, the Steamboat Natchez , owned by The New Orleans Steamboat Company, is the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River. It’s currently under renovation, but you can still enjoy the same experience of a grand paddle wheeler on its sister vessel, Riverboat City of New Orleans. Revel in live Jazz, craft cocktails and local cuisine, all while getting beautiful views of the city.

And while we wait for the Steamboat Natchez to set sail again (be sure to check their website for updates), let’s take a look back at a behind-the-scenes video aboard the majestic Steamboat Natchez that was filmed prior to the pandemic. Join us for an amazing time as we cruise down the Mighty Mississippi River. Watch the video above, or read the full transcription below.

Aboard the Steamboat Natchez

Steamboat natchez calliope, two-hour jazz cruises.

Captain Villier, Steamboat Natchez Company (00:50) – Steamboat Natchez #9. So we do three trips a day here in the beautiful Port of New Orleans. The Natchez you’re here looking at today is the ninth Natchez. And she’s named after a tribe of Indians in Natchez, Mississippi. And she was designed just what she’s doing today, to run three trips a day to our cruises.

(01:15) – The Natchez has been doing this same ride up and down the Mississippi since 1975. One of two steamboats left on the inland waters of the United States, she’s a true steam sternwheeler.

(01:32) – The engines aboard the Natchez are actually older than the rest of the vessel. These old engines are 94 years old, that powers the Natchez paddle wheel. The Natchez paddle wheel weighs 33 tons. And it’s built out of white oak and steel.

(01:49) – That big paddle wheel back there is the only means of propulsion through the water. It’s turned by two big steam engines. These engines are horizontal piston-driven engines. That paddle wheel 100% pushes the Natchez through the Mississippi River.

(02:07) – We have no propellers on the Natchez, no props, just that big paddle wheel back there does it all. Underneath that paddle wheel, three big 17 foot rudders. They’re forward of the wheel. Those big rudders is what steers the Natchez up and down the Mississippi.

Debbie Fagnano, Calliope Player (02:34) – We are on the roof of the steamboat Natchez here in New Orleans. The Natchez is one of only a few steam powered vessels left in the United States today, and we are equipped with an authentic steam organ or steam piano, better known as a Calliope.

(03:24) – We play for 15 minutes before people board. And anyone within the French Quarter or within a mile or two can hear it and will come down to the river to see what’s going on.

Captain Villier (03:38) – Next time you’re in New Orleans, come see the Steamboat or one of our other trips.

Are you ready to take a steamboat cruise now and let the good times roll?  Dinner Jazz on the Riverboat City of New Orleans includes the cruise, buffet dinner, and entertainment by the Dukes of Dixieland Jazz Band . And depending on your seating time, the decks, engine room, and bars will be open either before or after dinner.

Daily Jazz cruises run Monday – Saturday from 11:30am – 1:30pm. And a Jazz Brunch (or Cruise Only option) is available. This two-hour cruise includes narration, live music, and a delicious brunch with themed cocktails.

When you take a two-hour cruise from the heart of the French Quarter, you will see for yourself why New Orleans was founded on the beautiful crescent of the lower Mississippi River.

Cruise tickets are available at the Lighthouse Ticket Office, located behind Jax Brewery in the French Quarter, online or by calling 504-569-1401. Hours of operation are 9am – 7pm. 

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Have a dinner unlike any other in New Orleans--and have it on the Mississippi River, aboard the famous Steamboat Natchez! The boat’s Dinner Jazz cruise provides a buffet-style Creole dinner featuring classic dishes like Southern Fried Fish, Creole Creamed Spinach, Roast Steak Loin, and Steamboat Natchez bread pudding with special white chocolate sauce, along with soup and favorites like the Penne Quattro Formaggi.

Diners enjoy jazz by the world-famous Dukes of Dixieland on this two-hour tour. After dinner, the New Orleans skyline and passing riverbanks provide a beautiful backdrop for moonlit dancing! Tour departs from the Toulouse Street Wharf, across from Jackson Square.

Sunday Jazz Brunch is a popular pastime in this European city. On both daytime cruises on Sunday, the option for the cruise PLUS the brunch buffet are frequently sold out - so be sure to reserve a dining room spot early. Brunch includes New Orleans favorites such as House Cured Ham, Creole Shrimp and Pasta Salad, Cheese Grits, Fresh handmade Beignets and more.

Three great New Orleans traditions come together to form the Steamboat Natchez’s cruises: great music, mouthwatering cuisine, and the majesty of the mighty Mississippi. The river’s cool breezes, accompanied by the jazz stylings of New Orleans’ own Dukes of Dixieland or Steamboat Stompers, refresh tourists and locals alike, whether relaxed sightseeing and enjoying cool libations from the bars, or joining us for lunch, brunch or dinner.

Tour Length 2 hours. Departs daily* from the Toulouse Street Wharf across from Jackson Square.

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