History Of The Steamboat Natchez
The ninth steamer to bear the name Natchez, this legendary vessel was built in 1975 . Her predecessor Natchez VI raced the Robert E. Lee in arguably the most famous steamboat race of all time. One of the two steam-powered sternwheelers left on the Mississippi, the Natchez is a historic marvel built with comfort in mind.
The Natchez has since held celebrities, noteable musicians, and even major political figures including President Gerald Ford who used the Natchez during his presidential campaign in 1976 .
Sipping On A Freshly Prepared New Orleans Cocktail
Order up beer, wine, or an original NOLA cocktail during a New Orleans Riverboat Cruise. Sip on one of these genuine New Orleans cocktails or beers:
- Sweet Mint Julep
- Abita Beer
- Natchez River Punch
New Orleans is known for elegant cocktails that are as uniquely flavored as they are tasty. What better place to enjoy one of these luscious libations than aboard an authentic steamboat?!
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Atmosphere Aboard The Creole Queen
Couple enjoys romantic dinner and jazz cruise aboard the Creole Queen in New Orleans
Climb aboard the Creole Queen and the first thing you will notice is the plush Victorian décor, the shining brass, and sparkling wooden parquet dance floors. A New Orleans jazz cruise pioneer, the Creole Queen boasts three different dining rooms and multiple outdoor decks that let you take in the air and city skyline!
Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise With Dinner Option
- Learn more
- Instant confirmation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Get your culture fix with onboard, live jazz music
- Add a Creole-style dinner to avoid the hassle of crowded restaurants
- Convenient French Quarter departure point near other key sights
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Get your culture fix with onboard, live jazz music
- Add a Creole-style dinner to avoid the hassle of crowded restaurants
- Convenient French Quarter departure point near other key sights
- Entertainment by the Grammy Nominated Dukes of Dixieland
- Optional Dinner if Purchased
- Gray Line New Orleans, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USAThe Gray Line ‘Lighthouse’ ticket office is located at Toulouse St and the Mississippi River , just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter.
- Entertainment by the Grammy Nominated Dukes of Dixieland
- Optional Dinner if Purchased
- Gratuities
- Gray Line New Orleans, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USAThe Gray Line ‘Lighthouse’ ticket office is located at Toulouse St and the Mississippi River , just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter.
- Returns to original departure point
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
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Gray Line New Orleans
Gray Line, the worlds leader in sightseeing, has been showcasing New Orleans to visitors from around the world since 1924. Experience some of the following entertaining and informative tours during your stay in the Crescent City: Swamp & Bayou, Airboat Swamp, Whitney and Oak Alley Plantations, Ghosts & Spirits, Cocktail, City Sightseeing, Cemetery & Voodoo, Garden District and wonderful combinations. Some tours are seasonal. Its no wonder these local experts receive awards for the most creative tours in the world. From bus tours to walking tours, and from daytime to nighttime, you can always count on Gray Line New Orleans!
Riverboat City Of New Orleans
A mixture of old-world charm and modern amenities, this totally renovated stern wheeler, the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, set sail in Fall 2020. The newest paddle wheeler on the Mississippi River features three beautiful decks with stunning décor and a marvelous roof top viewing deck. She offers two-hour daytime cruises introducing you to the Port and skyline of New Orleans with riverfront narration and options for lunch or a Sunday brunch. The Evening Jazz Cruise provides a mystical night on the Mighty Mississippi, and the option for dinner service prepared fresh on board. It features the Grammy nominated Dukes of Dixieland band, full bar and wine list, for an evening to remember. When you hear the calliope, its time to board! Private functions on each of the three enclosed decks are available. Docked at Toulouse Street & the Mississippi River in the heart of the French Quarter.
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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 youre in the area now or planning for next years Mardi Gras, youll 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. Its 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 , lets 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.
Atmosphere Aboard The Steamboat Natchez
The Natchez is a beautiful vessel, providing a historic and elegant atmosphere with stunning views of the city
Hop on board and her gothic features will immediately transport you back in time! Stroll the beautiful ship in all of its glory, including outdoor decks and seating. Check out the museum-quality engine room and admire the steam technology and intricate pipework that delivers the power to the paddlewheel! Enjoy breathtaking views of the city as you cruise the Mississippi and enjoy a night of great food and music.
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Steamboat Natchez Food & Entertainment
New Orleans is known for its Jazz music, and thats no different when aboard the Natchez
Join the Grammy nominated Dukes of Dixieland as they rock the ship from point A to point B and feast on a casual buffet-style dinner with something for everyone including:
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- La Louisiane Sliced French Bread
Menu items are subject to change by season and availability
After you get your fill at the buffet, enjoy a drink at the cash bar, do a little dancing, but dont forget to save some room for the famous Paddlehweeler Bread Pudding with white chocolate sauce!
Touring The Antique Vessel
New Orleans steamboats, including the Steamboat Natchez and Creole Queen, are both considered historical landmarks. The Steamboat Natchez was built in 1925 for the steamer CLAIRTON, and features a fully-functional steam-engine room that is viewable in a museum-quality exhibit.
The outer decks of the Creole Queen are adorned in authentically patterned wrought-iron trim, with the interior accented with antique decor including Victorian-style draperies and wooden parquet dance floors. Every inch of a New Orleans paddlewheeler is packed-full of history!
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Aboard The Steamboat Natchez
Captain Villier, Steamboat Natchez Company Steamboat Natchez #9. So we do three trips a day here in the beautiful Port of New Orleans. The Natchez youre here looking at today is the ninth Natchez. And shes named after a tribe of Indians in Natchez, Mississippi. And she was designed just what shes doing today, to run three trips a day to our cruises.
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, shes a true steam sternwheeler.
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 its built out of white oak and steel.
That big paddle wheel back there is the only means of propulsion through the water. Its turned by two big steam engines. These engines are horizontal piston-driven engines. That paddle wheel 100% pushes the Natchez through the Mississippi River.
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. Theyre forward of the wheel. Those big rudders is what steers the Natchez up and down the Mississippi.
Easy And Affordable Online Booking
Booking a New Orleans steamboat tour online is the quickest, easiest, and cheapest method. Two of the main tour providers are Steamboat Natchez and Creole Queen, both offering cruises on the Mississippi, along with food, drinks, and live entertainment.
Websites like TripShock.com or neworleanspromocodes.com offer New Orleans dinner cruise coupons for up to 10% off, and maintain special group rates for parties of 15 or more. Whether choosing to partake in the Chalmette Battlefield Tour aboard the Creole Queen, or dance the night away on the Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise, find great deals and up-to-the-minute availability online.
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More Information On New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise
True to tradition in every detail, boarding the NATCHEZ makes you feel as if you have entered another era. The captain barks his orders through an old-time hand-held megaphone. The calliope trills a melody into the air while the great wheel, 25 tons of white oak, churns the heavy waters of the Mississippi. You soon find yourself slipping into a sense of the old, vast and timeless river.
As the NATCHEZ glides past the French Quarter and through one of the worlds most active ports, you begin to understand the magic of the experience. For all its history and romance, the excitement of riding a steamboat is as real and rich and genuine now as it was a century ago.
Your casual buffet-style dinner consists of offerings such as Blackened Fish Lafitte, Pork Loin, Stemboat Round , Rotini Pasta Primavera, Red Beans and Rice, Soup du Jour,, Steamboat Salad, Sweet and Golden Brabant Potatoes, Creole Creamed Spinach, and rounded off with New Orleans White Chocolate Bread Pudding for dessert. All meals are prepared fresh on board. You can enjoy your meal indoor or outdoor as you listen to live jazz by the world renowned Dukes of Dixieland. Get your eTicket now to board the Steamboat NATCHEZ and savor a New Orleans experience you wont soon forget!
Good To Know
Quick Overview Of The New Orleans River Jazz Cruise
River Cruises are a tradition in NOLA. The giant paddlewheeler boats have been a common sight in New Orleans, LA, since 1800s and 1900s, when riverboats propelled by steam engines transported people and goods to and from towns along the Mississippi .
Now adays, not all paddlewheelers you see in New Orleans are proppeled by steam. Some boats, like the Creole Queen, are powered by a diesel-electric engine.
NOLA travelers are seen here boarding the Steamboat Natchez for a Lunch Cruise with Live Jazz
The addition of a new paddlewheeler to the Mississippi is met with celebration and fanfare! For centuries paddlewheeler river boats have helped define New Orleans culture as a place laid-back livin on the river, and have introduced that attitude through river cruises featuring spectacular sights, live jazz music, and mouth-watering dining with NOLA-influenced drinks and Creole/Cajun cuisine.
Operating year-round, River Cruises are a great option for something to do any time you visit New Orleans. We even added Jazz Cruises to a recent travel article as one of the best things you can do in New Orleans in March, May, and even June! But given that NOLA gets reaches extreme lows and highs in temperature, youll get the most out of an evening cruise when the weather is mild, like spring and fall.
Passengers board the Creole Queen at the Poydras Street dock at Spanish Plaza
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History Of The Creole Queen
The Creole Queen is an authentic paddlewheeler whose maiden voyage took place on 1983. This 24-foot paddlewheeler may look old fashioned, but it is actually powered by one of the most advanced and fuel efficient diesel-electric engines around! The Creole Queen was modeled after the opulent river boats of the 19th century, with intricate architecture, stunning decor, and ornate private rooms.
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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!
Walking The French Quarter
Most major boat tours down the Mississippi River are located within waking distance of the French Quarter, including the Creole Queen, which boards at #2 Poydras St. Riverwalk Dock, New Orleans. Before boarding the boat, take time to explore the area. Its not hard to find fun French Quarter things to do!
Hit the famous Cafe Du Monde across from Jackson Square for a quick meal of coffee and beignets, or peruse Bourbon Street for that perfect band or street performer. REMINDER: Guests should be at the docks at least 1 hour prior to departure time.
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New Orleans: Evening Jazz Cruise On The Steamboat Natchez
Take a trip on the famous Natchez steamboat while listening to the musical stylings of the Dukes Trio for only $51 a ticket.
The Sternwheeler Steamboat Natchez is the only authentic surviving steamboat in New Orleans, so prepare to be transported back in time. This two-hour cruise starts in the heart of the French Quarter and journeys across the Mississippi River, providing pure relaxation.
You can decide whether you want to sit inside in the climate-controlled spaces or if you want to enjoy the scenery of New Orleans outside on the deck. While beautiful jazz music from the Dukes Trio fills your ears, you will be treated to an absolutely delectable dinner.
The sample menu includes a traditional Natchez tossed salad with sugar cane vinaigrette, original Louisiana-style chicken and sausage gumbo, or baked chicken with mushroom ragout.
Alternatively, you can choose the Bayou seafood pasta with white wine and garlic parmesan cream sauce or delicious pasta primavera with zucchini and basil pesto for vegetarians. Dessert includes either a white chocolate bread pudding or bananas foster.
- Live music from the Dukes Trio
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Gratuities
For a vintage feel on the Steamboat Natchez combined with delightful music and delicious New Orleans-style cuisine, this trip is a must if you visit New Orleans. Its the perfect classic New Orleans steamboat cruise.