"Natchez Steam Boat" Cruise the Mississippi Tip by mindcrime

Touring the Mississippi river on steam boat! Some may consider it as a tourist trap but we enjoyed and yes we thought it was romantic. Natchez is the last one with a real steam engine so we tried to cruise with it. It’s 265ft long and has a capacity of 1600 people.

We did the evening cruise of course but you can choose the tour during the day. Before boarding it was a nice surprise listening to the distinctive whistle of a steam calliope(pic 3)! Some other tourist think it’s annoying!

After boarding we went to the lower deck where we had the good but not special buffet food (see my restaurant tips), at least worth the price we payed.

The 3 hour dinner/jazz cruise cost $35 + $25 if you choose the option to have dinner too. The Harbor cruises during the day (at 11:30am and 14:30) last 2 hours and cost $24.50(cruise only) and $34.50(cruise & lunch)

There’s a small gift shop with a very friendly lady working there. If you don’t pay for the dinner you will be on board but you have to wait on the deck for the first hours as the people taking their dinner. Then the boat departs.

We enjoyed the jazz band (Dukes of Dixieland) and we went down to the engine room (it was really hot downthere) where you can see how the steam boat works.

There’s not really much to see on the river, big boats move slowly here and there, there is a small narration from the speakers pointing at some parts of the (industrial) area (no one really cares, don’t forget New Orleans isn’t very attractive right by the river)

But it’s the feeling, we just grab two chairs on the upper deck and we were enjoying the full moon as the boat was leaving New Orleans back for the next 2 hours

And the skyline of the city was amazing too! Check pics 4-5

Directions:departs daily from the Toulouse Street Wharf, 3’ from Jackson square
http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/

Address: Canal Street Dock/Aquarium Dock
Directions: End of Canal St. in Downtown area, at French Quarter entrance
Phone: 504-524-0814