10 Boat Tours in New Orleans to Build a Day Around

1.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

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

Review the Steamboat Natchez evening jazz cruise in New Orleans, with Mississippi views, Dixieland music, buffet dinner, tips, and value advice.

“The Dinner cruise was great, however we got charged extra 157.95 parking fee when we returned to our vehicle. We were in New Orleans early, we purchased a 5 hr parking ticket at the kiosk, before the cruise we purchased 2 more hours of parking to assure it covered when we would return at 9pm. We also asked at the attendent at the cruize ticket window if the added 2 hr ticket would be added to our original 5 hr ticket to equal a total of 7 hrs parking and we were told yes we were just fine with parking coverage. When we returned to our car, it was locked…”

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2.New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation

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

Review the Honey Island Swamp boat tour from New Orleans, with wildlife, Cajun culture, transport details, seasonal tips, and honest value advice.

“We traveled in a covered boat through a beautiful swamp, filled with alligators, turtles, snakes and adorable raccoons. Even though it rained (more like a mist) we didn't care. I loved learning about the people, the community, the history, even how to catch a crawfish. Our guide Will was fun, knowledgeable and kept us well-entertained. The bus ride to the swamp was about 40 minutes but our driver Derek kept us amused with his strong opinions about food and restaurants and his stories about New Orleans. About my only criticism--and this is small--I would like to have had a choice about where to pick up the bus. We walked nearly…”

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3.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

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

Review the Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise in New Orleans, with Mississippi River views, live jazz, history, lunch tips, price, and practical advice.

“The river boat sucked. General Jackson is better 100%. Including food. Not worth the money or time. My view”

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4.Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

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

Cruise the Mississippi aboard a New Orleans riverboat with Dukes of Dixieland jazz, city views, narration, cocktails, and optional Creole dinner.

“Highly recommend. The boat cruise was great, easy boarding process, great entertainment and the food was so good. Best value for your dollar, not even close. I still can't get over how great the meal was. The choices, the portions and the taste. I am from the Savannah and we know about great southern cooking and I am amazed about everything we ate combined with great entertainment and southern hospitality! Well done! 5 stars plus.”

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5.Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

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

Cruise the Mississippi from New Orleans with live jazz, calliope music, city views, history, cocktails, and an optional Creole lunch.

“The whole experience was amazing, from start to finish!”

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

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

Combine Oak Alley Plantation and a Cajun swamp boat ride on a 7-hour New Orleans tour with history, wildlife, and round-trip transport.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our day out with John! He was knowledgeable and articulate, all balanced with the right amount of Dad Jokes! Our driver was great and the coach was air conditioned, safe and comfortable. We chose Oak Alley and the Swamp Tour , and while they are two very different slices of Louisiana life, it was an interesting look at things we just wouldn’t have seen if we had stayed in New Orleans. Hard to pick a favorite of the two, but my wife and I both enjoyed each one. All-in-all we would highly recommend.”

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

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

Cruise Honey Island Swamp from Slidell on a quiet, 22-passenger boat with Cajun stories, alligators, birds, and a remote village.

“Lane was an awesome boat captain! He was funny, friendly and super knowledgeable. We also we're lucky enough to see a lot of wildlife for December.”

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8.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise

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

Review the Creole Queen Mississippi cruise, with New Orleans history, Chalmette Battlefield, onboard narration, food, prices, and tips.

“Best historical tour ever. Loved it. The Dr. who did the tour was amazing. The information was great.”

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9.New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure

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

Cruise Louisiana’s Barataria Swamps by covered boat, hear local stories, spot alligators, and learn why season and transport matter.

“The experience is amazing, I will say if you are getting lyfe they will charge around 38 to get there and 99 to get bk try book a tour that includes transport the swap was beautiful we got to see some crocs and we got to hold a baby our guide was fantastic”

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

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

Cruise Manchac Bayou from New Orleans for 90 minutes of alligators, birds, Cajun stories, cypress trees, and optional hotel pickup.

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed the swamp tour! The scenery was beautiful and it was such a unique experience. Our guide was very friendly, made us feel welcome, and shared interesting facts along the way. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something different and fun.”

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