Boat Trips in New Orleans

I personally love boat tours in New Orleans, that's why I want to recommend you some of my favourite boat tours in New Orleans, one of the things you can't miss to do in New Orleans, especially if you go with your partner. This is one of the activities you can't leave out of your list of things to see and do in New Orleans, especially if you go with your partner.

Of course, boat tours are also suitable for the whole family and even children. When you travel by boat, other services are usually included on board to make your trip even more enjoyable. Let me tell you more about the options you can choose from.

This is an experience aboard one of the most popular boats in New Orleans to cruise the Mississippi in the morning hours and get a different view of the bustling port of New Orleans.

The boat is a steamboat and paddlewheeler, which makes this New Orleans cruise a more than traditional and fun experience. On board you can listen to jazz symphonies produced by the organ, as you listen to the captain's narration, who will tell you a little about the history of New Orleans. You can enjoy a Creole lunch of your choice.

Details of interest

• Price: The approximate price per person for this experience can be 35 euros.
• Duration: The duration of the tour from the time you get on the boat until you get off can be around two hours approximately.
• Means of transport: To get to the port and get on board you have to go on your own, then the rest of the tour takes place on board the steamboat.
• Advantages of this tour: City taxes are included. You can enjoy live music and narration on board. You could also try a Creole lunch if you include it in the tour. It is wheelchair friendly, although not fully wheelchair friendly.
• Disadvantages of this tour: There are prices for children only if they do not occupy a seat inside the boat.

A journey back in time to learn about the history of one of the most famous battles of the Anglo-American War, which was the Battle of New Orleans. During this historical cruise you will have the opportunity to learn in detail what happened during this last battle in 1815.

While having this historical and storytelling experience, you will also be able to sample different flavours of the local cuisine and see the activity of the port of New Orleans, as well as relax during the leisurely steamboat ride.

Details of interest

• Price: This steamboat cruise can be had for around 39 euros per person.
• Duration: It will take you around two and a half hours to do the whole tour.
• Means of transport: To get to the port and board the boat, you will have to get around on your own, and my recommendation is that you do it on foot. Once you board the boat, the tour takes place on board.
• Advantages of this tour: One of the best advantages of this tour is that the guide will always be available to answer any questions you have for him. A guided tour of the Chalmette battlefield is included in the price. This tour is conducted by the rangers who are on site. A buffet lunch of Creole food is included if you choose this option.
• Disadvantages of this tour: This tour may be cancelled if the weather is bad or conditions are not favourable for the boat to sail. Schedules may also be changed unexpectedly due to unforeseen weather changes in the locality. Transport to and from the boarding point is not included. Drinks are not included in the price of the boat trip.

For two hours you can cruise the tranquil waters of the Mississippi River while enjoying a delicious dinner and live jazz music on the boat. This tour is usually taken on the Natchez Steamboat.

This is one of those boat tours you can't miss on your itinerary of what to see and do in New Orleans in 3 days, as the route takes you to see the scenery around you and of course the inside of the boat, giving you access to the four decks with spectacular views, including the top deck where you can eat dinner.

Details of interest

• Price: The price is per person and you can get a place on the boat for around 44 euros.
• Duration: This tour lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours.
• Means of transport: You must get to the port on your own, and then board the boat that will take you on the river tour. The best option to reach the place is on foot, taking into account that the port is really close to all the hotels in the area.
• Advantages of this tour: Live entertainment by well-known bands is included. Also included is the live jazz concert on board. If you want to choose the dinner option you can do so by prior arrangement. Tickets to Steamboat Natchez and Gray Line New Orleans are included in the price. It is wheelchair friendly in most areas. Prams and assistance animals are welcome.
• Disadvantages of this tour: The boat is not always wheelchair-accessible because many spaces are often very narrow. Prices for children only apply if the child does not occupy a seat on the boat.

This is a completely private and luxurious experience around Lake Pontchartrain, aboard a luxurious yacht with all the amenities for a great evening. It's an experience you can have either during the day or at sunset to enjoy the sunset. I recommend the latter as an activity to see and do in New Orleans at night.

This is a VIP tour that also includes an experienced captain who will take you around the place in the safest way. Inside the boat you can enjoy some snacks and refreshing drinks of your choice.

Details of interest

• Price: To live this experience you will have to pay around 200 euros per person.
• Duration: This tour lasts approximately two hours from the time it starts until the yacht docks back.
• Means of transport: To get to the embarkation point you will have to travel on your own, once you set sail the tour is completed on board the yacht.
• Advantages of this tour: You will have an experienced captain at the helm. You will have access to complimentary local beer and white wine. Other packaged snacks are also included in the price and may vary according to the occasion.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Pets and assistance animals are not allowed. This is a weather-sensitive experience and may be cancelled in the event of unfavourable weather conditions.

This is a VIP plan that you definitely can't miss. It is a luxurious steamboat tour where you will have the opportunity not only to see the inside of the ship, but also the engine room and share with the first mate.

It's a premium cruise where you'll be greeted with champagne to start the evening. After a tour of the interior of the ship, you will be able to sit at the place provided for you, listen to live jazz and enjoy a buffet dinner of different dishes from the local cuisine.

Details of interest

• Price: This experience costs approximately 142 euros per person.
• Duration: It is a short two-hour tour, which will be enough for a great evening.
• Means of transport: To board the boat you will have to get there on your own, and you can even do it on foot, given the proximity of the hotels to the port. After boarding, the tour will be by boat.
• Advantages of this tour: It is a private tour with all the comforts to be considered premium. It includes dinner and live jazz that you will listen to throughout the evening. It also includes a tour of the boat and narration by the first mate. It is partially wheelchair friendly. Pushchairs are allowed and it is suitable for all ages.
• Disadvantages of this tour: On some decks the boat is not wheelchair accessible.

If there's one boat experience you definitely have to do when you visit New Orleans, it's one of the best plantation and swamp tours along the banks of the Mississippi. On this experience you'll get to see the mansions and plantations that have been here since before the Civil War.

It is also an incredibly interesting experience if you are a lover of nature and animal life, as you will be able to see the lifestyle of species that inhabit these muddy swamps of the Mississippi's branches. In addition to this, you'll get a taste of real Cajun food on the tour, and it's a tour not to be missed.

Details of interest

• Price: This one-day experience can be found for approximately 220 euros per person.
• Duration: This full day tour has a duration of 9 hours.
• Means of transport: From the hotel pick up to the place where you will embark the hydrofoil, the transport will be in a bus conditioned for the trip. After that the tour will be done by hydrofoil.
• Advantages of this tour: You will get to see the most significant plantations of New Orleans, you will also get to see the common wildlife in the marshes of the area and you will taste the authentic Cajun food. Assistance animals are permitted with prior notice. Child seats are available. This tour operates in all weather conditions.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Pregnant women and people with back problems, as well as children under the age of 5 are not eligible for the airboat experience.

To book a boat tour from New Orleans, the first thing you need to know is whether you want to take part in one of the best tours of the New Orleans bayous, or if you prefer a more leisurely tour of the city' s waterways.

You have a choice of steamboats, luxury yachts, boats and hydrofoils, each of which aim to introduce you to different landscapes and promise different experiences. In both cases you have the choice of group or private tours.

To make a reservation, you need to be aware of the booking and cancellation policies, whether the tour may be cancelled due to bad weather or other such factors.

Once you have ascertained the necessary information before booking, you should make sure to provide all your details and those of the people who will be participating with you, as well as the limitations of each, if any.

You need to take into account all possible reasons why you or your companions might not be able to participate in the experience, to avoid booking and then cancelling due to personal limitations.

The duration of this type of tour depends on the number of bayous and bayous you will visit during your tour, but it is generally no more than a three-hour trip.

These types of experiences are designed to give you a fun tour of some of New Orleans' waterways and waterways, but in the case of some bayous tours, a visit to the plantations may be included, which makes the experience take even longer to complete.

In case you don't want to take a boat tour of the bayous, but rather a more leisurely steamboat tour of the Mississippi, the duration will depend on the type of tour you choose and the time of day you want to take the tour.

Generally, the latter type of tour tends to last a little longer when done during the day. If it is an evening tour, it is likely to last no more than two hours on board. On weekends, the duration of a steamboat ride is usually about four hours or a little more, accompanied by music.

For speedboat and private yacht trips, the tour is usually a little shorter but the stay on the boat is usually more personalised. The duration of the tour in this case can be from one and a half to two hours.

• Dress in layers, as the weather in New Orleans is often very changeable, so you can be cold one minute and hot the next.
• Depending on the type of boat trip, you can wear closed-toe shoes or light shoes.
• In the case of swamp cruises, I recommend that you protect your electronics such as your phone and camera from getting splashed with mud or water.
• If you're taking a steamboat or yacht trip on the Mississippi River or Lake Pontchartrain, I recommend wearing sunglasses to protect yourself from the wind as well.
• If you are taking children with you, always remember to adjust their water protection gear as a precautionary measure.

If you're a fan of sailing and all the like, then this is the activity for you. I recommend you take a boat tour on some of New Orleans' waterways to see all that these places have to offer.

From wildlife marshes to leisurely tours of New Orleans history, boating is definitely a must-do if you're visiting the city.

The Mississippi leaves you with plenty of special photo opportunities, while several of the boats, ships and yachts that tour the area will give you a taste of the city's culinary highlights through their buffet service.

During these on-board experiences you can also learn about the history of the city of New Orleans from expert captains and tour guides. These are simply unmissable tours of the city.