15 New Orleans Boat Tours 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

Board at Toulouse Street Wharf for an evening on the Steamboat Natchez or Riverboat City of New Orleans. You get a calliope concert, live New Orleans jazz, river narration, skyline views, and a two-hour cruise. Add the buffet for gumbo, crawfish étouffée, fried chicken, salad, and bread pudding.

“Incredible time with friends. The food was really good and plentiful. The service was exceptional. The jazz musicians were really good and the calliope at the beginning was fun. The ride was so smooth you forgot you were on a boat.”

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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

Ride from the French Quarter to Honey Island Swamp for a two-hour wildlife cruise on a quiet, 22-passenger boat. Guides such as Captain Steve, Captain Marc, and Captain Jody explain Cajun culture, wetland preservation, and local wildlife. Expect alligators, raccoons, birds, and wild boar, but fewer animals in cold weather.

“Xander was excellent! Definitely seems like it’s best to go when it’s a bit warmer (it’s ~40° here this week) but we saw a bit gator and a bunch of adorable raccoons!”

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3.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

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

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street Wharf in the French Quarter for a relaxed two-hour paddlewheel cruise. You’ll hear live jazz by the Steamboat Stompers, listen to commentary on New Orleans and the Mississippi, and pass Chalmette Battlefield. Add the Southern-style buffet lunch if you want red beans and rice, jambalaya, fried fish, and bread pudding.

“Everything was very smooth. I walked over in ~8 minutes from my Q&C Hotel. I went on a 55 degree January weekday and the boat was nowhere near full which was nice and spacious with plenty of seating. The narration was well done and had some jokes. The band was okay a nice addition. The lunch was very tasty and for $20 extra a great deal in New Orleans. They will provide you 2nds if you ask. I recommend getting first meal because the boat does not leave port for the first 45 minutes which is boring otherwise. 2nd meal you will miss most the scenery. The ride is 45…”

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4.New Orleans Airboat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,891 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $59

Ride an airboat through the cypress swamps near Jean Lafitte with guides such as Ronnie, Mark, Shane, and Captain TikTok. Choose a six to eight passenger boat for a closer, quieter outing, or a larger boat for up to 25 people. Expect about 1 hour and 45 minutes on the water, alligators, birds, wind, and no shade.

“Mark was an excellent tour guide, bringing us to some beautiful spots, including the Disney inspired area for the princess and the frog. actually got some video of him, kissing an alligator on the snout, truly a special encounter!”

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5.Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

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

Board the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS at 6 p.m. for a two-hour evening cruise from the French Quarter. You’ll hear live swing-style jazz from the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland, learn about New Orleans from the captain’s narration, and enjoy four decks, bars, river views, and an optional Creole buffet dinner.

“The boat was very clean and spacious, good selection of hot food onboard as well as a bar. The band playing were exceptionally talented and really did the tour justice. Not much to see on the Mississippi as it was dark but a nice experience all the same”

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6.Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

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

Board at the Toulouse Street dock behind JAX Brewery for a two-hour Mississippi River cruise aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS. Expect live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, captain’s narration, a calliope concert, four decks to explore, and optional Creole lunch with catfish, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and bread pudding.

“The boat was spacious and the music and narration was great. We got the lunch too and the food was so good. Everyone on board working were friendly and helpful.”

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

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

Leave the French Quarter by air-conditioned coach for Oak Alley or Destrehan Plantation, then ride a covered pontoon through Manchac Swamp. Guides such as Dionne, Jane, John, and Captain Tom have led lively history and wildlife commentary. Expect oak trees, plantation stories, alligators, raccoons, wild hogs, and a long but varied day.

“Great guides, fabulous history lesson, and beautiful sites. House was gorgeous and swamp was fun. Must try if you have the time.”

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

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

Drive yourself to Slidell for a two-hour Honey Island Swamp cruise on a quiet, open-air boat holding up to 22 people. Guides such as Jody, Emmett, Dustin, and Wade share Cajun stories, wetland facts, and wildlife tips as you pass alligators, birds, raccoons, wild boar, and a remote Cajun village.

“Dustin was phenomenal! You can tell he genuinely loved his job and he made the tour very exciting. I would definitely come back and would love to have him as a guide again.”

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9.High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,380 reviews · 100 minutes - 4 hours · from $65

Ride a 16-passenger airboat through Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, about 35 minutes from New Orleans. Your English-speaking captain may slow for alligators, birds, and swamp plants, then open the throttle to 35 mph. Guides such as Captain Bebop, Dewey, Ian, and Ernie are known for lively stories and strong local knowledge.

“Ethan was very knowledgeable about the ecosystem. He did a great job explaining the gators interaction with the environment. The air boat ride was fun. This trip had good value for the price and I would highly recommend it.”

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

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

Take a 90-minute pontoon cruise through Manchac Bayou with a local captain. Expect cypress trees, birds, turtles, raccoons, wild hogs, and possible alligator sightings. Captains such as Danny, Dustin, Tom, and Brandon mix Louisiana history with jokes and wildlife facts. Add hotel pickup if you prefer not to arrange the drive to Cajun Pride Swamp Tours.

“The guide was really knowledgeable about the area and while telling the stories he was very funny and easy to have a conversation with.”

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11.Creole Queen History Cruise with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,112 reviews · 2h 30m · from $47

Spend 150 minutes aboard the Creole Queen, cruising from New Orleans to Chalmette Battlefield and back. Guides such as Charles and Dr. Lauren connect river views with the Battle of New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, and local landmarks. Add the buffet lunch for shrimp pasta, jambalaya, red beans and rice, po-boy, and other New Orleans favorites.

“We enjoyed learning from our knowledgeable guide. Dr. Lauren T was awesome.”

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12.Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,024 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Board the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen at Riverwalk for a two-hour evening cruise with live jazz from Sullivan Dabney Jr. and the Muzik Jazz Band. Choose the dinner option for a Creole buffet, then dance, order a cocktail, and watch Jackson Square and the French Quarter glow from the Mississippi.

“It was a wonderful evening of live jazz and cruising the Mississippi.”

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13.High Speed 9 Passenger Airboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 818 reviews · 100 minutes - 4 hours · from $89

Ride an open airboat from New Orleans into the wetlands of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. A captain such as Bobby, Rocky, Ian, or Captain Bebop leads the 105-minute trip, mixing fast runs with wildlife stops. Hotel pickup is optional, and groups are limited to nine people.

“Our guide was awesome! He was super knowledgeable on all things of the swamp, from animals to plants. He even got out and called a gator over to him to pet! it was so cool!”

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14.Guided Swamp Cruise by Tour Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 570 reviews · 100 minutes - 4 hours · from $35

Travel from New Orleans to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park for a 100-minute covered boat ride through the Barataria Swamps. Your English-speaking captain explains Cajun life, swamp ecology, and local wildlife. Guides such as Ernie, Dewey, and Jason are known for lively stories, alligator sightings, and occasional close looks at a baby gator.

“We did this while on holidays from Australia in June. Collected from our hotel was great. Gerald our bus driver was lovely and helpful. Once at the destination we could use the bathroom and get drinks or snacks. We were met with our boat captain, Captain Bebop who told us alot about the history of the area, explaining the landscape and even brought a baby alligator on board to give us a closer look. He threw marshmallows ionto the water which the alligators seemed to like, attracting them closer to the boat. If you're not sure if this is for you, try it you'll be surprised, I was.”

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15.Sunday Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Brunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 470 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Spend two hours cruising the Mississippi from the French Quarter aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS. Hear live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, listen to the captain’s narration, explore four decks, and order drinks from full-service bars. Add the Creole brunch for gumbo, shrimp and grits, cinnamon rolls, and other Louisiana favorites.

“The buffet was excellent, views were incredible, and steamboat was lovely.”

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