Paddlewheeler Creole Queen

Charles was a great guide! Very informative cruise that was peaceful and enjoyable. We got to see the sugar being dumped from the floating container which was pretty cool. We also got to see two battleships. Charles was considerate and when it came time to tell about the affects hurricane Katrina had on the area they recommended guest stay inside where they were not able to hear the stores due to it being sensitive in nature. When the boat is docked I would sit on the side that is facing the ramp I believe they called it the port side . Most of what he talks about is on that side of the river both ways so when you exit to see the battlefield get back on and sit on the opposite side of the boat. The drummer was a cool affect. We were waiting for the crowd to disperse a bit when exiting at the battlefield but I wish we hadn’t because we missed the first part of the story of the battle that took place there. You have 3 choices when you get off the boat: follow the drummer and listen to the speech and history, go visit the viewing tower, view the house that really has no significance there. Personally, I’d skip the house. If you like history stay for the speech if you just want to see the views walk up the observation tower. We opted for the speech and I was glad we did.

Highly recommend taking this historical tour! The narrator Charles was amazing! He made story about New Orleans and the tragic events from Hurricane Katrina so easy to follow, learn and engaged! His gift of storytelling had me feeling so many emotions and gave me a new found respect for the residents of NOLA and the perseverance to not just survive the hurricane but to rebuild and renew the spirit of what New Orleans is all about. This tour will have a everlasting place in my heart for this city, it's history, it's culture and most importantly, the people. Story telling is such a lost art from all the block buster movies, streams and social media but Charles will have you in the edge of your seat with this tour and have you cheering WHO DAT at the end of the tour! A buffet is served which I didn't get but was told it was good. They also have a bar to grab drinks. You can take the family, friends or just you and your mate to enjoy the calm ride down the river.

We did the jazz dinner cruise and had a lot of fun! Getting tickets and boarding was simple. The dinner was surprisingly good for a buffet style dinner served on a boat. All the staff we dealt with were very friendly. The jazz band played on the top deck, and they were great! A worthwhile thing to do when visiting New Orleans.

Highly highly recommend!!! The jazz band is phenomenal! Going through the river is absolutely beautiful, gorgeous way to view the city at night. There’s a bar downstairs, and also an enclosed viewing room. It doesn’t get too cold which is nice. Atmosphere is wonderful. I would say boarding early is better, that way you choose where you can sit.

Great historical tour. Charles was amazing. The best part was the story about Katrina. He did an excellent job and really gave insight into the tragic situation. Food was ok, but didn’t have high expectations for it. Certainly, portions are great and you can eat all you want. Service excellent. Bottomless mimosas were good too. Nice to get out on the water and learn more about the Battle of New Orleans. We’ve done similar type tours in other parts of the county. Charles definitely made this one top notch.

After leaving the dock and heading down the mighty Mississippi, a deep-voiced narrator began chronically our journey with engaging stories of ships, battles, pirates, past leaders and distant lands, bringing history alive and making this journey the most engaging experience. The sights were beautiful and Charlie brought the past and present to life in the most amazing way. Absolutely worth the trip. Hope your guide is Charlie! He's a national treasure.

History cruise with lunch is very entertaining and informative with commentary from Charlie who is a superb story teller and very friendly! Lunch was pretty good with selections of pasta, red beans and rice, jambalaya, and salad w good ole Louisiana bread pudding for dessert. Hurricanes from the bar are extremely drinkable... I had to have a few just to make sure! Got to stop at the Chalmet battle ground and visitor's center, which you should def NOT miss - if you like history, which is why you took the history cruise, right? Creole Queen is a must when you visit NOLA.

I am not a fan of open water and I was worried I would feel the boat moving but it was smooth. It actually ended up being amazing and the highlight of our trip! We did the night dinner cruise and the live jazz band playing the whole time were really good, the staff were friendly. The food is okay but it isn't anything to rave about, we would've skipped buying that but figured we would just eat while on there so maybe eat before or after if you prefer a bit more flavorful food. There's 2 bars on the boat make sure to bring some cash for it or start a tab before the boat departs because their CC readers don't work well on the water. There are plenty of sweet spots all over the boat to check out the sights down the Mississippi river!

We did both the evening sail on the Steamboat Natchez and the Creole Queen. I enjoyed both but this one was better. Smaller boat, much better musicians. We did the drinks no dinner option and enjoyed it that way - just chill on deck and enjoy the great music. No tourist commentary on the night time cruise, just great music. The big draw was the quality of the musicians. Arrive early to get a spot on deck with the musicians as limited tables in that area.

The food was varied and plentiful. They need better service at the bar though. If you want even a free iced tea, you have to go to the bar to get it. By the time my friend got her tea, her food was no longer warm. The cruise was unnarrated during the Sunday brunch. At only an hour and a half, there wasn't much to see. However, it was a pleasant, enjoyable ride. The live band added to the experience by providing great music and vocals, most of which either reflected the New Orleans spirit or harkened back to the days of the Big Bands.