NEW ORLEANS SIGHTSEEING TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Sunset Steam: Jazz, Dinner and the Last Paddlewheel on the Mississippi
Two-hour lunch or dinner cruises aboard the Natchez — the last steam-powered paddle wheeler on the Mississippi — pairing river views with onboard dining and live jazz at dinner.
Sunset Steam: Jazz, Dinner and the Last Paddlewheel on the Mississippi.
Glide out onto the broad Mississippi aboard the Natchez, the last remaining steam-powered paddle wheeler, where a short, two-hour cruise turns a meal into a moving tableau of river, sky and city. Whether you choose the midday buffet or a candlelit dinner, the route frames sunset light and a soundtrack of live jazz that make the boat as much a stage as a vessel.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
The Last Steam-Powered Paddlewheeler
The Natchez is the last remaining steam-powered paddle wheeler on the Great Mississippi River — a living relic that carries daily passengers for lunch and dinner cruises.
Lunch and Dinner on the Water
Daily lunch buffets and evening dinner cruises offer a compact, two-hour outing that places meals against the slow rhythm of the river and the changing light toward sunset.
Live Jazz at Dinner
Dinner cruises include live jazz — a deliberate pairing that turns the Natchez into a roaming music venue as the river passes by.
What the day feels like
What the Two-Hour Cruise Feels Like
Boarding is brisk and the pace deliberate: over roughly two hours the Natchez slips upriver and back while passengers settle into buffet plates or plated dinners, the paddlewheel marking each passing minute. The short duration concentrates the experience — meal service, river panoramas and, at night, live jazz — into a single, memorable passage.
THE HISTORY
The Last Steam-Powered Paddlewheeler
The Natchez is the last remaining steam-powered paddle wheeler on the Great Mississippi River — a living relic that carries daily passengers for lunch and dinner cruises.
THE ROUTE
Lunch and Dinner on the Water
Daily lunch buffets and evening dinner cruises offer a compact, two-hour outing that places meals against the slow rhythm of the river and the changing light toward sunset.
THE SOUNDTRACK
Live Jazz at Dinner
Dinner cruises include live jazz — a deliberate pairing that turns the Natchez into a roaming music venue as the river passes by.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this cruise suits — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Daily departures: lunch cruises depart at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM; dinner cruises depart at 7:00 PM. Each cruise runs about two hours.
Operator materials do not list special equipment requirements for passengers; standard items for comfort on the water (light layers for evening sailings) are typical.
Options include daily lunch and dinner sailings with distinct adult, child and infant pricing; check operator listings for current fares and availability.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Steamboat Natchez cruise?
Each cruise lasts about two hours.
When do the lunch and dinner cruises depart?
Lunch cruises depart daily at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM; dinner cruises depart daily at 7:00 PM.
Does dinner include live music?
Yes — dinner cruises include live jazz.
What are the pricing tiers for adults, children and infants?
Prices are tiered by age: adults (13+) and children (6–12) are charged different rates; infants 5 and under sail free.
Is the Natchez a steam-powered paddle wheeler?
Yes — the Natchez is the last remaining steam-powered paddle wheeler on the Mississippi River.