Riverboat City of New Orleans

This is a fun two hour cruise up down and back on the river. They do a lunch and dinner cruise. Lunch was a sample of local foods that you will find throughout your visit.

A group of us recently experienced the evening jazz cruise while in town. The boarding process was very easy and since we didn't purchase the dinner package we were sent up to the 3rd and 4th decks. The 3rd deck has indoor and outdoor space while the 4th deck is all outdoor. Before starting our tour we were given some facts about the boat and the river and then we were off. The cruise heads down the river 6 miles and then turns around to head back. We enjoyed how quiet and peaceful sitting outside on the decks were. Some of our group had a great time dancing to the band who sounded great. The bar never had a big line and had a nice selection of drinks and snacks to choose from. Overall we had a good time and would like to visit again during the day to try a sightseeing tour.

So I was hoping this was going to be a romantic dinner and view of the city of New Orleans but I was greatly disappointed. They started boarding at 6pm sharp, no major issues. Depending on your dinner time (we selected the 7pm upon reservation) they told us what level we could go to. We went up to the top level where they did have a live jazz band. They were really good, and a bar where we could purchase drinks while we wait for our dinner time. That was probably the best part of the evening. For the record...you're docked the entire time you're eating dinner. There's no trip up and down the Mississippi until about 1.5 hours in. Now. To the part that had me most unimpressed...we went down to the 1st level for dinner and were immediately seated and told our server would be with us. About 20 min later our server finally arrived. I wasn't sure how this went so we asked, do we order etc. Well, it's buffet style so we went up and got "food". That was the WORST food I've ever tasted. It was so bad the only thing I ate was the banana foster and bread pudding desert. The gumbo literally made me want to vomit and tasted sour. After that "meal" we decided to go up and out on deck to enjoy the view. Was it worth it ...NO. If you're still interested in doing it, do NOT pay for the dinner. It's straight trash!

We booked the 7pm jazz cruise. After reading reviews we decided the food was not going to be worth the extra price and would detract from our enjoyment of the jazz and the sights. That was a good choice. Although the food on the buffet looked good, we wanted to spend our time outside and enjoying the sight seeing and jazz. We boarded at 6:20 and we were surprised at how few seats were left. We did get a good spot still by the jazz band on the top deck in the back. The band was already playing (probably started at 6 when people could board). We enjoyed the bad and got a couple of drinksThe first disappointment we had was that the drinks were subpar. The description of a mojito on the menu sounded so good. Rum, lime, passion fruit juice.... Unfortunately they added none of those things. It was a canned mojito. I watched them open the can and pour it in. Yuck! It taked like club soda. That drink was $9 and was the only one I bought after that disappointment. After the cruise launched, we were able to get a breeze going and the temperature was much more bearable. We were in the sun and it was 100 degrees. Water was $2 a bottle and was very necessary. The band stopped playing when we launched and they told us they were taking a 5 minute break which would be 45 minutes for us(not funny). A narrator talked us through the history and sights we saw along the way until the point where we turned around to come back. There was a good view of the sunset from where we sat. The next disappointment was the band. Although they were good, they only played from 6-7, they dont play on your trip down the river, then they played a few minutes and took another 15 minute break. I am pretty sure they didn't play more than 40 minutes of the cruise itself. Not what I expected from a jazz cruise. On top of that, during their play time, they begged for tips after every song. It is okay to mention tips maybe 3 times during the cruise, but if they are getting paid so little that they have to beg (it was significant) between every song, maybe the cruise company is not paying them adequately and should up their pay and limit the number of times they can ask about tips. Overall. I did like the cruise, but you should be aware of what you are getting.

Awesome fun great time with family and friends totally worth it. Very awesome to see the views of New Orleans and if you choose to do the food like we did it was delicious tradition or New Orleans style food.

The highlight of an evening spent on the City of New Orleans is not the food or the music, or dancing, but the ride itself down the mighty Mississippi that is guided by a voice over the loud speakers. Our tour guide was funny, informative, and a great orator! We did the dinner cruise, which was in all ways but one, less than stellar. The buffet style food was nothing to write home about with over cooked pasta, congealed, dry chicken, green beans that lacked flavor and were also too long in a steam table. The bread was hard and dry. The salad had a beautiful selection of greens but little else, two grape tomatoes, and some vinaigrette that lacked in seasoning. The only thing worth eating was the gumbo. It was amazing and full of flavor. If only it had more than the base and rice in it. Perhaps some andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, onions or peppers. The dessert was bananas foster which was yum!If the tour line was smart they'd change directions and serve a better salad, nix the buffet, and serve a large bowl of well made original gumbo with fresh bread. The food cost would be the same and their patrons would enjoy a real Cajun meal that tastes good, not to mention the food waste would greatly reduce. The meal service itself was chaotic. Lots of staff running around trying to get tables set and organized and the buffet ready, but the room lacked leadership and several staff members could be heard arguing amongst themselves. Probably not the best representation for a tour. The boat staff at the bars and all around the vessel were extremely kind and friendly. I did notice one young man in uniform help an elderly woman up a set of stairs. That is what I call service from the heart. I watched as he walked up to her on her second step and offered his arm. He was taught well and didn't need to be told. He just served. Well done. The music was wonderful, the only complaint I have is there was nowhere for dancing, which I truly had hoped to do. Overall, we'd definitely return for the experience, however we'd forgo the dinner the next trip.

My wife and I went on the Sunday brunch jazz cruise on the City of New Orleans. The brunch was excellent and the service was superb. Adam, our server, deserves high praise and went above and beyond. Great views of the city and good jazz music by a live band.

I took the evening jazz cruise on the City of New Orleans. I'm not interested in eating on a boat in New Orleans when there are so many great restaurants, so I chose the non-dinner option. It was good to get there early and get on board, though they were having technical problems with the bar on the top level for a while, so I just waited until later to get a drink. The band (located on the top level but piped throughout the ship) was wonderful (though their breaks were overlong). Fortunately, while on break, jazz muzak broke the silence. The music and drinks were nice, but the real joy was the leisurely paddleboat ride down the Mississippi under a full moon, seeing the barges and other tour boats, and then watching the fog roll in as we returned to the dock. There are plenty of chairs and places to sit and watch the world go by. Bring a jacket or sweater because it gets a little cool in the boat, and be aware that the deck gets slick, so walk carefully.

Nice daytime sail. Narration was interesting. . Lunch was lousy. Fried fish, some kind of sausage, weird rice and red beans slop. Small square of bread pudding tasted better than it looked. Save your dime and eat elsewhere. You can just book the trip without doing the lunch. Jazz band played, they were very good

We weren't quite sure what to expect, but we had a 5 star experience and this was one of the highlights of our trip to New Orleans. Awesome day for a riverboat ride - worst part was standing in line to get on the boat! We signed up for the Fall Ya'll package which included drinks and a taste of New Orleans lunch - so worth it! I had seen reviews complaining about the food - but hey - we are foodies and our food was AMAZING. We were served almost as soon as we sat down - fish was tasty, red beans and rice and jambalaya were all good and hot. Nice little bread pudding for dessert too. The drinks were generous and the live 3 pc band playing jazz on the top deck was wonderful and entertaining. Really a lovely overall experience and would highly recommend if you want to slow things down from the hustle and bustle of the french quarter.