The food was just so-so, very "cafeteria" in its taste. The band was acceptable, but with little/no dance area, patrons were reduced to simply listening. There were deck chairs outside, but the night we went it was far too chilly to stay outside any length of time. Perhaps the cruise would be more enjoyable in summer, when there is more light later in the evening, as is it was dark when we left the dock and you couldn't see anything. There was no narration or guide outside either, so you don't know what you are looking at.

The cost ($57 per adult) was too much for what we received also. I think you're better off skipping this attraction altogether, grabbing dinner at Old Nawlins Cookery (try the Creole mustard chicken), and going to Preservation Hall for jazz.

We arrived around 5:45pm and had our picture taken by the Natchez photographer. These photos are developed while you are on the two hour cruise and available for you to purchase as you leave the boat later.

The Natchez Crew was warm, friendly, and full of the southern hospitality. They start serving dinner at 6pm. Dinner consists of:

Sternwheeler Salad

Green Beans Almondine

Praline Chicken

Catfish Louisiane

Prime Rib

Mardi Gras Pasta Alfredo

Spinach Southern Style

Roasted Potatoes

French Bread and Butter

New Orleans Bread Pudding

Community coffee an ice tea are served at no additional charge with your meal. There is a bar on board and drinks are available for an additional charge.

The food was pretty good - but average as New Orleans meals go. The sunset was gorgeous and the music group Dukes of Dixeland give you a real feel for the crescent city. We found the trip enjoyable and would recommend the cruise highly - but suggest skipping the meal as there is no reason to eat a 'marginal' meal in New Orleans.

Steamboat Natchez

Entertainment Books

The view is astounding and the cruise worth your time. Not only do you get to watch the barges and see battleships, but you get a panoramic picture of New Orleans and you are told a lot of history to include the battle fields and the French Quarter settlement. The view of Algiers and the river itself is not to be missed.

The cruise offers a dinner at an extra price and you can go below deck to see the paddle wheels and all the machinery it takes to run the ship. The gift shop is rather high in price, but if you want to take something home from New Orleans, you can choose to spend an extra dollar or so to get it from this ship or find the many, many shops on Bourbon Street.

Upon arriving for our reserved time of sailing, we were immediately thrust into the 20th century as we lined up in roped off lines awaiting our unrequested photo before boarding. The romance and beauty of a bygone era was nowhere to be found as noisy, pushy throngs stampeded each other to get that all prized "best" seat on the boat.

Once seated the noise level did not diminish. We strolled to the interior parlor, decorated in worn grubby prints with tacky small tables and rickety chairs, to listen to the jazz band. They were entertaining, but not especially talented. The room was stuffy, so after consuming our expensive drinks - a buffet style lunch is optional, expensive, uninteresting, and unappetizing - we opted to enjoy the river with the wind in our face.

The "ugly Americans" were everywhere thinking they were the only ones on the boat and ruining the calm for others. The tour down the river on one side and then back up on the other was uneventful and rather boring. There just wasn't a lot to see other than some retired cotton warehouses.

The boat ride itself was relaxing but not nearly what we'd hoped for. As we disembarked, there were the photo hockers waiting to separate us from yet more hard earned money for a sub-par photo of us in front of an buoy that said Natchez. I could have done that at home myself. Needless to say, we left our copy for someone else.

It wasn't a bad experience, but having done it, there are a lot better ways to spend two hours and $50 in New Orleans than this. So much for the "beauty and romance of old New Orleans".

It's a very tranquil few hours on a warm, sunny day. If you like, you can go down to the dining room, have a drink, and listen to the live jazz band. It's all very pleasant and a nice chill-out option--not particularly exciting, though, as the landscape is flat and rather dull.