Live Music Cruises in New Orleans: 13 to Book

1.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,533 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $58Our pick

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street Wharf in the French Quarter for an evening on the Mississippi. Enjoy a calliope concert, live jazz from the Dukes of Dixieland or another New Orleans band, narration, skyline views, and an optional Louisiana buffet with gumbo, crawfish etouffee, fried chicken, salad, and bread pudding.

“The ship was fun to explore. The jazz band was phenomenal. And the food…amazing! Was a great evening adventure.”

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2.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

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

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street Wharf for a two-hour Mississippi River cruise. You’ll hear live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, get onboard commentary, pass Chalmette Battlefield, and view New Orleans from the water. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, with an optional Southern-style buffet lunch.

“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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3.Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

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

Board the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS for a two-hour evening cruise from the French Quarter. Enjoy live jazz by the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland, a narrated ride along the Mississippi, four decks to explore, and full-service bars. Add the Creole buffet for gumbo, carved beef, seafood pasta, crawfish etouffee, and bread pudding.

“Food was excellent and the guide in the background telling us the history of the port of New Orleans and the Mississippi River was informative. Jazz was nice, it was a vibe. Lots of people there on date nights. Would definitely recommend!”

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4.Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

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

Spend two hours on the Mississippi aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, currently covering for the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Hear live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, listen to the captain’s narration, explore four decks and the engine area, and add a plated Creole lunch if you want catfish, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and bread pudding.

“Loved the authentic experience on the steamboat and the narration of the sights. The jazz band was good. And it was a good value for the money.”

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5.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,469 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Board the Creole Queen at 1 Poydras Street for a two-hour evening cruise on the Mississippi. You’ll hear live jazz, watch New Orleans glow from the promenade deck, and, if selected, eat a Creole buffet with gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, seafood pasta, and bread pudding. A cash bar is available.

“We throughly enjoyed the meal, music and experience cruising on the river in an old style river boat”

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6.Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner

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

Spend two hours aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, taking in New Orleans and Jackson Square from the Mississippi River. Sullivan Dabney Jr. and the Muzik Jazz Band provide live jazz, with time to dance after dinner. Choose the Creole buffet or cruise with drinks and music only. Boarding begins at 6:00 PM.

“Food was good; scenic view was good. Bathrooms needed updating and an attendant.”

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7.Sunday Jazz Brunch Cruise in New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 889 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Board at Toulouse Street in the French Quarter for a two-hour Sunday cruise with live jazz, narration, and optional buffet brunch. Expect gumbo, shrimp and grits, pain perdu, bananas Foster, and other Southern dishes, plus views from the decks and a look at the museum-quality engine room. Alcohol is available to buy.

“The breakfast was great and the service excellent. It was difficult to understand the captain’s talk through the old speaker system. It was extremely windy, but the ride was very smooth. The view along the MississyRiver was not very special.”

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8.VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 838 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $190

Board near the French Quarter for a three-hour VIP evening with a Champagne cocktail, reserved front-row seats for the Dukes of Dixieland, shrimp cocktail, Louisiana-style buffet, and a private vessel tour. Hosts such as Marlon and Brittany add personal service. The open-bar upgrade covers select cocktails, beer, and house wine.

“The Dixie blues/Jazz band was wonderful, the food was delicious. Our tour guide Brittany was amazing.”

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9.Sunday Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Brunch

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

Spend two hours aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, with live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, Mississippi River views, captain’s narration, and indoor or outdoor seating. Add the Creole brunch for gumbo, shrimp and grits, cinnamon rolls, king cake, and more. From November 2025 through March 2026, Sunday brunch cruises use the CITY of NEW ORLEANS.

“The food was excellent especially the gumbo. I had two bowls, disappointed that they said they had a waffle station and there wasn't one. All other food was okay.”

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10.New Orleans City Tour and Steamboat Natchez Harbor Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 446 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Spend about six and a half hours seeing New Orleans by narrated coach and riverboat. Visit Jackson Square, St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, City Park, the Garden District, and Audubon Park, then hear live jazz aboard a two-hour paddle wheeler. Guides such as Harris, Robert, and Katherine have earned special praise for clear, entertaining storytelling.

“Katherine was an amazing tour guide and gave us great recommendations for food and sights. I highly reccommend her. Melanie our bus driver was so sweet looking after my 87 yr old mom and all the other moms on the bus she made sure they got on and off the bus safely, offering water etc. I felt very safe with her driving skills. Both woman have wonderful personalities that made this trip delightful. 10 stars for this duo”

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11.Creole Queen Weekend Morning Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 139 reviews · 1h 30m · from $44

Spend a Sunday morning or early afternoon aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, cruising the Mississippi with live music from the Muddy Mississippi Band. Choose the cruise alone or add an all-you-can-eat Creole brunch with gumbo, shrimp and grits, biscuits, bread pudding, and more. Expect skyline views, a relaxed pace, and a dockside option if weather turns bad.

“Very nice Possible improvement would be cooling fans on deck”

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12.City Tour & Steamboat Daytime Jazz Cruise Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 73 reviews · 6 hours - 390 minutes · from $104

Spend the day seeing New Orleans from two angles: a two-hour Mississippi River cruise with live jazz and a three-hour bus-and-walking tour led by a local guide. Expect Jackson Square, St. Louis Cemetery #3, City Park, Lake Pontchartrain, St. Charles Avenue, and the Garden District. The boat may be the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS during Natchez maintenance.

“The cruise and bus tours was the best part of my time in New Orleans and if I ever came back again you bet I coming on for another joyful time. From their drinks to the live band and not forgetting the historic lessons that came along was all magnificent! Love love love the Natchez cruise combo. If anyone is having second thoughts please take word for it and give them a try. You won’t regret it!!!”

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13.Creole Queen Weekend Jazz Brunch Cruise on the Mississippi River

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $80

Board the Creole Queen at 11:00 a.m. near the French Quarter for a Creole-style brunch buffet, live jazz, and a Mississippi River cruise. The full outing lasts about 2.5 hours, with the river portion lasting about 1.5 hours. Alcoholic drinks, bottomless mimosas, Bloody Marys, and soda cost extra.

“Great short tour, food was good, music was awesome. This tour is good to take during day time as you can see the different buildings. At night all you can see is lights.”

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