New Orleans City Tour and Riverboat Cruise 6.5 hr - Image 1
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New Orleans City Tour and Riverboat Cruise 6.5 hr

TourTruth score 3.8 out of 10

Below average

491 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • New Orleans
  • 6 hrs 30 min
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Explore New Orleans landmarks with a guided city tour, then cruise the Mississippi aboard an iconic riverboat.

About this tour

See New Orleans by street and river on a city tour that pairs historic neighborhoods with a Mississippi cruise. This New Orleans City Tour and Riverboat Cruise brings the city’s landmarks and stories into view, from the French Quarter and Jackson Square to the Garden District and Audubon Park, depending on the route.

Ride through the city with a guide narrating its history and highlights, with photo stops along the way. Some departures include time to purchase lunch or stop for beignets and coffee at Cafe du Monde. Then board an iconic riverboat for a narrated cruise on the Mississippi. Cruise length and vessel vary by departure: options include a 75-minute trip aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS or a two-hour sailing on the Steamboat NATCHEZ. The NATCHEZ may be replaced by its sister vessel during inspections or maintenance.

With a guided city ride and river views in one outing, this New Orleans City Tour and Riverboat Cruise offers an easy way to take in several sides of the city. Check your voucher for the meeting point and departure details, then come ready to explore New Orleans from both land and water.

Highlights

  • Explore the French Quarter and other historic neighborhoods with a local guide
  • See New Orleans landmarks on a narrated city tour
  • Cruise the Mississippi aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS or Steamboat NATCHEZ
  • Pause for lunch or sample beignets at your own expense
  • Capture photos at notable city sights

What's included

Included

  • Guided New Orleans sightseeing experience
  • Expert local tour guide
  • Narrated motorcoach city tour
  • Mississippi River cruise aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS or Steamboat NATCHEZ

Not included

  • Guide gratuities
  • Lunch, food, and drinks unless specified
  • Beignets and coffee at Cafe du Monde
  • Refreshments and souvenirs available for purchase aboard the boat

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Important information

  • One departure meets at Cafe Beignet in the JAX Brewery Building, 600 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130; arrive 15 minutes early with your barcoded voucher.
  • Another departure requires voucher exchange at the Gray Line window in the Lighthouse ticket office at Toulouse St and the Mississippi River, near the Steamboat Natchez Dock.
  • A minimum number of participants may be required for the tour to operate.
  • Infants must sit on an adult's lap; strollers are permitted.
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  • Wheelchair storage is available on tour vehicles. Scooter access requires arrangements with the supplier at least 48 hours in advance.
  • Riverboats are wheelchair accessible, but some decks are reached by stairs and onboard restroom stalls may not accommodate wheelchairs.
  • For a same-day combination of paddle and bus tours, book the 9 a.m. departure.
  • The Steamboat NATCHEZ may be replaced by the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS during inspections or maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the tour?

The combined experience lasts about 6.5 hours. The city tour is approximately 3 hours, and the cruise lasts 75 minutes or 2 hours depending on the departure.

Which Riverboat will I cruise on?

The cruise may be aboard the Steamboat NATCHEZ or the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS. The CITY of NEW ORLEANS may substitute for the NATCHEZ during inspections or maintenance.

Where does the tour meet?

Meeting locations vary by departure. Check your voucher for the assigned location, which may be Cafe Beignet at the JAX Brewery Building or the Gray Line window at the Lighthouse ticket office.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Riverboats are wheelchair accessible, though some decks require stairs and restroom stalls may not accommodate wheelchairs. Tour vehicles can store folding wheelchairs; scooter access requires advance arrangements.

Are food and drinks included?

Lunch, food, and drinks are generally at your own expense. The tour includes a lunch stop or a Cafe du Monde stop depending on the departure.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.24 on Viator and 5.00 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in New Orleans
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 3.8.

Provider rating distribution in New Orleans

How many tours in New Orleans have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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