Welcome back to Travel with D & E. Today, we are taking you on a journey down the historic Mississippi River aboard the Steamboat Natchez for a one-of-a-kind jazz cruise in the heart of New Orleans.  It was a rainy southeast Louisiana day, but we still greatly enjoyed the cruise. 

The Steamboat Natchez, located near Jackson Square in the historic French Quarter, is not just a sightseeing experience, but a feast for the senses, as the sounds of live jazz music fill the air,  smells and flavors of traditional Creole cuisine tantalize your taste buds, and the gentle sway of the river beneath your feet create a sense of tranquility and relaxation. 

As you step aboard the steamboat Natchez, you’re transported back in time to the golden age of steamboat travel down the mighty Mississippi River. As you walk along the ship, you will see panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the many unique sights along the way. 

Join us as we take you on a two-hour cruise aboard the Steamboat Natchez Dinner Jazz Cruise.  

Boarding the Steamboat Natchez

Now, to board the Steamboat Natchez, locate the ticket office and the wharf, which is at 400 Toulouse Street on the Mississippi River. That’s near the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, kind of behind Jax’s Brewery, on the river there.

So we boarded the ship while in a downpour, but we were going to have fun regardless. There are covered areas on the boat, so we basically staked out a spot, dried it off and got comfortable, ready to have a good time on the Steamboat Natchez Cruise.

Steamboat Natchez

So, let’s talk about the actual Steamboat Natchez. The New Orleans Steamboat Company launched the Steamboat Natchez in 1975,  creating a true steam-powered paddle-wheel ship, combining the best of contemporary construction, safety, and comfort, along with all the authenticity and style of her classic steamboat predecessors.  You will see some modern amenities while also showcasing the historical nature of the steamboat.

It’s the ninth of the steamboats on the Mississippi River called Natchez.  Her dimensions are 265 feet long, 46 feet wide, a six-foot draft, and she weighs in at 1, 384 tons.    It is the last authentic steamboat transiting the Mississippi River and the United States.

Its sister vessel, built in 2020, The City of New Orleans, is currently not sailing as it is in dock for renovations.

Steamboat Natchez: The Boiler Room

The boiler room houses the two Cleaver Brooks Fire II boilers, named Thelma and Louise. They produce a steady steam pressure of 210 pounds per square inch.  Fed by # two diesel oil, their constantly watchful engineer ensures the fire inside receives the proper amount of fuel, air, and water.  This earns him the title Fireman.   

Steamboat Natchez: The Engine Room

The museum-quality engine room, available for self-tour, has the Tandem Compound Condensing Reciprocating Steam Engines, a lot of words, from the steam-powered Tow Boat Claritin.  These engines have a 7-foot stroke and produce 2, 000 horsepower combined.  The steering gear toward the stern is also from the Claritin, as well as the large pitman arms that connect the engines to the paddle wheel. The Natchez uses two Cummins diesels, each producing 700 horsepower, to power generators rated at up to 350 kilowatts.  

Steamboat Natchez: The Paddle-Wheel

Now, the paddle wheel, the truly unique component of this kind of ship, is constructed of white oak and steel, measuring 22 feet by 25 feet and weighing 26 tons. It’s the sole means of forward and reverse motion. The shaft and cranks are from Clareton as well.

Sites and Landmarks on the Mississippi River 

Live narration of historical facts, along with the various landmarks you pass along the Mississippi River, is provided. 

Creole Queen Riverboat

First off, we do see the Creole Queen, and it’s a paddle wheeler, but it’s driven by a 24-foot-diameter paddle wheel and a GE diesel-electric system rather than the traditional bowler steam operation as on the steamboat Natchez. And the ship is operated by a different company.  

RoRo Ships in the United States Ready Reserve Fleet

The two gray ships you see here are called roll-on/roll-off ships, or RORO, for short. They have huge ramps that can be lowered for fast loading. They’re part of the U. S. Ready Reserve Fleet. In the event of war or other significant events, these ships can be loaded quickly and respond very fast anywhere in the world.  They can cross the Atlantic in six to six and a half days.  

Intercoastal Waterway

Next up is the canal leading to the entrance to the intercoastal waterway, where the tugboats below are waiting. It’s a navigable inland waterway maintaining a controlling depth of 12 feet, designed primarily for barge transportation. The vessels and barges must go through a locking system to either raise or lower the vessel when entering and exiting the Intracoastal Canal.

Lower Ninth Ward (Major Destruction from Hurricane Katrina)

Although difficult to see, the Lower Ninth Ward is off the north side of the Mississippi River here. This was the location of incredible flooding and destruction following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  

Jackson Barracks (Lower Ninth Ward)

Also in the Lower Ninth Ward is Jackson Barracks. The barracks now serve as headquarters for the Louisiana National Guard.  The complex has an extensive military museum, the old powder magazine, and a new annex with a large collection of military items from every American war. 

Domino Chalmette Sugar Refinery

The next landmark is the Domino Chalmette Sugar Refinery, originally built from 1905 to 1909. It’s currently the largest sugar refinery in the Western Hemisphere. They produce more than 7 million pounds of sugar daily. 

Chalmette National Historical Park

Now, right past this loading dock is the Chalmette National Historical Park, which is the site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, with a reconstructed American Rampart in the 1830s house and a 100-foot-high Chalmette Monument made of marble.  Chalmette National Cemetery was established during the Civil War and holds more than 14, 000 graves of Americans from the War of 1812 through the Vietnam War.

PBF Energy Chalmette Oil Refinery

And now you can see the PBF Energy Chalmette Oil Refinery. In 1915, the land for the refinery was registered in the name of Pelican Oil Company.  Since then, it’s evolved significantly, and the refinery’s ownership has changed hands numerous times.  PBF Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in North America. 

Mississippi River Traffic

 While underway, we’ve passed a number of ships, tugboats, and barges as we transit the river.

Live Jazz Music 

The Steamboat Natchez brings together a lineup of talented musicians who bring the spirit of New Orleans jazz to life.  From smooth saxophone solos to lively trombone melodies, live music on board the Steamboat Natchez creates a festive atmosphere perfect for dancing, mingling, eating, or simply soaking in the beauty of the river.  The dinner cruise features the New Orleans swing style live jazz band, the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland Jazz Band.  

Food and Beverage

The culinary offerings aboard the Steamboat Natchez are a true reflection of New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage, featuring a mouthwatering Creole buffet that showcases the flavors and spices of Louisiana cuisine. Items on the dinner menu include everything from salads to chicken and sausage gumbo, crawfish étouffée, corn maque choux, New Orleans bread pudding, and more. Other classic dishes on the buffet dinner menu include bayou seafood pasta, creole creamed spinach, and more.   There is something to satisfy every palate on this gastronomic journey down the Mississippi River.   Also note there are two dinner sittings that happen during the 2-hour cruise.

There is a cash bar on each level and a gift shop, if you want to pick us some souvenirs.  Their bars offer a variety of craft cocktails, beer, and wine.

New Orleans Skyline at Night

As the sun sets and the night darkens, the view from Steamboat Natchez becomes even more captivating with the city lights reflecting off the water and jazz music filling the night air.  It’s a magical moment to appreciate the beauty of the Mississippi River and the Big Easy (New Orleans) downtown sights. 

Cruise Types and Tickets

We chose the dinner jazz cruise, but there are also lunch and Sunday brunch jazz daytime cruises.  It’s highly recommended that you order your tickets well in advance due to the high volume of reservation requests. Get there no earlier than 30 minutes before departure to stake out a good place to sit, whether indoors to eat or outdoors to view. 

And remember, the ticket office for the Steamboat Natchez is at 400 Toulouse Street, on the Mississippi River, behind Jax Brewery, in the riverboat city of New Orleans.   This is in close proximity to the heart of the French Quarter.

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Parking

There are parking lots in the French Quarter on Decatur Street and adjacent to the dock. These lots are not property of or connected to the Steamboat Natchez operator, but do offer hourly parking.  We parked in one of the pay lots on Decatur Street.

Dress Code

The published dress code for those dining at the Steamboat Natchez is casual for lunch and Sunday brunch, and dressy casual for dinner.  We saw people eating on the dinner cruise wearing t-shirts and shorts.

Conclusion

The Steamboat Natchez is a great excursion for couples, for families, and kids. There’s plenty of sights, smells, and sounds to keep you occupied whether that be the boilers, the engine room, the paddle wheel, the open bar and food, great jazz music, along with a great narrative covering the interesting and historical sites as you transit down the Mississippi River. You will gain an authentic experience of a grand paddle wheeler!

Pair this excursion with a walking tour of New Orleans’ Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral.

Other tours in this area include:

• Steamboat NATCHEZ Daytime Jazz Cruise (Viator) – You will board the incredible Steamboat NATCHEZ on a daytime cruise on the Mississippi River, with options for food, open bar, etc.  It’s lots of fun. 
• Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans (Viator) – This tour brings you to the private Manchac Swamp, where you will get to see some alligators and other wildlife, and then for a self-paced audio tour of the incredible Whitney Plantation.
• Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans (Viator) – This tour brings you to the private Manchac Swamp, where you will get to see some alligators and other wildlife, and then for a self-paced audio tour of the incredible Whitney Plantation. 
• New Orleans Airboat Ride (Viator) – Take off on an airboat into the bayou country, into the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

And if you like this content, you’ll want to check out all our other posts and videos covering festivals, road trips, and other fun and interesting travel destination locations. Check out the Fun Things to Do in New Braunfels, TX, Texas Hill Country if you want a great destination idea.

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