My wedding on this Paddlewheeler was absolutely beautiful!!! Karen was the most perfect wedding coordinator for my boat wedding! She made sure I had everything I needed during the reception. I live in Florida and had to coordinate everything long distance. She was the perfect one for the job! My guests loved the food! I would definitely recommend this Paddlewheeler if you're saying "I do"! read more

A great time was had on this vessel! The food buffet was ok as some items that should've been warm were cool. But the bread pudding was awesome! Yall this place is definitely a good time ! read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - On the river cruising - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

We did the July 4th cruise and everyone especially the bartenders and Shamess who delivered the pictures for sale were amazing. The views for the fireworks were great and the boarding was orderly. Only complaint was they ran out of Mac and Cheese read more

See all

This is the second time we've taken this boat cruise. We got so much out of it before that we wanted to take our son. This is a traditional paddlewheel boat with three levels. The top level has a bar counter and tables under a canopy. Up front there are benches so you are looking straight ahead as you travel. The middle level has a nice indoor dining room. You can order traditional Louisiana dishes. Outside the dining room are benches. We chose to sit on the top level facing forward, but it was so cold in front, we moved to the tables in the rear. There is a wonderful narrator letting you know when you pass interesting sites. The Domino Sugar factory that you pass is really something to see, and it's hard to believe it's still in use. They make a stop at the Chalmette Battlefield (you can get off the boat or stay and relax on the boat). There is a tour guide who talks about the battleground, which is pretty interesting. The best thing about the Creole Queen is the narrator. After the battlefield, the second half of the tour focuses on Hurricane Katrina. He wants that it can be disturbing and announced that if you didn't want to hear it, you can go to the dining room, as it isn't broadcasted in there. He is very candid, and I learned so much about the terrible way Hurricane Katrina was handled, as well as just how terrible the hurricane was. It was very, very sad. I highly recommend this tour. As I said, we enjoyed it so much the first time that we wanted to go back and share it with our son. read more

See all

We enjoyed our afternoon cruise on the Creole Queen on June 20. The historian's narration on the trip out was interesting and entertaining. Parts of the boat were closed off because of a private party. We got off the boat at Chalmette Battlefield, but were caught in a downpour and got right back on the boat. The cruise back was accompanied by recorded songs associated with New Orleans, which set a nice mood. If any of those things would detract from your trip, check the weather and the access to parts of the boat before you buy your tickets. read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - View of St. Louis Cathedral from boat. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We had an amazing wedding onboard the Creole Queen. The coordinator, Karen, was amazing to work with from start to finish. My original wedding was planned onboard a different NOLA-based competitor's ship but they ended up cancelling my wedding, which was extremely stressful at the time, but a blessing in disguise. Karen worked with us and helped us plan an even better wedding event. All of the staff were amazing on the day of, especially our officiant, Captain Brian. The Creole Queen was a fun and unique wedding venue. The food and drinks were delicious and the band onboard who did our second line were awesome! read more

See all

Great time on the water, enjoyed learning about New Orleans history in this setting. Got to visit Chalmette Battlefield, which I wouldn't have otherwise sought out. Very pleasant experience! read more

See all

Activity 2: Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Mississippi River Cruise 1 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA It was a 2-hour Mississippi River cruise with Creole Queen, included in our Go City Pass (worth $47). You'll need to reserve ahead, then exchange your pass for a paper ticket at the booth before boarding. Bags get checked, and hang on to your ticket. (it's needed again after the stop.) I boarded at 2PM (without the meal plan) and cruised past landmarks like the Crescent City Connection bridge, St. Louis Cathedral, Domino Sugar Factory, and more. The highlight? A 50-minute stop at Chalmette Battlefield, site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, where General Andrew Jackson led U.S. forces to victory. Even though the visitor center was closed, a park ranger was on site to give us a quick history rundown. My husband and I didn't have time to walk to the National Cemetery, which holds over 15,000 graves from various U.S. wars. It had just been beautifully decorated with flags for Memorial Day that something our guide said took 200 volunteers four hours to complete! A ship photographer offers printed photos at the end (He took the photos before boarding.) Kinda pricey at $25 for two, but we couldn't resist grabbing one as a keepsake. Bonus: Right next to the dock is Riverwalk Outlets where is perfect for a little shopping before or after the cruise! This river tour was a great mix of views and history. If you're into both, definitely add it to your New Orleans itinerary! Our next stop: just a 3-minute walk to Vue New Orleans. Activity 3 coming up! read more

See all

My wife and I were in New Orleans celebrating our 35th anniversary. We were taking in the sights and sounds of "The Big Easy" and HAD take in a paddle-wheeler experience. We booked a Saturday Jazz Brunch after reading reviews and looking at the menu. The Creole Queen is located off the River Walk. We used the sightseeing "hop off and on" tour bus to get us within walking distance of the boat. I'd checked beforehand to ensure the boat and facilities was handicap accessible since I'm an amputee and would be in a mobility scooter. Boarding early, I had a few steep obstacles to overcome but with the help of the crew, I boarded the boat safe and sound. The brunch buffet dining room was a level down. They had a safe stair lift. As you can see from the photo, the stairway was very steep. It was a fun ride down the stairway. What a beautiful dining room! After getting off the lift, we were greeted with a smile and shown to our table. They took our drink orders and said the buffet was ready for us anytime we were ready. Our server also mentioned the bar at the back had some special drinks for our brunch. My wife opted for a New Orleans staple, a Hurricane, and I decided to try the bar's Mango Delight. Both of our drinks were so delicious and reasonably priced. What an incredible buffet! There was fresh fruit, Chicken & Andouille Gumbo with Louisiana rice, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, breakfast sausage, home-style potatoes with grilled onions and peppers, Spinach Madeine (baked fresh spinach folded with sauteed onions, milk, cream cheese, spices; topped with pepper jack cheese), French toast with powdered sugar and syrup, New Orleans barbequed shrimp with creamy grits and, of course, bread pudding. Incredible! the food was amazing and was kept fresh and piping hot on the buffet. I ate my fill of the phenomenal bread pudding. It was AMAZING. After getting our tummies happy, we went outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. The paddle-wheeler cruise was around an hour and a half and well worth the cost. The staff was phenomenal especially helping me with any barriers in the ship due to my accessibility. read more

See all

We had a lovely cruise on the Mississippi today We opted for the historic tour with the buffet. The food was great. The staff was so friendly. We will definitely be back next time we want to try the nightly jazz cruise. read more

See all

I booked a jazz, dinner cruise during my visit. The Creole Queen has an old vibe and nothing special. The food was "okay." Most of the food was TOO salty. There was no gravy for the mashed potatoes or a ladle for the meat sauce. The only item that wasn't salty was the green beans. The chicken was decent. The gumbo was salty. I had one spoon. Their dessert was sad. There was only one selection and way TOO sweet. I'm glad I didn't pay full price. The views were nice on the Mississippi River. There was a nice breeze to cool off. read more

See all

The historical tour was interesting BUT the presentation of Andrew Jackson as Savior of the United States didn't accurately represent him as a racist, president, especially towards Native Americans. That being said, the rest of the tour was informative and relaxing. I enjoyed the New Orleans themed playlist. read more

We went on this with our family. There was 9 of us and it was a fabulous and fun time. The food was absolutely great for $20 and the staff was very friendly. It was so fun for an outing. read more

See all

Decided day of to book the evening mass cruise (without dinner). Service and mass band was top notch!!! We have a great time and took some great pictures. The Muddy River Time Machines jazz band was extremely entertaining and talented!!! Will definitely go back when returning!! read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - New Orleans skyline - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

We went on a Saturday night jazz cruise complete with a dinner buffet. I was so excited about their menu, which included Gumbo, Jambalaya, Cajun Baked Chicken, Beef Brisket, Shrimp Alfredo Pasta, Red Beans & Rice, Cajun Green Beans and Bread Pudding. Unfortunately most of the food was so salty. I could only manage one bite each of the gumbo and jambalaya. What a huge disappointment, that was our big family dinner in a city known for its amazing food. The staff was spectacular and if you have someone in your party that uses a wheelchair, they can accommodate them with their chair lift since the dining room is on the bottom level. I had heard other reviewers rave about the tour guide so I was hoping we would be able to hear a narration inside, then go outside for the jazz music, but there's no tour guide during the jazz cruise. Beautiful sites but it would have been nice to hear the story behind them. read more

See all

This review is for the dinner and Jazz cruise which was on a week night. We arrived and exchanged our receipt from purchasing on groupon at the booth and boarded right away. They first take you to the dining room but we were not hungry yet so we decided to wait and go upstairs to listen to the music. Before we went upstairs we did purchase a bottle of wine, a Cabernet which was from the Napa region and not overly priced. We made our way to a table in front of the band and finished our bottle before deciding we were hungry and headed back down to eat. By this time the dining room was empty but our table was still untouched, our server joked with us saying she almost made us a plate because the food was almost gone. It was a buffet so we served ourselves and there was still plenty, she actually went to the kitchen and brought us a fresh dessert which was very nice. The food was okay, but I didn't really expect much so I wasn't really disappointed. We were there for music, drinks and vibes which were outstanding. read more

See all

Had a great time on the dinner jazz cruise. The tickets were easy to purchase online. The boat is within easy walking distance to most river district hotels. The food was really good and had that Cajun flavor. The service was excellent. The views are spectacular especially as you are close to downtown or going under the bridge. There is a live jazz band playing and plenty of room to sit or stand. Excellent choice if looking for a great relaxing evening. read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Creole Queen - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Fun boat ride. The lawyer narrator was very good and informative. Fun way to spend the afternoon.

The staff here was absolutely wonderful! They were sweet. That atmosphere was good. The music was great, very talented musicians and an overall just a wonderful time. The food was very good as well. The indoor outdoor nature of the boat is convenient for the unpredictable New Orleans weather. The boat was clean and well staffed. read more

I'm giving this review 4 stars because the crew aboard the paddle wheeler were absolutely phenomenal. They all went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed in the dining room. The music added a beautiful ambiance to the evening. The food was ok but I found some things on the cold side. My favourite was the dessert....bread pudding. It was warm and deliciously sweet. We got some beautiful pics of the skyline. Definitely worth going just for the experience. read more

See all

Awesome last adventure we took while in New Orleans. Cruised up and down the crescent of the Mississippi River while given a fantastic educational history of how New Orleans was created. Get the food, too. It's great!! Must do!! read more

Took the cruise in April and enjoyed it greatly. Liked the historical information given as we cruised. I was on the wrong side for its full value and wish some locations would have been mentioned on the return trip. Very smooth trip, great even for those rarely on a boat. read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - New Orleans from the boat. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Took the trip to battle of New Orleans National Park. Historian Charles did a fabulous job walking us thru history of the river, the country's that ruled New Orleans and best of all a review of how Hurricane Katrina affected the city. Highly recommend! read more

This is absolutely worth the time. The history talk from Charles with the stories were the best part. The boat ride itself was nice. The food was ok but I am not a big seafood person so I didn't eat any of those dishes. All the crew was helpful and focused on safety. read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Boat - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would. Definitely a 10 out of 5! The whole experience was amazing! (Not to mention, we had good weather on our side.) Onboard, we were treated as esteemed guests from start to finish. And the food!!! Honestly, the food aboard the boat was some of the best we had throughout our 5-day stay in New Orleans. My favorite was the Red Beans and Rice, the Smoked Brisket, and the Gumbo. Seriously! Many thanks to the chef who prepared such a delicious buffet! After my fill of amazing New Orleans flavors, we strolled around the deck to enjoy the sights of the cityscape while a live band completed the experience with some jazz classics that this area is so famous for. Definitely a must-do-again the next time we visit. read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - New Orleans cityscape from the Mighty Mississippi - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen was one of the attractions offered with the Go City Pass. There were so many raving reviews, we made it one of the priority reservations for our visit. In retrospect, it was one of the more less exciting tours of our visit and one that I could have done without. From a processing point of view, most place would allow you to show your email confirmation as a ticket, but they make you go to their kiosk and check in for physical tickets before boarding. This adds an unnecessary part to the process, where we had to stand in the hot humid sun in an extra line, before getting into another line to board the ship. Outside food and drinks not allowed on board. There is a photo opportunity while boarding the ship with one of those floaty thingys. My poor boyfriend is always a victim to these photo traps. They have them ready and available for purchase during the second half of the trip back down the river. Seating is on a first come first serve basis. Normally when I go on these ship trips I like the top deck at the front of the boat with the wind in my face, but it was too hot and humid for that. There was also benches on the lower level exterior, or an indoor space that has a bar and air conditioned. For the indoor space, try to get a table against the window on the dock side. The other side does not have as great of a view. There are also tables farther out from the window, in which you lose the value of the view and this trip completely. If it wasn't obvious, I got a window seat in the indoor AC area by the bar where I enjoyed a few Makers and Ginger Ale. It's nice to say I was able to experience the Mississippi River and all of its' wonder. On the route there, we got some historical and cultural fun facts. I think the reason why I was less impressed is because I already heard two superior versions of the similar stories from other tour companies and the other experience was more upbeat and funny. The facts were on point but the energy level couldn't compare. To my surprise, they actually let us off the ship halfway through to walk around the Chalmette Battlefield for a bit under an hour to explore the grounds and the visitor's center. The National Cemetery was also nearby, but they told us we would not have time to travel that far. There was also the option to leave the tour and figure out a way to get back on your own. Just let them know. Try to get back a little earlier to secure a good seat once again. On the way back, the tour guide was to tell the story of Hurricane Katrina. What I don't get is that the audio was only available to those in the outdoor space, and not the indoor space. There were so many people who were interested who piled outside to listen to the story in the now overly crowded exterior HOT HUMID SUNNY area. Probably my least favorite tour during my visit to New Orleans, and in general my least favorite water tour in all of the country to date. Not impressed. read more

See all

I treated my daughters to a Sunday morning ride on the Mississippi with Princess Tiana and friends for their steamboat cruise. Seeing all of the families eagerly awaiting the boat launch and the children dressed in costumes was a beautiful sight to see. I hadn't been on this boat in a long time, but the food and drinks this visit were much better than I remembered. The staff was friendly and kind. The actors perfectly represented the characters. They embraced their roles and played along well with the children. Even I was excited to see Prince Navin. Until next time... read more

See all

We really enjoyed this guided paddleboat tour of the Mississippi River and nearby Chalmette Battlefield stop. The narrator was extremely knowledgeable and kept us entertained and informed throughout the journey. Time at the battlefield site was just about right for a walkabout and climbing of the tower before heading back to the port. We did not eat or drink on this cruise, so I cannot comment on those aspects. read more

See all

Creole Queen Jazz Cruise -Atmosphere -- you are on a boat eating a buffet of creole food listening to live jazz the Atmosphere is honestly the main thing here -Buffet --the buffet is honestly fine like nothing exceptional but it's buffet quality so can't be too harsh here nothing was bad and I would say the food was all solidly good Overall: I'm gonna give this an *A* the food itself is probably only C quality but the experience as a whole is really worth doing read more

A group of us took the cruise and learned a lot about the Battle of New Orleans and New Orleans history. Dr Lauren Tarantino was an amazing tour guide! Highly recommend this trip. Also, the food was good and the crew were great! read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Some of my birthday crew . - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We had a great time on our dinner jazz cruise on the Creole Queen. I bought tickets online for a Saturday evening. We boarded around 6:15 to leave around 7 pm. We went straight to the kiosk and they handed us our boarding passes. The kiosk is near the Riverwalk Outlets and next to the aquarium. We boarded right after picking up our boarding passes. The photographer took our photo before boarding. We ended up purchasing the printed copy for $24 once we were on board. They take card or cash. We boarded and went to a bar on the second floor and then headed to the first floor where they serve a buffet dinner. They checked our boarding passes to see that we purchased dinner and seated us at a table next to the window. The buffet was hot and ready before we even left the dock. We loaded a plate and tried everything. Plenty of cajun/creole staples. You can check the menu on the website. All the gumbo your heart desires. There were three proteins including chicken, beef and a fish. I was just happy to see some vegetables including a heavily dressed caesar salad. When we had our fill for dinner, we headed up to the top deck to enjoy the views and our ride along the Mississippi. The jazz band on board is great. They play for most of the 2 hour ride with a short break. Everyone looked like they were having a good time. 2 hours was a perfect amount of time. Recommend a jazz cruise if you're looking for something romantic and fun to do in NOLA. read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

If you're in New Orleans, you'll see the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Tour advertised everywhere, and I can definitely say it's a fun experience. The boat itself is pretty cool, and the views of the Mississippi River are beautiful. We booked our tickets through Groupon, which was much cheaper for the 2 pm tour with no food included. A few things to note before you go: if you want a spot on the top deck, make sure to get there early! We arrived at 1:30, and there were already 100 people ahead of us in line. Boarding is quick and efficient, and they check your bags, so don't bring any food. They do sell food and drinks on the boat, but we opted out since the food didn't look too appealing. The boat is accessible with ramps, so it's easy to bring strollers, wheelchairs, or anyone who has trouble with stairs, which is great. We decided not to buy food, and that worked out fine for us. The tour itself is informative, with the guide giving lots of historical context about the river and its significance. A quick stop at the Battlefield Grounds National Park is part of the tour, and I was happy to get my National Park passport stamped! However, be aware that to step off the boat and into the park, you'll have to go down stairs -- both on the boat and in the park itself. It would have been helpful if the tour guide had mentioned this beforehand, so we could have decided whether to leave the stroller on the boat. By the time we realized, it was too late, and we had to manage going down and up the stairs with the stroller. Once in the park, a ranger gives fantastic information, though I do wish we had more time to explore the area -- it was beautiful! During the boat ride, the guide provides a lot of interesting historical info with some great storytelling. However, on the way back, the tour guide only spoke through the speaker for those seated outside. Since I was with a baby in a stroller, I couldn't sit outside and missed that part of the tour. I think they could've done a better job accommodating people who couldn't be outside but still wanted to hear the commentary. Overall, it's a solid experience and definitely worth doing for the scenic views and historical info. Just be prepared for some logistical challenges, especially if you're traveling with young kids or a stroller. Still, I would recommend it for a nice, relaxing way to take in the river and learn a little about New Orleans' history! read more

While Charles the historian was absolutely excellent and the whole process of boarding and disembarking was flawless, . I have a couple of recommendations for making this a better cruise. The first one would be to make this non-smoking. The second one would you be make it so that the pictures are included in the cost. Or make a nominal fee like $10. $25 is much too high especially for Canadians when it converts to $40. The other option would be to make it an electronic link where you could pay a small fee and download it yourself. Because many people do not keep framed photos like that around the house. But overall a good experience. read more

We were a little skeptical since our experience started with the napping, unfriendly girl at the ticket booth. We definitely were interrupting her rest. But after that, everything was really good! The lady telling the history or our trip did a great job. And the park ranger at the battlefield was also very friendly. As well as the bartender on the boat! The trip was interesting and we had a great afternoon. read more

See all

Decent experience, but I definitely was hoping for a bit more. I am from NC, but visited NOLA for a friend's birthday trip in a group of 8 people. We purchased the Groupon for the Jazz Brunch Cruise. We all purchased the Groupon individually, but my friend was able to call and ensure that we were all able to be seated at the same table so that was convenient and good. Make sure you have your tickets when you go to present prior to boarding the boat. Although the line forms, seating is fine so no need to rush to the be in the front because you'll just be standing in the sun. When you board, there are some individuals who are just on the boat to ride while others are there for the brunch cruise so be aware of that. Those boarding for the brunch will go down the stairs and will be lead to their tables once entering the doors after checking in with the host. If you have a large group and you bought tickets separately, call to ensure that you're able to sit together and make sure you all come together to be sat quickly. Once you come on, you can go ahead and head to the bar or the buffet. They offer $20 unlimited mimosas if you'd like to purchase that on board as well as other drinks at the bar, including sodas since they aren't included in the brunch price. The food was was ok. Don't have high expectations for the food, especially because it is a buffet and they are pumping out mass amounts of food quickly. I know that NOLA is known for food, so I must say I was a bit disappointed, but in all honesty when it comes to buffets the quality may lack some. Once brunch was on it's way, the ship started moving, and about 30-45 minutes into the ride, they informed us we could go upstairs for the jazz band. You could also hear the bad playing throughout the ship through the speaker systems. I didn't really love the band. It was slow and not what that great. Most of the songs played were slow and just didn't work well for my liking. I was not impressed. They weren't bad, it just wasn't my style or what I wanted to hear. The ride was nice to spend time with my friends, but I wouldn't do this again on my next trip. I'd prefer to just grab brunch and explore the city on my own. read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Brunch plate - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

We had a wonderful touristy time on this jazz cruise! Dinner was included and tickets were $95, but we got a discount of $19 off each, so honestly not bad. The boat boarded at 6:30 and took off at 7, and we got back around 9. The food was a buffet downstairs, and featured salad, rolls, green beans, Cajun shrimp pasta, rice, different meats, and gumbo. Literally all of it was delicious. I expected lower of it to be honest, but in particular the green beans were out of this world, and the meats were delicious, as were the rolls and the pasta. It was self serve food with a server coming by to fill drinks and take plates, and everything was very efficient. There was a bar as well with cocktails and hot chocolate, and prices were good and the bartender was great. The ride was smooth and it was really lovely just standing and watching the water and the New Orleans skyline, and of course the music was absolutely fantastic. It was a great way to spend an evening. read more

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen - Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Easy to find at the port of NOLA...Charles was very informative, enjoyable cruise and yummy lunch! Thank you so much read more

From the beginning to end we had a wonderful experience. Staff greeted us and made us feel welcomed. As you can see video great food choices. Music was nice touch read more

See all

For $40 per person you can say you've rolled down the Mississippi! Not only that, but you've got a fabulous tour guide full of facts and history about NOLA, the Battle of Chalmette and the Mississippi River itself. It was a beautiful, warm day to be on the river and we sure did roll along. The only stop was at Chalmette Battlefield, to see cannons get shot off and for me to jump out of my skin. Lol We didn't do the buffet or food option because as vegans we just didn't see value in it. But the deck had plenty of room to stand and take in the views. It was a really lovely day out for a few hours and relaxing being on the water. Also a bit of a different perspective of NOLA. read more

See all

We went on afternoon cruise to the fort and back. We were given an hour at fort. They did have lunch options although we didn't eat. The bartenders were very friendly and the lines moved fast. Boat was clean and you could hear the guide well over speakers. read more

See all