The 7 Best Boat Trips in New Orleans

Personally, I love boat trips in New Orleans, from classic cruises on the Mississippi to exciting hydrofoil rides that take you deep into the nearby swamps. That's why I want to recommend some of my favourite boat trips. This is one of the activities you can't miss out on when visiting New Orleans, especially if you're travelling with your partner.

Of course, these types of tours are also suitable for the whole family, even with children. When you travel by boat, other services are usually included on board to make your trip even more enjoyable. I'll tell you more about the options you can choose from, including an exciting airboat tour of the swamps, if you want to discover Louisiana's nature in a different way.

Discover the wildest side of Louisiana aboard a propeller-driven airboat that glides through the narrow swamp channels. For about three hours, an expert guide will stop the boat so you can get a close-up view of moss-covered cypress trees, submerged tupelo trees and the varied local wildlife: alligators, turtles, snakes and herons are just some of the stars of this unique ecosystem. All you have to do is sit back, enjoy the scenery and get ready to take some spectacular photos.

The shallow-draft boat allows you to reach places inaccessible to other boats, while the guide shares stories about the flora, fauna and Cajun traditions. For added convenience, you can add a return transfer to your hotel at the end of the tour to round off a perfect adventure in the heart of nature.

Details of interest

• Price: From around £50 per person (approx.).
• Duration: Around 3 hours in total.
• Transport: Airboat with guide; return transfer to your hotel available.

This is an experience aboard one of the most popular boats in New Orleans, cruising the Mississippi in the morning and seeing the bustling port of New Orleans from a different perspective.

The boat is steam-powered and paddle-driven, making this New Orleans cruise a traditional and fun experience. On board, you can listen to jazz symphonies played on the organ while the captain tells you a little about the history of New Orleans. You can enjoy a Creole lunch of your choice.

Details of interest

• Price: The approximate price per person for this experience is 35 euros.
• Duration: The duration of the tour from the time you board the boat until you disembark is approximately two hours.
• Transportation: You must make your own way to the port and board the boat. The rest of the tour takes place on board the steamboat.

A journey back in time to learn about the history of one of the most famous battles of the Anglo-American War, the Battle of New Orleans. During this historic cruise, you will have the opportunity to learn in detail what happened during this final battle of 1815.

While enjoying this historical and storytelling experience, you will also be able to sample different flavours of the local cuisine and see the activity of the port of New Orleans, as well as relax during the peaceful steamboat ride.

Details of interest

• Price: This steamboat cruise is available for approximately £39 per person.
• Duration: The entire tour takes around two and a half hours.
• Transportation: To get to the port and board the boat, you will have to make your own way there, and I recommend walking. Once you board the boat, the tour takes place on board.

For two hours, you can cruise the tranquil waters of the Mississippi River while enjoying a delicious dinner and live jazz music on board. This tour is usually operated by the Natchez steamboat.

This is one of those boat trips that you cannot miss on your itinerary of what to see and do in New Orleans in 3 days, as the route takes you to discover the surrounding landscape and, of course, the interior of the boat, giving you access to the four decks with spectacular views, including the upper deck where you can enjoy dinner.

Details of interest

• Price: The price is per person and you can get a place on the boat for approximately £40.
• Duration: This tour lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours.
• Means of transport: You must make your own way to the port and then board the boat that will take you on the river tour. The best option is to walk, as the port is very close to all the hotels in the area.

This is a completely private and luxurious experience around Lake Pontchartrain, aboard a luxurious yacht with all the amenities you need for a wonderful evening. It is an experience you can enjoy both during the day and at sunset to enjoy the sunset. I recommend the latter as an activity to see and do in New Orleans at night.

This is a VIP tour that also includes an experienced captain who will take you around the area in complete safety. Inside the boat, you can enjoy some snacks and refreshing drinks of your choice.

Details of interest

• Price: To enjoy this experience, you will need to pay around £170 per person.
• Duration: This tour lasts approximately two hours from start to finish.
• Transportation: You will need to make your own way to the boarding point. Once you set sail, the tour will take place on board the yacht.

This is a VIP experience that you definitely cannot miss. It is a luxurious steamboat tour where you will have the opportunity not only to see the interior of the ship, but also the engine room and meet the first officer.

This is a premium cruise where you will be welcomed with champagne to start the evening. After touring the interior of the ship, you can sit in your designated seat, listen to live jazz and enjoy a buffet dinner featuring a variety of local dishes.

Details of interest

• Price: This experience costs approximately £120 per person.
• Duration: This is a short two-hour tour, which is enough time for a wonderful evening.
• Transportation: You must make your own way to the boat, which you can even do on foot, given the proximity of the hotels to the port. After boarding, the tour will continue by boat.

If there's one boat trip you absolutely must take when visiting New Orleans, it's one of the best tours of the plantations and swamps along the banks of the Mississippi River. On this tour , you'll see the mansions and plantations that have stood here since before the Civil War.

It is also an incredibly interesting experience if you are a nature and animal lover, as you will be able to see the lifestyle of the species that inhabit these muddy swamps of the Mississippi River. In addition, on the excursion you will try authentic Cajun food. It is a tour not to be missed.

Details of interest

• Price: This day-long experience is available for approximately £220 per person.
• Duration: This full-day tour lasts 9 hours.
• Transportation: From pick-up at your hotel to the place where you will board the airboat, transportation will be by bus equipped for the trip. After that, the tour will be conducted by airboat.
• Advantages of this tour: You will see the most significant plantations in New Orleans, observe the wildlife common to the area's swamps, and sample authentic Cajun cuisine. Service animals are allowed with prior notice. Child seats are available. This tour operates in all weather conditions.
• Disadvantages of this tour: Pregnant women and people with back problems, as well as children under 5 years of age, are not eligible to experience the airboat ride.

To book a boat trip from New Orleans, the first thing you need to know is whether you want to take part in one of the best tours of the New Orleans swamps or if you prefer a more leisurely tour of the city's river areas.

You can choose between steamboats, luxury yachts, boats and hydrofoils, each of which aims to show you different landscapes and promises to give you a unique experience. In both cases, you have the option of choosing group or private tours.

To make a reservation, you need to be aware of the booking and cancellation policies, in case the tour is cancelled due to bad weather or other similar factors.

Once you have verified the necessary information before making your reservation, you must ensure that you provide all your details and those of the people who will be participating with you, as well as any limitations each person may have.

It is necessary to take into account all the possible reasons why you or your companions may not be able to participate in the experience, to avoid booking and then cancelling due to personal limitations.

The duration of this type of tour depends on the number of bayous and swamps you will visit during your trip, but it is generally an excursion that does not exceed three hours.

These types of experiences are designed to give you a fun tour of some of New Orleans' riverways and waterways, but some swamp tours may include visits to plantations, which makes the experience even longer.

If you don't want to get on a boat to visit the swamps, but would prefer a more leisurely steamboat ride on the Mississippi, the duration will depend on the type of trip you choose and the time of day you want to take the tour.

The latter type of trip usually lasts a little longer when taken during the day. If it is a night-time trip, it is unlikely to exceed two hours on board. On weekends, steamboat rides usually last about four hours or a little longer, with musical entertainment.

For motorboat and private yacht rides, the trip is usually a little shorter, but the experience on board is more personalised. In this case, the trip can last from an hour and a half to two hours.

A hydrofoil (airboat) is a flat-bottomed boat powered by an aerial propeller that allows it to glide over shallow water and swampy areas without damaging the vegetation or getting stuck. This design makes it the perfect boat for exploring Louisiana's wetlands, which is why it has become almost as iconic as jazz or gumbo in New Orleans.

Thanks to its manoeuvrability, it can venture into the narrow meanders of the Barataria Preserve, Honey Island Swamp or the bayous near Lake Pontchartrain, where the depth is sometimes no more than a few centimetres.

In addition to its cinematic appearance—it has starred in countless documentaries and films set in the southern United States—the hydrofoil brings travellers closer to an ecosystem teeming with life: alligators, herons, turtles and moss-covered cypress trees are the usual backdrop for the tour. If you want the full experience, book a hydrofoil ride through the swamps of New Orleans and let a local guide show you the flora, fauna and legends that inhabit these unique landscapes.

• Dress in layers, as the weather in New Orleans tends to be very changeable, so you may feel cold one moment and hot the next.
• Depending on the type of boat trip, you can wear closed-toe shoes or light shoes.
• For boat trips to explore the swamps, I recommend protecting your electronic devices, such as your phone and camera, to prevent them from getting splashed with mud or water.
• If you are going on a steamboat or yacht trip on the Mississippi River or Lake Pontchartrain, I recommend wearing sunglasses to protect yourself from the wind.
• If you are bringing children, always remember to adjust their water safety equipment as a precaution.

If you are passionate about sailing and all similar activities, then this is the activity for you. I recommend taking a boat tour on some of New Orleans' river canals to discover everything these places have to offer.

From wildlife-filled swamps to peaceful tours through New Orleans' history, a boat trip is definitely something you have to do if you are visiting the city.

The Mississippi offers a wealth of special places to take photos, while several of the boats, ships and yachts that tour the area will allow you to sample the city's outstanding cuisine through their buffet service.

During these onboard experiences, you can also learn about the history of New Orleans from captains and expert tour guides. These are simply essential tours of the city.