There are some New Orleans experiences you can do almost anywhere—eat something fried, listen to live music, grab a drink.And then there are the experiences that make you stop and think, okay, this is why we came to New Orleans.Cruising down the Mississippi River on the Steamboat NATCHEZ was one of those for us. This had been sitting on our bucket list for a while, and after finally doing it, my biggest thought was that we should’ve done it sooner.

A Different Way to See New Orleans

New Orleans can be a lot—in the best possible way. There’s always somewhere to go, something to eat, music coming from somewhere, and another street you want to wander down. The riverboat was completely different.Once we got aboard and pulled away from the dock, everything slowed down. Instead of walking from place to place, we could grab a drink, find a spot outside, listen to the music and just watch New Orleans pass by from the Mississippi. And that ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire experience.

There’s More to Do Onboard Than I Expected

I originally pictured this as mostly a sightseeing cruise, but there’s actually quite a bit to explore onboard. There are two bars, plenty of outdoor seating, live music, and a self-guided steam engine room tour where you can go down and see the machinery that powers the boat. That last part was surprisingly interesting. You don’t just see New Orleans from an old-fashioned riverboat—you can actually walk through part of the boat and see how it works. If you’re someone who gets bored sitting in one place for too long, you definitely don’t have to spend the entire cruise at a table.

Come Hungry

You can also make a meal out of the experience.The Steamboat NATCHEZ offers lunch and dinner buffet options, which makes this especially nice if you’re trying to fit a lot into a New Orleans trip. Instead of choosing between sightseeing and stopping somewhere for a meal, you can essentially do both at once.Eat, grab something from the bar, listen to live music, head outside to take in the river views, then wander around the boat. That’s my kind of sightseeing.

What We Paid

Our total was about $87 for two people, which made me like the experience even more. New Orleans attractions can add up fast, especially when you’re paying for two people. For what felt like an entire outing rather than a quick attraction, I thought this was a pretty reasonable way to spend part of the day. Just keep in mind that ticket prices and what’s included can change, so I’d check the current options when you’re planning your trip.

Who I’d Recommend It For

This is one I’d put on the list for couples, families, first-time New Orleans visitors and even people who’ve visited the city before but have never actually experienced it from the Mississippi. It’s also a good option when you need a slower day. New Orleans has a way of turning “we’ll just walk around for a couple hours” into 19,000 steps and somehow ending up six neighborhoods away. This gives you something memorable to do without feeling like you’re racing from attraction to attraction.

Would We Do It Again?

Absolutely. It wasn’t just the boat or the views. It was the combination of everything—the Mississippi River, live music playing, drinks available, food, wandering around the boat and being able to sit outside and watch the city from a completely different perspective.It felt very New Orleans without feeling overly complicated or rushed. And for around $87 for the two of us, I walked away feeling like we’d found one of the better-value experiences from our trip. If the Steamboat NATCHEZ has been sitting on your New Orleans bucket list too, I’d make room for it. Sometimes the touristy thing is touristy for a reason.