14 Riverboat Cruises in the USA That Earn the Road Trip

1.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,533 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $58Our pick

Board the Steamboat NATCHEZ at Toulouse Street Wharf for a three-hour evening experience, including one hour dockside and a two-hour Mississippi cruise. Hear the calliope, explore the engine room, enjoy live jazz from the Dukes of Dixieland or another New Orleans jazz group, and add a Louisiana-style buffet with gumbo, crawfish étouffée, fried chicken, and bread pudding.

“Incredible time with friends. The food was really good and plentiful. The service was exceptional. The jazz musicians were really good and the calliope at the beginning was fun. The ride was so smooth you forgot you were on a boat.”

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2.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,334 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street Wharf for a roughly two-hour paddlewheel cruise on the Mississippi. You’ll hear live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, listen to commentary about New Orleans and the Battle of New Orleans, and pass the Chalmette Battlefield. Add the Southern-style buffet lunch if you want a full meal on board.

“Good time with a nice meal. Very informative while on the river and the band was great to listen to.”

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3.Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,548 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Board at 6 p.m. for a 7 to 9 p.m. cruise from the French Quarter. You’ll hear live jazz from the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland, listen to a captain’s narration, explore four decks, and see New Orleans from the Mississippi. Add the Creole buffet if you want dinner onboard. The Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS currently replaces the NATCHEZ on evening cruises.

“Loved this trip.. very informative , loved hearing all the history along the river and views on night were spectacular. Band were amazing too!”

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4.Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,164 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Spend two hours aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, currently filling in for the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Hear the Steamboat Stompers, listen to live narration, inspect the paddle wheel and engine room, and move between four decks. Add a plated Creole lunch with catfish, red beans and rice, jambalaya, spoon bread, and bread pudding.

“This was so much fun! My wife and I took our niece for the lunchtime riverboat cruise, and we have a wonderful time. The weather was perfect, and the jazz band was excellent. Lunch was traditional NOLA style, fried catfish, red beans and rice, and bread pudding. Highly recommend!”

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5.90-Minute Savannah Riverboat Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,367 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $41

Cruise the Savannah River for 90 minutes aboard a traditional red, white, and blue riverboat. Hear live narration about Savannah’s port and past, pass Old Fort Jackson, and enjoy skyline views from climate-controlled cabins, open decks, or upper-deck benches. Food and drinks are available for purchase, but lunch is not included.

“Take a lightweight jacket! We were warm in the sunshine but lots of us donned our outerwear once we were underway in the cool breeze.”

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6.Savannah Land & Sea Combo: City Sightseeing Trolley Tour with Riverboat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,938 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $79

You’ll ride a 90-minute trolley through Savannah’s Historic and Victorian districts, Forsyth Park, City Market, and River Street, then board a 90-minute cruise toward Old Fort Jackson. Guides such as Chris, Joyce, Stephanie, and Steve have led especially engaging departures, though names vary. Hotel pickup is available from select Savannah hotels, and the midday gap leaves time for lunch by the river.

“Bus tour was great, enjoyable to be on water but packed and kids everywhere. There also is not a lot to see. Was nice and had bar and concessions. But overall not impressed.”

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7.Memphis City Tour with Optional Riverboat Cruise & Sun Studio Add-On Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,804 reviews · 2 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $45

Start with downtown hotel pickup and explore Memphis by narrated mini-coach. See Beale Street, Victorian Village, the Lorraine Motel, St. Jude and the Pyramid, then stop at A. Schwab and the Peabody Hotel. Add Sun Studio and a paddlewheel cruise for a longer Memphis day. Guides include Sam, Darryl, and Michelle.

“We had the best guide. Sam!! He was extremely knowledgeable and fun!! Learned so many things about Memphis”

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8.Jungle Queen Riverboat 90-Minute Narrated Sightseeing Cruise in Fort Lauderdale

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,753 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $31Best value

Take a 90-minute narrated Jungle Queen cruise from 801 Seabreeze Boulevard through Fort Lauderdale’s New River. Guides such as Mason, Monica, Steve, and Nick add local stories and humor while you view waterfront mansions, mega yachts, downtown sights, and part of Port Everglades. Food and drinks are sold onboard, and the boat has restrooms.

“Booking is very easy and uncomplicated.The trip is wonderful and full of interesting facts about the area”

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9.Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,206 reviews · 1h 30m · from $41

Spend 90 minutes aboard a Savannah Riverboat Cruises vessel, listening to a captain or guide such as Gage explain Savannah’s harbor, port traffic, Civil War history, and Old Fort Jackson. Choose indoor air-conditioned seating or the upper deck, and buy drinks or bar food as you watch container ships, the riverfront, and the skyline.

“One window on each side of the boat had a white film that should have been cleaned so that all windows could have been viewed out of.”

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10.Cincinnati: Riverboat Cruise with Lunch and Entertainment

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 728 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Board BB Riverboats at Newport Landing for a two-hour cruise along the Ohio River. You’ll enjoy a three-course buffet, coffee, tea, iced tea, and water while a guide such as Banjo Bob shares local history and plays traditional songs. Seating is reserved, and upper decks offer the best views and clearer sound.

“Enjoyed the food, the information given was interesting & the ride on the river gave an experience similar to early America”

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11.Riverboat Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 669 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Spend two hours cruising the Savannah River aboard a spacious riverboat. Watch the sunset from the open-air top deck, see the historic riverfront from the water, and enjoy music for dancing or relaxed listening. Food and drinks cost extra, and parking can take 30 to 60 minutes.

“Great experience! Just need more than 1 bartender on the top deck.”

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12.Riverboat Cruise & City Tour Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 528 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Start at the Savannah Visitors Center with a 90-minute narrated trolley tour, then cruise the Savannah River for another 90 minutes. Guides such as Joyce, Dan, Cathleen, and Radar have earned praise for lively local storytelling. Expect historic squares, Victorian homes, port traffic, Old Fort Jackson, skyline views, and possible waiting time between tours.

“We had a fantastic time on both the trolley and the boat. We had lieutenant Dan as our trolley guide and he was fantastic.”

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13.Sunday Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Brunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 470 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Spend two hours aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, or the returning Steamboat NATCHEZ on select dates, with live jazz, captain’s narration, river views, and full-service bars. Add the Creole brunch for gumbo, shrimp and grits, cinnamon rolls, king cake, and other Louisiana favorites.

“The ship was beautiful and the food was very good. We loved being able to just watch the scenery go by and learn about the great Mississippi River. All while listening to awesome jazz. Totally recommend!!”

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14.City Tour with Optional Sun Studios & Riverboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 346 reviews · 2 - 7 hours · from $45

Explore Memphis by mini coach with hotel pickup, a local English-speaking guide, and stops at the Lorraine Motel, A. Schwab, the Pyramid, the Peabody Hotel, Beale Street, and Victorian Village. Add Sun Studio and a Mississippi River paddlewheel cruise for a longer day. Guides such as Sam, Michelle, and Daryl are known for lively storytelling.

“Sam. our guide was absolutely fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable and delivered his knowledge extremely well. His customer service was excellant. if you select to be picked up on Riverside Drive it would be helpful to state the pick up point as the visitor centre.”

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