Cruises:
You don’t have to go far from home
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If you’re the cruising type and want something a little different, consider this: A short cruise along the Mississippi River can be a great way to view the edge of the city, treat yourself and your loved ones and relax.
Riverboat cruising has long been a part of New Orleans’ history, and there are several companies that offer them. Most have meals, cocktails and traditional New Orleans jazz, offering a unique ambiance not found anywhere else.
The Steamboat Natchez is one option. Guests board an hour before the two-hour cruise, which goes 7.5 miles downriver, said Adrienne Thomas, director of marketing and public relations.
“You board, eat when you like, have a cocktail, and you can tour the entire boat, including the engine room,” Thomas said.
The boat’s main deck recently had a facelift, Thomas said, and it boasts Victorian décor and plenty of memorabilia.
While “Dinner Jazz” cruises and daytime “Harbor” cruises run on the same route, each offers something a little different. The dinner cruises feature a jazz band, while the daytime Harbor cruises are “much more narrated,” Thomas said. So, visitors can tailor their trips depending on what they’re looking for.
Other tours to look out for include the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen and the Riverboat Cajun Queen. Both offer daytime and nighttime cruises. And something else to keep in mind is that the companies offer rentals for special occasions such as weddings or reunions.
If you’re wondering what happened to the Riverboat John James Audubon, which linked the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Zoo, it’s no longer. However, Thomas said the route will probably come back in 2009, when a new boat arrives.
Several-day vacation cruises to exotic paradises are still going out of New Orleans, but the options are fewer since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. At this point there is only one line “permanently” docked there – Carnival – and another company, Norwegian, that offers seasonal cruises, mostly in the fall and winter.
For those who want something in between, there is another option: several-day cruises along the Mississippi River, which stop by historic sites in Louisiana and Mississippi.
On the Net:
http://www.steamboatnatchez.com
http://www.creolequeen.com
http://neworleanscruiseguide.com
Riverboat cruising has long been a part of New Orleans’ history, and there are several companies that offer them. Most have meals, cocktails and traditional New Orleans jazz, offering a unique ambiance not found anywhere else.
The Steamboat Natchez is one option. Guests board an hour before the two-hour cruise, which goes 7.5 miles downriver, said Adrienne Thomas, director of marketing and public relations.
“You board, eat when you like, have a cocktail, and you can tour the entire boat, including the engine room,” Thomas said.
The boat’s main deck recently had a facelift, Thomas said, and it boasts Victorian décor and plenty of memorabilia.
While “Dinner Jazz” cruises and daytime “Harbor” cruises run on the same route, each offers something a little different. The dinner cruises feature a jazz band, while the daytime Harbor cruises are “much more narrated,” Thomas said. So, visitors can tailor their trips depending on what they’re looking for.
Other tours to look out for include the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen and the Riverboat Cajun Queen. Both offer daytime and nighttime cruises. And something else to keep in mind is that the companies offer rentals for special occasions such as weddings or reunions.
If you’re wondering what happened to the Riverboat John James Audubon, which linked the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Zoo, it’s no longer. However, Thomas said the route will probably come back in 2009, when a new boat arrives.
Several-day vacation cruises to exotic paradises are still going out of New Orleans, but the options are fewer since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. At this point there is only one line “permanently” docked there – Carnival – and another company, Norwegian, that offers seasonal cruises, mostly in the fall and winter.
For those who want something in between, there is another option: several-day cruises along the Mississippi River, which stop by historic sites in Louisiana and Mississippi.
On the Net:
http://www.steamboatnatchez.com
http://www.creolequeen.com
http://neworleanscruiseguide.com
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