New Orleans: Paddlewheeler Cruise & Chalmette Battlefield Tour

A Riverboat Cruise That Stops at History

You board the Creole Queen in the afternoon, cruise downriver while a historian covers three centuries of New Orleans, then disembark for a 45-minute guided tour of Chalmette Battlefield with a National Park Ranger. The boat includes a cash bar and optional Creole lunch, and you return by late afternoon. All entry fees, the guide, and restroom access are included. You just need to arrive by 1:30 PM.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Chalmette BattlefieldEntry included45m
2. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve30m

Mississippi River cruise and battlefield tour

• Board Paddlewheeler Creole Queen
• Enjoy narrated Mississippi River cruise
• Dock at Chalmette Battlefield
• Tour Chalmette Battlefield and Malus-Beauregard House
• Listen to National Park Ranger talk
• Re-board boat for return cruise

The experience

Most river cruises in New Orleans keep you on the water the whole time. This one doesn't. You board the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen at 1:30 PM, and by 2 PM sharp you're moving downriver, but the real moment comes 45 minutes in, when the boat docks at Chalmette Battlefield and you step onto the ground where the 1815 Battle of New Orleans actually happened. A National Park Ranger meets you there to walk the site, and you get to stand in front of the Chalmette Monument and the Malus-Beauregard House while someone who knows the place explains what occurred. It's the kind of detail that sticks with you more than any view from a deck chair.

The cruise itself runs 2 hours and 30 minutes total, and a licensed historian narrates the whole thing: 300 years of New Orleans history, from the LeMoyne Brothers founding the city to Hurricane Katrina. You're seeing the French Quarter and the Port of New Orleans from the river, which changes how you read the place. The boat has a cash bar, and there's a Creole lunch option if you want to eat while you're moving. It's not fancy, but it's there. Restrooms are on board, and the whole vessel is wheelchair accessible, though the Chalmette Battlefield itself has some terrain limits.

The schedule is tight: boarding at 1:30, departure at 2 PM sharp, and the Coast Guard doesn't let them wait for stragglers. If weather turns bad, the boat may stay docked instead of sailing, so you'd want to check conditions the morning of. Your ticket is good for a year if you need to reschedule, and it transfers to someone else if plans change.

What’s included

Your experience includes the 2.5-hour river cruise aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, narration by a licensed historian covering 300 years of New Orleans history, docking and a 45-minute to 1-hour guided tour at Chalmette Battlefield with a National Park Ranger, all entry fees and taxes, on-board restroom access, and a local guide. A Creole lunch and beverages are available for separate purchase at the cash bar.

Options for this experience

3 options

Historic Cruise (Without Meal)Guide in English · 14:00A relaxing yet engaging cruise that includes a stop at the battlefield of New Orleans

Historic Cruise (Meal)Guide in English · 14:00A relaxing yet engaging cruise featuring a tasty Creole-style lunch and a stop at the Battlefield of New Orleans

Weekend Jazz BrunchGuide in English · 11:00Live jazz performance during brunch

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2h 30m, runs every day at 14:00 and 11:00, from US$ 47 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to Friday: 14:00Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 150

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearby

Operated by New Orleans Paddlewheels Inc.

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see the Mississippi River and learn New Orleans history without arranging your own transport to Chalmette. The boat handles both, and the afternoon timing fits most schedules.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the whole experience?

2 hours and 30 minutes on the water, plus 45 minutes to 1 hour at Chalmette Battlefield, so roughly 4 hours total from boarding to return.

What time do I need to arrive?

Boarding starts at 1:30 PM. The boat departs at 2 PM sharp, and the Coast Guard regulations mean they cannot delay departure.

Is lunch included?

A Creole lunch option is available on the boat, but it's not included in the ticket price. You pay separately at the cash bar.

Can I bring my own food or drinks?

No outside food or beverages are allowed on board.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

The Creole Queen is wheelchair accessible with a mechanical lift, though it has weight restrictions. Chalmette Battlefield itself is not wheelchair accessible at this time.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If conditions are unfavorable, the boat may remain dockside instead of sailing. Your ticket is valid for up to one year if you need to reschedule.

Can I transfer my ticket to someone else?

Yes, tickets are transferable and valid for up to one year from purchase.

What if I'm late for boarding?

Refund requests made less than 24 hours before departure are not considered, and missing the departure means you forfeit the ticket, though it can be transferred to another date.