Mississippi cruises from New Orleans at a glance
New Orleans is the best-known starting point for Mississippi River cruising. Many multi-day river cruises either begin or end there, and the city is the southern end of the longest sailings, which run all the way north to St. Paul, Minnesota. From New Orleans you can book a round trip of about a week on the lower river, a one-way sailing up to Memphis, or a much longer voyage that combines the lower and upper river.
Schedules, ships and prices change from season to season, so treat the details below as a guide to how these cruises work rather than a booking sheet. Always confirm current itineraries with the cruise line.
Multi-day cruises vs. day cruises
Two quite different things get called a “Mississippi cruise” in New Orleans:
- Multi-day river cruises are overnight voyages on a small ship, usually carrying a few hundred passengers or fewer. You sleep aboard, visit a different town most days and often have meals, many shore excursions and some drinks included.
- Day and evening cruises are sightseeing trips of roughly one to three hours on a paddlewheeler such as the Steamboat Natchez or the Creole Queen. They typically feature live jazz, optional Creole buffets and views of the skyline, and some include a stop at the Chalmette Battlefield.
If you only have a free afternoon in New Orleans, a day cruise is the easy choice. The rest of this guide is mostly about the multi-day kind.
Typical itineraries
Itineraries vary by line and year, but they tend to fall into three groups:
- Round trips from New Orleans of roughly five to nine days, exploring the plantation country and river towns upstream and returning.
- One-way sailings between New Orleans and Memphis, usually eight to nine days, in either direction.
- Longer combined voyages that join the lower and upper river, such as New Orleans to St. Paul, which can run well over two weeks.
For more on how the days add up, see how long it takes to cruise the Mississippi.
Ports you are likely to visit
The exact list depends on the sailing, but lower-river itineraries often include a selection of these:
- Oak Alley and Houmas House area plantations in Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- St. Francisville, Louisiana, a small historic town
- Natchez, Mississippi, known for antebellum architecture and bluff-top views
- Vicksburg, Mississippi, home to a national military park
- Memphis, Tennessee, for blues, barbecue and the Civil Rights Museum
Shore excursions are a big part of the experience, and on some lines many are included in the fare.
Who sails the Mississippi
The two names most travelers will meet are American Cruise Lines, which operates a fleet of small U.S.-flagged ships including paddlewheel-style riverboats, and Viking, which introduced its larger Viking Mississippi in the United States. The market changed in 2024 when American Queen Voyages stopped operating; our article on what happened to American Queen Voyages and who sails the Mississippi now explains the details.
What a riverboat cruise is like
Compared with an ocean cruise, a river cruise is quieter and slower (our river cruise vs ocean cruise guide compares the two). Ships are smaller, so boarding is simple and the crew often learns your name. The river is never far away, so seasickness is rarely a concern, and you can watch towboats, small towns and wildlife from the deck. Evenings usually bring local musicians or a talk from an onboard river historian rather than big-production shows.
Some operators have no inside cabins and include a pre-cruise hotel night, but practices differ, so check what your fare covers.
Do Mississippi river cruises have casinos?
Generally, no. The small ships that run multi-day Mississippi itineraries do not have casinos. American Cruise Lines, for example, is known for a casino-free, small-ship style, and entertainment tends to be music, lectures and conversation.
The confusion comes from the “riverboat casino” tradition. In some states, casinos were originally required to operate on boats, and many gaming venues along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers are still described that way. Today these are separate attractions, usually permanently docked or built into the shoreline. If you want to gamble, you could visit one while in port or before and after your trip, but it is not part of a typical river cruise. If a casino is important to you, confirm with the specific line before booking.
For a ship with no casino at all, river cruising is usually a safe bet. The same goes for most small-ship river lines.
What about a Mississippi barge cruise?
Searches for a “Mississippi barge cruise” often come from Europe, where converted hotel barges drift through canals. That model does not really exist on the Mississippi, where the working barges are large commercial tows pushed by towboats and not set up for passengers. If you see the term, it most likely refers to a riverboat or paddlewheeler cruise, or to a short local excursion. Check exactly what vessel is being sold and where it sails.
Are there ocean cruise ships out of New Orleans?
Yes. New Orleans is also a cruise port for ocean-going ships, typically sailing into the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Which lines sail from there changes over time, so check current schedules. These are a different product from a river cruise: much larger ships, more entertainment and, on most, a casino. If you are looking at the city as a base, you could pair an ocean sailing with a stay in New Orleans before or after.
Costs, timing and length
- Cost: Week-long Mississippi sailings are commonly priced in the thousands of dollars per person, with big variations by cabin and season. See how much a cruise on the Mississippi costs.
- Timing: Spring and fall are widely recommended for the lower river, but heat, flooding and holiday sailings all play a part. See the best time of year for a Mississippi River cruise.
- Heading north from Chicago: Travelers starting in the Midwest should read about cruising from Chicago to New Orleans by river.
Downsides of river cruising
River cruising is not for everyone. Common drawbacks, covered in more depth in the negatives of river cruising, include:
- Fares can be high compared with large ocean ships, especially when you include flights.
- Limited facilities. Small ships have fewer restaurants, pools and activities.
- Fewer evening options. Entertainment is low-key, which suits some people and bores others.
- Weather and river conditions. High or low water can change stops or routes.
- Solo supplements. Single travelers may pay more unless the line offers dedicated solo cabins; see solo travel on a river cruise.
- Mostly older passengers. Many sailings skew toward travelers who enjoy history and quiet evenings.
Are cruises affected by Venezuela?
Mississippi River cruises stay inside the United States and are not affected by events involving Venezuela. If you are considering a Caribbean ocean cruise from New Orleans instead, itineraries in the southern Caribbean may be adjusted in response to regional events, so check with the cruise line about any current changes.