This is the second time we've taken this boat cruise. We got so much out of it before that we…read morewanted to take our son. This is a traditional paddlewheel boat with three levels. The top level has a bar counter and tables under a canopy. Up front there are benches so you are looking straight ahead as you travel. The middle level has a nice indoor dining room. You can order traditional Louisiana dishes. Outside the dining room are benches. We chose to sit on the top level facing forward, but it was so cold in front, we moved to the tables in the rear. There is a wonderful narrator letting you know when you pass interesting sites. The Domino Sugar factory that you pass is really something to see, and it's hard to believe it's still in use. They make a stop at the Chalmette Battlefield (you can get off the boat or stay and relax on the boat). There is a tour guide who talks about the battleground, which is pretty interesting. The best thing about the Creole Queen is the narrator. After the battlefield, the second half of the tour focuses on Hurricane Katrina. He wants that it can be disturbing and announced that if you didn't want to hear it, you can go to the dining room, as it isn't broadcasted in there. He is very candid, and I learned so much about the terrible way Hurricane Katrina was handled, as well as just how terrible the hurricane was. It was very, very sad. I highly recommend this tour. As I said, we enjoyed it so much the first time that we wanted to go back and share it with our son.

The historical tour was interesting BUT the presentation of Andrew Jackson as Savior of the United…read moreStates didn't accurately represent him as a racist, president, especially towards Native Americans. That being said, the rest of the tour was informative and relaxing. I enjoyed the New Orleans themed playlist.

What could be better than a jazz cruise down the Mississippi river in New Orleans on Easter Sunday?…read more Taking the cruise in the rain. I fell in love with the Mississippi River on a rainy day Easter Sunday jazz cruise. The sky was gray and leaden. The rain was light but steady. The wind came and went. People wore their Easter finery with ponchos over their clothing to stay dry. We listened to jazz and ate muffins and drank coffee. We listened to the captain tell tales of New Orleans history and geography. We sat on benches overlooking the Mississippi River. We cuddled together with the wind blowing raindrops in our faces. The air was cool; the rain danced down. The wind played games with our ponchos and the purple scarf that I had wrapped around my head. The steamboat paddled along the Old Muddy. People sat in the dining room and the Captain's Salon. Others sat on the top deck in the rain. Teenagers took pictures standing at the bow under the American flag. Jazz played. Birds flew by. Two hours existed in a time capsule of wind and rain and music and water and joy.

Worth doing once, but overall nothing particularly special. The highlight for me was the narration…read morewhile we cruised down the river. Unfortunately the views were underwhelming, mostly businesses and factories when I had expected something more scenic. There was a jazz band playing on the lower level, and bars were set up on each floor, which was nice. What I didn't like was the photo op before boarding. They take your picture and then walk around trying to sell you an overpriced package afterward. You'd have the same experience on the Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland, except this was the real thing.

This was a wonderful experience. It was one of the best tours my family took in New Orleans. My…read moretwo teenagers loved it! We booked the Honey Island Swamp Tour with transport from downtown. Although the original pickup location was changed due to road construction, Cajun Encounters' customer service team made the change easy and stress-free. We appreciated the helpful communications. Derek, our bus driver, was amazing. He shared his personal experience from Hurricane Katrina with us. It was very moving and educational. It was a personal touch that we didn't expect, but was very appreciated. His knowledge of New Orleans was impressive and we were grateful for all of the information/tips he provided. We followed some of his tips and were not disappointed! Our boat captain was Scott C. He was a great guide through the Honey Island Swamp. Captain Scott C.'s knowledge was impressive. He was very informative and we learned a lot. We saw so many alligators that we gave up counting them. Also saw cute racoons, several turtles sunning themselves, a snake, and a beautiful crane. This tour was one of the highlights of our New Orleans trip. It was truly fantastic. If we come back, we would do it again in a heartbeat! That is how much we loved it.

Went on the swamp tour with Bishop. Great job. Comedy and education all at the same time .read more

Excellent experience for a beautiful New Orleans day. Lovely and relaxing hour with our excellent…read moregondolier Robert. You can experience this year round. Christmas is a beautiful time with the lights. The gondola is also popular for weddings and proposals. Very highly recommended.

It was amazing and relaxing taking this gondola ride along the New Orleans Museum of Art and…read morelooking at their art while enjoying a peaceful gondola ride. It was perfect weather as well to go around 6pm. It was great to hear his story of how he brought the one and only gondola ride to New Orleans and how he's survived while facing adversity throughout the years to continue to bring everyone a memorable gondola experience! It's perfect for special occasions as well like wedding proposals! He's witnessed over 800 on that gondola alone!

The whole experience was amazing and Captain Doug was very hospitable. I would definitely recommend.read more

Prepare yourself for WOW! Captain Doug and his wife Rena have really nailed it with this NOLA…read moreexcursion. Experience everything from adventure to relaxation and/or thrills to pure romance and if your schedule allows a sunset cruise, it's nothing short of magical. Booking was a breeze, communication is thorough but concise and you'll want for nothing once you're onboard, as Captain Doug anticipates your every need and delivers on it before you can think to ask. All you need do is sit back and find yourself enchanted by the yacht, drinks, snacks, music, service, landscape and most of all the sail. We absolutely loved our time aboard the "Roux Stir" and look forward to a future cruise There just aren't enough stars to give to Captain Doug & New Orleans Yacht Experience! Randy & Kristine

New Orleans Lakefront offers a great view of Lake Pontchartrain and is a very cool place to chill…read moreand just enjoy some time. Whenever I am in New Orleans, I spend some time here. It is just a very cool place to chill after a day of business. If you find yourself in New Orleans, Louisiana, come check out here and the magnificent Lake Pontchartrain.

A nice little boardwalk adjacent to Lake Pontchartrain. Went on a weekday, not too busy. There are…read moresteps near the edge of the boardwalk to sit that are close to the water. There are seafood restaurants nearby. 4 stars because I thought there would be more to see like a lake pier boardwalk or something lol.

We were in search of a yacht to take on us Lake Pontchartrain for an ash scattering. While this…read moreisn't a normal occasion, we all really enjoyed sailing with Cap'n Vegas. He provided a Bluetooth speaker, and a chest with ice. He timed the sunset perfectly for us to have the ceremony. It was very relaxing, smooth ride and none of us got sea sick. I highly recommend for a different way to celebrate in New Orleans. The only downside is the Bathroom is small and tight. If you have mobility issues or are plus sized, this may be an issue for you.

Had a pretty perfect day out on the water on this "slow" boat. Went for a birthday party and the…read moreboat itself is unique and it's so fun getting to share this space that is actually their home down below so you know they take care if it! BYOB the day I went so we knew we loved the drinks and food we brought, but he had the cooler and ice all set up. Much cheaper for my crew rather than overpriced drinks!) There is a great covered area to the boat if you don't want to sit in the sun. Whenever the water gets choppy, Vegas will drive the boat further out. Since they only do one cruise a day, you don't feel rushed and can enjoy exactly the day you want. And his dogs are so cute and quiet and well behaved! New Orleans is a fantastic city, but sometimes it's nice to be able to take a step away with some friends and enjoy the water. *Special Note: Apple Maps does not know where this address is, but Google maps does

I booked an extended Manchac Swamp kayak tour during a visit to New Orleans in late February,…read morewanting to see the swamp and its wildlife in a more personal and eco-friendly way than the more popular airboat and alligator-feeding tours. My partner and I have some experience paddling and wanted plenty of time to see wildlife and get deep in the swamp for the best scenery, and for us the extended tour was the right choice! I'd recommend it to visitors to New Orleans who love nature, the outdoors, and/or getting a fun and unique workout in during vacation. We were on the water for about 4 hours. Sunscreen, sunglasses, shoes you don't mind getting wet, and PLENTY of water are a must! There are stops at a truck stop right before and after for the bathroom and buying any drinks/snacks, plus a stop on dry land during the tour. Our guide Nick was clearly dedicated to both paddling and nature even outside of work, and our tour felt less like a scripted performance as some tours can be and more like a buddy was showing and telling you things he was passionate about. We saw several small alligators, barred owls, hawks, turtles, and water birds. It was unseasonably warm so the reptiles were a treat to see, and it was awesome getting to see owls out in daylight which I'd never be able to pick out myself. Bring binoculars if you have them! My only small complaint, which has nothing to do with the tour itself: the AI-generated content on the company's Instagram page is kind of weird. Photos and videos from actual tours would be more honest and enticing!

MJ was fantastic, very knowledgeable. Plenty of gators to see, birds, and a turtle…read more Great time on the water for amour first trip to New Orleans! Can't recommend this tour enough. Ask for MJ!

I was able to book a cruise 5 days in advance for a group of 6. The communication with Mynnye was…read moregreat! She answered all of my questions and gave me all the info I needed. The captain was a pretty cool guy too. We were able to bring our own food, drinks, and music. The yacht was clean and comfortable with a very nice interior design. The sunset was beautiful and we had a great experience.

Had an amazing night with the New Orleans opera, kicking off their season singing tunes from the…read moremusical Show Boat. They had a heavy hors d'oeuvre reception before the music started, which was good. Once we started to pull away from the dock, the program with the opera singers kicked off, to hear live music sung on the river boat by professionals was breathtaking. Loving that man of mine and "Old Man River" sung by the opera baritone, brought the house down. What made the musical even better was the narration before each piece? The narrator, provided context and insight to the time period when the musical was written and to the political and historic morays and values people along the Mississippi would've had in that era. After the program from the opera singers, a jazz band started up on the top deck. Riding down the Mississippi listening to jazz was fantastically fun. What I do it again absolutely. If you get a chance consider taking an evening, river cruise with a jazz group on one of the river boats...... you won't be disappointed.

Pa system was lousy couldn't understand what was being said. Most of the passengers would rather…read moreplay with their phones. Boat is clean and well kept.