The Mrs & I truly enjoyed our mule powered Haunted History Carriage tour. Our guide, Chris, was very knowledgeable about the history & architecture of the French Quarter. We learned the architecture is a blend of French, Spanish & Caribbean. He told us of the haunted phone booth, the atrocities committed by Madame Delphine LaLaurie & the serial killer of New Orleans, who insisted everyone play jazz music or die. Five Stars! Interesting, educational & fun! read more

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We took a nighttime carriage tour on October 20th, to celebrate my 50th birthday. Charles was our tour guide. I hadn't intended to book a carriage tour on our trip, but we kept seeing them when we were walking around and I was charmed by the idea. I'm a history buff and have read quite extensively about the history of the French Quarter, but the only nighttime tour was their "haunted" history tour. I find the haunted stuff a bit cheesy, but booked it anyhow. Knowing a bit about history, I will say that Charles is very well versed in that and you will get a lot of interesting and factually correct history of The French Quarter. Most of the tragic tales are the well trod fare that every haunted tour in New Orleans covers, and it really neither added or detracted from the overall experience for me. What I can say is that Charles has an absolutely disarmingly dry sense of humor and delivery, in a very good way! It took me a bit to feel his rhythm, but once he got going, it was an absolute delight. He has a gorgeous drawl and very nice speaking voice with a gentle, slightly monotone delivery. His dry humor really worked well when delivering the macabre stories, which enhanced my enjoyment of it. Even if you don't like the haunted aspect, it is absolutely worth it to take this tour after dark. The old streets and lanterns flickering in the night can really transport you back in time, even with the modern trappings around. It was really the perfect cap to my perfect birthday in New Orleans. Thank you to Charles and our hardworking mule- sadly, I did not get the mule's name. read more

If you are visiting New Orleans, do yourself a favor and book a tour with Royal Carriages! Our guide was fantastic from the start. While we waited for all eight passengers to fill our carriage, he kept us entertained, introduced himself, and made sure we met the real star of the show, his mule, Frida. The tour was packed with ghost stories, vampire lore, local history, and plenty of humor. Our guide had a way of telling stories, complete with a wonderfully spooky tone of voice, that made everything a little more atmospheric. It was never actually scary, but that was part of the fun. He knew how to draw you into a story, slip in some fascinating historical details, and then catch you off guard with a joke. We also passed several filming locations from movies and television shows, including two of our favorites, Interview with the Vampire and The Originals. Seeing those familiar spots while hearing the stories behind them was a bonus. Another perk? Getting to sit back and enjoy the city after spending most of the day exploring on foot. The mule-drawn carriage was a welcome break for our tired feet, and seeing New Orleans from a different perspective was a treat. My only complaint is that I wished the tour had lasted longer! We were having such a good time that it seemed to end far too soon. If you are looking for something fun, entertaining, and a little spooky without being genuinely frightening, I highly recommend Royal Carriages. read more

Royal Carriages - Frida - Historical Tours Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Very nice way to cap off the evening. I strongly recommend doing this at night time when the Quarters truly comes to life. The carriage tour was great. Our tour guide did a nice job narrating the sights and being engaging. Private carriage runs $159 for a 30 minute tour, a bit steep but it's a great way to kick back and cap off the night after a nice dinner. read more

Royal Carriages - Historical Tours Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Three words for this service. Lofton, Lofton, Lofton. He is the BEST guide ever. Kind, hilarious, knowledgeable and speaks fluent sarcasm. My kind of people. Request him when you book your tour. Riding in style and learning about the glorious FQ history. What's better than that?! You will not be disappointed. Thanks, Lofton! read more

Royal Carriages - Private tour - Historical Tours Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The New Orleans French Quarter and More Carriage Ride was excellent. We were fortunate to have KJ as our guide. He was very knowledgeable and interactive. Highly recommended. read more

Royal Carriages - Picture of KJ's carriage. - Historical Tours Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This was a great tour. Shannon our d4iver was great. Full of information and stories. He was funny and had us all laughing and having a good time. Josie our mules was great. It was a great ride. She was a beautiful girl. read more

We had a blast! We went down Marigny looking at all the houses and learning about Hurricane Katrina, Jackson Square, and the history of the area. Pearl was a great horse to led us read more

My friends and I did the haunted carriage tour last night. Our group was so big we had to split up between 2 carriage. The other carriage driver used the mic and speakers, and gave great information. They had a great time. Sadly, our ride was not the same. The poor mule from the start did not seem like they wanted to do the tour and pull the wagon. Which I can understand in the heat. Plus, our tour guide did not use a speaker so everyone in the back 3 rows could not hear him. He tried at humor but gave little historical facts compared to what we heard from the other tour. It was one of those rides that it was so bad, it ended up good and memorable. I would try it again, but not with the tour guide I had. Plus, I hope the animals are well taken care of. read more

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They abuse the horses I have seen it with my own two eyes. There tongues are out all the time which is a sign of discomfort there ribcages are showing with no proper nutrition, the continuously lift up there feet for a break we need to stop this and put an end to animal abuse this is not okay these horses work 8 hour shifts walking in the heat all day everyday of the weak with little to no care. This is sad and they should be ashamed to treat animals like this, please help report this kind of stuff it's not fair. Attached below is the same horse working all day and including one standing in the sun for hours at end with no break well the instructor sits in the shade on there phone. While this is 30 min of fun these mules and horses are suffering. Adding on a photo of a large heavy set man going in a carriage and having the small horse pull them around for how knows how long with no weight limit. Please help stop abuse and save these sweet babies. read more

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After dinner on Saturday evening, we decided it would be a great time to try a haunted carriage ride. We didn't have a booking, so we walked up to ask about availability. We were directed to "the girl with the unicorn mule," but the interaction felt a bit short and dismissive. When we reached the back and asked again about availability, we were told she doesn't do haunted tours. Her tone was abrupt, and it felt like she was almost insulted that we asked. I did ask why she would be working in the evening without offering the haunted option, but the conversation didn't improve. We ended up moving on and found a fun walking tour instead. We have taken tours with this company before and loved them. I am glad to have options. read more

The ride through the French Quarter was enjoyable, and the carriage appeared to be well maintained. However, I left with serious concerns about the treatment of the animals. During the tour, I witnessed the guide blow cigarette smoke directly into the mule's face while joking, "I'll get you a beer on your birthday too." The animals appeared tired and thirsty in the heat, and our mule was foaming at the mouth throughout the ride. There was a water trough at the loading station, but it was completely empty. I arrived about an hour before our departure and noticed it was still empty when we returned an hour later. At no point during my time there did I see it being filled. I understand that regular exercise and activity are important for working animals, but the conditions I observed made me uncomfortable. What started as an enjoyable experience ended with me feeling guilty for supporting an attraction where the animals did not appear to be receiving the level of care they deserved. read more

I have serious concerns about these animals and their treatment. I know mules are able to carry heavy loads but in this summer heat they didn't appear to be taken care of. One looked like he was on the verge of collapsing. These animals shouldn't be doing this in the summer and need proper care. read more

I had an amazing experience! Last night I had a hard time getting a carriage and was turned away by other companies, but I found Shannon and his mule Blaze Star who welcomed me to sit on the carriage until it could fill up with passengers. Well, I waited an hour and nobody else wanted a ride so I had to bail, but Shannon kept me company and shared some history and told me about the mules. His hospitality was so great that when I returned this morning with 2 friends in tow, we were eager to book with Royal Carriages. Unfortunately we didn't see Shannon but we had a fantastic ride with Sara(h?) and her mule Lou. So informative and entertaining, a totally relaxing way to see the French Quarter and navigate through the streets. We thought this was so fun! And with just a 30-minute ride we still got a lot out of it. read more

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Absolutely worth every cent. The German speaking guide knocked it out the part got my only German speaking family members.

What a great experience for our family's first time in New Orleans. The location was easy to find and check in took under a minute. Our guide, Emily, warmly greeted us and introduced us to our mule, Pearl. She then offered to take some pics before we left. I was impressed by Emily asking what we were interested so her conversation would be focused on our interests. She did a great job incorporating history and ghost stories which is exactly what we wanted. She was very knowledgeable, personable, and friendly. Pearl was a treat to see in action. Taking breaks when needed and walking along the streets. We felt very safe. Would 100% highly recommend. read more

Wonderful tour of the city with Horse Patsy. Our tour guide was the best! i think his name was RJ it was something then J. I have been on multiple carriage tours in other cities but this is now my favorite! We just went yesterday but I am ready to go again! read more

My husband and I had used Royal Carriages several years ago and had a wonderful, memorable experience, so when we were planning a trip to New Orleans with 6 of our friends, we rushed to book a tour with them again. Unfortunately we had an entirely different experience this time around. We showed up 15 minutes prior, as instructed, and our tour guide was not there. She causally strolled up to us a couple minutes before our tour, guzzling a very large iced coffee out of a straw. We would get to see her slurping away at this enormous drink for the entire tour, often stopping mid sentence to alleviate her unquenchable thirst. We learned very little about the French Quarter, but instead we got to hear about her current boyfriend, her ex boyfriend, her child, how she's often told she's too pretty to be a tour guide, and her favorite restaurants. My husband, seeing the pure boredom from our friends, would ask questions we learned from the tour years back in an effort to redirect her and offer some sort of history or fun facts about what we were seeing. She reciprocated my husbands efforts to save this horrific tour by having to watch her send multiple texts to a person she called her "co-parent". Meanwhile Norma Jean, the mule, was obviously exhausted and would completely stop even when prompted. We sat in the middle of the street with cars honking because the poor animal would not move. Our one hour tour ended at 45 minutes- the first carriage to arrive back. I learned more about this woman's personal life than the history of New Orleans. A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. read more

What an incredible experience with Royal Carriages! The reviews were right about Lemen (pronounced Lee-men) -- we even requested him in the comments of our reservation, and I'm so glad we did. His voice is rich, animated, and absolutely made for storytelling. As our mule clip-clopped down the cobblestone streets, it felt like we were stepping straight into New Orleans' haunted past. Every tale he told came alive with humor, history, and just the right touch of spooky fun. Between the laughter, the chills, and the photo opportunities, this ride was pure magic. Hands down, Lemen is the best tour guide I've ever had -- a true storyteller who makes the city's spirits dance. read more

Royal Carriages - Historical Tours Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We booked this tour very last minute and our tour guide, Larry, was awesome! The carriage was not overcrowded, we left promptly and it was a very enjoyable tour. We learned a lot about New Orleans history. I also like that these carriages are covered so although it was raining, we didn't get super soaked. read more

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Knowledgeable guide who grew up in the area and shared lots of fun facts and kept it kid friendly which wasn't the case on other tours. Our guide was happy to let pet the mule. read more

We did a private carriage tour for four people on Saturday night. We had a great time. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a few new things! Would highly recommend. read more

I always do the horse and carriage ride when I am out here for 30 minutes. However, I decided to take my daughter and her bestie to the 10:30 one hour slot for the haunted tour. They really enjoyed it (a 16 and 17 year old). I think what made it even better was because it was not a busy night. There was a small crowd on Bourbon St, but pretty much that was it. You could actually take in the haunted aspect of the French quarters. As much as I come out here, I was really able to just focus on the architecture, the silence in the night, and other things. It made the stories we were told better. Our mule was Ms. Patsy. She's been doing tours for some time now. She knew exactly where to go and stayed to the right side of the road. My only suggestion would be to have a little microphone. We were able to hear this time due to the French quarter having a quiet night. However, I think if it was a busy evening or day, it would be hard of hearing, especially if you are seated at the back of the carriage. Other than that, I will take a little tour again when we return. read more

This carriage ride was such a GREAT experience! Our tour guide, Jonathan was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining the entire time; and the carriage was covered, so it wasn't too hot (Thank goodness!) Jonathan also made plenty of references to where we were from during the tour, which was a really nice touch and kept us engaged. Definitely recommend to anyone considering this experience! read more

I saw the animals visibly distressed multiple times in my day of walking around Nola, including on Chartres & Frenchman St where lots of partying is happening. I saw a carriage with a donkey on Chartres & Frenchman St, and the donkey was dripping liquid from its mouth, and demonstrated distress while passing the many loud noises. While I do not own horses myself, I have worked with animals in the past, and the sensory distress and fatigue of the animal was clear to me. Animals depend on us for their wellbeing and safety. Consider walking or using a bicycle cart, and feeding an animal instead. read more

I reserved Royal Carriages for a group of 19 and were split into three separate carriages. My carriage had 7 people inside, and overall it was a charming way to see different parts of the area. One of the highlights at the end of the tour was being able to feed Archie, which was such a neat and memorable experience for our group. I was seated in the last row with my husband and nephew, and that area felt a bit cramped, especially compared to other seating. Additionally, it was difficult to hear our driver, Charles, for much of the tour, particularly along busier roads. Even guests seated in the front row mentioned they struggled to hear the narration at times. I would recommend adding a small speaker or sound system inside the carriage so everyone can clearly hear the commentary, and possibly reassessing seating comfort for larger groups. The information being shared is great, and with a few adjustments, the experience could be even better. Overall, we still enjoyed seeing the area this way, and with these improvements, it would be an experience I'd happily recommend. read more

Had a great tour with Tony and miss josie. We learned a lot of great history and saw some awesome spots. I highly recommend read more

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Delightful mule drawn carriage with Blaze Starr (sp?) in the traces. Guide was personable and fun; info about 50% accurate and 50% great story. Only complaint--guide's patter was repetitive in presentation. Rhetorical question followed by an observation/comment delivered in same vocal pattern at end of each story. BUT--still highly recommend, as that was a minor (and probably understandable) pattern, given how many times a night she must deliver the same spiel. read more

We decided to take this tour on our first morning in New Orleans. It was a great idea because we were able to survey the city from a local guide and then make decisions where we want to return on foot. Our guide was named Mark and his mule was Rancher. We learned a lot about New Orleans history and enjoyed an hour long, relaxing journey through the French Quarter. Mark was funny and told a lot of great jokes and really entertained us. The only thing I would suggest is possibly using a microphone for the narration part, especially when vehicles and other loud noises drown out the sound of the carriage driver. We sat in the back and often had to strain to hear him at times. At other times we couldn't hear him at all.however, I highly recommend this and hope you enjoy it as much as we did read more

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I was in town for the Italian Irish parade and took the ghost tour with my cousins and aunts! Stef and Ivan and it was so much fun! Stef was amazing and had an amazing sense of humor. The tour alone was worth the drive from Saint Louis Mo and North Carolina! We learned so much and laughed so much! Def will be the talk of the trip for many years!! THANK YOU SO MUCH STEFF AND IVAN!! read more

This was hands down the best tour I've even been on with Britta and Blaze Star! Wow what a memorable experience! Britta is so funny and full of so much information and Blaze is an absolute star! As someone who frequents New Orleans, I was amazing at all the new information and history that was packed into this tour. Such a great experience and excited to spend some more time with all the sites that were pointed out, along with the fun info on past hauntings and ghost stories, she had me on the edge of my seat with stories and laughing the whole ride! Her history and content is not for the faint of heart or prudent of ears, getting into the real dark and gritty belly of New Orleans's French Quarter. Such a fun experience, a real 10 outta 10! read more

The tour was super interesting and fun. Erma was very patient. Mike provided a great over of the history

We thought this tour was nothing like it describes. Our tour quide was not good at all. It says it's a ghost tour, she mentioned ghosts maybe once and showed us a building and said it was haunted. She did not talk about anything interesting at all. Total waste of money!!! read more

We took a tour with Miss Emily and Mr. pretty boy. It was the 1030 haunted tour while Mr. pretty boy is very surefooted and knows his way around the French Quarter miss Emily knows all the info the history the things that intrigue you and the things that make you say wow Miss Emily was not only knowledgeable, but also quickwitted and funny if she could put up with my husband, she deserves a raise. We had a great time and would look for Miss Emily again. read more

Liz and everyone at Royal Carriages was great! our drivers were knowledgeable and fun. It was the perfect event to end an evening.

2/5/2022 - While on a walking tour, Free Tours By Foot, I was passed by Royal Carriage with the 08 license plate. It was a bit of a commotion because the street was closed with road work signs because it looked like the road was cut for pipe work. (Governor Nicholls St. & Chartres St.) Suddenly I heard a crash as the driver of carriage 08 was trying to maneuver between the road sign and a parked blue Hyundai! There definitely wasn't enough space and the cart was ramming the driver's side front wheel and rocking the car. The horse was spooked and the driver kept having him go through despite the fact the carriage was hitting the car! Some people on the street helped move the road work sign. His passengers asked if they should get out of the carriage but the driver of the carriage guided the horse around the street hole (?) and the driver just drove off! Our walking tour was like "WTF?!" I got a pen from the tour guide and left a note on the car as the front wheel well and tire was damaged. The passengers and horse could have been seriously injured because of the negligent driver ignoring road work signs. Now someone is going to have to deal with the fact that they were the victim of a hit and run. read more

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Do this one one of your first days in New Orleans. Mark our driver did a great job of entertaining us and sharing history. We did this on our last day but wish we had done it days earlier. Learned so much about the architecture, neighborhoods and the people who lived there past and present. This was a highlight of our trip! read more

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My kids were super excited to go on the late ghost tour. Unfortunately we never got to go on it. We were five minutes late and informed that, not only had the tour began without us, but when we asked if we could simply meet the tour at the second stop, we were informed that they had sold our seats. Furthermore, they informed us that even though they had sold off our seats 5 mins in, there was no refund available for our missed tour. So they essentially pocketed double. I had already paid for the tour - to then resell the tickets and not reimburse is shady. We had booked the tour through our hotel concierge... so didn't receive any communication about this policy. Furthermore the customer rep we spoke to that evening was abrasive and short. I'd skip and spend your money on another vendor. Avoid the kids tears and pricey screw job. read more

We did a carriage ride last night with a group of 8. KJ was our guide. He was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about the city and its history. Also very patient with our large group that had many questions. I highly recommend KJ! read more

What's wrong- check in girl has the personality of a rock. Could have done without that exchange. What's right - However the carriage driver was a history buff and knew some interesting facts. There were a few times that he pulled over and stopped to give a history run down and I wished he would keep going. It is very hot and humid and while parked it was almost too hot to pay attention. The horse was lovely. The tour guide/carriage driver -5 stars, the actual route the tour takes -2 stars, the check in girl -1 star. I wish we had learned about the hot spots and best food and entertainment must sees. There was none of that, but I did learn about the architecture and original settlers. read more

Royal Carriages - Some cool history facts but the tour doesn't take you to any of Nola's hot spots. - Historical Tours Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana