Travel to New Orleans

I took the two-hour Steamboat Natchez cruise in New Orleans. The live jazz and access to the steam engine room were interesting. I chose the option with the Creole lunch, which was prepared fresh on board and tasted great.

The airboat tour was more fun than I expected. The smaller boat could get into narrow waterways, and we spotted quite a few wild alligators and birds. Round-trip transport from New Orleans was included, and the 1.5-hour boat ride felt well-paced.

The 2.5-hour walk covered four French Quarter spots with three classic cocktails included. I liked that the drinks and gratuities were already covered. Our guide shared good history too—I hadn't realized the Sazerac started as an apothecary's recipe.

We boarded at 6pm and stayed dockside for an hour before cruising at 7. I picked the first dinner seating from 6 to 7:15, then enjoyed the jazz and the skyline during the two-hour cruise. It felt like time flew by.

The boat ride through the swamps was a good way to see alligators and birds, and the guide shared stories about the area. It lasted a couple of hours. Transportation and the cruise were both included, which made things easy.

The walking tour started at 7pm and lasted about two hours. Using my iPhone for the augmented reality experiences was cool—I could see Marie Laveau and the Great Fire of 1788. It did use my own mobile data though, which was a small inconvenience.

The plantation house dates back to 1839 and our guide shared a lot of its history. Access to the second floor was by stairs only, and video wasn't allowed inside, which was a minor constraint. Round-trip transport made getting there easy.

The Sunday jazz brunch cruise was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. The buffet was included in the ticket price, and I especially enjoyed the Bananas Foster and shrimp and grits. The two-hour sail was just right for listening to the Steamboat Stompers and taking in the river views.