The 15 Best Dinner Cruises with Live Music in the USA

1.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,533 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $58Our pick

Board at 400 Toulouse Street for a three-hour evening aboard Steamboat NATCHEZ or Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS. Enjoy a calliope concert, narration, Mississippi views, and live Dukes of Dixieland jazz. Add the buffet for gumbo, crawfish étouffée, fried chicken, and bread pudding.

“It was wonderful, beautiful night and the dinner was scrumptious. But having to leave a long review isn't the best.”

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2.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,334 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43Best value

Board the Steamboat Natchez at 400 Toulouse Street for a roughly two-hour Mississippi River cruise. You’ll hear live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, enjoy onboard commentary, and pass Chalmette Battlefield. Add a Southern-style buffet lunch, or buy drinks and snacks during the cruise.

“Great music and great experience out on the water. We did not do the food option so not input there.”

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3.New Orleans: Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,548 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Board at 6pm for a two-hour evening cruise from the French Quarter area, sailing 7pm to 9pm. Hear live New Orleans jazz, enjoy captain’s narration, walk four decks, and buy drinks onboard. Dinner is optional, with a Creole buffet served fresh on the boat.

“Great experience, very well organised. Tasty food and plenty of different options to try. Well worth the money”

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4.New Orleans: Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,164 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Cruise the Mississippi for two hours aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, currently filling in for the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Hear the Steamboat Stompers, catch the captain’s narration, explore four decks, visit the engine room, and add a plated Creole lunch if you want a fuller outing.

“The whole experience was amazing, from start to finish!”

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5.Key West Sunset Cruise: Dinner, Live Music & Drinks Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,707 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $92

Board a 65-foot yacht at Key West’s historic seaport for a two-hour sunset cruise with crew-served Caribbean buffet, unlimited standard drinks, live music, and views of Mallory Square. Arrive an hour early, and expect shared seating and a possible two-part dinner schedule.

“Very proficient staff. Timely, prompt response to ticket purchase and loading unloading. Food was outstanding.”

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6.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,469 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Spend an evening on the Mississippi aboard the Creole Queen, with live jazz, a Creole buffet if selected, a cash bar, and city views from the promenade deck. Arrive by 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. departure. The boat returns around 9 p.m., and dinner, drinks, and music shape the night.

“Entertainment was not great… They didn’t discuss nothing of the cruise just ride and no good entertainment”

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7.New York City: Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,074 reviews · 3 hours · from $145

Spend three hours aboard the Louisa of the Seas, cruising from Pier 36 past Manhattan and Brooklyn landmarks. You’ll have a private table, plated dinner, drinks, skyline views, and live music from New York performers. VIP access adds the upper deck and extra drink tickets.

“We had a wonderful time! The food was very good and there was plenty of it! The views were great! We would definitely do it again!!”

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8.VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 838 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $190

Board near the French Quarter for a three-hour VIP evening on the Mississippi. You get early boarding, front-row seats for the Dukes of Dixieland, Champagne, a Louisiana buffet, a private boat tour, souvenirs, and an optional open bar. Hosts such as Marlon and Alex add personal attention.

“We had a wonderful time on board the paddle boat. Marlon took care of all our needs. It was nice to not have to rush to get decent seating for the music and dinner. Our tour with the captain was very interesting. We would recommend to friends.”

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9.Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 607 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $100

Spend about 2.5 hours aboard the vintage Spirit of Carolina, dining on a made-to-order three-course meal while cruising past Fort Sumter, the Battery, and the Ravenel Bridge. Live music, a full-service bar, and climate-controlled dining make this a relaxed evening outing, though tables may be shared.

“Great fun and food! Tge staff was excellent and very welcoming! I would highly recommend this experience!”

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10.New Orleans: Sunday Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Brunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 470 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Board the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS near the French Quarter for a two-hour Sunday cruise with live jazz by the Steamboat Stompers, captain’s narration, four decks, and Mississippi views. Add the Creole brunch for gumbo, shrimp and grits, cinnamon rolls, king cake, and more.

“A very nice intimate quiet brunch...employees and staff were friendly n very helpful...good memories with my daughter....I had experienced this with my mother for the lunch brunch...it was a great memory for me and now I am passing it on...”

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11.New Orleans City Tour and Steamboat Natchez Harbor Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 446 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Pair a three-hour New Orleans coach tour with a two-hour Mississippi River cruise from Toulouse Street. Expect the French Quarter, Jackson Square, a historic cemetery, City Park, the Garden District, live jazz, and optional Louisiana lunch. Guide assignments vary, with Harris, Robert, and Katherine among the praised guides.

“A must do! Such a great way to experience New Orleans unique features! Our guide, Robert, and driver Dwayne, were excellent. We love everything about The Natchez!”

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12.New York City Dinner Cruise with Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 377 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $149

Spend about three hours aboard a dinner boat from Pier 36, with a five-course plated meal, private table, live music, one beer or wine ticket, and views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan skyline, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty.

“It was great and peaceful…I had a nice dinner with a family friend and we had a really nice time. I enjoyed the view, at first I was feeling a bit sick at first but after I felt fine, it almost felt like I wasn’t moving. At the end it turned out to be a blessed night, I totally would do that again.”

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13.St. Augustine Live Music Cruise with Drinks and Sunset Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 315 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $69Top rated

Set out from Vilano Beach for a two-hour sunset cruise with live local music, complimentary beer, wine, champagne, margaritas, soda, and bagged snacks. Captain Howard and the crew guide you past the Bridge of Lions and Castillo de San Marcos, with a late-evening option on select dates.

“Treat vibes, drinks, and music was okay, but the ride and the view was everything. It is November so it did get a little chilly however the weather was nice and captain/ staff was amazing.”

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14.NYC: Evening Jazz Cruise on the Yacht Manhattan

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 285 reviews · 1h 30m · from $134

Spend 90 minutes aboard the 1920s-style Yacht Manhattan, listening to the Boat Band as you pass the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Lower Manhattan. Your booking includes one drink and an assigned table in the climate-controlled grand salon, with open decks available for fresh air and photos.

“For anyone that enjoys Jazz, I highly recommend this cruise right here. It’s an hour 1/2 around the NYC skyline. One complimentary drink and you may order small chessboard or beer nuts. It doesn’t do full entrees, but the prices are reasonable. I’ll be doing it again for sure and the band is called The Boat Band, was excellent.”

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15.Key West: Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar & Live Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 228 reviews · 2 hours · from $92

Board The Party Cat at 201 William St. for a two-hour Key West harbor cruise with a tropical buffet, open bar, and live music on the upper deck. You will watch the sun set over the Gulf waters, with dinner served in two groups during the cruise.

“What a great time. Great food, friendly staff, comfortable setting backed up by a view of the Gulf of Mexico and the sunset. The entertainment was a Jamaican performer from Kingston. He was awesome on vocals, guitar and synthesizer. He knew how to show the group a good time.”

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