One of three operating steamships on the Mississippi, the Natchez is a steam-driven paddle wheel boat that has a real calliope. The calliope plays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. every evening as the passengers board for a two hour dinner cruise down the river. We took the boat cruise on Friday night to see the river traffic and get a educational narration about life on the Mississippi. We learned that the river is over 100 feet deep at the port of New Orleans, making the river a lively and busy port for ocean-going vessels. As our boat went by with the fabulous New Orleans jazz band playing, another ship's crew members danced along with the music and entertained us with their joie de vivre.
Our hotel room overlooks the river so I can enjoy the view of the river traffic day and night!
