# Travel >> Transportation >> Cruises

Paddleboat Cruises on the Mississippi River

Paddleboats, or steamboats have been a staple on the Mississippi River since the early 19th century. A piece of Americana chronicled by Mark Twain in his memoir, "Life on the Mississippi," paddleboats served as a primary means of transportation for both people and goods before railways and highways crisscrossed the United States. A number of modern paddleboat cruises still operate along the Mississippi River from La Crosse, Wisconsin to New Orleans.

Mississippi River Cruises
- With departure ports in Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee and Louisiana, Mississippi River Cruises affers a wide variety of cruise options to its guests. While overnight cruises were temporarily suspended in 2008, the service has been reinstated as of June, 2010. The overnight cruise ticket prices includes the occupancy in a private stateroom, onboard meals and entrance fees to the tourist attractions such as restored plantations and battlefields that the ship visits throughout the journey.
  
  Mississippi River Cruises
  5851 San Felipe, Suite 500
  Houston, TX 77057
  (800) 510-4002
  RiverCruise.com
La Crosse Queen Cruises
- A replica of the paddleboats operating on the Upper Mississippi River out of La Crosse Wisconsin, the La Crosse Queen is one of the few paddleboats left on the Mississippi with actual paddlewheel propulsion. The company offers a variety of short-duration cruises lasting from one to three hours, including their sightseeing cruises, moonlight cruises, sunday brunch cruises and dinner cruises on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. With room for up to 149 passengers, the La Crosse Queen is also available for private charter.
  
  La Crosse Queen Cruises
  P.O. Box 1805
  La Crosse, WI 54602
  (608) 784-2893
  LaCrosseQueen.com
Steamboat Natchez
- One of a handful of paddleboats actually powered by steam operating on the Mississippi today, the Steamboat Natchez offers perhaps one of the most authentic rides available on the river. The Natchez takes her name from the vessel that bested Robert E. Lee in his famous steamboat race and claims to be the "undisputed champion of the Mississippi River." Two hour cruises are available in the form of the daytime harbor cruises and the evening dinner jazz cruise.
  
  Steamboat Natchez
  400 N. Peters St., Suite 203
  New Orleans, LA 70130
  (504) 586-8777
  SteamboatNatchez.com