Memphis Riverboats — Attraction in Memphis

Excellent Cruise – Parking Situation Not Good We purchased tickets online before the cruise, but you can buy them at boarding time, one hour before departing. They advertise that there is no parking on site and direct you to park in a pay lot across from the Visitors Center located down the street from the cruise boat dock. When we visited the Visitors Center, they said we could park there for free and walk to the boats. The cruise boat website says if you have a person who needs assistance, you can drop them off at the boarding area near the boat. (Note: we saw people going on the cruise park right in front of the cruise boat on the riverbank and walk right onto the boat and nobody chased them away. Just sayin'.) Here's the problem. The riverbank by the boat dock slopes at a pretty steep angle from the street down to the water. To make matters worse, the bank is covered in cobblestones. Some drivers may not be comfortable driving on that angle and on the stones down towards the dock. Now once you get close to the dock, there is a concrete sidewalk, again sloped at a good angle, that leads you to the boat. The other choice is drop off a person at the street level. They would have to make it down maybe 20 stairs, then to the long sidewalk. Either way, this is not a good setup for anyone that needs assistance. I suggest you go drive and look at the drop off area first before buying your tickets to make sure you can handle it as tickets are non-refundable. The other consideration is for people parking in either the Visitors Center of the paid lot. It's a bit of a walk to the docks. Make sure you are up to it. As for the cruise, it's wonderful. Boarding starts one hour before departure time. There are three decks. The lowest deck has the restrooms (nice flush toilets) and a bar that sells snacks, some light hot food, beer, wine, cocktails, soda, water and more. This is an enclosed space that is air conditioned with tables and chairs. The second level, accessed by stairways on both sides, front and back, has many tables and chairs and has open sides allowing a nice breeze to pass through on a warm day. I did not go up to the upper deck, but I think it is mostly open. The bar is open right at boarding time so you can get drinks and find a place to sit for the cruise. Shortly before departure, a fine gentlemen starts talking on a microphone on the second level. He is the tour guide. He goes over safety concerns, some rules and starts the cruise talk. He does so for about the next hour, telling us all kinds of history about Memphis - the river, music, food, people, etc. The cruise boat first heads south, then turns to go north, then returns to the dock. All the while, the muddy and debris laden Mississippi River rolls on by. It is amazing. During the last half hour, our tour guide goes below and plays music recordings that made Memphis famous. We have been on several river cruises like this and this was one of the best aside from the parking issue. There is no doubt that you will...

Cruising the Mississippi with Memphis Riverboats: A Bluesy BBQ on the Water

The Memphis Riverboats Dinner Cruise offers a unique way to experience the mighty Mississippi River at night. Setting sail for a two-hour adventure on a classic paddleboat, the backdrop of the illuminated Memphis bridge is truly captivating. The gentle sway of the boat, the live blues band filling the air, and the promise of a BBQ dinner create a memorable atmosphere that I found enjoyable overall. At $50 per person, the price point felt reasonable for the experience offered.

The boat itself boasts three levels. The main indoor level is where the live blues band sets the mood and the BBQ dinner is served. Two upper open-air decks provide ample space to roam, take in the panoramic views of the city lights reflecting on the water, and even indulge in a smoke for those who wish. Being able to move freely between these levels added to the relaxed and casual ambiance of the cruise.

While the overall experience was pleasant, there were a couple of areas that could be improved. While the live blues band provided a nice soundtrack to the evening, their performance felt somewhat average. Similarly, the BBQ dinner, while satisfying, didn't quite reach the heights I was hoping for. It was a decent meal, but lacked a certain "wow" factor.

It's also worth noting the drink situation. Only water is included in the ticket price, with other beverages available for purchase. A can of soda will set you back $2, while cocktails can climb up to $15. This is something to keep in mind when budgeting for the evening.

However, the most significant drawback at this time is the lack of handicapped accessibility to the boat. Due to the ongoing construction on Riverside Drive, reaching the vessel currently involves navigating steps, making it inaccessible for individuals with mobility challenges. This is a crucial point to consider when booking.

In conclusion, the Memphis Riverboats Dinner Cruise offers a charming and atmospheric evening on the Mississippi. The stunning views of the illuminated bridge and the freedom to explore the paddleboat's different levels are definite highlights. While the band and food could benefit from a slight upgrade, and the drink costs add up, the overall experience is enjoyable for the price. However, potential guests with mobility issues should be aware of the current lack of handicapped accessibility due to ongoing construction.

Pros: Beautiful views of the illuminated Memphis bridge. Relaxing two-hour cruise on the Mississippi River. Live blues band provides a pleasant ambiance. Three levels to explore, including open-air decks. Reasonable price point of $50 per person.

Cons: Live blues band performance could be better. BBQ dinner was decent but not exceptional. Only water is included; other drinks are extra. Currently not handicapped accessible due to Riverside Drive...

Australian here on a once in a lifetime holiday.

It was our last night in memphis, which, up to that point had been incredible, so we decided to go for a cruise on the famous Mississippi River.

We arrived at the google maps location for where the cruise departed to be greeted by essentially a combination between a dump and a construction site. Below this was some derelict grounded barges which also appeared to be dumped there. See photos. We boarded and we're instantly hit with a foul smell like we had just walked into a public garage dump.

We went upstairs and was directed to our seat at a side table with a plastic table cloth in an extremely cold room. Not sure why the air con was set to Arctic.

We got a couple of drinks and decided to go upstairs until dinner was served.

Then we noticed three persons come down to thr dock. Not part of the cruise. They went a bit further down but still in view of the staff and dumped an item in the river and then threw in a plastic bag. The crew did nothing about this. I just thought this was weak. Obviously no one cares about this beautiful river any more.

Anyway. We then saw people with dinner so we went downstairs. My partner brought back to plates of stuff. No choice. Just given a plate of everything they had in the buffet. It didn't look appetising. The piece of chicken was very overcooked. The pulled pork was luke warm and quite chewy. The only thing remotely okay was the canned baked beans and packet mix Mac and cheese.

The band then started to play which was sounded more like karaoke than a proper band.

As for cruising itself, all we did was leave the garbage canal go out into the river proper just to turn around after a couple of miles and then very very slowly head back up the river to drag out as much time as possible so that the captain could time being back at the dock at the allotted time. We spent most of the trip staring at the same bridge.

Oh by the way. This was $50 USD each. So $160 AUD for us.

To say we were disappointed is an insult to the word.

Please do not go on this trip. Save your money and go literally anywhere else in memphis. I recommend BB kings every night. Music is insanely good and food is great.

Hope this helps someone avoid the expensive...