The husband and I decided to go on the steamboat after walking the French Quarter for a good part of the morning and early afternoon. We booked the 2:30 tour and got in line about that time. The line was fairly long, but that was ok. We weren't in a hurry. The line area was shaded, thank goodness. It was very warm, even in October. There was a lady playing the steam calliope on top. It was very loud and a few notes were very piercing to the ears. Still, it was interesting to watch. Of course we posed for the pictures before boarding the boat. We were tourists, after all. We found a seat in the middle and later found out the best seats were at the very bottom. It was very nice and relaxing. I suggest walking around and checking everything out from the paddles to the engine to the gift shop. If you are expecting a scenic trip with a lot of wildlife and vegetation, you are not going to get that. The Mississippi River is a historic lifeline to all the cities it comes into contact with. It's been like that for many many years. You will see lots of shipyards and historical buildings and factories. It's not all pretty, but it is all very interesting, especially if you are not from that area. The narration is long, but you do get to hear the Dixieland band for a bit, which was nice. It was a very nice, very informative and very much needed 2 hour rest.