Lunch or dinner, a live country show and the Cumberland River from the four-deck General
Jackson paddlewheeler. Where it really docks, what the ticket includes, and the honest alternatives.
Summer 2026 note: mechanical and air-conditioning problems kept the General Jackson at the dock on several dates in July to September; the meal and show still ran, and guests were offered a discount or a full refund. Check your cruise the day before. Local reportChecked October 1, 2026
What's in, what's extraMeal, show, drinks and tips spelled out
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before on the showboat
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile ticket, instant confirmation
Tickets
Choose your Nashville river cruise
The General Jackson lunch or dinner cruise with hotel pickup, in the centre. Beside it, the
two cruises people weigh it against: a shorter downtown dinner cruise and a narrated skyline cruise.
The classic: a Southern meal and a live country show aboard the four-deck paddlewheel, with pickup from select downtown hotels. Drinks and tips are extra.
What's included
Cruise ticket on the General Jackson Showboat (lunch at 12 pm or dinner at 7 pm)
Plated Southern lunch or dinner in the Victorian Theater
Live show: country hits at lunch, a band, singers and dancers at dinner
Round-trip pickup from select downtown Nashville hotels; taxes included
Not included: alcoholic drinks, extra food, gratuities; free cancellation to 24 hours
Children 4 to 11 have their own rate on the General Jackson, and infants 3 and under are
listed separately. The showboat, the pontoon cruise, the Opry and the Gray Line tours cancel free up to 24 hours
ahead; the three Nashville Riverboats cruises from downtown are non-refundable.
Where it really leaves from
The General Jackson docks at Opry Mills, not on Broadway.
The General Jackson Showboat was built for the Opryland USA theme park and launched in 1985. The park
closed in 1997, but the boat stayed: it docks beside Opry Mills and Gaylord Opryland, roughly 20 minutes by car
from downtown. Cruises head down the Cumberland River toward the city, so you still see the skyline and the
bridges from the water, but you board out by the Opry, not at the foot of Broadway.
That is why the Viator ticket includes pickup from select downtown hotels, and why the cruises that
do leave from downtown are run by other boats. It is also not a steamboat: diesel generators drive the electric
motors that turn the red paddlewheel. Inside there are four decks and a two-storey Victorian Theater
where you eat and watch the show.
274 ft
The length of the General Jackson, with a 24-foot
paddlewheel and room for about 1,000 guests.
Victorian TheaterHurricane DeckLive country showPaddlewheel
Four decks of gingerbread railings: the showboat looks the part of an 1880s riverboat.
01
Is lunch included?
Yes: a plated Southern lunch or dinner with tea or coffee. Cocktails, beer and tips are extra.
02
Do I need a car?
No. Pickup from select downtown hotels is included; check yours is on the list, or drive and park free.
03
When should I arrive?
Boarding opens 45 minutes before sailing. Early arrivals get first pick of the outdoor decks.
04
Who might skip it?
Anyone after gourmet food or a big night on Broadway: a downtown cruise or a honky-tonk suits better.
The cruise
How a showboat lunch unfolds
About four hours door to door with hotel pickup. This is the midday cruise; the dinner cruise runs the same way from 5:30 pm.
01
Hotel pickup
Be in your downtown hotel lobby by 10:30 am; a Gray Line shuttle drives you out to the Opry Mills dock.
10:30 am
02
Board and explore
Boarding opens at 11:15 am. Walk the outdoor decks and take photos before you are seated.
11:15 am
03
Lunch on the river
The boat sails at noon. A plated Southern lunch is served at your table in the Victorian Theater.
12 pm
04
The show
An eight-piece band plays 75 years of country hits, then back to the dock and the shuttle home.
The dock sits on the Cumberland River between Opry Mills and Gaylord Opryland, roughly 20 minutes by car
from Broadway and a short walk from the Grand Ole Opry House. With the Viator ticket, a Gray Line shuttle picks
you up at a select downtown hotel and brings you back after the cruise. Driving yourself, park free in the Opry
Mills lot near the Food Court entrance.
4.4★★★★★ 1,566 reviews · General Jackson lunch or dinner cruise live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★
We had a wonderful time on the dinner cruise. Food was delicious. The show was excellent - such talented performers/singers. Seeing the downtown Nashville skyline all lit up was beautiful.
★★★★★
The service was excellent, the food delicious, and the bands were great and a lot of fun! I can't say enough about how pleased we are with the whole experience!
★★★★★
We had a wonderful time on the General Jackson Riverboat cruise. The meal was outstanding and views of the city from the boat were stunning. This was the perfect way to relax on our last evening in Nashville.
★★★★★
A superb evening's entertainment. Excellent food with great service and a very enjoyable jazz band. The whole experience was a delight.
★★★★★
The performance was exceptional. All of the singers and the musicians were so very talented and we enjoyed their performances so much. The food was good.
★★★★★
We had an Amazing time. The driver to and from the boat was extremely friendly and very knowledgeable about the area. He told us a lot! We loved him!
Short on time?
See Music City from the top deck
No boat and no meal: an hour on an open-top bus past the landmarks, with stories from a local guide.
Best of Nashville Double-Decker City Tour
★ 4.6 · 2,980 reviews · 1 hour
If you only have a morning, see the city from the top deck instead: a one-hour narrated double-decker loop past the Ryman Auditorium, Broadway's honky-tonks, the Parthenon and Music Row, run by Gray Line Tennessee, the same company that handles the showboat pickups.
The Nashville showboat cruise is one of the city's longest-running days out: a paddlewheeler, a
Southern meal and a live show in one ticket. Here is what you are really buying, what it costs once you are on
board, and how to get the most out of it.
What the showboat is, and what it isn't
The General Jackson is a 274-foot paddlewheel showboat, launched in 1985 for the Opryland USA theme park and
named after an 1817 riverboat that honoured Andrew Jackson. It is the only paddlewheel showboat in Nashville and
one of the largest in the country, with four decks, an open-air Hurricane Deck on top and a two-storey Victorian
Theater in the middle. It is not a steamboat, whatever some listings say: diesel generators power the electric
motors that turn the paddlewheel. And it is not a downtown boat. It docks by Opry Mills, and the cruise sails
toward the city and back, so you see the skyline from the river rather than boarding beside it.
Lunch or dinner is served in the two-storey Victorian Theater, facing the stage.
What it really costs
The lunch or dinner cruise with hotel pickup is from $112 per adult on Viator in 2026, with a separate child
rate for ages 4 to 11. That covers the cruise, a plated Southern meal with tea or coffee, the show, taxes and the
shuttle from select downtown hotels. It does not cover drinks from the bar, which guests report at about $24 for a
souvenir-cup cocktail, or tips, which staff are keen to remind you about. A couple who has a drink each and tips
should budget well over $250 for the day.
The honest small print: the show gets the best reviews and the food gets the most mixed
ones, from "outstanding" to "average buffet". In summer 2026 the boat also had a run of mechanical and
air-conditioning problems: some cruises stayed at the dock with the meal and show still running, and guests were
offered $25 off or a full refund. Book with free cancellation and check your cruise the day before.
Lunch or dinner?
The midday Nashville LIVE! cruise sails at noon for about 2.5 hours, with an eight-piece band playing 75
years of country hits and better daylight views of the river. The evening Southern Nights cruise sails at
7 pm for about 3 hours, with singers, dancers and a full band, a carving station at dinner, and the lit-up skyline
on the way back. Lunch suits families and anyone planning an evening on Broadway; dinner suits a special night out.
The midday menu: whiskey charred chicken, smoked pork and potato salad.
Making the most of the cruise
Be ready in your hotel lobby on time, because the shuttle does not wait long. Board as soon as boarding opens
and go straight up to the outdoor decks for photos of the paddlewheel and the river, then find your table before
the meal. Bring a light layer for the theater, cash or a card for drinks and tips, and ask for any dietary meal
when you book. If you want the Opry too, the Grand Ole Opry House is right next to the dock.
The open-air top deck is quietest while everyone else is eating.
Straight answers to what visitors ask most about the General Jackson Showboat cruises.
What is included in the General Jackson Showboat lunch cruise?
The Viator ticket includes the cruise, a plated Southern lunch in the Victorian Theater, the live Nashville LIVE! show with an eight-piece country band, taxes, and round-trip pickup from select downtown Nashville hotels. Tea and coffee come with the meal; cocktails, beer, extra food and tips are not included. See the ticket.
How much does the Nashville showboat cruise cost?
The General Jackson lunch or dinner cruise with hotel pickup is from $112 per adult (12 and over) on Viator in 2026, with a separate child rate for ages 4 to 11. Budget extra for drinks, which guests report at about $24 for a souvenir-cup cocktail, and for gratuities. See the ticket guide.
Where does the General Jackson Showboat leave from?
From its own dock beside Opry Mills and Gaylord Opryland (2812 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214), not from downtown. That is roughly 20 minutes by car from Broadway, which is why the Viator ticket includes hotel pickup. Parking at the dock is free. Read where the boat docks.
How long is the General Jackson lunch cruise?
The midday cruise lasts about 2.5 hours: boarding from 11:15 am and departure at 12 pm. The evening cruise is about 3 hours, boarding from 6:15 pm for a 7 pm departure. With hotel pickup (10:30 am for lunch, 5:30 pm for dinner), plan on about 4 hours door to door.
Should I book the lunch or the dinner cruise?
Lunch is the lighter, cheaper-feeling daytime option with better river scenery and a country-hits show. Dinner has the bigger production with singers and dancers and the lit-up skyline on the way back. Compare them in lunch or dinner?
Is the General Jackson a real steamboat?
It looks like one, but no. The General Jackson was launched in 1985 for the old Opryland park and is powered by diesel generators driving electric motors that turn its 24-foot red paddlewheel. It is 274 feet long, with four decks and a two-storey Victorian Theater at its heart.
Is the General Jackson Showboat worth it?
For a first trip to Nashville with a meal and a show in one, most guests say yes: it rates 4.4 from 1,566 reviews. The recurring complaints are average food, pricey drinks and a push for tips, and in summer 2026 a run of mechanical and air-conditioning problems. See the honest verdict.
What should I wear on the General Jackson?
Casual dress is fine. Shirts and shoes are required, and halter tops and swimsuits are not allowed. Bring a light layer for the air-conditioned theater and comfortable shoes for the stairs between decks. See what to wear.
Is there a dinner cruise from downtown Nashville?
Yes: Nashville Riverboats runs a two-hour buffet dinner cruise with live music from the Riverfront dock at the foot of Broadway, from $96. It is shorter and simpler than the General Jackson, and its tickets are non-refundable. See Nashville dinner cruises compared.
Can I cancel my General Jackson ticket?
Yes. The General Jackson cruise and the narrated pontoon cruise can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before on Viator. The Nashville Riverboats cruises from downtown are non-refundable.
Are children allowed on the showboat?
Yes. Children 4 to 11 have their own rate, infants 3 and under are listed separately, strollers are allowed and the boat is wheelchair accessible. Children must be supervised on board, and crew help with the stairs between decks.
What happens if the boat cannot sail?
The operator can change schedules for sustained winds of 20 mph or more or poor river conditions. In summer 2026, when the boat stayed docked, the meal and show still went ahead and guests were offered a discount or a full refund. Check your booking the day before.
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