Booking choice: The General Jackson lunch or dinner cruise, from $112 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The General Jackson is the dinner-and-a-show option, from the Opry Mills dock with hotel pickup. Nashville Riverboats runs a smaller paddlewheeler, the Capitol, from the foot of Broadway, with a buffet dinner cruise, a night music cruise and a daytime sightseeing ride. The narrated pontoon cruise is the budget, no-meal choice from the East Bank.
One detail matters more than it looks: the three Nashville Riverboats cruises on Viator are non-refundable.
The quick answer
For dinner and a full stage show, the General Jackson. For a shorter buffet dinner that boards downtown, the Nashville Riverboats dinner cruise, which is non-refundable. For music without a meal, the nighttime cruise; for the river itself at the lowest price, the narrated pontoon cruise.
How do Nashville's river cruises compare?
The General Jackson is the biggest boat and the only one with a full stage show; the downtown cruises are shorter and board a walk from Broadway.
| Cruise | Boards | Length | Meal | Cancel | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Jackson | Opry Mills (pickup) | 2.5 to 3 h | Lunch or dinner + show | Free to 24 h | 4.4 (1,566) | $112 |
| Riverboats dinner | Riverfront Park | 2 h | Buffet + live music | Non-refundable | 4.3 (45) | $96 |
| Nighttime music | Riverfront Park | 2 h | None | Non-refundable | 4.0 (25) | $61 |
| Sightseeing paddlewheeler | Riverfront Park | 1.5 h | None | Non-refundable | 4.6 (348) | $50 |
| Narrated pontoon | East Bank | 2 h | None | Free to 24 h | 4.9 (120) | $40 |
General Jackson: best for dinner and a show
A four-deck, 274-foot paddlewheel showboat with a two-storey Victorian Theater, a Southern meal and a live stage show.
It is from $112 with pickup from select downtown hotels, and it is the only option here with free cancellation and a meal. Drinks and tips are extra. See lunch or dinner? for the two shows.
Want the full dinner show? The ticket includes pickup and cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the General Jackson lunch or dinner cruiseNashville Riverboats dinner cruise: best for staying downtown
A two-hour buffet dinner with live music aboard the Capitol paddlewheeler, boarding at Riverfront Park, 100 1st Ave S.
It is from $96, and guests report a $10 per person gratuity on top. Reviews praise the food, staff and night views, but the ticket cannot be cancelled or changed, so only book once your plans are fixed.
Staying on Broadway? The buffet dinner cruise boards a short walk away. Note: tickets are non-refundable.
Explore the downtown dinner cruiseNighttime music cruise: is it a dinner cruise?
No: it is the same boat and time of evening, but dinner is not included, and guests report non-diners are kept out of the indoor, air-conditioned area.
At $61 it is the lowest-rated option here (4.0 from 25 reviews). Guests report that diners sit inside while music-only guests stay on the upper deck, and that outside alcohol is confiscated. Several say to buy the dinner cruise or skip it.
Sightseeing paddlewheeler: best short daytime ride
A 90-minute daytime cruise on the Capitol from Riverfront Park, with a singer and narrator, no meal.
It is from $50 and rated 4.6 from 348 reviews. Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure. Guests enjoy the boat and the music but note there is not a lot to see; it is more about the ride. Non-refundable.
Narrated pontoon cruise: best value on the water
Two hours on a small covered pontoon with a captain's live commentary, from the East Bank near Nissan Stadium.
At $40 and rated 4.9 from 120 reviews, it is the best-rated cruise here, with a maximum of 38 guests and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. There is no meal; snacks and drinks are for sale. Guests love the captains' history of the river, though one notes that the banks are mostly trees.
Want the river without the dinner bill? The narrated cruise cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the narrated river cruiseWhich Nashville cruise should you choose?
Match it to the night you want: a show, a quick dinner downtown, music, or the river itself.
- First trip, want dinner and a show: the General Jackson.
- Staying on Broadway, plans fixed: the Riverboats dinner cruise.
- Tight budget: the narrated pontoon cruise.
- Families with young kids: the General Jackson lunch cruise or the pontoon.
- Plans might change: stick to the options with free cancellation.
Where each boat boards is in where the General Jackson docks.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a dinner cruise from downtown Nashville?
Yes: Nashville Riverboats' two-hour buffet dinner cruise boards at Riverfront Park, 100 1st Ave S, from $96. Tickets are non-refundable.
Which Nashville dinner cruise is best?
For dinner and a full show, the General Jackson. For a shorter, simpler dinner that boards downtown, the Nashville Riverboats dinner cruise.
Can you cancel a Nashville Riverboats cruise?
Not on Viator: the dinner, nighttime and sightseeing cruises are non-refundable and cannot be changed. The General Jackson and the narrated pontoon cruise cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Is the nighttime music cruise worth it?
Guests are split: some enjoy the music, but several report being kept out of the indoor area without the dinner package. If you want to eat, book the dinner cruise instead.
Ready to book
Choose your cruise
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
General Jackson Showboat Lunch or Dinner Cruise
- 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
Narrated Cumberland River Cruise
- Two-hour river cruise with live narration from the captain
- USCG licensed captain and deckhand; up to 38 guests
- Restroom on board; snacks and drinks for purchase
