# NashvilleShowboatLunch.com - General Jackson Showboat lunch and dinner cruises in Nashville, compared

> Independent guide to the General Jackson Showboat lunch and dinner cruises on the Cumberland River in Nashville,
> Tennessee, and the other river cruises in the city: what each ticket includes, where each boat leaves from, what
> costs extra, live ratings and from-prices, schedules and rules. Tickets and experiences hand-picked by our editors.

Site: https://nashvilleshowboatlunch.com
Language: en. Currency: USD. Country: United States (Nashville, Tennessee).

## Verified facts

- The General Jackson Showboat is a 274 ft paddlewheel showboat launched April 20, 1985 for the Opryland USA park.
  Four decks, a two-storey Victorian Theater, a 24 ft diameter paddlewheel, capacity about 1,000 guests.
  It is diesel-electric, not steam powered. Owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties, operated by Gaylord Opryland.
- It docks next to Opry Mills and Gaylord Opryland (2812 Opryland Dr / 577 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville, TN 37214),
  roughly 20 minutes by car from downtown Broadway. It does not board downtown. Parking is free (Opry Mills lot).
- 2026 programme: Nashville LIVE! midday cruise (boards 11:15 am, sails 12 pm, about 2.5 h, eight-piece country
  showband, plated Southern lunch) and Southern Nights evening cruise (boards 6:15 pm, sails 7 pm, about 3 h,
  vocalists, dancers and band, dinner with carving station). Early boarding $5 per person. Holiday shows in season.
- Dress code: casual; shirts and shoes required; no halter tops or swimsuits. No outside food or drink.
- Viator product 3131SHOWBOAT (Gray Line Tennessee): from $112 per adult (12+), child rate 4-11; includes cruise, meal,
  show, taxes and round-trip pickup from select downtown hotels (10:30 am lunch, 5:30 pm dinner); excludes drinks,
  extra food and gratuities; free cancellation up to 24 hours. Rated 4.4 from 1,566 reviews.
- Summer 2026: mechanical problems kept the boat docked July 4-19, 2026 (WSMV, Fox17), and guest reviews from July to
  September 2026 report dockside-only sailings and broken air conditioning, with $25 discounts or full refunds offered.
- Nashville Riverboats cruises (sightseeing, dinner buffet, nighttime music) board at the Riverfront dock, 100 1st Ave S,
  at the foot of Broadway, and are non-refundable.

## Bookable cruises and tours listed on this site

All booking links are Viator affiliate links (partner ID P00318890). The site earns a commission at no
extra cost to the reader and says so at https://nashvilleshowboatlunch.com/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD per adult at the last build and move.

- General Jackson Showboat Lunch or Dinner Cruise (Opry Mills dock (hotel pickup)) - from $112 per person, 4 hours, rated 4.4 from 1,566 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/Nashville-Showboat-Lunch-or-Dinner-Cruise/d799-3131SHOWBOAT
- Downtown Dinner Cruise on the Cumberland (Riverfront dock, foot of Broadway) - from $96 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.3 from 45 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/Nashville-Dinner-Cruise-on-the-Cumberland-River/d799-5654253P2
- Narrated Cumberland River Cruise (East Bank dock, 2 Victory Ave) - from $40 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.9 from 120 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/Nashville-Family-Friendly-River-Cruise/d799-343361P2
- Downtown Paddlewheeler Sightseeing Cruise (Riverfront dock, foot of Broadway) - from $50 per person, 1.5 hours, rated 4.6 from 348 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/Nashville-Riverboats-Sightseeing-Cruise/d799-5654253P1
- Nighttime Cruise with Live Music (Riverfront dock, foot of Broadway) - from $61 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.0 from 25 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/Nashville-Nighttime-Cruise-with-Live-Music/d799-5654253P3
- Grand Ole Opry Show Ticket (Grand Ole Opry House, beside Opry Mills) - from $62 per person, 2.5 hours, rated 4.7 from 2,783 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/Grand-Ole-Opry-Admission-Ticket/d799-6585OPRYADM
- Grand Ole Opry House Backstage Tour (Grand Ole Opry House, beside Opry Mills) - from $40 per person, 1 hour, rated 4.7 from 2,643 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/Grand-Ole-Opry-House-Backstage-Tour/d799-6585GRANDOP
- Celebrity Homes Narrated Bus Tour (Downtown Nashville) - from $70 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.4 from 1,941 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/Nashville-Homes-of-the-Stars-Tour/d799-3131HS
- Best of Nashville Double-Decker City Tour (Downtown Nashville) - from $35 per person, 1 hour, rated 4.6 from 2,980 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Nashville/The-New-Nashville-City-Tour/d799-3131P26

## Guide pages on this site

- https://nashvilleshowboatlunch.com/guides/general-jackson-showboat-tickets/ - General Jackson Showboat tickets for 2026: what the $112 Viator ticket with hotel pickup includes, child rates, what costs extra and how cancellation works.
- https://nashvilleshowboatlunch.com/guides/lunch-or-dinner-cruise/ - General Jackson lunch or dinner cruise? Times, length, shows and 2026 menus for Nashville LIVE! at noon and Southern Nights at 7 pm, and who each suits.
- https://nashvilleshowboatlunch.com/guides/general-jackson-showboat-location/ - Where the General Jackson Showboat docks: by Opry Mills and Gaylord Opryland, not downtown. Address, free parking, boarding times and hotel pickup.
- https://nashvilleshowboatlunch.com/guides/nashville-dinner-cruises-compared/ - Nashville dinner cruises compared for 2026: the General Jackson showboat vs the downtown Riverboats buffet cruise, a night music cruise and a pontoon.
- https://nashvilleshowboatlunch.com/guides/what-to-wear-general-jackson/ - What to wear on the General Jackson Showboat: the casual dress code, a layer for the air-conditioned theater, shoes for the stairs and what not to bring.
- https://nashvilleshowboatlunch.com/guides/general-jackson-showboat-worth-it/ - Is the General Jackson Showboat worth it in 2026? What 1,566 reviews praise and criticize, the summer mechanical and AC problems, and who should skip it.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- The General Jackson does not leave from downtown Nashville; it docks at Opry Mills. Downtown cruises are other boats.
- Listings calling it a 'steamboat' are wrong about the power: it is diesel-electric with a working paddlewheel.
- Drinks other than tea and coffee are not included in the lunch or dinner cruise price.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage. Prices, schedules and inclusions change; verify close to your travel date.