Cruises to Baton Rouge

26 Reviews
Baton Rouge (Photo:Berkomaster/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Baton Rouge

The capital of Louisiana will come as a surprise to passengers who expect the city to be a smaller version of New Orleans. Baton Rouge, aka "Red Stick," is much stodgier than its downriver cousin, more focused on government and bureaucracy than laissez les bon temps roule. Aside from the bars near Louisiana State University -- several miles away from the downtown pier where most riverboats dock -- the city has little nightlife and unlike other parts of the state, no indigenous music tradition.

That's not to say that a stop here is a waste. Baton Rouge is not that far from the bayous of Cajun Country, and excursions taking passengers out to visit the swamps (and see an alligator or two) are popular. Louisiana politics are decidedly more colorful than those elsewhere in the U.S., and the state's Capitol building has its own notorious history; former governor Huey P. Long, aka "The Kingfish," was assassinated there in 1935. A city tour of Baton Rouge also includes a stop at the aforementioned LSU where people can meet the university's mascot, a live tiger named Mike (the current cat, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, is extremely popular with a live cam and an Instagram account).

Riverboats dock on the Mississippi River at a levee that has been renovated with walking and bike paths. Attractions within walking distance include the U.S.S. Kidd, the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and the Old State Capitol.

  • More about Baton Rouge

  • Why Cruise to Baton Rouge?

  • Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

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Viking Mississippi
Viking Mississippi (Image: Viking River Cruises)

7 Night
New Orleans & Southern Charms

33 Reviews
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Viking Mississippi
Viking Mississippi (Image: Viking River Cruises)

11 Night
Heart Of The Delta

33 Reviews
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Viking Mississippi
Viking Mississippi (Image: Viking River Cruises)

11 Night
Heart Of The Delta

33 Reviews
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Viking Mississippi
Viking Mississippi (Image: Viking River Cruises)

14 Night
The Big Easy To The Gateway City

33 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

21 Night
Mississippi River Odyssey

33 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

14 Night
America's Great River

33 Reviews
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More about Baton Rouge

Why Cruise to Baton Rouge?

Pros:

As the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge has a bit of history to explore including a former World War II battleship

Cons:

This city doesn't offer much of the culture you may think of when Louisiana comes to mind

Bottom Line:

If you're into governmental history stick around Baton Rouge, otherwise head out to the nearby swamps

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Louisiana only seems like a foreign country; the U.S. dollar is the only currency accepted. Credit cards are also widely available. ATMs are available once you leave the levee; the closest one is on Third Street, a short walk. There's also an ATM in the Belle of Baton Rouge casino.

Language?

English is the language spoken, but you should expect a Southern drawl.


Baton Rouge Cruise Reviews
Panoramic Baton Rouge was very interesting (lots about Huey Long) as was the USS Kidd (how did those sailors manage?).Read More
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lyrrek
The Viking-included excursion was mediocre. Too much time spent listening to the guide talk about the shooting of a former governor when we visited the state capitol building. The museum was interesting.Read More
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jwgtucson
We took the panoramic tour, which was good but not very long. The tour included a trip to a museum, which was very interesting. If you don't know much about Huey Long, it is a good idea to read up on him before visitRead More
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MostlyLegal
It was Xmas day, so everything was closed but we really enjoyed the walking tour. The ship's historian led the tour. Very educational. Hope to go back on a day when the government building are open for tours.Read More
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dvactor

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