The Mississippi River, the largest river in the United States, flows into the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans, so a trip to New Orleans must not be missed is a cruise on the Mississippi River on the steamboat Natchez. The ship departs from the heart of the French Quarter, and a two-hour cruise showcases the beauty of the lower Mississippi River and the vitality of the port city of New Orleans. The cruise has a buffet lunch and a jazz band on the boat, like a lively big party.