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Nashville Tours
General Jackson Showboat Lunch or Dinner Cruise in Nashville
4
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

General Jackson Showboat Lunch or Dinner Cruise in Nashville

By Gray Line Tours
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This Nashville lunch or dinner cruise combines live entertainment, a Southern-style meal, and beautiful views of the Cumberland River for a reasonable price, so you can get more sightseeing and entertainment for less. Plus, this Nashville cruise on one of the country’s largest paddle-wheel boats includes hotel pickup and drop-off, making it even more appealing for travelers.

Ages 0-99, max of 25 per group
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Ride one of the largest paddle-wheel boats in the US for this river cruise
  • Take in Nashville's Cumberland River scenery from an indoor or outdoor deck
  • Watch a show with live comedy and music in the boat’s Victorian theater
  • Choose from a Southern-style lunch or dinner

  • General Jackson Showboat Admission Ticket in Nashville
  • Lunch or Dinner Cruise Options Available
  • Boat Cruise along scenic Cumberland River in Nashville
  • Experience the General Jackson Showboat, on one of the largest paddlewheel riverboats in the country
  • Enjoy a musical performance for dinner in the riverboat’s beautiful Victorian dinner theatre
  • Live Entertainment On Board
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off (from select downtown Nashville hotels only)
  • All local taxes & fees
  • Entry/Admission - Gray Line Tours
What's not included
  • Additional food and beverages
  • Gratuities

Your Nashville cruise starts with hotel pickup. From there, your driver takes you to meet your crew for the day or evening. Once you get to the Cumberland River and board the General Jackson Showboat, enjoy views of the river from either the indoor or outdoor deck. There's plenty of space on this ship to wander around before your meal is served.   This historically recreated paddle boat also features a Victorian theater where you can head to eat your Southern-style meal (see Itinerary section for a sample menu). While you eat, enjoy a live show with music and comedy acts. The dinner show includes a live orchestra and talented dancers.  Your Cumberland River cruise ends with a hotel drop-off at your Nashville hotel.

Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • Please note: Hotel pick-up is offered at select downtown Nashville hotels only. • Lunch Cruise: Please be ready in the Hotel Lobby for pick up by 10:30am for the Lunch Cruise at 12pm.  • Dinner Cruise: Please be ready in the Hotel Lobby for pick up by 5:30pm for the Dinner cruise at 7:00pm.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Wheelchair accessible
        • Pushchair accessible
        • Near public transportation
        • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3131SHOWBOAT

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Most travellers can participate
        • Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available upon advance notice
        • Accessibility: ADA-compliant vehicles are available for most tours if you provide us with a 48-hour notice. After scheduling your tour, please contact our Dispatch Office to confirm availability.
        • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travellers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3131SHOWBOAT

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        Itinerary
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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Gray Line Tours
          6,326
          Nashville, United States
          Joined in June 2009
        • louissigouin62
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Nashville
          Great tour, very detailed and informative. Tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable Clean bus Would recommend to my friends for sure
          Written 8 January 2025
        • Paradise270164
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Will Go Again!
          Great experience on the tour. Tour guide was great, and everything was simple and easy. Will go again on a different tour
          Written 7 January 2025
        • Manessa H
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great tour!
          Great tour. Seen a lot of homes. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. I feel like most homes were on the right side, which worked out great for us.
          Written 6 January 2025
        • Myriah C
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Nashville Homes of the Stars
          Gary is very knowledgeable of the area and tells the stories with some fun humor. Great way to see some beautiful residential areas of Nashville.
          Written 4 January 2025
        • elizabethkL1346YQ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Sightseeing with Informative Fun
          The tour was informative, fun, and entertaining. Our tour guide, Glen made the experience. We enjoyed seeing everything!
          Written 4 January 2025
        • YATLOML
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great tour and fun!
          The tour was so much more than the stars homes. Provided a lot of history as well. Our tour guide and driver, Julie, was so fun, told lots of stories and she was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour, well worth the money and time. And hopefully you will get Julie as your guide!
          Written 2 January 2025
        • 78larah
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          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fun tour, must do
          The tour was so much fun! The tour guide was very knowledgeable. He shared way more info than just where celebrities. I had my 2 teens with me (20 & 18). I recommend this tour!
          Written 1 January 2025
        • stephaniecI6530GJ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great highlights tour!
          This was a great highlights tour of Nashville. We had ample time at the Ryman center and CMHOF. We had a great guide - Leonard. He gave lots of interesting info and told of local places to eat and visit. Highly recommend!
          Written 31 December 2024
        • Shelley T
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Good day trip
          Very nice - we had a great time. Bus was nice and on time. We had a good guide - seats on top were hot so be careful when you first sit down
          Written 31 December 2024
        • G8615GIbarbarap
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          History that should be as well known as Gettysburg!!!
          Learned so much about a Civil War battle that I didn't even know happened!!! And, I’m a 5th grade teacher who taught American History!
          Written 30 December 2024
        • lquirke
          0 contributions
          1.0 of 5 bubbles
          We were cancelled
          We were scheduled to go on Nov. 30th but the provider cancelled the excursion a few days before. At least they refunded the money promptly.
          Written 30 December 2024
        • G176IIkimberlyr
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Rude Family!
          Ed was fantastic and did an amazing job of navigating the tour. His singing voice was also fabulous. However, there was an extremely loud and rude woman with her husband and three children, as well as parents, who did nothing but talk loudly the entire trip. I wish they would have stayed in Illinois. Thank you, Ed, and Gray Line for an informative two hours.
          Written 29 December 2024
        • H2701NFjeanettec
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          The best tourist ride I ever had
          I love it tho the weather was not so great but God knew it was my first time in Nashville and enjoyed it I loved the history on the town
          Written 28 December 2024
        • chezclinite
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          Well worth the money and time!
          This was a gift for my parents, something that they’ve always wanted to do, but not having to drive to each place and get extra information from the great tour guides was perfect! They absolutely loved their time yesterday!
          Written 28 December 2024
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        See all 6,326 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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        4.0
        4.0 of 5 bubbles424 reviews
        Excellent
        244
        Very good
        94
        Average
        47
        Poor
        20
        Terrible
        19

        Jim and Pat S
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Aug 2021
        My wife and I were traveling with friends and we all really enjoyed the cruise. The scenery along the river as the sun began to set was great and the lights along the shoreline at night were quite stunning. We also thought the band playing on deck was outstanding and all of the performers during dinner were awesome and quite talented. The staff and crew really tried to be as helpful as they could be to ensure that you understood what to expect during different parts of the cruise and how you might maximize your night of entertainment. The food was quite tasty and portions plenty. For the price, at least one complimentary drink would have been nice as drinks are not included in the price. The shuttle was also a nice service as the boat seems to be quite a ways from the center of the city and you don't have to worry about driving/finding it or getting back to your hotel. The driver of the shuttle was friendly but seemed to be somewhat of a reckless driver i.e. speeding, jumping curbs, driving in the middle of the road and such. Apart from that, we all had a great time.
        Written 14 August 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hello and thank you taking the General Jackson Riverboat Dinner tour! We look forward to seeing you again soon!
        Written 27 August 2021
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Pat R
        13 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jul 2022 • Couples
        A relaxing way to enjoy good country music and view some of the Nashville area from the perspective of the Cumberland River. After a lot of walking downtown, the General Jackson experience offered the opportunity to just slow down and enjoy vacation with no agenda. The boat meandered down the calm river, deck levels and seating provide varied vantage points, and refreshments available to purchase, in addition to the meal, if you chose the meal with your cruise. All diners ate the same thing-roasted chicken leg quarter, green beans, and Mac and cheese, with a dessert. Nothing spectacular about the food, but basic for most and tasty. Dinner salad as the appetizer. Roasted chicken was nicely cooked, tender and juicy. Beans were fresh and macaroni and cheese tasted homemade. Children were offered chicken tenders and fries. Seated with other travelers was fun and offered good meal conversation. The musical show of country legends after dessert was awesome. Very talented singers and musicians played a wide variety of great hits from the legends of country music. Those that played instruments put their hearts into the music and showed off a lot of talent. The main singers stayed after the show for pictures and autographs. The General Jackson cruise was worth every penny, and we would have done a 2nd cruise if we had an extra day, just to stay on the decks and enjoy cruising. My only regret is by the time you eat and watch the show, the cruise is over. I would allow more time on deck to enjoy the soothing ride and watch the paddle wheel; that was my favorite part of this journey.
        Written 15 July 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        This is so great! Thank you for leaving such a detailed, 5-star review about the General Jackson Showboat Cruise. We are so glad that you enjoyed your evening on board and hope to see you again!
        Written 20 July 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Love2Travel06117
        West Hartford, CT53 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2022
        My group really enjoyed the General Jackson Showboat. Greyline personnel were very helpful in originally booking the tour and sent reminders and helpful info by email and I also received a confirmation call the day before the tour. The bus arrived at the hotel on time and the driver was very personable. He was also waiting for us after the boat ride. There is a short musical performance on the back of the boat when you board and lunch was served shortly after the trip began. You are encouraged to enjoy the view of Nashville from the boat after lunch. On the return ride you have dessert and enjoy a great show of classic country music. The trip was relaxing and everything was well planned and executed. I highly recommend it.
        Written 22 May 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        We are so glad you chose Gray Line Tennessee to escort you to the General Jackson Showboat Cruise! We love knowing that you enjoyed your entire experience and can't wait to welcome you back.
        Written 24 May 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        hape2bmome
        Somerset, Kentucky37 contributions
        2.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jun 2021
        My husband and I (upper 40's) went on a weekday night dinner cruise for our 20th anniversary. We opted for the Captain's table package & other than first to board & front seating it was NOT worth the extra money. We were placed in a separate area while others boarded and left unattended while the boarders were able to purchase drinks and mingle. It was hot with no shade & we weren't sure where any of the staff was or if we could even leave the area. For the extra, we should have had a personal waiter/ess for the time.

        There was only one other couple where we were located outside but it was still cramped & the view was very limited. The "tour" is just look at a small room that houses the navigation instruments, etc. The free drink was ok, but came in a plastic cup (if you buy drinks from the bar you get real glass) & was more ice than anything & gone in maybe 3 drinks. Then w/ no way of knowing if & where to get refills or even water once the thirst was back. The free T-shirts are plain & went straight to our every day pile.

        Show was ok. We weren't impressed with the performers, but more so because there seemed to be a weird vibe/tension between them and the girls looked like their faces were frozen in terror or something.

        Food was actually pretty good. We received a chocolate dessert that was supposed to be a perk of the Captain's table package, and even though it was good, it wasn't extra $ good. There were other people due to join our table that appeared to miss the boat and our table's staff were more than happy to share what had already been brought for those people. Of course this didn't include the main meal or desert.

        One thing to note that many do not mention is that if you want to eat comfortably and see the whole show, there is really no opportunity to go out and just watch the scenery. It literally went . . . board, table, eat, show, unload. Despite not having a good view after boarding, we still would haven't seen anything because we had to be seated & that was at take off which mostly included a turnaround.

        Overall, fine with doing it once, but wouldn't really recommend or go back.
        Written 23 June 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for leaving us this feedback. We take reviews seriously and always look for ways to improve passenger experiences.
        Written 23 June 2021
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Scenic32130444379
        Naples, FL8 contributions
        3.0 of 5 bubbles
        We enjoyed our excursion, and the entire staff was excellent. We sat with a lovey group of people.( you’re assigned to a table). The dinner show was great including the very talented singers, fiddle player and band and the outdoor bar band was excellent!
        The dinner, however, was extremely disappointing at this price point and only included soft drinks. We expected at least beer and wine to be included, but wasn’t. Alcoholic beverages were available at the cash bar.
        The river cruise itself was pleasant and it was nice to see downtown Nashville at night, but other then that there was not much to see.
        I would recommend this excursion because we did enjoy it. However, we won’t do it again unless there are major improvements to the dinner itself!
        Written 10 August 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hello! Thank you for letting us provide transportation for you to the General Jackson Showboat and sharing your experience.
        Written 12 August 2021
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Michelle P
        1 contribution
        2.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2021 • Couples
        not what I expected at all. I thought it would be similar to new Orleans where they have a live band for a bit and then give you a tour and info of the city with points of interest along the ride. this boat is far inside the embankment that you can only see trees the whole way. there are no views. and the one view of the downtown skyline that they said they would pause at for photos, they didn't tell anybody and just made the turn around there. if you didn't see it yourself, then you missed it. the music show was good, but was only on the way back. the food was not as described. they gave us chicken breast with mashed potatoes, asparagus and tomatoes. I could've gotten that meal for $10 downtown. for dessert you got a jar of mush with lemon and raspberry. this was definitely NOT worth the money I paid and would NOT recommend it to anyone.
        Written 11 June 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for leaving us this feedback. We take reviews seriously and always look for ways to improve passenger experiences.
        Written 23 June 2021
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        smarski
        Elburn, IL10 contributions
        3.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jun 2022
        I always love a dinner cruise and looked forward to this. Crowds were pointed toward the upper deck stern to listen to the live band, but the area was too small for everyone to go up there. We found the bar below, which quickly became very crowded, and there was no indication that one line was cash only and the other credit card, creating more delays. We only found out after dinner there was another bar towards the bow. Would have liked to know that.
        The dining room was pleasant, and tables were comfortably seating 10. The food was lukewarm, and disappointing for the cost of the ticket.
        The show was amazing, so many talented entertainers. It would have been nice to have a more diverse cast.
        It's a big boat, so it's very crowded and it took us a bit to find where everything was. We certainly had a nice time, but the Nashville skyline viewing is brief, and once the sun goes down you don't see much on the river.
        Will try the luncheon cruise next time and maybe see more on the deck, now that we know where the other bar is for refreshment on a hot day!
        Written 28 June 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are glad that you enjoyed the show and will be sure to share your feedback with the team.
        Written 6 July 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Jody K
        Kasson, MN176 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        We booked a lunch tour that started at noon. We started boarding right at 11:15 and when you boarded you got to go through the Buffet line for your lunch and sit down at the table to eat. At 12:10 the entertainment shows started while we finished eating. If you get out of the show before it’s over, you will have an easy time exploring the boat as no one else will be out there and you’ll get a good seat for the rest of the ride. There was a band that played on the top deck in the back of the boat at the end of the tour, which was very good as well. Lunch was OK for a buffet and the drinks were good with a souvenir cup. They were the best priced drinks we had the entire stay based on Nashville pricing we got a 24 ounce drink in souvenir glass for just under $20. Staff were all very friendly and courteous. I would do this again.
        Written 4 May 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for booking through "Gray Line Tennessee" to join our partner, "General Jackson Showboat Cruise" and for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your lunch tour and found the entertainment shows to be a highlight of the experience. We're glad that you were able to explore the boat and find a good seat for the rest of the ride. Thank you for choosing the General Jackson Showboat Cruise, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another fantastic experience soon!
        Written 5 May 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        TarHeel
        Durham, NC1,153 contributions
        3.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jun 2022
        Okay, let's get this out of the way. I'm not a big fan of touristy entertainment reviews but attended with a group of coworkers. We grabbed a few beverages as the boat departed and enjoyed seeing Nashville from the river. However, our dinner tables were extremely packed (people kept running into the back of my chair) and the food was okay but not outstanding. They should tell you if the price includes a tip because it seemed the servers kept hinting at you to tip them. As for the show, the performers are talented but the populist songs and vocalizing were just too showoffy for me (like they were auditioning for "American Idol"). Hat tip to the very talented violinist, and actually, I would have been happy just to see a more authentic local country band perform. There was a high school group on the boat with us and some of them were rude (one kept blocking my coworker's view of the stage). I know others like this kind of stuff but I would not choose this on my own.
        Written 17 July 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thanks for taking the General Jackson Showboat Cruise. We appreciate the feedback about your experience and will share it with our team.
        Written 20 July 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        jwalker13
        Calgary, Canada39 contributions
        3.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2022
        Interesting experience that overall we wouldn’t recommend, but with caveats that appreciate how it would be appealing to others (and given the number of positive reviews, it clearly is).

        For our group, the entertainment wasn’t what we were looking for. This is not to say the entertainers weren’t talented. They absolutely were, but what you get is a very flashy, variety-show type rendition of hit songs that reflect ‘America’s southern river-cities.’ So if that’s your bag, you’ll likely enjoy it.

        The experience of being on the riverboat was cool as we got on, but given the time of year (it was pitch black by the time we left port) is was hard to appreciate the scenery, and as a testament to the Captain’s prowess, leaving port and travelling was so smooth that between the steady hand on the wheel and darkness, you had little appreciation that you were actually on a boat most of the time. This is not a criticism, only a point that if you want to see the banks and view as you float along, don’t go in the Fall / Winter months.

        The food (considering the price of the package) was disappointing. Eatable, certainly, worth the price (or whatever piece of it goes to the meal) absolutely not.

        What really left us feeling flat from this experience was our server at dinner, I won’t post his name as i doubt it would do any good, but he was (hands down) the greasiest, slimiest, most sycophantic server I’ve ever had in my life. He was positively shameless with his ridiculously obvious and hollow attempts to ingratiate himself with us, and then went straight for the preverbal throat at the end of the night asking us for a generous tip. The irony, HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING! it was other busers that were running the food and making things happen. We watched him scurry around his set of tables and could overhear him playing out the same little hustle. Now hey, I get it, like the rest of us, he’s just one more squirrel trying to get a nut, but man, don’t be a grease-ball. It came off as insincere and annoying for the 8 of us and was the final memory of our evening that stuck with us.
        Written 2 November 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        The General Jackson is a close partner to Gray Line TN and we take your feedback seriously. We will be sure to share this feedback with our partner, The General Jackson. We appreciate you for coming out and taking the tour.
        Written 8 November 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        General Jackson Showboat Lunch or Dinner Cruise in Nashville provided by Gray Line Tours

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