Quick Details
Experience Cajun Holiday Bonfire Celebration
The small communities just upriver from New Orleans are home to a unique Christmas festivity- building, lighting and gathering around towering bonfires along the Mississippi River levee to light the way for Papa Noel. A Gray Line exclusive, this intimate guided experience brings locals and visitors together for a private Cajun dinner and bonfire at St. Joseph Plantation, a working sugar cane farm owned by the same family since 1890. Merriment flows as guests learn about Cajun and Creole holiday traditions, sing carols and tour the plantation by candlelight. A cash bar is available for beer & wine. Advance reservations required. (On Dec. 14 the house tour will be at St. Joseph’s sister property, Felicity Plantation.)
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We offer pick-up to the following places for this experience:
- Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office
- Rouse’s Market Parking Lot (Metairie, LA)
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- Jambalaya
- Baked Chicken
- Green Beans
- Brownies & Tea Cookies served with a roll
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- Sodas
- Water
- Iced Tea
- Coffee
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- Beer ($3-$5)
- Wine
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- Food & drinks
- Entry or admission fee
- Round trip motor coach transportation departing from Gray Line Lighthouse (400 Toulouse St.) with a pick up at Rouse’s Market (2900 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Metairie, LA)
- Licensed tour guide sharing local history and Cajun & Creole Christmas traditions
- Sing-along caroling
- Private experience at St. Joseph’s Plantation (substitute Felicity on Dec. 14)
- Bonfire lighting
- Candlelit tour of plantation home
- Cajun Dinner
- Cash Bar available for purchase of beer & wine
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- Driver and tour guide gratuity are not included and are customary. Alcohol is not included but beer and wine are available for purchase (cash only) at plantation.
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This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs or with mobility issues. Ground is unpaved and uneven at plantation. Dinner and most of the tour is on the second floor. Anyone who is in a wheelchair should be advised to book on 12/14 at Felicity, where half the tour and the dinner are on the first floor. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Holiday attire encouraged.
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Cruises are canceled only when the Coast Guard determines there will be severe weather along the river. Seating is available indoors as well as covered areas on the deck.
We sail rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, unfavorable river conditions (including river closures), breakdowns, or any other cause beyond the control of the New Orleans Steamboat Company, the Captain may determine the vessel is unable to make the cruise as scheduled. If this occurs, we will arrange for a dockside event and you will be notified via the email you supplied when booking with us.
There are times that a cruise may be delayed, but that is usually only for a short amount of time.
Refunds will not be issued for the above conditions. All sales final.
Should it be deemed necessary, the New Orleans Steamboat Company reserves the right to substitute with a vessel in place of the other (Steamboat NATCHEZ & Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS) for any reason, at any time. No refunds will be issued for vessel substitution.