General Jackson Showboat

On June 14th, 2010 I did a dinner cruise on the General Jackson. I am from Oregon, so for me to even be there was quite an experience all by itself. I enjoyed it very much. I was able to see first hand the devastation the flood caused of early May. The downed trees, the water level of where the flood waters were, as well as the Opry being closed, and business'es being moved. It was very special for me. I will always cherish that experience. I enjoyed the live music. (Country U.S.A.) !!! The people I was with had a good time as well. Maybe one day I'll be able to go back. If I had any complaints, it would be: When it came time to view the lights of Nashville (which were beautiful), I would of liked to have stayed outside longer, however due to the cigarette smoke I held my breath, and hurried back inside. I'm not a smoker, and didn't like ingesting their smoke. :( But overall it was very entertaining, and enjoyable, except for that. more

I was recently in Nashville with family and saw a billboard for the General Jackson. We did the dinner cruise and will return to try the lunch cruise next year. My family felt it was well worth the price of the ticket. Over all a nice package for 3 hours entertainment - a good meal and southern hospitality from the gift shop to the great crew on board.Even went back two days later and did the outer deck cruise with a band outside and enjoyed the sunset. They had many ticket options - even a pilot house tour with the real captains ! Would recommend to other traveling families. Don't forget to watch the paddle-wheel which really makes the boat go. more

We attended recently (March 14, 2009) the Country Music USA evening cruise. Was awful. Better performances could be found at the local karaoke joint. Among the so-called ?performers?, Abby Powell?s effort was reminiscent of a grade school talent show where the audience is reluctantly compelled to offer perfunctory applause. Stay at home and enjoy your iPod. more

I worked on the General Jackson Showboat for 6 yrs and I beg to differ on some of the comments on the previous mentioned review. Yes the Cumberland River is not the most scenic trip through the whole cruise because it is mostly country side however the moment you pull into downtown and see the beautiful skyline of Downtown Nashville it will more than make up for the country view that you had a few miles before. Especially at night, the view with all of the lights is amazing. The General Jackson has great food, wonderful entertainment, and the boat itself is breathtaking and one of the best rated paddle wheel boats in America. I am not partial to the boat just because I worked on it, I always have a wonderful time and I have seen countless others have a wonderful time as well. In fact I liked riding the boat so much that I would even ride the boat on nights I wasn't working as well. The boat is really one of the number one tourist attractions in Nashville and truly is a must see in pers more

This is one of the best attractions in Nashville. Its a cruise, dinner and show all rolled into one. The shows change every year. The current evening show is Nashvegas on the River. It includes three impersonators - Elton John, TIna Turner and Elvis Presley. It rocks! The dinner was great too. Served in big bowls family style, the menu included beef short ribs, chicken and the best mashed potatoes I have ever tasted. Desert is included too. I recommend it to all my friends. Pros: Dinner, entertainment, unique experience Cons: slow cocktail service more

The General Jackson Showboat is very relaxing. My husband and I have been two times and each time was a different experience. We carried our daughter and granddaughter and they enjoyed it, too. The show and dinner was great. Loved the entertainment. more

Enjoy a lesiurely cruise on the river while enjoying your favorite cocktail aboard the riverboat. Dinner is served inside the boat, with entertainment. Excellent food and wonderful service. more

The General Jackson Showboat is a fun way to experience Nashville. We went after a day of shopping at Opry Mills mall which it is just right across the street. From the time we walked on the boat until the time we left the riverboat experience was something out of the ordinary. The evening cruise that we took had a 3 course meal; salad, steak and chicken, veggies, mashed potatoes, rolls, and dessert. The entertainment that night was great! It was so many different styles of songs and gave our whole table rocking all night! This is a MUST SEE Show! Pros: Food, Entertainment, and seeing Nashville's Skyline from the River!!! Cons: drink prices too high more

We were in Nashville for Easter this year. Someone recommended that we go on the General Jackson Showboat for the Sunday Gospel Brunch. At first we thought that sounded a little to bible-thumping for us, but we were promised a great time.\r \r So, we went...and what a great show it was! The Crabb Family entertained us with a variety of country and gospel music while we had a delicious buffet brunch inside the show room.\r \r Outside, on deck, before and after the show, they had a great band playing all sorts of country music. \r \r The drinks are really expensive, but the entertainment is first rate. \r \r The Cumberland River is pretty boring, so don't go for the scenery. This boat trip is all about the music. more

The General Jackson Showboat is an interesting entertainment venue. It has day and night shows, that are very different. During the day, they have a band and different themed day cruises. At night, they have a singing, dancing production dinner show. There are holiday themed shows, especially at Christmas. It is a great place to take out of town guests visiting for the holidays. The food is generally good and it's a fun cruise to take for an anniversary or other special occaision. There are discounts in the Coupon Clipper magazine. I have been on day and nite cruises, and nite is better. more

This may seem to be a pricey experience but it is well worth it. The ride alone would be worth the price. The boat is very nice and the views are exquisite. The entertainment is great and the food was wonderful. I took my 2 kids ages 3 and 5 and they loved it! Can't wait to do it again. more

I have been on at least 3 General Jackson tours. All three have exceeded my expectations. The breakfast cruise is shorter, but it is fun we got to tour the boat. I have also taken the lunch tour a couple of times. The show that takes place on board is fun and full of laughs. Get there a little early for boarding. Parking is not bad, but the pre-boarding entertainment is fun. Both times I went on the lunch cruise, there was an opportunity to have pictures made prior to boarding and an opportunity to purchase the pictures when the boat docked. The lunch is wonderful...the food is actually quite good. i have always enjoyed sitting outside while the boat sails down the river. On the way back to the dock, you have a chance to walk around the boat and even stop in the gift shops. It is a really fun way to spend an afternoon. more

This is not just something to bring out of town guests on -- It's a GREAT restaurant -- unbelievable NEW Chef's trio with Steak, Chicken AND Shrimp -- and there is a PARTY on the outer deck, like no other bar in town. It's the most exclusive party on the water! You HAVE to check it out! Pros: Unique, Inexpensive, GREAT food & drinks more