Best Things to do in Louisville: The Belle of Louisville
Published May 2026
This post is sponsored by The Belle of Louisville
The Belle of Louisville is a fun and different way to experience the city of Louisville. It is full of history and is the only remaining authentic steamboat from the great American packet boat era. It’s a National Historic Landmark that sits along the Louisville waterfront, that is quite often playing a fun tune as you walk by. But it’s more than just a sight in downtown Louisville, the Belle of Louisville also offers different cruises along the Ohio river that range from a family-friendly day out to a romantic sunset cruise.
A History of the Belle of Louisville
The Belle of Louisville was built in 1914 and was originally launched as the “Idlewild” in Pittsburgh, PA that over the years was used as a ferry between Tennessee and Arkansas, traveled to Canada and the Gulf of Mexico before eventually making its way to Louisville in 1934 where it stayed through World War 2. In 1940, The Idlewild started doing Moonlight cruises and served as a USO nightspot on the Mississippi river. In 1948, the Idlewild was renamed to the “Avalon” and the next year was sold to a group of Cincinnati investors. From 1949 to 1962, The Avalon was the most widely-traveled steamboat of its size when in 1962 it was sold again and renamed “The Belle”. The Belle was repaired over the next year from the wear and tear of the previous years traveled and in 1963 the Belle participated in the first Great Steamboat Race, racing against the Delta Queen. In 1988, The Belle was honored with the designation of the nation's oldest and most authentic river boat at Tall Stacks, the first celebration of the steamboat era held in Cincinnati Ohio. In 2014, the Belle of Louisville celebrated her 100th birthday on the Louisville waterfront, where she still sits today.
Lesser known, but just as beautiful and fun, Louisville’s other passenger steamboat is the Mary M. Miller. The Mary M. Miller is a propeller-driven riverboat with old-fashioned charm and modern amenities that also offers a ton of different cruise options along the Ohio!
The Belle of Louisville Cruises and Tickets
The Belle has cruises almost every day of the week and you can certainly find one that is perfect for you. They have a ton of different options that range from a family-friendly day out, lively upbeat party cruises to a romantic sunset cruise. Here is what they are currently offering:
Total Request Thursday Cruise
Dubbed as more of a party cruise, the Total Request Thursday cruise features drink specials, an all-request music playlist and rotating theme nights.
Afternoon Cruise
One of the more informal cruises, cruise down the Ohio taking in the views along the riverfront while enjoying a picnic lunch (optional add-on) and a free adventure passport for kids.
Sunset & Moonlight Cruise
Enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Louisville and Southern Indiana shorelines as you cruise down the Ohio River.
Sunday Funday Cruise
Held on Sundays, this super family-friendly cruise offers the option to add a buffet style meal on board and gives all kids a free adventure passport.
Kids Cruise
These 90 minute cruises are centered around the kids with fun hands-on learning activities, kid friendly music scavenger hunts and more!
And even more! You can see a full list of all the cruises available on The Belle of Louisville and the Mary M. Miller here.
Boarding & Seating: What to Expect
Boarding the Belle of Louisville is right on the Louisville Waterfront. You can’t miss it. There are parking options right next to boarding, at 131 W River Road, Louisville, KY 40202, United States or there is a parking garage across the street under the Galt House. All parking is paid parking. The boarding location is super convenient, especially if you are staying in downtown Louisville or if you paid with other activities, eat outside of the ship, etc.
Before boarding, there is a security check where bags are checked. The ticket office was closed when we arrived, so all tickets must be purchased in advance!
Boarding begins up to an hour before departure and they recommend arriving 45 minutes before departure. As soon as you board, you walk up a flight of steps to get to the dining deck where they also have the bar, concessions and where you can purchase souvenirs. The bathrooms are also on this floor. If a dinner cruise or meal is purchased, there is assigned seating in the dining hall, but if no meal is being served then all seating is first-come, first-served.
Up another short flight of stairs from the dining deck is the top deck with an open air area on the perimeter and a covered area in the middle. On the top deck there are plastic patio-style chairs lining the railings, on a lower portion of the top deck and a top portion. The top portion is covered while the bottom portion is uncovered.
I’ve been on cruises that had plenty of great spots to choose from as well as cruises that were packed so it’s always a good idea to get there early because early boarding gives you the best choice of spots.
What’s Included in the Belle of Louisville and Mary M. Miller Cruises
Each cruise is unique, but are all designed as a relaxed sightseeing experience. Here’s what your ticket includes:
- Most cruises are Two-hours, there are few exceptions that are 90 minutes like the kids cruise.
- Most cruises have live music performed onboard
- Access to multiple decks and areas of the boat including seating on a first come first serve bases
- Concessions available for purchase
A full meal is not included with all cruises, but there are options to include a meal on certain cruises. If you’d like a meal included in your cruise, ensure you are booking accordingly! Some dates and times sell both meal and non-meal options.
Our Experience on the Belle of Louisville
We’ve done two different cruises on the Belle of Louisville ourselves and both times had amazing experiences.
Most recently, we did the Steamboat Supper cruise which is basically the sunset cruise with a meal! It was the perfect setting for a romantic date night. We went in late Spring (End of May) so the weather was perfect. The sunsets later so we boarded right as that golden hour started to hit.
When you opt for a cruise that has a dinner option, you will eat on the lower deck. When we went, it was just myself and my husband so we were seated with a couple celebrating an anniversary who were super sweet! Depending on the size of the table, you may be seated with people you may not know. We made small talk while we enjoyed the buffet-style meal and listened to the live music. Each cruise is a little different on what they serve for the meal and the band that plays but have the options listed on when you book.
On our cruise they had City Barbecue catered and had an amazing two person acoustic duo playing music. After we finished our meal, we headed up to the top deck and grabbed seats while enjoying the sunset of the Louisville and Southern Indiana shorelines.
The whole cruise was about two hours and they also had a full cocktail bar and concessions available so we grabbed some wine and beer, but they also had non-alcoholic drinks, popcorn and other snacks.
My first time ever on the Belle of Louisville was actually a couple of years ago, when my husband booked the Mothers Day cruise on my first Mother Day. It was so special and sweet. On that cruise, we did not have the meal option but had an amazing time on the top deck cruising down the river. They had live music and the concession stands and bars were open. If you opt for a holiday cruise, definitely get there early. The Mothers Day cruise was pretty full so I am glad we boarded early to get the seats we wanted!
Know Before You Go: The Belle of Louisville Cruise Tips
Cashless
The Belle of Louisville is cashless so plan accordingly. Once you get on board, really you don’t NEED to spend money unless you opt to grab some concessions or some of the fun merch or souvenirs they sell.
Arrive Early for the Best Seats
Boarding begins up to an hour before departure. Outside of assigned table if you booked a meal option, seating is first-come, first-serve. If you want to choose covered, or uncovered, front or back of the boat, or have a preference of which shoreline you face, you’ll want to get there early.
What to Wear
Sometimes the river can be windy, and can feel cooler than on land. Bringing a light jacket even if it’s warm out is a good idea. It does get pretty cool after the sun sets if you take an evening cruise so plan accordingly. Also don’t forget your sunglasses for those bright and sunny days.
Who This Cruise Is Best For
EVERYONE! With all the options they offer, you can find a great cruise for anyone. They do have a wheelchair lift as well if needed.
When is the Best Time of Year to Ride the Belle of Louisville
We personally love going on cruises in late Spring/early summer. The weather is perfect and the sun sets later so it’s so gorgeous over the shoreline. Each season offers something unique so there's never a bad time to experience a cruise! I am itching to take a fall cruise when the colors are changing to see the fall foliage.
Final Thoughts and Tips
We absolutely love going on Belle of Louisville cruises. They offer a slow paced afternoon or evening that is perfect to take the time to SLOW DOWN. When you are with your loved one, whether it’s friends, family, or a significant other or whoever you decide to go with, there’s just something about taking in the scenery under the fresh air that is so relaxing and refreshing.
We recommend opting for the meal option if there is one available. It’s so easy and quick, and you get to enjoy the live band a little closer.
Here are a few other quick hitting tips / need to knows
- How long are the Belle of Louisville cruises? Majority of the cruises are two hours, with a few exceptions that are 90 minutes. Check your cruise when booking for exact length.
- Does the Belle of Louisville serve alcohol? Yes, they have a bar available on board to purchase alcohol, concessions, and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Is the Belle of Louisville kid friendly? Extremely, they even have dedicated cruises geared towards kids. Note that while they do allow strollers, there is a large staircase as you walk onto the boat. If you choose to bring a stroller, you must carry it up the stairs and it will not be allowed in the lift. You are NOT able to take just a car seat.
- Where does the Belle of Louisville depart from? Downtown Louisville on the riverfront. The exact location is 401 W. River Road, Louisville, KY 40202, US
- Can you walk around during the cruise? Yes, the cruise is very smooth so you can easily walk and move around as much or little as you want.
- Are their bathrooms on the cruise? Yes! There are full working bathrooms so no worries!
