Judy_Rosa

I know, I know......why do I want to take a dinner cruise on the Seine? Well....I really want to! I want to see Paris at night on a boat and share a meal with my family (we are a party of ten).

We are all on-board (no pun intended) with the idea of doing this, so the question becomes, which company does the best job? I understand that the food will only be OK!

My travel agent recommends the Illuminations dinner cruise by a company called Bateaux Parisiens at a cost of USD 325 per couple. I've reviewed the menu and it looks good, there is live music, etc. etc. At this price point we would be sitting in the middle of the boat (a window table or seating in the bow is exponentially more expensive).

I am hoping that someone reading this might be able to point me in the right direction if Bateaux Parisiens isn't as nice as its website implies.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Judy

nytraveler

I cannot imagine that any dinner on a boat would be worth that. And you don't even get a good view!

Sorry - have done the boats several times - but never with a meal - and never stuck in one seat.

RonZ

A one hour cruise on Vedettes de Pont Neuf costs $33 per couple.

So subtracting that from the dinner cruise, the dinner costs $292, and not a great dinner at that.

Maybe your problem is employing a travel agent.

DebitNM

For $3250, charter a boat and get your own chef.

Take the plain old boat ride and then go for dinner at Jules Verne restaurant. Seriously.

amer_can

Even Batobus would be a lovely night time cheapy.

mamcalice

An evening cruise on the Seine is wonderful. Take a couple of bottles of wine and, for that price, go to a really good restaurant afterwards. The cruise is best enjoyed if you are looking at the sights, not eating.

StCirq

I know you said "I know, I know..." but honest to God that is about the biggest waste of money I've ever seen posted here on Fodors. You could do SO many wonderful things with the money you'd save by eschewing that miserable meal in the middle of a boat. Are there actually 10 people who've signed on to this terrible idea? This might merit an entry in the Fodor's Paris Guide. What are you thinking?

nukesafe

I have been on one years ago, and it was a rip off even then. If you must do this silly thing, I have heard good things about one boat, http://www.calife.com/english/index.html

RonZ

The Batobus is a kind of water taxi. Your ticket is good for all day and evening.

www.batobus.com

janisj

Sorry --but that is a terrible idea IMO. And for a group of TEN -- even worse. Unless all ten of you enjoy overpriced/mediocre food, you won't hear the end of it.

have a WONDERFUL dinner on land at a fraction the money then go on a late night cruise from Pont Neuf. You'll save a ton of money, have much better food, and a better time w/ better views on the boat ride.

cynthia_booker

I know a dinner cruise sounds romantic but won't the feeling of being royally ripped off diminish the pleasure? Print out a bunch of the 2 Euro discount coupons from the website and buy a bunch of sandwiches.

RonZ

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/index.htm

Judy_Rosa

OUCH!

OK, need to rethink this adventure.

If we take a 6:30pm cruise, will it be dark enough to see all the buildings lit up?

We can have dinner afterwards, any recommendations on a good restaurant nearby?

Thank you for talking me off the ledge on this one!

kayd

"will it be dark enough to see all the buildings lit up?"

Depends on the time of year -- yes in winter, no in summer.

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/ has the answers for every date and just about every location on earth.

AussieFrance

I personally like La Caliphe. It’s a small boat moored on Quai Malaquais between Pont du Carrousel and Pont des Arts, that offers a 2-hour cruise down to the Eiffel Tower with Mediterranean-style cuisine and menus at 49 and 67 euros. Don’t forget to take something warm as it can get chilly on the water at night. Book a day or two ahead. You can reserve on-line or phone. Another blogger who also lives in Paris recently wrote about her enjoyable experience on Bateaux Parisiens but she certainly didn't pay anything like what you are being offered. The agent must be taken a huge cut! http://outandaboutinparis.blogspot.f...ts-get-to.html

Judy_Rosa

Actually, the Bateaux Parisiens' website has the same pricing as the quote from my agent.

Great news -- looks like we will NOT be taking the dinner cruise after all.....

Restaurant suggestions? I know there are hundreds of restaurants in Paris, we are looking for recommendations on a really good French restaurant.

Thank you all again SO much for your invaluable advice. I can now take the money I would have spent on what appears to be not such a great idea and spend it on a really nice dinner for our family. Then we'll take an evening cruise.

Gretchen

Even though the price is the same, you can be sure your travel agent would get the commission. You probably wouldn't have looked if this thread hadn't erupted!! You can also be sure your TA has only read about it and NOT done it.
As others have said, it is light very late in the summer, BUT you can also eat very late--9ish or so. Some lights might be on by 8 or so.

Judy_Rosa

Hi Gretchen -- yes, that is true -- I am sure my agent would have gotten a commission.

Looks like my travel group lucked out because all you good people took the time to advise me on the foolishness of our idea!

Now....to find a good restaurant in lieu of a mediocre meal on the boat....any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

Gretchen

Stick with Fodor's!!
I'll recommend our favorite (and others here) restaurant in the 7th--La Florimond. Ecole Militaire metro.
Do I understand that there will be 10 of you!! this is a very small neighborhood restaurant. We celebrated a birthday and had 8--but reservations for that number are pretty much a must have.
There are endless threads for restaurants on here.

Judy_Rosa

Thanks again Gretchen.
I hope to someday be able to contribute to this forum instead of just asking a lot of questions.
I'm new to Fodor's -- although not new to travel in general.
I visited Paris once many years ago for just a few days and loved it, but it has taken me all these years to be able to go back again, I am so looking forward to it!
I'll search the threads for Paris restaurants -- still learning how to navigate within this site.