jazzie0498

Howdy! Any recommendations on a company/ tour that does the seine river cruise? I was hoping the most affordable but not sacrificing quality of course! Would a dinner cruise combined with a tour be better or just the cruise tour itself? I'm open to all suggestions including restaurant recommendations if you have any for my daughter who's turning 10 the day we arrive in Paris. Not too pricey though as this will be a family dinner for 4 people, 2 adults and 2 kids. ������

StCirq

All the river cruises charge about the same. I like Vedettes du Pont Neuf because the boats are smaller; others love the Bâteaux-Mouches and the Bâteaux Parisiens. None of the dinner cruises on those boats is worth the price. If you want a good dinner cruise, Le Calife is apparently the one to go with, but I've never done it so can't give any personal experience. Vedettes du Pont Neuf have a discount coupon you can download from their website - maybe the others do, too. You can check.

jazzie0498

Thanks for the recommendations StCirq! What would be the best time to go on a cruise?

basingstoke2

I totally agree with StCirq. As far as time, I have taken the cruise a number of times at different hours. My preference is at dusk. I'll confess though that I usually take it twice on a visit, once in daylight and again either at dusk or after dark. The experience is different. I also prefer to sit outside at the rear of the boat for the best views and photo ops. If you buy the ticket online not only do you get a bit of a discount, but you bypass the lines to buy a ticket, which can be long not only saving time but giving you a better shot at choosing a seat. IMO sitting inside is a waste.

StCirq

Sunset.

jazzie0498

I would prefer to sit outside as well. Besides that's what you pay for--the views outside. I saw on the website there's a morning and afternoon tour, if I choose the evening tour or dusk , as you advised, do I have to specify the time upon booking or can I just show up anytime during the evening with our tickets?

StCirq

Which website? None of the boats I'm familiar with has just one morning and one afternoon cruise. They go out at regular intervals all day and evening long? What can you possibly be looking at?

basingstoke2

The discounted tickets for Bateaux Vedettes du Pont Neuf are good for a year. You choose the early or later cruise (different prices) and just show up for any of the cruises in the time period that you purchased.

basingstoke2

Sorry - I meant to use the plural cruises, not cruise.

jazzie0498

It's the vedettes du pont Neuf website and of you click on the " cruises" it will show times of departure . I think the evening tour ends at 10:30 pm. So do we just show anytime in the evening?

jazzie0498

Sorry for the errors on the grammar ����

basingstoke2

So do we just show anytime in the evening?

Yes, but come early to have the best choice of seats.

jazzie0498

Sunset times in Paris are between 5pm to 7pm? Just wanna make sure we do the cruise at the best time.

StCirq

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/croisieres/

There are any number of morning, afternoon, and evening cruises, and yes, you just show up.

Sunset in Paris of course depends on the time of year. It can be as late as 9:30 or a bit later. You can find this info online.

jazzie0498

We will be in Paris the first two weeks of July

klondike

Definitely Vedettes du Pont Neuf. If you purchase on-line and print your tickets you get a discount and you're set to just get on and enjoy the ride.

We've done both day and night. Day is better for pictures. Night is more romantic (but take a scarf, it can get chilly on the water)

mamcalice

Take the Vedettes du Pont Neuf just before dusk to see the lights come on all over Paris. Do a search on the forum for restaurants. Because it will get dark late while you are in Paris, you may want to eat first. Find a restaurant near where the cruise departs from the Pont Neuf.

ssander

Another vote for <i>Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf</i>, if only because, as far as I know, they are the only provider that allows you to buy a discount ticket online in advance without specifying a date & time. This is important, since the weather can make or break a cruise...you want to be able to pick your day & time on the fly if possible.

Their website is easy to use, and we've never had a problem using our USA credit card on to pay...which we just did a few weeks ago for our upcoming trip.

You take your printed voucher to the ticket booth at the quai (west tip of Ile de la Cite -- down the stairs off Pont Neuf) and use it to get your actual ticket...then just board. Have some ID...the voucher says you need it, though I can't remember whether they actually asked last time we did this.

I've never taken the dinner cruise, however...maybe the reservations logistics are different.

SS

michele_d

We enjoyed taking the evening cruise on the Vendettes de Pont Neuf. The buildings lining the river were all lit up and beautiful. The boat will make its turnaround at the Eiffel Tower, so you will get an up close look at the twinkling lights on the tower. I'm sure the kids will like it.

Gretchen

Don't do dinner. Do the cruise and go somewhere nice for dinner--save money and have better food.
When are you coming--sunset/dusk is very late in the summer, but it is the time we like the cruise the most.