I can only speculate on how they operate. I would guess that when the line to board the boat gets to a certain point, they stop selling tickets for that particular cruise time. I only know how it was when we did this last summer.

I don't think capacity will be a big deal at the end of September. I took an evening cruise last October and there were very few people on the boat.

I took the Bateaux Parisians cruise some years ago. It's the only I have taken so can't compare it to others. We went past the Statue of Liberty...can't remember where we turned around, but it was a fairly long cruise and I quite enjoyed it. The dock is by the Eiffle Tower, or very close to it.

We did the Vedettes twice back in May -once day and once night for the different perspectives. Buying the tickets online, you can use your credit card and the discount makes the ticket considerably less than the competition. As mentioned, you get a print out. To be exact, you get 2 print outs and you need to bring both. They also ask to see you passport when boarding using the online printout to verify identity.

You can use your vouchers for any trip until the expiration date. As mentioned, you skip the ticket buying line, however it is hard to distinguish that line from the one that you need. Think of the ticket as an "L" with the window for buting tickets on the short leg and the window that you will need on the long leg to your left - head directly for that one.

Good to know about the real ticket. Thanks. I think they just wave them to the front, and tough apples if it fills up. Wait for the next boat. That is my impression of the operators.

basingstroke--We did not have to show any ID at all. We do keep copies of our passports with us though, so will keep that in mind if we gets asked when we go again in June.

mms - I guess it depends on who is behind the window. The website said to bring it so we did, and sure enough they did ask - both times. Maybe I don't have an honest face, lol.

Regarding the tickets for Vedettes du Pont Neuf:

If you buy your tickets at the window, the tickets are NOT timed for a certain cruise. We showed up at 6:55pm to buy tickets for the 8pm cruise, and our tickets did not specify the time at all. So yes, I believe you can buy your tickets ahead of time if you're in the area.

I prefer Vedettes du Pont Neuf because of the location where you board the boats.