I am going to Paris next week with my husband and 16 year old son. What do people think about the Batobus vs. another boat companies?

My mother and I used the Batobus on our last visit. We thought it was nice. You cruise down the same river for a lot less. It is basically like a bus on the water. You can get on/off as many times as you want for the amount of time on your pass. It has eight convenient stops. A two-day pass will only cost you 14E.

Personally, I think the dinner cruises are overrated and expensive. I would do dinner elsewhere and then take an evening cruise. For an inexpensive cruise, try the Vedettes du Pont Neuf. We are planning an evening cruise for our trip next week. You can purchase tickets online for 7E (11E in person). http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/

My husband and I used the Batobus in Nov. 2006 and liked it as well. You don't get narration, but it's an easy alternative to using the metro or buses and cheaper than other water transport. A few years earlier, I'd also done a guided tour of the St. Martin canal which I thoroughly enjoyed - it goes through a different area of Paris that isn't as touristy.

The Batobus is a means of transport. It's not a cruise and should not be compared to the, say, bateaux-mouches or Vedettes de Paris. They are totally different things. You use the Batobus to get from one touring area of the city to another, not to get a guided tour.

The Batobus goes along the same stretch of the Seine as the sightseeing boats - Bateaux Mouches, Bateaux Parisiens, Vedettes de Paris or Vedettes du Pont Neuf.
The Batobus makes several stops and has no guide or commentary.
If you want a one-hour sightseeing trip, go on one of the sightseeing boats. If you want to stop off and explore places by the river, then the Batobus might make more sense. A one-day pass for the Batobus is 12 euros; a one-hour sightseeing trip with Bateau Parisiens is 11 euros.
The Batobus is not an alternative to the Metro or buses: the Batobus has eight stops; the Metro and buses have hundreds of stops throughout Paris.

For taking a ride down the Seine I actually prefer the Batobus to the bateaux-mouches or Vedettes de Paris. On the Batobus you simply ride along and take in the sights, no one is screaming out the names of the buildings as you pass. You can stay on the boast and ride the entire loop or get on/off as you please. The 2-day pass is fun because you can ride during the day and at night when everything is beautifully lit. The schedule is a little different depending on the time of year so take that into consideration.