Any suggestions or advice on boat rides on the Seine would be GREATLY appreciated!

David: We used Bateaux Mouche and very much enjoyed it. The bridges are absolutly beautiful and the views of Notre Dame from the water spectacular.<BR><BR>j

Hi<BR>Most of the following info can be found in many guidebooks and websites<BR>(www.paris.org is excellent, for example) but here are some suggestions:<BR>1. Bateaux Mouches: www.bateaux-mouches.fr<BR> Pont de l'Alma, Right Bank, Paris 8th. Metro: Alma-Marceau <BR>Information: 01-40 76 99 99 Large boats, upper deck is open. Taped commentary.<BR>Cruise lasts: 1 hr, 15 mn. <BR>Lunch and Dinner cruises available, reserve in advance. <BR>Dinner cruise: 8:30pm, daily. Cruise: 2hr, 15mn. Tie and jacket required for dinner. Reserve. Food is quite expensive, and many feel mediocre at best.<BR>2. Bateaux Parisiens, Tour Eiffel. Seine Cruise: <BR>From Pont d'Ina, Left Bank, Paris 7. Metro: Bir-Hakeim <BR> Reservations, information: 01-44 11 33 44 <BR>No commentary<BR>Cruises last: 1 hour Lunch cruise: 12:30pm Sat, Sun. Cruise: 2 hours. Reserve.<BR>Dinner cruise: 8pm, daily. Cruise: 2 hr 30 min. Tie and jacket required.<BR>Reserve. www.bateauxparisiens.com/english<BR>3. The one I prefer:<BR>Vedettes du Pont-Neuf : From Le Pont Neuf, Square du Vert-Galant, Paris 1. Metro: Pont Neuf. Small boats. Live commentary. <BR>www.pontneuf.net/<BR>Lunch cruise: Noon or 1:15pm. Cruise: 1 hr. Reserve. <BR>Dinner cruise: 9:30pm. Cruise: 2 hrs. Reserve.<BR>There are also evening cruises without dinner which I like.<BR><BR>

I enjoyed a late evening cruise with Vedettes du Pont-Neuf. Not too expensive, live guide instead of a recording, and no meal(I preferred to have a meal in a good restaurant first and then cruise the river).

I took the Bateaux Mouches years ago and enjoyed it very much. Going back this year and considering Les Vedettes du Pont-Neuf -- but does anyone know if they have the open-air top decks? I don't want to be enclosed.

I took the Les vedettes du Pont-neuf two weeks ago and really enjoyed the hour journey at night. The cost was 9 euros and the outside upper deck was the best to view all the monuments that the boat passed.

To answer Lisa- Yes, they do have open air decks, and I agree- you definitely want to be outside. It's especially nice at sunset.

We went on a vedette de Pont Neuf at night last June. It was nice but we were surprised that it turned around before passing the small statue of liberty, to the west. Some bateaux go that far and some don't.

I've done the Vedettes and the Bateaux Mouches - both excellent. During the day, you get to see a lot of interesting stuff. After dark, it's less seeing and more magical. Never done the dinner cruise, most travelers don't recommend it.<BR><BR>There's also the Canal St Martin tour: starts in front of the Musee d'Orsay, along the Seine, into the Canal, ends up in la Villette (or the reverse). The canal was supposed to be dredged last year, closing the canal for a while. Don't know if it's reopened.

I was in Paris last week and the level of the Seine was so high that the boat trips were cancelled. Major disappointment as this was one of my fondest memories from my last trip.

Thanks for the detailed info Elaine - <BR><BR>A French friend advised me to take a two hour boat ride starting an hour before sundown so I could see the sights and also see the lights after dark. Are the trips that long if you don't eat dinner? (I have very specific plans on dining) Any idea when sundown might be in mid May? I'm obsessing, I know, but I have to make my dinner reservations soon and I need to know when the cruise will be finished.

David,<BR><BR>I recommend the Bateaux Parisiens. The entertainment is live and excellent, the food is also very good and prepared by the ships chef.<BR><BR>They sing Ave Maria as the boat passes by Notre Dame and at the small statue of liberty at the Pont Grenelle, the boat turns around and around as the preform "New York New York"<BR><BR>The price is about $75 per person and for a full evening of entertainment and a wonderful meal including before dinner drinks and wine, I think it's a pretty good deal.<BR><BR>I will give you the website for anyone who is interested.<BR><BR>http://www.bateauxparisiens.com/fr_diner.html<BR><BR><BR>Ciao,<BR><BR>RJS

We took a Seine cruise with Vendettes Pont Neuf one afternoon. Very nice, saw all the sights you can see. We thought it was a nice little break in between museums, shopping, etc. The river was very high & later we were told that a nunmber of the cruise boats, including Batueax Mouche weren't able to get under the bridges.