I am going to Paris in mid December and deciding what to do in the evenings-is it too cold in mid-December to enjoy a Seine Cruise? Any other suggestions helpful as well-going with my 60 yr old mom and I am in my late 30's.

I'd play it by ear. As I recall, most of the boats have inside seating and you would be protected from the wind and major cold there. If the weather is decent, a Seine cruise should work out fine.

A lot of the Seine cruise companies don't offer cruises after 6 pm in December. I think the Bâteaux-Mouches is the only one that runs until 9 pm, and it's not the most desirable one as it holds a gazillion people. I'd do the cruise during the day when you'll have more options and the weather will be more palatable.

Any suggestion on good boats for seine cruise.

We spent a week in Paris in late December. I know that the boats were running because our hotel was right on the river and the lights lit up our room all evening. All the New Year's Eve cruises were cancelled because of flooding. The water was too high for the boats to get under some bridges.

Vedettes de Paris had a landing stage that is close to the Ile de la Cité, more convenient than the one for the Bateaux-Mouches.

Stop at a café and get a cup of hot chocolat (chocolat) to take with you on the boat.

Sunset in Paris on Dec. 15, 2005 is 4:52 PM. The historical average temp is 41 F (5 Celcius).

Just bundle up including a scarf and hat and you should be OK to occasionally hop out on deck. We've taken the Bateaux-Mouches in both November and February just at sunset and didn't find it crowded. BTW, there is a special senior's fare.

We took the Pont Neuf sunset cruise. It was great, and a BYOB. You can buy your own at the pier or grab a bottle from a nearby wine shop. Narrated in English. We had dinner afterwards at a nearby restaurant.

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/va/

You can download a 2 Euro discount coupon.

In late December '98 I took a night cruise with my son. As I shivered on top enjoying the view my son went below, where it was heated.

It can be chilly on the water at any time of year, but obviously more so in winter. Be sure to wear something very warm, as it will be cold and windy and you will be sitting still for an hour.

Most of the boats have heated indoor areas if you aren't dressed for the cold outdoors, but the view isn't as nice from the enclosed areas as it is from the outside areas. Some boats are entirely enclosed (true of many of the Bateaux Parisiens’ boats, for example). The Bateaux Mouches’ boats have both enclosed decks and open upper decks, so you have a choice.

All three of the major cruise companies run into the night even in December. Bateaux Parisiens runs until 10 PM, Bateaux Mouches has a guaranteed departure at 9 PM and additional ones if there are enough people, and Vedettes du Pont Neuf has 10:30 PM departures on Fridays and weekends and 10 PM departures all other days.