Seine River Cruise
 

We will be in Paris in September.We want to go on a Seine cruise--there are so many to choose from on the internet. Has anyone got a suggestion for a good one? Is the night cruise great--can you see anything but the lights? Do they give you headphones in your language? somehow I have a vision of something a little more personal. How about a small cruise --not 500 people.

The Seine cruise boats don't carry 500 people--they're smallish river boats, not cruise ships. If you want the smallest boats, go for Vedettes de Paris or Bateaux Parisians. I don't remember getting headphones we went; I think there were announcements in various languages, and to be truthful you don't need much to marvel at the views along the river.

Yachts de Paris also offer cruises, but they are quite expensive.

The Seine River trips are all much the same. They leave from different places. We like the Pont Neuf Vedettes. It is nice to leave at just before sundown so you see some in the daylight and then the lights of Paris begin to come on. The Eiffel Tower is near the end of this particular one so it will have its lights on.
Yachts de Paris is a dinner cruise vessel.
If indeed you are talking about a dinner cruise, go on the one hour cruise and go have a nice dinner on land at less price and a whole lot better quality.

We enjoyed the sunset cruise on http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/english/ It's a BYOB, so bring a bottle of wine, some bread and cheese, and enjoy. On their website you can download a coupon for a discount.

Do dinner after the cruise at a nice restaurant. ((b))

Thanks for the advice. We also felt that we would rather have dinner elsewhere. We are still trying to decide which one to choose.

Don't fret about picking the "right"one, just go to the top, get your seats, and marvel as you pass through the most beautiful city in the world!

I just can't wait to go. You are right--we will love it. Do we need to reserve it or can we just walk to the dock and go?

We had never taken a night one until this year. We got a little delayed from doing one at what I thought would be dusk, so it was getting dark by the time we started. I have to say that although we liked our boat, which was small, there were so many boats going both ways flashing their bright lights all the way that we found it very hard to really see much of anything. Coupled with the group of 10 near us who took at least 1000 flash pictures of each other the entire time, I was nearly blind by the time we got back. In all honesty, I like the day trip better.
We used Vedettes du Pont-Neuf -- nice boats that are smallish and we were outside and on the front of the boat. I liked the boat and the line, just not all the lights.

Contrary to our assumptions, and common advice, we actually enjoyed the larger Bateaux Mouches to the Vedettes de Pont Neuf and Bateaux Parisiens. Better to be able to walk all about for photo ops and views than to be stuck in a narrow row of seats...

??? The problem on Vedettes was that people could easily walk around which is why I got annoyed with all the moving about and flash picture taking. I don't know why you would feel "stuck" in a seat.
My main goal would be NOT to be on a boat behind glass, but out in the open.

My vote is for Bateaux Mouche at night. Bridges are all lit up. Have a drink at Chez Francis at Place Alma afterwards and watch the Eiffel Tower light show!! Have a great trip.

The largest of the Bateaux Mouches carries 1000 passengers, and the larger Bateaux Parisiens carry 599. The other two firms, Vedettes du Pont Neuf and Vedettes de Paris have smaller boats. Whatever the size of the boat, if it's full, there won't be enough room for everyone to walk around and get the best views.
I think the Bateaux Mouches always have a pre-recorded multi-lingual commentary, the Bateaux Parisiens have earpieces at each seat with a pre-recorded commentary in different languages, and the others have a mixture of live and pre-recorded commentaries.
The trips don't need to be booked in advance, so you look at the boats and the weather before deciding whether to go.

ttt

For something a bit different, we tried the Paris Canal cruise. It was just wonderful! We took the afternoon trip that starts at Parc de la Villette and travels down through the locks to the Seine, fininshing outside the Muse d'Orsay (the morning trip travels in the opposite direction). The on board commentary was fantastic, the magic of travelling under the Bastille area and seeing so much history was quite unexpected; I thoroughly recommend the trip!
Reservations are recommended - local phone number is 01 42 40 96 97 email is [email protected] web is www.pariscanal.com

I can appreciate Neo's desire to be outside during one of these river "cruises" and as wonderful as all of them are I have sometimes felt that when they ARE crowded it is the ultimate "tourist trap" (but still worth it I guess).

Di2315: thanks for the link to the ParisCanal site. The trip down the Marne looks wonderful also.

Another vote for the smaller Vedettes du Pont Neuf. Live commentary and very audible.
Bateaux Mouches pre-recorded commentary was terrible and spoilt the lovely cruise.