I'm considering booking a nighttime Seine River cruise (probably in mid-September).

Would be interested in your comments on/experiences with various cruises.

I'm not leaning toward a dinner cruise, but if you've had some experience with them, would like to hear about that, too.
Thanks

I've done a number of different cruises - they are inexpensive, and a lovely way to see Paris.

I have never heard any good reviews of dinner cruises. They look kind of crowded and enclosed as well.

Author: PalenQ
Date: 04/27/2007
GUIDED BOAT TOURS

A de rigueur thing to do in Paris is to take a cruise on the Seine and float by many of the city's most well known monuments... Notre Dame, Orsay Museum, Louvre, Eiffel Tower and under its famous bridges like the Pont Alexander and Pont Neuf. Paris from this vantage point is not to be missed. The only question - day or night? Night sees the monuments, bridges and quais sublimely illuminated. In day you see things better of course - perhaps a twilight cruise - go up stream in the light and return in the dark! Commentary is provided in several languages on things you pass.
Many boats offer 'wine and cheese' or dinner cruises but on most it's just commentary and you can bring your own picnic or beverages.
For a more different float consider cruising on the Marne River or on the Canal Saint Martin, from the Seine to la Villette, passing by the yacht club, under the Bastille in tunnel and then thru an up and coming artists' quarter to la Villette.

La Marina de Paris, Port de Solferino, by Orsay Museum; www.marinedeparis.com

Bateaux Parisians/Seino Vision, Port du la Bourdonnais; www.bateauxparisians.com

Vedettes du Pont Neuf, Square du Vert Galant, Ile de la Cite; www.vedettesdupontneuf.com

Paris Cancan, bateau Alize, Port de la Rapee; www.pariscancan.net

Paris Canal, Bassin de la Villette 19-21; Quai de la Loire (Canal Saint Martin tours); www.pariscanal.com

Canauxrama; Bassin de la Villette, Quai de la Loire; www.canauxrama.com

Capitaine Fracasse-Le Grand Bleu; Ile aux Cygnes; www.croisiere-paris.com

La Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches, Pont de l'Alma, right bank; www.bateauxmouches.com

(Bateaux Mouches are kind of a generic name for these boats i think but the name has nothing to do with the word mouche (fly) - though the boats do seem to skim across the water like a fly - rather Mouches comes from the name a district in Lyon where these type boats first ran

There are a flood of discount coupons all over Paris giving a 10-20% off these boats - look in hotel rack, on free maps, etc. France Railpasses also give a small discount.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing when I'm in Paris in July but I'm leaning towards just getting a 5-day pass for the batobus (it's only slightly more expensive than the one or two day pass - 17 euros, if memory serves) - it won't have a tour guide but I'll have my trusty map with me and lots of fellow passengers to ask so I should be able to figure it out. It will also make for a handy way of getting from place to place as it has hop-on/hop-off privileges. The bad thing is that it doesn't start until 10am so most of my days will start long before that - the good thing is that they run until 11pm so it should be good and dark by then.

Take a look and see what you think.

http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm

Thanks, folks, and especially to PalenQ for the comprehensive post.
I was considering taking two cruises -- one in the day and one at night(not necessarily in the same day). Seems doable if they're not too long.

or one just before sunset going down and by the time the boat turns around it could be dark

oops should have read my own post - redundant. sorry

Bateaux Mouches-The same expression is used in Montreal. There the explanation for fly boat was that they were built in an abbatoire hence the flies

I'd skip the dinner cruises, posters have commented on it being too expensive, and food is nothing special (at that price)

I'd say a cruise is one of the Parisian things that I always recommmend. Daytiime is nice, but if you can do one after dark even better. Paris lights up its buildings and bridges at night, so there is something 'magical' in cruising by and seeing them (it is, after all, called the City of lights!). And of course, le chef d''oeuvre...Eiffel tower lit up and sparkling is one good memory to tak ehome.

There are many to choose from. The Batobus is not a cruise, but water 'public transportation' (point A to point B). I like the Vedettes du Pont Neuf because it is a smaller boat, it leaves from a more central location and you can get discount coupons online. Its location near Square du Vert Galant is also a place worth a visit on its own. The Place D'Alma Bateaux Mouches are OK, but not my first choice.

So, maybe a Batobus during the day to commute from one location to another, and a Seine cruise after dark.

Hope tihs helps...

I like the big "bateaux mouches" because I like to move around at will, but a lot of people prefer the small "vedettes".

As I have been a Parisian for many years, it might be interesting to note that this is the one tourist activity that I will do at the drop of a hat whenever any visitors come to town.

I like the main company Bateaux Mouches also, just because they are big. I've only done it once, but I wouldn't think they are that different, it's mainly just an hour's boat ride up and down the river, so there's not much you can do about that. Maybe some people are looking for something more regarding narration or something, I wasn't.

The name is a reference to a quarter of Lyon where these kind of boats originated before Paris, not because they were built in an abattoir. They used to be used there because the river was shallow and they have relatively flat bottoms. There is still that quarter there, La Mouche. The Lyon city website says that term was used as slang for the arms of the river in Lyon where the boats were used. It's part of the 7th arrondisement. There were former abbatoirs there, but I don't know if that was the origin of the term for the river arms or not. This is the explanation from a local politician in Lyon on that:

http://www.comparini.net/site/7eme

Hi there,

My husband and I just returned from 10 days in Paris, and did the Bateaux Mouches dinner cruise for the last night. This time of year, you'll find that the start of the cruise (which departs at 8:30pm) it will be light out, while your return to the docks will afford the opportunity to see the monuments illuminated. Our cruise did not include any commentary from tour guides, but rather was centered on the romance contingent-- music, a bottle of champagne followed by your choice of red or white wine, appetizer, entree and cheese course or dessert. A photographer also runs around offering to take a photo souvenir for 15 Euro. We enjoyed the cruise, but it was indeed expensive, for not what I'd call "stellar" food - just okay. There are 2 levels of payment-- one at about 95 Euro each, I believe - which seats you at a table somewhere toward the middle of the boat, but still along the windows - and one fare at 135 Euro each for a table more towards the head of the boat. The glass is there, but I would not say that it spoiled any views for us. Our concierge had let us know that the Bateaux Parisienne cruise was grossly overpriced, and that this company offered better value for the cost. In the end, I'm glad we did it - yes, it was a bit cheesy and overpriced - but...it was nice to go off and do something for our last night that was pre-arranged, and where the service was great, and a portion of the atmosphere so predicatable. There is nothing like seeing this particular city at night.

As far as the Batobus-- for daytime, if you're looking for the tour aspect-- I would spring for the Bateaux Parisienne company for that daytime option-- their boats were really nice and comfy looking-- and my husband and I found ourselves wishing we'd not spent short money on the 2-day Batobus pass. It was crowded, hot, there was no guide or commentary, and very little room on the railings for good views. Exactly as the previous poster said - it's a version of the "T", on water.

Hope this helps you out. Have fun!!!

I agree with the suggestion to do the Canal St. Martin, we did the Paris Canal from Musee d'Orsay and it was a magical experience going through the locks, into tunnels and emerging to see all the activities by the canal. Then we took the 75 bus back to our flat on Rue St. Dominique, and got to see the Parc Butte-Chaumont, among other fascingating sights.

ttt

Here's another recommendation for the Bateaux Mouches rather than the smaller vessels. The boats are huge, but nearly never more than half full. Advantage is plenty or room to wander all over, better photo ops. They're also higher, so views are superior.

We chose to do the canal cruise ending at Port d'Orsay, on a Thurdsay, when the Musee is open late.

I can't quite figure this out!Is it best to book a specific boat for just the cruise, not dinner? I would like to book perhaps the Verdattes du Pont-Neuf on Oct 24th (we are staying at Hotel Brighton on Rue du Ravoli) What would be the best time that time of year to watch the daylight fade & nights come on in the city? Then dinner at Les Ombres at the Orsay? or before? This will be our 20th anniversary, so I am wanting a memorable evening....Thank you!

Peggy - very easy and no need to book a cruise. Clip out the internet coupon from the Vedettes de Pont-Neuf site. Arrive any time you choose - at that time of year there will be no problem.
Check as to the times for the cruises but I would think you would be best to go before dinner as it will dark early and you won't want to rush dinner at such a lovely restaurant. How about cruise at 8 and dinner at 9? Take a bottle of wine/glasses and corkscrew, bundle up and have your "apero" on the boat.

Absolutely no reason to book anytime especially then - it's a abuyers market

get the coupon - if not on internet then on the maps of almost any map given out in Paris

I just did another one of these a few weeks ago in the evening. I must say, I did really enjoy that (I made sure to go when it would be dark), more than the daytime one. This time I think the one I was on was the Bateaux Parisiens company as I just went on the closed to where I was, which was right off the left bank quai near Notre Dame. You just have to know when sunset is (check www.sunrisesunset.com or something), and get there a little early to line up to get a good seat. You don't have to get there that far ahead, I think I bought my ticket about an hour before the scheduled run, and got in line about a half hour ahead. And that was in summer.

It was enjoyable to see the buildings lit up, even from below, and there was some commentary which was okay although I knew what all the buildings were myself, so it didn't matter to me. From viewing another boat down on the river, I saw the Vedettes company, and their boats looked a little nicer in setup than the Bateaux Parisiens one. Not a big deal, but they looked nice -- I think they cost a couple euro more, though.

There isn't any way you can go on one at 8 pm and make a 9 pm dinner reservation. The cruise itself is about an hour or even a bit more, and then you'd have to add in time getting off and getting to the restaurant. I'd check sunset times but think a 7 pm one might work in October.

Peggy - one more thing - before you board there is a rack of pamphlets. The flag on the outside indicates the language. These list the sights that you will see and can be helpful. There is a downloadable .pdf here if you want to read or print it before hand.
http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/circuit.htm