Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Paris River Cruise Guide What is the Best Seine River Cruise in Paris?

seine river cruise paris

They are the big double-decker boats with orange seats sailing on the River. Many boat companies are working on the River Seine, and they all cover the same itinerary, more or less. The difference between them remains in the starting point, the options, and of course, the experience onboard. Unfortunately the Paris CityVision is not accessible to wheelchair users. The departure point is the Port de Solférino on the Quai Anatole France, close to the Musee d’Orsay.

Batobus Seine Cruise (well, sort of…)

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Most of the boats for rent in Paris come with a skipper, so let him do the hard work while you sit back, relax, and have fun with your partner, family, or group. Another (big) difference is the guide, who was hand-picked for his humor and passion to make this tour fun and memorable. The company Bateaux Mouches has been operating on the Seine River since 1949!

Batobus: 24/48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Seine River Cruise Tour of Paris

seine river cruise paris

In this article, we’ll give you the details on the most popular sightseeing boat tours in the City of Light and help you decide which one might be best for you. We’ll also provide you with a list of Seine dinner cruises and companies offering private Seine river cruises for those looking for a special evening out. We’ll also let you know which ones we chose and why for our own Seine river cruise experiences. The oldest and largest river cruise operator in Paris is Bateaux Mouches which was founded in 1949. Bateaux Mouches operates a large fleet of glass-roofed boats departing frequently from Pont de l’Alma. They offer daytime and evening sightseeing cruises with audio guides in 18 languages.

Seine Boat Tour – Best Tips

The standard Seine River Sightseeing Cruise in Paris takes 1h. If you opt in for a Lunch or Dinner Cruise on the Seine, allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours. To top it off, the boat is equipped with Bluetooth speakers, so you can set the soundtrack to your unforgettable cruise. All while absorbing Paris from an entirely unique vantage point. If you’re in the mood for a Parisian apéro, feel free to bring your snacks and drinks to enjoy as you cruise.

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Hour Paris Illuminated Evening Sightseeing Cruise

You can either purchase a Batobus pass online or directly at one of the nine stops. If you wish to get it online, for easy I recommend using the GetYourGuide site. Also keep in mind there are no toilets at all on the boat or on any of the docking areas. This location is an ideal spot, situated among many of the French capital’s top tourist attractions, notably Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter to name but two. With the comprehensive list of sights on offer, a trip with Vedettes de Paris is a great way to see a whole lot of Paris’ top sights.

Check the departure point and time

It may not matter all that much really, but you may well feel out of place if you turn up in trainers, jeans and a T-shirt. It’s a bit different from other cruises, because there is no commentary on board at all, but the views are the exactly the same and it’s a good photographic experience. If you do the entire loop (from your starting point and back) the entire loop will take around two hours. Vedettes de Paris boats are now fully accessible to passengers with reduced mobility and on wheelchair, who will also find disabled toilets on board. The cruise lasts little over one hour, leaving from Pont de l’Alma in the 8th arrondissement.

All companies will allow guide dogs on board, and some such as the Vedettes du Pont Neuf will also allow small animals as long as they are on a leash or in a basket. Pets other than guide dogs are never allowed on lunch and dinner cruises. Regular cruises have free seating and you can sit wherever you find a spot – and also move around for views and photos during the cruise. On lunch and dinner cruises, you’ll be seated at a table but you can’t specifically pick one. Of course, a cruise on the Seine puts spectacular Eiffel Tower views on your doorstep, as well as world-famous museums like the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay.

Hop On Hop Off Cruise

This time the weather cooperated and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the views. Towards the end we also moved inside and listed to the commentary. The Bateaux Parisiens boats are larger than those by the Vedettes du Pont Neuf and it was more crowded than my first experience but there was plenty of space to sit and move around. Finally, we were not interested in any sort of meal or specialty cruise and the no-frills cruises provided by this company was a good fit for us. For my first Seine River boat tour in 2012 with then partner Ethan, we prioritized location, followed by price, and then narration.

Seine River Cruises: Private Boat Cruises

Access to the Canauxarama boat boarding points require going up or down several steps and sometimes cobbled walkways. There are also steps (up to 6 steps) on some of the boats that passengers would need to be able to climb. If you depart from near Notre Dame then there is live commentary provided by a live guide in 3 languages (including French and English). You can buy tickets online (use our link for a small discount), by phone, or at the dock. If you purchase your ticket online, you can collect your ticket before boarding at the Pont de l’Alma at the Compagnie des Bateaux-Mouches kiosk. You will just need to present your transaction number and proof of booking.

seine river cruise paris

During holidays (e.g., Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Bastille Day), you’ll find a number of special cruises and menus being offered. The cost of a meal cruise generally ranges from about 50 € to 200 € per person. Lunch and brunch cruises are usually less expensive than dinner cruises and specialty themed cruises. Vedettes de Paris provides smaller, more intimate boat tours on the Seine. They are a top-rated company for their personal service, smaller groups, and ability to dock closer to sights.

These include an hour daytime (or evening) cruise, a champagne cruise, an evening meal cruise, a happy hour cruise along the Seine, and a snack cruise. Pariscityvision is a large company providing a wide variety of sightseeing tours in Paris, including Seine cruises. Pariscityvision’s boats are completely glazed for better views, and also have interior salons. The company is a great budget option for basic daytime or evening sightseeing boat tours. Most boats have open-air upper decks and some have interior lounge areas.

The fleet consists of fully glazed boats for an amazing panoramic view, and they can transport up to 250 passengers. Visitors can also stay outdoors on the deck, but space is limited. Some of these Paris River cruises are only for sightseeing, while others come with dinner and music for an all-included magical experience. You can even craft your own River Seine cruise by chartering a boat for you and your crew! Go on reading for the best Seine River cruises Paris has to offer, with our best tips to help you decide. For some of the more high-end dinner cruises along the River Seine, you’ll have to dress for the occasion.

The views are rather limited even if you sit next to windows since you’re limited to seeing one bank of the Seine or the other. On this Seine River cruise, you can explore Parisian landmarks between the Eiffel Tower and the Austerlitz Bridge, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Grand Palais. Each has thousands of glowing reviews, so the most reliable way to rank them was to experience them all. Let yourself be surprised by this unique and atypical cruise which combines the charms of the Canal Saint-Martin, the heart of Paris for Parisians, and the Seine of historic Paris. All our dishes are cooked by our own chefs using seasonal products in our boats’ modern kitchens.

Bateaux Parisiens’ restaurant boats have been cleverly designed with glass walls, affording guests panoramic views as they float along the city’s river. I embarked on a 12-day journey to Paris to find definitive answers by trying out the five most popular river cruises and dinner cruises. Private Seine river cruises are great options for special celebrations, weddings, marriage proposals, large families, holiday parties, tour groups, or corporate travel events. Meals, drinks, and entertainment can also be arranged on most semi-private and private Seine cruises. Bateaux de Paris is the newest company to offer regular Seine River cruises.

A Seine River dinner cruise usually lasts from 1hr 15 min to 3 hours, and it comes with or without music. Most of these River Seine cruises with dinner offer different menus with vegetarian and vegan dishes, and this is something that you need to specify during the booking process. The sights you see will vary depending on both the tour you choose and the time of day.

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