Paris Seine river cruises compared: sightseeing to dinner

The short answer

Decide what the boat is for before choosing a company. For a one-hour look at the monuments from the water, the three sightseeing cruises differ mainly by pier and by what comes with the ticket. For getting around, the Batobus is a pass, not a cruise. For something quieter, the Canal Saint-Martin Cruise is a one-way canal trip. For a meal, three products seat you at a table for lunch or dinner. None of the nine includes entry to the Eiffel Tower or any museum it passes.[6][5][3][2][1]

One-hour sightseeing: three piers, three ticket styles

The Seine River Cruise by Bateaux Parisiens, Departing from the Eiffel Tower is a one-hour loop from Port de la Bourdonnais with a multilingual audio guide; SkyGate's voucher text sends you to pontoon number 3. Its four options are a single ticket, a couple deal for two adults, and two combos that add a 2-Day or 4-Day Paris Museum Pass. SkyGate says the pass must be redeemed on your selected date while the cruise can be taken later within the voucher's validity, and lists both combos as non-refundable. The 4-Day combo's description also calls the pass "two-day", so check what you are buying; XTOUR has not checked what the pass covers.[1] The operator's own site could not be read when XTOUR checked. See the Bateaux Parisiens, Port de la Bourdonnais page on XTOUR.

The Seine River Sightseeing Cruise by Bateaux Mouches leaves from Port de la Conférence by Pont de l'Alma, on the right bank, and runs 1 hour 10 minutes according to SkyGate's options. Commentary comes over loudspeakers in English and French, with a multilingual audio guide on the boat's WiFi. This is the only sightseeing cruise here with family deals (two adults with one or two children) as well as a couple deal, and you exchange the voucher at the Bateaux Mouches ticket counter. Its lunch and dinner options had no open dates in SkyGate's calendar when XTOUR checked, and SkyGate says departure times can vary with passenger numbers and water levels.[2] The operator lists the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Conciergerie, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay along the route.[11] See the Bateaux-Mouches, Port de la Conférence page on XTOUR.

The Seine River Cruise by Vedettes de Paris is a one-hour cruise from 2 Port de Suffren with live commentary in French and English plus an audio guide. Its options add either a soft drink and a crêpe or cookie, or a glass of Champagne Duval-Leroy for over-18s. SkyGate says to board under the operator's three big red, white and blue flags, and the operator says its boats are fully electric.[10][3] See the Vedettes de Paris, Port de Suffren page on XTOUR.

An evening drink instead of a commentary

The Seine River Cruise by Vedettes de Paris, Musical Aperitif uses the same pier but is an evening hour with a playlist on board rather than a guide, according to SkyGate's options. The four options are the cruise alone, or with one glass of wine, local beer or champagne; the drinks options are for over-18s.[4] The operator sells it as its Musical Apéro cruise.[10]

Batobus: the river as transport

The Batobus Paris Hop-on Hop-off Riverboat is a 24-hour or 48-hour pass, valid from your first boarding, for unlimited rides between nine stops: Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Musée d'Orsay, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Notre-Dame, Jardin des Plantes, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre and Place de la Concorde.[5] The operator lists the same nine stops and a free audio guide.[12] SkyGate's listing says bags are checked at boarding, bags over 16 litres are not allowed, and under-18s must be with a paying adult.[5] XTOUR's reading: pick it if you will hop between sights over a day or two, not for a single tour.

Canal Saint-Martin: one way, with locks

The Canal Saint-Martin Cruise runs 2 hours 30 minutes between Parc de la Villette and the Musée d'Orsay, with a bilingual English and French guide. SkyGate lists nine locks, two swing bridges and an underground vault, and says you cannot get off before the arrival point. Choose a direction: from La Villette, board behind the My Boat restaurant at 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès; from the Musée d'Orsay, board at Quai Anatole France. Each direction has General and Youth (ages 15 to 25) admission, but the Youth option from the Musée d'Orsay had no open dates when XTOUR checked, and SkyGate marks the La Villette-start options non-refundable.[6] SkyGate does not name the operator; Paris Canal's own site describes the same route and duration, and XTOUR has not confirmed it is the same boat.[13]

Lunch and dinner cruises from Port de Solférino

The Lunch Cruise on the Seine River and the Dinner Cruise on the Seine River both start at the foot of the Musée d'Orsay, at Port de Solférino, with a three-course meal at a reserved table; SkyGate does not name the operator.[8] The lunch cruise sails 12:30 to 14:00, with an option for a window table and a glass of champagne.[7] The dinner product has an early cruise (18:45 to 20:00, Découverte menu), a later one (21:15 to 23:15, Saveurs menu), and an early window-table option with champagne.[8]

Bateaux Parisiens gourmet dinner

The Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Cruise is the longest meal here: 2 hours 30 minutes, boarding at 20:00 from docks 5 to 7 at Port de la Bourdonnais. The four services climb in placement and wine: Étoile (rear of the boat, Kir aperitif, wine shared per four, the only service open to children), Découverte (panoramic view, champagne aperitif, cheese course), Privilège (panoramic window, premium wines) and Premier (round table towards the bow, two glasses of champagne). The page mentions lunch, but only dinner options are listed.[9]

How to choose

• A first look at the monuments, near the Eiffel Tower: Bateaux Parisiens (Museum Pass combos available) or Vedettes de Paris (live guide, snack or champagne add-ons).
• A family of four, or boarding at Pont de l'Alma: Bateaux Mouches.
• An evening drink with music: the Vedettes de Paris Musical Aperitif.
• Getting around by river for a day or two: Batobus.
• Something slower than the Seine: the Canal Saint-Martin Cruise.
• A meal on board: Lunch or Dinner Cruise on the Seine River for a shorter sitting, or the Bateaux Parisiens Gourmet Cruise for the full evening.

Before you book

• Check the pier on your option; the three Eiffel Tower-area piers and Pont de l'Alma are different boarding points.[2][3][1]
• For the Bateaux Parisiens dinner, formal wear is required; SkyGate says jeans, sports shoes and caps are not allowed.[9]
• Canal Saint-Martin: SkyGate asks you to arrive 15 minutes before departure.[6]