Most of the sightseeing cruises take about an hour or an hour and thirty minutes. Hello! The policies on face masks and attendee health are: It was just OK. There is also an evening aperitif cruise which includes an apertif, including a choice of soft drink (20), glass of wine (22) or glass of champagne (26). There are a few restaurants on the Eiffel Tower (e.g., 58 Tour Eiffel and Le Jules Verne) and the most well known is probably Le Jules Verne which offers fine dining. Another option might be take the Batobus hop-on hop-off boat cruise as that will allow you to get on and off the cruise as you wish. We are planning for a short trip to paris, your article was very helpful in planning our trip. Every travel detail is taken care of so you can share experiences, and connect with each other through the magic of travel. Also provide lunch, dinner, and special events cruises. Happy travels, Jessica, Very good info, im glad that i found your blogpost here. Access to the Canauxarama boat boarding points require going up or down several steps and sometimes cobbled walkways. ~ Jessica. The high season for the companies is generally April to September with these being the most popular times to take a river cruise in Paris. Thank you, guys, for this article! That sounds like a very nice romantic evening that combines both the Tower and the cruise But either way, I am sure youll have a wonderful evening, just be sure to book in advance. Hi Gulzar, Great, glad this was information was helpful in helping your choose the best Seine river cruise for you. So how can you use all the above information to decide which Seine cruise might be the best for you? I think I would looking at Vedettes du Pont Neuf due to location. Two of the boats currently have two decks with an open upper deck, but all boats allow for open-air and inside covered seating. It really depends on the type of cruise you are looking for and I review all the major companies that offer Seine cruises above. Ill definitely take a cruise on the Seine the next time Im in Paris, I am just loving reading about your travels! Best, Jessica. If you miss the boat, you simply miss it. Other offers include Eiffel Tower tickets, Paris city tours, and cabaret tickets. Departure Point: Port de la Bourdonnais (near Eiffel Tower) and Quai de Montebello (near Notre Dame)Languages Offered: For the cruise departing from the Eiffel Tower, commentaries in French, English (U.K.), English (U.S.), German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are available. Very helpful! Any suggestions on options that will allow us to see a little more of the city in a short time frame would be wonderful! Be sure to bundle up otherwise you will be a Mr Freeze! For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experiences start time. However, one must also see Paris at night on a river cruise. Hi Sharon, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, and we love to hear our post was helpful. A cruise also allows you to explore Paris from a different perspective as you pass by iconic sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, and the Muse dOrsay. Thank you once again, Hi Nicolleen, Thanks for taking the time to comment and glad that our article helped you choose the Seine cruise tour that was a best suited for you! The Yellow Roads of Europe are routes off the beaten path that bring you closer to the less-visited sights and the everyday life of the country. Then in 2017 I decided to do another Seine river cruise with Laurence as he had never done one before. 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. There is a discounted ticket for that one available here. However, they often have a discount if you purchase the tickets online from their website. Helipass flies over western Paris, hovering in mid-air over the Bois de Boulogne, the Parc de Saint-Cloud and the Longchamp racecourse. The access ramp is located a little further beyond the stairs and staff can help assist in finding the best place to board and exit. The company also offers a special family-friendly cruise that is geared specifically to children and families. Please check your e-mail to confirm your sign up. I worry dinner would be too slow, and we would be pressured to get to the boat on time and it would ruin the meal. Paris, Versailles, Giverny, Les Andelys, Caudebec-en-Caux, Beaches of Normandy, Your cruise begins in Paris with eithera guided walking tour or a guided bicycle ride along the Seine, and an art-filled scavenger hunt in Muse du Louvre. TheVedettes de Paris and theBateaux-Mouches offer kid-friendly cruises with commentary, while theVedettes du Pont-Neuf organize themed cruises. Q:What is the social distancing policy during Seine River Direct Access Guided Cruise with Kids by Vedettes de Paris? Let us know what company you chose and let us know your feedback and tips for other readers trying to decide on a boat tour. Averaging just 24 guests, choose from 85+ small group trips around the world (including safaris); lower guide-to-guest ratio means more personalized service enjoy authentic experiences on and off the beaten path, exclusive access, insider perspectives, premium hotel stays, and local cuisines. Thank you for your helpful guidance! Thanks for any input. Is there a lift to the top deck? But I would recommend not booking for the meal itself but for the overall experience, we had good food on our cruises but it was not amazing. Will like to take the Siene cruise on the historical boat on June 5th during midday, Hi Cassim, Which cruise company do you plan to take? I wouldn't necessarily recommend this tour, but I think taking a river boat down the Seine is a wonderful activity in. Since we are staying near the Eiffel Tower, I will take location into consideration, however I do like the idea of a live guide. Our longstanding partnerships, the world over, connect you more deeply with the places you explore; they include our collaboration with America's leading storyteller, filmmaker Ken Burns, to craft Ken Burns American Journeys. Bateaux Parisiens offers semi-private experiences to smaller groups (2 to 50) as well as entire private boat hires for larger groups that can accommodate over 100 people. The boat configurations differ a bit but each holds approximately 250 people for the regular Seine cruises. The rest of the cruise companies (most of which also offer regular sightseeing cruises) specialize in renting for private hires for larger groups, weddings, and corporate events. Hear the popular music of the period and broadcasts of the era's great leadters handle wireless sets and appreciate the distinctive sounds of military engines, grinding gears and clinking tracks see letters, original newspapers, photographs, maps and propaganda of the time touch and compare the weapons and equipment used by Allied and Axis soldiers and more. I would recommend calling the company you are most interested in to check specifically about accessibility and the specific needs you may have, but here is the info I found on the main Paris Seine River cruise company websites: -Here is what the Bateaux Parisiens website says: Bateaux Parisiens welcomes people with reduced mobility. I never took advantage of a boat tour on the Seine because I used to walk past it so frequently and saw a lot of parts of it in my time living in Paris. Yes, I think all the regular Seine cruise boats have ample enclosed/covered as well as open-air space, so any of them should be OK in case of rain/cold. If you are just wanting a sightseeing cruise (no meal) and dont have a particular price point or concern for where it departs, I would say Bateaux Parisiens is a good one to consider. But we want to take a boat out and around the sister of the US Statue of Liberty. There are no toilets on board these boats. This is probably the second most popular company on the Seine. Exploring the world through natural history travels are at the heart of two of our most popular journeys an expeditionary cruise to Antarctica and our popular (and fascinating) land expedition to Churchill, Manitoba in search of the polar bears. Very helpful article! -la-carte dinner with option to add a glass of champagne and 1/2 bottle of wine per person. Access to the Vedettes de Paris boats are now wheelchair accessible since they got a new pontoon platform in 2020. But since you are wanting to see the city, Id probably recommend taking a sightseeing one in the daytime so you can more clearly see the landmarks along the river. Canauxrama is one of the top companies for providing, The shorter Seine River cruises will leave from Ile, The longer Seine River cruises (and canal cruises) leave from the Port de Paris-Arsenal (near. Choosing the best Seine River cruise can be a bit tricky since most tour companies offer similar itineraries. Two of the main places where the Seine River cruises leave (and return) are near the Eiffel Tower and near Notre-Dame. ), Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter where we share our latest travel news and tips. (arriving around 12:30pm) We only have that afternoon and evening to try and see a few sights (taking the train the following morning to Switzerland). Seine River cruise tickets can be bought online and on the spot at ticket offices. If you have limited time in Paris and are not overly interested in the canal, then Id say to just do the Seine River cruise. I wish I could remember with which company I went on a boat cruise when I was in Paris. Many of the boat companies offer smartphone applications that you can download with the cruise commentary in various languages. But as you note, many of their boat have a second story which requires going up a set of stairs so are not accessible for those in wheelchairs or mobility scooters. I have tested many of them. I dont believe the Seine River cruises are being affected by the current strikes in Paris, but the strikes are having a huge impact on the metro, suburban trains, and traffic. Glad you found it helpful, wishing you a wonderful trip to Paris! Access to toilets on board the boats requires navigating stairs, but there are wheelchair-accessible toilets available near the docking area. It departs from near the Muse dOrsay (ends at Parc de la Villette). Well also let you know which one we chose and why for our own Seine river cruise experiences. Thank you for this review. Best, Jessica. I would consider combining a Seine River cruise and Canal Saint-Martin cruise, you might consider this 2.5 hour cruise with Paris Canal that includes a 1 hour Seine River cruise and then 1.5 canal ride. Lunch and brunch cruises are usually less expensive than dinner cruises and specialty themed cruises. Best, Jessica. It includes all of the major companies that have come up during my research. Copyright 2013 - 2022, Seine River Cruises in Paris: How to Choose the Best Seine Cruise Boat Tour, Seine River Cruises: Main Paris Sightseeing Boat Companies. Question, though in this page about the river cruises, you mention that the Paris Museum Pass included a particular sightseeing boat tour, but your page about the Museum Pass says that no boat tours are included. From the boat, you can see if just after you go under the bridge Pont de Grenelle, it is located just at the tip of the le aux Cygnes (Island of the Swans). The cost of a meal cruise generally ranges from about 50 to 200 per person. You can book your ticket online in advance or just show up a little early and buy it at the dock. To do this, we store the data as outlined in our privacy policy. Bateaux Parisiens lunch and dinner cruise also offer special menus for events like Valentines Day, Bastille Day, Christmas, and New Year. They also offer a longer 2.5 hour cruise for those who want to see more of Paris and travel longer along the Seine. Most boats now include an audio guide that will play in several languages including Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Almost all the dinner cruises last about 2 hours and this was more than enough time for us to enjoy 3 courses. Enjoy your time in Paris! If you buy a voucher online, it is good for the full day and then you can exchange it at the company ticket booth for when you want to take the cruise. They offer lunch, dinner, and special events cruises. It is so helpful to me and almost no one includes actionable accessibility information. If you plan to visit the Louvre Museum while in Paris, you can benefit from a discount on tickets by booking this combination ticket which includes the Louvre entry as well as a Seine River cruise, with a 10% total discount compared to buying these tickets individually. First, here are those companies which specialize in private Seine cruises which are probably the best fit for those looking for a private experience as a couple, family, or small group. Boats with top decks allow for better viewing and pictures, but during cold weather everyone will be forced into the covered spaces. Most of the cruise companies will have a 21:00 (9:00pm) departure time in June as that is a very popular time of year for the cruises. And this former royal palace turned treasure-filled muse is the perfect place for a fun scavenger hunt with your family! Beautiful photos of Paris and great information. A Batobus boat can be hired for private use and can seat up to 180 persons. But I think most of the information should still be valid. Hello there. If you don't see the confirmation e-mail, please check your spam folder. Jessica. Jordan & Egypt: Petra to the Pyramids, Small Groups, Autumn Along the Rhine: Munich's Oktoberfest, Legendary Scottish Isles, Edinburgh & Glasgow, Portrait of Arabia: The Emirates, Qatar & Oman, A Grand Rail Adventure: Milan, The Alps & Vienna. I would definitely recommend trying to do the cruise when you have good weather if you can. As you can probably see by looking at the photos, almost all of the boats have some open deck seating. Boats for the 1 hour cruise leave from Port de Suffren (near Eiffel Tower) in the 7th arrondissement. Note: She is referring to the fact that Vedettes de Paris have recently introduced special childrens boat cruises on the Seine for children (mostly for school groups, reservation required) and they are currently only available in French as of May 2017. Departure Point: Port de la ConfrenceLanguages Offered: Commentary is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, and KoreanAccessibility: Priority access for the disabled available. Mobility scooters are usually too heavy to be moved onto the boats. Departure Point: Stops include the Tour Eiffel, Muse dOrsay, St-Germain-des-Prs, Notre-Dame, Jardin des Plantes, Hotel de Ville, Louvre, Place de la Concorde, and InvalidesLanguages Offered: Commentary is not availableAccessibility: Access to the boat is possible with a wheelchair, but access to most stops is through stairs. Thanks for this amazing blog about boat cruises in Paris. Brunch, lunch, and dinner cruises are popular especially for couples since they get to enjoy a delicious meal while overlooking the Seine River. Just let us know if you have any questions about Seine cruises in Paris! On board, passengers can sit in a regular seat or move around the boat in their own wheelchair. There are no wheelchair-accessible toilets on board or near where the boats are docked. During holidays (e.g., Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, Bastille Day), youll find a number of special cruises and menus being offered. This really made it easier choosing the Seine cruise for my upcoming trip to Paris. In October the weather in Paris is often cool but not cold, although it can be warm. Finally take to the sky with Flyview Paris which enables you to fly over theroofs and the monuments of the capital thanks to virtual reality. Loved every minute of tour. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Take in views of Paris as you sail along the Seine River aboard this family-friendly cruise. You can often save a few euros by booking in advance, depending on the cruise company, so that is generally what we recommend. By the way, my granddaughter said she wants to be a Tauck tour director when she grows up. Sightseeing cruises last for one hour and pass by the Musee dOrsay, Institut de France, Pantheon, Cite de la Mode, and more. Also be sure to note the departure points for the cruises as some leave from central Paris near the Notre-Dame Cathedral whereas others leave from the 12th arrondissement. If you are planning the perfect Eurotrip, you can also consider spending the yuletide season in France and enjoy a Seine River cruise. I am sure one of the reasons this trip was so wonderful was that I could spend time with my grandchildren whom I don't see very often. ~ Jessica. I havent seen an announcement about the specific plans for Bastille Day in 2022, but the river is typically an excellent place from which to watch the illuminations and fireworks in central Paris. Are toilets available and are there steps involved? Thinking well do an evening cruise sans the food. The trial is expected to last until May. The boats stop at each stop every 20 to 25 minutes depending on the season. I will definitely keep this post bookmarked for the next time Im in Paris. We would also like to sit on the top deck outside. Enjoy your Seine cruise. Most of the ticket kiosks are located along the riverside quays so you will need to be looking right along the river. {{> molecules-tooltip title=false copy="{{tooltip}}"}} Truly, the Seine River is a sight to behold, and seeing it should be one of the things to do in Paris for every traveler. Your blog is amazing! Given the price, I would have expected a longer trip. The 1.5 hour Canauxarama sightseeing cruise does go there, probably because it is a bit longer, so that might be the best cruise for you if you dont want a meal. However, for most of the general sightseeing cruises you can normally buy same day tickets in person at the dock. Toy trains are an unusual and pleasant way to sightsee and besides, kids love them. , Hi Philippe, Youre very welcome Enjoy your trip to Paris. Hi Ro, Most offer meat options as mains, but most also offer a vegetarian option. Also in summer, although boats have large capacity they can sometimes book out in advance. I have been overwhelmed at the choices and trying to figure out which company to go with. Are there steps to board the boat? If you are interested in learning more about taking a Paris canal tour, check out our experience taking a. It stops about every 15 minutes. Note for PARIS PASS holders: Currently, a free Bateaux Parisiens Seine river cruise is included as part of the Paris Pass. Lunch and dinner cruises are also generally one hour or two hours. These hires are geared towards shorter corporate hires. Climb aboard one of our amphibious vehicles to explore the heart of Paris, by land and river. or your travel advisor, {{durationDays}} Days|{{year}}|from {{priceFrom}}|{{category.categoryLabel}}. Knowing that Tauck was handling reservations, activities, and even food issues, allowed me to just enjoy this new adventure with my family and new friends. Situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, the country of Jordan delights from the archaeological treasures and antiquities of Petra to resort pleasures along the Dead Sea. Navigate the world like never before aboard our small ship cultural and expeditionary cruises explore some of the world's most intriguing ports of call in Europe, Asia, Antarctica, South America, Latin America, and North America. ~ Jessica. After researching the options ourselves, we personally chose Vedettes du Pont Neuf for an evening cruise along the Seine for a few reasons. I think the best cruise probably depends on what else you plan to do in Paris and how you plan to return to the airport. This article was very helpful! We will be in Paris in two weeks and wanted to take an anniversary dinner cruise. You actually need to get there a bit early to make sure you have time to check-in and board. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. But this varies by company and the type of cruise. Their sightseeing cruises last one hour and take you around most of Paris popular landmarks including the Louvre, the Conciergerie, and the Notre Dame. The longer cruises may be too long for younger children. The Batobus is not really intended for a sightseeing cruise but can still be a good economical choice if you also want to use the Batobus for transportation. Wishing you a wonderful anniversary in Paris Best, Jessica. Guide to Visiting the Titanic Belfast & Other Titanic Sites in Belfast, The company now offers lunch and dinner cruises as well, Accessibility (for those with physical mobility limitations). Argentina is arid and distinctly European. Snacks and drinks (including alcohol) are available for purchase onboard. Snacks and drinks (including alcohol) are available for purchase at the onboard bar. For instance, the stop closest to the Eiffel Tower requires a 15-minute walk to get to the monument from the boat stop. If you make a purchase using one of these links it means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can check out compare some of the dinner cruise options here. {{{{raw}}}}, alk through the gardens of Giverny, inspiration for many Claude Monet paintings time travel along the beaches of Normandy for a deeper understanding of World War II and events that affected generations, past and present and join us for a special visit to Muse du Louvre where you will have fun on a scavenger hunt that introduces you to world-famous art masterpieces, like the "Mona Lisa" and "Venus de Milo. Do you want to pay extra for a meal, themed cruise, or private cruise? Many people also appreciate the option to purchase snacks or drinks during the cruise. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Please check your e-mail to confirm your sign-up. Wishing you and your friends a great trip to Paris, The Port de Paris-Arsenal is a bit further from the center of Paris than most of the other companies, but this may end up being great for those staying closer to the 12th arrondissement. The largest beasts on the planet still roam Africa, tribes still follow ancient ways and traditions, and you can't help but feel the pulse of a primal connection, and hear echoes of a distant past in the strange, magnificent, breathtaking landscapes. This is a matter of deciding on what is most important to you regarding the cruise.