Reviewed · SEINE RIVER DINNER CRUISES
Paris does this better than anywhere and charges for it, from a $60 bistronomic sitting to a $250 gourmet table. These 15 explain what separates the fare classes, which ones guarantee a window and where the boat is when the tower sparkles.
Cruise from Île aux Cygnes to Île Saint-Louis aboard a small, modern boat with outward-facing seats, a 3-course French cocotte dinner, mineral water, and an open terrace. You will pass the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, and more during a relaxed 105-minute evening ride. The meeting point is beneath Pont de Bir-Hakeim.
“A great way to experience the city while eating a delicious meal”
Spend 150 minutes on a glass-enclosed Bateaux Parisiens boat, dining on a three or four-course French meal while Paris slides past your table. Choose from center, panoramic, or window seating, with upgraded packages adding Champagne, wine, cheese, and front-of-boat seats. Live singing keeps the evening warm and festive.
“Amazing experience. Highly recommend it. Window tables are the best, but the middle section is also good. The food is okay, but it also includes a bottle of wine. This is an excellent activity in Paris, and you must do”
Board near the Eiffel Tower at 8:30 pm for a 2.5-hour dinner cruise with a private table, seasonal French dishes, wine, and live singing. Choose a 3-course or 4-course service, with window seating available in selected packages. The boat passes Notre Dame, the Louvre, Pont Alexandre III, and other illuminated landmarks before returning to Port de la Bourdonnais.
“Fantastic way to end our Paris Trip. Highly recommend! We along with our teenage kids greatly enjoyed the food and the beautiful views from the boat.”
Board a panoramic restaurant boat at the Alexandre III Bridge for a 90-minute to two-hour Seine cruise. Enjoy a three-course French bistro dinner served at your table, pass Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Conciergerie, then head outside for photos of the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night. Window tables and drinks cost extra.
“I would 100% book this again, fabulous from start to finish”
You’ll board at Port de Solférino near the Musée d’Orsay for a 75-minute to two-hour evening cruise. A three-course Parisian dinner, coffee or tea, live singing on many departures, and views of Notre Dame, the Louvre, Pont Neuf, and the Eiffel Tower come together in one relaxed outing.
“The view and the meal was adequate amount enjoyed Eiffel Tower desert.”
Spend about three hours aboard a Bateaux Mouches boat, with a 3- or 4-course dinner, wine or Champagne, and live piano and violin. You’ll pass the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, Hôtel de Ville, and more. Excellence includes window priority and extra food choices. Dress smartly and arrive early at Alma Bridge.
“This was seriously the highlight of our trip! Our kids loved it. The food was fantastic as was the live entertainment. My kids loved going up top to walk around the boat.”
Board Bateaux Mouches near Pont de l’Alma for a 150-minute evening cruise with a four-course French meal, half a bottle of wine or Champagne, and live piano and violin. You’ll pass the Louvre, Notre Dame, and Eiffel Tower, with time for upper-deck photos. Priority window seating is available through the Excellence option.
“Everything was delightful. The sights, the sound, and the service were impeccable, everything was clean, and the tour timed everything perfectly!”
Board at Île aux Cygnes near Pont de Bir-Hakeim for a 1-hour-45-minute evening cruise with a window-facing armchair and three-course dinner. You’ll pass the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame, and Alexandre III Bridge. Bottled water is included, while wine and Champagne cost extra. Vegan meals are available.
“Enjoyable evening cruise. Food was delicious and the environment was comfortable and cozy. Unfortunately seated on the starboard side we did not see Notre Dame as it was behind us on both passes.”
Cruise the Seine aboard Le Diamant Bleu with a three-course seasonal dinner, live singer and guitarist, and a DJ set later in the evening. You’ll pass Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Pont Alexandre III, and the Eiffel Tower. Vegetarian and vegan meals require 48 hours’ notice, and VIP window seating may be available.
“The boat was absolutely incredible, the live music was fantastic and the food was amazing, a slight bit confusing finding the boat from the meeting spot but so so so worth it!”
Spend about seven hours moving from a three-course Seine dinner cruise to the Eiffel Tower’s second floor and Moulin Rouge’s Féerie show. You’ll see Paris by water and night, with Champagne at the cabaret. Guides such as Alister and Nima have led some departures, but timing, seating, and transport can vary.
“The dinner cruise was nice and fun. The show not as much we got stuck at a table with limited viewing. Very disappointing”
Settle aboard the glass-enclosed Capitaine Fracasse for a two-hour evening cruise from Île aux Cygnes toward Bercy and back. You’ll pass the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, Louvre, Notre Dame, and more while eating a three-course French meal. A terrace offers open-air views, but drinks cost extra and mobility is limited.
“Great boat ride. Food was good and we had great views. Nice to see the city from a different vantage point. There really wasn’t a lot to the ride- you sit, you eat, you take a few pics and then you get off. It was fun for what it was.”
Cruise the Seine for about 90 minutes from central Paris, passing Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and historic bridges. Choose an early or late departure, enjoy a French three-course meal and Champagne, and consider paying extra for window seating, upgraded drinks, or live music. Arrive 30 minutes early.
“Lovely evening dinner cruise With great singer However not cheap at £200 did not expect to pay for window seat and cheese course instead of dissert And champagne as advertised was not offered had to ask for. You really should not be charging extras at £200 a couple”
Spend about three and a half hours aboard Le Diamant Bleu for a three-course dinner, live singer, DJ set, and views of Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and the sparkling Eiffel Tower. Boarding details can be confusing, so verify the dock and arrival time carefully. VIP seating adds a window table.
“If your questioning if you should... you should! Went with a large group on the VIP seating and the staff were attentive and the singer quite good. The views were absolutely amazing and the return timed to have the best view of the Effeil Tower sparkling!”
Spend about three hours aboard the Bateaux New York, leaving Chelsea Piers at 7:00 p.m. for a polished dinner cruise past One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and Hudson Yards. You receive a starter, entrée, dessert, live music, and a guaranteed table for your party. Semi-formal dress is required.
“Fabulous experience . Food was delicious , service was excellent , the views of NYC skyline were breathtaking , pulling right up to the Statue of Liberty was fantastic , great way to spend my 69th birthday with my family .”
Board the Theo boat near the Eiffel Tower for an Italian trattoria-style dinner and a 2-hour Seine cruise. You’ll choose from four fresh pasta dishes, enjoy antipasti, burrata, Parma ham, and tiramisu, then view Notre Dame, Alexander III Bridge, and the Eiffel Tower by night. Window seats require the VIP option.
“The address for meeting and pick up was nowhere near the actual boarding point. You have to cross very busy roads and very poor lighting to get to the actual boat boarding point. There is no cover and only a small area to wait. Boarding was 9.00 pm on the ticket but did not start to 9.30. Very tight in seating and table space. You get 1 bottle of water and that is it you pay for anything else. You only get to order 1 drink as they seemed to close the so called bar so they can serve the food. Food was good but they could have had bread…”
Pick a river, a strait or a harbour.
