A Seine River Dinner Cruise is the perfect way to experience Paris.
During these dinner cruises, you see Paris and its monuments lit up, even as you enjoy Parisian cuisine.
Since many companies offer different dinner cruises, selecting the right one can get confusing.
This article explains everything you must know before you book your Dinner Cruise on River Seine (also known as Marina de Paris).
Top Tickets
# Gourmet Dinner Cruise
# Early evening Dinner Cruise
# Romantic Italian Dinner CruiseIt’s highly recommended to book your Seine River Dinner Cruise tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.
What’s ahead
What to expect on the Dinner Cruise
Two kinds of boats float about on the River Seine – the Sightseeing and Restaurant boats.
Dinner Cruises happen on the Restaurant boats, which have a glass-enclosed dining area to enjoy the Parisian views from a protected environment.
The Dinner Cruises on Paris River come in many flavors and get customized according to the occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, Bastille Day, Christmas, New Year’s, etc.
The menu is pre-announced, which means you know what will be served when you book your Seine Dinner Cruise.
A Dinner Cruise on the Seine is suitable for couples, families with kids, and groups of friends.
Note: If cost is a factor, we suggest you try out a sightseeing cruise on River Seine.
Which Seine River Dinner Cruise to book?
Eight factors influence your dining and cruising experience on River Seine.
We list them below –
Price of Seine cruise tickets
The cost of a meal cruise ranges from €45 to about €300 depending on the duration, the menu, the type of boat, the kind of service you choose, etc.
Discounts for kids
If you have kids below three years of age, Dinner Cruises aren’t for you.
And most often than not, kids aged 4 to 12 get approximately 50% discount on the adult tickets.
Location of the port of departure
If the dinner cruise boat departs from a popular location, such as the foot of the Eiffel Tower, etc., it is convenient in many ways.
Most tourists prefer a cruise that departs from Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame because it allows them to spend the evening at these attractions and then get on the dinner cruise.
Menu on Seine River Cruises
Every Cruise boat tour has a unique menu.
Some offer a lavish four-course meal with the finest of wines, while others provide Tapas or Pizzas on board.
Dinner Cruises with lavish menus usually have three to four different services you can choose from while booking your tickets.
Each service gives you different privileges, for instance, access to premium wines, a table at the front of the boat, etc.
Some Seine River Cruises are not dinner cruises in the real sense, but dinner is part of the ticket.
If you book such a ‘dinner’ cruise, you will dine before or after the journey, either at the port of departure or at a Bistro restaurant nearby.
All the Seine River Dinner Cruises offer vegetarian food on board.
Duration of Seine River Dinner Cruise
Depending on the type of Seine River Dinner Cruise you are booking, they can be one to two hours long.
An elaborate dinner cruise can also take two and a half hours.
However, if you book an early evening dinner cruise, you will return to the shore in an hour.
Tourists want to know the duration of a dinner cruise because it helps them plan the later transport back to their hotel.
Seine Dinner Cruise hours
The nighttime Dinner Cruises usually set sail between 8 pm to 9 pm.
Early evening dinner cruises set sail between 6.15 pm to 6.30 pm.
You will find the exact departure time of your cruise on the ticket booking page (and the ticket).
Knowing the departure time is essential because you must be at the departure port at least 45 minutes earlier.
Boarding time
Dinner Cruise’s boarding starts half an hour before the cruise’s departure and usually takes 15 minutes.
If you book an early evening Seine Dinner cruise, the boarding will start at 6 pm.
Dinner cruise frequency
The frequency of its dinner cruises will vary depending on the number of restaurant boats a boat tour company has.
For instance, Bateaux Parisiens has three Seine Dinner cruises sailing out daily.
Cruise 1: Departure at 6:15 pm and return at 7:30 pm
Cruise 2: Departure at 8:30 pm and return at 11 pm
Cruise 3: Departure at 9 pm and return at 10:30 pm
So you can decide which one you would like to book.
The cruise duration is the longest for the restaurant boat that sets sail at 8.30 pm.
Dress code for Seine River Dinner Cruise
Knowing the dress code of the Dinner Cruise you plan to book is important to ensure you reach the port of departure inappropriate clothes.
All dinner cruises have their dress code, which you can see on the ticket booking page.
You can’t go wrong if you wear a smart dress for a Seine Dinner Cruise.
Some tourists believe that since they have already booked the Dinner Cruise, they can board the cruise even if they don’t follow the dress code.
That’s not true – good boat tour companies refuse entry to visitors not dressed appropriately.
That’s why avoiding sportswear, sports shoes, shorts, flip flops, caps, etc., for a dinner cruise on River Seine is always better.
Visual Story: 17 must-know tips before visiting Seine River Cruise
Other activities with the Dinner Cruise
Some Seine Dinner Cruises come combined with other Parisian attractions such as the Crazy Horse, Lido de Paris Cabaret show, Moulin Rouge, and Eiffel Tower, for that matter.
Tourists who want to add one more tourist attraction to their dinner cruise opt for these combo tours.
Some prefer these combo tours because they are approximately 15% cheaper than if the tickets are bought individually.
How online Seine River Cruise tickets work
Go to the Seine River Cruise booking page and choose your desired date and the number of tickets.
Upon payment, the tickets will be emailed to you.
Ticket printouts are not required.
On the day of your visit, show your smartphone ticket at the entrance and walk in.
Bring your official IDs.
Recommended
Best Seine River dinner cruise
Here are six dinner cruise options you can choose from.
Gourmet dinner cruise
Bateaux Parisiens offers this Seine River Dinner cruise, which is very popular among visitors.
You get to enjoy a four-course meal and wine, a live singer, and stunning visuals of the city of Paris, all illuminated.
The boarding starts at 8 pm at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and goes on till 8.15 pm, and at 8.30 pm, the cruise leaves the port.
The boat returns to the shore at 11 pm.
The dress code for this exceptional dining gourmet cruise is smart casual.
Patrons aren’t allowed to wear jeans, sports shoes, shorts, or caps.
Dinner cruise menu
While booking this Seine dinner cruise, you must choose between four different menus.
Here is what you get –
Etoile Service: A starter, a main, and a dessert
Découverte Service: Two starters, two main courses, two desserts, and Petits Four. Besides, you also get a table with a panoramic view and a glass of champagne.
Privilege Service: Starters, mains, cheese dish, desserts, Petits Four, a glass of champagne as an aperitif, and a selection of premium wines. With this service, you also get an excellent window seat.
Premier Service: This is the best menu and hence also the costliest. It gets you a table at the front of the boat, two glasses of champagne, and a selection of premium wines and mature cheese with an appetizer. Besides this, you also get your choice of starter, main dish, dessert, and Petits Four.
Ticket Price
Étoile Service: €109
Découverte Service: €139
Privilège Service: €179
Premier Service: €215
Early evening dinner cruise
Savor a three-course meal with coffee and tea while taking in the views of Paris from the boats.
A la carte drinks and cheese are available to purchase, including a wide selection of cocktails, wines, beers, and soft drinks.
The boat leaves the lock at 6.45 pm and returns by 8.15 pm.
The dress code for the early evening Seine River dinner cruise is casual, but shorts aren’t allowed.
Ticket Prices
Dinner Cruise Early
Adult Ticket (12+ years): €85
Child Ticket (3 to 11 years): €40
Infant Ticket (up to 3 years): Free
Dinner Cruise with Romantic Upgrade
Adult Ticket (12+ years): €120
Child Ticket (3 to 11 years): €40
Infant Ticket (up to 3 years): Free
Romantic dinner cruise on Capitaine Fracasse
If you want to spend a romantic evening with your partner, Capitaine Fracasse is your next best option.
Capitaine Fracasse is a glass-enclosed boat with an open-air terrace offering unforgettable views of the Seine and the city of Paris.
This two-hour dinner cruise departs at 8.15 pm from Île aux Cygnes.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (13+ years): €84
Child Ticket (4 to 12 years): €35
Infant Ticket (up to 3 years): Free
Bistro style Seine dinner cruise
Some tourists prefer to focus on sightseeing during their Seine cruise and enjoy dinner at the quay later.
If you are one of them, this three-hour Bistro dinner plus cruise package offered by Bateaux Parisiens is perfect.
The Seine Cruise sets sail by 5.30 pm, and once you are back, you have dinner at Le Bistro Parisien anytime between 6 pm to 10 pm.
This see-through bistro offers fantastic Eiffel Tower and the River Seine views.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (12+ years): €64
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): €27
Infant Ticket (up to 3 years): Free
Dinner Cruise, Eiffel Tower & Moulin Rouge
This seven-hour long tour includes a visit to the Eiffel Tower, a Seine River Cruise, and a Moulin Rouge cabaret show with a glass of champagne.
The ticket includes access to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower only.
Also, on the cruise, enjoy a fantastic commentary on your personal earphone and a scrumptious dinner.
When the Moulin Rouge show ends late, a luxury air-conditioned coach will drop you at your hotel.
This tour is not suitable for kids under the age of six.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (12+ years): €275
Child Ticket (6 to 11 years): €265
Seine Dinner cruise route
Since the Seine River runs through Paris and all the major attractions are lined up next to it, the routes the different companies follow are the same.
All the dinner cruises go to the François Mitterrand library to the East and the Ile aux Cygnes with the Statue of Liberty to the West.
Some of the major Parisian landmarks visible from dinner cruise boats are The Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Museum d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris.
During your dinner
cruise, you can also spot the two natural islands in the middle of the river –
Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis.
