Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise: 2.5-Hour Seine Dinner on a Glass Boat with Live Music
Quick answer
The Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise lasts 2.5 hours and serves a 3 or 4-course meal on a glass boat from the Eiffel Tower, from $129 per person.
It is the best rated of the Paris cruises with 5,000+ reviews, at 4.7/5 from 8,900+ on GetYourGuide, and the dress code is smart casual.
BATEAUX PARISIENS - SEINO VISION
3-Course-Dinner Cruise on the Seine with live music
4.7 (8,948) · from $129
The Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise is a seated, multi-course dinner on a glass-sided boat that sails a Seine loop from the foot of the Eiffel Tower and returns there, from $129 per person.
The tier you pick changes the decision. The listing sells four seating-and-menu levels, from a centre-boat table with a Kir aperitif to a front-of-boat seat with champagne and cheese, and the $129 starting price is for the entry level. Before you choose, compare it with the one-hour Bateaux Parisiens cruise at $20, and browse the boat tours in Paris hub or the home page for other evenings on the water.
| Operator | Bateaux Parisiens |
|---|---|
| Boat type and capacity | All-glass panoramic boat with table service; the listing gives no capacity |
| Price | From $129 per person (about EUR {eur} at 0.88865 EUR per USD); the price rises with the tier you choose |
| Duration | 2.5 hours |
| Departure times | Not stated on the listing; the booking calendar shows the slots |
| Pier | Pontoon no. 5 or no. 7 on the Port de la Bourdonnais quay, beneath the Eiffel Tower. Pier on Google Maps |
| Route | Eiffel Tower, Pont Alexandre III, Les Invalides, Musée d'Orsay, Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame, Pont des Arts, Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Grand Palais, Statue of Liberty replica |
| Food and drinks | 3 or 4 courses by tier, an aperitif and wine for the table; vegetarian menu on request |
| Languages | English, per the listing |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before for a full refund |
| Rating | 4.7/5 from 8,948+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise and what do you get?
It is a seated dinner with a live singer on a boat whose sides are glass, so you eat while the floodlit quays pass by.
- Multi-course dinner: 3 or 4 courses depending on the tier, chosen from a menu.
- Aperitif and wine: champagne or Kir to start, then wine for the table.
- Live music: a singer performs on board.
- Photographer: the listing includes souvenir photos taken on board.
- Floodlit views: Les Invalides, Orsay, Notre-Dame and the Louvre pass by the windows.
The loop runs along the Seine banks that UNESCO inscribed as a World Heritage property, so the floodlit buildings you see through the glass are the protected ensemble.
538 ha is the area of the Paris, Banks of the Seine property that UNESCO inscribed in 1991, from the Pont de Sully to the Pont d'Iéna.
Where does the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise leave from?
Your boat waits at pontoon no. 5 or no. 7 on the Port de la Bourdonnais quay under the Eiffel Tower, and the listing tells you to watch for the company name.
Check-in closes 15 minutes before departure, which is stricter than the daytime cruise. Allow time for the security check, because the listing says staff may ask to open bags and suitcases before boarding.
| From | Distance | Walk | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bir-Hakeim (metro line 6) | about 960 m | 13 min | Walking directions |
| Trocadéro (metro lines 6 and 9) | about 1,070 m | 14 min | Walking directions |
| Eiffel Tower base | about 670 m | 9 min | Walking directions |
These distances are measured to the Port de la Bourdonnais quay as a whole; the pontoons are within a short stroll of each other.
What is the route, stop by stop?
The boat sails a closed loop and the listing names the sights in the order you pass them.
- Eiffel Tower pier - start and finish. Pier on Google Maps
- Pont Alexandre III - the ornate bridge, a pass-by. Pont Alexandre III on Google Maps
- Les Invalides - the golden dome. Les Invalides on Google Maps
- Musée d'Orsay - the former railway station. Musée d'Orsay on Google Maps
- Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame - the island and cathedral. Notre-Dame on Google Maps
- Pont des Arts - the footbridge, a pass-by. Pont des Arts on Google Maps
- Louvre Museum - the riverside wing. Louvre on Google Maps
- Place de la Concorde and Grand Palais - the western end. Place de la Concorde on Google Maps
- Statue of Liberty replica - a pass-by named on the listing. Statue of Liberty on Google Maps
One reviewer says the back deck gave a photo of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty together. That is a single opinion, but it points to the open stern as the place to stand on the return leg.
How long is the cruise and when does it sail?
The dinner cruise lasts 2.5 hours, and the listing publishes no departure times, so the evening slot you choose on the calendar sets your sunset view.
| Month | Sunset | What a table near the glass sees |
|---|---|---|
| June | 9:57 PM | Daylight over the first course |
| September | 8:05 PM | Dusk by the main course |
| October | 7:03 PM | Dark for most of the meal |
| December | 4:56 PM | Dark from the aperitif |
The listing does not state whether boarding or sailing is at a set time, so ask the operator or read the voucher. A rival dinner listing on my list, the Bateaux Mouches dinner cruise, states boarding from 7:30 PM and a departure at 8:30 PM, which gives a sense of the range, though not of this boat.
- Check-in: closes 15 minutes before departure.
- Vegetarian menu: offered if you ask.
- Special requests: birthday cakes and similar are not included.
- Pickup: there is no hotel pickup.
What is on board and what is included?
The menu tier decides your seat, your aperitif and the number of courses, and extra drinks cost more.
| Tier | Seat | Aperitif | Courses | Wine per 4 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | Front of the boat | Champagne | Starter, main, cheese, dessert | One red and one white |
| Privilège | By the windows | Champagne | Starter, main, cheese, dessert | One red and one white |
| Découverte | Panoramic view | Champagne | Starter, main, dessert | One bottle, red or white |
| Étoile | Centre of the boat | Kir (white wine) | Starter, main, dessert | One bottle, red or white |
The cheaper tiers drop the cheese course and one bottle of wine, and they trade a window or front seat for the middle of the boat. The includes list also mentions appetizers with the aperitif, depending on the option selected, but it does not describe them.
- Dress code: smart casual. The listing bars shorts, sportswear and sports shoes.
- Extra drinks: not included.
- Pets: not allowed, though assistance dogs are welcome.
- Language: the listing gives English only.
How does the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise compare with other Paris dinner cruises?
It is the best rated of the three dinner cruises on my list, at 4.7, and it costs about the same as the Bateaux Mouches meal.
| Tour | Price | Length | Rating (reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise (this page) | $129 | 2.5 h | 4.7 (8,948) |
| Bateaux Mouches dinner cruise | $128 | 2.5 h | 4.5 (4,745) |
| Paris en Scène panoramic dinner cruise | $73 | 105 min | 4.3 (12,381) |
| Vedettes de Paris evening cruise (no meal) | $28 | 1 h | 4.4 (26,102) |
The Paris en Scène boat is $56 cheaper and 105 minutes long, but it boards at Port de Javel Haut, not at the Eiffel Tower. If an Eiffel Tower start matters, only this cruise leaves from its foot, while the Bateaux Mouches boat boards at Pont de l'Alma.
Is the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise worth it compared with other Paris dinner cruises?
For an anniversary or a first-night treat, I'd book it, because a 4.7 rating from 8,948 reviews is the strongest evidence among the big Paris cruises, but for sightseeing alone it is poor value.
At $52 per hour it costs more than the $36 median in my set. The sub-scores are Guide 4.7, Transportation 4.8 and Value for money 4.5, so even the weakest score is high.
- Book this cruise if: you want a seated meal, a live singer and the monuments lit through the glass.
- Choose another boat if: you only want the view; the one-hour cruise costs $20.
The Paris Seine boat tours page lists every river option.
When is the best time to go?
The best time to book this dinner is autumn to spring, when the sun sets early enough for the meal to take place under the lights.
| Month | Avg high 2025 | Rain days | Sunset | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7.0 °C | 17 | 5:23 PM | Cold and wet; stay on the glassed lower deck |
| Feb | 8.1 °C | 8 | 6:12 PM | Cold; gloves for the upper deck |
| Mar | 13.4 °C | 7 | 6:56 PM | Mild days, cool evenings |
| Apr | 19.1 °C | 7 | 8:43 PM | Warm afternoons; evening sailings still cool |
| May | 21.3 °C | 9 | 9:27 PM | Pleasant; long evenings |
| Jun | 26.9 °C | 10 | 9:57 PM | Warmest light; sunset near 10 PM |
| Jul | 25.3 °C | 15 | 9:51 PM | Showers are common; sunset after 9:50 PM |
| Aug | 26.4 °C | 6 | 9:08 PM | Driest summer month; sunset after 9 PM |
| Sep | 20.1 °C | 11 | 8:05 PM | Mild; golden hour near 8 PM |
| Oct | 16.0 °C | 10 | 7:03 PM | Cooler; a covered saloon helps |
| Nov | 11.4 °C | 12 | 5:12 PM | Dark by 5:15 PM; lights show from the first sailing |
| Dec | 9.1 °C | 8 | 4:56 PM | Shortest days; sunset at 4:56 PM |
A glass-sided boat takes the weather out of the decision. Paris logged 17 rain days in January 2025 and 12 in November, and the dining saloon stays dry and warm. In June the sun sets at 9:57 PM, so an early slot starts in daylight.
The next French public holidays are All Saints' Day on 1 November, Armistice Day on 11 November and Christmas Day on 25 December, according to the Nager.Date API. HAROPA PORT, the port authority, manages the central quays for passenger boats and events, so expect a busy river on weekends.
What do passengers say?
The eight text reviews in my sample are all five stars, so they show strengths but hide complaints, and GetYourGuide's AI summary supplies the criticism.
- Food: eight reviewers praise the meal.
- Service: six reviewers praise friendly, attentive staff.
- Music: two reviewers mention the singer or the music.
- First night in Paris: two reviewers booked it as an orientation evening.
- Outdoor deck: one reviewer only realised after the meal that you can step outside.
- Complaint pattern: the summary says service can be slow or uneven and asks for quicker course timing and drink refills.
The deck tip is useful. Ask a server when you sit down, so you do not miss the Eiffel Tower view from the stern.
Who should skip the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise?
Skip it if you want a cheap sightseeing hour, a casual outfit or a menu that adapts to many diets.
- Budget sightseers: take the one-hour daytime cruise for $20.
- Travellers in shorts or trainers: the listing refuses them.
- Non-English speakers: the listing gives English only; the Vedettes evening cruise offers a multilingual app.
- Visitors who need a precise start time: the listing publishes none.
For other evenings out, see the Paris boat tours list.
How do you book the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise?
The Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise costs from $129 per person with free cancellation up to 24 hours before; choose your tier and evening on the booking page.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
- Open the booking page and pick your date.
- Choose a tier: Premier, Privilège, Découverte or Étoile.
- Add a vegetarian request if you need one.
- Check in at pontoon 5 or 7 at least 30 minutes early, in smart casual clothes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best boat tour in Paris?
For a special evening, I'd pick this dinner cruise, which has the highest rating among Paris cruises with 5,000+ reviews, at 4.7. For the lowest price, a one-hour daytime boat costs $20.
How much does a river cruise cost in Paris?
This dinner cruise starts at $129 per person on GetYourGuide, checked on 2026-10-17. One-hour daytime cruises start at $20.
Are river cruises worth it in Paris?
Yes, for first-time visitors, because the main monuments line the river. A dinner cruise adds a meal, so it suits a celebration more than pure sightseeing.
Which river cruise is best for first timers?
If it is your first night, this cruise doubles as orientation, as two reviewers said. Otherwise, a one-hour daytime boat is cheaper.
Which is better, Bateaux Parisiens or Bateaux-Mouches for dinner?
On the listings, Bateaux Parisiens costs $129 with a 4.7 rating from 8,948 reviews, and Bateaux Mouches costs $128 with 4.5 from 4,745. The first leaves near the Eiffel Tower and the second from Pont de l'Alma.
What is the dress code on the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise?
Smart casual. The listing says shorts, sportswear and sports shoes are not allowed.
How long is the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise?
It lasts 2.5 hours.
What time does the dinner cruise leave?
The listing does not state a departure time. Check the slot on the booking calendar and the time on your voucher.
What is included in the dinner cruise?
The sail, a 3 or 4-course meal by tier, an aperitif, wine for the table, a live singer and souvenir photos. Extra drinks are not included.
Is there a vegetarian option?
Yes, on request, according to the listing.
Where does the dinner cruise board?
On the Port de la Bourdonnais quay under the Eiffel Tower, at pontoon 5 or 7. The check-in desk closes a quarter of an hour before sailing.
Can I cancel the dinner cruise?
Yes, up to 24 hours before for a full refund, according to the listing.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing (rating, price, menu tiers, dress code, checked 2026-10-17); UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Paris, Banks of the Seine; HAROPA PORT, Paris ports; Open-Meteo archive API (weather 2025); sunrise-sunset.org API (sunset times); Frankfurter API (USD/EUR rate of 2026-10-16); Nager.Date (French public holidays); OSRM foot routing on OpenStreetMap data (walking times). The operator's website blocked automated reading, so no departure time or menu price is quoted from it.
