Seine River Dinner Cruises - suggestions?

I agree with TC, and wouldn't recommend a dinner cruise, but rather dinner THEN a cruise. Vedettes de Pont Neuf is our preferred cruise company as well.

Not the answer you seek but we did this https://www.bustronome.com/en/paris/ and it was marvelous! Great food and service, fabulous experience.

I agree that you should just take the cruise. That way you can move around and put your self in position to see whatever spectacular site that strikes your fancy. We did just that and it was memorable. Find a cafe or restaurant that appeals to you and you can enjoy another Paris experience, that of fine dining while being able to people watch at the same time. Enjoy, Hank, Novato ca.

Thank you BUT I ONLY want to hear from someone who HAS done the DINNER CRUISE. Why is that so hard to understand???? PLEASE. Our son & daughter-in-law went on one and they enjoyed it thoroughly.

Is there some reason you don't want to go on the one your son and daughter-in-law went on? Or did they go on one not in Paris but somewhere else?

Here is one thread from a few months ago that discusses this question and may have some information for you.

I have been on dinner cruises in other places but never in Paris.

Bateau La Calife..best reviews for the buck.. and the ONLY dinner cruise that actually COOKS the food onboard and not reheats mass produced food . ..most of the others are huge mass market cruises.. La Calife is smaller and more unique.. I have not done it but have friends who have and they loved it.. look it up. It is absolutely the one I would choose .

Ps this isn’t really posted in correct section to get most answers - you’ve posted it under French reviews - I’d post it in the France forum .

THANK YOU!! MERCI!! I really appreciate your replies. ❤️ My son can’t remember the name of the one they went on. I am hoping my daughter-in-law will. Lol AND thanks for redirecting my query to the correct forum. Au revoir. :-)

The only time I've done the dinner cruise was a team event for work, where we rented the entire boat for a private party. Can't recall the specific company that runs it, but the boat left from a dock in front of Musée d'Orsay. It was fun, mostly because it was an adventure shared with co-workers after a long day of meetings. But the food wasn't terribly memorable, the wine ran out early, and it was pretty tight quarters. "Relaxing" or "romantic" aren't the first words I'd use to describe the overall experience, even on a boat completely filled with people I knew.

Everyone's different, so you'll need to decide what you like best, but if a subtext of your question is "would I do it again", the answer would be "no".

BTW, whether you do the dinner cruise or not, the Vedettes du Pont Neuf allows you to bring on your own refreshments. So if a self-serve after-dinner drink is something you'd enjoy, and the bar closes early on your dinner cruise, catching the last Vedettes du Pont Neuf cruise of the evening and sitting on the top deck in the fresh air with an unobstructed view and the libation of your choice isn't a bad way to end the day! : )

I agree with Pat, La Calife is very good. We have taken it twice and enjoyed it both times. Will do it again when in Paris. The food is good and just an enjoyable relaxing trip on the river. It is small so book early if you want to go. Enjoy.

The chef Alain Ducasse has a restaurant that cruises the Seine: Ducasse sur Seine. An electric péniche, so very smooth and quiet. There is a cocktail area as well as dining room.

Two of my French colleagues who live in Paris went two weeks ago, and were so pleased. The on board chef and team prepare everything to order, to the Ducasse standard. Not inexpensive, but perhaps could be a special moment in your vacation.

Thank you Rosemary and Barbara. I appreciate your helpful replies. We have booked our dinner cruise and are looking forward to the experience. :-)

Thank you gwalsh for this topic. I’ve never done a dinner cruise in Paris, but now we will (for my birthday) when we’re there this Fall based on this thread and reading reviews on TripAdvisor re: Calife.

Checked the Ducasse sur Seine cruise, looks good but price for dinner is €150 to €290, so that’s out. Calife is €67 or €108, more reasonable for us.
Should be a fun experience!