Bateaux Parisians dinner cruise?

Posted by Bill (Pittsburgh, PA, United States) on 03/01/16 06:00 PM

A lovely day to you! I'm taking my girlfriend to Paris for her birthday in May, and I'm looking for a good and somewhat unique dinner experience for her. The Bateaux Parisians dinner cruise has caught my eye.

My question is about the food. Is it decent? I certainly don't expect gourmet, but I'm hoping for something better than the rubber chickens you get aboard most dinner cruises here in the states. If we do this, I'd certainly take an upgraded service to get the window table.

Are there other options I should consider? Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Bill Nelson, Pittsburgh

Posted by John

CA, USA

03/01/16 08:24 PM

1102 posts

I have heard plenty of people rave about dinners they've had in Paris. Not one of them has said it was aboard a dinner cruise. If I was in your shoes I'd get a nice dinner and then enjoy the view of Paris from the boat as they light up the buildings along the river with their searchlights. Or if its just the unusual dinner you're looking for, and money isn't an object, then the Jules Verne restaurant on the Eiffel Tower would be a memorable and unique experience.

Posted by Harold

New York, NY, USA

03/01/16 08:40 PM

11294 posts

There are various grades of Paris dinner cruises, with prices to match. Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux Mouches prepare the food on land and reheat it on board. Calife prepares the food on board. And Yachts of Paris promises a very deluxe experience all around - as it should for €205 per person.

The standard way of thinking is that for the same money as a dinner cruise, you can get a nice Seine cruise and a nice dinner on land, and the total experience will be better. However, plenty of people seem to enjoy their dinner cruises too.

Here's an earlier thread discussing Paris dinner cruises: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/seine-dinner-cruise-dc22bdbb-209a-4e9d-ad14-75ed3893bdde

Posted by pat

victoria, Canada

03/02/16 07:55 AM

11507 posts

I agree with the recommendation for Calife.. one of the only boats that actually prepares food onboard.. and I like the smaller more intimate look of the boat. I haven't taken it yet.. but friends have and loved it. .

Posted by Zoe

Toledo, Ohio, US

03/02/16 01:34 PM

11613 posts

Perhaps I can't multitask, but I would feel like I was missing something by paying attention to either dinner or the scenery at any given moment.

You could have a nice dinner on land, take a boat cruise and have a glass of wine aboard the boat.

Posted by Rosemary

Lakewood, CO

03/02/16 11:03 PM

248 posts

I agree with Pat's recommendation of the Calife dinner cruise. We really enjoyed it and the food was excellent. We have been to Paris a number of times and this dinner cruise is still one of our favorite experiences. Happy Birthday to your girlfriend.

Posted by G.K.

Big D

03/04/16 05:34 AM

10 posts

I have to say that for "good and unique" I would wholeheartedly recommend the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise. For my money, the 830 pm window seat is the best bet. I have done it before with my wife and another couple, and I have reserved the same cruise for my daughter's 15th birthday this June. The food was more than acceptable, and our wives still talk about it.

Are there better meals in Paris? Of course. But I wager that your girlfriend will remember this meal forever, and I suspect that's what your looking for.