Canal Saint Martin

If you like watching paint dry this is the experience for you. I found it excruciating. I think this is an interesting area and we often enjoy joining friends for Apero in warm weather along the canal -- many cafes will provide bar service to picnic tables along the canal. And it is an interesting area to stroll.

BUT the boat is so slow and once you have gone through the locks once, you have gone through the locks. (this is fun to watch from the banks or the bridges too. Doing it over and over has less charm.

I think it would be ideal for someone who was mobility impaired and wanted to see a part of Paris they would otherwise not see while sitting down. And you know what you personally enjoy -- but I thought it was supremely boring.

I did this on arrival and it was great for a jet lagged person. Outside but without too much physical demands. I found it interesting.

I did it last year and found it fascinating. You go through tunnels and locks and see all the lovely neighborhoods along the canal. Highly recommend.

I'd only do the Canal St. Martin cruise if I had done everything else there was to do in Paris or if I wanted to just pass time. It's boring and cold. If you do it, bring a sweater or lightweight jacket. I've done it more than once and each time was more boring than the last. You would think that I would learn my lesson from the first time in July 2011 but since then I have been Paris with different (very stubborn) people who read about this cruise somewhere and really want to do it and I let myself be persuaded to give it another go. I am very impressed that a jet lagged person did not fall asleep.

I'm guessing the jet lagged person remembers it fondly because they actually did sleep through it and found it restful and don't remember that middle boring part they slept through. This is all a good example of YMMV. and To each his own and of course Chacon son gout

Mary,
I tape-recorded my canal tour experience back in '88. It was OK, but I would not return to do it again.
Can recall feeling underwhelmed and just wanting to just get off at one of the waterfront docking areas.

I am done. The echoes and the waters