Hello everyone,
We are planning to book a Seine River cruise with Vedettes du Pont Neuf and are trying to decide between two evening departure options.
Our original choice was the 9:45 PM Champagne “sunset” cruise, since it seems like the perfect timing to catch the transition from daylight into sunset and early evening lights. However, it looks like this is by far the most popular departure and is already close to selling out on several days. From videos and photos, the boats at that time also appear quite crowded (which is totally understandable given the timing and price).
As a backup, we are considering the 10:45 PM standard cruise, which would be fully after dark, so we will still see Paris illuminated at night, just not during sunset.
A few questions for those who have taken either option:
- Is the 10:45 PM cruise typically any less crowded than the 9:45 PM departure? Or are they both generally full in peak season?
- If crowd levels are about the same, it seems like we might as well try harder to secure the 9:45 PM. Would you agree?
- Are there any downsides to the later 10:45 PM departure (e.g., atmosphere, safety, etc.)?
- Would you recommend considering an early morning cruise instead, or is evening really the best experience?
We are happy with either sunset or night views. Just trying to make the most of the experience!
Thank you.