Paris night cruises

If you want smaller boats that don't give you the sense of being in a herd of cattle, you can't beat Bateaux Vedettes du Pont-Neuf.

Joyce, both the Bateau Mouches (docks at Pt. Alma) and the Bateau Parisens (docks by Eiffel Tower) are in your "neighborhood". One of my favorite things to do in Paris. Check with the hotel re possible complimentary or reduced fare tickets with your RS book. Enjoy your trip!

You can go to Gray Line Tours.com and see the tours that they subcontract out in Paris. We did their Seine River cruise and totally enjoyed it.

We had a truely magical night on our last night in Paris. We went to the top of the Eiffle Tower, getting in line around 6ish. It was along line, but we went up in daylight, we were at mid level in the daylight, by the time we got all the way to the top it was dark, and we got to see the city lit up, we had the best of both worlds. We went down and had a picnic next to the Eiffle Tower, we had brought cheese and fruit and breads and pasteries and a blanket to sit on, we were able to enjoy the light show, then we took the last boat available up the Seine, I think it left at about 10:30pm. I had tears running down my cheeks, feeling so lucky to have just shared such a lovely evening with both of my kids, ages 24 and 21. We checked the boat schedule before we got in line for the Eiffle Tower, it was a perfect way to do it all!

My only suggestion is stay away from the Bateau Mouches unless you like huge crowds of tour bus folks crammed onto big boats. I prefer the Vedette du Pont Neuf boats.

I'm hijacking this thread for one quick question for Holly &/or Tim. The Vedettes du Pont Neuf website shows their boats and they all look like they are enclosed. Do they have open upper decks? I'm also interested in a night cruise but don't want to be inside or where I can't see all around me. Thanks

Actually you don't have to book online to be able to print out the 2 euro credit coupon. But booking ahead in some way (online, phone, at the site) is always recommended.

There is open seating on the top deck of the boats. To be sure of getting a seat, it would be wise to arrive about half an hour before the scheduled departure time. If you book online, you can get a discount fare.

In August, their hours are extended, but the "Bato-Bus" was a fun way to see Paris from the water for cheap! We also used them as a form of Taxi to get from the Eiffel Tower back to our apartment at Notre Dame. Find their website here: http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm

Is the Bateaux Mouches boat tour 1/2 off or free with a Eurail pass?