I plan to holiday in Paris with my two children summer 2010 and would like to include a guided boat tour along the Seine, through the Canal Saint Martin to Park De La Villette. I have found two boat cruise companies which do this trip; namely Canauxrama and Paris Canal. Rick Steves mentions the first one in his Paris 2009 guide, but not the latter company. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has travelled on either or both of these companies cruises and could therefore make a comparative recommendation. Many thanks, Bruce Boldner.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
The Paris Canal tour is pretty basic but fun. The pilot narrates in French and English with plenty of groaner jokes. But the carpet is worn, the paint a little tired and there are few amenities. So maybe that's why Rick likes Canauxrama. But we enjoyed the Paris Canal tour just fine.
I don't remember Canauxrama doing cruises along the Seine and into the Canal St. Martin though. I think they start in the Canal from near the Bastille. Paris Canal goes from the Musee d'Orsay up the Seine and then into the Canal and to the Parc Villette.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
The Paris Canal trip is perfectly OK and the guide, who has been doing this for at least 25 years, is either English or American (I forget which) and plays his trumpet from time to time during the journey. As someone said, a bit corny but endearing.
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
I took the Paris Canal cruise a couple years ago and loved it. True is it pretty basic and funky, but that was the charm of it. I think kids would especially like it. But I am way older and liked it also. Sometimes a big, plush cruise boat isn't appropriate. This is one of those time.