5 Best Seine Dinner Cruises in Paris in 2024 (Personally Tested)

Detailed Breakdown

Quick Overview

• 3 or 4 Courses
• Free Bottle of Wine
• Free Bottle of Water
• Free Coffee or Tea
• Live Piano & Violin Duet
• Excellent Gourmet Food
• Great Ambiance
• Open-Air Rooftop Deck

The Ship 🚢

• The ship is flawless in every aspect - huge (500-person capacity), elegant, luxurious, spacious, and high-end. I felt excited on this cruise, which is a big thing after trying out four other dinner cruises.
• Note that Bateaux Mouches has 5 dinner cruise boats in its fleet, so you might get a slightly different ship than I did.

• The ship features large windows that offer magnificent views of the Parisian cityscape.

• The interior is tastefully decorated and has a lot of space.

Rooftop Deck

• The ship has a massive rooftop terrace where you can ascend any time you want to enjoy the view and snap some photos.

Vibe ✨

• Sophisticated, romantic, and high-end — they nailed the perfect energy and feel of the evening.

Live Music 🎵

• There is a live piano and violin duo playing on the boat, which adds to the "Romantic Parisian dinner on the Seine" ambiance without being overwhelming, like on Le Diamant Bleu.

Staff & Service 🧑

• The staff is unusually friendly and chatty, not to mention fast, making you feel like a cherished guest. This is rare in Europe, like a white raven, so when you experience it, it leaves a lasting impression.

Food and Drinks 🍴 🍷

• The freshly made food was delicious and wasn't just gourmet in name but in reality.
• You get 3 or 4 courses depending on your ticket (nibbles, starter, main course, and dessert and/or cheese).
• The ticket includes a generous amount of drinks - a 1L bottle of water (per 2 people), a bottle of wine (per 2 people), and a glass of champagne on the Prestige ticket.
• You get an extra bottle of champagne and a welcome drink on the Excellence ticket.

Tickets & Prices 🎟️

• There are two ticket tiers: Prestige and Excellence.
• Prestige tier (115€): 3 courses, gourmet food and drinks.
• Excellence tier (155€): 4 courses, better quality food, and more/better drinks.
• The price is middle-of-the-road in the dinner cruise category, and you get the most bang for your buck out of all the cruises I tested.

Seating 🪑

• Seat reservations are not available. In other words, seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
• If the ship is not at full capacity, all passengers will receive a window seat (subject to availability).

Dinner Cruise Menu 🍽️

Prestige Menu (115€ Ticket)

💡 Bateaux Mouches has two different menus depending on the ticket tier. The more expensive "Excellence" menu includes an extra cheese course, higher quality dishes, and extra drinks. The menu is subject to change.

Welcome Drink:

• Glass of Castel Mouche (12.5 cl) or Crodino Virgin Spritz (non-alcoholic)

Nibbles

💡 Special diets: Bateaux Mouches offers a vegetarian option that can be made vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, egg-free, and nut-free. You can inform them of your requirements when booking.

Starter(s)

• Prawn tartare with sesame sauce, cucumbers, mesclun, and pineapple
• Smoked beef carpaccio, cream of gorgonzola, lamb's lettuce, argan oil
• Beet hummus, raw vegetables, crunchy vegetables, citrusy tofu

Main(s)

• Canon of lamb, herb crust, vegetable millefeuille, fondant berry sauce
• Fillet of veal, beetroot and bigarade mousse, crunchy vegetables
• Fillet of sea bream, sweet potato with parmesan, chickpeas falafels, pepper ratatouille, basil jus

Cheese or Dessert(s)

• Assorted seasonal PDO Cheeses
• Chocolate and raspberry delight
• Lemon millefeuille and praline creme
• Chou pastry profiterole

Drinks

• Mouton Cadet (white wine) or Bordeaux Agneau (red wine) 1 bottle per 2 persons or 1 soft drink (25/33 cl) for 1 person

• 1 bottle of Evian water (1L) for 2 persons
• Tea or coffee

Children’s Menu

• Sweet potato soup
• Supreme of chicken, potatoes in all their forms
• Royal chocolate with praline
• Soft drink

Excellence Menu (155€ Ticket)

Aperitif

• Glass of Champagne (12.5 cl) or Crodino Virgin Spritz
• Amuse-Bouches

Starter(s)

• Whole duck foie gras, mango and Espelette pepper chutney
• Heart of semi-smoked salmon in a Nori crust, creamy horseradish and pickles
• Snail fricassee with mushrooms
• Butternut squash soup with hazelnuts and a perfect organic soft-boiled egg *

Main(s)

• Châteaubriand steak with morels, Élysée potatoes
• Supreme of chicken with truffle
• Back of line-caught cod, duo of carrots, vegetable sauce vierge
• Roasted leek with baby vegetables, cream of carrot soup with cumin *

Cheese

• Comté aged 24 months, quince jelly

Dessert(s)

• Chocolate tartlet, praline crisp
• Verbena and stewed lemon dessert
• Coffee cream in a chocolate shell, vanilla mascarpone
• Meringue cloud, pear and tonka bean sorbet

Drinks

• Champagne Moët & Chandon
• AOP Crozes Hermitage, Chablis La Sereine, or La Chablisienne (1/2 bottle per person) or 1 soft drink (25/33 cl) for 1 person
• A bottle of Evian water (1L) for 2 people
• Tea or coffee

Children’s Menu

• Sweet potato soup
• Supreme of chicken, potatoes in all their forms
• Royal chocolate with praline
• Soft drink

Detailed Breakdown

Quick Overview

• 3 Courses Dinner
• Alcohol Not Included
• Free Bottle of Water
• Free Coffee or Tea
• Exceptional Singer & Music
• Good, but Not Mind-Blowing Food
• Great Ambiance
• No Open-Air Section

The Ship 🚢

• Modern and elegant interior fitting the smart casual-elegant Parisian dinner cruise vibe.
• Medium-sized and on par with our two top cruises look-and-feel-wise.
  

Vibe ✨

• An experience straight out of the movies — elegant, cultured, and giving off high society vibes. Quintessential French background music sets the mood, punctuated by live performances.

Views 🔭

• The situation isn't rosy in this area. The otherwise great big windows were prone to fogging up, and there was no open-air area or rooftop deck available, which made taking a great selfie or photo of the Eiffel Tower impossible.

Live Music 🎵

• Their female singer was a shining diamond. She had an outstanding stage presence, charisma, and voice. She frequently delivered classics such as Besame Mucho and other romantic Parisian vibes-inducing music.
• She often included the audience in her acts. In between her performances, tasteful French background music was playing. They nailed this live music and vibe aspect the best of all cruises, I got to give it to them.

Staff & Service 🧑

• The service was polite and helpful but could have been warmer and friendlier. They were helpful in answering my menu questions. 
• They took my order quite late, which was the norm with most cruises except Bateaux Mouches.

Food and Drinks 🍴 🍷

• For starters, I chose foie gras. It was impeccably prepared, but it was a strange mix with a sweet pastry, and I wasn't a big fan. But I had to try it.
• The main course was a bass fillet, which I found tasty but anything to write home about.
• Finally, I had flan for dessert. I found this to be incredible. The French are truly masters of desserts - it's always mind-blowingly good.
• A la carte menu for drinks: glasses range from 8-15 euros and bottles can go up to 40 euros.
  

Tickets & Prices 🎟️

• The basic ticket (100€) doesn't quite pack much value - 3 courses, tea or coffee, but no drinks. I had to order a bottle of water and cocktail separately for 6 and 12 euros.
• Their highest tier ticket (155€) ticket includes a bottle of champagne per 2 people, but it doesn't come close to what the latter two companies offer in value for the same price.

Seating 🪑

• There were two-person tables with window views available.
• Groups were seated in the center at larger tables and near the windows in the back of the ship.
• Tickets with guaranteed window seats are available.

Dinner Cruise Menu 📋

💡 Paris City Vision menu is available in different languages on GetYourGuide et al. Access it by switching the Getyourguide language switcher to your desired language. The menu is subject to change. Note: The food is freshly made in the ship's kitchen.

Starter:

• Mozzarella di Buffala, tartar, focaccia with Italian flavours
• Lightly cooked foie gras, red fruit financier with honey from our beehives
• Gazpacho prima verde with tomato brunoise (vegetarian)

Main course:

💡 Special diets: Paris City Vision caters to guests with special diet requirements. You can inform them of your requirements when booking.

• Bass fillet, creamy risotto with green asparagus, squid ink tuile
• Yellow poultry fillet, courgette flan, feta cheese, thyme sauce
• Grilled beef, potato soufflé, yellow carrot mousseline (+9€)
• Casserole of sunny vegetables with Provençal herbs (vegetarian)

Dessert:

• Crème brulee tart, caramel sauce
• Our Eiffel Tower all chocolate, red fruit nectar
• Strawberry soup, pistachio crumble (vegetarian)

Cheese:

• Cheese platter (for 8€ extra)

Drinks:

• Coffee or black/green tea included
• "A la carte" drinks, cocktails, wines, beers, soft drinks available for purchase (8-15€)

Children's menu:

• Starter: Salmon mille-feuille with leek compote
• Main Course: Suprême of poultry, mashed potatoes
• Dessert: Chocolate finger cake‍

Detailed Breakdown

Quick Overview

• 3-Course Dinner
• Budget Friendly
• Free Bottle of Water
• Alcohol Not Included
• Panoramic Seating
• Excellent Views
• Loudspeaker Music (Contemporary/Generic)
• High Quality and Tasty Food

The Ship 🚢

• Spacious, cozy and large, although it may not be as elegant as previous options on our list. Also features a rooftop deck.

Rooftop Deck

• During the cruise, you can access to a top-notch rooftop deck with stunning views.

Panoramic Views 🔭

• The views are the strongest feature of this cruise. You can enjoy a delicious dinner while facing the windows and enjoying the stunning scenery.
• There is a small open-air terrace available at the front of the ship, as well as an entire rooftop deck at your disposal.

Vibe ✨

• Although not as high-end as our top 3 contenders, the boat offers a decent atmosphere for a busy dinner night with seats oriented to the sides, providing splendid views.

Music 🎵

• There's generic background music playing in the background. The guests usually crowded it out.

Staff & Service 🧑

• Like on most dinner cruises, the service was so-so.
• The staff were polite and helpful, but they were not very warm or friendly. It took them quite some time to take my order, and the waiting time for my food was long. The food is catered and not prepared fresh on board.

Food and Drinks 🍴 🍷

• The pumpkin soup was delicious. The guinea fowl was bland, but the portion was good. The same goes for the fish fillet option, so the main courses aren't award winners. Finally, the mousse (dessert) was delicious.
• Alcoholic drinks are between 8-15 euros (bottles are up to 40€).

Tickets & Prices 🎟️

• For 59€, you can enjoy a 3-course meal including soup, main course, and dessert alongside a bottle of water.
• ‍Alcoholic drinks are available to order separately. The price is reasonable for the quality of the food and service.
• Only one ticket tier is available, but you can choose between two starting times: 7:15 pm and 9:45 pm.

Seating 🪑

• On this ship, there are pairs of comfortable tub chairs with foldable mini tables attached. These chairs face the windows, providing a panoramic view. For groups of four, regular tables with standard orientation are available in the center and front.

Dinner Cruise Menu 🍽️‍‍

Appetizer

• Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Hazelnut Pieces and Parsley Oil

Main

• Guinea Fowl with Cider Cream, Spelt and Apples, Dill Oil
• Sebastes Bream Fillet with Artichoke Barigoule, Fennel with Aioli Sauce and Flat-leaf Parsley

Dessert

• Harlequin Chocolate Mousse with Sweet Almond Cream
• Stewed Plums with Rosemary Creamy and with Cottage Cheese

Plant-Based Menu

Available on reservation only. Suitable for those who do not eat meat, fish, or animal products.

• Pumpkin Cream Soup with Hazelnut Pieces and Parsley Oil
• Vegetable Lasagna with Coconut Milk
• Stewed Plums with Rosemary

Detailed Breakdown

Quick Overview

• 3 Course Dinner
• Free Bottle of Water (Alcohol No Included)
• Live Music (Low Energy/Gloomy/Contemporary)
• Great Gourmet Food
• Low Energy Ambiance
• Open-Air Rooftop Deck

The Ship 🚢

• It was massive, wide, and spacious, with great lighting and audio technology.
• The windows are tall and wide and offer splendid views. However, the decor, including the chairs, tables, and tablecloths, felt cheap and low-quality, giving a faux luxurious feel. It was not up to the standard of the elegant high-end decor of most other dinner cruises.

Rooftop Deck

• The ship also had a flawless open-air rooftop deck. In theory, they only allowed you to go up once you had finished your main course. In practice, people did sneak up. They said they don't want you to complain if the food goes cold. I found this patronizing as if adults couldn't decide whether to go up or not and return in time for their meal. 

Vibe ✨

• Even though the ship looks amazing in the pictures, the vibe was a bit dull. The meals arrived too slowly, the music wasn't uplifting, and the atmosphere lacked energy. All in all, the night ended with a dud instead of a blaze of glory.

Live Music 🎵

• Our singer was a talented guitarist, but his vocals were too loud and did not fit the vibe. The tunes were gloomy, which didn't give off the quintessential romantic French vibe that many people were expecting. The low energy of the cruise wasn't solely due to the music, but the singer didn't quite hit the mark, and the night wasn't memorable as a result.

Staff & Service 🧑

• Upon my arrival, I wasn't greeted with a particularly warm welcome. It was awkward as I had to wait until someone finally acknowledged me and led me to my table. However, despite the shaky start, my waiter was above and beyond attentive and friendly.

Food and Drinks 🍴 🍷

• The guests didn't get any nibbles, which would have been nice since the service was a bit slow, and we had to wait a long time for our otherwise freshly prepared food to arrive. The starter scallops, which were combined with pomegranate, had a strange taste. Although it was acceptable, it wasn't a crowd-pleaser. I recommend choosing the soup instead.
• I enjoyed the main course of veal, which was impeccably prepared, delicious, and served in a decent portion size.
• The dessert was amazing and truly stood out. As I always say, the French are experts in dessert-making.

Tickets & Prices 🎟️

• There are 2 ticket tiers, and both are available with guaranteed window seating ("VIP").
  

• Although their pricing is in the low-to-middle range (89-144€), the cheaper ticket only includes three courses and a bottle of water.
• The higher-priced ticket includes alcoholic drinks (one bottle of champagne per two people), which makes them okay but still not great value for money compared to other cruises.

Seating 🪑

• The dinner event took place in a vast and continuous main area, which had around a hundred tables arranged in four long rows.
• There was a gap in the center where a live singer performed, and some tables were located in the VIP area at the front of the ship. Two of the four rows were adjacent to the windows, while the rest were in the center.
• Guaranteed window seats are available.

Issues

• Meeting point in dodgy area: The cruise is far from the Eiffel Tower, which may be fine depending on where you're staying. However, before I arrived, I had to pass through a very sketchy area along the Seine River. Passing by dozens of homeless people in tents and areas with minimal lighting left a bad impression on me.
• Wobbly tables: My small two-person table was wobbly. Most two-person tables may have this issue. The window tables appeared to be more stable.

Dinner Cruise Menu 🍽️‍‍

Starter(s)

💡 Special diets: Le Diamant Bleu caters to guests with special diet requirements. You can inform them of your requirements when booking.

💡 Mismatch between menu vs. photos: Like on all cruises, the menu is subject to change. The menu below is what I found online, but I had a different menu on the boat,ests with special diet requirements. You can inform them of your requirem which I unfortunately didn't photograph.

• Pumpkin soup with hazelnuts, forest mix and ceps, tortellini, bread tuile, chestnut shavings
• Egg parfait and its vegetable garden with artichoke puree, carrots, radishes, chioggia beetroot, truffle carpaccio

Main(s)

• Candied lamb shoulder with caramelized onions, baby carrots, and roasted baby beans, oriental flavour, spicy juice
• Fillet of cod with fennel sauce, lightly spiced pepper coulis, herb salad with basil, bergamot, sumac, and mashed potatoes

Dessert(s)

• Chocolate tart with a warm flowing heart
• Italian-style Chiboust