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As a first-time visitor to the City of Love, a Seine River Cruise is a great way to get an overview of key historical locations along the Seine River. On our recent family trip to Paris, we took a boat tour along the Seine River with an excursion provider named Vedettes De Paris. In this post, I want to share my photos and everything you need to know about booking your own Seine River Cruise Paris, France.
Vedettes De Paris has several different cruise options. Seven days a week, there are regularly scheduled cruises that embark throughout the day, giving you flexibility during your vacation planning.
We had a fantastic time getting off-pavement and going on this hour-long adventure. As you follow the beautiful Seine River, you’ll wind through the fascinating history and renowned attractions of one of the world’s most charming cities.
Vedettes Seine River Cruise – Paris, France
In short, Paris sightseeing cruises all take you on essentially the same one-hour path along the river. Customers can add perks to their cruise, like a glass of champagne, snacks, or music, for an upcharge when booking.
We took their Evening River Cruise with Music, meaning there was no audio guide. The music was pre-recorded traditional French music rather than a live performer, which we had anticipated.
They also offer daytime Seine River cruises with added food or drink options and a Paris river cruise geared toward families. So, it’s worth looking at all of the different options to make sure that you see all of the time slots that are available.
Vedettes De Paris Ticket Prices
As of 2023, tickets start at €20 for adults (12+), €9 for kids (4-11), and free for children under 4.
You can book your Seine River Cruises via GetYourGuide. This is one of our favorite ways to find fun things to do in the various cities we travel to! When booking through them, tickets are almost always refundable up to 24 hours out, in case your plans change.
Vedettes De Paris: Port, Amenities, and Restaurant
The Vedettes De Paris river cruises all start at Port de Suffren. Port de Suffren is located just west of the iconic Eiffel Tower. The entire area is a busy tourist destination bisected by the Seine River, with the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars to the east and Trocadéro Square to the west.
You can begin your day exploring the Eiffel Tower before descending to the docks. The spectacular view of the “Iron Lady” rising in its full grandeur against the Parisian sky is a sight to behold and on every Paris traveler’s bucket list!
Booking.comPort de Suffren: The Seine River Cruise Paris Starting Point
At Port de Suffren, Vedettes De Paris has a quaint little walk-up food court offering appetizers and drinks, including beer, wine, and spirits. It’s less crowded than the street-level area just above, near the Eiffel Tower. It offers a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle all around. This food court is next to the Vedettes ticketing booths and mooring for the river boats. When you book cruises with food options, this is where you get the food beforehand.
Here, you can walk along the Seine, and if you’re lucky, you may also find available seating at one of the charming, permanently-docked restaurant boats lining the river. We had drinks aboard one of these one evening. It was so fun (and romantic) to sit on the Seine River, watching the sunset while sipping a favorite French red or white wine.
The Vedettes De Paris’s home base at Port de Suffren isn’t just about the boats. It’s a destination in itself. With an array of amenities, you can enjoy a pleasant and comfortable wait before your Seine River tour begins. The view looking up toward the Eiffel Tower was one of the best you could get! I was surprised not to see more people down there along the banks of the river.
The Seine River Cruise Boat Tour
Once you step onto the boat, your real adventure begins. Vedettes De Paris operates a few different vessels. Our cruise took us aboard the Paris Montparnasse.
This boat we went out on had two levels, with exposed seating on the fore of the ship and covered seating on the aft. The boat’s center has an interior bar offering snacks and alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks for a fee. The boat is large and can seat around 200-250 people. The views from the open seating are unhindered, and from the looks of it, most of the vessels are laid out in a similar manner.
The interior seating offers better protection from the elements but more limited viewing from behind glass. There is an on-board restroom (or “toilette” in French). We took the music tour, so there was no narration. But, an audible guide provides educational commentary on many cruises. They point out significant landmarks and historical features over a speaker system.
Our Seine River Cruise in Paris, France
I will mention that I bought a ticket with a glass of wine included, and I will pass on that next time. The wait for the bar was a hassle and took away from enjoying the cruise. Just purchase drinks a la carte as you wish! It’s essentially the same cruise with different ticket options. In my opinion, the same goes for the food that you get from their cafe beforehand.
As you meander along the Seine, you’ll be treated to some of the most breathtaking sights Paris offers. Gaze out at the Eiffel Tower from the water level, the majestic Notre Dame, and the Louvre’s expansive campus. Look right toward the grandeur of the Orsay Museum – each sight more enchanting than the last.
You will see countless Parisiens enjoying the banks of the river. Often, they are in small groups, with a bottle of wine and a sandwich in hand. It’s much like the famous paintings showing residents enjoying the riverbanks in years past, only a modern version.
Pont Alexandre III Bridge in Paris
The boat gently carries you under many beautifully decorated bridges, and I was in awe at seeing the Pont Alexandre III bridge. The bridge is regarded as the city’s most ornate, beautiful, and extravagant one. The towering gold-gilded Fames statues rise into the sky, collecting the setting sun. On it, ornate Nymphes statues perch over the river at its upstream and downstream keystones.
Pont Neuf: The Oldest Standing Bridge
Next, you’ll cruise under Pont Neuf. The Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine. It stands at the western tip of the original island in the Seine River that was the birthplace of Paris in antiquity, between 250 and 225 BC.
Notre Dame Cathedral
You’ll see Notre Dame Cathedral, the iconic medieval Catholic church built between 1163 and 1260. The massive cathedral is one of the world’s great works of French Gothic architecture. It stands as another example of the grandeur and medieval allure of the Parisian cityscape. The church is the setting of Victor Hugo’s 1831 classic, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” With each passing day, the restoration work continues here. I look forward to one day seeing it as it once was!
Paris Museums: The Louvre and the Musee de Orsay
The cruise will take you by the massive campus of the Louvre Museum, the most visited art museum in the world. The Louvre Museum was built in the late 12th and 12th centuries and is home to some of the most well-known works of Western art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Curious if you should visit the Louvre? My next blog post will have my complete thoughts on that!
Across the river from The Louvre, the Musee de Orsay is sure to catch your eye. This vast museum of mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. The Musee de Orsay houses the most extensive collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world by painters including Monet, Manet, Renoir, and van Gogh.
Cruise on the Seine River in Paris
As day turns into night, Paris starts twinkling with thousands of lights reflected on the river, giving the “Green River” a magical hue.
All along the way, I was amazed to see how many Parisians lined the river, eating, drinking, hanging out, and having a wonderful time chatting with friends along the banks. They waved at every passing boat, imbuing the tour with a sense of unity and friendship, highlighting the welcoming attitude of the City of Love.
After Your Seine River Cruise Paris, France
Be sure to stay around until after dusk. After the sun has set, for the first five minutes of every hour, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated by a magnificent dancing light show that covers its entire structure. The lights only go on after the sun has fully set, so for us, the show started at 11 pm as the sunset at 9:50 pm. The days are long because of Paris’s northern latitude.
Plan Your Vedettes De Paris Seine River Cruise
Your trip to Paris is only complete after experiencing the city from the perspective of its historic waterway. A Seine River Tour with Vedettes De Paris provides a unique and comfortable vantage point to view many of the iconic sights of Paris while at the same time feeling the warm hospitality of the city.
There is a reason many call theirs the best Seine River Cruise in Paris!
RELATED POST: 11 Must See Paris Landmarks
Click the links below to learn more about the Vedettes De Paris River Cruise options. The exact cruise we did was the Evening Seine River Cruise with Music. I also included a few additional tours, including a romantic dinner cruise along the Seine River.
Other local companies include Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux Mouches. There is also a Seine River Cruise Hop-On Hop-Off option, or you can book a private Seine River Cruise.
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